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?

 

We have 54K on our E500 and it has been a solid car. Brake wear seems to be faster due to softer pads than most. Easy to service brakes yourself but other information is difficult to get from manuals because MB doesn't like to let the info out. Only repair item we have had is the heater water control valve. Small item. I don't like the electric brakes which I heard is being dropped in 07. MB states they are reliable but the feel is different than "normal" brakes. Wife loves the car. 10,000+ between Mobile 1 oil changes. Otherwise a very solid good running car. vettdvr Oh,, the E500 is the wife's car,, the Corvette is mine.

 

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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Why not be really radical and get an E320CDI?

Experience the future.