W211 E55, E63, C63 AMG and CLS 55, CLS63 AMG

[J4CKO]

mondayo said:

J4CKO said:

Does this look good value ?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Yes....I've actually viewed that car. It's in cracking condition and the guy is the n here I think.

Ooo, is he, what's his username, thought the advert had a whiff of ph with the use of the word barge, if you are around say hi !

Just considering my options but that look like what I am after, would cover a couple of bases in terms of practicality the cls doesn't, give five seats and the 55 engine.

[J4CKO]

mondayo said:

J4CKO said:

Does this look good value ?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Yes....I've actually viewed that car. It's in cracking condition and the guy is the n here I think.

How come you didnt buy that one if you dont mind me asking ?

[Alex_225]

Well I do own a CLS63 and I absolutely love it, I think it still looks great even alongside more modern machines. It doesn't sound as lairy as a C63 but it still makes a fantastic noise.

I own a W211 E320 CDI which, as an all round car is superb. Depending on your needs of the car I wouldn't be disappointed with either an E55/63 or CLS55/63. The E is a tiny bit more practical in terms of space but I don't think it's as good looking a car as the CLS in either AMG or non-AMG guise.

[Patrick Bateman]

Alex_225 said:

Well I do own a CLS63 and I absolutely love it, I think it still looks great even alongside more modern machines. It doesn't sound as lairy as a C63 but it still makes a fantastic noise.

I own a W211 E320 CDI which, as an all round car is superb. Depending on your needs of the car I wouldn't be disappointed with either an E55/63 or CLS55/63. The E is a tiny bit more practical in terms of space but I don't think it's as good looking a car as the CLS in either AMG or non-AMG guise.

I'd pay extra for a CLS for this alone.

Looks far superior and definitely more unique than its successor.

[popeyewhite]

Patrick Bateman said:

I'd pay extra for a CLS for this alone.

Looks far superior and definitely more unique than its successor.

I'd agree in general, but the more modern dash is much better IMO.

[Alex_225]

Patrick Bateman said:

I'd pay extra for a CLS for this alone.

Looks far superior and definitely more unique than its successor.

I think Mercedes did well with the CLS. Don't get me wrong it's not that all their cars are ugly but when I look at my W211 E next to my CLS W219 the E looks quite of it's era yet the CLS still looks modern. I know the W219 came after the W211 but they kept the 211 in production until 2009 so still comparable.

I'm not sure they've quite captured the good looks of the CLS since, the newer models aren't exactly ugly but don't look special either. I can see they've tried to do it with the CLA as well but that's just an odd looking thinking, like it's melted haha

[J4CKO]

Alex_225 said:

Patrick Bateman said:

I'd pay extra for a CLS for this alone.

Looks far superior and definitely more unique than its successor.

I think Mercedes did well with the CLS. Don't get me wrong it's not that all their cars are ugly but when I look at my W211 E next to my CLS W219 the E looks quite of it's era yet the CLS still looks modern. I know the W219 came after the W211 but they kept the 211 in production until 2009 so still comparable.

I'm not sure they've quite captured the good looks of the CLS since, the newer models aren't exactly ugly but don't look special either. I can see they've tried to do it with the CLA as well but that's just an odd looking thinking, like it's melted haha

I think the CLS is a bit Marmite, like you I love it and always have but a lot dont like ti, my wife loves Art Deco stuff and I thought she would love something like the CLS which has elements of Art deco but no, zero interest and have heard lots of comments about melted bananas and stuff, no accounting for taste, I thinkt he AMG ones will do well price wise, diesels will just dwindle and mine, being in a middle, not sure.

[Alex_225]

J4CKO said:

I think the CLS is a bit Marmite, like you I love it and always have but a lot dont like ti, my wife loves Art Deco stuff and I thought she would love something like the CLS which has elements of Art deco but no, zero interest and have heard lots of comments about melted bananas and stuff, no accounting for taste, I thinkt he AMG ones will do well price wise, diesels will just dwindle and mine, being in a middle, not sure.

I do agree they are a bit Marmite although I didn't realise they were quite as much so as when on here, I just assumed they were a decent looking saloon/coupé type car that looked a bit better than most. They are quite divisive it seems though, which for me only adds to the appeal.

I can only hope the AMG models hold up well in terms of value, mainly as I have one and paid solid money for a low mileage example. That said I think with high mileage 55s staying above the £10k mark I'd like to think that they have bottomed out.

Hard to say on the CLS500 as it's that in-between model but that said it's not to be underestimated as still a quick car.

With the image of diesel being what it is at the moment, the CLS320 CDI will probably end up the cheapest model and yet 0-60 is pretty good and for motorway mileage they look like a great prospect. As in I'm tempted by one to replace my W211 E320 CDI, well tempted alongside the S Class but that may be ambitious!

[Patrick Bateman]

I wonder if the later 5.5 500 will hold value more, hopefully not...(sorry J4CKO)

[J4CKO]

Patrick Bateman said:

I wonder if the later 5.5 500 will hold value more, hopefully not...(sorry J4CKO)

Ha, it fills a sub AMG niche but is outrageously quick or a cooking model, I should really just run it and enjoy it but have an AMG itch I need to scratch, that estate looks like a possible.

Not sure what to ask for it, its a facelift which is rare so gets the later exhausts, LED taillights, NTG 2.5 etc.

115,000 miles and its very tidy, I think it is worth what I paid for it at seven grand, possibly more, four new P Zeros Rossos when I got it, fronts still like new, rears, less so. Air Con regassed last summer, airmatic is spot on, doesnt need brakes (fluid done few months back)

It isnt as well specced as some as doesnt have Xenons, memory seats or HK sound but have to say the stereo is still pretty good, best one I have ever had.

Still see some over ten grand.

[ZX10R NIN]

I loved my 55 it is truly bulletproof I was running mine at just under 700bhp admittedly in the SL which brought the bork factor up to properly worrying levels but to be fair drivetrain wise I never had a problem with it & enjoyed it that much I bought it back off of the guy I sold it to.

The C63 is smoother & nowhere near as brutal but it still has some serious punch having had both types of engine with your budget in mind I'd go for the 55 you will have some big smiles.

Even if you want to leave the engine standard I really would recommend having the X-Pipe put on the car.

[J4CKO]

Anyone know if the Hartman Kardon stereo is standard on the E55 ?

[mondayo]

J4CKO said:

Anyone know if the Hartman Kardon stereo is standard on the E55 ?

I don't think so....I think that if it has it, it says it on the speakers and mine doesn't say anything but I'm fully prepared to be corrected.

[popeyewhite]

mondayo said:

J4CKO said:

Anyone know if the Hartman Kardon stereo is standard on the E55 ?

I don't think so....I think that if it has it, it says it on the speakers and mine doesn't say anything but I'm fully prepared to be corrected.

The HK is very poor anyway, even on the [nearly)latest '63. I've got some Audison stuff in the boot to amend the HK shortcomings. I've not been in a later than '15 model though.

[ZX10R NIN]

The HK stuff isn't great HK don't even use any of the speaker themselves aren't even good enough to grace the bottom of the range JBL & Infinity brands, I replaced all the HK set up with Infinity Kappas & it's a much nicer sound.

[J4CKO]

popeyewhite said:

mondayo said:

J4CKO said:

Anyone know if the Hartman Kardon stereo is standard on the E55 ?

I don't think so....I think that if it has it, it says it on the speakers and mine doesn't say anything but I'm fully prepared to be corrected.

The HK is very poor anyway, even on the [nearly)latest '63. I've got some Audison stuff in the boot to amend the HK shortcomings. I've not been in a later than '15 model though.

You may be more discerning that I, I find the non HK system in my CLS pretty good, am hoping to get one with HK as am assuming it would be better, it is a side concern as there is other music to listen to.....

Most seem to have it fitted.

s it easy enough to replace stuff ?

[ZX10R NIN]

It's very easy to do also if you're not confident you'll probably find a local audio specialist it took me a day to do my E500 but I was also adding more sound deadening.

[J4CKO]

ZX10R NIN said:

It's very easy to do also if you're not confident you'll probably find a local audio specialist it took me a day to do my E500 but I was also adding more sound deadening.

I replaced the HU in my 350Z fairly recently which was a bit of a faff but not too bad, do a bit of hobby electronics and am a committed tight arse who wont pay anybody to do anything I reckon I can tackle, so should be able to manage but thats a long way off, need to find a car first.

I think it will be an E55 rather than a CLS as they tend to be dearer, budget is realistically 11 grand, 10 would be better.

[J4CKO]

Kind of ruled this out but

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-MERCEDES-E55-AMG-V8...

Is that best avoided ?

Some good stuff done but some alarm bells ringing like no cat

[RossOCD]

Ive owned this for about 3 months now, absolutely brilliant. As others have said brutal power delivery in a very good all round car. Very practical, still looks great in my opinion and not that shocking for parts prices (compared to newer models anyway!)