First year cars issue....had a bad expirience....help!
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First year cars issue....had a bad expirience....help!
Let me tell you the whole situation, I had a really bad experience with my 2002 745i (was fighting it through lawyers but didn’t succeed and sold it, No more BMW for me) and I don’t want that to happen with my 2003 E55, my salesman can arrange me one of the first cars in June/July but it won’t have navigation and some other options, my salesman didn’t confirmed what are they yet, or I can wait till September/October and get 2004 fully loaded.
So my question to all of you is did anybody had one of the first e55 w210 and experienced any first year glitches/problems? And should I wait for 2004 or go with 2003?
Also another question, have anyone heared that new e55 will have more horsepower later 2004/5 ???or it's just some roumours?
So my question to all of you is did anybody had one of the first e55 w210 and experienced any first year glitches/problems? And should I wait for 2004 or go with 2003?
Also another question, have anyone heared that new e55 will have more horsepower later 2004/5 ???or it's just some roumours?
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2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
BoB, your concerns are understandable. Never heard of any disgruntled first year E55 owners. As least none have voiced any problems on this board.
Let's look at some of the issues. The 2002 745i was a brand new platform with a brand new engine and brand engine management or fuel delivery system or something I believe and a boat full of other electronics. Not sure if your 745i problems were engine related - you did not mention. The 2003 E55 is a new chassis but not a new engine nor new engine management system. The superchargers is all new so the jury is out on it's long term performance. These current 3 valve/2 plug modular engines debuted in 1997. So far no real problems except Mercedes forgot to tell owners to only use Synthetic Oil and fossil oil caused some problems with sludge.
The biggest reason to wait for the 2004 E55 is to acquire Navigation other than that it should be the same.
About more HP - This is just my speculation based on Mercedes information that I have gathered. The next generation of engines may be due around the mid-model update or face-lift for W211 E-Class 2006 models (coming in 2005). They may go to the newly under-development 'direct gas injection' engines. So, that may be when they increase HP also the next generation M5 with 500Hp V-10 engine coming in 2004 as a 2005 model. The next 5-Series comes as 2004 models this Fall 2003 and the M5 due the next year.
Let's look at some of the issues. The 2002 745i was a brand new platform with a brand new engine and brand engine management or fuel delivery system or something I believe and a boat full of other electronics. Not sure if your 745i problems were engine related - you did not mention. The 2003 E55 is a new chassis but not a new engine nor new engine management system. The superchargers is all new so the jury is out on it's long term performance. These current 3 valve/2 plug modular engines debuted in 1997. So far no real problems except Mercedes forgot to tell owners to only use Synthetic Oil and fossil oil caused some problems with sludge.
The biggest reason to wait for the 2004 E55 is to acquire Navigation other than that it should be the same.
About more HP - This is just my speculation based on Mercedes information that I have gathered. The next generation of engines may be due around the mid-model update or face-lift for W211 E-Class 2006 models (coming in 2005). They may go to the newly under-development 'direct gas injection' engines. So, that may be when they increase HP also the next generation M5 with 500Hp V-10 engine coming in 2004 as a 2005 model. The next 5-Series comes as 2004 models this Fall 2003 and the M5 due the next year.
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Bob there's hope!
I too purchased a 745i about the same time as your family did. This car turned into a serious lemon and I sold it six months later. I then purchased one of the first E500 as a testbed for a later purchase of an E55. I really like this car and feel it is superior to a 745i even if it had no problems. Rear leg room is more limited however. I had one problem with the HK system in the E500 which I later found out was due to a particular cd I had burned. I moved from first to second on my dealer's list in order to get an 04 E55 in sept or oct. My current E500 has been so flawless and is so enjoyable, I'm almost afraid to sell it.
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2002 E55
Kev, in this day and age it should not matter if its a new platform, new electronics new anything if the car is tested thoroughly during development. From day1 there should little or no issues. The japanese prove this time and time again, take a look at Lexus the LS400 debuted in 1990 and has been the #1 vehicle for problems per 100 vehicles every qtr since then, hovering around 35/100. MB and BMW are typically 70-100+/100vehicles. The Germans do not build the best cars in the world regarding defects, only performance and looks and its down to testing during development.
I drove Lexus's for 7 years and 250K miles b4 I got my '02 E55, I've had more problems in 5 months with the MB than I did in 7 years with Lexus. Now driving experience, performance is a whole different subject.
I drove Lexus's for 7 years and 250K miles b4 I got my '02 E55, I've had more problems in 5 months with the MB than I did in 7 years with Lexus. Now driving experience, performance is a whole different subject.
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E55 AMG
Richard, I agree with you about the realiability of German vs. Japanese makes, but I'm surprised to hear your E55 seems to have had some issues. Other than a minor sun shade rattle, which is now fixed thanks to this board, I've had absolutely ZERO problems. I assumed that most '02 w210s were just as reliable, because MB had 7 years to fix all the kinks.
I'm with ajoe, my car has been so enjoyable and trouble free, I can't imagine trading it for anything else at the moment. But I do think the new E55 is a safe bet. Most of the car is standard w211, which has been out for a full year in Europe. The 55K engine has been out for about as long in the SL55. It may not be as reliable as a Lexus, but it's positively more stylish and fun.
I'm with ajoe, my car has been so enjoyable and trouble free, I can't imagine trading it for anything else at the moment. But I do think the new E55 is a safe bet. Most of the car is standard w211, which has been out for a full year in Europe. The 55K engine has been out for about as long in the SL55. It may not be as reliable as a Lexus, but it's positively more stylish and fun.
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2002 E55
Mike I absolutely agree with you, however other than an oil change my car has been off the road 12 days in 5 months and a resonance/boom/vibration between 2000 and 2400rpm still persists, even after a new cat and a complete new exhaust system has been fitted, MB Technical services are now getting involved.
Other issues have been sunroof shade rattle, rear window blind needed replacing, water leaks in the trunk and drivers door needed adjustment. Problems that are really unacceptable on a $15K car let alone $74K.
At this point I still love the car and would not change it.
Other issues have been sunroof shade rattle, rear window blind needed replacing, water leaks in the trunk and drivers door needed adjustment. Problems that are really unacceptable on a $15K car let alone $74K.
At this point I still love the car and would not change it.
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E55 AMG
Richard, sorry to hear about your problems. You helped me to fix my sun shade rattle, I wish I could return the favor. But your boom/vibration problem seems rare. The door and trunk issues are clearly unacceptable, even if it was a Hyundai.
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My $.02
I gave up my May delivery slot in exchange for November for the same reasons. I had numerous problems with my early '99 E55; steering rack leaked at 5K, rough idle/miss at 1K, horn electrics at 10K, and the coup de gras- full throttle 1-2 shift hits rev limit at 1K. Outside of the trans problem, the others are relatively minor and all fixed with an overnight stay each. The trans problem required several visits and is still not 100% fixed. MB finaly admitted that a handful of others have this problem (I was the first to find it) and they don't know how to fix it. Guess what cars are effected? Only '99 E55, and early '00 ML55, S55 and SL55 cars.
My advice, wait and let someone else find the problems.
My advice, wait and let someone else find the problems.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Wait for the 04. I got a mid year(Jan) production CLK 500 and it had most of the problems that plagued very early cars i.e: motor mounts, wipers etc. Although the powertrain is mostly carried over on the new E55 sans the supercharger set up, the interior and all components are new. I had to get an 03 as my 01 lease was over in early Feb and did not want to wait until August...If you can wait wait
