Hi all, love the forums here so much info to go through, i recently purchased a 2007 SL55 amg with the 030 perf package. Love it, what a car. Now im sold on AMG cars.

Im kinda looking at either a 2005 C55 with 120k on it for 13k or a 2006 E55 with 115k on it for 16k.

Just for kinda daily driver , more room , when im not in the SL55.

i know both have high mileage, but carfax looks right, both were highly manitained and are both from the same reputable dealer.

any advice in going forward would be appreciated.

MM

 

While I would really like to own an E55 I would not buy a 100k + millage supercharged engine again after owning a c32. I have a c55 right now and would much rather have my clk55 back.

 

You can do MUCH better then those prices if you're willing to drive.

IMO, you have to WANT the C55 to get one because most prices for C and E55 are far too close and when you look at what you get, well... it doesn't weigh favorably for the C55. The E55 is the stereotypical Mercedes AMG if that's what you're looking for; butt massagers, air ride suspension, and monstrous torque in a big sedan. It's the quintessential Autobahn bruiser. All that comes at a cost though. When you have 100 things vs 10 things, you have 90 more(expensive) things to go wrong. The motor as is your SL55, is a tank, but if something goes wrong, prepare to pay. Same for air ride, whatever braking aid it uses I hear people complain about, and 20 other sensors.

The C55 is 3/4 an E55 in everything, which makes it look like a worse buy. BUT, it also has 3/4 the sensors, computer controlled systems, weight, and just overall complexity. That checks all my boxes personally. It's the lightest sedan with still-by-today's-standards, respectable HP(over 350). The naturally aspirated M113/722 trans I've found to be the LSx/T56 of the German cars when it comes to relative simplicity and reliability. It's very... un-German in its clear cut design and build. I hold no brand loyalty and that's why I'm considering one, it could have been a Kia for all I care. It's a get in, dive bomb into a corner, and enjoy daily kind of car. Rear shocks going bad? Pull them off and replace them. Passenger seat damage? Pull it out and replace it. Brakes shot? Take an hour and replace them.

It's a better DD to me, as I do much of my own work, value reliability and like lighter cars. If you can swing it, the E55 is both monster speed and comfort. Just be ready to support it and your SL just in case. My opinion is take that $16k and throw it towards a C55 unless you demand uber luxury.

 

double post

 

Right on the money AchMeinGott. You can buy an E55 for 3K-4K more than a C55. IMO, I do not want to own or maintain a 100K car. I test drove an E55 and it was a beast. However, the C55 is 3/4 the car and IMO lighter on the maintenance, gas, etc.

However, if you want to modify, options are limited. I was in the same position and chose a C55...twice.

Also, If I am going to drop 13K on a C55 it should have UNDER 100K on the clock.

 

get a clk55 instead

 

Plot twist:
Since the the SL is disgustingly heavy(sorry, it's amazing looking but it's the 2nd heaviest 2 seater ever made except for the Bugatti I believe) sell it, and buy a low mileage, new 5.5 SLK55. Or a nice E55 AND C55.

 

Why does it matter that its heavy?


Would it suddenly be awesome if it was 200KG lighter? I don't get your argument.

 

It is a purpose built 2 seater. It's not a CUV compromised by being built on a little sedan chassis. It's a 2 seat performance car. Sure, some will argue the grand touring aspect means it "has to be" heavy and sure, it "has to fit the V12." But for god's sake the only heavier 2 seater ever made far as I know is a 16 cylinder, 4 cam, quad turbo, AWD, 1 million radiator, 365 rear tire, 250+mph machine. In fact, now that I double check, the Veyron is actually lighter, unless they are giving useless "dry weight." It weighs roughly the same as the much larger S class, year to year. He could pully swap an E55 to the same power level and have a lighter car, with 4 doors and 5 seats.

I'm sure it's the poster child for luxury and AMG R230's are in my top 10 favorite looking cars of all time. But dropping almost $200k for a 600+hp 2 seater, that runs high 11's because it weighs 4500lbs? I guess my problem is "SL" as "sport lightweight" it certainly is not. As such, the SLK will always be neutered to protect it. Notice there was no SLK63...

 

Is that why the 6.2 did not make it into the SLK? I thought the SL63 or the S63 coupe outperformed the 65?

Off topic, sorry.

 

Did you buy that one (SL 55) from Duane here on the forums???

X2 to a LOT of what was said above. The C55 is both lighter and slower than an E55. A lot of E55s are also modded too and that can be good and BAD. Ive seen C55s in the same range of the E55s and for good reason: There's a LOT less to break (and brake) on a C55 than the E55. Biggest problem with C55 was a few seat heater issues just like the C32 and some engine ticking (normal it appears). The C55 are pretty bulletproof too.

Oh, and good luck with that SL55, Just hope the maintenance, brakes and ABC don't kill it for you.

I too love AMG vehicles, BUT don't fall in love too much, the downside to the upside can be very expensive and the cost of admission might be right, BUT you'll be paying for that party all night!!

 

The SLK55 retained the 5.4 untill freakin 2010. Then in 2012 it recieved the N/A version of the AMG 5.5. It cost an outrageous $75+k, but the 2009SL63 cost literally twice that. The SLK was ~3550lbs and the SL ~4350lbs. Both mid-12's quarter mile cars.

@4350lbs and 518hp, that's 8.4lbs/hp
@3550lb and the base 6.2's 451hp, that's 7.88lbs/hp.
Say a 480hp performance pack and 3600lbs? That's just 7.48lbs/hp. Well beyond the SL63.

Now they are mostly aluminum which helped plenty, but the idea of a 4500lb 2 seater still blows my mind.

 

Buy the C55. It's a great DD that doesn't break the bank like the E. Between SBC, Airmatic, and the leaky fuel tank issue, it's just not a great car to have when you have the SL next to it (for both the good and the bad).

I have both W203 and R230 AMG's. I wouldn't trade the W203 AMG for a W211 AMG, unless it was the wagon.

I have 160,000 miles on my C55. And I guess I won't be getting the $13k I want when I decide to sell it. And it's such a fantastic car in such excellent shape, it feels like $13k is a bargain. Go look at any used car for $13k and see what you get. Nothing remotely close to the C55 in so many categories. I kinda want to see if I can make the clock tick over to 200k

 

I agree with Viper. My C55 has 156,000 miles on it and I don't want to sell it until it becomes more expensive to maintain than a new car payment. Not even close yet -- but, I do a lot of my own work. I have even made some problems more expensive to fix by not being a particularly skilled mechanic (overestimating my skills or underestimating the complexity of the problem).

 

Oh, most Benz mechanics I've spoken to say the C55 should easily make 250k-300k without a problem if its properly maintained.

 

That's actually a problem I'm running into. Clearly it's a 150k mile reliable drivetrain, and the C class is late to the 5.4 party so word got out. The number of 100k+ mile C55's is incredibly high, nearly everyone must have daily'd these things. I find more low mileage, W210 E55's in my searchs. Add to that 10 years later there's probably around 1600 left, and the number of sub-50k mile C55's I'm after is slim pickins.

When I have my funds together, I want to find nearby a low mileage C55(1750 made), 05 CLK55(250 made), and 05/06 manual GTO(15,500 made but TONS wrecked by young kids as prices plummeted) to test drive back to back to back for an apples to apples comparison. Basically, I'm screwed lol.

 

I know you guys are loyal and I respect you all for that. Can you really even compare a NA C55 and a FI E55 in the same sentence?

I have driven, raced both and this is NOT even a close comparison guys. God bless you for the love of your C55's, but the E wins hands down. That is in a drag race, autocross, and road race.


PS: My modded C32, which I still miss dearly, was faster than the C55's. Not stock for sure, but really, what gains can you get form the C55?

I nice car for sure, but there is a reason the E55 costed more new. Sorry guys.

If it was my money, hands down the E55 wins.

 

Nobody doubts that the E55 is better in the categories you mentioned. But in terms of daily duty and reliability, C55 is the clear winner. Depends what you want the car for and what's important to each individual.

 

Is it designed to go around corners at 160mph like a McLaren? No.


Is it fast? Yes


Whats the problem?

 

its doable tho - I picked up my w209 clk55 last June with 48k miles on it

 

I agree and disagree ... you can easily pull 80-100hp addtl HP from a C55 -- yes there's a reason the E55 was more but it wasn't because of the motor ... the E55 was quite heavier than the C/CLK55 so there was a need for S/C to match the performance of the C/CLK55

 

It's bigger? More heavily optioned? Supercharged? Because it has name behind it and they can?

I've never driven one, so I certainly can't say anything as a fact. However, every test I can find of E and C55 tests show nearly identical slalom and skidpad numbers. Braking always went to the C55 despite the overkill 8/4 set up on the E55. What that doesn't tell you though is the fling-ability of a shorter wheelbase, less front heavy car on a backroad drive to work. Both the C and E are undertired frankly, so that's a wash. The E55 will always begin to pull ahead, and $1000 thrown at both cars will net very different hp increases, but there isn't 500lbs to cut from the E55 while remaining a lux sedan, and at that point an engine swapped C/CLK makes much, much more sense, especially after selling the stock motor. I gotta say too, you're the first person I've ever seen take an E55 to a track and not say it doesn't plow through the corners. Airmatic sounds geared heavily towards comfort rather then sport.

Driving one and DD'ing one are also 2 different things. OP is looking at higher mileage ones, and $15k towards a C55 is a lot more piece of mind. Up it to $20k for a nearly new C or mid mileage E and you have an interesting topic. A 30k mile difference though is a good 2 years worth of driving. I'm lucky and work 20 miles away round trip, 5.5 days a week, which is 6000 miles a year. Granted I genuinly enjoy driving for no reason and can hit 1,000 miles a month, but I also own a 16000 mile motorcycle. Possibly most important though is OP already has a fun car, he just wants an interesting daily.

"Super Light." That's the problem. A $200k V8 SLS vert weighs 3700lbs and is a hair longer(but shorter wheelbase) then the V8 SL63(6.2 to 6.2) that costs nearly $150k and weighs nearly 4300lbs. Add anther 200lbs to the SLS from hard vs soft top and that's still well under 4000lbs. Sure, the SLS uses aluminum and other lightweight bits which cost more, but the SL also has larger production numbers to cut costs. Now that the SL is aluminum, it weighs just a bit over 4000lbs which is still only OK for a freakin 2 seater.

I feel they either need to shrink it and drop the V12, or make it an N/A, turbo, and AMG turbo V12. Dropping the V12 cuts space/weight justifying the SL name or dropping the V8 makes it a 100% purposeful highway bruiser, albeit making SL sound even dumber. Dropping the V8 would further differentiate it from their super cars and make it a pure #'s car.

But hey, I don't run Mercedes or else there would have been an SLK63 lol.

True, I've seen a surprising amount of 05 coupes for sale, given less then 250 exist, but finding all 3 locally, at once, will be near impossible. For better or for worse the CLK is at the bottom of my list so if I can't find one at the time, oh well.

 

Sounds like you should know your answer from the few previous posts above ^

IMO go for the C55...seems like a near bulletproof engine and much less to "worry" about if something does go wrong.

 

Now that I would like to see my friend. Other than putting a supercharger or Nitrous on it, you will NEVER get an addtional 100 RWP out of it.

The E is heavier no doubt, but it IS just more car for the buck.

As I said I had a C32 and E55, and I really do NOT miss the E. Mainly becaused I raod raced both, and the C32 being 1000 pounds lighter was the better choice for me.

However, if I were buying a daily driver, the comparison is not close at all.

To each their own, but I know where my money would go.

 

You lost credibility with that first sentence. Please tell me how I can easily pull 80 HP out of the C55. While I do not doubt it is possible, it definitely wont be easy like the 335i guys.