2003 E-500 "A keeper"
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2003 E-500, 2005 Mini Cooper S
2003 E-500 "A keeper"
I have a 2003 E-500 that has been trouble free since working out a few electronic and suspension bugs during the first few months of ownership. I was considering selling the E-500 and buying the 2006 "facelifted" E-550. I spoke with my friend, the shop foreman at the dealer,who advised me to keep my car. He said that they are still having problems with the 7 speed transmission and the 5.5 liter engine is new. I could wait until the second year of the facelifted E-5.5 but then it will be closer to the next generation E. Any suggestions. 
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Jacksonville Florida
209/W210 Estate /W211 modded by MBENZNL
The 7 Speed trans has been Perfect on our 06 211...
Reset the adaptations with the star @15miles...then drove it hard for 50miles to set the values...No Problems in 4k..NO harsh downshifts!
Most techs are tossing Valve bodies/control units in them...If They can get one...still on backorder from Germany
Reset the adaptations with the star @15miles...then drove it hard for 50miles to set the values...No Problems in 4k..NO harsh downshifts!
Most techs are tossing Valve bodies/control units in them...If They can get one...still on backorder from Germany
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
If your '03 is reliable and a "keeper", why would you want to dump it in favor of a lightly "facelifted" '07? The 5.5 V8 may be a half-second faster to 60 than the current 5.0, but what does that have to do with the real world of commuting to work in heavy traffic?
Maybe it's like that line from the Eagles' baby-boomer anthem, "New Kid In Town": "They will never forget you 'til somebody new comes along." Financially, it never makes sense to trade a car that's under warranty and/or reliable for a newer one - but if we made our car-acquisition decisions on the basis of only financial logic, we would all be driving Camrys and Accords.
Maybe it's like that line from the Eagles' baby-boomer anthem, "New Kid In Town": "They will never forget you 'til somebody new comes along." Financially, it never makes sense to trade a car that's under warranty and/or reliable for a newer one - but if we made our car-acquisition decisions on the basis of only financial logic, we would all be driving Camrys and Accords.
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
And '03 is too new to trade for an '07.. I'd wait (I plan to at least) until the new W212 is out, give that a year at least for the bugs to work out of it... then do the trade.
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I agree it's better off waiting for the W212. Since you got a good 03.
I'm getting a 07 E550 4Matic wagon - The 7 speed transmission doesn't fit with the 4Matich transfer case, so it only comes in the 5 speed. And the 550 engine is already in the S550 and SL550 now, so there will be a little bit of time for them to work out any bugs before I get the wagon in the fall.
I'm getting a 07 E550 4Matic wagon - The 7 speed transmission doesn't fit with the 4Matich transfer case, so it only comes in the 5 speed. And the 550 engine is already in the S550 and SL550 now, so there will be a little bit of time for them to work out any bugs before I get the wagon in the fall.
