My impressions of the E500
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My impressions of the E500
Picked up my 2005 E500 at dealership last week and so far my impressions of this car are somewhat mixed. Before this car I had a BMW 5.30 and i currently also have a '03 M3. I love the fact that the E500 is filled with luxurious features but its drives like crap! The brakes and handling are nothing compared to the BMW 5.30. The car is comfortable but in no way fun to drive.
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
I agree that the brakes suck and the throttle tip-in is terrible but take it on a very long trip and you'll appreciate it's value as an Autobahn cruiser.
Besides, think of all the money you'll save on water pumps.
Not only that but if you'd bought an E60, you'd have to drive that Bangle'd mistake past your neighbors every day. That could be embarrassing
Besides, think of all the money you'll save on water pumps.
Not only that but if you'd bought an E60, you'd have to drive that Bangle'd mistake past your neighbors every day. That could be embarrassing
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From: Lafayette, LA
I drive an E500 with AMG appearance package. My wife drives an E320.
I've had my E500 for about a month, and it drives like a dream. It doesn't beat me to death like my BMW, has more than enough power to get me into trouble and is very sporty.
I might add this. I purchased the AMG package, so the handling is probably a litte stiffer than a stock E500, because the wheels are a little larger, offering less rubber on the sidewalls.
Once again, my impressions are that this is a great automobile.
I might add this. I purchased the AMG package, so the handling is probably a litte stiffer than a stock E500, because the wheels are a little larger, offering less rubber on the sidewalls.
Once again, my impressions are that this is a great automobile.
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Originally Posted by -[ill]-m3
Picked up my 2005 E500 at dealership last week and so far my impressions of this car are somewhat mixed. Before this car I had a BMW 5.30 and i currently also have a '03 M3. I love the fact that the E500 is filled with luxurious features but its drives like crap! The brakes and handling are nothing compared to the BMW 5.30. The car is comfortable but in no way fun to drive.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by -[ill]-m3
Picked up my 2005 E500 at dealership last week and so far my impressions of this car are somewhat mixed. Before this car I had a BMW 5.30 and i currently also have a '03 M3. I love the fact that the E500 is filled with luxurious features but its drives like crap! The brakes and handling are nothing compared to the BMW 5.30. The car is comfortable but in no way fun to drive.
I took a demo E class home for 2 days before making my choice. I don't know if this comment of yours convinces me that your E is a substandard car (most likely not) or that you made an uneducated purchase. None of the things that you mentioned are points that you could not notice on a thorough test drive.
It sounds to me like you are not a Mercedes Benz person. Get rid of the car before it bothers you even more.
Steve
Last edited by SAguirre; Jan 29, 2005 at 09:12 PM.
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From: Dedham MA
2015 C300
I agree - you should probably get rid of it sooner rather than later if you can't quickly grow to love it - it's too much money not to be completely happy. I had a friend of mine that loved my E320 and went out and bought an E500 - then chronically complained that it didn't drive like his 545. Even after months and months of trying, he wasn't really happy and then sold and bought...a Jaguar S-type R. Seems relatively happy, and I actually think it's not that bad of a car.
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From: Long Island, NY USA
05 C320 sport coupe
Man, maybe I should go out and drive a bmw 5 series. I dont know how anyone could possibly say that an e 500 drives like crap. Is a 545 that great?
I drove a 745 and was not that impressed. I reall cantt fathom how someone can drive an e500 and not be in love. In my opinion, it has it all, power luxury room for passengers and comfort...I guess different strokes for different folks
I drove a 745 and was not that impressed. I reall cantt fathom how someone can drive an e500 and not be in love. In my opinion, it has it all, power luxury room for passengers and comfort...I guess different strokes for different folks
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
I've owned Mercedes for more than 20 years but I've also owned a couple of BMW 3-Series and I have never gotten past missing the great driving experiences of the BMW's. My new E320 comes pretty close in some areas but doesn't have the instant throttle tip-in or the synergism between steering, brakes and transmission.
It took me two years to realize that I could get off a particular highway exit as fast with my 300E as I could with the BMW. Even so, in the BMW I always felt like I could drive it at nine tenths without worry (even if I couldn't).
If you haven't lived with a BMW for a while, you won't understand that there really is something to their claim as the Ultimate Driving Machine.
Car magazines ranked the BMW 3-Series at the top for years and they did it not because it had the highest quality or the best ride or was the best buy. They did it because it had the best driving experience.
If I could get past Bangle's style and interior and if my wife would let me, I'd get a 545I and dump the E320 with it's drive-by-wire isolation.
Anybody with an ounce of common sense would keep the E320. Anyone who has a passion for driving (even at an advanced age like me) would get a BMW.
It took me two years to realize that I could get off a particular highway exit as fast with my 300E as I could with the BMW. Even so, in the BMW I always felt like I could drive it at nine tenths without worry (even if I couldn't).
If you haven't lived with a BMW for a while, you won't understand that there really is something to their claim as the Ultimate Driving Machine.
Car magazines ranked the BMW 3-Series at the top for years and they did it not because it had the highest quality or the best ride or was the best buy. They did it because it had the best driving experience.
If I could get past Bangle's style and interior and if my wife would let me, I'd get a 545I and dump the E320 with it's drive-by-wire isolation.
Anybody with an ounce of common sense would keep the E320. Anyone who has a passion for driving (even at an advanced age like me) would get a BMW.
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From: Dedham MA
2015 C300
I actually test drove a 2003 540i 6-speed before buying the E320, and I can vouch for the fact that it was one hell of a car to drive. I can see why some would call it the ultimate driving machine - however as a complete package I thought the styling and drive of the E320 was exactly what I was looking for...so that's what I went with and I'm still loving it! However, I can really see how someone who loved the feel of the BMW wouldn't be happy with a Mercedes - and they definitely shouldn't buy one!
Dump it! 
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
It helps if the twisty trail has glass-smooth pavement. Otherwise, the ride quality in Sport 2 will dislodge fillings. BMW has mastered the art of building cars that corner as if on rails and still ride comfortably. Mercedes has not.
Our deceased '97 BMW 528i was the best car we've ever had. Ever. Not the most luxurious, not the most gadget-laden, not the most powerful, not the most prestigious, just ... the best.
Our deceased '97 BMW 528i was the best car we've ever had. Ever. Not the most luxurious, not the most gadget-laden, not the most powerful, not the most prestigious, just ... the best.
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2004 W211 - 2004 MV Agusta SPR
Originally Posted by DWP
Our deceased '97 BMW 528i was the best car we've ever had. Ever. Not the most luxurious, not the most gadget-laden, not the most powerful, not the most prestigious, just ... the best.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
Somebody running a red light nailed it in August '03. My wife was driving and it gave its life to protect hers. The insurance company wrote it off and my wife was uninjured, except for some bruises. If we didn't think that it was the best car we ever had until then, its final act convinced us that it was.
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2004 E500
Nobody will win this battle between BMW vs. MB. I have owned both and they are different in many ways. If you want a sports car that turns more aggresively, accelerates harder, and makes you feel every rock in the road, then buy a BMW. If you want a luxury vehicle that drives, turns, shifts, and brakes quite smoothly with also an ample amount of power, buy the MB. For a fun weekend car I choose a BMW(since I cant afford a Ferrari), but for an everyday driver I bought my E500. The only thing that I can add, as stated above, is that you should have test drove the car before you bought it. And if you did, your issues should have been obvious then.
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From: Australia
2012 MB E63 Wagon, 2012 BMW M5, 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2010 Ferrari 458
Originally Posted by -[ill]-m3
Picked up my 2005 E500 at dealership last week and so far my impressions of this car are somewhat mixed. Before this car I had a BMW 5.30 and i currently also have a '03 M3. I love the fact that the E500 is filled with luxurious features but its drives like crap! The brakes and handling are nothing compared to the BMW 5.30. The car is comfortable but in no way fun to drive.
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ok heres the deal,
I was driving around in the new E500 and im liking it more and more. My initial reaction was due to the overwhelming difference from the bmw. The E500 is verrrrrrrrry smooth and it is really growing on me. I dont feel the urge to push this car fast on turns and drive aggresively, I enjoy it for its smoothness. The car is actually changing the way that I drive.
And btw there was no way in hell that I was going to buy that bangle'ized piece of crap new 5-series from bmw.
I was driving around in the new E500 and im liking it more and more. My initial reaction was due to the overwhelming difference from the bmw. The E500 is verrrrrrrrry smooth and it is really growing on me. I dont feel the urge to push this car fast on turns and drive aggresively, I enjoy it for its smoothness. The car is actually changing the way that I drive.
And btw there was no way in hell that I was going to buy that bangle'ized piece of crap new 5-series from bmw.
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From: Australia
2012 MB E63 Wagon, 2012 BMW M5, 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2010 Ferrari 458
Originally Posted by -[ill]-m3
ok heres the deal,
I was driving around in the new E500 and im liking it more and more. My initial reaction was due to the overwhelming difference from the bmw. The E500 is verrrrrrrrry smooth and it is really growing on me. I dont feel the urge to push this car fast on turns and drive aggresively, I enjoy it for its smoothness. The car is actually changing the way that I drive.
And btw there was no way in hell that I was going to buy that bangle'ized piece of crap new 5-series from bmw.
I was driving around in the new E500 and im liking it more and more. My initial reaction was due to the overwhelming difference from the bmw. The E500 is verrrrrrrrry smooth and it is really growing on me. I dont feel the urge to push this car fast on turns and drive aggresively, I enjoy it for its smoothness. The car is actually changing the way that I drive.
And btw there was no way in hell that I was going to buy that bangle'ized piece of crap new 5-series from bmw.
For me though, the biggest impression the E500 makes on me is the ride. It's exceptionally smooth without the usual float that goes with soft springing.
Back to your post - the more you drive it, the more you'll like it.
(Still like to see a pic though!)
