New guy in an 05
05-06-2013, 02:44 PM
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Audi S4 (sold), E46 M3 (sold) 05 E55 silver/black(sold)
New guy in an 05
Been lurking on the forum for over a year soaking up the knowledge before finally making the jump into an 05 with 100K on the odometer about two weeks ago. The car is silver with black interior and stage 1 modified with intercooler by Benz Works in Huntington Beach.
My previous car was an 03 E46 M3 and before that an 02 B5 S4 that I'd kept since new and drove to the ripe mileage of 184,000 miles before selling. Before that Audi I had a 92 500E so I more or less knew what I was getting with this E55 albeit with more power, handling and somewhat better brakes. There are a couple of Porsche 928S4's in the mix there as well.
In my two weeks of ownership and two or so brief road trips down to San Diego I've noticed that all manner of sports cars and sports sedans seem really disappointed to see me. If they are flying up behind me they slow and ease by at a careful pace with no eye contact or if I'm the one doing the moving, they check me out before leaving me alone. This was not the case in my Laguna Seca Blue M3. You get messed with all the time. With the look over and mean mugging, you get blocked in, paced, tailgated, you name it, and being down on HP but up on handling and brakes, my only reprieve if circumstances allowed was taking them deep into some corner or exit ramp and then watching the rear view mirror as they tried to keep their metal off the guard rail or out of the grass. Of course you got thumbs up from other E46 owners or M enthusiasts but mostly everyone seems to think you are a sitting duck.
This is not the case in the E55 and so far
, I'm enjoying that immensely
. Handling wise, I'm coming to terms with the airmatic suspension and have taken the car up into my favorite canyon roads to see what the deal was really going to be with this behemoth. I have professional driver school training if that means anything to anyone and so far my assessment is that I simply need to get used to that little level of remove from the controls of the car. It handles like you think it can't and the engineering makes its presence felt through very hard work, energy being expended and resources being drained to make the car dance as best it can.
Hope to see some of you So Cal guys around somewhere.
My previous car was an 03 E46 M3 and before that an 02 B5 S4 that I'd kept since new and drove to the ripe mileage of 184,000 miles before selling. Before that Audi I had a 92 500E so I more or less knew what I was getting with this E55 albeit with more power, handling and somewhat better brakes. There are a couple of Porsche 928S4's in the mix there as well.
In my two weeks of ownership and two or so brief road trips down to San Diego I've noticed that all manner of sports cars and sports sedans seem really disappointed to see me. If they are flying up behind me they slow and ease by at a careful pace with no eye contact or if I'm the one doing the moving, they check me out before leaving me alone. This was not the case in my Laguna Seca Blue M3. You get messed with all the time. With the look over and mean mugging, you get blocked in, paced, tailgated, you name it, and being down on HP but up on handling and brakes, my only reprieve if circumstances allowed was taking them deep into some corner or exit ramp and then watching the rear view mirror as they tried to keep their metal off the guard rail or out of the grass. Of course you got thumbs up from other E46 owners or M enthusiasts but mostly everyone seems to think you are a sitting duck.
This is not the case in the E55 and so far
, I'm enjoying that immensely. Handling wise, I'm coming to terms with the airmatic suspension and have taken the car up into my favorite canyon roads to see what the deal was really going to be with this behemoth. I have professional driver school training if that means anything to anyone and so far my assessment is that I simply need to get used to that little level of remove from the controls of the car. It handles like you think it can't and the engineering makes its presence felt through very hard work, energy being expended and resources being drained to make the car dance as best it can.Hope to see some of you So Cal guys around somewhere.
05-06-2013, 03:04 PM
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05 E55, 07 ML500
Welcome to the club... I too have had both M3 and E55... Different cars.. I personally Love my 55.. I don't know if I'll ever sell her, she's like that older wife that starts to age but is still pretty, so you take her to the plastic surgeon (modding) and she comes back a new woman and she's still SO NASTY..
Hope to see you around...
Hope to see you around...
05-06-2013, 04:21 PM
#5
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An M3 owner impressed with the handling of the E55? That's a first! 
He does have an 05 though... which I've read around here that it has the same steering / suspension components as the CLS55.
He does have an 05 though... which I've read around here that it has the same steering / suspension components as the CLS55.
05-06-2013, 04:40 PM
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Audi S4 (sold), E46 M3 (sold) 05 E55 silver/black(sold)
Thanks guys. Dyno sheet says my car is putting down 490 rwhp which I think is plenty for the street. Maybe I'll get jaded one day but for now it is enough.
I don't know why some people insist on comparing the M3 and E55. I appreciated what the M3 did well but my needs changed.
I don't know why some people insist on comparing the M3 and E55. I appreciated what the M3 did well but my needs changed.
05-15-2013, 04:53 AM
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2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG
Been lurking on the forum for over a year soaking up the knowledge before finally making the jump into an 05 with 100K on the odometer about two weeks ago. The car is silver with black interior and stage 1 modified with intercooler by Benz Works in Huntington Beach.
My previous car was an 03 E46 M3 and before that an 02 B5 S4 that I'd kept since new and drove to the ripe mileage of 184,000 miles before selling. Before that Audi I had a 92 500E so I more or less knew what I was getting with this E55 albeit with more power, handling and somewhat better brakes. There are a couple of Porsche 928S4's in the mix there as well.
In my two weeks of ownership and two or so brief road trips down to San Diego I've noticed that all manner of sports cars and sports sedans seem really disappointed to see me. If they are flying up behind me they slow and ease by at a careful pace with no eye contact or if I'm the one doing the moving, they check me out before leaving me alone. This was not the case in my Laguna Seca Blue M3. You get messed with all the time. With the look over and mean mugging, you get blocked in, paced, tailgated, you name it, and being down on HP but up on handling and brakes, my only reprieve if circumstances allowed was taking them deep into some corner or exit ramp and then watching the rear view mirror as they tried to keep their metal off the guard rail or out of the grass. Of course you got thumbs up from other E46 owners or M enthusiasts but mostly everyone seems to think you are a sitting duck.
This is not the case in the E55 and so far, I'm enjoying that immensely. Handling wise, I'm coming to terms with the airmatic suspension and have taken the car up into my favorite canyon roads to see what the deal was really going to be with this behemoth. I have professional driver school training if that means anything to anyone and so far my assessment is that I simply need to get used to that little level of remove from the controls of the car. It handles like you think it can't and the engineering makes its presence felt through very hard work, energy being expended and resources being drained to make the car dance as best it can.
Hope to see some of you So Cal guys around somewhere.
My previous car was an 03 E46 M3 and before that an 02 B5 S4 that I'd kept since new and drove to the ripe mileage of 184,000 miles before selling. Before that Audi I had a 92 500E so I more or less knew what I was getting with this E55 albeit with more power, handling and somewhat better brakes. There are a couple of Porsche 928S4's in the mix there as well.
In my two weeks of ownership and two or so brief road trips down to San Diego I've noticed that all manner of sports cars and sports sedans seem really disappointed to see me. If they are flying up behind me they slow and ease by at a careful pace with no eye contact or if I'm the one doing the moving, they check me out before leaving me alone. This was not the case in my Laguna Seca Blue M3. You get messed with all the time. With the look over and mean mugging, you get blocked in, paced, tailgated, you name it, and being down on HP but up on handling and brakes, my only reprieve if circumstances allowed was taking them deep into some corner or exit ramp and then watching the rear view mirror as they tried to keep their metal off the guard rail or out of the grass. Of course you got thumbs up from other E46 owners or M enthusiasts but mostly everyone seems to think you are a sitting duck.
This is not the case in the E55 and so far
, I'm enjoying that immensely. Handling wise, I'm coming to terms with the airmatic suspension and have taken the car up into my favorite canyon roads to see what the deal was really going to be with this behemoth. I have professional driver school training if that means anything to anyone and so far my assessment is that I simply need to get used to that little level of remove from the controls of the car. It handles like you think it can't and the engineering makes its presence felt through very hard work, energy being expended and resources being drained to make the car dance as best it can.Hope to see some of you So Cal guys around somewhere.
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05-15-2013, 10:12 PM
#9
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Very nice, everything you said is pretty spot on. When ever I'm driving my M3 I always have people trying to race me but in the E55 most don't even bother lol. The M3 is currently getting turbo charged should be around 700whp when it's done.
05-16-2013, 03:29 PM
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05-16-2013, 11:53 PM
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2001 e55 (Sold). 2006 E55 Flint Grey, 2003 330 CIC
Welcome to the E55 aka the Beast. Enjoy the professional low profile ride who can instantly turn into a beast within milliseconds. I just sold my W210 and also purchased a used 2006 w211 E55 and love it.
05-19-2013, 07:33 PM
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Audi S4 (sold), E46 M3 (sold) 05 E55 silver/black(sold)
I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm impressed with it, just that I'm coming to terms with it as I learn the car and for what it is, it isn't all that bad. It doesn't do anything nasty and I find it to be somewhat predictable. I was pushing the car some more this weekend, carrying more speed just about everywhere because I'm more comfortable with it than I was 3 weeks ago and I could just feel the tire wear and brake job that would soon be needed if I kept insisting on what I was doing. Fact is most drivers on the road or even in sports cars aren't nearly as skilled as they think they are and that makes it easy to keep up or outpace a lot of cars that given an equal or superior driver, I simply wouldn't be able to pace. Still, I tossed her into some tightish corners today and the word "begrudgingly" came to mind.
05-20-2013, 08:58 AM
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2011 CTSV auto, 06 E55 white pano, 87 Grand national, 63 split window
Welcome KMS.
I have kinda noticed that the price of E55's holds much better then the other 55's...even the S55 and the SL55. These are obviously much more desirable used because those other cars are a lot more $$ when they were new but pretty much are the same price used now. I am also pretty sure that you would sell an E55 faster than an S or SL of similar cars, miles, color, etc. Just curious being that there are so many new members here and the other forums have much less traffic. Anyway, hope this isn't getting off topic but thought it was interesting seeing many fresh E buyers as I am pretty fresh myself, 4 months. Good luck with the new ride!
I have kinda noticed that the price of E55's holds much better then the other 55's...even the S55 and the SL55. These are obviously much more desirable used because those other cars are a lot more $$ when they were new but pretty much are the same price used now. I am also pretty sure that you would sell an E55 faster than an S or SL of similar cars, miles, color, etc. Just curious being that there are so many new members here and the other forums have much less traffic. Anyway, hope this isn't getting off topic but thought it was interesting seeing many fresh E buyers as I am pretty fresh myself, 4 months. Good luck with the new ride!
05-20-2013, 02:03 PM
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Audi S4 (sold), E46 M3 (sold) 05 E55 silver/black(sold)
Welcome KMS.
I have kinda noticed that the price of E55's holds much better then the other 55's...even the S55 and the SL55. These are obviously much more desirable used because those other cars are a lot more $$ when they were new but pretty much are the same price used now. I am also pretty sure that you would sell an E55 faster than an S or SL of similar cars, miles, color, etc. Just curious being that there are so many new members here and the other forums have much less traffic. Anyway, hope this isn't getting off topic but thought it was interesting seeing many fresh E buyers as I am pretty fresh myself, 4 months. Good luck with the new ride!
I have kinda noticed that the price of E55's holds much better then the other 55's...even the S55 and the SL55. These are obviously much more desirable used because those other cars are a lot more $$ when they were new but pretty much are the same price used now. I am also pretty sure that you would sell an E55 faster than an S or SL of similar cars, miles, color, etc. Just curious being that there are so many new members here and the other forums have much less traffic. Anyway, hope this isn't getting off topic but thought it was interesting seeing many fresh E buyers as I am pretty fresh myself, 4 months. Good luck with the new ride!
