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  #1  
Old 05-24-2007, 02:38 AM
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500E vs. E55 AMG

Well help me make a decision. I want a fast benz, and i really like the 500E but ive also looked at a couple E55 AMG's. both cars each have their pro's and con's. and here is a small list of them.

W124 500E:

pro's

much rarer car and is considered a collectors car.
built by both MB and porsche
M119!
great suspension setup, doesnt lean in the turns
and just look at the beast!

con's

harsh ride, not good for long distance driving
older car means things will need to be replaced a bit more often then a newer benz
getting harder and harder to find so the value has skyrocketed! You can find E55's with lower mileage for less cash!


W210 E55 AMG:

pro's

up to date
navigation system in many models
more saftey features
349 HP
xenon headlights
heated and cooled seating
for a sport suspension from AMG the ride was pretty soft
and i can go on


Con's

Softer ride seems to give less sport handling, so it doenst handle tight turns as well as the 500E
newer benz means more computer crap (electronically speed limited)
and a newer benz means lesser quality then the pre-95 models


What do you guys think?

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  #2  
Old 05-24-2007, 05:30 AM
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I would go with a 500E if I could find a nice example with a service history. There are AMG's everywhere these days, but a nice 500E will knock your socks off just looking at it.
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  #3  
Old 05-24-2007, 07:16 AM
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Start with your budget, then work backwards.

Other questions to consider:

Is a warranty important? Will you DIY repairs? Will this be a daily driver or a weekend toy? Do you plan on modifying the car?

Good luck in your search.
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Old 05-24-2007, 07:36 AM
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Exactly - first question is "what are you going to do with it?", second question is "how long are you going to keep it?"
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  #5  
Old 05-24-2007, 09:17 AM
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defenetely a weekend toy. Sacremento drag strip will be the best place for either car to stretch its legs. Mods will also be a defenet possibility as long as its nothing to major/expensive.
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  #6  
Old 05-24-2007, 09:17 AM
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Talking

Of course, I'm biased...

Build quality and the roided looks of a 500E leave the 210 E55 far behind ...500Es are pretty easy to maintain/work on too (IMO). I think if you plan on keeping the car a 500E would be a better choice in the long run....for many reasons.

Both will put a smile on your face though when the pedal is floored....but overall performance/handling/fun factor has got to go to the 500E (not talking about straight line running here). No offenses to the 210 E55 owners but their cars are snatched off the regular assembly line and only a few bits go into making one as opposed to the whole package you get with the 500Es development and construction. 500Es were put together by the same techs that built the Porsche 959 on that cars assembly line. But, sure, the AMG techs over at Affalterbach are/were no slouches either...especially back then when the company was still sorta 'small'.

Hopefully a current 210 E55 owner will chime in on its attributes.
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Old 05-30-2007, 05:39 AM
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Best way to decide, would be to try both of them out, and see which one fits you best. Ideally, one right after another, and in the exact same places.
A hard run up and down San Bruno Mountain would be a pretty good place....

I'd tend towards the 500E, as it's a collector's car, already, and it's virtues are well known. In your case, with your experience with your '87 diesel, you know the basic body style really well, which is a big plus in taking care of them.

But the E55 AMG would be a delightful car for road trip cruises, no question, and would be a real sleeper at the drag strip, too. Not to mention it's safety features are more advanced.

But it does have complex electronic issues, and I think it might prove to lack the build quality and durability that you would get with the W124 E500.

Verdict seems to be in already, on resale value. The E500/500E is already the winner on that one.
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  #8  
Old 05-30-2007, 04:52 PM
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I'd go with the E55.
My Ex has one and I love it more then I did her.
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  #9  
Old 06-01-2007, 10:05 AM
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even though I don't own either one, but a diesel w210, I'd say go for the E55if you want to play with it on the weekends and take on occasional drive out and about. From reading other posts it appears to be much more of a comfortable car than the 500E. The 500E appears to be a collectors car. A highly engineered vehicle that has one purpose, haul ass!

As far as performance of the E55, there are aftermarket parts to really make the car perform, upgraded springs, shocks, swaybars, etc.... I have found the w210 a nice car to work on. Either way they are both some fine automobiles.... PLUS, it'll be MUCH easier to find an E55 in better condition and less mileage than a 500E...

Check them both out and see how you like the feel of each. If you're tall, I bet the w210 cahssis may feel more "fitting" for a tall frame.
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  #10  
Old 06-01-2007, 01:36 PM
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Ironic this posts pops up right after I get back from dropping my brother off at the airport with his loaner from MB, a E55AMG. I own a 93 500E and after driving the E55 here are my impressions.

1993 500E Stock, 19" F1 AMG Staggered (from SL65)
2007 E55 AMG Stock

1. Shift points in the E55 are much better set that the 500E. Of course the drastically different transmission contributes to that as well as the lack of a FGS on my 500E but it just hits the shifts spot-on where they need to be.

2. 500E handling far exceeds that of the E55. Not even close. Everything from cornering to body roll, and even right down to the steering ratio, the 500E is the better performance vehicle. Trust me, there are many areas where I drive within the city that are perfect tests for this and regular routes that I take in/out of my building. E55 is a little sloppier, steering ratio is a little low where at points you have to shift your position to get the cornering angle you want. Body roll is more excessive and the oversteer is more noticeable. Visually it looks like the E55 has a longer wheelbase, and I'm almost certain it does. Granted, not completely fair with the shoes the 500E is wearing but still too sloppy for my taste from what I expect out of a "AMG" MB release.

3. Braking. Dead even. There's an area where I can judge my braking with cars right when you pull in to the main drag. First bus stop pole, hard braking and will get you right before the ripple warnings on concrete pavement to signal the upcoming railroad. (500E has the stock OE brembos with crossdrilled brembo rotors)

4. Interior. Don't get me started on this one. 500E, NO CONTEST. If I wanted a Chrysler interior, I would've bought a Chrysler.

That's it for now. I have the car for 3 days. Will be making some runs with it into North Ga Mountains and the Appie and Blueridge switchbacks and will report more later.
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  #11  
Old 06-01-2007, 01:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kwontumspeed View Post
Ironic this posts pops up right after I get back from dropping my brother off at the airport with his loaner from MB, a E55AMG. I own a 93 500E and after driving the E55 here are my impressions.

1993 500E Stock, 19" F1 AMG Staggered (from SL65)
2007 E55 AMG Stock
I think the original poster was trying to decide between a W210 and the 500E, not a W211 (BTW the '07 is the E63....'03-'06 is the blown '55' V8). Your write up is very instructional however.
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  #12  
Old 06-01-2007, 01:53 PM
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Yep, just made note of that as well.

Oh well, for those interested when I get enough data, I'll may start another post. Still good to hear my 500E snicker at the E55.

FWIW, W124 v. W210...Absolutely no question for the 500E. Sure, I'm biased but even if I didn't own one I wouldn't go with the W210. There seem to be questions of comfort as well, with a bad back the drive from LA to GA in the 500E was nothing less than perfect the whole way...
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  #13  
Old 06-01-2007, 03:33 PM
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I'd ask buckwheat if I were you, knows a lot about 500's. Especially the S class. It's been a while, but last time I spoke with him he had two 119's in his garage in various stages of reassembly-disassembly. Even coded his own computer module mating as I remember
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  #14  
Old 06-01-2007, 10:48 PM
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If you want a good weekend sports car, why not a 911? Its hard to beat a 911...

The 500E and E55 are different cars, you need to decide what you want. The AMG E60 would be more of a comparision to the E55.

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