Davetruong

Hi you all,

I've beena member at this forum for a while now, but I have been driving a S500 coupe (W140C). I am thinking of giving the 500 to my dad and get an e55 (W210). I am looking for something between 2000 and 2002 with a navi system. Can you tell me the difference between 99 through 2002? Also, what are the available packages on the e55? I would love to hear your opinions on the pros and cons (very little I bet) of the E55. Would you believe that Flethcer Jones Newport Beach wanted an 02 for $72,000?

Anyhow, I'm much obliged to your suggestions, opinions and recommendations.

MB AMG

I have a '99 E55 that I still love. I am thinking about an '04 though. Anyways, a year after it was introduced (actually 2 years) in 2000, it was given a minor facelift. Lower air intake was improved, side panels, rear lights etc... I think that was it until they changed the AMG guages in 02. Oh yeah, my car doesn't have a nav system.

Davetruong

Thanks for the info. I just test drove the 02 on Sunday and do not what the 99-01 look like. I'm the highest bidder right now on an 01 on ebay, what do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2427360730

Do you have any complaints on the car? Any repairs thus far? Any other information that you could give would be so much appreciated!

mikE55

Visually, there does not seem to be much difference between the '99 and the '00-'02, however MB claims something like over 2000 changes were made to the '00 E-class models. The gauge change was one of the differences, and it was done in '00. The '01 & '02 are near identical. The only changes I know of was chrome stars on the wheels and the trunk release inside the trunk (if your kids or the kidnapped ever got trapped in there).

Other than the AMG exterior styling changes, I think the most significant change to the '00s was the touch shift transmission. The rest of the visible changes are in the interior, of note, the steering wheel had controls added to it.

Ttsakai

Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that you can definitely bargain your way on the pricing of the '02 E55 that you saw at Fletcher Jones Newport Beach. In May I purchased a "brand new" '02 E55 with under 300 miles from Fletcher Jones for just over $60K. So there is no way that you should expect to pay anything near $72K for the car you looked at.

I just walked in and presented a price I wanted to pay for the car and they accepted it. Initially they told me they would sell the car for approximately $64K at that time but nonetheless I just presented my price and they accepted it.

Just wanted to give you a datapoint to work from.

Davetruong

Hey MikE55,

LOL about the kids being kidnapped. No kids yet, but if I should happen to have kids, I'm getting a burb (though I wish by then, I could afford the G500) for the wife (if I had one) to drive them around. Hell no will they get in my car!

Can you tell me what are these buttons for on the steering wheel?

steering wheel

Davetruong

Ttsakai,

Thanks for the info Tracy... the salesman that helped me was really **** and not very knowledgeable about the car. He said that the engine had "in the neighborhood of 500 hp", and he couldn't locate the car, when it was right in front of him. I couldn't beleive it when he said that the E55 W210 had more horses than the E55 W211. Additionally, he was pissed that I test drove the car over 65mph on the 73... His excuse for the lack of knowledge was that he was new at FJ, he's been there since January. That whole incident turned me off, so I think I'm going to get a Starmarked somewhere else. But I'm glad you got a killer deal on yours at FJ. I think the problem was that I came in to FJ in shorts and a Hawaiin shirt, and was younger looking (though I'm not that young, I'm 28)...

allenjdmb

one of the largest differences in the 00 up models, and that's prepaid service for the later models. The build quality and materials are also superior on the 00 up models. I've owned three of them, and would love to own another. But I would check the master vehicle history in advance to see if the particular car has any engine management issues. Can be a pain. They eventually replaced the entire DME in my second 01. Ran so much better, but I understand the new owner is still having a problem with check engine lights. Lots of fun for the $$, but you should be albe to buy an above average car in the high 40;s, max low 50's. Good luck.

Davetruong

Allen,

Thanks for the info, I never knew that the E55 had engine management problems. thanks