Hello E55 owners. I am considering an E55 and was looking for some feedback. I know the info from this forum may be a bit biased, but I think it's good to hear from those that really know the car.

I have got an 01 CLK55 and my wife drives an 02 ML55 (both black). We love 'em. My "garage queen" is a 92 BMW 850i, bright red, and tastefully modded. (H&R springs, M-Parallels, DINAN chips, EXTRUDEHONE intakes, REMUS exhaust, ///M5 3.91 LS rear diff.) The "queen" has 62 K miles and I purchased her from the local original owner with 55K. It came from the local BMW dealership and is a very clean, well documented, no-explanations necessary car. She is a real head turner!

Here's the deal. I discovered a 2000 E55 (1st year with touch shift trans, AMG bodykit) with only 16K one-owner miles for only $34K. Of course, its black. I know this car would be much more practical for day to day use and I would probably have more regular opportunities to use and enjoy it. Probably quicker than my VERY HEAVY 850, it has a back seat, it shows barely "break-in" miles, etc. etc. The thing is, I am just really attached to the old 8 after all the time and $$ I have devoted to her in the last 2 years. I traded in my red 91 ///M5 for the CLK55 and it took MONTHS to get over the post-partem depression. (But the CLK55 just ROARS!)

Budget limits and garage space say if I want the "E" the "8" goes.

BTW, no kids and none on the way, so a baby seat is not an issue, and I am unfortunately NOT in the appropriate financial position to even consider a post 03 "spooled" AMG car...YET.

Any thoughts??

Thanks!!!

PDC

 

i would not trade a CLK55 for a E55 unless your moving up to a newer 211 body style with the blower. You have the ml if you need to take anyone with you.

Also the 8's are still cool cars in my book.

My vote is keep what you have. or if the bug has bit to buy something do a blower on the CLK55

 

I thought the new E350 is pretty nice. Would you consider?

 

Yes, trade the 850 for the E55. No offense but the 850 is a big piece of *****.....especially the early ones! I love the looks but have heard nothing but horror stories if the cars are daily drivers. Good thing it's a garage queen.

The 210 E55 can be made quicker than the 211 e55 for half the entry cost of the 211 E55. Not to mention, the 210 E55 is a great car all around and is very dependable. Go for it!!!!

 

[QUOTE=BlownV8]The 210 E55 can be made quicker than the 211 e55 for half the entry cost of the 211 E55.QUOTE]

really? entry level e55 used 65 entry level 210 30k. plus new blower etc 10-15k plus installation and without tranny help i dont really think youre faster with just that. probably looking at 50ish just to begin to compare dont ya think? were you just joshin'???

 

I've yet to see a W211 for 65K. In fact, I just saw an '04 with 20K on it already for 80 large at the dealer. You can get a nice W210 for 35-45K, (I wanted a black one, and you find a 16K mile one for 34K!!! AAARRRRGGHHHH!) add blower for 10-15K. The transmission is fine up to about 600 HP, but Renntech offers an upgrade with 2 extra clutch packs that makes the trans stronger than the W211 trans for less than 2K if you need it. The W211's dyno around 400 RWHP stock. I put down 421 RWHP on the first pull with no ECU adapt time yet. A W210 is 300-400 lbs lighter than a W211, so a stocker is going to get a nice view of my tail lights. I paid a lot for my used '02 because it was super clean so I've got close to 60K in mine with all the mods, but still less than a bone stock W211. Granted, there are members here with modded W211's that will outrun me, but everyone of them is into the car for over 100K now. The 850 is a nice car and a real head turner, but I have to agree maintaining one (especially an older one as BV8 suggests) as a daily driver could be costly. If you don't drive it anyway, there's no reason to keep it. Go get that Benz!

 

i tried to sell mine for 69 before i decided to keep it and didnt even get a nibble. mine dynoed stock at 442 and ive put 14k for everything with an initial purchase price of 78(ish). i should have about 525 crank hp now and am at 92. props though for your ride sounds beastly! by the way i meant the new e55's have the speed shift tranny that shifts faster than the old 55's standard tranny meaning you lose a tiny bit of the extra power for 210's

 

I'll have to disagree with some of the above comments.

1) Edmunds lists the current true market value (private party sales) of an '03 E55 at $60,300 (debatable to some extent...but on EBay there are several "buy it now" W210 E55's in the $20K's and $30K's). Dealer prices mean nothing, of course. There's plenty of margin in their used cars.

2) Weight difference between a stock W210 2002 E55 and W211 2003 E55 was only 104 pounds (3768 vs. 3872).

3) No one would select a Mercedes of any type if their #1 desire was to have the fastest car for the dollar. Most AMG buyers want the combination of power and style/luxury. The W210 offers good/upgradable power. But the design is over 10 years old now. Amenities are marginal. The interior on the W211 is a huge upgrade over the W210. So I ask:

Why would someone who owns an '01 CLK55 (which I owned and enjoyed the first two years they were out) want a weekend car with the exact same base engine (2000 E55), outdated design, and sinkhole return on invested $$ once it's been modded?
There are numerous better options for a CLK55 alternative car, used and under $60K.

 

You're in Va. and I'm in rip-off land. Everything here is more. I just searched cars direct for E55's, and there's an '02 W210 at a dealer close by for $62,995.00!!! another for $51,999.00!! Friggin' rapists around here! DerekFSU has one of the fastest times (after mods) I've seen out of a W211 and he dyno'd at 401 stock if memory serves. You're right on the trans, even the supposedly improved "touch shift" in 2000-02 models it isn't the equal of a W211. I believe the W211 trans has 1 additional clutch pack over the W210 as well.

 

According to AMG, the W211 is 4087 lbs, or 319 lbs difference. In the real world, I've seen actual curb weights of W211's at over 4200 lbs depending on options. I've driven both, and while there are some things I like in the W211 (DVD VS CD based command, that gucci pano roof!!) the options list is long in my car at least: NAV/COMAND, six disc, hands free everything, active heated/ventilated seats, Xenons, headlight washers, rear power shade, etc, etc. The W211 is a nicer, plusher car, but out of the guys price range. The W210 is a bit more rare as well. Edmunds don't mean a thing around here. There's not a lot to choose from in E55's of any year. As far as mods, it's not very difficult to return my car to stock but I would be surprised if it would be worth less money with the blower on it.

 

Maybe he really likes the engine and tranny in his CLK 55 and loves the way it performs and wants an E55 but does not want to spend $80,000 for a used 211 E55.


Please show me one, just one, non-wrecked, non-flooded, running, ETC., 211 E55 for $60,300 and I will buy it on the spot.

I'm finding a bit of disparity in the published weight for the 211 E55. Some publications list the curb weight as 4200 lbs, some as 4087, and a couple at 3872. However, it is widely accepted that the 210 E55 is 3768 lbs. I find it very hard to believe the 211 E55 isn't actually closer to 4,000+ lbs than under 3,900 lbs. Do the comparison for yourself: http://amgpower.com/models.php
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....ber=3&preview=

 

I have been looking for a 03+ E55 for over a year. I cant find anyone that wants close to retail for one. I have also noticed that even when trading in a benz 2002 G500 on a E55 they are offering me below trade in to go to there over retail price.

I think for a W211 E55 the demand will come down as soon as the new M5 comes out. there are a lot of wealthy people out there that dont understand that one car might have 500 hp and 200 lbtq is not faster / more fun to drive than a car with 450hp 520lbtq. So Im guessing the new M5 will hit show rooms and the "I have the most hp in a stock car" people will be trading in some nice low milage E55's Also the demand will not be as high so maybe the rest of us can get a ok deal on one.

As for the performance thing. I would do a blower on the clk55 and be done. Or step up and keep the benz stock and twin turbo the 850.

 

Thanks to everyone for the valuable real-world advice about these cars. Just to be clear, I would be trading the 850 for the E55. The plan would be to use the E55 as my (unmodified) daily driver and then bump the CLK into the third garage as the fun weekend coupe. Maybe even budget for an Eisenmann exhaust and either the Renntech ECU / Airbox kit or the Evosport underdrive pulley set and the Powerchip upgrade (for the CLK, that is). Valid points about the 8, although I must have really lucked out with mine because she has only been in the shop for regular service and elective upgrades. Never for an unexpected breakdown or failure (knock on wood). BTW, the 2000 with 16k miles was snapped up as soon as I began to seriously consider it. I now have my eye on an '01 with 39k miles (also black) for the same asking price of $34k. I must agree that I have yet to find an '03 or later E55 with realistic mileage (under 30k) for less than $60K. The monthly commitment on a $35K car is significantly more "doable" than that on a $65K car. Especially with the CLK and the ML already sitting at the dining room table with me, so to speak! (What can I say, my wife and I are FOOLS for cool cars!)

 

At the price points he is talking about, the W210 E55 is a great option. Granted, the interior isn't plush relative to the W211 E55, but for his needs the luxury and power is more than sufficient. I agree the Bimmer should go if he gets the W210, plus his garage would like nice with 2 AMG's...the W208 AMG is a great car and the body style is a lot better than the W209 (IMO) and the W210 AMG body style is still a great look especially with the stock rims.

Also, I haven't heard significant horror stories about the maintenance of the W210 AMG...Is the car StarMarked by chance or offered w/ and extended warranty?

 

it would be very hard for me to move a 850 for E55. If you want it as a DD then buy one of the high milage cars. i have seen 99-00 models for mid 20's. Do that and keep the other cars.

 

PDC,

Why not sell the bmw AND the CLK and get into a new E55. I've owned and driven several different cars and this one is THE BEST DAILY DRIVER (and the most fun) of all of them.

Good luck whatever you do. One way to evaluate is the AMG driving event oe an MBSpeed event.

Have fun.

 

At least I am not the only one that feels this way.

I am trying to be happy with the 02 E55 I just bought 5 months ago, but I went for a test ride in a 05 E55 several months ago and I am warped now. That think plain hauls! My E55 needs a serious shot in the arm to equal that beast.

So I am in a bit of a situation regarding trading in my car just like you are. Keep my perfectly lovely E55 and Kleemann/HPS supercharge it, or drive my wife crazy by trading up to a 04 E55 come this Summer time. No no, I'll so get a CLS55 in a year.

 

Ross, as a former owner of an '02 E55... I'm going to tell you that there is no substitute for the W211 E55... not just the power, but the whole package.

Start saving your money for that '04...

-m

 

Yes Marcus, inside I know what you're saying and it is so true.

There is only one problem, I don't buy a car unless my Wife approves of the car. Normally this isn't a problem in a marriage, but..... she also never wants to get rid of the car we currently have, so she doesn't want me to trade the 01 E55, she wants to keep them all! As you may have noticed in my sig., we have a 92 500E and 01 E55 for sports sedans. If she had it her way, we would also have a S55 (hers) and I would go for a CLS55. I think I need help.

Quick, anyone have a good deal on a couple of car stackers?


BTW PDC, get the E55 you can afford, plain and simple.