Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of selling my current daily and getting either an 55/63 as a daily. I have a few questions and was hoping for your input.

1. Do you have a 55 or 63?
2. What real-world mpg do you get?
3. Besides the increase in power, should I get a 55 or 63?
4. Any regrets/complaints?
5. How has the reliability been?

I have "heard" that MB's reliability hasn't been the best and that if I was to get one, I should get one under warranty but I am all too familiar about the "hear says" b/c I have a 2006 range rover sport and it's been pretty reliable, as opposed to what the general public claim.

your thoughts and input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This would be my first MB if I get one and it will be replacing this.



Edwin

 

I'd like to here responses to this, as this car is at the top of my list of what my next car will be. I'm also considering an M5, but am turned off by the styling and jerky SMG gearbox. Both can be had at auction in the US for around $40k, which is amazing.

 

Subscribed..

 

excuse my ignorance, but what auctions? is that at those manheim auctions i keep hearing about?

 

I daily drive a 2005 E55, and love it more every day. I have had some pretty powerful cars and with the mods I have performed so far, the car is an absolute beast, but civilized enough to daily.

I get about 14.5 mpg combined with more city than highway driving.

 

Dealer auctions. The car auctions you need a dealers license to attend where dealers sell to one another. You can save a lot of money if you know someone with a dealer's license or pay a dealer $100 or so to take you with him to an auction.

 

thanks. i really need to start making some friends at some dealerships apparently! lol

 

1. Do you have a 55 or 63? - 55
2. What real-world mpg do you get? - Highway is around 20, city is around 12, combined around 17 (I do a lot of highway though)
3. Besides the increase in power, should I get a 55 or 63? - 55, I prefer the torque curve of the supercharged engine
4. Any regrets/complaints? - none so far
5. How has the reliability been? - great so far

 

I looked at both, and I actually currently have an 01 M5. Ended up with an 04 CL55.

Go for the CLS. The E60 is ugly. The SMG is not only jerky, but the gearbox has issues. Search for "red cog of death" on the M5 forum for more details. Also, if you get a manual, the transmission is unsuitable for the high RPM, low torque engine.

 

My daily is a CLS55, 2 1/2 years & 37k miles, not one problem. Although I just hit a pot hole on the 10 fwy, 3 bend wheels, had them fixed today. I love this car, great looks, tons of tourque. Go for it !!

 

1. Do you have a 55 or 63? CLS55
2. What real-world mpg do you get? ~14mpg
3. Besides the increase in power, should I get a 55 or 63? 55K engine because of the intoxicating torque
4. Any regrets/complaints? NONE.
5. How has the reliability been? No problem at all.

 

avg Manheim $ as of today on 2006 CLS55 with 37k mi is $39,900. Expect to pay a few K over at dealers...

 

Go for the 55, the supercharger kicks ***! The 63 is naturally aspirated and you cant feel the torque in it like you can in the 55!!

 

The 55 is a torque monster. The 63 sounds better and has a more linear power delivery. The E60 M5 certainly out handles both CLS models, but that high strung V10 and jerky SMG transmission seem mismatched with the heavy sedan platform. Most of the time the M5 will feel significantly slower than either CLS.

My E55 has pulley and tune and still achieves 17mpg in mixed driving. These simple mods really wake up the motor, giving you enough firepower to not only beat up on the E63 but also the M5.

 

I own a cls63 and had a cls55 prior, Ive owned 2 M6's and and M5 and a multitude of other cars...

The CLS63 is such a beautiful car...Doesnt handle or feel as tight as the M cars, but overall seems much much nicer to me....Its like a step up in appearance and interior quality...MPG?? serious??? BAD.. real bad....The 55 is a torque monster....Wholesale on low mile 55's 20k and under is like 43k...lower mile 63's wholesale for 52-54k....The car gets looks everywhere i go, although I have wheels on it....Its comfortable, fast, and can carry 4 more comfortably than an M6 for sure and believe it or not an M5 too......and those wholesale numbers someone is quoting are off....low mile cleaner 55's do NOT bring high 30's, look at the sales, they bring low 40's for low mileage clean ones....

Lou