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  #1  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:12 AM
Zeus's Avatar
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Picked up a little something...

Hi all...been away for a while, but I've been busy. Our third son was born recently, which has been another fantastic experience. Just awesome seeing my other boys greeting their young sibling!

As far as cars go...my trusty E430 served me well for several years, but it was time for a new(er) Benz. Wanted an E55/E63 but I will be doing some longer commuting this winter and my practical father side kicked in and went for a compromise in the form of a 2007 E550 4Matic. MB Canada has a good sale this month. I picked up the Extended Warranty as well given this car has a lot of expensive toys (including Airmatic suspension).

I'm loving it! Iridium silver with black leather interior, my favorite combo. Car came with both the sport and premium packages and has the wood/leather wheel which I love. Gauges are white and it has the keyless go start (button on top of shift lever) which is cool.

Car drives absolutely beautifully, hands down my favorite Benz yet in terms of overall feel and performance. Two tranny settings, Comfort and Sport, and three airmatic suspension settings - comfort, sport 1 and sport 2. I use sport 2, which feels just right for me. Tight enough for some spirited driving yet you don't feel every road bump. Brakes are back to normal hydraulic (no SBC thankfully) and they feel perfect - powerful, smooth and firm.

The engine is just fantastic. Incredible power (388hp, 391 ft-lb), and it just goes and goes. Highway passing is effortless and it rockets from a start as well. Plenty of grinning on my drive home from picking it up.

I think Benz really nailed it with this one, the steering was apparently tweaked for this model (07) and it shows. The feel is firm and precise. Handling with the 18" rims is great and cornering is tight with limited roll on S2 suspension.

Mileage on the highway is similar to my E430, which is impressive for an engine with over 100 hp more...I got about 10.1-10.5L/100Km. City driving...don't ask.

So Hattie I didn't get the AMG yet, but I think perhaps I got an even better fit...what's that Stones song again?

Anyway, I'm a happer camper with everything that has been going on and I'm feeling quite fortunate. Some pics...





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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #2  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:18 AM
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Nice.
Keep it parked out there in no man's land.
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  #3  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by dynalow View Post
Nice.
Keep it parked out there in no man's land.
Thanks!

Lol, you noticed that did you? Definitely. I'll be that guy parking in the waaay corner of the lot. At least for a few months...
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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #4  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Zeus View Post
Thanks!

Lol, you noticed that did you? Definitely. I'll be that guy parking in the waaay corner of the lot. At least for a few months...
And sure as God made little green apples, you will find some schmoe parking out there next to you in a beat up 88 Bronco or, worse yet, you'll go shopping and park in an empty area and return to be sandwiched between two monsters SUVs or minivans, both equally offensive, imo. Ding Ding
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  #5  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by dynalow View Post
And sure as God made little green apples, you will find some schmoe parking out there next to you in a beat up 88 Bronco or, worse yet, you'll go shopping and park in an empty area and return to be sandwiched between two monsters SUVs or minivans, both equally offensive, imo. Ding Ding
Yep.
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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #6  
Old 08-27-2010, 12:40 PM
is thinning the herd
 
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Looks awesome, thats my favorite non-amg W211 wheel.
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  #7  
Old 08-28-2010, 10:59 AM
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Good score Chris! I love the W211, fantastic driving cars.

I think yours still has the 722.6 right?
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  #8  
Old 08-28-2010, 11:32 AM
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I've been looking closely at these cars in recent months as a modern driver as I miss the hassle free aspect of my W210. I was not keen on the E500's as they did not seem to offer that much power, but the E550 has a whopping 380hp.

Now I need to decide whether I should bite the bullet or save for an E55/63.
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  #9  
Old 08-28-2010, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Hatterasguy View Post
Good score Chris! I love the W211, fantastic driving cars.

I think yours still has the 722.6 right?
Thanks Hattie! Yep, the 5-speed. I really, really like the 7 speed in our GL, kinda wish mine had it. As far as longevity, we'll see how it fares. The 07 RWD E550s got the 7 speed...so it must be something to do with the 4Matic? Not sure...
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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #10  
Old 08-28-2010, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by alabbasi View Post
I've been looking closely at these cars in recent months as a modern driver as I miss the hassle free aspect of my W210. I was not keen on the E500's as they did not seem to offer that much power, but the E550 has a whopping 380hp.

Now I need to decide whether I should bite the bullet or save for an E55/63.
That was my thinking as well...I wanted an AMG. However, since I'll be doing some extra commuting this winter, the 4Matic won. It makes a big difference in the snow/ice. Even with the AWD, the E550 is fast, really fast. I absolutely don't need any more performance other than perhaps for track days. It'll pin your to your seat easily and it gets up to high speeds scary-quick. I find myself constantly checking (and reducing) my speed...

p.s. this engine also actually SOUNDS great. Seems rare in an MB, but you can actually hear it burble a bit at low revs, and it roars at higher revs. Something I'm not used to in an MB. My E430 is quiet as a mouse in comparison. I can only imagine what that AMG engine must sound like!
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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #11  
Old 08-29-2010, 06:17 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Nice car.....what no diesel?
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #12  
Old 08-29-2010, 07:36 AM
Zeus's Avatar
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Originally Posted by t walgamuth View Post
Nice car.....what no diesel?
Nope! If the GL had been available in diesel when we bought it, I would have bought it.
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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
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  #13  
Old 08-29-2010, 10:02 AM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeus View Post
Thanks Hattie! Yep, the 5-speed. I really, really like the 7 speed in our GL, kinda wish mine had it. As far as longevity, we'll see how it fares. The 07 RWD E550s got the 7 speed...so it must be something to do with the 4Matic? Not sure...
I'm just the opposite, I prefer the 5spd. The 722.6 is a beefy gear box for awhile MB used it in all their high stress applications, like the SLR and AMG models. I guess 4matic is harder on the tranny.
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  #14  
Old 08-29-2010, 10:10 AM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Zeus View Post
p.s. this engine also actually SOUNDS great. Seems rare in an MB, but you can actually hear it burble a bit at low revs, and it roars at higher revs. Something I'm not used to in an MB. My E430 is quiet as a mouse in comparison. I can only imagine what that AMG engine must sound like!
Like a muscle car, you should look into getting an Eisenmann or Renntech exhaust for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TG01AxQvm8&feature=related

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