buying a e55 amg
03-22-2009, 10:50 AM
#2
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03-22-2009, 09:41 PM
#3
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GL450
Here's a list of common W210 problems:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-problems.html
Obviously, try to find a car with as few of these problems as possible.
The 2000 and later models are face lifted with, primarily:
Updated bodywork
Updated interior (less likely to have a dash crack)
Touch shift transmission
Fiber optic stereo (harder to replace with aftermarket, but includes steering wheel controls)
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...-problems.html
Obviously, try to find a car with as few of these problems as possible.
The 2000 and later models are face lifted with, primarily:
Updated bodywork
Updated interior (less likely to have a dash crack)
Touch shift transmission
Fiber optic stereo (harder to replace with aftermarket, but includes steering wheel controls)
03-22-2009, 09:45 PM
#4
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E55
Agree with the 2 posts above, get 2000+, in my opinion the 99 looks alright but has more of a 90's look, the 00+ is equipped with new style amg skirts and bumpers/head lights/tails that make it look more up to date.
LOL..... 
03-24-2009, 06:32 PM
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GL450
One opinion I'll add, since I've never seen this voiced before:
I bought my 2001 E55 recently. I previously had a 1999 CLK 320. When I went shopping, I specifically wanted a 2000+ E55 for the touch shift transmission.
With the CLK, it had ok but not great power. Coming out of a turn I really wanted to be able to downshift the CLK so that I could power out of the turn. The '99 has no touch shift, so you had to do one of two things:
Hit the gas hard mid-corner to convince the transmission to downshift, wait a second for the downshift and power to come on, and try to time it right so that the down shift happened at the tail of the corner, rather than the apex (uh oh) or once you were already out.
Or secondly, wait until you were out of the turn, hit the gas, and wait while the transmission found the lower gear.
Basically, you could either try to game the transmission mid-corner, or you had to put up with a lag on exit. This is something familiar to almost anyone who prefers manual over automatic transmissions. Of course, this made me want an E55 with touch shift. However, now having one, I almost never use the touch shift. In the CLK there wasn't a ton of torque, so the gearing became very important. In the E55, there's so much torque that the transmission is less of an issue. You can power out of turns without changing gear.
With that said, my biggest reason for getting the 2000+ is not as big a deal as I thought it would be. The number two benefit, I think, is probably the updated interior, which, as I said, is less likely to develop dash cracks (big one for me, as the CLK was susceptible to it).
The one real benefit to the 1999 is the ability to easily swap the stereo. I was able on my CLK. I know some will disagree, but any decent stereo from Pioneer, Alpine, etc. will sound far better than the MB stereo, and also modern head units offer easy iPod, USB, or SD card integration. Units from Kenwood and Pioneer offer the high voltage pre-outs that you want for the amp.
So, arguments for each generation.
I bought my 2001 E55 recently. I previously had a 1999 CLK 320. When I went shopping, I specifically wanted a 2000+ E55 for the touch shift transmission.
With the CLK, it had ok but not great power. Coming out of a turn I really wanted to be able to downshift the CLK so that I could power out of the turn. The '99 has no touch shift, so you had to do one of two things:
Hit the gas hard mid-corner to convince the transmission to downshift, wait a second for the downshift and power to come on, and try to time it right so that the down shift happened at the tail of the corner, rather than the apex (uh oh) or once you were already out.
Or secondly, wait until you were out of the turn, hit the gas, and wait while the transmission found the lower gear.
Basically, you could either try to game the transmission mid-corner, or you had to put up with a lag on exit. This is something familiar to almost anyone who prefers manual over automatic transmissions. Of course, this made me want an E55 with touch shift. However, now having one, I almost never use the touch shift. In the CLK there wasn't a ton of torque, so the gearing became very important. In the E55, there's so much torque that the transmission is less of an issue. You can power out of turns without changing gear.
With that said, my biggest reason for getting the 2000+ is not as big a deal as I thought it would be. The number two benefit, I think, is probably the updated interior, which, as I said, is less likely to develop dash cracks (big one for me, as the CLK was susceptible to it).
The one real benefit to the 1999 is the ability to easily swap the stereo. I was able on my CLK. I know some will disagree, but any decent stereo from Pioneer, Alpine, etc. will sound far better than the MB stereo, and also modern head units offer easy iPod, USB, or SD card integration. Units from Kenwood and Pioneer offer the high voltage pre-outs that you want for the amp.
So, arguments for each generation.
