CLS55 v. E55 v. E60 M5

[DinanM3_S2]

Three of the best sub $100,000 Sports Sedans, 2 Mercedes, 1 BMW. Which one would you want the most and why?

E60 M5
CLS55 AMG
E55 AMG

[kman10587]

As soon as they offer a conventional six-speed on it, the M5. Actually, the M5 anyways.

[christophv]

overall performance wise - the M5 of course.

But I dig everything else about that CLS!!

[nastyNater]

The M5 is a torque-monster. what a beautilful machine

[Jaguar D-Type]

One reason I'd take an E55 AMG wagon over the new M5, which I don't like, is because it isn't overstyled.

[NISSANSPDR]

M5 anyday of the week

[VQuick]

Originally Posted by nastyNater

The M5 is a torque-monster. what a beautilful machine

What do you mean? It has quite a bit less torque than the other two cars.

[gti1689]

The M5 is a torque-monster. what a beautilful machine

sooo 384 lb ft is somehow more than the 520 lb ft of the e55/cls55?

the m5 looks hideous, and the interior is a turd...my uncle over in germany has one of the first cars delivered about 2 weeks ago. i visited him since i was on vacation in europe and we took a ride. handling is stellar, but the interior is a bit of a let down. felt fast though!!! if i had a scanner i might be able to put some pics up.

personally, i would wait for the new e63, but for now my vote still goes to the e55.

[nastyNater]

Originally Posted by gti1689

sooo 384 lb ft is somehow more than the 520 lb ft of the e55/cls55?

the m5 looks hideous, and the interior is a turd...my uncle over in germany has one of the first cars delivered about 2 weeks ago. i visited him since i was on vacation in europe and we took a ride. handling is stellar, but the interior is a bit of a let down. felt fast though!!! if i had a scanner i might be able to put some pics up.

personally, i would wait for the new e63, but for now my vote still goes to the e55.

show me where you got your info. ive seen numerous sources saying it has more power than that. it still doesnt matter. the bimmer is built better IMO. whats the price on those mercedes anyways?

[VQuick]

Originally Posted by nastyNater

show me where you got your info. ive seen numerous sources saying it has more power than that.

Power? Or torque? The V10 E60 M5 doesn't have much more torque than the V8 E39 M5. It's got somewhere in the 380lb-ft range, only 20lb-ft or so more than the V8. The M5's 5L V10 has similar output to the Gallardo's 5L V10. Both have about 500hp, and 'only' around 380lb-ft. The 5.5L s/c'd V8s from MB make far more torque, and the upcoming 6.3L V8 will have quite a bit as well.

[fairladyz_gt-r]

CLS55 AMG. It look perfect...i don't care if it is not equiped with a manual. who would go charging around a track with that kind of a car? these are the car u turn up at night clubs with.

[gti1689]

show me where you got your info. ive seen numerous sources saying it has more power than that. it still doesnt matter. the bimmer is built better IMO. whats the price on those mercedes anyways?

Well, i have a ton of very good sources (including my uncle's owner manual), but this one is the best:
http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/M/M5Sedan/techdata.htm

here are the specs for the mercedes:
http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container...pec=0&menu=3_0

bmw and mercedes are both german car companies, and their reliability is relatively similar. in recent years, mercedes has had more electrical problems than bmw because of all the new technology that they are stuffing into their vehicles. as a result, the quality of mercedes vehicles has slipped since the 90's, but mercedes realizes ths problem and is finding ways to improve their reliability/quaility. for example, the new s-class will be introduced with tried and true engines and some retuned technologies that have proven reliable. only in later years will totally new engines/technologies be introduced. bmw was golden until they hit the i-Drive craze and started to introduce new designs with new technology. they started to experince electrical issues as well, and when the m5 was intorduced in europe they were having problems with the transmissions, but, as mercedes has done, bmw is now taking the time to retune and fix these reliability issues. there was a problem with engine failures on e46 m3s a couple of years ago, and that was recified quickly. in general, bmw and mercedes have similar reliabilty, but they are european car makers, and european cars aren't as reliable as japanese cars.

[DinanM3_S2]

So this is my take on this class of cars...

Contrary to what was previously mentioned, I believe that these cars are not the "cars you turn up to night clubs in." If you were looking for that kind of car in this price range, why wouldn't you get a S500 or a new 750Li. Surely those are much nicer cars then these sport sedans; however these cars also aren't the track/performance monsters that you could also find in the 911 Carrera S, Corvette Z06, etc... These cars are a blend of the two ideas. These cars can be great daily drivers, but not as good as the S-Class or the 7-Series, but in exchange for that, the M5, CLS55, and E55 are far more fun and engaging. They aren't as quick as the 911, but they are much bigger, have usable rear seats, and can pass as a daily driver for most people.

The E55 is a very powerful car. The torque numbers far surpass the M5's lower displacement N/A engine. Back in the days of the E39 M5 and the RS6, the E55 was the quickest 1/4 miler (slightly). Now with the newer CLS55 and the E60 M5, the E55's suspention seems outdated, pulling only .83gs (CLS55 does .88, the M5 does .90). The E55 has the most conservative styling of the three, and would be the best if you were more interested in a luxurious car with some extra kick, as opposed to the sportier CLS and M5. The E55 also starts about $4,000 under the CLS55's base.

The CLS is probably the closest real competition for the M5. The new CLS styling was meant to wake up the boring styling that Benz's sedans had fallen into. It shares the same S/C's 5.5l that the E55 uses, and has the same 5sp automatic. Everything else about this car is alot like the E55, but better. My biggest problem is the pathetic transmission. Even the BMW's 3-series comes with an available 6-speed transmission. The CLS is probably one of the most expensive cars on the market with a 5sp auto. This is also the most expensive car in this class.

The E60 M5 has been called nothing less then a masterpiece by any magazine who has ever drivin it. Jeremy Clarkson is even buying one. The N/A 5.0 V10 makes 500hp, over 30 more then Benz's Supercharged 5.5l. Where as Benz is still using a their 5sp auto, BMW is using their new 7 speed SMG III transmission, and is offering a 6 speed manual in the states. This is the sportiest car in this class, and probably the most fun to drive. Few will appreciate the interior as much as they will the Benz's, but I personally don't like the button covered dash of the E55 and CLS55. Suprisingly, its also the cheapest, starting a little over $81,000.

The E55 is a great car, but its hard to vote for when compared to its newer competition. The CLS55 is a beautiful combination of the luxury of the E-Class, and the performance of a SL-class. It just doesn't do it as well as the M5 in my opinion. The M5 is probably the most fun you could have in a sedan/daily driver, and therefore it gets my vote.

Theres nothing quite like seeing the look on a Porsche owner's face when he sees he just got beaten by a sedan.

[nastyNater]

hey gti....thanks for the info. man that would suck to buy a v10 BMW and have tranny problems.

Dinan- you know that you dont have to spend that much $$$ to make a sedan own any of these 3 cars. The interior might be lacking though.....

[DinanM3_S2]

Originally Posted by nastyNater

Dinan- you know that you dont have to spend that much $$$ to make a sedan own any of these 3 cars. The interior might be lacking though.....

Yes yes, I know the wonders of modifying cars. A $50,000 EVO would smash any of these cars, but theres no way in hell the ride quality would be anywhere near this level. Its would be alot harder to make a EVO as good of a daily driver as a CLS or an M5 then it would be to make one faster then them. Like I said, in this category, its not all about speed and performance. People looking to buy an M5 have very different interests in mind then someone buying an Evo, STi, etc...

The $30,000 sports sedans have cloth interiors, manual transmissions, and have no hint of luxury whatsoever. Plus, when you start modifying them, your warranty goes out the window. Give me a choice between a Vishnu Evo and an M5, I'll take the M5 any day.