W211 E55, E63, C63 AMG and CLS 55, CLS63 AMG

[tomrunner]

So then out of these above which one is best all rounder? I am contemplating one of these or a quattroporte Duo select.......im look for a loud V8 and general maddishness......had a C63 for 3 days abd loved it but i know there is roughly a £5000 higher market value for them over the others.....let me know your thoughts. Would be a weekend fun car rather than a daily

[st4]

C63 is too small. E55/63 or CLS 55/63 would be the one. My preference being the CLS as it is a more special car inside and out.

[daveenty]

Out of your list, my preference would be: -

W211 E55
W211 E63
W219 CLS55
W219 CLS63

C Class is too small for me so I've discounted it. I think the M113K engine is a thing of beauty, and pretty much bullet proof, hence the reason I put it above the M156 engined cars, which were prone to head bolt failure before a certain age. Not many of them, and don't discount them because of this, but it's not a cheap fix if it happens to you.

I've also gone for the E Class over the CLS as I need five seats, though this is entirely down to preference. The CLS is a nicely shaped car and the more I look, the more I like though they're strictly a four seater.

[tomrunner]

Ah right ok i hear you. Just been reading around the head bolt issue and it is vomong across that it is mainly in the USA that this issue is happening rather than the UK?.....might be wrong.......i also have a slight soft spot for the M156.....not because i havnt tried the 5.5L yet but because I prefer NA engines and love the fact the M156 was purely a AMG's own engine.....in terms of being designed from the ground up in house etc

[tomrunner]

Also in terms of the sound difference.....obviously the E63 C63 and CLS63 have the same engine....but im guessing the exhaust is very different. Have seen a couple of E55s with C63 mufflers on them.....what do you think i would have to do to get the C63 sound from a CLS63 or E63?

[J4CKO]

Interesting thread, I have a 5.5 CLS 500 and love it but as I am a pain and never happy, I am always looking at the next thing.

I was looking at the 218 CLS 63 but wont be able to afford one any time soon, 3rd son going to Uni, which we are thrilled about but its a nice cars worth of cash a month, on top of the middle one being there as well.

So, aiming lower, not sure if to similar to my 500 but CLS 55's have been catching my eye, the admittedly rare head bolt issue puts me off 63's a bit, but the 55's M113 engine seems totally bombproof apart from some issues around the supercharger charge cooler pump which isnt that expensive.

Pros of the 55 seem to be

Bombproof engine, never heard of one breaking, I mean properly breaking
Anecdotally it seems to have better fuel consumption than the 63 engine
Cheaper
Pretty much as fast being nearer to 500 bhp rather than the 469 quoted, Mercedes downplaying the power to not shade the more expensive SL55, otherwise the same unit I am told.
More tuning options
Bit more agressive feeling than mine



Cons

16 plugs !
Only the old 5 speed box
Am guessing as they were 2006 or before you get the dreaded SBC brakes ?
All cars are pre facelift so the sat nav is even more ancient than mine
No LED lights
Airmatic, but that is a possible issue on all of them
Electrics on earlier CLS's werent as reliable
SBC brakes
10 - 12 years old



13 grand seems to be around the going price, winder if these will stay around the same money or drop further.

Seems a bit more realistic to aim for a 55, but no sure if it is too similar, it will obviously be faster than my 500 which is pretty rapid and I am guess it will do away with the relative lethargy at low revs in higher gears, by no means a problem as it is still plenty quick enough, just sometimes needs to kick down where I am guessing a CLS 55 just goes.

[popeyewhite]

W211 E63 is more luxurious than the tt and has the NA engine. Pity about the gearbox. The new tt is the better all-rounder but somewhat anodyne (barring the engine). CL/S 63 are fantastic old school Benz luxury, but don't handle outstandingly. C63 too small, not luxurious at all, now driven by the same people who might consider a BMW.

[J4CKO]

Maybe this helps, W211 E55 ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESxrTt7X8RU

[jet_noise]

I tried a CLS55 & 63. I hanker after a Quattroporte but it won't fit in my garage!
The 55 had more instant grunt but the one I tried was a bit tired although the only one I've seen in maroon with cream leather, mmm.
The CLS63 is too smooth and not mad enough but does fit in the garage with interference parking. Not to say it isn't quick. Preposterously so for summat as weighs 2tons. Best looking of all the 63s IMHO too. If you're anywhere near Stroud come and have a look.
C63s may be quicker and louder but are still a taxi inside.

I had a Monaro before which was V8 and definitely mad enough. Can you cope with a VXR8?
regards,
Jet

[mondayo]

I've just bought an E55 estate on a 54 plate, as my new daily drive.

I'd say it depends what you're after, the E55 is stupid quick when you want it to be, but set everything to comfort mode and it's happy to potter around town, with a nice subtle burble.
The only real negative for some, might be it's a bit too subtle in the looks department, as apart from the exhausts, it's fairly low key. So far, I'd say it's pretty much spot on for me.

From my research, I'd say an E63 is a tad quicker but I've never driven one. Due to the supercharger, the E55 has more low down power than the E63....which means in this weather, wheelspin is always available.....

[popeyewhite]

mondayo said:

the E55 has more low down power than the E63....which means in this weather, wheelspin is always available.....

I'll bet the '63 tt has more torque across the whole range.

[J4CKO]

popeyewhite said:

mondayo said:

the E55 has more low down power than the E63....which means in this weather, wheelspin is always available.....

I'll bet the '63 tt has more torque across the whole range.

Yeah, even in its lowest state of tune it makes 520 lb/ft @1750 rpm, with 590 lb/ft available on later ones, albeit at a slightly higher 2000 rpm, with 700 lb/ft available with a remap. The NA 63 engine makes less torque than the 55, 460 ish versus over 500 in the 55 engine, and even then at twice the revs, 5200 versus 2650.

That said, the 55 engine is still a beast of a thing and a lot seem to prefer it to the later 63 engine, its a bit of a Golf GTI MK2 8 valve versus 16 valve thing perhaps, might just be a preference thing.

I think I need to get a 55 though, the head bolt issue on the 63's concerns me slightly but I know it is rare, both epic though.



Prices are all over the place for E55/CLS55's, anywhere between six and twenty grand, think I need to try one and see whether its worth the extra outlay over my 5.5 N/A CLS which, to be fair is still fairly quick, however, I want laugh out loud, mind boggilingly quick, cant afford the TT engines cars anytime soon though.

[mondayo]

popeyewhite said:

I'll bet the '63 tt has more torque across the whole range.

I think we're talking about different cars, I'm talking about the old E63, which had no turbo or supercharger, just a massive V8

[mondayo]

J4CKO said:

Yeah, even in its lowest state of tune it makes 520 lb/ft @1750 rpm, with 590 lb/ft available on later ones, albeit at a slightly higher 2000 rpm, with 700 lb/ft available with a remap. The NA 63 engine makes less torque than the 55, 460 ish versus over 500 in the 55 engine, and even then at twice the revs, 5200 versus 2650.

That said, the 55 engine is still a beast of a thing and a lot seem to prefer it to the later 63 engine, its a bit of a Golf GTI MK2 8 valve versus 16 valve thing perhaps, might just be a preference thing.

I think I need to get a 55 though, the head bolt issue on the 63's concerns me slightly but I know it is rare, both epic though.



Prices are all over the place for E55/CLS55's, anywhere between six and twenty grand, think I need to try one and see whether its worth the extra outlay over my 5.5 N/A CLS which, to be fair is still fairly quick, however, I want laugh out loud, mind boggilingly quick, cant afford the TT engines cars anytime soon though.

E55 is brutal....my main criteria was that I needed an estate E class, so then it was finding the right engine. Ideally I was looking for an E500 but they're super rare and the ones I did see had very basic spec. Once I tried an E55, that's the model I wanted and my budget wouldn't stretch to an E63. Mine cost somewhere in the middle of the prices you quoted and I'd say you should be able to get a very nice saloon for under ten grand. I found eBay and autotrader the best place to find them.

[Patrick Bateman]

Which of these don't have brakes that cost a ridiculous amount or are they all expensive?

[J4CKO]

Patrick Bateman said:

Which of these don't have brakes that cost a ridiculous amount or are they all expensive?

The CLS 55/E 55 have fairly cheap brakes, £250 for the bits for the front, £180 for the rear but there was a performance pack option (P30 I think) that had disks with a separate bell which I am guessing will be pretty pricey, the later 212 E63 and 218 CLS 63 seem to have pretty expensive brakes, like £900 for the fronts I read, just for the bits.

Can live with £400 to do all the brakes on a car like that, no dearer than my non AMG CLS.

[J4CKO]

Does this look good value ?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[mondayo]

J4CKO said:

Does this look good value ?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Yes....I've actually viewed that car. It's in cracking condition and the guy is the n here I think.

[0a]

This is a dangerous thread!

[Patrick Bateman]

J4CKO said:

The CLS 55/E 55 have fairly cheap brakes, £250 for the bits for the front, £180 for the rear but there was a performance pack option (P30 I think) that had disks with a separate bell which I am guessing will be pretty pricey, the later 212 E63 and 218 CLS 63 seem to have pretty expensive brakes, like £900 for the fronts I read, just for the bits.

Can live with £400 to do all the brakes on a car like that, no dearer than my non AMG CLS.

That's not too bad.

I like the appeal of a cruise missile that doesn't have consumables that cost crazy money. £200 brake discs from my time with an M5 are a ballache but £900 for one axle is barmy.