LCat

Trying to choose between thouse 2 cars. I'm choosing betwee 2003 W211 and 2001 w210. I understand what acceleration is night and day. But to me 1/4 mile runs are not that important. What about driving experience, handling, quality of ride, highway behavior, etc. I unerstand what 211 should come with more ammenities but this particular specimens I'm looking at 211 seems to be a base load and 210 is full load with nav/phone/vented seats/designeo(and I love it), parktronic and anything else availiable. What do you think.
What about build quality - matereials used etc...

Also from a standpoint of relaiability - I know what w210 are relaible cars - what about 211s?

Any ideas greatly apreciated

zoink

In simple words, W211 has about the same handling (except '05+) and has worse build quality (cheaper feeling interior, less reliable, etc.).

I wouldn't be scared owning W210 E55 w/o warranty (I had one until 73K)... but I wouldn't get W211 E55 w/o warranty.

psuball1

I would not rate the W211 interior as cheap or subpar to the W210. I agree that a W211 E55 needs to have a warranty.

JAYCL600

my w210 e55 was one of the best cars i ever owned

TopGun32

w210.. I rather have E39 M5

W211 for the price is worth it.

My interio of my 03 is perfect condition and I have 2 little boys. No rattlese or squeaks.

There are some electrical issues.. but not as bad as my C32.

211 has proven to be pretty solid and the JD power reports prove it. Its not a Lexus in quality but the E class has been a solid perfomer.

CWW

+1

Driven both, and (no offense meant, since this is a 211 forum after all), the build quality is light-years better in the 210. It's also not as complicated, and I don't think a 210 will give you as much trouble as the 211 would, long-term. The 211 is computerized to the point where anything that breaks is mega-$$$.

LCat

Now, just to give everybody idea and put things in to prospective - price difference between them is $7K + w211 has t6 be shipped from SF which will cost me extra, but tax benefites of me buying W211 will make price difference only $3K after all. What I like about W210 is what it's practicly MINT with perfect interior and 2 small scratches on exterior and comes with OK warranty for next 33K miles. Also like look of designeo. I love fast cars but if I need to scratch that bug I have highly modified SHO which lays out 404hp at front weels, weights 2950 lbs, 0.93g on skidpad and I did slalom at 70.2 mph also goes 60-0 in 112 feet . Do not ask me what I did to it but over 8 years of active mods I dumped $90K + and whent through 3 engines. Sadly enough I have driven it maybe 3-5 times in a last 2 years. So I'm not really looking for a monster as my daily drive. I do not mind extra hp - well who does but it's not going to make or brake it. What I'm looking for is a built quality, ammenities, safety and RELAIABILITY. My brother has twin turbo CL 600 - 2003 - it goes from repair shop to repair shop. And although he has warrnty which takes care of most oh $$$ - his feeling is NEVER MORE. It really gets to you if` you can't rely on your car to be there for you in the morning. BTW gas milege is also important to me since I do drive a lot. And what bothers me in the W211 what I would not be able to integrate my phone in it easliy since it does not come with phone system. It also does not come with navigation but given quality of W210 command nav by today's standarts I'm probably going to use external unit anyway. Parktronik is a nice option though cuz I do drive in Manhattan a lot. Space is important - which one is more spacios? So what do you guys think )))))))))))

MB Fanatic

I sold my uncle my 2004 E55 which was fully loaded with Solar Panels and all at about 35K miles or whatever it was. He now has 100K on the E55 and it runs like a tank, its reliable and the build quality IMO is top notch.

Good luck with your decision though. The W210 still has that mystique IMO, and I miss my 2001 E320 :p

Jakpro1

Haven't read this whole post but I gotta admit that this has had me thinking off and on all weekend.

Instant response was GET THE W211, but you said initially that 1/4 mile performance is not that important to you anymore.
I'll get a little flamed for this but I just think you might be looking at the wrong brand for that. Although my 03 E55 has performed flawless for the massive abuse I put it through with modding, you sure read a lot of stories about problems with these cars.

Cool thing about most owners here is we talk about other models without flames coming at us.

Curious why you never considered a used Lex. Sure would run like a tank most likely for eternity.

Someone chiming in with story of lots of Lexus problems in 3.....2......1.

ApproachingZero

+1 for the E39 M5..... The M5 had plenty of issue, oil burning, VANOS, clutches..... but what a drivers car

IMO:

E39 M5 > W210
W210 < W211

Blacksport350

The W210 E55 is a great car but simply does not compare to the W211 E55. I would agree that that the relative simplicity of the W210 makes it a more reliable car but that is usually how it works. I would also argue that an old 500E was a far better built car then a W210 E55 but I would rather have the W210 buy a mile with regards to driving it on a daily basis. For looking at it...give me the 500E.

Drive them both and decide for yourself but I can pretty much guess what the outcome will be.

LCat

Well I had 3 Infinity Q45s and they are very relaible but I would like to get a little bit more performance. As far as Lexus goes - drives like a couch and would not be on my list at all. If I to go this route - 2005 fully loaded Q45 always does your body good .
But i really need a little bit more zip and fun

LCat

While E39 M5 is a great drivers car try to do stick shift in NYC traffic, relaiability is crap - my brother had one, and it needsto be kept in high RPMs which agin is problem round here

MB_Forever

I've owned a W210 in the past (not E55), and I have to admit, the build quality, the finish, and reliability of the car was overall much better than the W211. I had a 156,000 miles on the car when I sold it with no major problems. However, the W211 looks better and for only $3k more (from your post above), you can get an extra 150 hp and twice as much torque

thebenzbar

I got the w210 E55 and I'm loving it day by day... fun as heck... I'd love to have a newer w211 E55 but it's not currently in my budget for now. Either way, one (w210) is an excellent car and the other (w211) is simply outstanding as well.

CWW

That's a ******' classic line...

I gotta remember that one.

The Godfather

W211 handles like ***. That airmatic is ****. The W210 suspension is much better...well modded that is. I had H&R springs and Bilstein sport shocks on the W210 E55 and it was good. The W211 E55 handles like *** compared to it, and there is no aftermarket suspension you can put on there.

Powerwise, you can't compare the 2. The w211 takes the cake. My w210 felt more solid though. I miss it. I had it until 143K miles or so. Loving the W211 though... it's a tough choice, but the 211 is definitely "newer" in the sense that the amenities are more up to date with other cars.

MidniteBluBenz

Is it possible to ditch the AIRMatic setup and swap in a set of regular coil springs w/ some shocks on a 211 E55? I guess it comes down to the computers again..

The Godfather

VRP is supposedly working on a system

DFW01E55

Highly modified to say the least!
The SHO paved the way for the 4dr monsters that we all enjoy today.

E55_GT3wheels

I had a W210 E55 and now a 2005 E55. I do miss the W210 E55 but the 211 is better in every way. I also had blistein and H&R's in my W210 and it handled well with that set up. I feel the handling on the W211 is just as good (maybe even better) as my W210 with the h&R/blistein sport setup. I am beging to think the suspension changes made in 2005 to the W211 E55 really did make a big difference to the handling of the W211 E55?

Musikmann

I would buy the loaded late model run W210 over the stripped 1st year W211.

nick 55

Give me both of them, you can drive the 211. Both of those older cars, if clean, are instant attention getters for people that know Benzes.

If only I could convince the wifey I need a 500E in the garage next to my 210also.

Blacksport350

As great as they both are and as collectable as the 500E is, they don't have the explosive power of the W211 E55. I bought mine so I could do some mods and bend the horizon like few other cars and do so in total comfort. My E55 is a faster car in all regards then my GT3 which is not something that I can say about the 500E or W210 which was the reason I got the W211...I wanted an outrageous daily driver and that is exactly what I got. When I am not going around corners, I don't want to give up any power or style but I do want to be comfortable.

vimzin

+2 still miss my e39 m5 from time to time.