W211 E55 AMG and W203 C55 AMG

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vealige

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Where to start......

I will be soon selling my Golf R32 and I have narrowed down my next car to one or the other.

I know they are probably not cars you can compare against each other but to me its the only two that kind of fall into my budget range.

At the moment if I went to look at either I would be going in blind so I really would like to know the in's and outs of both cars. I have so many questions but really unsure where to start.

I am a bit fearful of moving to the darkside (mercedes) as I am currently fully kitted out with ETKA (VW parts catalogue) Bentley workshop manuals, VAG COM (VW diagnostic) , VAG TACHO (Allows you to manipulate the ECU for things like miles to empty etc...) etc meaning I can pretty much diagnose and cure any problems that arrise with my car without the need to taking it VW or a specialist as they tend to be robbing buggers although probably cheaper then mercedes! :p

So can you get similar diagnostic tools for your Mercedes at reasonable prices (VAG COM cost me £30 for a fleabay lead and the software is available to download, VAG TACHO was £10) as no offence to dealerships but I trust them as far as I can throw them. Obviously Bentley manuals cover most models etc...

How scary is the servicing cost on a C55 AMG or E55 AMG I would try to keep a FMBSH if I bought a car with one as I do believe it helps to sell your car on in the long run.

Apart from the earth shattering performance that I expect from either car and a shocking fuel bill (I'm sure the V8 noise will make up for that) what does a concerning buyer need to look out for on both models??

Tuning, whatever car I get I won't be able to leave it alone who are the best people to buy aftermarket parts off and what are your options

Finally for now..... Are they as simple to work on as a bog standard Mercedes just with a big engine and some expensive brakes.... Excuse the pun :eek:

A lot of technical question I know but I really want to be prepaired many thanks
 
Where to start......

I will be soon selling my Golf R32 and I have narrowed down my next car to one or the other.

I know they are probably not cars you can compare against each other but to me its the only two that kind of fall into my budget range.

At the moment if I went to look at either I would be going in blind so I really would like to know the in's and outs of both cars. I have so many questions but really unsure where to start.

I am a bit fearful of moving to the darkside (mercedes) as I am currently fully kitted out with ETKA (VW parts catalogue) Bentley workshop manuals, VAG COM (VW diagnostic) , VAG TACHO (Allows you to manipulate the ECU for things like miles to empty etc...) etc meaning I can pretty much diagnose and cure any problems that arrise with my car without the need to taking it VW or a specialist as they tend to be robbing buggers although probably cheaper then mercedes! :p

So can you get similar diagnostic tools for your Mercedes at reasonable prices (VAG COM cost me £30 for a fleabay lead and the software is available to download, VAG TACHO was £10) as no offence to dealerships but I trust them as far as I can throw them. Obviously Bentley manuals cover most models etc...

How scary is the servicing cost on a C55 AMG or E55 AMG I would try to keep a FMBSH if I bought a car with one as I do believe it helps to sell your car on in the long run.

Apart from the earth shattering performance that I expect from either car and a shocking fuel bill (I'm sure the V8 noise will make up for that) what does a concerning buyer need to look out for on both models??

Tuning, whatever car I get I won't be able to leave it alone who are the best people to buy aftermarket parts off and what are your options

Finally for now..... Are they as simple to work on as a bog standard Mercedes just with a big engine and some expensive brakes.... Excuse the pun :eek:

A lot of technical question I know but I really want to be prepaired many thanks

hi, tuning mercedes costs are very high. and to keep a FMBSH on a AMG will run thousands... a 210 will/might have some rust issues. the 203 55 are also a lot more expensive than 210 55s.

other than that both models are awesome better than any car that has ever came out the vw/audi group :) both solid
 
If does not have full MB history on E55's and C55 will not make an ounce of difference when you go to sell it as long as it has specialist history.

Are you talking about the E55K (211) or the E55 (210)

The C55 is one of my faverourites but it is a very different beast to the E55k. The E55K costs much more to fix.

The diag equipment for MB's is called a Star. It aint chep but it is really the only gear that is any good on MB's.
 
He is talking about the w211 as it states in the title.

I think both are great cars, the w211 e55 will cost more to run and will drink more petrol than the c55 and is faster obviously.

The C55 is more rare but both are nice reliable cars.
 
If does not have full MB history on E55's and C55 will not make an ounce of difference when you go to sell it as long as it has specialist history.

Are you talking about the E55K (211) or the E55 (210)

The C55 is one of my faverourites but it is a very different beast to the E55k. The E55K costs much more to fix.

The diag equipment for MB's is called a Star. It aint chep but it is really the only gear that is any good on MB's.

Thanks I am talking about the W211 E55 AMG as I really do think it is a wonderful looking car along with the W203 C55 AMG.

I did think it was called star and you are probably right about the FMBSH, but I think once I have an AMG it will be a long term purchase and not one I am like to get rid of quickly.

He is talking about the w211 as it states in the title.

I think both are great cars, the w211 e55 will cost more to run and will drink more petrol than the c55 and is faster obviously.

The C55 is more rare but both are nice reliable cars.

Yes there is something very appealing about the C55 AMG, I guess its the whole big engine in a small car thing :thumb:

hi, tuning mercedes costs are very high. and to keep a FMBSH on a AMG will run thousands... a 210 will/might have some rust issues. the 203 55 are also a lot more expensive than 210 55s.

other than that both models are awesome better than any car that has ever came out the vw/audi group :) both solid

Hahahaha yeh certainly in that price bracket there is very little to offer from competitors and I am personally not and E46 M3 person despite how brilliant they are to drive.
 
both nice cars, E55 is supercharged and totally different drive, also the options in the w211 are much better
 
I went from a string of Subarus with neck breaking acceleration and cornering to a C55 - which just gave incredible effortless acceleration at any speed and a level of refinement I couldn't believe. Still nippy enough on the bends to keep up with anything I came across and a great Q car.

Then came the E55 ......... what can you say - its just another league. It was originally described to me as an animal - mindblowing acceleration at any time, any speed, completely effortless. Considering its size/weight, you still get good control on the bends when using the Sports setting on the airmatic suspension. All the gadgets you could ever want and has great presence on the road.

Some of the parts are pricey, but most are no more than any other MB. Make sure you have or take out a Tier 1 warranty........ Fuel costs ..... the C55 averaged 22.6mpg during the 12000 miles I did in it, wheras the E55 has averaged 20.1mpg in the 14000 so far. And I like to 'press-on' when motoring ......

If you can find one - get the E55 :)
 
I went from a string of Subarus with neck breaking acceleration and cornering to a C55 - which just gave incredible effortless acceleration at any speed and a level of refinement I couldn't believe. Still nippy enough on the bends to keep up with anything I came across and a great Q car.

Then came the E55 ......... what can you say - its just another league. It was originally described to me as an animal - mindblowing acceleration at any time, any speed, completely effortless. Considering its size/weight, you still get good control on the bends when using the Sports setting on the airmatic suspension. All the gadgets you could ever want and has great presence on the road.

Some of the parts are pricey, but most are no more than any other MB. Make sure you have or take out a Tier 1 warranty........ Fuel costs ..... the C55 averaged 22.6mpg during the 12000 miles I did in it, wheras the E55 has averaged 20.1mpg in the 14000 so far. And I like to 'press-on' when motoring ......

If you can find one - get the E55 :)

Blimey how are you managing to get 20.1mpg on your E55? I can only seem to get about 17!!! That said I do a fair bit of driving in town.

Back on subject though, I know I'm biased as I have an E55, but out of the 2, I would definitely make the same choice again. I did think about the C55 when I got mine, but the 'E' is much bigger and seems much more of a car. I needed an estate mind you and space was a key issue, which may not sway it for you. The power delivery is a bit special too, I also drove a few RS6's, a car which I thought I had always wanted, but then I got in an E55 and the RS6 was no longer an option :D.
 
Hi

I have recently bought a C55 estate. Like others on here I have had my share of high performance cars. They are all different and have all been fun to drive with each having very different characteristics.

The C55 (for me) is the complete package. It is so understated except to those in the know that it makes you grin from ear to ear. The V8 makes the stereo an expensive extra. The ride is stiff but just gets funnier and funnier.

For me... I like the look of the estate. I think that the C55 is one of the best looking estates on the road. The quad exhausts are not everybody's cup of tea. But for me they compliment the whole look of the car.

All in all I think what you get is a top end refined feel to a very quick performance car.
 
Blimey how are you managing to get 20.1mpg on your E55? I can only seem to get about 17!!! That said I do a fair bit of driving in town.

.

I've managed 23-25 MPG on long motorway driving but can't get it above that, some people have said they have got 28+, around town and regular driving I manage about 15-18 so you're not on your own.
 
Since you're coming from R32, I think C55 would be more suitable replacement for you, because it's kind of similar size and you won't get the feeling that you swapped your Golf to a family bus.

Things to keep in mind: you won't be able to thrash C55 in gears, like you would usually do in R32 :D
 
I agree with Blackman, and that's exactly why I went for a C55 AMG over a 211 E55 was the size, I did not need a car that big, I did have a 211 320CDi before and that was too big for what I need, doing 6 - 7k a year!

I nearly bought this before I bought my C55, and then decided to go for the c55 as I found it too big for me; http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2314583.htm

As regards to the E46 M3 I had one and it was gone within 4 months...

C55 is just perfect balance, you will see a huge step up in performance compared to your R32, the c55 with 370bhp and 510 torque is all you need in a small car like that! ;)

I easily get 24mpg out of my C55 on the way to work (15miles) @ 65-70mph.
 
Since you're coming from R32, I think C55 would be more suitable replacement for you, because it's kind of similar size and you won't get the feeling that you swapped your Golf to a family bus.

Things to keep in mind: you won't need to thrash C55 in gears, like you would usually do in R32 :D

Fixed that for you :)
 
I went from a string of Subarus with neck breaking acceleration and cornering to a C55 - which just gave incredible effortless acceleration at any speed and a level of refinement I couldn't believe. Still nippy enough on the bends to keep up with anything I came across and a great Q car.

Then came the E55 ......... what can you say - its just another league. It was originally described to me as an animal - mindblowing acceleration at any time, any speed, completely effortless. Considering its size/weight, you still get good control on the bends when using the Sports setting on the airmatic suspension. All the gadgets you could ever want and has great presence on the road.

Some of the parts are pricey, but most are no more than any other MB. Make sure you have or take out a Tier 1 warranty........ Fuel costs ..... the C55 averaged 22.6mpg during the 12000 miles I did in it, wheras the E55 has averaged 20.1mpg in the 14000 so far. And I like to 'press-on' when motoring ......

If you can find one - get the E55 :)

This will certainly be part of my budget when purchasing either a C55 AMG or E55 AMG whether its an aftermarket warranty or Tier 1 which I am assuming is a Mercedes warranty

To be honest the R32 will only do 17-19MPG around town although you can get nearly 30 MPG on a decent motorway run. So fuel consumption won't be a massive shock, or here's hoping anyway....

Blimey how are you managing to get 20.1mpg on your E55? I can only seem to get about 17!!! That said I do a fair bit of driving in town.

Back on subject though, I know I'm biased as I have an E55, but out of the 2, I would definitely make the same choice again. I did think about the C55 when I got mine, but the 'E' is much bigger and seems much more of a car. I needed an estate mind you and space was a key issue, which may not sway it for you. The power delivery is a bit special too, I also drove a few RS6's, a car which I thought I had always wanted, but then I got in an E55 and the RS6 was no longer an option :D.

Well Gina and I have a 5.5 month old Bernese mountain dog puppy who is already 4.5 stone and the size of a fully grown Lab etc so an estate is not out of the question but thats why we got the S202 C230K as that is the dog wagon really although quite a nice one :p

Yeh the RS6 is a real money pit! Massive issues with the DRC suspension, stupidly weak auto gearbox, the 8 pot brakes are so fearce they go through discs like no tomorrow which are serious money to replace etc.. Its so bad third party warranty companies will not cover you as they have had so many claims on RS6's! They will only renew current customers and not accept new ones. I spent a shed load of time researching the RS6 and was quickly put off.

The AMG really is going to my toy which is why I was leaning towards the E55 with S/charged engine! :bannana::bannana: But the E class is a big car although it should fit in my garage lovely.

Hi

I have recently bought a C55 estate. Like others on here I have had my share of high performance cars. They are all different and have all been fun to drive with each having very different characteristics.

The C55 (for me) is the complete package. It is so understated except to those in the know that it makes you grin from ear to ear. The V8 makes the stereo an expensive extra. The ride is stiff but just gets funnier and funnier.

For me... I like the look of the estate. I think that the C55 is one of the best looking estates on the road. The quad exhausts are not everybody's cup of tea. But for me they compliment the whole look of the car.

All in all I think what you get is a top end refined feel to a very quick performance car.

Totally agree I do love the understatedness of all AMG's. Less definitley is more! Looking at the price of AMG estates there is quite a hike over their saloon counterparts and I don't really need an estate so I will stick with the saloon.

Since you're coming from R32, I think C55 would be more suitable replacement for you, because it's kind of similar size and you won't get the feeling that you swapped your Golf to a family bus.

Things to keep in mind: you won't be able to thrash C55 in gears, like you would usually do in R32 :D

Hahahaha yeh I think the C class is a nice size. The Auto may take some getting used to as I have never lived with one before :)

I agree with Blackman, and that's exactly why I went for a C55 AMG over a 211 E55 was the size, I did not need a car that big, I did have a 211 320CDi before and that was too big for what I need, doing 6 - 7k a year!

I nearly bought this before I bought my C55, and then decided to go for the c55 as I found it too big for me; Car Solutions : E55 AMG PAN ROOF HUGE SPEC

As regards to the E46 M3 I had one and it was gone within 4 months...

C55 is just perfect balance, you will see a huge step up in performance compared to your R32, the c55 with 370bhp and 510 torque is all you need in a small car like that! ;)

I easily get 24mpg out of my C55 on the way to work (15miles) @ 65-70mph.

Yeh the power increase on both is quite substantial and that is impressive mpg considering the size of the engine!!

Fixed that for you :)

hahahaha :D
 
Hahahaha yeh I think the C class is a nice size. The Auto may take some getting used to as I have never lived with one before :)

Yeh the power increase on both is quite substantial and that is impressive mpg considering the size of the engine!!

You got to remember when buying an AMG you don't a normal auto...;)
 
Bought a 2004 E55K AMG in December, with 65,000 miles. On this weeks long run to Stuttgart (to the MB and Porsche Museum - awesome, but perhaps more of that later) I got 20.2mpg. At times I hit 150ish, but only where safe, the road was dry etc....:D

Had a few smallish niggles - namely, a new Keyless go door handle required, a new engine start button, a new GPS aerial, and now the 'flappy paddles' have gone, so it will be back in next week.

There are a stack of electricals, and I think thats where you'll see problems. The V8s and Gearboxes etc seem tough as old boots.

It makes a great noise. Worth the money. Buy one with a warranty though!!!
 
Bought a 2004 E55K AMG in December, with 65,000 miles. On this weeks long run to Stuttgart (to the MB and Porsche Museum - awesome, but perhaps more of that later) I got 20.2mpg. At times I hit 150ish, but only where safe, the road was dry etc....:D

Had a few smallish niggles - namely, a new Keyless go door handle required, a new engine start button, a new GPS aerial, and now the 'flappy paddles' have gone, so it will be back in next week.

There are a stack of electricals, and I think thats where you'll see problems. The V8s and Gearboxes etc seem tough as old boots.

It makes a great noise. Worth the money. Buy one with a warranty though!!!


Thanks for your detailed post really appreciated.


Well after seeing two C55 AMG's in Plymouth recently, one I think is member here (was black with tinted windows and incredibly clean!) the other I am not sure which is driven by a grey haired chap although his wife was driving it today, I am thinking the C55 might be a bit common! :p:p:p:doh:

Not seen any E55 AMG's at all and the more I think about it the more appealing that supercharged V8 is! :thumb:
 
Thanks for your detailed post really appreciated.


Well after seeing two C55 AMG's in Plymouth recently, one I think is member here (was black with tinted windows and incredibly clean!) the other I am not sure which is driven by a grey haired chap although his wife was driving it today, I am thinking the C55 might be a bit common! :p:p:p:doh:

Not seen any E55 AMG's at all and the more I think about it the more appealing that supercharged V8 is! :thumb:

No worries - to put your mind at rest the 'flappy paddle' problem I referred to was fixed in 15 minutes by my local dealer (MB of Tonbridge, who are absolutely first class!).

Good straight E55s are quite rarely for sale through the MB network, although I personally think this is the only way to go with these cars. Buying privately is just way too risky - they are complicated, sensitive cars and need full MB history, or a cast iron independent history.

They are totally worth it though - driving back from the garage yesterday I gave the thing the beans and it feels like you are going to take off. Incredible performance - absolutely nothing like it for the money.
 
No worries - to put your mind at rest the 'flappy paddle' problem I referred to was fixed in 15 minutes by my local dealer (MB of Tonbridge, who are absolutely first class!).

Good straight E55s are quite rarely for sale through the MB network, although I personally think this is the only way to go with these cars. Buying privately is just way too risky - they are complicated, sensitive cars and need full MB history, or a cast iron independent history.

They are totally worth it though - driving back from the garage yesterday I gave the thing the beans and it feels like you are going to take off. Incredible performance - absolutely nothing like it for the money.

I'm not too worried to tackle anything myself mechanically as I always have done anyway so I'm not too scared about that and I intend to invest in STAR so I can diagnose any issues without spending a fortune on taking the car to the dealers. My main worries were weak engines, gearbox's etc as electrical problems I can happily track down and fix but it gets mega bucks if the big things like engines are weak.

This is what has really put me off an Audi RS6 as they are seriously weak mechanically. However the E55 AMG doesn't seem to have this issue it's more electrical gremlins and the usual wear and tear items and of course rust :ban:

After fitting milltek manifolds to my Golf R32 I don't think there is possibly a job in the world that is harder, had to drop the subframe on my back with the car on axle stands remove the propshaft from the gearbox etc... So I'm not afraid to take anything on lol.
 
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I think you will find the servicing on a C55 very reasonable.

Ollie did my front disks and pads for under £300. I had an A service done at the local MB dealer and it was under £300 aswell (just to keep the book stamped!).

I havnt driven an E55K as they are too big in my opinion. The C55 is a beautiful balance of awesome power and chassis. I loved mine to bits and hearing all this talk is making me wish I still had it :eek:

As for thrashing through the gears, you wont need to;)

Suggest you drive one and see for yourself.
 

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