Steve 96C4S

I went to Ocean City MD 2 weeks ago in our daily driver 2001 740i Sport (the wife finds my 993 too uncomfortable for more than 30 minutes, and this was a 4 hour trip). The next morning after arriving at 5am we heard an incredible storm raging outside with tropical wind force gales. Later at 8am we went to breakfast and were told there was flooding on the road next to the hotel where we parked. We were surprised to see our car in 3.5 feet of water! (Water actually lapped over the leather seats inside the car in this freakish, once every 10-20 year type storm. It had to be towed back home and 2 weeks later, it was totalled by Geico insurance just yesterday. I thought I'd maybe just get the same car but I've been driving a 95 and then a 2001 E38 740i for the past 7 years. I kind of was thinking of something different. Maybe a 2001 750il sport?
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ist=215#vdptop

It doesn't come with the sport seats or 3 spoke wheel... not that that would be terrible - the V12 more than makes up for that! I hate the look and feel of the new 745i BMW so dont' suggest that! Plus, the 2003-2005's are too much money for us.

Then I though, what other makes could I look at? I checked out a Cayenne (not for me), Audis (nah - not me), Chrysler 300 -uh uh - nope, and then thought - hmmm, any MB in my $34k-$41k price range? I would only want an S class, not an E or a CL (we need a 4 door) with large back seat. I scrolled down through all the 2001 year cars in the S-Class on cars.com and found this car: a 2001 S55 in black for $47900, $7k over budget, but my friend just bought this exact car 3 years ago for $99k! I looked at it and fell in love with it.


http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...4&aff=national

vs the same car in silver:


http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp...4&aff=national

My wife liked the black car too. Then I saw a silver one at Herb Gordon MB in Silver Spring, but it's a 2002 and too much money (around $63k). My buddy can take me to Manheim for the highline auction and help me get one for ALOT less. He said the last 2 2001's that sold there last time were $43k and $44k and had less miles (32k mi and 36k mi vs 45k miles for the black car we're looking at locally). Would you go for black or silver on this car? I like them both - the wife thinks silver is a bit bland, and I think the black is a bit flashy and hard to keep clean. It would sit out on the driveway year round and we have woods in our back yard. The pollen would show quite easily on the black car, yet black sure does look good when it's clean. She said she's find with either color, but I'm just not sure...

Silver or black S55?
Or just get another 2001 E38 740i sport and save $10k?
Or get the big daddy 2001 750il Sport for around $36k-40k?

I know you're not me, but what would you do if you were in my boat?

Thanks in advance. I'm sure glad it wasn't the 993 we took to the beach that day. My friends all gasped thinking it was the 993 we took until I told them it was the other car.

Steve R

Texas993

Tough choices. I checked out the 750il a while back. The word on the street is that they are impossible to sell because no one wants a v12. Right or wrong, the local dealers cannot sell them and the low prices reflect the soft demand.

The AMG Mercedes are tough to beat. But even their sportiest models do not handle like a BMW (don't tell anyone on the Mercedes board I said that.) My E55 hauls @ss, but won't take the twisties as well as an M5. But they are screwed together well... the quality is top notch.

I always panned MB until I got this one! Good luck. Change is good, try the MB.

KASH '95 993

If you go the BMW route, whatever you do don't get the 750 (this is coming from a BMW enthusiast). I personally would seek out another 740i sport (runs, looks and handles beautifully - no MB can match the driving spirit of a sport bimmer).

If you decide on the MB, don't get the silver (too MB looking)...get the BLACK!

Traffic53

roll with the benz, dude.

Steve 96C4S

Thanks Patrick - I'll take to heart what you said. Still not 100% sure what we're going to do yet, but you advice is well heeded. Glad you're enjoying your E55. I looked into those too, but the newer model in used form is still WAY too high for our "budget". The M5 won't work either as my wife doesn't drive a 6 spd and she'll need the car every once in a while too.

KASH 993: So, guess you're not a fan of the 12 cylinder 750ils! Hadn't really thought that the 2001's had many problems. I know the older E32 1988-1994 models did. Where did you get that specific info from on the newer E38 2001 year cars?

In any case, I hear ya about the black being the more interesting color for the S55 MB . I'd agree in a sense there. Thanks for responding.



Steve R

Pete in DC

G500

jusafan

My other car is a BMW 5 series (540i). Love it. Handles beautiful and a nice smooth alternative to the 993 when I need room to cart other folks around or pick up somebody with luggage from the airport. I've driven the S Class Mercedes, and while they are great cars, they don't have the same feel as the BMWs. Kind of a matter of taste, though. I'd say go for the 740i sport. Nice car, has the room you need, and you'll enjoy driving it more than the MB.

That's my $0.02. Good luck with your decision.

KASH '95 993

Steve,

No specific info on the newer V12's, just all the bad press on the older versions coupled with the size and weight differences. The 750 iL's aren't as tossable as the 740 sports, even with the additional power of the V12. Also, as pointed out earlier, the V12's are harder to sell and usually have a higher rate of depreciation...

Berkley

I like the Mercedes line......Maybe the two BMW 535s were just lemons that I had ( bought new) ....but burned twice was enough for me....have yet to get get a Mercedes lemon......but I do part with them when the warranty expires and I have never bought a used one

EricGT3

Steve - I have a 750iL and absolutely love it. The V12 gets a lot of bad press from people who have never owned one. Everyone thinks it has tons of problems. Well maybe the very early years, but the ones in the e38 are solid. Since they're tough to sell, you'll get a great deal. So I wouldn't be afraid to get one. As you know, it has all the options and leather everything. Although it has a few more ponies than the 740, I think the 740 is faster and more sporty. But the V12 is so smooth, turbine like. As for the S55, I think it would be a great car for $45k. That would just be down to personal tastes. Can't go wrong in either case.

Good luck.

Mark in Baltimore

Good luck with the search, Steve! I'm just glad your total didn't involve bent sheet metal.

rj777

Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear about your car. Hope you are able to find a replacement.

Regards,

rick

993Brendan

Although for from an E55, I bought my E320 after owning an M3 and a 635csi. No offense to anyone who feels differently, but the BMW just feels more like a driver's car. I prefer driving my fiance's 92 325i with my old M3 suspension on it any day!

Steve 96C4S

Thanks alot guys. Yeah, bent sheet metal in a totalled car would definitely have been alot worse than a flooded vehicle. You all have given me food for thought.

993 Brendan: I hear what you're saying about an E320 not being as much fun to drive as a 3 series. Your comparison isn't apples to apples for my purposes though... I agree - an E320 wouldn't thrill me too much compared to a similar BMW model either. (no offense E320 owners - it just doesn't do anything for me). In fact, I wouldn't consider ANY other models of MB other than the lovely CL 55/500/600 but I need a 4 door. I'm comparing a BMW 740i Sport to the AMG S55 MB though, and in this case, the S55 is pretty damn sweet. I already have a ultra performance car in my 993 so I'm not looking for that so much. I just wanted a great handling, comfortable for 4, cruiser to drive around in for work and then on the weekends when I'm lugging my family around (wife wife and 11 year old like to sit in the back seat as we do errands - they get to bond better that way).

As the decision is coming down to the wire (I'll have to turn in my rental car soon as soon as Geico cuts the check I'm guessing within a week or so), I realize that my 993 will be my daily driver for a while till I can find a car. That's pretty exciting for me! I've never used it day in and day out for work, using it as my only vehicle for hauling cable TV digital boxes (for my job in sales and installing of cable service), my toolbox, cable wire and internet self install kits. Glad the trunk is kind of large. I'll make due. At least the back seat can hold a couple of self install kits!

So - I've decided that if I get the MB S55, I'll probably get the silver one. For me, bland is actually GOOD! It won't stand out as much, doesn't look as ostentatious to me as the same car in black (nothing personal, black MB S class owners - just my opinion and that of my friend's who's a wholesaler) , and will do better with dirt and pollen sitting out in the driveway all year. A black car is a bear to keep clean when it sits outside practically "in" the woods! I've driven my silver 993 all week and even when it's raining, and at the end of the week, people have said to me "wow, did you just clean it?" The silver car is kind of boring looking to me - I like that stealth factor



I'm almost totally decided. My buddy said he's start checking the Manheim Auction upcoming cars for sale and see what he can do about getting me one. He also said that the "Buyer's Choice" warranty the other place was throwing in with the deal isn't that great, and that it would be better getting it directly from a MB dealer as it covers WAY more stuff.

Time to go out today and enjoy the "new" daily driver, my one and only car, my 993.

Steve R

SCMomentum

Aesthetically speaking....I love the lines on the MB S series and they are great cars to ride in. I have a BMW X5 that I love and understand the sentiments about a bit sportier driving experience with a BMW but I really dig that S55 AMG.