Boy you really do get defensive. The only reason people talk like you is they are insecure for one reason or another. Just an observation.

 

I owned a 211 55 and recently traded up to a 211 63. Prior to that I owned a RUF BTR2. If you have a modded Porsche then it's unlikely you will mod the Merc in a major way as a guess.

Both my Mercs were both stock with zero mods.

The biggest differences. 55 from 2000-3500 revs kick in the pants torque. However from 3500 up the 63 feels like it accelerates a lot faster. Here in NZ we don't have good roads and don't have many long stretches of "fun zones" I hit higher top speeds in the 63 in the limited "fun zones" we do have.Completely unscientific but my feelings anyway. Brakes better in 63 and handling noticeably better however ... not a Porsche and never will be. The 63 stock sounds much nicer which I really like.

The 63 is every bit as fast as a 55 in a day to day driver comparison. At a drag strip/race track well the debate still rages on. The reality is you will be happy with either. My advice would be find the best year, lowest k's, most factory mods and ensure you get a warranty.

Hope this helps

 

Keep observing. I'm real insecure. Now, you really want to get personal? It has nothing to do with being insecure, especially since i am nothing but a persona behind the keyboards); It is all about how the community spirit here went south when the W210s were removed and the W211 was not split up. Go look at the earlier posts and see how many were BEGGING for the 63s to be split out. This place used to be a place where we didn't just trade secrets or observations but also the joy of having our cars. Now, nobody can relate to eachother because we are all of such different mindsets. People have theorized that the price plummet on these rides let in the rif raf but I have always believed that the new money is the problem just like "New Money" always has......

 

I agree with Dan the Man on almost everything, except the handling. The handling was improved in mid '05 and '06 as CLS components became available and older 55 parts were used up. It had nothing to do with motors or models. As for the brakes, it is a pure preference. The E55 is fly by wire so you don't get the feel but the input is sent at the speed of light. It is simply a choice and not a better thing.

I know you say the distance to test drive is huge but I say do it. If you don't get hooked on the TQ and dynamic seats then go for the 63 for sure. You will love either.

 

Before I bought my E63, I have been comparing the prices with the Kelly's Blue Book at www.kbb.com. I know its not really a standard price thing, but at least you know how and how much its base price are, also I noticed there prices are updated every 2 weeks or so. Since I have been keeping an eye on the E63 and the prcing through kbb for almost a year. I have noticed several factor that effects the pricing. Color, I've seen many silver and black e63 and those prices are lower than white color E63 (rare), and depending on if its from a Merc dealer or an independent dealer its cheaper too. But the Merc dealer usually has a ceritfied warranty, but its prices are usually several thousand dollars more. But to me I'd try to get more warranty, its expensive to fix Merc.

Depending on what color you like, if you're lucky there will always be one that is cheaper and better, but then you never know when that chance arrives. That was the hard part for me. If you find one that you really liked and has all the options you want, then go for it.

Otherwise you may get an E55 or E63 with some options not included and its cheaper, but if you do plan on adding it later on it will be hard to get the parts or more expensive.
I was willing to pay 1 or 2 thousand more, so I got one with every availible option except the disctronic. That includes the performance package ($9,000 option). But I am very happy with the purchase. I got a used 2008 E63 rare white on black color for $62,000 shipped from TX to CA. The kkb at the time was $65,800 now its about $62,000, but thats not including the performance package option which is a $5,000 for a used vehicle.
Write down a list of a car include all options and price and one list for a cheaper car without the options and add the options and labor, then compare them side by side to see it its worth the labor and rar AMG parts and time.

 

Like lovin a fat lady and a real fat lady .... one rolls a bit more than the other heh

 

I don't know about new money or old money. All I know is the 55 is a slower older model with older looks and not near as refined. That is not a bad thing it's just what it is.

 

ok dude, we'll just let it rest. You know lots apparently......

 

My next question is, "Are you going to have a warranty"? I like the 05' 55 with 12k miles for upper 30's! I mean, that's like half the price of it NEW and it's basically NEW! It is a tuff one, I do like the 6.3/7-speed combo as well......If you're not going to drive a lot, then I would get the 5.5 supercharged one and do some modding....

-Adam

 

Learn your own car douche. 55K pistons are cast. Only the con rods are forged. Forged pistons, like the ones in my car, are linked to oil consumption and have different (i.e. looser) tolerances to the cylinder walls, something AMG didnt want in their supercharged M113 motors. It's not hate, it's fact. Whoopsie!!

Proud E55 owner, and doesn't know what's under the hood. Now go ahead Jangy with some ridiculous, childish, indignant post in which you flame me for being an M5 owner.

M5 Owner= Educated.

 

This thread has answered a lot of questions for me, keep it up guys.

 

I was going to ask ... would ANY of you buy one of these sans warranty?

 

NEVER.

 

Besides the obvious answer that they're expensive to repair ... can I ask why?

Do they suffer more break downs than most? Are their issues that they all seem to have?

 

Id buy one if there was a decent amount of time left on the warranty but if its expired the reliability risk is just too much with German engineering. I bought mine new and dumped at 3.5 years.

Regular issues that I had (2004 E55):

I/C pump
SBC Brake issues
Pano Roof creaks
Alternator (2x's)
Oil level indicator (3x's)

But thats pretty much it, all covered by MBZ.


If you want refinement, go Lexus.

 

Isn't it a conflict of interest for you to say that?

 

Not really since I also have a GS350

Its my grocery getter and door dinger taker...

 

Yeah. I ask my dealer to add to warranty, its extra year up to 100,000 miles for over $6,000. Its best if you can get a MB ceritfied one, usually they charge like 2 to 3 thousands dollars more.

 

NOTHING in our area is CPO ... checking history, most are coming from out of state auctions.

Florida and California seem to be the two hot sources.

 

No need to, you do pretty well on your own........ Thanks for the timely examples for me. So, by educated do you mean you attended a trade school? I'm confused where you think you got your knowledge from?


BTW, sorry. I was thinking connecting rods for some reason. M5s are way nicer.

 

Not in a million years.

 

It isn't that they live in the shop. But, when they do go the bill can be HUGE. On a used one, the bill will still be huge so you may get to the point where you literally have to pay a fourth of the car to get a system fixed. The big bills are usually because of a system failure and not just a part like a water pump.

 

We've had 2 SRT-10 Vipers in the family and the E63 delivers as much a punch as the Viper. Both are total straight line vehicles, the Viper more so, however the E63 obviously does it with a little more class, lol. If it didn't, I wouldn't have bought it.

 

That's a long time.

 

jangy will be around--- he is like a twinkie in a nuclear war- 12 year shelf life