noka

I'd like to get back into a MB. Having owned an E36-M3, E39-M5 and C55, I do like some above average performance. However, I do not track cars and live in the Northeast where snow is a concern. In the past I had a Winter car, however I did put snows on the M/AMG cars just in case I had to take it. Now I live in an area where there is no room for two cars, so my question is whether the E55 could be an all year-round car (with snows for Winter) or if I should perhaps consider the E550 4-Matic. Any comments appreciated.

dragonAMG

why did you sell the C55? Might be kinda hard going from an AMG to a non-AMG MB?

MB Fanatic

Trust me the E550 is no slouch and will kill the 99-02 E55's in a hearbeat so the performance is there. I say go for the E550 with 4-matic when its available.

zdkdeeier493

Get the E55. You'll be fine in snow if you take it easy and itll be a world of difference compared to the 550. Sure, the 550 is powerful, but its no 55.

2K6E55

Go with the w211 E55... No contest!

L8Apex

I agree. Especially if you plan on driving the car in the winter. An e55 would have a tough time making the trip to Stowe or Sugarbush in a snow storm.

rake55

The E550 is animal an absolute animal!!! I just picked up an E550 4-Matic and I’m thoroughly impressed. I’ve owned a 2000, 2002 and 2004 E55. The 550 will out run the 2000 and 2002 E55’s.

My car feels like a high 4 second to low 5 second car, and a low 13 sec. quarter mile car. The day I picked it up I raced a Honda 2000 and it wasn’t even close. The Honda 2000 is a mid 5 sec. / mid 13 sec. car. The previous generation E55’s were 349 HP, 391 lb. ft. cars and ran about 4.8 and 13.1. The E550 has 33 more HP and is wrapped in a far superior package. It’s a tremendous value at roughly $65,000 especially when ordered with the Sport and P2 packages. The BMW 550i has 360 HP and 360 lb. ft. and R&T just tested it in 5 sec to 60 and 13.5 in the quarter. With the additional HP and torque the E550 should best the BMW’s times. If an additional $25,000 to $30,000 is worth a few more 10th’s to you go with the 55, if not the E550 represents a tremendous bang for the buck.

noka

My local dealer just got an E550 4-Matic, so I will go down for a test drive. I also would be looking for Sport and P2 packages, basically all options except Pano roof. I know you probably don't get much snow in MD but I wonder if the all-season tires that come with it would be OK for New England Winter. If I have to get an extra set of wheels anyway, that could make me at least consider the E55 a little harder, although the idea of AWD sounds like what I really need over brute straight-line performance. Of course and E55 wouldn't be anywhere near an extra 25K-30K if I purchased a used/certified 2005. Hmm ...

Just curious, you also said:
Was it much of a 'letdown' (for lack of a better word) going from the '04 E55 to the E550 and how would you compare the brakes (SBC to standard hydraulic)?

MidniteBluBenz

Car & Driver tested an SL550 and they clocked it at 4.9 0 - 60 and 13.5 1/4mile. An E550 4-Matic probably weighs about the same. It might be quicker off the line but it'll post similar times. It'd be a good race against a 210 E55

rake55

Thanks for the info on the SL550. Those are impressive numbers for a standard V-8 engine.

Germancar1

I agree, along with the CLK55 and CLS550, they are really bargains in the MB lineup. The CLK550 in particular just obsoleted the previous CLK55 in one swoop.

M

2K6E55

For $65K, you can get a nicely optioned 04-05 E55 w/low mileage. Once you drive the E55, there is NO TURNING BACK!

Kev04C320

I think the E55 will be a better choice if you can find low mile CPO. I personally don't have problem driving my E55 with snow tires in the winter. However, if you have a family that you really care about and want them to be as safe as possible, the E550 is a no brainer. Add a set of snows, lower it a little bit, and it will basically out run anything in a blizzard.

Nij

Yup...go with the E55, I live in Chicago and the snow doesn't pose a big problem

noka

Thanks for the replies. I expected mixed responses, of course. This will take some careful thought. I am older now ... mid-50's, so the practical side might take over (i.e. E550), but the youngter in me says E55.

WayneE

What about this option...

- buy an E55
- buy a winter beater
- store the winter beater in the summer
- store the E55 in the winter

Problem solved. 3 seasons drive the E55, 1 season drive the beater.

Kev04C320

if the darn parking is not so outrageous in downtown Boston, I would have leased an A3 3.2 Quattro for winter

noka

As I said in my original post I prefer not to store the car for Winter and not have easy access. When I had room for two cars (three actually including my wife's), I would drive the Winter car on bad days and the other car on good days, depending. If I can't do that, I would prefer to have one car as a daily driver.

Nickerz

Hey noka!

Just curious to see if you've made a decision yet re: E55 or E550? I just picked up an '05 E55 one week ago today and I absolutely LOVE it!!! Owning a C55, it's a big step up, mostly the roomy interior. Of course power too!

Also curious to see if you sold your C55 privately or to a dealer as I'm trying to sell mine right now. How long did it take you to sell it if it was private buyer and did you list it on the web? I have 2 offers and am hoping to sell it soon.

Thanks,
Nick

2K6E55

Nice plan. Im doing exactly that but there is NO WINTER here in California.

jmf003

Given your requirements, go for an E550 If it seems a little sluggish after you've broken it in, you can always mod it.