A friend recently asked me for advice regarding the 2011-ish E 63 AMG. Knowing nothing about them, I told him simply that I would ask the wisest group of people I know.
Go!
A friend recently asked me for advice regarding the 2011-ish E 63 AMG. Knowing nothing about them, I told him simply that I would ask the wisest group of people I know.
Go!
Hopefully the head bolt design was improved by that year.
He just let me know he's also looking at E90/92 M3 and ATSV/CTSV, so I guess it's now a "what car" thread. Manual preferred slightly.
I had an e90 M3 with a bunch of bolt ons. What an incredible car. Sounded simply amazing and was WAY faster than I could ever handle.
I say yes to any of those options.
I'm a huge fan of nearly everything Mercedes makes but the E63s have a tremendously poor reputation for reliability combined with wildly high repair costs. I know little of that gen of M3, but I know the Caddys to be questionable as well.
He can't get excited about a TRD Camry?? Haha.
ATSV or CTSV would be my picks
Move up a year or two and get a E550 Bi turbo. Less flashy about three tenths slower to 60 compared to the same year E63 and you will blend into the sea of e350s flying under the radar of all but those that know. And it will be at least 10 k less. For all these reasons I went with a cls550 bi turbo instead of a cls63.
Going 2012 or newer but stepping back to the 550 will net you very similar performance of a 2011 or older E63. I believe that 2012 was the first year of the refresh to the E Class. I know it was for the CLS. Oh and go 4matic as these drivelines are out sourced by Mercedes to a German truck manufacturer and are way over built compared to the RWD version's.
dean1484 said:Move up a year or two and get a E550 Bi turbo. Less flashy about three tenths slower to 60 compared to the same year E63 and you will blend into the sea of e350s flying under the radar of all but those that know. And it will be at least 10 k less. For all these reasons I went with a cls550 bi turbo instead of a cls63.
Going 2012 or newer but stepping back to the 550 will net you very similar performance of a 2011 or older E63. I believe that 2012 was the first year of the refresh to the E Class. I know it was for the CLS. Oh and go 4matic as these drivelines are out sourced by Mercedes to a German truck manufacturer and are way over built compared to the RWD version's.
This. 2012 indeed was the first year for the engine refresh of the E550, it came with the twin turbo V8 which straight from the factory wasn't much off the pace of the previous engine E63. Much more reliable. The car is an absolute rocket in stock form, I think car mags had it running 0-60 in 4.3 or so. $1600 buys you a Stage 2 tune which will give the car 500hp and 720tq, which will make the car an amazing sleeper and leave a 2011 E63 in its' wake. Not to mention full of high end luxury touches.
I just happen to know someone selling a 2012 E550 'vert for a damn good price. 
In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
Those tunes really turn bi-turbo Mercedes into street and highway menaces. They go way faster than they should!
E63: dont know much about them other than I really like them.
CTS-V: All I have is that I once drove a coupe and a wagon on track. Amazing cars.
e92 M3: Owned two, still have one. Rod bearings usually at 100k miles, they changed the material so oil readings might not be a good way to judge their condition, just do them at 100k miles.
Throttle body motors fail, one of mine's failed, there are two. I bought the gears online and replaced them myself, I think I spent $300. I think it took me 3 hours start to finish, not hard at all. Otherwise you are looking at $1k plus for rebuilt ones.
if it has the carbon roof, make sure the clear coat is in good shape.
Amazing car that makes great noises.
I would add that since he is considering an E class Merc and the CTS-V, he should consider an M5 as its the direct competition to those two. The e92 is a smaller car and if he wants an e90 those command a premium usually.
In reply to Slippery :
How reliable are the F10 m5's? I heard they're exceptionally unreliable lol.
In reply to yupididit :
I have no idea how reliable the S63 is in the F10 M5, but I've had two F10 550i with the twin turbo N63 and had no problems. They were under warranty, though.
The tt 550i is insanely fast, but I would not compare it with the whole package of the M5. Same as I would not put an e550 Merc in the same category as an E63, different animals ... even if both are fast.
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