Superfast1

It took Toyota 6 years of painstaking development & 1 billion USD to create the Lexus LS400 so these cars deserve to be treated with dignity. It's hard to believe that I have owned my 1997 for 26 years now & my kids have often told me that it still looks just like the day I brought it home. I'm on my 3 sets of struts & at 270k miles, it still shifts silky smooth & drive beautifully that's why I love it even more so than my C6 Vette, Mercedes CL500 & E500. Btw, I didn't like the white/silver or tan exterior color combo on the 2000 as it looks dated so I had the lower half pained pearl white to match the upper half & imo, it looks amazing. I gave my son the option to pick either my black 2002 Mercedes-Benz CL500 (also another beautiful car & in great shape, like new condition) or the Lexus & he picked the Lexus. Smart boy!

Stroock639

i'm just so used to gray on the bottom color scheme it's just a bit unexpected to see a single tone paint job haha

and wow that's a gorgeous car the early 2000s CL, he is a smart boy to be able to resist the temptation of a big aristocratic V8 coupé with classy european styling... is that car ABC suspension or just airmatic? a big reason i went for the E55 instead of a similarly priced CL55 is a lack of the ABC suspension lol

Superfast1

Yeah, the 2000-2006 CL's are one of the best looking coupes MB ever produced, that's why I bought it even though I don't even need another car . Mine comes with ABC (Active Body Control) suspension system & each hydraulic strut costs a whopping $1700 for those want to know. It also equipped with 2 valve blocks (1 for the front & 1 for the rear) & 4 accumulators half filled with nitrogen to supplement & also regulate the suspension fluid volume & pressure provided by the tandem pump, respectively. These parts also cost an arm & a leg so you've made the right decision to go w/ the E55 airmatic as the maintenance cost is a bit less expensive. I've been keeping an eye on my ABC system like a hawk & usually flush the hydraulic fluid & change the filters every 3 years or so to keep the system clean & it has served me well. I also have a 2003 E500 but I wish I have an E55 like yours as it's a beast.

Stroock639

we have the same taste in cars haha

my main goal was i want that supercharged M113K V8 in my life somehow, and the W211 E-class is the most practical affordable way to go about it! i've driven an E500 just like yours, fantastic car but if you're used to a 1998+ LS 400 then the E500 isn't gonna have that wow factor to make you go oh crap i need this too... at least to me lol... but the E55 absolutely does have that extra level of craziness, and being that is is essentially just a supercharged E500 stroked out to 5.4 liters (obviously a bit more to it than that but that's the gist of it lol) the only real extra expense on a day to day level is just how much extra fuel it uses lmao

now if i was given all the funds i could ask for, i'd go for the CL600 over the CL55 since a big boy 2 door like that just seems more appropriate having a smooooth twin turbo V12 that builds power in a more subtle way instead of a supercharged V8 that can erupt into life with ferocious aggression lol... it does smooth very well too but it definitely has that hot rod feel

Superfast1

Yeah, it looks like we do have a same taste in cars but this is a Lexus Forum so enough about the MB . Take care & drive carefully in NY with all the snow & frigid weather.

Stroock639

haha i was thinking the same... generally i'm working from home though so i rarely need to subject my cars to the road salt, and the market is a 10 minute walk

even in winter i try to get one of the cars out at least once every 2 weeks just to keep the battery charged, fluids circulating, and rubber bushings flexible

400fanboy

+1. Cars "sitting" does a surprising amount of damage considering nothing is being worn down.

Superfast1

You should use the battery tenders to trickle charge your car's batteries then they'll last almost twice as long. I use the battery tenders on my Vette ,CL500 & Civic Si Hatchback as I don't drive them everyday & the batteries lasted over 10 years compare to my others with only about 5 to 6 years. Having a mild weather in Southern California helps as well.

Stroock639

even if it didn't cause problems, i just enjoy driving them too much! after a week without i start getting serious withdrawal symptoms lol