BMWMnut

Hi guys!

I am new to the board, but have been reading your posts for quite some time.

I currently have an M5, but seriously considered an E55 before my purchase. I have never owned an MB before, but the new AMG E55 Kompressor sounds so awesome that I may finally stray to the other side.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Estimated price of the new E55? Do you expect the Kompressor to add a lot to the current car's price?

2. Will the performance be similar to the SL55? I would think the E55 would weigh less than the SL55. If so, it will be a screamer.

Thanks for any input.

Sandy

E55 KEV

BMWMnut, you are one brave soul, venturing into enemy territory!

Sandy, your guess is as good as mine/ours. No one can predict the price of a car that will be built for the 2004 model year. Why do you need to know the price? Anyone able to buy in this range can not be counting their pennies. Do you really expect the cars price to rise $20k? Hell, the price could stay the same, go up or even go down. Who Knows? The E500 was $80,800 in 1994 and look at the price of the first E55 in 1999!

E55 base prices:
1999 $69,100
2000 $69,800
2001 $70,300
2002 $71,350

If the 2004 E55K will have the reported 450Hp or so, do you actually think BMW will keep the M5 at 400HP? BMW tends to give their competing model more HP anyway. Don't really know, but I read a post on a BMW board that the next M5 willl be a V10 and close to 500HP. If that happens you will be sticking with BMW! Correct?

Fuzzo

E55 - bet you can't wait to get your hands on your E55 eh

BMWMnut

E55 Kev,

In regards to price, I was just curious. I was assuming it would be within 10% of the current car.

I have read the same rumors of a V-10 in the next generation M5. I plan on buying the next M5, but you never know. I have seen renderings of the next 5 series, and it does not look that great. Then again, the renderings could be totally wrong. I have seen the photos of the new E-class on this site and have to say that it looks very nice. The E55 is a wonderful car and almost made it in my garage.

Do very many of the members on this board track their E55s?

Cheers!

Sandy

awiner

If the next generation 5 series looks like the new 7 series, I think BMW will lose a lot of their user base when it is time for a new purchase.

BMWMnut

Double Nickel,

Glad to hear you love your E55. I understand your frustration with dealers trying to gouge their repeat customers. Customer loyalty does mean a lot to some dealers. Was your experience with your MB dealer much better? Do you think your dealer will treat you better the second time around when the new E55 comes out?

I have the Exclusive package, which I prefer over the Sport leather.

E55 KEV

When the W211 E55k hits the U.S. dealer, they will assuredely charge MSRP on pre-orders and $10k over MSRP for cars on their lots. I heard a story of a guy that ordered a E55 at MSRP and when it come in the dealer requested $10k more. Giving him some market conditions B.S. story. They are greedy bas-tards! So guys like me must wait until the hype and sales settles and buy E55's at better prices.

My E55 is Silver/Charcoal/Comand/K2c. My 2002 E55 discount was $5947. Plus, I got $6740 more for my trade than what Kelley Blue Book (KBB) gives for trade-in. Although I don't agree with KBB prices. They give the lowest trade-in rates compared to Edmunds.com and NADA .com. KBB rates really benefit the dealers.

Another dealer gave me a $6430 discount on another. It has Silver/Charcoal/Comand/K2a. E55's are not moving well right now.

BMWMnut

E55 Kev,

Sounds like you got a great deal. It seems like a deal too good to pass up on. $6,000 below MSRP on an E55, wow! Are other E-class models experiencing similar discounts? This probably partly has to do with the soon to be introduced new E-class. ??

I would assume the current 5 series will experience the same maket softening when the new model comes out. Hopefully it does not look like the renderings I have seen. Definitely not as attractive as the current bodystyle. But then again, a V-10 soul sure makes up for an okay body. It's whats inside that counts, right?

Congrats on your new E55 and watch out for those M5s

MarcusBenz

That is outragous, the dealer you bought your car from must despirately need to move some units to discount an AMG that much and over allow on a trade in that big of a number. You must have really grinded the salesperson to get that kind of deal. I'm looking to purchase a 2nd car, are you available for hire?

I bet the dealer chringes everytime he sees you walk in the door.
GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MarcusBenz
House of Imports, MBZ

P.S.

That deal is way better than even employees can get on that car!

E55 KEV

That's not all! Here is what the small Maryland dealer did:

The Maryland dealer did not have the E55 (so it was not one sitting in inventory unsold for months)
They found the E55 4 hours away in New Jersey.
They had to trade an E-Class 4Matic Wagon to get E55 from New Jersey dealer.
The Maryland Dealer is 2 hours from my home.
They will deliver the car for free on flat bed to DC.
They will pickup my trade - sight unseen.
I have never visited the dealership and may never meet the salesman. (I don't believe he is making the delivery trip)

I worked with the salesman for 2 months on the phone. I do have great negotiation skills and hate to pay full price for anything!

Word of advise: Large dealeships have the inventory but also too much arrogance. Where large local DC dealers sell 300 cars a month small dealerships sell 30. If possible go to a small dealership with starving salesman. Sometimes it is all about sales numbers and not profit. I don't care where the car comes from and I have no dealer loyalty because they never came close to the deal I wanted locally! There is a large dealer 2 miles from my office and they would not deal so I found a dealer 120 miles away.

Did you know that some small dealerships get no allotment of E55's or like cars from MBZ. A dealership can only get the number and types of cars sold in the previous year. Have you seen or heard about the prices on car (used also) from West Coast dealers - like Fletcher Jones. I believe they are the number 1 dealer in the country and they don't discount!

I know where 2 other silver 2002 E55's are with $6k discounts. One has been at the dealer since 8/31/2001. They will do anything to move it.

JamE55

BMWMnut

Welcome to our community! And get the E55 and you don't have to worry about the clutch being replaced! lol! :p :p

MarcusBenz

I can tell that you are the type of customer that dealership dread to see. You never come into the dealership and you have no loyalty to anyone. The upside to this is that you got a great deal on the car you wanted. The downside in (my eyes) is that when you go for service at your local dealer you have no point of contact. My clients have no dealing with the service advisor,but to drop off the car and get the rental voucher. I take care of setting the appt. and calling them when the car is finished, even do the upselling for any extra items that need to be replaced. There nothing worse than driving into a service drive and waiting for 10-15 mins. just to get a writer to ask what you are doing here today!
I do have to agree with you on one point you made. The market conditions on the east coast is no where near the market condition here on the west coast. Case in point, We just sold a CL55AMG to a client for $20k over sticker. Now, I have a personal friend who works for an Import dealer in Georgia (where I am originally from) who has two car sitting on his showroom floor and will sell for MSRP all day long, so it is hard to compare the two coasts. I am glad you got the car you wanted and got a price that is amazing, just don't complain when you do not get the "after the sale" service that you should expect when you purchase a $76k MBZ!!!!!!!!!!!


MarcusBenz

E55 KEV

MarcusBenz, you are speaking from a new car sales (greed) point-of-view. WHY SHOULD ANYONE HAVE LOYALTY TO A DEALERSHIP? A dealership is a store just like Wal-Mart, Macys or Sears, where you go to buy something. MBUSA is lucky I did not buy an M5, a Toyota Camry or ride the bus. Do you have loyalty to your dealership and will remain working there the rest of your life and never apply for any more jobs? YEAH RIGHT!

I negotiated with every local (four) dealerships and each time I walked out. The opportunity to sell me an E55 was presented to many salesman and only one came through. No local dealer had the car as I wanted it and were not willing to get it. So, who is the loyal one? We are talking about a limited edition E55, of which only 500 will be made for 2002. My guesstimates: I want Silver that cuts the number to 200, I want Comand, that cuts the number to 100 and I wanted the V60 phone, cutting the number to - who knows - only 2 were found on the entire east coast. This sale started out on the Internet. That is what internet sales are - delivered to your door. This guy went and found the car exactly as I requested and delivered. He will get all my referrals and maybe an under the table cash gratuity.

Dealerships make more money on servicing than on selling the cars over the life of the car. Let's say they sell 2000 cars per year, in ten years that is 20,000 customers coming into service. You want customers for life, who cares where they purchased the car. Everyone can not buy and service there cars at the same place - people move, dealerships are closer to offices, etc. Remember, this is not my first Benz and when I go to service, they will not care. They love to see under warranty service because they really milk MBUSA for everything they can. And they really milk the customer after the warranty.

Do you take it personally when a previous customer buys from someone else? It happens all the time. If you lose your clients - the client was not happy with the service, plain and simple. Since you are a MBZ salesman you should take a lesson from this deal. It will make you a better salesman and get loyal clients.

MarcusBenz

I agree that if a dealership wants your business, they will go the extra mile to bend over backwards for you. My point of view maybe a little slanted, simply because at some point you must say enough is enough when discounting anything. Let me ask you one final question about your purchase and we will call it even: Did you lease or finance your E55?

As with your comment of a dealership being like a department store, I disagree. I feel that when I sell a client a car, it will be the 2nd largest decision they will make besides buying their home. I take pride in leading those people down the path that will end in them making the right decision and gaining a friend. I cannot count how many of my clients that will call me when they are buying a car for their kids or for a relative and ask my opinion on the car they will buy(other than MBZ). I feel that holds a certain value and something a "Greedy" salesperson will never obtain.

I have definatly taken the words you have spoke and will try to apply it to my mentality when I sell the next client the best car on the planet!

I enjoy this forum very much and can learn alot about how the MBZ shopper thinks and use that to service my clients better.
THANKS

MarcusBenz
House of Imports, MBZ

BMWMnut

JamE55,

Thanks. I am eagerly awaiting the new E55. It will be a phenomenal car. It will be a very tough choice two years from now. Hopefully dealers won't be gouging customers too much when it arrives.

Cheers!
Sandy

MMAfia

yep... thinking about the W211 now... currently have an e46

<img src="http://www.e46fanatics.com/phorum/attach/e46_new/DSCN0025.JPG">

and was holding out for the new M5, but bangle's been seriously messing up the new designs... big time.

meanwhile, the W211 is looking really really good. i was gunning for the new CLK, but i think the W211 looks much better... so what if the new M5 will have 500hp? i don't think it'll look as good as the E55k (thanks bangle), and mercs have always been more luxurious, and i've always viewed mercs in another class anyways... comparing apples to oranges... getting sick of apples, and oranges are looking really good now

<img src="http://www.mercedes-benz.de/mbd/image/data/0,1294,8002,00.jpg">

MMAfia

BMWMnut

MMafia,

Nice looking e46!

I hope the next M5 looks better than the renderings circulating out there. Bangle may screw it up, but we will not know until it comes out. I have my fingers crossed.

I'm sure the E55k will look very nice. Your photos of the standard W211 look very elegant. The AMG version will definitely be an improvement with a sporty flair.

But don't write off the M5 yet. I have a feeling it will be awesome and more than up to the challenge of the new E55. A 500 hp V-10 sounds mighty interesting.

E55 KEV

MMAfia, love your BMW E46! Is it the 330Ci?. The M3 and the 330Ci are my 2nd favorite to E-Class. I love the Aero package on yours. I may consider a 2003 if the 330Ci has the SMG tranny option like the M3.

MMAfia

thx bros... it's a 2000 323ci with the oem aero sports package, hamann 18" HM2 and H&R springs... been a great ride, but it's nearing 3 years in age, and the lease will be ending in november. it's the first car i got that i'm paying for with my own pocket...

but now i'm looking to buy my next ride and not lease.

M3 is too similar a car, thought about the current M5 but the new 5 series is coming out... new CLK didn't look as good as I had hoped... so new E is looking really good... looking at an E500 with the AMG kit...

i will miss the bimmer's handling capabilities though... but will definitely welcome the added luxury and solid tank feel the benz will bring. along with it's great resale value.

MMAfia

DapperBNZ

E55Kev,

I totally agree with you with regards to negotiating and having no loyalty to any particular delearship. It all boils down to the $$$$$ (which is comming out of your pocket). I usually average 2 months negotiating before purchasing or leasing my cars. I ordered my 2002 CLK 430, Orion Blue, K2a, K3, K4, Command (only one other like that in the country - Maine) back in December with a scheduled first week of March delivery. My dealer gave me a $2,220 discount 'cause of the launch of the new W209 (CLK's). Back in December, I thought it was a great deal, but now, they ticked me off. They said the car is still sitting in the port (Germany) since Feb. 22. Do you think they are doing anything about it ???? I don't think so!!!! I've started talking to other delears outside the Miami area. Since I can't wait another 3 months, I will have to let go of the special order Orion Blue color. What's your dealer contact info. He might be interested in my business. I'm really serious. I'll like to do business with him. My current BMW 540 lease is up in four days!!!!!!

orangemarlin

Well, this is going to be fun:

1) Chris Bangle does not have complete control over design. The BMW BofD makes the final decision. But, his designs are in general quite innovative, and watch as the 7 series breaks all sales marks. I think his designs are organic and creative, and gives a visual distinction to BMW cars. At least he's not designing Audis, where it's impossible to tell the difference between an A4, A6, and A8.

2) Dealer markups occur because of one reason. Economics. Someone will pay over 10 grand for an M5 (or at least did), because they want the car. I will not fault a dealer for trying to make a big profit. No one pays way over list for a VW Jetta, because the demand does not exceed the supply. And if one person on this board thinks a MB dealer won't charge over list for a unique car, then you ought go on believing in elves, fairies and trolls.

3) I am very loyal to my dealer, and it is repaid over and over and over. I've bought 9 high priced cars from my dealer over the past few years. I never have to wait for a service appointment. I never have to worry about being put on a list for a new model. And I never have to worry about being "taken" by my salesperson. The reason dealers treat some people like trash is because loyalty is a two-way street. Too many people will go down the street to save $200. I won't. I live in a small city, and I don't want my money being spent on an out-of-town dealer.

4. Just because you read on the internet that an M5 clutch has gone, does not mean that every single clutch on every single M5 goes. M5 drivers drive their cars hard, because they can. I've burned my clutch a couple of times, and I know I've shortened its life, but it's not going now. Besides, at least an M5 driver gets to use a clutch.

5. I agree that the interior of SOME MB's exceed the full-leather of an M5. But that's some. And at what price. This month's Motor Trend (or Car and Driver or Road and Track, I don't remember which) compared AMG's to M's. The M's won across the board, sometimes with price being the differentiator. Many BMW drivers are not interested in full luxury of their car, but in peformance. And to pay 20,000 less for more or equal performance is one reason the M's are so successful.

6. All that being said, there are reasons to choose an M5 or an E55 that have little to do with any of the above. I stand on my belief that the two cars appeal to two separate kind of drivers, and there is little crossover. As I've said elsewhere on this board, I have a CL600 because there is no M6 available, and I want to be living in luxury. Once an M6 comes around, my loyalty to MB will probably vanish, because, and this is totally subjective, I think that BMW's are much better driver's cars. Hence the clutch and stick on M-series cars and none on AMG-cars. But of course, there are times I wish I could just sit back on a long drive and not worry about shifting.

I hate rambling on, but I'm an opinionated person, and there was too much to go around here!

MarcusBenz

Orangemarlin,


Preach on man! I agree with you about the dealer loyality 100%.
People wonder why they get treaded the way they do in some dealership, the question they need to ask is why will they waste hours of their valuable time going from dealer to dealer & wasting gallons of gas to save a few hundred dollars! It doesn't make sense. Find a dealer that you feel comfortable with and stick with them, it will pay off in the long run.

MarcusBenz
House of Imports, MBZ

Fast Eddy

What a bunch of boloney.
If you cant tell the difference between a4, a6, a8 how do you know which one you have? Go and check----- you may have a4 and not a6 and why buy one if that is what you yhink about AUDI? I would never buy Benz if that is what I thought was the case with them as you say there is with AUDI's. Some of us will sertainly pay more for the lux with small sacrifice in performance----I will pay $20k just not to deal with the stick shift --- be in the totall luxury and be .2 sec slower. I'm yet to meet an M3 or M5 driver that can squeeze factory time out of their cars. The times posted by BMW were achived not by drivers like you and I doubt you will EVER be able to come close to that time. With AMG auto you just punch seat back and watch someone like you dancing macarena with your feet. I will pay more just to avoid hte prosess like that.
Elsewhere you did not state that you supposely bought CL600 because there are no M6----or provide link to the post dated before this one where you plainly stated that you got CL600 because there are no M6. Sounded to me like you looked at it drooled and decided to lease-----if the car was leased at all.
Being opinionated is one thing----producing boloney in this amount is a totally different matter.

JamE55

Lol!! :p

MMAfia

Bangle is on krak. While he did design the e46, it was more conservative and similar to the e36... now, his designs are more radical, and ugly, like the rear of the 7 series... that is an ugly *** rear... there's even an article on Money mag that compares it to the *gasp* Aztek! and look at the CS1 prototype... WTF is that thing????

<img src="http://www.e46fanatics.com/phorum/attach/e46_new/2002_bmw_cs1-1.jpg">

Why the hell do you think I'm here??? I love the drivability of bimmers and their design... and I was hoping for the new M5... but the new 5 series will share the new 7's ugly *** trunk. end of story for me, personally.

Now, I'm looking at the W211... and you can't compare bimmers to benzes. bimmers will never feel as smooth and luxurious as a benz, and a benz will never drive like a bimmer.

... and dood, if you really have a CL600, you would not go back to a bimmer, cuz you already paid $$$ for luxury and status that you would not want to give up. in any event, if you really wanted performance, ditch the friggin bimmer and get the 911 turbo if you had the $$$ to get a CL600. at that price level, bimmers are not in the same class for either perfromance or luxury.

MMAfia