Best Daily driver: '03 BMW 745Li or '04 MB E-500? | FerrariChat

Best Daily driver: '03 BMW 745Li or '04 MB E-500?

Discussion in 'Other German' started by billh1963, Jan 2, 2006.

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  1. billh1963

    billh1963 Formula Junior
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    Apr 28, 2004
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    Mid-state, South Carolina
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    Bill H
    Looking a "new" daily driver and both of these fit the bill. They can both be bought for very low $40K range and will have a warranty. The BMW's I have looked at have milegae in the 35,000 range and have around 3 years of a
    6 yr/100K warranty remaining.

    The E500's have lower miles (25,000 or so) and have around 2 years of the 4 yr/50K mile warranty.

    Does anyone have any experience with these cars that would help me pick one over the other? Yes, I like them both, but want one that will be reliable. I've heard comments about quality on both but would like some real world input.

    Thanks!
     
  2. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
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    Darrell
    As far as the BMW goes....stay away ..far away. The 02-03 745 has a LOT of electrical/ computer problems. Have had 3 friends who have owned and gotten rid of these cars because of this reason. One of the cars would just shut off in the middle of the road while driving. Not good when your in the millde of rush hour on I-15.

    Darrell.
     
  3. Alex_V

    Alex_V F1 Rookie
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    Apr 8, 2004
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    I would go with the Benz E-500. But I would do it more based on personal opionion rather that warranties/mechanical issues, etc.
     
  4. Viper 10

    Viper 10 Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
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    Brad Chang
    Audi A8L or wait for the new S8 with the V-10.

    Brad
     
  5. MrScarface

    MrScarface Formula 3
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    Aug 8, 2005
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    I have no experience with the BMW. A family member had an E. It was in the shop constantly for stupid little stuff.
     
  6. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 25, 2004
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    I have owned BMW'S for a long time now and have never really had a problem with them, but my wife had an SL500 and we got rid because of persistant faults.
     
  7. billh1963

    billh1963 Formula Junior
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    Apr 28, 2004
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    Sounds like I should be looking at a Lexus :)
     
  8. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

    Feb 7, 2004
    1,765
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    Mike
    Better Driver: BMW 7er > Lexus GS > Mercedes E-Class

    Comfort: Lexus GS > Mercedes E-Class > BMW 7er

    Reliability: Lexus > BMW > Mercedes

    I have 3 family members who own each of those cars & as a Bimmerphile myself, I would have to go with BMW. :D
     
  9. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    very true, althought the e500 and mb have also had their share of problems
     
  10. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    What are your priorities?
    IMO from a reliability perspective they are as bad/good as one another. Most of the software gremlins on the 7 have been ironed out now and MB electronics still have their issues anyway.
    The 7 has MUCH more room than the MB, so if you care about your passengers the decision is a no brainer, actually thinking about it, if you don't mind the looks of the BMW it has more features, similar performance and with the adaptive suspension option, better handling than the Benz.
    Over the last 3 years I have owned W210E55, W211E55, '04 S600, so I'm not a mindless BMW advocate.
    I was taken on a long weekend away in Victoria's alpine region by BMW corporate last year when BMW tried the good food, wine company and surroundings sales tact to try and offload the 7 series on six unsuspecting couples.
    All I can say from my experience is, yes i-drive is a pain to learn, but it's not that bad and it is a great car, better than the E500 for sure.
     
  11. Fancy-Arab

    Fancy-Arab Karting

    Dec 23, 2005
    75
    Dubai ( UAE )
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    Rami
    bmw or benz here we go again :)

    i have experienced driving both cars since dad is "benz for life" and mom is "BMW for life" , and i owned few of both worlds ,

    if u said 7er or S class
    i would say S class , but with the 7er and E500 , it depends on u as a person
    do u adapt with the i-drive bmw offers and the hightech insturments in the 7er , the size of the car , the shape .

    E500 is more simple , smaller in size , more stuff to add later on "body kits and modifications" from AMG , brabus and many more , i would say that the E class is more reliable than the 7er , but both cars r different ball games , where u have luxry and class or less of both but more to add as options

    hope i helped a lil
     
  12. billh1963

    billh1963 Formula Junior
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    My priorities would be reliability, safety, comfort, and performance in that order.

    I like the i-drive and love the room of the BMW; however, the electrical issues scare me. After 3 years (when the warranty expired) I'd be looking to get rid of the car. The 7-series seem to be depreciating very heavily and after 3 years the BMW might not be worth anything.

    I love the feel of the MB and it looks better to me than the BMW; however, the concerns about reliability pop up again.

    I guess I'll have to accept the fact that almost all the German built cars have electrical issues these days.
     
  13. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2005
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    I would go for the 745, but if you were willing to look at a MB E55, then I would say the E55
     
  14. billh1963

    billh1963 Formula Junior
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    Price wise I am sticking with mid-$40K. That keeps me out of the E55's (unfortunately).
     
  15. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2005
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    what are used 6 series going for? nevermind, i just checked, they are going for 50s. I would go 745.
     
  16. Fancy-Arab

    Fancy-Arab Karting

    Dec 23, 2005
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    Rami
    still holding high , not a big diff sec hand here the diff will be 10K $ max
     
  17. b-mak

    b-mak F1 Veteran

    The 745 is a much better drive. My 745 and 760 experience is limited to faultless cars, however. Heard the stories, but no first hand experience with any 7-series issues.
     
  18. BlueBiturbo

    BlueBiturbo F1 Rookie

    May 19, 2004
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    You put reliability on the top of the list, then go with a Lexus.
    I'ma Bimmer fan myself, my family had Bimmers and MBZs, but even MBZ has chronic electrical issues in their late models. Too bad. I guess the Japanese finally win in quality.
     
  19. CRG125

    CRG125 F1 Rookie

    Feb 7, 2005
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    Vivek
    I have both cars, 04 E500 and 03 745li. The reliability is the same for both cars. Actually they both have been pretty reliable. The only problem I have with the cars is on the E500 cup holder, but everything else I have been pretty happy with. My lease on my 745li is over this year and I will be getting another one. As for which is a better car, it all depends on the driver. They are two totally different cars. The 745i is more of drivers car, it handles great, awesome breaks and the turn in is precise. The complaints about the car is the motor, I wish it was quicker off the line and had more grunt on the top end. Of course the I-drive is biggest problem I have with the car, its a bad distraction and to complicated to use. The E500 is pretty soft, but with the electornic suspension it actually handle pretty well. The brakes are good, but you loose feeling of the brakes because they are electronic. Understeers a little bit and the turn is quite slow. As for the engine, it rocks. It feels alot quicker than it is. Off the line it is way faster than the 7 series same with the top end. As for the quality, the BMW is superior, the materials are of higher grade, whereas the E500 is a little cheap. They both are great cars.
     
  20. TG

    TG F1 Veteran

    Oct 26, 2004
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    Taylor
    What about a 02'-03' 745 with 60-70k miles with the 100k warranty? Would the problems be worked out already with having that many miles on the car?
     
  21. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
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    Darrell
    If you go for a 02-03 be VERY sure the car doesn't have a " blemished" title. Lots of these cars were factory buy backs. Many were sent through auction so make sure the title hasn't been " washed."

    Darrell.
     
  22. bottomline

    bottomline Formula 3

    Mar 10, 2004
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    Bijan
    I think you'd be happier with the 7. If it was an E55 it would be a different story!
     
  23. Artherd

    Artherd F1 Veteran

    Jun 19, 2002
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    Buy the older 7 (E38 body, up to 2001) it's much simpler (relatively speaking), sorted, and better looking.

    Get the 750 with the V-12 if you can, though they're much more rare (~2% of production were V-12s)
     
  24. billh1963

    billh1963 Formula Junior
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    I like the E38's but really want something under warranty.

    Darrell is right...there are a lot of buy-back cars out there. So many, in fact, that it is scary.

    The smart move might be to wait another year or so and let the quality issues get resolved and pick up a year newer model.

    Do the S-model MB's have the same problems as the E class?
     
  25. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    Unfortunately yes. It's more of a nuisance than terminal, but on the flagship Benz, just not good enough. I had three audio gateways in less than 6 months on an '04 S600 TT. Being almost at th end of the model run, you'd have thought they would have ironed all of the bugs out.
     

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