Highend

Which one? Gonnna sell my W210 E320 that does nothing and pick up another E class. I always wanted an E55 but for the same price I can get a new body E500, i'm having trouble on deciding, i love the E55 but it is old body style, then there is a new body style E500 that is almost just as fast....

Pros and Cons?? Please help me out here.....

brabus2ner

buy the E500 W211 it has a better value rather than the E55. If it is possible get the new E55 amg W211 model. E55 amg is dropping the price really badly

Highend

i dont want to spend more than 25k.
25k car is 01 or 02 E55, 01/02 540i, 03 E500

oh and the value has already dropped on the E55 bad.

Barry45RPM

Yes you're right the 210 Body looks really dated both inside & out. But... I'm really gun-shy of an 03-05 211.70 even though they are beautiful & FAST. I KNOW I had an incredible amount of problems with my 2004 E-500, and this board is littered with thousands of posts looking for problem resolution, yet there are folks here who just picked up their cars & enjoy the hell out of them. Tough call, but the 211's look sooooooo much better than the 210s. Even the 211's will look dated in a couple of years when the next gen E comes along. The 210 will then look like a relic.

If you have a $$ limit go for the 2004+ 211 E-500, but have the dealer run the full list of service ROs to look for one with few problems.

WEBSRFR

I know this is not what you want but if I were you, I'd put about another $5K (maybe less) and acquire a 2004 E500 with Navigation and nicer Command screen. I'd avoid a 2003 E500.

Highend

If i'm gonna spend $30k then that opens up my options to a lot more cars. 25k is my max, i already got ton of money dumped into med school....

W211 Ryda

Tough choice, but I'd get the W211, just because I like the body and interior much better than the W210.

edspider

I'd aim for the newer W211 body style. It has a much more pleasing interior, too. In 2009, when W212 comes out it will start to look old, but then the W210 will look like a model T.

There a many posts about realibility of the initial W211's. If you have a way of seeing service records you'll know if you got one of the iffy builds.

Back2Benz

were the issues with mostly the 03 E500's, how about the 04 E500's?

Barry45RPM

03s had issues with comand & Nav not being available. It seems that some '04s had electrical system issues. All thru '06 had SBC Brake System Recalls. The SBC is warranted for a full 10 years now, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Each successive year the cars got more reliable.

Mr.Gearhead

Good question here.

The w211 E500 is newer body style with clean lines (subjective)
The w210 E55 is older and looking a little dated (subjective)

The w211 E500 has SBC brakes w/ warranty... 60-0 122 ft.
The w210 E55 has NON sbc brakes... 60-0 120 ft
(the sbc is annoying in daily driving... abrupt grabbing) FACT

The w211 E500 runs 0-60 in 5.9 and 1/4 mile 14.4 @ 98.8 mph
The w210 E55 runs 0-60 in 4.9 and 1/4 mile 13.49 @ 106.71 mph

The E500 is a daily run of the mill Mercedes that you see everyday
The E55 is known to be a runner and enthusiast car. THINK AMG

Bottom line... I think you could do more to the the E55 as time and money permits. I also think the new w211 have more quality problems than the tried and true w210. I sold my 2002 E320 to get a 2006 E350. The 350 is quicker and seems to handle better... but the 320 just felt more solid...

Posted some links on write up for both... GOOD LUCK...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...amg/index.html

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....article_id=417

THEAF1DON

Ive read of people getting low 5's 0-60 for E500 on this forum..?

Highend

thanks guy, i really appreciate the advice. I am leaning more towards the E55 but I kind of needed that extra push you know, i didnt want to buy an older body style and regret getting a newer one. But I think i have made my choice, I will get the E55. I think that it will put much more of a smile on my face than the E500.

Back2Benz

definitely keep us posted