Help with test drive of E55?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Help with test drive of E55?
greetings all--
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 377
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From: Collegeville, PA
05 E55, 03 Z4 3.0
Originally Posted by DinanM5
greetings all--
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
Good luck!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by DinanM5
greetings all--
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
if you like, you can test drive my car sometime this weekend. when i am finishing unpacking and getting back to normal after my jetlag is over.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Originally Posted by DinanM5
greetings all--
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
new to this board. currently drive 2003 Dinan S2 M5. love my car, but intrigued by the E55. talking to 3 dealers in the san francisco bay area was major disappointment--nobody hires professional sales people anymore--just order takers. if you are not ready to write a check that minute they blow you off. incredible.
anyone in the san francisco bay area with an 05 E55 willing to take me for a cruise? PM me with your contact info--or let me know of the next E55 event in the bay area. E55 is cool and would like to learn more first hand from an owner/enthusiast.
DinanM5
BTW...you gonna love the ride. Good luck.
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Welcome to the board, DinanM5.
A couple personal observations: most people I know who love M5's don't end up loving E55's as much. While the acceleration, ease with which you can squeeze max torque out of the E55, luxury and comfort of the E55 are easy to appreciate and enjoy, the M5 offers much greater driver-car interaction and handling which is much superior to the E55's. If the latter two attributes are comparatively less important to you, you may love the E55. But go into your test drive with proper expectations. Let us know what happens.
A couple personal observations: most people I know who love M5's don't end up loving E55's as much. While the acceleration, ease with which you can squeeze max torque out of the E55, luxury and comfort of the E55 are easy to appreciate and enjoy, the M5 offers much greater driver-car interaction and handling which is much superior to the E55's. If the latter two attributes are comparatively less important to you, you may love the E55. But go into your test drive with proper expectations. Let us know what happens.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 178
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From: Atlanta GA
E55 Flint Grey/Merlot
Had an M5 for 3+ years and to me the trade offs are well worth it. From everything I had heard, I would be going from a Porsche to a Park Avenue.
The handling of a stock M5 is only marginally superior to the E55. It has the Recirculating Ball type steering instaed of Rack and Pinion, and has it's share of numbness and understeer. In certain ways it out luxuried the MB. It has plusher foor mats, thicker alcantera head liner, and a leather lined dash. In most other ways it's from less evolved generation. Let me count the ways: Stereo, Seats, Telephone, Navigation, Keyless Go.
Although the M5's power is certainly there, it takes more effort to wring it out. The E55 is just so effortless. Either this is appeals to you or not.
And although the E39 M5 is a good looking car and not particularly dated, the E55 gets far more attention in its understated way.
The handling of a stock M5 is only marginally superior to the E55. It has the Recirculating Ball type steering instaed of Rack and Pinion, and has it's share of numbness and understeer. In certain ways it out luxuried the MB. It has plusher foor mats, thicker alcantera head liner, and a leather lined dash. In most other ways it's from less evolved generation. Let me count the ways: Stereo, Seats, Telephone, Navigation, Keyless Go.
Although the M5's power is certainly there, it takes more effort to wring it out. The E55 is just so effortless. Either this is appeals to you or not.
And although the E39 M5 is a good looking car and not particularly dated, the E55 gets far more attention in its understated way.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
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From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by vitaman
Had an M5 for 3+ years and to me the trade offs are well worth it. From everything I had heard, I would be going from a Porsche to a Park Avenue.
The handling of a stock M5 is only marginally superior to the E55. It has the Recirculating Ball type steering instaed of Rack and Pinion, and has it's share of numbness and understeer. In certain ways it out luxuried the MB. It has plusher foor mats, thicker alcantera head liner, and a leather lined dash. In most other ways it's from less evolved generation. Let me count the ways: Stereo, Seats, Telephone, Navigation, Keyless Go.
Although the M5's power is certainly there, it takes more effort to wring it out. The E55 is just so effortless. Either this is appeals to you or not.
And although the E39 M5 is a good looking car and not particularly dated, the E55 gets far more attention in its understated way.
The handling of a stock M5 is only marginally superior to the E55. It has the Recirculating Ball type steering instaed of Rack and Pinion, and has it's share of numbness and understeer. In certain ways it out luxuried the MB. It has plusher foor mats, thicker alcantera head liner, and a leather lined dash. In most other ways it's from less evolved generation. Let me count the ways: Stereo, Seats, Telephone, Navigation, Keyless Go.
Although the M5's power is certainly there, it takes more effort to wring it out. The E55 is just so effortless. Either this is appeals to you or not.
And although the E39 M5 is a good looking car and not particularly dated, the E55 gets far more attention in its understated way.
The M5 handling is significantly better than E55. However due to re-circulating ball design, the steering response is light and strange. You can say that the E39 M5' steering response is little vague. But still better than W211's electronic setup which is just totally none-linear.
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Can the same thing be said for the change in steering design for the 2005 E55's? Supposedly, there is a significant increase in turning response versus MY2004/03.
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 178
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From: Atlanta GA
E55 Flint Grey/Merlot
"The M5 handling is significantly better than E55. However due to re-circulating ball design, the steering response is light and strange. You can say that the E39 M5' steering response is little vague. But still better than W211's electronic setup which is just totally none-linear."
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 491
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2005 Brilliant Silver E55
Originally Posted by vitaman
"The M5 handling is significantly better than E55. However due to re-circulating ball design, the steering response is light and strange. You can say that the E39 M5' steering response is little vague. But still better than W211's electronic setup which is just totally none-linear."
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
My 05 E55 felt the same as an 04...the CLS55, you notice the improvements and the response vs that on the E55.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: fremont, ca
04 E55
Originally Posted by AMGfan
Can the same thing be said for the change in steering design for the 2005 E55's? Supposedly, there is a significant increase in turning response versus MY2004/03.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 5
From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Originally Posted by vitaman
"The M5 handling is significantly better than E55. However due to re-circulating ball design, the steering response is light and strange. You can say that the E39 M5' steering response is little vague. But still better than W211's electronic setup which is just totally none-linear."
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
I have never driven a pre 2005 E55 so my observations are limited to the current model. My 2002 M5 (with Michelins) was not a bad handling car but also not significantly better than the E55 (also with Michelins).
?I believe it is the same steering setup on the new CLS...
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 89
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From: Long Island
2005 E 55 Amg
Originally Posted by AMGfan
From my understanding, not all MY2005 have the upgrading steering setup...I guess it depends on build date. I could be wrong and I am not even sure how you could check, unless it is specifically stated in the manual or sticker ?
I believe it is the same steering setup on the new CLS...
?I believe it is the same steering setup on the new CLS...
I wonder if the steering upgrade corresponds to the changes they made on the center console. The 05 I test drove had the clamshell console and when I took it through a twisty road I definitely felt vagueness,slow response,plowing, whatever you want to call it. My 05 with the new center console has none of the above attributes.
