FACCNATOR

Hey everyone, I am new here and need help making a decision. I can either buy an 03 E500 or lease an 06 CDI. Which should I choose? What are their differences (other than the engines)? What are the differences between the two, inside/outside? I seem to think the E500 looks better but I can't find the differences. What do you all recommend? I am making the decision this week.

Thanks in advance
Faccnator

monstaloc

get the new car. e500 probably close to the end of the warranty and with the new car, you can get newer factory installed options, like nav, if you were into that. your e500 will probably have a cassette tape deck.

i think the body style is the same. just the bumper may be different or if you get an appearance package.

Double Eagle

Check the production date, mileage and if the E-500 has the MB 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty. If it has a factory installed NAV in it, it is probably one of the late model year, NAV replacement vehicles, and they had the early production bugs fixed in them. I've had no problems with mine and am happy with it; however, I'd avoid one of the early 2003 vehicles as they had some growing pains; although most were eventually fixed.

Your decision should also be based on how long you plan to keep the car. Assuming, you get the E-500 and it has four or more years left on the warranty, you might go for it if the price is right and you plan on keeping it. Ownership of a good used car is usually always better deal than leasing if you keep the car over four years. This also depends on how far you drive each year.

You would probably be happy with either one as both are very nice cars.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new car.

You didn't say where you live but CDI's are still not accepted nationwide so that could be a problem if you live in CA or one of the other states restricting their sale.

rake55

I’m in the same predicament as you. My dealer was kind enough to lend me both cars back to back and I’ve decided on the E320 CDI. The E500 to me is a little outdated and under powered (The new E550 will be simply awesome). I felt the CDI performed superbly on the highway and it has tremendous low end torque. It’s actually a very fun car to drive. Add in the excellent fuel economy and you can’t go wrong with the CDI. The CDI in your case is also newer, which is nice. The CDI will have a higher re-sale value down the road. Additionally the CDI has more torque than the 500 you are looking at and to me torque is what makes Mercedes so fun to drive.

zam2000

Get the 06 CID, lot of reasons:

1. New car, so most of the bug in the earlier years are sort out (and there's lot of them, my 04 W211 stay at the dealer for more than a month soon after I bought it)

2. Material quality also seem to improve quite a bit

3. Warranty & service & repair coverage

4. Resell value, way better w/ CDI

5. New car smell, never know what the used car go through

6. Better precious gas mileage

7. Diesel engine require less maintenance, and should break down less often.

8. Torque, torque, and torque. Especially if you chip the ECU (then it'll run like a Bentley, lot of TORQUEEEEEE)