beachbod

Hi,
im looking for a car and im kind of stuck between the E55 and the bmw 650i.I know they are different type but these two could suit me well and i have no preferance between a coupe and a sedan.Can you guys give me a honest opinion of the e55 and its weekness?(I know you could be bias but please fell free to give inputs) .Is there any complaints about the e55?or anything that u diddnt like about this car?
ps. Is there a new model coming out for the e55 in the next couple months?
any difference between the 2005 e55 and the 2006 e55?Thanks alot guys.Hope to contribute to this forum!

BoBcanada

if you drive them both i think you will like 650 handling but you WILL LOVE E55 516ft of torque.... the new E63 ( N/A 6.3 8 cyl, 510hp and 465 ft of trq) is "rumored" to come soon but we dont know for sure. Go for E55, my honest advise you wont regred it. It might be not as good in turns as 650 but you will hang with Turbos and vipers in city or hwy!!!

StapleGun

Check out as in search ---- E55 and brakes, apparently there are some issues with brakes from what I've read on these forums.

beachbod

Thanks for the inputs.Yes i have lurk around this forum and heard several problems and i also hear that the e55 handling is not the best..does anybody know why this is so?

also another thing i heard is a reliability issue?Just how reliable is the e55?Plus its now more expensive to get it service

VelocitE55

Yes.

IanSL55

Exactly the two cars I was debating on -- in the end I went w/ the E55... though I must admit I already owned by my torque fix (my SL55). I must admit the 6 series was suprisingly fun to drive, and I'd have taken it over the E55 had the dealer not given me the old bait and switch (Crevier BMW). In the ned I'm happy w/ the E55 (more practical based on the 4 doors), but at the time it wasn't my first choice. Good luck w/ your decision.

~ Ian

beachbod

Well my dealer gave me a couple k off the 650 if i decided to buy the 650.Im just concerned about the realibity of the e55 but on the other hand, the torque really makes me think even harder..damn a hard decision!!

Kev04C320

I have the '06 for about a month and a half. So far, it has been a great experience just like my previous Mercedes (C320). The only problem that happened once is the brake squeal. After two times of hard stop from 60-0. The squeal was gone and has not returned since. I'm very happy with the fit and finishes of this vehicle, even though the Nav is kinda stupid at times.

vixapphire

i've had no problems here with my e55. the fit and finish is excellent and it runs like a mercedes should. i looked at the bmw's at the time i was making a decision too, and a significant difference between the two companies' car designs at the moment seems to be the window sill height on the doors. the benz has a somewhat more open feel than the bmw based on a lower "shoulder". if you haven't already, you oughtta take both cars on as long a test drive as you can get away with at the dealerships so you can decide which "feel" is more to your taste.

TopGun32

I have the same problem about a SMG 550 or used 2003 or 2004 E55...

both about the same price...

one will win in straight line and overall luxury and confort (E55). warranty would depend on the usage of the vehicle... the design its getting a bit old.

The other will be as fast as my C32 with more room for my 2 boys and fun handling and full maitenance and full warrany. (550) Newer design, hate the interior but I can live with it.

i'm still leaning heavily on the E55... can't beat a v8 with Kompressor. So easy to get more HP and torque. The 550 would be a good car, but too many cars perform really close to it for that price. Besides a new 5.5L E500 is soon to be released with a 7sp auto, which will probably beat it.

the more I think about it... the decision get easier....

Also, I would only keep the E55 until the warranty runs out and jump to a CLS55.

By the way... if you wait another 6 to 8 months.. you might be able to get the CLS 500 with about 380+hp and 7sp auto, which will keep up with the 650 in straight and in the curves.

beachbod

Not a big fan of the CLS..prefer the E better..what is the warranty of the e55?I have to agree with the slightly outdated look of the e55..but i think the interior of the 550 is not bad driven a 530 myself

TopGun32

550 or 545 or 530 interio is black or ebony works fine...just the I-drive or the double swoops on the dash board kills me....

overall it feels rich and well appointe, just the design is not easy on the casual eye. You reallly need to know and love BMW to love it.

give you an example...

you show a normal girl and guy your BMW interior (cold, business like) and you show them the E or CLS warmer interio and it would not be a tough decesion.

Now.. we all know we don't buy cars to please others, but their comments sure make a difference.

My wife knows nothing about BMW and MB other than... wow thats nice... "what is it'? and even her does like the new 5 interior. The new 3 series made the right move to give you the option of I-driver. I personally like the old 5 design... more functional.

Don't get me wrong... i can live with it, but I go back to the performance for $60k. The way the market is going... IS350, probably the new 07 g35 and probably a new 335 (rumored to be a turbo inline) will keep up with the 550 or 650... with some simple mods. The distance between luxury and entry luxury cars performance wise is becoming tighter....

If you don't care about speed and torque and prefer handling and balance than by 650. I carry the family around and a bunch of baby stuff, i just need the torque and the ability to stomp on a few cars that act stupid and put your family in danger.

warranty is same 4/50k... I don't keep my car more than 2 years anyway. I don't really think most E55 owners do.

BMWEATR

i'VE

BLOWN 1 ENGINE/BLOWN 2 REAR SHOCKS OUT/HAD A LEAKY O RING IN THE TRANNY/1 LEAKY COOLENT LINE... and i still think its one bad a$$ car. buy one you won't regret it!!

beachbod

Now thats looks serious...

beachbod

I agree that the average benz interior is more lux but still the interior of 5 is not bad..
Well im just gonna use it alone(and hope to pick up some girls with the car) .
I plan to keep this car for at least 4 years because need it to go to school...
im just worried of how reliable the E is..

zdkdeeier493

That is serious and I'm sure he's one of very few to experience that many problems. I will admit that yes, I do experience problems with my car but very seldom - and when I do, they're usually very cheap and easy to fix. Now, I know this is not the case for some others on the forums, but I can confidently say that the majority of us spend more time driving the car than we do fixing it.

As for the comparison: follow your instinct. Personally, I love to drive - it is a passion of mine. You might be wondering why, then, do I go with MB and not the driving performance of BMW. Well, I figure that if I want to drive a car as stiff and rigid and cold as a racecar, I'll damn well drive a racecar. But if I have to do a 5 minute stretch every time I get out of my car, I'd rather drive something else. I present to you: the E55 AMG. This car not only provides you with the thrill and exhilaration that any avid driver would desire (and enjoy), but it provides insurmountable comfort. So what if I can't take a 70-degree turn at 60mph, I'll smoke em' on the whole shot . I say go with the Benz; you'll NEVER get bored with it but its still comfortable enough to fall asleep behind the wheel (until you punch it again).
Good Luck!

beachbod

I've heard that the e55 is not so good on the curves and turning...is this true?and why is this?

ClayJ

All that weight in the front end. If I'm correct, BMW uses way too much aluminum in the front end to cure the understeer/plow problem. But you'd love the E55...and you might love the 650....
Reliability MBZ vs BMW? I don't think that it's a quantifiable issue.

Vetluver

I have a trackable Vette with a Callaway suspension which handles nicely. My E55 will not stay with it, but the E55 is no slouch. I don't feel like I'm in a 4200 pound tank. Granted it won't handle like an M5 it is not a bad handler. Everything is relative. My E55 will do anything I ask it to on regular streets. It's a luxury car that will perform very nicely. It's also extremely smooth and comfortable.

As far as problems I think they are improving steadily. Most of the problems that have been beaten to death here are in 03 and 04s. My 05 has been virtually trouble free. The brake problem is extremely rare and most of the electronics problems have been sorted out.

Having lived with other luxury makes I still keep coming back to the MB. The E55 is the best MB that I have owned and I personally will not have another MB unless it is an AMG. If you drive it, you will come.

medici78

I wouldnt worry about reliability when debating between BMW and M-B. Let's face it, you're comparing apples and oranges. A 650i has a minimal back seat, over 100hp deficit and much more impractical vs. an E55. I can't believe we are having this discussion as the cars are so different.

beachbod

but also a heftier price tag
I dont relly care about the practical side of the cars as im driving it alone almost all the time.No specific need for a four seater..

WayneE

My kids are grown and out of the house. 75% of the time, I drive my E alone. 24% of the time, it's me and my wife. The other 1%, if that, I have 1 or 2 people in the back seat. I don't really need a 4 seater, but I really love the E55.

As a matter of fact, I generally don't like putting people in the back seat, because it gets dirt back there I took another couple into DC 2 wks ago and we drove my Titan, not my E55

If you were comparing an M6 and E55, I'd probably tell you to get the M6. It's more exclusive and performance is close to the E55 (without the kickass low end tq). But a regular 650? I'd get the E55.

Just my .02!

medici78

If you really don't care about the practical side of cars, then get an Ariel Atom. :p

~CL500~

If I may beachbod, since you're looking at a 650, did you ever consider a preowned 2003+ CL55. It sure has the looks and the power.

beachbod

sorry man but im just not a fan of pre owned..IMO, I Just cant imagine what was done to the car previouslly and especially with those people who does not follow the proper break in and never appreciate a good car