CONDEMNED

I'm looking at '03 - '05, which is the best? Already have a '00 E55 and I want to add the factory superchaged S class to my arsenal...

mrbenzes

I would recommend you go for the lowest mileage and best condition, for what you what to spend...there isnt much diffefrence in those years...maybe just a bit of caution for the first year of supercharger production (2003)...but that is only an opinion. Get as many of the options you want and take your time looking. I spent six months looking coast to coast and had nearly given up when my 2005 came along - and only 3 hours away from me. Oh yeah, stay away from northern cars if you can, salt and snow will eventually get to the metal. If the check engine light is on, walk away, nomatter what the asking price is.
Good Luck, Mike

i_am_amused

the 2004 models are cheap and easy to add bluetooth for a phone (about $250 and 15 minutes of your time, plus a star coding at the dealer)

go here for more info

for all other years, if the car was not pre-wired, it is thousands of dollars to connect your phone to the COMAND through bluetooth

some options I wish I had on my S55:
front parking sensors
rear seat package (heated, ventilated, reclining)
read side window shades (several thousand dollars to add post-factory, you need new doors)

I think I have everything else except distronic

and, like everything in this world, it's for sale for the right price , only 42K miles!
go here

CONDEMNED

thanks for the info. how about the air ride on the '05, good or bad? i remember hearing that air ride was not the best on the amg's. is this true? and if so, what am i looking at with upkeep of this system?

is the vehicle governed at 155 like me E55 or does the S55 hit that beautiful 200 mark?

CONDEMNED

how much you asking to get out of your ride and are there any pics? I'M NOT PROMISING ANY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF YOUR VEHICLE. i'm just curios

CONDEMNED

maybe some pictures without twenty-five inches of snow involved. ha ha. i've got some pics of my E55 covered in snow, sitting next to one of my jeeps. i love it. it's kind of funny when our amg's are wearing a ton of snow, it doesn't seem natural

mrbenzes

I dont have anything to compare the ride to except my old 126 cars...this thing rides like a dream...My '05 is also governed to 155. I have read in testing they would go 180 plus, but not 200MPH.

I havent tested the 155 governor but have hit 120 on several interstate entrance ramps in very short order.
Mike

i_am_amused

S55 is ABC (hydraulic) not Airmatic. ABC is one of the chief reasons for a good extended warranty being a must-have item.

ABC is great, just extremely expensive to repair.

S55 is limited to 155mph, but the limited can be removed through the computer. You need a dealer, tuner, or independent mechanic willing to do the job.

i_am_amused

S55 is ABC (hydraulic) not Airmatic. ABC is one of the chief reasons for a good extended warranty being a must-have item.

ABC is great, just extremely expensive to repair.

S55 is limited to 155mph, but the limiter can be removed through the computer. You need a dealer, tuner, or independent mechanic willing to do the job.


+1 (didn't see his post)

i_am_amused

I'd accept an offer of a measely $32K

remember, it has a Fidelity Platinum warranty through May 2013 or 76K miles (see the post about ABC above )

Actually, I don't have any pictures of it without snow,and most of those are under THREE FEET of snow. In Virginia! Can you say freak blizzard? We had three freak blizzards this year, the first winter I have a 493hp RWD car . No worries, it did GREAT.

The car is my daily driver (meaning "daily smile inducer"), so it's not pristine like so many of the garage queens on this board. Fortunately, the worst damage is one door ding and some curb rash on the wheels. Oh, and I found the upright star hood ornament broken when I was clearing the snow off (I forget which blizzard that was). I'm 99% sure I didn't break it with the brush, but the parts guy was 100% sure it was all my fault.

Dudeler

The general rule of thumb buying a Mercedes is the purchase the last model year. All the updates have been made, bugs have been rectified. That said, the only real difference between an '05 (which I have) and an '06 (my son's) are 19" two-piece wheels. Parktronic is nice, Distronic...I'm not a fan of, there is too much driver disconnect there. Yes, these cars are limited to 250K mph in the US (155 mph) and 300K (187 mph) for the rest of the world. The reason MB set the limit at 187 is that they don't see a commercially available tire that can sustain 200 mph speeds on this car, they can't shed the heat. I have had MB's for 25 years and this car is truly remarkable. The TPI's tend to die after 4 years and $400 to fix something with a 4-5 year life--when you can use your eyes and tire gauge--seems a little much. You don't replace brake pads. You replace brakes AND rotors. i would advise checking the real main seal when you change your oil--maybe your tech does that--but there is a shield there that keeps the tell tale oil spots off the floor. Never forget how low this car is.