raymos24

Hey how's it going everyone? I've been a long time lurker and I am thinking about picking up an 03-06 e55. From what I've seen there are a good amount of 100-115k '04-'05 and a couple 60k mile '03 E55's that seem to fall into my price range. I've read about '05-'06 being the cream of the crop. My question is, is the difference largew enough to warrant the same price with double the miles? Thanks for any insight.

AMG E Power

yes 05-06 is the best way to go ! if u having been lurking for a long time then u should know this being a thread is made almost daily asking the same redundant questions.

Shifter

Don't be scared of 100k miles if its been loved for.

raymos24

Thanks for the replies! Yea, from reading it looks like the later years are superior. My question is less which is better and more is it justfiable to pay the same for a car with double the miles?

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

Look for an 05 with the sliding console lid if you get an 05. That's an easy way to spot one that received a multitude of other 06+ updates that make it a nicer car to drive.

E55Freak

not sure what your price range is...i found a later build 05' with 75k...i paid around 22k for it. Just keep waiting and something will come up with lower miles.

Lawrence1

i would buy the lower mileage car. there aren't significant differences between the years to warrant buying something that has 50k miles more for the same money just because it's newer.

maintenance and upkeep are important though so do check to make sure the cars were well kept.

BBBSS

Later 03's are no worse than any 04-06. In fact tehy started to decontent the cars in later years. The stigma around 03's is around the first few months they were built.

I'm with this guy.

raymos24

Thanks for all the help! Is there some way to tell between early and later 03's? I was thinking the same way Lawrence1 mentioned. 50k miles a good amount of driving, especially if they have been both taken care of.

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

I disagree. I drove an early 05 with the clamshell console and my car back to back the same day, same mileage and the 06 drove and handled (at least to me) noticeably better with the updated suspension parts and rack / pinion. To each their own though.

BBBSS

The newer suspension is something worth noting I guess.

I'd rather have a well taken care of car with many miles left to go over a high mile car that maybe had some slight upgrades along with some decontenting. There's ups and downs to both sides of it. If money was no object I'd honestly look for a low mile 06. I don't feel the cost of a newer low mileage model vs an older one with lower mileage is equal to the difference in the car you get for the dollar. Bang for the buck a clean late 03 reigns supreme.

DarkStar

Buy the best car you can afford that has the right options, good service history and no major accidents.

All years of the E55 have problems.

sok454

How do you know an early 03 from a late 03?

bnzuovr

Production date on the driver side door sill for starters eariler the month earlier the prdution year. Some may even be built in 2002 but typically any car built after june of that year is concidered one yr newer. If that made any sense lol

djrabbi

Get an 05-06

emoving

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


If your serious and your not a stroker, you would buy this one....https://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-...-warranty.html

ArmoE55

Pick up that 05 that emoving posted above! I was checking that thread this morning.

It's an updated 05, clean car with all records, AND it has a warranty. It's a no-brainer.

emoving

We don't want to hear the shipping excuse either! It will be worth the money to ship wherever.

ArmoE55

EXACTLY!

Yacht Master

These are all old cars now and 99.8% same. Don't buy in to one year being better than another. You must look at the mileage and condition that is what the greatest difference will be. Don't forget the newest W211 is eight years old, now.