This afternoon, I met with my Mercedes Benz dealer from whom I (i) had purchased my 2001 E55 and (ii) with whom I have had a deposit to purchase the soon-to-be-available new E55 since August of 2000. This past Wednesday the sales staff of this dealership was told that specific orders were going to be accepted, starting with the first two customers having the longest outstanding deposits. Accordingly, I placed my order just a few hours ago.

In reality, the salesperson was not terribly well informed. He did not know when the first deliveries will actually arrive, but he expected them to be in early May. He did not know what the base price of the vehicle will be. He did not know when Designo upgrades would be available, nor DVD-based navigation systems, nor even voice-activated phone systems. There were no pictures of the three interior leather choices (all charcoal gray, gray with red seat inserts and gray with blue seat inserts), let alone swatches and paint samples to determine what combinations looked good.

It was, for me, a frustrating experience when I had hoped for a joyous one. I ended up ordering the Pewter Silver metallic paint with all charcoal (gray) Napa leather, the Xenon headlights, Parktronic, panorama sunroof with solar panels, ventilated seats, the 6-CD changer, Drive-Dynamic seats, the tire-pressure monitoring system, and the Motorola V60 phone. The salesperson used the NetStar system to configure the order, but no Base+Options price was able to be calculated.

I made my order conditional on the inclusion of DVD-navigation and voice-activated phone. If they are not available at the time my car is ready to be assembled, I have asked to be "dropped down the list" and have my delivery postponed until both can be incorporated.

The reality is that I am sufficiently annoyed at the vagueness of this process and lack of important information that I intend to visit Stuttgart and Affalterbach (AMG) the third week of February in order to get my questions answered.

Bottom line: E55's are finally coming to our shores this Spring, but to what degree the first ones will be fully equipped is anyone's guess.

 

I saw my dealer today, and he told me that we should be able to place orders via NetStar very soon, but not right away. He said that as far as he knew, the cars should be built starting in July, and I should be getting my car around September.

My buddy also talked to another dealer about getting an E55, and he was told that the very first batch would be non-ordered cars sold to the general public. Didn't make much sense, but he, too, was told the cars should start to show up on these shores around this fall. I don't know if these know what they're talking about but we'll have to see.

 

I think you got some dad infor KrispyK. I ordered my car in the sytem with my salesman three weeks ago. Watched him do it....

Same situation as jMeyers, no prices and no info on anything. The Nav system was not even an option but the VA Phone was..... I was told that production is to start in March with the first cars here in early April.....

Schiz

 

that's bad info..... bad info......

 

OK, Shiznick, thanks for typing in TWO separate messages to tell me that I have "bad info ... bad info ..."

Next time you're wrong let me rub your face in with two SEPARATE messages, too. Sheesh, the nerve of some people.

 

That is what the "Edit" msg button is for.

 

I placed my order via Netstar just a few days ago. Nav was an option as was the voice activated phone, no pricing information but from comparing the E500 pricelist on the German website to the car I just bought my wife, they look pretty close. I'm willing to bet that the car will retail at approx. $75000 base, with Nav being ~$2,500. I can't remember the exact options but I believe with Nav, bi-xenons, premium audio, keyless go, parktronic, and I can't remember what else I came up with ~$82,000. I'm first on the list but the BIG question is, when's the dealer's first slot going to come up? The config sheet I got showed Decade 32 of 2003 but I have no clue if that's meaningful or not.

 

I was asked to stop by my dealer yesterday also for the same reason (to discuss order details), and he, too, was without any details at all.
I knew much more about likely options than he did, but he wanted to know what my preferences are so that whatever turns out to be available can be ordered without delay.

It was a very unusual meeting, I must say.
It's almost as if the dealers have been told to contact wait listers to verify who's actually going to take delivery or something.
Not much was accomplished otherwise. Basically a waste of my time.

I did have a chance to drive an E500 (I hadn't bothered thus far). All I can say is, I hope the AMG has far better handling/steering and tighter suspension. The interior/ergonomics and such were great.

**An SL55 was being prepped for delivery while I was there and I had a chance to get in and to at least listen to the engine/exhaust note. That is one impressive automobile.

 

amg55,

I test drove an E500 not long ago, and found the car be a good solid feeling car, with a comfortable ride, good steering and throttle response with nice interior. The exterior styling of the car is great. I felt like the car rides similiarly to my girlfriend's SL500. I test drove an S55 as well. Although the car had tremendous acceleration, and great sounding engine, the ride was a bit too soft, much like my Lexus LS430. Im thinking the E55 will be a great car all around and plan to replace my LS430 with one. Im anxiously awaiting my CLK55, as well, due in this week.

Regards....

 

I hope the E55 handles better than the '500 as well. IMO the 500 is a great car for it's purpose. It's a MUCH better car than the W210 (We traded her '02 E55 on the '03 500... she liked the speed, hated the ride). I always felt the E55 had exceptional limits, but it wasn't any fun exploring them. As with the '01 CLK55 I had before, the handling was vague, the suspension seemed to wallow when the going got fast and the cars were inexplicably very harsh riding while also having vague handling. Some may think I'm crazy but I find my current C32 to offer a vastly more enjoyable driving experience. My most sincere hope is that the '03 E55 offers a high percentage of the driving enjoyment the C32 does while also providing the size and creature comforts I'm missing. It'll also be nice to get back into a V8... the C32 is very powerful but no amount of forced induction can replace V8 grunt.

 

I hate to say this, folks, and it really really does pain me, given my rivalry with my pro-BMW friends, but if you truly want a great handling sport sedan, I don't think MB comes close to a Bimmer. I've tried the new E500 and I recently drove a 540i, and I have to say, in terms of pure handling, the E-class doesn't even come close. I felt like Juan Pablo Montoya taking twisties and hairpins through some of the country backroads where I drove the 540i. Of course, this is just my opinion, and feel free to say I know nothing, but that's exactly how I felt. I felt like I was wearing the car, as opposed to driving it.

At the same time, I think the E-class is more comfortable than the more taut 5-series, but then again, if I wanted comfort, I'd grab an LS430. What does still attract me to the E-class is its excellent styling vis a vis just about any other car out there. I place a huge emphasis on the aesthetics, but gosh, I hope they make the new E55 handle like a Bimmer!

 

Krispy, I agree with you completely. MB got it right with the C32, it DOES handle that well. That's why I'm so hopeful that the W211 '55 will be a better car. I have doubts about BMWs ability to produce a superior car. I don't like the direction they're going in at all under Chris Bangle with regards to styling, and their latest features are really getting away from their previous 'nothing that doesn't benefit the driving experience' focus. Idrive??? No thanks. While the E60 may come out with more power, and it may even drive better, IMO if it looks anything like the 7 series they can keep the damn thing. If it really IS a better car, we'll all have enjoyed our E55s for about two-three years by then and we can go get NEW toys, right?

 

KK: the vast majority of car aficionados will agree with your comments about handling/suspension.
This is BMW's forte. We had a 540 in the late 1990's, and my AMG does not handle as well, nor does it feel as tight.
My hope is that the 211E55 will be a step up, and at least match the old 540.
I really doubt it will surpass it.
But there are other reasons I'm buying the new E55, among them the extra space, inerior luxuries, torque, etc.
BMW still makes the best pure sport sedans IMO.
But AMG makes some very capable luxury sport sedans which have closed the gap.

 

I spoke with my dealer last week regarding what I have been reading here. He said that after speaking to their order specialist that there is not any information in the system and that orders for options are not being taken yet. I am #1 at a large midwest dealer.

Are you other guys working with magic dealers or something?

 

I don't think MB is allocating production slots and there's no pricing yet but the car is loaded in Netstar... might want to talk to a different salesperson at that dealer or tell your guy to look at it again in Netstar. I saw the screen and picked options off of it so it is definitely there.

 

............I think the new E55 will enjoy trmendous sales because that is the least expensive way to get your hands on the new AMG supercharged engine since CLk 55 will be normally aspirated. However the comments on this thread so far prompts me to say again what I've said before.........to get an MB to perform, it needs to be modified. Mb's are essentially luxury cars with performance features while BMW's are performance cars with luxury features. So if you are buying an E55, you unfortunately have to accept that the suspension and steering response are just not going to be similar to that of its BMW competitir. But fear not.........add a Kleeman suspension and change the stock sway bars and you will get the true performance out of your car. This issue became clear to me when I first drove a CLK 55 with a Kleeman supercharger. The stock suspension just could not handle the HP. The reason why Mb does not make their poerformance(AMG) cars with real sport-like suspension is lost on me.

Ted

 

Kleemann does not make an upgraded suspension for the W220 and may not have one for the W211. That Kleemann ABC suspension product only lowers the car. The speed sensitive suspension products are for cars with regular shocks and springs. I believe, no one makes a thicker sway bar than what is OEM for the W210 E55.

The demographics and preference of most Mercedes owners will always be luxury and comfort over performance. Performance suspensions, low profile tires, thicker sways always equals less comfort. Anyone buying an AMG or M for luxury or soft cushy ride will be dissapointed. That is a fact.

Mercedes is making cars for the masses and the AMG models are for the few diehards like us. 500 W210 E55's per year in the US is not a lot and not for the average MBZ buyer. The majority of Mercedes buyers do not want anything that rides like an AMG.

 

The demographics and preference of most Mercedes owners will always be luxury and comfort over performance. Performance suspensions, low profile tires, thicker sways always equals less comfort. Anyone buying an AMG or M for luxury or soft cushy ride will be dissapointed. That is a fact.

...................I think you have misunderstood my point. My point is that even in the arena of performance, AMG cars offer less handling tham their BMW M counterparts. Meaning that the AMG cars are still geared more towards luxury tham M cars. To buy a true handling car it seems the M division of BMW is the way to go. Otherwise you will have to perform aftermarket modifications to an AMG car to get the handling to match the HP.


Ted

 

Cars with ABC do not have swaybars, it all electronic controlled.

 

Cars with ABC do not have swaybars, it all electronic controlled.

...............I recognize that. I thought no one has any info on what will be on the E55 other than that it will have the 476Hp supercharged engine. If because of the aitmatic suspension etc, the cars suspension cannot be modified then you are left with what the reviewers have said so far..............great engine and amazingly fast but scary to drive because it is so fast that the steering and suspension are too soft for it. I still love the idea of the 476HP AMG engine for hopefully under $80K. But even the current * cylinder M5 is said by the reviewers to outperform the new E55 because of suspension and handling issues. I like most, dislike the current BMW styling but when they come up with the 10cylinder M6 even with the same handling as the current M5, that car will rock. Again seems like AMG bulds great engines for luxury minded performance drivers.

Ted

 

The Airmatic is like a bath tub, but some clever people work on a software change for it.

 

Dealer called and said 2003 E55's will be delivered By April or I could wait until September for a 2004 model year E55.

Dealer asked me to submit order with options by Thursday to maintain my slot. The salesman had an option sheet with prices but did not have a list of standard equipment or base price but said that MBNA told him the price is likely to be 78-80000 before options.

Here's the question for board members - were you asked to put down a nonrefundable deposit once you entered your order? I have had a $500 refundable deposit since last June to preserve my #2 slot but salesman now says it is MBNA policy to require a non-refundable deposit once the order is formally placed.

 

When I optioned my car today, it was with the understanding that it will be a 2004 car but delivery dates are likely not until after May 1. No mention was made of my deposit converting from refundable to non refundable. Options with prices were available, but not MSRP. Any guess at this point is still speculation, but the euro being worth $1.09 US certainly isn't helping us. I sure hope they don't call a car being introduced in May or June a 2003, but for a lease, it probably won't hurt me very much.

 

Referring to W211. The W211 E500 and E55 have ADC - Airmatic Dual Control and has Stabilizer Bars front and rear.

 

E 55 Kev, you are right, but didn't I write " cars with ABC "
do not have swaybars.
Airmatic suspension is something very different, and there you are right they have swaybars.