Developing a taste for AMG...
Discussion
Hello all, just wondering if anyone here can give me a bit of advice... been looking around recently for an E39 M5 (don't flame me just yet...). However, have found myself developing a bit of a taste for a few of the AMG models. C-class wise I like the sound of the C55 AMG but wondering how this compares to the C32 AMG (difference doesn't seem that much on paper if I remember correctly but I really like the V8) - can anyone enlighten me? Also, really like the E55 AMG too, although price-wise I would be straying a little with this...
Has anyone got experience of any of the above (particularly relative to the M5)?
Thanks in advance...
Has anyone got experience of any of the above (particularly relative to the M5)?
Thanks in advance...
I believe a few PHers have the E55 (I assume you mean the supercharged one). Bloody fast sums them up nicely 
But to concentrate on the C-Class:
C55 vs. C32....practically identical on paper, although I have heard the C32 is a tad quicker in the mid-range. C55 build quality will be better though. A friend's Dad runs a debadged C32, making it look even more discrete! It's ludacrisly quick, and has a nice V6 growl, with the supercharger whirl, but not many things can beat the sound of V8!
If it were my money to choose between C32 and C55, I would go 55. Like for like on mileage and spec, the C55 seems to be around £5-10,000 more expensive than a C32. Which ever one you get, may be worth giving DMS a call. I hear the chip and derestrict all 3 cars mentioned
Good luck with your hunt!
Darren
But to concentrate on the C-Class:
C55 vs. C32....practically identical on paper, although I have heard the C32 is a tad quicker in the mid-range. C55 build quality will be better though. A friend's Dad runs a debadged C32, making it look even more discrete! It's ludacrisly quick, and has a nice V6 growl, with the supercharger whirl, but not many things can beat the sound of V8!
If it were my money to choose between C32 and C55, I would go 55. Like for like on mileage and spec, the C55 seems to be around £5-10,000 more expensive than a C32. Which ever one you get, may be worth giving DMS a call. I hear the chip and derestrict all 3 cars mentioned
Good luck with your hunt!
Darren
if your keeping it stock then i'd say c55,
its got better suspension, bigger wheels, different front end (borrowed from clk but you can't really tell), the interior is nicer with a more modern dash and if it's got command which most will have then it's DVD based instead of cd rom like c32, more reliable and it's got that lovely torqey V8 up front.
But if your into modding then the C32 is probably a better bet,
its a lot easier to mod and with just a few alterations it can be made a lot faster than the C55, the standard suspension's a bit soft and wallowy but is easy to fix with new springs and anti roll bars and you can soon change the wheels and tyres if you want to
its got better suspension, bigger wheels, different front end (borrowed from clk but you can't really tell), the interior is nicer with a more modern dash and if it's got command which most will have then it's DVD based instead of cd rom like c32, more reliable and it's got that lovely torqey V8 up front.
But if your into modding then the C32 is probably a better bet,
its a lot easier to mod and with just a few alterations it can be made a lot faster than the C55, the standard suspension's a bit soft and wallowy but is easy to fix with new springs and anti roll bars and you can soon change the wheels and tyres if you want to
I don't have any experience on the cars above, but I have bought a C43 AMG a few weeks ago and have no complaints yet. Especially love the sound of the V8, the car is very quiet when cruising on motorways, but when you open it up the sound is 
Also you say the E55 AMG is too expensive, but the earlier ones are cheaper than any C32 or C55 currently available. For a similar age and mileage, they cost barely more than a C43.
Also you say the E55 AMG is too expensive, but the earlier ones are cheaper than any C32 or C55 currently available. For a similar age and mileage, they cost barely more than a C43.
paoloh said:
bloodyniceben said:
paoloh said:
The 55 won't handle like the M5. IMO the M5 is more communicative.
Biased, Paolo??? 
Ben
Edited by bloodyniceben on Friday 13th July 07:58
Sorry
Ben
Edited by bloodyniceben on Saturday 14th July 07:19
I sold an e39 M5 earlier this year after 4 years ownership & bought an E55 AMG Estate, 7 seater. Only reason for change was because of my ever growing family, now numbering 5.
The M5 was superb, consequently I had prepared myself to be a little disappointed with the E55. However the E55 is also brilliant fun to drive. With it's rack & pinion steering, providing the same if not better feedback than the M5's recirculating ball steering. Thought I'd miss the manual transmission, but the automatic transmission is so smooth, seamless & effortless I honestly don't. I have yet to be caught out by the automatic transmission i.e. caught in the wrong gear in any situation to date. The E55's torque of 390 ft/lb is more than the M5's 368 ft/lb & makes overtaking a doddle, in whatever gear it's already in.
I rarely feel the need to even kickdown, but when I did kickdown recently, in the dry, coming off a roundabout, on the apex, just about to join a straight, the E55 actually shocked me with its power & even more so with it's utter composure & surefootedness i.e. it's traction control was doing its job superbly, with minimal intrusion. The effectiveness of the traction control is also apparent in a traffic light standing start too, I have yet to screw one up, being an automatic probably helps! Might be different in the wet, but with my new Goodyear Eagle F1s, it's traction is outstanding for a RWD. Perhaps the extra weight of the estate over the rear tyres helps here too?
Thought I might miss the LSD off the M5, but not really, this E55 is terrific fun on roundabouts. Again, something to do with all the electronic traction control trickery I guess. Not in the same league as the M5, which is beautifully balanced, but still great.
Personally I love the look of the car too, as a fellow E55 Estate owner says above, it's a true Q car. It certainly gets plenty of admiring glances wherever I drive. My E55 is a 1998 model, 9 years old, relatively cheap to buy & looks absolutely mint! My mum, when she first saw it, thought it was brand new, embraced me & thought that I must have won the Lottery!!
It's more comfortable than the M5, a factor becoming very important to me as I approach 40!! It's larger inside than the M5, again important to me with a wife & 3 kids. It's stuffed full of thoughtful, practical touches & built like a tank.
I calculate my fuel consumption of 23mpg to be slightly better than the M5 (21mpg) too. Not bad considering it's a bigger engine, automatic & me driving, who for some childish competitive reason still loves to drive nearly everywhere as quickly as conditions/passengers permit. However, when ferrying kids around, it can be the paragon of luxurious, practical & safe motoring. Brakes are better too on the E55. I believe the fuel consumption on the later E55 w211 supercharged model 2002 onwards, to be in the low teens! Similar to the RS6 fuel consumption too I think.
I have found it to be a better built car than the M5 too, which had several electrical gremlins e.g. faulty O2 sensors/engine warning light coming on/engine went into limp home mode once, when racing a 535d; very embarrasing!
The E55 just does not burn any oil! It runs on Mobil 1, I keep checking but the level on the dipstick just doesn't move. Whereas with the M5, I had to regularly top it up with 1 or 2 litres every month. Perhaps a sign of a better handbuilt engine? Both cars had/have full dealer service history.
Overall both M5 & E55 (w210) are terrific naturally aspirated V8 cars & you won't be disappointed with either. M5 has the edge in handling stakes without question, but for me the E55 is the better all round package & it's probably rarer on our roads, particularly in an estate form, than the M5, which also makes it more special to me. AMG will not release production figures for the RHD E55 AMG Estate w210 :-(, but I've started a register on www.mbworld.org
Best wishes
Chris
The M5 was superb, consequently I had prepared myself to be a little disappointed with the E55. However the E55 is also brilliant fun to drive. With it's rack & pinion steering, providing the same if not better feedback than the M5's recirculating ball steering. Thought I'd miss the manual transmission, but the automatic transmission is so smooth, seamless & effortless I honestly don't. I have yet to be caught out by the automatic transmission i.e. caught in the wrong gear in any situation to date. The E55's torque of 390 ft/lb is more than the M5's 368 ft/lb & makes overtaking a doddle, in whatever gear it's already in.
I rarely feel the need to even kickdown, but when I did kickdown recently, in the dry, coming off a roundabout, on the apex, just about to join a straight, the E55 actually shocked me with its power & even more so with it's utter composure & surefootedness i.e. it's traction control was doing its job superbly, with minimal intrusion. The effectiveness of the traction control is also apparent in a traffic light standing start too, I have yet to screw one up, being an automatic probably helps! Might be different in the wet, but with my new Goodyear Eagle F1s, it's traction is outstanding for a RWD. Perhaps the extra weight of the estate over the rear tyres helps here too?
Thought I might miss the LSD off the M5, but not really, this E55 is terrific fun on roundabouts. Again, something to do with all the electronic traction control trickery I guess. Not in the same league as the M5, which is beautifully balanced, but still great.
Personally I love the look of the car too, as a fellow E55 Estate owner says above, it's a true Q car. It certainly gets plenty of admiring glances wherever I drive. My E55 is a 1998 model, 9 years old, relatively cheap to buy & looks absolutely mint! My mum, when she first saw it, thought it was brand new, embraced me & thought that I must have won the Lottery!!
It's more comfortable than the M5, a factor becoming very important to me as I approach 40!! It's larger inside than the M5, again important to me with a wife & 3 kids. It's stuffed full of thoughtful, practical touches & built like a tank.
I calculate my fuel consumption of 23mpg to be slightly better than the M5 (21mpg) too. Not bad considering it's a bigger engine, automatic & me driving, who for some childish competitive reason still loves to drive nearly everywhere as quickly as conditions/passengers permit. However, when ferrying kids around, it can be the paragon of luxurious, practical & safe motoring. Brakes are better too on the E55. I believe the fuel consumption on the later E55 w211 supercharged model 2002 onwards, to be in the low teens! Similar to the RS6 fuel consumption too I think.
I have found it to be a better built car than the M5 too, which had several electrical gremlins e.g. faulty O2 sensors/engine warning light coming on/engine went into limp home mode once, when racing a 535d; very embarrasing!
The E55 just does not burn any oil! It runs on Mobil 1, I keep checking but the level on the dipstick just doesn't move. Whereas with the M5, I had to regularly top it up with 1 or 2 litres every month. Perhaps a sign of a better handbuilt engine? Both cars had/have full dealer service history.
Overall both M5 & E55 (w210) are terrific naturally aspirated V8 cars & you won't be disappointed with either. M5 has the edge in handling stakes without question, but for me the E55 is the better all round package & it's probably rarer on our roads, particularly in an estate form, than the M5, which also makes it more special to me. AMG will not release production figures for the RHD E55 AMG Estate w210 :-(, but I've started a register on www.mbworld.org
Best wishes
Chris
Edited by Chris French on Wednesday 1st August 12:46
I had a 2003 E55, and after a few weeks couldn't wait to get rid of it. It handled like a sack of sh*t. Too much power to the rear wheels meant no grip, and in the wet... lethal! Steering feel was non-existent. Against that, IMHO the brakes and comfort are best in class, and straight line acceleration (in the dry) was mind-blowing. MPG never got above 21, and on short trips persistently in the high teens. But if i really tried, i could get it down into single digits.
If you're not worred abut handling, and want realxed driving, then i'd say the E55.... but it could get boring. In which case, you'll wish you'd bought the M5 (like me!).
If you're not worred abut handling, and want realxed driving, then i'd say the E55.... but it could get boring. In which case, you'll wish you'd bought the M5 (like me!).
Edited by nickb55 on Thursday 2nd August 12:36
Edited by nickb55 on Thursday 2nd August 12:37
Nick, very interesting to hear about your experience with the later e55 w211. I often wonder if I would have more fun with more power in the later, more expensive model, though clearly that would not always be the case.
I believe AMG got it right first time with the earlier naturally aspirated w210, in that you can really push the engine to limit and consequently have more fun, more of the time, without scaring yourself witless in the later supercharged engine i.e. there's a difference in the way the engines deliver their horsepower to the road. This theory might partially explain why AMG have now gone full circle & their latest version, the e63 is once again naturally aspirated.
Another reason for the AMG return to a n/a engine could be that as far as the 5.5l is concerned it's bullet proof, whereas perhaps the more complicated compressor engine may have suffered some problems/warranty claims?
Chris
I believe AMG got it right first time with the earlier naturally aspirated w210, in that you can really push the engine to limit and consequently have more fun, more of the time, without scaring yourself witless in the later supercharged engine i.e. there's a difference in the way the engines deliver their horsepower to the road. This theory might partially explain why AMG have now gone full circle & their latest version, the e63 is once again naturally aspirated.
Another reason for the AMG return to a n/a engine could be that as far as the 5.5l is concerned it's bullet proof, whereas perhaps the more complicated compressor engine may have suffered some problems/warranty claims?
Chris
Edited by Chris French on Thursday 2nd August 13:19
JamesK said:
any body issues on the W210?
The W210 is renouned for rusting around wheel arches, sunroof and boot lock. Just give an example a thorough inspection. I believe W210s did come with a Mercedes bodywork warranty. Our 1997 '140 CL-Class has a 30 year bodywork garantee, but the '210-series may well be different.Darren
iluvmercs said:
JamesK said:
any body issues on the W210?
The W210 is renouned for rusting around wheel arches, sunroof and boot lock. Just give an example a thorough inspection. I believe W210s did come with a Mercedes bodywork warranty. Our 1997 '140 CL-Class has a 30 year bodywork garantee, but the '210-series may well be different.Darren
Sorry I wasn't clear - I know all about the issues - just wondered if Chris has had any on his car
My understanding is that as long as the car has a main dealer history at least every 2 years and no repair work has ever been done by anyone outside MBUK then the 30 year body warranty "should" apply. There have been examples of dealers trying to deny claims and some even argue the toss over what it covers but generally speaking thats how it seems from reading the MBOC forums etc...
My understanding is that as long as the car has a main dealer history at least every 2 years and no repair work has ever been done by anyone outside MBUK then the 30 year body warranty "should" apply. There have been examples of dealers trying to deny claims and some even argue the toss over what it covers but generally speaking thats how it seems from reading the MBOC forums etc...
I run a 2002 W203 C32 Estate. I've owned it about a year now, after a few teething problems with it (super charger pump, intercooler rad failure) and many trips to the MB dealer it now runs perfectly.
It V6 note in the car really isn't that vocal, but when you put your footdown the supercharger noise externally is quite loud, even around town where you never "floor it" the s/charger makes a right racket ! Sounds fantastic with it's "whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" !!
Performance is somewhat insane for it's very muted looks, helped by the fact that I've removed all badges so it days say AMG, V6 or Kompressor anywhere.
It does just 20MPG working it would manually with a rather pants tank range. Went to Le Mans this year in it and it's a perfectly stealthy cruiser
I would love a later C55, however my bugdget doesn't run to that !
Thanks
Mark
It V6 note in the car really isn't that vocal, but when you put your footdown the supercharger noise externally is quite loud, even around town where you never "floor it" the s/charger makes a right racket ! Sounds fantastic with it's "whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" !!
Performance is somewhat insane for it's very muted looks, helped by the fact that I've removed all badges so it days say AMG, V6 or Kompressor anywhere.
It does just 20MPG working it would manually with a rather pants tank range. Went to Le Mans this year in it and it's a perfectly stealthy cruiser
I would love a later C55, however my bugdget doesn't run to that !
Thanks
Mark
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff