E61 M5: Is the auto mode really that bad, and a Q on values
Discussion
Hi all,
A couple of years ago I had a W204 C63 AMG Estate, which I loved and deeply regret selling. That car confirmed to me that the reality of owning a performance estate was, in fact, every bit as good as how I imagined it.
I'm looking at getting another fast wagon, and even though I could get another 6.2 AMG (they are more common), I really want an E61. They're rare, sound amazing, slightly bigger than the C-Class (which I'd like) and lets face it, no one is ever going to put an engine like that in an estate ever again.
Anyway, I have a couple of questions:
Firstly, I see a lot of complaints about the auto mode being bad. What exactly makes it so bad? I drive with hand controls and so will be using the auto mode most of the time.
Secondly, What price, roughly, should I be looking at? It seems most are being listed at £18-22k or so, with the odd high miles one beiong lower. WBAC gives a trade in value of £11k, so high teens from a dealer seems about right?
There's one for sale at the moment with Tier One Automotive at £27k! The salesman claimed a deposit had been put down when I called him today, which seems a little odd given the price, but maybe it isn't? Surely even given the low (ish) miles, that's no more than a £22k car. The diff has been replaced, but no mention of any SMG/clutch work and the big end bearings haven't been done.
Any advice anyone can offer would be useful, I've read through Eddie's buyers guide which is brilliant, and I think I have a reasonable idea of what could go wrong and how much to budget for it.
A couple of years ago I had a W204 C63 AMG Estate, which I loved and deeply regret selling. That car confirmed to me that the reality of owning a performance estate was, in fact, every bit as good as how I imagined it.
I'm looking at getting another fast wagon, and even though I could get another 6.2 AMG (they are more common), I really want an E61. They're rare, sound amazing, slightly bigger than the C-Class (which I'd like) and lets face it, no one is ever going to put an engine like that in an estate ever again.
Anyway, I have a couple of questions:
Firstly, I see a lot of complaints about the auto mode being bad. What exactly makes it so bad? I drive with hand controls and so will be using the auto mode most of the time.
Secondly, What price, roughly, should I be looking at? It seems most are being listed at £18-22k or so, with the odd high miles one beiong lower. WBAC gives a trade in value of £11k, so high teens from a dealer seems about right?
There's one for sale at the moment with Tier One Automotive at £27k! The salesman claimed a deposit had been put down when I called him today, which seems a little odd given the price, but maybe it isn't? Surely even given the low (ish) miles, that's no more than a £22k car. The diff has been replaced, but no mention of any SMG/clutch work and the big end bearings haven't been done.
Any advice anyone can offer would be useful, I've read through Eddie's buyers guide which is brilliant, and I think I have a reasonable idea of what could go wrong and how much to budget for it.
Humm. Well, if it's just not that smooth at low speed, that doesn't sound like such a big deal really. I had a previous generation automatic Fiesta which was utterly slated for it's jerky gearbox at low speed, and it never bothered me that much. I probably should have been clearer, it won't often be used in auto, it'll always be used in auto.
It won't be an everyday car as I plan on getting either a Honda E or Fiat 500 La Prima to sit alongside the Lotus and BMW.
Still, I might need to see if I can go out in one (test driving isn't possible due to the hand control requirement) in auto mode and see how bad it really can be. Any offers?
And does anyone have any thoughts on the pricing issue? If they are starting command prices of nearly £30k for a decent one then I might be out anyway, that's not that expensive overall but seems like a lot for a car with many known faults where a warranty from Mondial isn't all that cheap.
It won't be an everyday car as I plan on getting either a Honda E or Fiat 500 La Prima to sit alongside the Lotus and BMW.
Still, I might need to see if I can go out in one (test driving isn't possible due to the hand control requirement) in auto mode and see how bad it really can be. Any offers?
And does anyone have any thoughts on the pricing issue? If they are starting command prices of nearly £30k for a decent one then I might be out anyway, that's not that expensive overall but seems like a lot for a car with many known faults where a warranty from Mondial isn't all that cheap.
Aww man, it's not looking likely. I still think trying to get a ride in one is a good idea, because I do really really want one, but I might have to make the pragmatic choice for the first time ever in my life.
Has to be an estate, so unless I want to pour money into a custom built F11 M5 (would be awesome, but no thanks) the alternatives are an RS6 or an E63, which are probably far better cars in most objective senses, but come on, I need to have that engine in my life at some point.
Has to be an estate, so unless I want to pour money into a custom built F11 M5 (would be awesome, but no thanks) the alternatives are an RS6 or an E63, which are probably far better cars in most objective senses, but come on, I need to have that engine in my life at some point.
Well, you've all sucessfully pissed on my chips 
I kid, I kid, thank you all for your input! Lucky for me, the fact they're so rare means that I can't really rush out, ignore all your advice and buy one anyway. Which I probably would have done.
There is a particular kind of hand control setup that would allow me to use the paddles and always have it in manual mode, but I haven't ever tried them. I think that a good way of experiencing this engine would be to get a saloon version for 6 months when I have a drivway to store it on. Maybe even turn it into a track car, who knows.
The hunt is now on for a 2010 W212 E63 AMG, I like the face better than the W211 but I still want that sweet sweet M156. Or maybe an C6 RS6. Or that generation S6 if I feel cheap. Or an XF-R Sportbrake if I can find one. The B5 Touring would be the holy grail, but if I'm willing to spend that much I probably have to start considering the C7 RS6 and the W213 C63.
I really hope it's not me that lives in a perpetual state of 'I want that one! Wait.... Maybe that one? Or even the other one?!?!'
Thanks again
I kid, I kid, thank you all for your input! Lucky for me, the fact they're so rare means that I can't really rush out, ignore all your advice and buy one anyway. Which I probably would have done.
There is a particular kind of hand control setup that would allow me to use the paddles and always have it in manual mode, but I haven't ever tried them. I think that a good way of experiencing this engine would be to get a saloon version for 6 months when I have a drivway to store it on. Maybe even turn it into a track car, who knows.
The hunt is now on for a 2010 W212 E63 AMG, I like the face better than the W211 but I still want that sweet sweet M156. Or maybe an C6 RS6. Or that generation S6 if I feel cheap. Or an XF-R Sportbrake if I can find one. The B5 Touring would be the holy grail, but if I'm willing to spend that much I probably have to start considering the C7 RS6 and the W213 C63.
I really hope it's not me that lives in a perpetual state of 'I want that one! Wait.... Maybe that one? Or even the other one?!?!'
Thanks again
TheAngryDog, if you don't mind in these COVID times then I'd gladly take you up on the offer of a ride in the car to see how bad it is. Thank you so much for offering! There are two E61s just listed on Autotrader and I'm trying to be sensible buuuttttt....
Of course, this is the sensible option:
Of course, this is the sensible option:
jm doc said:
...Who would ever want to drive one of these in auto for more than a few minutes ffs...
Missed this when you posted it, but I asked because I cannot practically drive it in manual mode due to needing hand controls. Obviously I realise that I'm in the minority, but it is a shame that considering the car is fitted with an automatic mode, it's borderline unusable in said mode!Maybe it's a bit weird to update this thread, but I finally put my money where my mouth is and bought... the sensible choice, a 5.5l, 2014 E63 estate
The want for a V10 was strong, but I think I have to accept that the gearbox makes them quite unsuitable for my use.
Still, the saloons are so cheap now that buying a bargain basement one, rebuilding it and maybe even turning it into a track car might be a possibility when I have a garage and am open to the idea of a financial black hole
The want for a V10 was strong, but I think I have to accept that the gearbox makes them quite unsuitable for my use.
Still, the saloons are so cheap now that buying a bargain basement one, rebuilding it and maybe even turning it into a track car might be a possibility when I have a garage and am open to the idea of a financial black hole
Thank you, I only have one poor photo so far, it's still with the seller, I've been very busy.
E63 AMG by Alex D, on Flickr
The plan for it is to remove the tints, get the wheels refurbished in silver (althouhg I'm wondering if 18" wheels fit, for that extra comfort?), and the either wrap it or paint it dark metallic green or burgundy/maroon. Should look really nice then, it already has the pale interior. I'm goign to see if I can find out what the options list on these was when new too, maybe there are one or two things it doesn't have that I would like, and I'd like to add a carplay module.
It's a keeper, here for the next 6/7 years at least. I'm not going to make the same mistake I did with my C63 and sell it!
E63 AMG by Alex D, on FlickrThe plan for it is to remove the tints, get the wheels refurbished in silver (althouhg I'm wondering if 18" wheels fit, for that extra comfort?), and the either wrap it or paint it dark metallic green or burgundy/maroon. Should look really nice then, it already has the pale interior. I'm goign to see if I can find out what the options list on these was when new too, maybe there are one or two things it doesn't have that I would like, and I'd like to add a carplay module.
It's a keeper, here for the next 6/7 years at least. I'm not going to make the same mistake I did with my C63 and sell it!
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