Hey guys, I own 01 GS430 with 100k miles and thinking of selling it and getting 2003 C32, CLK55 or E500. I know BMW and MB have more problems then Lexus is what I hear from friends. But I love the style of the new E-class and always loved the quality of materials they use inside. My family owned 96 S500, damn I loved that car, it was built and felt like a tank, new S class is amazing and the previous model is great, but not like the 96 model, they got more buttons but not as solid as the older S class. Anyway, getting off topic here, nothing beats the sound of german car doors like MB or BMW espacially, make when they close!! I owned 3 Acuras, 2 Maximas, BMW 323i was my car before my GS. And nothing drove and felt better then german car and the way it was made. I got the Lexus for the reliability factor, but I have little ennoying problems with it, that seems not go away, thats another story. The GS is fast, but feels like a boat on the road. The way its made is ok, but not like MB or BMW quality of materials used, I am not that impressed tell you the truth. I am getting Tein CS coilovers and replacing bushings now with Daizen to stiffen up the suspension. If this will not satisfy me, I will sell all the parts and the car.

I was thinking of getting Silver 2003 C32, CLK55 or E500 with 35k miles (BMW M3 or 745i are a bit more, but I never own the MB cars, so I want give them a try). I think E-class looks better then CLK, but CLK is still very beautiful but does not look as aggressive as the older model. How is that year for these cars.? That was the first year for the E-class. What problems I should be expecting? I need some feedback from current owners of these cars. How reliable are they?

 

Why dont you narrow down your choices more... The cars you have picked are all over the place in terms of use.

Do you want a 2 door car pick CLK55

4 door car--Small-C32
Large-E500

I suggest getting a CPO with a warranty each of the cars listed has its own set of problems, the C32 supercharger could have problems over 100K miles but not likely, the E500 could have SBC brake problems if the proper recalls have not been done. The CLK is probably the most reliable of the two cars since it has a NA engine without SBC brakes.

But again what do you want in a car? You are comparing 2 apples (4 door car) to an orange(2 door) right now. you either do apples to apples or oranges to oranges.

 

well, I never owned a coupe before, so thats why it is on the list.. Plus it is very fast. These cars will sell for pretty much the same cash at the dealers auction and I like all 3 of them. E500 have great looks and I think it looks better then CLK55 and newer style then C-class, but CLK is a lot faster and can't afford the E55. C32 looks great and would also be as fast and cheaper then the other 2 cars, but E-class has better and nicer looking interior design out of these 03 models. So, I don't really care for what I will use it for, I would be ok with all of them. Just wanted to know the reliability and what problems these cars would have. CLK55 would be the hardest to find.. I only want to buy these in silver or E500 could also be in white.. So these cars don't have electrical problems like Bimmers? Also do clk500 and c32 handle and feel on the road the same or different? And what can you do to these cars on suspension department to make them handle like an M3, I see they sell H&R springs, do people use stock shocks with them or get Bilstein, how about sways, braces? And what cheap mods can you do to make them faster, like ECU, etc? I drove 2 M3's 2003 and 2004, what a car, I would get it but don't want stick..

 

There are no simple, easy answers to your questions which have been covered at length in the forum. Depending on whose thread/post you read you will get different responses. The only thing you can do is to search through them, the stickies, etc and then go from there.

 

Well for most reliable out of the cars you have listed if I had to pick I would say CLK55 but a lot depends on how well it was taken care of. As far as what you can do to make it handle like an M3 the only thing you can do is trade it in for a M3 what makes the M3 handle is not just the suspension but the balance and weight of the car. If you do not want stick on an M3 you can get SMG but after having SMG now I wish I had gotten a 6 speed but for a person who can not drive a manual (most can learn in 30 mins and become good in a few months) SMG is a great option.

 

I'm not gonna tell you what to get but the clk55 would be my choice I do agree that the w208 model is tougher than the w209 as for lexus first off ill say the GS is onebof there better models its still a toyota with leather I just think there way over rated and I'm insulted that we even compare them if you just want relibility you can get a scion if you want a grown persons car with style class power and luxury get a benz going fast is one thing doing it in style another

 

I want to stay $30k-35k range. I drove 03 E500 sport w/ 12k miles. It was ok, steering feld diconnected from the road, it was not as smooth tranny wise shifting gears and not as fast as my GS. The fit and finish materials in it are supurb and a lot nicer then GS (06 GS is close to MB though, just test drove that too, it was very simular to my GS feel though), but e500 feld richer while driving, it feld heavy in a good way but suspension wise feld like my GS after I upgraded bushings on my GS and coilover Tein CS suspension. After all I did to my Lexus, still feels heavy and there is body lean. I just realized that nothing would feel like a BMW on the road, just nothing. E500 shifted through gears alot rougher then my GS also.. S, CL, and Sl classes is what makes the benz in my opinion. Yesterday I found 03 CLK55 AMG with 26k miles, Silver/black w/ NAV.. It was sitting on the lot of this used car dealer right next to 01 M3 slver/black w/NAV and it manual. And there was 05 C230 Sport in white next to them also. CLK is the most expensive fastest car out of 3 and looked least sportier and agressive!! This CLK just doesn't do it for me. M3 looks so agressive and looks like its got *****, as I stated before previous CLK looked beafier and more agressive then this new body style. So, I went for test drive on the CLK55. Steering felt very light even compared to my GS. Take off was fast!! It is a very fast car, but it was so loud, so unMercedes like, I guess thats the only way to achieve this HP. On the road it feld more composed then my GS but very simular to E500, they both felt like they handle the same and same as my modified GS. The inside was nice, but not as nice as E500, it is like C-class what it is based on. So, for speed, it is a fast car. But C32 looks more aggressive then CLK, but very simular look to c230 sport on the road, it does not stand out like M3 does, lets say.. If I had the money I would get CLS500 or 55, or E55. If I had more money the new S550 with AMG package in silver looks insane in and out, or SL550 or 55. But I don't know about the 3 I started this thread for. My friend in NJ bought 2002 C32, had it few month and wants to sell it already. Said, yes it is a fast car and he bean M3's on the road a few times, but it just does not handle or feel as good on the road as his previous 330ci. I will look towards 2002-2003 M3 I think with 30-40k miles. This are my impressions guys.. Sorry for long one.. lol
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Go for the clk 55.

Its got power looks torque and quality.

However if u want a big car, then the E class will do the job or the 5 series. Both are high on quality, personally i think the ergonomics of the bmw are more refined, but i am not sure obout the layout.