E55 or M5
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Joined: Jun 2010
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soon to be a cls55 or 63
E55 or M5
So I am new here, hello...., but have been a long time enthusiast. I am looking to finally purchase a 2004-2006 e55 or a 2006 m5. I am leaning towards the e55 but the bimmer still draws me in. My goal is a 11 second luxury DD and it appears that is eaislly reachable with the MB but would be tough with the BMW. I need the help of the gurus on this forum.
BTW If anybody is interested in a 2010 Jeep SRT-8 let me know. I am selling mine. I would also be interested in a trade with some dough.
BTW If anybody is interested in a 2010 Jeep SRT-8 let me know. I am selling mine. I would also be interested in a trade with some dough.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 27
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soon to be a cls55 or 63
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 882
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From: Oldsmar, FL
2005 E55 Wagon, 2017 C63S Cab, 1986 560SL
Well, we're here, so we picked the E55.
In my case, there wasn't a choice. I wanted a wagon. M5 Wagon isn't imported.
Liked my BMWs (540 x3, M3, 335i). Love my E55.
In my case, there wasn't a choice. I wanted a wagon. M5 Wagon isn't imported.
Liked my BMWs (540 x3, M3, 335i). Love my E55.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,330
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
Tried an M5 and was not impressed with the SMG3 transmission for a daily driver. The M-DCT is awesome on other hand in the M3. I think the E55 is a better daily with its TQ down low. I really have to stomp on the pedal of the M3 to get going.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: San Diego, CA
'13 GT-R AMS Alpha 9+, CLA45, E55
You don't really need "Gurus" to help you on this one. It's gonna be your car, is an 11 second pass truly the most important part of a luxury saloon? Have you test driven both? How do you know a CTS-V isn't your calling? The more information you can provide in what you want will only help us in advising you in what you need.
As others have stated, we belong to this forum for a reason. You don't find many of us crossing over to m5board, again for a reason. And it won't take you more than a couple pages to find the few hard core guys and the mods it takes to get there.
Good luck with the search.
As others have stated, we belong to this forum for a reason. You don't find many of us crossing over to m5board, again for a reason. And it won't take you more than a couple pages to find the few hard core guys and the mods it takes to get there.
Good luck with the search.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 888
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
'12 E63, E55(sold), C32 (sold), '65 Skylark GS 445 convertible, '12 ML350
I'll chime in though because I actually just went through this debate a month and a half ago.
I was coming out of another AMG (my little old C32) and had been admiring a friend's '09 M5 for some time. I'd wanted an E55 for a while...considered an E63...and drove all three (M5, E55, E63) in a one week period. My personal preference ended up being the E63 (overall car - suspension superior to the E55), then the E55 (grunt factor), then the M5 (LOVED the V10...but the driving experience left me...well...confused. Turns out you CAN have too many buttons. But damn it's a nice car.).
I ultimately went with the E55 because I was able to get one for a steal ($20K less than the E63 and $25K less than the M5) and the tuneability of the E55 far exceeds either of the others.
If you can, do yourself a favor and drive them back-to-back or as close as possible. Either choice you make, you're going to have a winner.
If you're planning on tuning the vehicle at all, you'll have the most fun with the E55 without a question.
I was coming out of another AMG (my little old C32) and had been admiring a friend's '09 M5 for some time. I'd wanted an E55 for a while...considered an E63...and drove all three (M5, E55, E63) in a one week period. My personal preference ended up being the E63 (overall car - suspension superior to the E55), then the E55 (grunt factor), then the M5 (LOVED the V10...but the driving experience left me...well...confused. Turns out you CAN have too many buttons. But damn it's a nice car.).
I ultimately went with the E55 because I was able to get one for a steal ($20K less than the E63 and $25K less than the M5) and the tuneability of the E55 far exceeds either of the others.
If you can, do yourself a favor and drive them back-to-back or as close as possible. Either choice you make, you're going to have a winner.
If you're planning on tuning the vehicle at all, you'll have the most fun with the E55 without a question.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
nooooooooooooooooooo not again!!!!!!!!
Search Search Search... yes you needed to start somewhere, that would be with the Search Button....
Ok, mod hat back on- the short and skinny:
E55:
Luxo dig beast with tq that can run strong up top too
boatloads of proven mods
Requires minimal thought process to go fast- just mash and go
underrated factory hp numbers
pigmatic suspension
M5
Symphonic V10
Requires you drive at 8/10ths or better to usurp the best out of it
decent handler
much less tq, not a launch car
SMG tranny gives you fast shifts but very jerky at times and unruly
highway screamer, 7 speed tranny with no TQ converter allows for less parasitic loss and DT loss
Interiors are arguable both ways...very subjective- in fact the cars are subjective to no end. I love driving the crap out of my cars so the M5 (In my case an M6) made a lot of sense but I also had an E55 (brand new back in 2004) and it was a great car too. Both fast but have different ways of getting you there.
Now if you search you will get far more info from vastly more informed members here.
Search Search Search... yes you needed to start somewhere, that would be with the Search Button....
Ok, mod hat back on- the short and skinny:
E55:
Luxo dig beast with tq that can run strong up top too
boatloads of proven mods
Requires minimal thought process to go fast- just mash and go
underrated factory hp numbers
pigmatic suspension
M5
Symphonic V10
Requires you drive at 8/10ths or better to usurp the best out of it
decent handler
much less tq, not a launch car
SMG tranny gives you fast shifts but very jerky at times and unruly
highway screamer, 7 speed tranny with no TQ converter allows for less parasitic loss and DT loss
Interiors are arguable both ways...very subjective- in fact the cars are subjective to no end. I love driving the crap out of my cars so the M5 (In my case an M6) made a lot of sense but I also had an E55 (brand new back in 2004) and it was a great car too. Both fast but have different ways of getting you there.
Now if you search you will get far more info from vastly more informed members here.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 27
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soon to be a cls55 or 63
Thanks for all the replys, and I have been searching and have come across a lot of good threads. Just thought I would strart one of my own, I know its a tried and tired one but if you don't want to reply to it don't. I am probably going to test drive all of them. A dealer close to me seems to always have a 2006 M5 and a 2007 E63. But I am always drawn back to the E55 because I want to mod it and it is the best platform, and overall best bang for the buck.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Ill keep this one open so more can come in and chime but the truth is, the replies here will only mirror what was posted years ago and then again and again...
Oh btw, welcome to the forums!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
FYI the dont reply statement is probably worse than the "Search" comment. This forum is cluttered enough with similar threads and its a thankless task to keep it cleaned up.
Ill keep this one open so more can come in and chime but the truth is, the replies here will only mirror what was posted years ago and then again and again...
Oh btw, welcome to the forums!!!
Ill keep this one open so more can come in and chime but the truth is, the replies here will only mirror what was posted years ago and then again and again...
Oh btw, welcome to the forums!!!
It is not a matter of replying, but the fact that any possible answer can be found with a search on this topic.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19
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From: Newport, RI
Sl65
Welcome.
I used to own a Jeep SRT-8 as well. I had the same debate as you with the E55 vs. the M5. The Jeep SRT-8 is a fantastic vehicle. Honestly I think coming out of that, you would be let down with the lack of low end torque the M5 has. The low end grunt and the interior is what made me get the E55 over the M5. I find the M5 interiors quite bland. Do I wish the E55 handled like the M5? Of course but for me the E55 provides the best daily driving experience. I also researched service histories with both cars and the E55 seems to have fewer problems. Good luck in your search!
I used to own a Jeep SRT-8 as well. I had the same debate as you with the E55 vs. the M5. The Jeep SRT-8 is a fantastic vehicle. Honestly I think coming out of that, you would be let down with the lack of low end torque the M5 has. The low end grunt and the interior is what made me get the E55 over the M5. I find the M5 interiors quite bland. Do I wish the E55 handled like the M5? Of course but for me the E55 provides the best daily driving experience. I also researched service histories with both cars and the E55 seems to have fewer problems. Good luck in your search!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
soon to be a cls55 or 63
Welcome.
I used to own a Jeep SRT-8 as well. I had the same debate as you with the E55 vs. the M5. The Jeep SRT-8 is a fantastic vehicle. Honestly I think coming out of that, you would be let down with the lack of low end torque the M5 has. The low end grunt and the interior is what made me get the E55 over the M5. I find the M5 interiors quite bland. Do I wish the E55 handled like the M5? Of course but for me the E55 provides the best daily driving experience. I also researched service histories with both cars and the E55 seems to have fewer problems. Good luck in your search!
I used to own a Jeep SRT-8 as well. I had the same debate as you with the E55 vs. the M5. The Jeep SRT-8 is a fantastic vehicle. Honestly I think coming out of that, you would be let down with the lack of low end torque the M5 has. The low end grunt and the interior is what made me get the E55 over the M5. I find the M5 interiors quite bland. Do I wish the E55 handled like the M5? Of course but for me the E55 provides the best daily driving experience. I also researched service histories with both cars and the E55 seems to have fewer problems. Good luck in your search!
Thanks, this puts me in the right direction. Do you miss the Jeep? What made you get rid of it? I worried to that I will miss the off the line power. Nothing beats the all wheel drive of the jeep. So what year E55 do you have now? Does the e55 handle as good as the jeep? Sorry for all the questions but you already went down the same road I am going.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19
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From: Newport, RI
Sl65
Thanks, this puts me in the right direction. Do you miss the Jeep? What made you get rid of it? I worried to that I will miss the off the line power. Nothing beats the all wheel drive of the jeep. So what year E55 do you have now? Does the e55 handle as good as the jeep? Sorry for all the questions but you already went down the same road I am going.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
soon to be a cls55 or 63
I got rid of the Jeep because I have a short attention span. You seriously wouldn't believe how many cars I've owned. That being said the Jeep was actually one of my favorites. You know what I miss about the Jeep. Those little buttons on the back of the steering wheel for the radio. That is the best setup ever, so easy to use! I know a silly little thing but I loved it. The E55 has the grunt of the Jeep and then some. (so don't worry about off the line although all wheel drive was a beautiful thing. Plus much more top end power. The interior is much nicer in the E55, the gas mileage is better as well. I will say the brakes on the Jeep were definitely better but handling goes to the E55. My E55 is a 2005 and I just put the Kleeman stage 2 kit on it. Not a bad little ride at all. Quite comfortable and goes when I need it to. Before the economy took a nosedive I had an SL65 and a supercharged Viper GTS. Now those were fast! All this being said, as my business recovers slowly I do intend on getting another Jeep SRT-8 for the winter eventually. With that, I did drive my E55 all this winter here in the Northeast and with Blizzaks did just fine.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 96
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From: Vancouver, WA
2006 E55 AMG
I got rid of the Jeep because I have a short attention span. You seriously wouldn't believe how many cars I've owned. That being said the Jeep was actually one of my favorites. You know what I miss about the Jeep. Those little buttons on the back of the steering wheel for the radio. That is the best setup ever, so easy to use! I know a silly little thing but I loved it. The E55 has the grunt of the Jeep and then some. (so don't worry about off the line although all wheel drive was a beautiful thing. Plus much more top end power. The interior is much nicer in the E55, the gas mileage is better as well. I will say the brakes on the Jeep were definitely better but handling goes to the E55. My E55 is a 2005 and I just put the Kleeman stage 2 kit on it. Not a bad little ride at all. Quite comfortable and goes when I need it to. Before the economy took a nosedive I had an SL65 and a supercharged Viper GTS. Now those were fast! All this being said, as my business recovers slowly I do intend on getting another Jeep SRT-8 for the winter eventually. With that, I did drive my E55 all this winter here in the Northeast and with Blizzaks did just fine.
I couldn't agree more on the steering wheel buttons for the radio!! Great design.
I have had 3 Jeep SRT8's and loved each one. To me the E55 is a totally different ride ...I went with it over an m5 for looks,the interior and the torque. For me and the driving I do, the torque is more important, especially coming from the jeeps.
I do miss the sound of the Borla S with the 5" tips!
