What's the best year to buy for the E55 AMG V8 Kom.?

2006 !!!

I would go for the 2005 model year.

It has the faster steering rack, softer seats -- far more comfortable, 200 mph speedo, etc. The 2006 has all this but nothing else changed so you are just paying for the new model year. A low mile 2005 is the way to go IMHO.

I would just skip the 2003 and 2004 (I have a 2004 and still say skip it). The steering in the old car is just dead slow and you have to literally THROW the wheel around to make it change direction. Sometimes I feel like I am driving a school bus!

Good luck

hands down 05 or maybe an 06

06... My cousin has an 05 and it seems a bit less responsive...

'06.............I had a run last night with a C6 Z06 and caught him off gaurd, he played hell catching up with me.

The stronget motors were seen in early 2003 E's and CL's. For some reason those cars were putting out well over 530-540 hp stock. I have seen 1 stock CL55 put out 550 hp.

There should be no difference between the power or response of a 2005 and 2006. Remember the tranny could be adapted to a more sporting shift program in the 2006 car so it just feels faster. Driving the car slowly for a while makes it feel lethargic for sure.

Unless there is something that I am missing, later year models are better becuase they have all of the latest evolutions and improvements included in their build.

For the European version, there is no big different between the model years!

Do you have a G 55, S 65 and a CLK DTM?

Please share picture's of that CLK DTM!

..............So long as it is the newer model year, M5RUS prefers it. Yu won't find an SL Gullwing in his garage....its too old.

Ted

The 06s don't have the TPMS that was offered in MY 05. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 06 does not display each of the 4 tire pressures as does the 2005 model.

Good point, can drive: often enough something desirable was discontinued in a given year, and this fact could make all the difference in one's choice....

By "late year model" I did mean a 2005 as well as the 2006 (because the 2006 'just' came out). Does anyone know if in fact the 2006's recieved the new steering rack and the second generation of ABC? Or is that just happening on the 2007's?

If I had a choice of TPMS versus improved handling in an E55, I'd take the handling. If the choice is identical cars mechanically, except for the TPMS, I'd take the TPMS -- and save some money on an earlier-year, older model....

I agree with your logic. I believe the rack on the 05 was new for that MY, being different form the 40 model, but I have no idea if it is the new one that you refer to. I also know that I have no problems or complaints with my steering or the handling of the car. I have yet to find a passenger who felt like complaining about the lack of lateral G-force, or any G-force for that matter.

I could look it up in my notes - but I have dalied here too long at present already.

I do believe that the second generation ABC/ADC is a substantial improvement and highly desirable - but I am just not sure if it actually made it onto the '06 E55's....

...and of course the changes for MY2007 are numerous, and substantial....

I apologize for being off topic, but I just had to say that ClayJ you are now 2,001 posts ahead of me. I bet you have sore fingers, huh?

Ok, return to topic. Maybe //AMG KING should look for a good deal on a remaining in stock 06.

LOL - don't worry: I am doing a LOT less altely, and have only been fairly active this last week becuase of circumstances allowing a little bit of posting....

I would ask two questions:

What can I really afford, and for that price what is available?

What were the suspension/steering changes from '05 to '06?

Gotta go -- lates can drive

Another couple of things to consider are the changes in the console to the sliding door and the pedals to aluminum in mid-year 05.

the earlier the model, the less de-contenting if you care about some of the small stuff....

You gotta basically agree with this...although there isn't a lot of difference.

Some people say not to go for first year models due to flaws.

have only driven my 06 and an 2012 in a school recently. I prefer the visceral feel of aggression of the E55 compared to the 2012 E63 which is probably just as fast, it doesn't FEEL as fast to me, whats the point. Performance drivers want to feel the roller coaster thrill. :-)

hey - to 'hot-rod' one of these now that they are so ridiculously cheap to buy kilowatt for dollar i would say the harder the engine (the very early ones, right?) and the lighter the body (the first year was listed at 3815 lbs, when the later years were all listed at 3995 lbs) then an '03 would be the one to pick-up, with the least amount of power-sucking stuff like heated seats etc.. the less weight ..the more power to the road that you feel under your foot

also, throw away the heavy 89mm sc pulley and chuck on an 84mm

waaaaaytergo

Actually the earlier the car, the more options that were available. They slowly lost options throughout the model years.

Necrobump!

....which year has the best suspension?

Thanks..

Are you able to confirm the accuracy of the very interesting statement made early on in this thread that the '03 engines were found to be packing more power than the '04's and onwards for some unknown reason? (Perhaps AMG was taking particular care with the assembly and set-up of the first year's production run of engines..as with the birth of a new special project sort of thing?)

Another question I have is whether there is confirmation that there was any known increase or reduction in the use of aluminum for weight saving between the '03 -'06 production years?

These particularly amazing machines are modern classic 'keepers' now . . .