Looking to buy a C55/CLK55/E55k/E63/CLS55/CLS63/SL55 - Advice/Comments? - Which One?!

[rockits]

For me it would be between the SL55, the CLS55 and the CLS63, or as someone else mentioned a C63.

What did you buy recently yourself as I noticed you were looking a while back? The SL55?

 

[gaz_l]

Have a look at this e55k 2003 56k miles 1 previous owner £9.5k

Looks tidy

Used AMG E55 for sale - PistonHeads (Ref 1460740)

Bloody hell that's a lot of car for the money..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[rockits]

Bloody hell that's a lot of car for the money..

Cheers,

Gaz

It is indeed...just dropped the guy a mail. Think I would rather spend a smidge more on a later car though.

What do you think of your SLK55?

 

[BQF]

The Boxster is very nice and very very tidy. Basalt black metallic with black leather & red callipers. Has extended leather, electric heated seats, all other standard kit and MoBridge iPod interface. Has full Porsche history through 1st owner. The 2nd owner was a bit fastidious by all accounts from Hertford as my next door neighbour knows the car and the couple very well. He had it looked after exclusively by RPM Technik. It is spotless from what I can see with not a mark on the body or alloys. I am the 3rd owner.

Just taxed it for another year and will need some tyres on it in 2-3k I'm told and would agree with that. Also will need some rear pads soon. Had full service last year and doesn't need another until July next year.

What money you looking at for your E55?

The Boxster sounds good - what mileage has it done?

For my E55, Parkers says £10,675 for an independent sale. It's just had discs and pads all round and a £1,500 service from Wrighttech, so I wouldn't be too far away from that.

It is silver though! Nice spec - massage seats, air suspension (naturally), COMAND, the usual. It's a nice car.

 

[gaz_l]

It is indeed...just dropped the guy a mail. Think I would rather spend a smidge more on a later car though.

What do you think of your SLK55?

I have to admit mine's a bit of a garage queen as it's only done 23K in 7 years. I have the Panda as a day to day car (supposedly my wife's, but it reverts to my ownership every time it needs filling up/taxing/insuring etc etc..) so the SLK only comes out on high days and holidays.

I love the SLK when it gets brought out to play though - you can't beat the sound of a V8 with the hood down! Plus 360 BHP in a small 2 seater makes it silly quick..

The SLK's handling gets mixed reviews, most people coming down on the side of it goes better in a straight line, but TBH I've never found a problem with it. On the road, I don't drive that quickly (honest, officer) and on the track it's not upset by the potholes that blight the highway.

You mention golf.. my boss is a golfist and although the SLK's boot is capacious enough to swallow a full set of clubs, I doubt you'd get two in. You may want to look at the SL if you want to rock up at the clubhouse with a buddy..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[rockits]

The Boxster sounds good - what mileage has it done?

For my E55, Parkers says £10,675 for an independent sale. It's just had discs and pads all round and a £1,500 service from Wrighttech, so I wouldn't be too far away from that.

It is silver though! Nice spec - massage seats, air suspension (naturally), COMAND, the usual. It's a nice car.

The mileage is 74k on the Boxster. It was very low mileage until about 2 years when the last owner changed jobs and did 40k in the last 2 years. It is immaculate so a straight genuine well looked after car. It drives spot on from what I know which to be honest is not much as it was the first Boxster I have ever driven. Driven a few 911's but if feels good to me.

Your car sounds good but really need to get over the Silver issue....not sure if I can! Does it have cooling seats or pano roof? Not sure if it sensible to spend a bit more and get a later car but just doing my research to see what is best.

 

[TDE1]

Dean, will PM you back as soon as can. Got loads going on here at mo!

Tim

 

[rockits]

I have to admit mine's a bit of a garage queen as it's only done 23K in 7 years. I have the Panda as a day to day car (supposedly my wife's, but it reverts to my ownership every time it needs filling up/taxing/insuring etc etc..) so the SLK only comes out on high days and holidays.

I love the SLK when it gets brought out to play though - you can't beat the sound of a V8 with the hood down! Plus 360 BHP in a small 2 seater makes it silly quick..

The SLK's handling gets mixed reviews, most people coming down on the side of it goes better in a straight line, but TBH I've never found a problem with it. On the road, I don't drive that quickly (honest, officer) and on the track it's not upset by the potholes that blight the highway.

You mention golf.. my boss is a golfist and although the SLK's boot is capacious enough to swallow a full set of clubs, I doubt you'd get two in. You may want to look at the SL if you want to rock up at the clubhouse with a buddy..

Cheers,

Gaz

Thanks Gaz

It will only mainly ever see one set of clubs and handling is not the be all and end all for me. I had a V6 TT before so it can't be! A bit of V8 power and a decent blend of comfort and handling is good enough for me.

Had to ditch the work 530d Touring M Sport as couldn't live with the suspension & runflats. The new E220 is like a magic carpet in comparison.

I think though if I went 2 seater I would likely go SL55 rather than SLK55 unless someone could offer me a good reason to think otherwise?

Regards
Dean

 

[Deleted member 37751]

A 2005/2006 W211 E55K would be my suggestion, that or a CLS 55.

 

[John]

I'd agree with Lee - a late E55K would be the best bet - although I would say that wouldn't I...

 

[rockits]

Looks like the E55k is seemingly the most popular option and the one I am swaying towards.

 

[Ginger55k]

"so only use this for personal use for around upto 2k miles per year".

I use mine the same as a weekend toy, mates have said but you have another in silver the same ?? I soon forget that when i hear the exhaust, The Don link is a lot of car for the money and looks good and clean, i would not worry much about the age more important is the history, and there are not many clean non abused examples out there, then you may want to factor in pulley and remap and so on with the spare cash, oh and fuel , the engine and drive train are bullet proof, expensive area can be air suspension issues.

Good luck with your search

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Have a butchers at this thread for a bit more advice on the W211 E55;

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/140603-w211-e55-some-essential-questions.html

 

[rockits]

"so only use this for personal use for around upto 2k miles per year".

I use mine the same as a weekend toy, mates have said but you have another in silver the same ?? I soon forget that when i hear the exhaust, The Don link is a lot of car for the money and looks good and clean, i would not worry much about the age more important is the history, and there are not many clean non abused examples out there, then you may want to factor in pulley and remap and so on with the spare cash, oh and fuel , the engine and drive train are bullet proof, expensive area can be air suspension issues.

Good luck with your search

Thanks for that. Seems like the most sensible (?!) option is the E55k. I might be able to live with the Silver I guess. The SL60 was the last car I had with some colour...that last half a dozen or more have bee combinations of silver, grey & black! A silver with dark pano roof would be better I think than plain silver roof.

AKASH seems to have a couple for sale as well. Is there much difference between a 2004 and the later 2005 model year?

 

[rockits]

Have a butchers at this thread for a bit more advice on the W211 E55;

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/140603-w211-e55-some-essential-questions.html

Thanks SPX...much appreciated and very useful.

So the obvious easy way to see if it is a later car with model revisions is the mesh centre grill on the later car rather than slatted of the earlier model. Does anyone know if there is much difference and worth spending more or waiting for a later revision car?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Thanks SPX...much appreciated and very useful.

So the obvious easy way to see if it is a later car with model revisions is the mesh centre grill on the later car rather than slatted of the earlier model. Does anyone know if there is much difference and worth spending more or waiting for a later revision car?

I've owned seven(!) W211's (including one E63) all ranging from 52 plate to 56 plate and can honestly say that they've all been a pleasure to own and have barely cost me anything above wear and tear items.

However...SBC is going to soon be a very common complaint on the forum, just as an example. This is on all W211 E55k's.

In my experience of W211's (and in this case E55's) I would do my best to get the latest I possibly could, seeing as though you have a very strong budget for one of these.

 

[rockits]

I've owned seven(!) W211's (including one E63) all ranging from 52 plate to 56 plate and can honestly say that they've all been a pleasure to own and have barely cost me anything above wear and tear items.

However...SBC is going to soon be a very common complaint on the forum, just as an example. This is on all W211 E55k's.

In my experience of W211's (and in this case E55's) I would do my best to get the latest I possibly could, seeing as though you have a very strong budget for one of these.

Thanks again SPX.

There is no budget as such ultimately as I will spend what I need to in order to get the best option. I can make more cash available if required especially as not getting a 2 seater means I don't need to change the wife's Touran!

However can never see the point in spending more than I need to to get lower miles or a newer car for no reason though. I am not plate precious and think you can pay way over the top for a low miler for no reason sometimes. I think a reasonable amount of miles is better in my mind without going into high milers. At least it has been used and often on longer journeys rather than being a shopping trolley.

Therefore could go to E63 if required but seems that it is not necessarily regarded as a better car just a bit different in the way it delivers the power.

Are there any specific spec changes improvements to the later model revision car or is it just electrical gremlins being resolved/improved?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Mostly electrical gremlins and from the ' 04 plates onwards (3Q 2003 supposedly) they were galvanised.

I agree with what you're saying about 'plate snobbery' but in this case I would personally go for as late a plate as possible to make sure that you're reducing the risk of the common faults that occurred with some early W211's.

 

[rockits]

Mostly electrical gremlins and from the ' 04 plates onwards (3Q 2003 supposedly) they were galvanised.

I agree with what you're saying about 'plate snobbery' but in this case I would personally go for as late a plate as possible to make sure that you're reducing the risk of the common faults that occurred with some early W211's.

So what was your opinion of your E63.....worth the extra spend over an E55k? Or better save some cash and stick with the E55k?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

So what was your opinion of your E63.....worth the extra spend over an E55k? Or better save some cash and stick with the E55k?

Didn't have the E63 that long to be honest, it was a very capable car but I'd buy a E55K and do what Alps has done to his (check out his gallery), it is the perfect compromise...