old performance and new performance

We have the issue of buying a 500e rather than tuning a 400e squared away, but now I have a new question. I was talking to my Merc dealer and he said that the production run of the e55 was going to be 1500 over the next 3 years. Since there are 300 Merc dealers in the U.S.(1 or 2 e55 models for each dealer, each year) that makes for a 2 year waiting list. With the clk55 coming out next year, I had the chance to put a deposit down to aquire one of the first whenever they came out.
So here's my new question, what is the difference between the 500e and the e55, price differences aside, as far as performance. Which one is the better made car? Would buying a e55 (or clk55) be a better deal than trying to find a well maintaned 500e? I haven't driven either one, but I read that the e55 can easily smoke the 500e in a race, handle better, and have a better ride on top of that. How did they do that and then price the car $70K, that's $10K below the price of the 500e (around $80K when it came out new in 91)
I want to sell the 400e and buy a 500e, but the market is so dried up, the only 500s available are beat up and worn down. I'm also thinking of just keeping the 400e as a "beater car" for everyday use,and purchasing the e55 or clk55 as the "good car" for showing off on the weekends. That is, if I can wait that long for them to arrive at the dealership!

Thanks for your time,
Ryan

Ryan,
Here we go again...There are some major differences between the E55/CLK 55 and the 500E. The E55 is a W210 bodied hot-rod that is the successor to the 500E. The E55 has a electronic 5speed transmission vs the old tech 4speed in the 500E. Rated power on the E55 is 349HP/391lb-ft. The E55 also has allot more tire. 245/40ZR18 front, 275/35ZR18 rear. I'm not sure it rides any better. I doubt it would given the 500E's OEM 225/55/16 tire size. Mercedes has rated it as faster (and it very well may be a bit faster) Before I give final judgement to that I will have to drive one or at least see an E55 run in a starfest event. Given the way my 93 400E will stay with a 98 E430 I'm not willing to blindly say the E55 is faster. It SHOULD be faster, but when public cars get through the break in period and out on the street/track we will see. The E55 should handle better due to the 18" steamrollers. I will try to avoid the modified this vs modified that but given comparable tires the handling numbers would likely be so close as to be a wash.

I do know that most of the "oomph" has been extracted from the factory on the 3-valve motors. The DOHC engines have a bit more room for tuning. They are very similar cars in purpose but were built during two different phases or philosophies. Part of the reason the E55 was able to be produced for 10K under the 500E's cost when new was that aside from a stoked/tweaked modular 5.0, some very mild suspension work, wheels/tires, and some badging it is a E430 sport. The 500E had the curvaceous bodywork, Porsche outsource suspension, W124 chassis mods/bracing, plus tons of other upgrades that drove the price up.

Now the CLK55 is different. With significantly less weight and (presumably) the same engine as the E55 it should be a rocket. Sorry all you E-class fans but the CLK is more fun to drive. If price were no object I would likely put my deposit down on a CLK55 and enjoy the 400E in the meantime. The good news about the CLK *see MSshop CLK430 review* is that you get the big V8 power, it is still light enough to "feel" nimble, but is big enough to be practical. You can fit a 6'er behind a 6'er comfortably and it has a trunk that will hold golf bags or luggage for 4 without having to "saw off the toothbrush handles" Some of the interior appointments on the C-class based CLK look more downmarket than the usual W210 E-class stuff but I would hope that would be remedied in the CLK55.

There were not that many 500E's ever built and many people got themselves (and their cars) in trouble with the immense power on tap. Note: Technology cannot overcome stupidity! So it is a double edged sword. It may be harder to find a near perfect one (thank you again to those that helped me find mine...you know who you are!) But it will be that much more valuable when you do find it. Since there is a 1-2 year waiting list on E55's I bet you could find a top quality 500E faster. If you buy a new E55 or (my vote) CLK55, you can know it was never abused. That way you alone are responsible for how the car is cared for. The worst part is that you will have to wait a few thousand miles to wring out the motor.

Bar none-the 500E is the best performance bargain on the used MB market. The fact that it is at least close to the latest factory hot rod says something. It also has heritage, rarity, and exclusivity going for it. The new cars from MB are technologically superior, quality is world class (whether it is better now or then I'm not even going to touch), and generally more refined.

A top condition 500E, a new E55, or a new CLK55...there is a brutal question! j/k Cost no object I would have a CLK55 that was only ever mine and keep it...well...you get the idea. There isn't a bad choice among them and it would come down to what is most important to you.

Hope this helps...Lee

PS IF any E55 owners out there who would like to help with a "old lion vs young lion" 500E vs E55 review....Road Atlanta is just up the highway.

Couldn't agree more with Lee. This message came right to the point. The CLK55 is probably the fastest of the bunch. While it doesn't feel as solid as an Eclass it is also lighter on its feet. Hurry up and put a deposit down on a CLK55 they should be here in either Mar2000 or Dec 2000.
BTW the 5.5 motor is a totally different beast than the 4.3. It is not a stroked out 4.3 motor. The block is different.

Good luck!
Jesse