Just bought AMG63S, looking for input from more "experienced" MB owners.
Also have 2 year old X5M so comparisons are inevitable.
Only had MB 2 weeks, like style, comfort and power, but prefer BMW " interface",
I.e. Technology.
When I shut off BMW it shifts into park automatically
. But MB shifting into park is required or vehicle stays in N unless you open door. Certainly everything being electronically controlled shifting to park could be automatic on Benz.
Minor irritant but it is hard to think of ANY circumstance when you shut off engine you also don't wish to be in park, unless in the unlikely need to tow, which BMW solves with an overide.
Sometimes I want the display OFF, just black. But Reverse gear does not turn on display so backup camera display. So display has to be in some "on" position. So I mute radio, but when put in reverse occasionally the radio will turn itself up with no input!
I hope this issue can be solved by dealer.
Comments:
BMW has much cooler performance mode Heads Up display.
BMW has always on ODO and trip ODO display, MB you have to scroll to it.
Temperature sensor may need repair, has registered up to 160F and 106 in my garage when actually 80.
Have seen comments on this, prefer console shift stick rather than column mount. I realize they had no room, but I see no value in the "palm support" touch screen.
Very disappointed 360 view not available on 2015' but will be on 16's.
The wheels and front fascia are very vulnerable, and criminally overpriced if replacement is required. So cameras would be very nice.

Just reached breakin mileage, was looking at Race Start instructions in digital owners manual (which is not comprehensive at all) , could they make this any more complicated?
I think I'll just stomp it!
This one is kinda funny, when you look under the car, the quad exhausts aren't even connected to the tailpipes! No big deal, its purely cosmetic, but a little disconcerting.

Anyway, sorry so wordy but I'm a newbie!
I'll appreciate any input to help me understand this beast.

 

I may be mistaken, but I think I can brake hold then hit stop button and it'll auto shift into park

The design of the quad exhaust tips for this vehicle as well as many other makes and models may be to eliminate some heat transfer to plastic components as well as to eliminate vibration to the tips which would invariably happen with an aggressive exhaust on this type of vehicle

Once you practice race start a handful of times it actually becomes easy

Temperature issue... Are you sure you're not looking at the oil temp on the amg screen?

Maybe trade in for an //M3? That may fix most of your issues

 

Based on your initial comments; I truly feel you don't love the car. There are several things that are you disappointed in...

 

Is there anything you do like???? Most people tend to be excited when purchasing a new vehicle but every comment you have is negative.

 

I think you can test drive the car pre buy and can also check out the interior and the amenities no??? LOL

 

Dmacdonald


Wow --where to start? maybe at beginning.
1. I think the interface and all controls are almost a wash but leaning to MB as it took BMW about 15 years to get to where they are now. It is always a learning curve to go to a new system--lets hear your opinion in about 6 months.
2. This one is where we completely part as the system BMW uses to not be able to go into park while car running is just crazy.


Here is an excerpt from Motor Trend and the way I feel about it.


Parking has been driving me a bit crazy. The M3's DCT has what looks to be a sporty manual shift knob but is actually a pivoting lever for the drive-by-wire transmission. It doesn't physically engage any gears, so there are no detents for PRNDL; from the straight up position, you toggle once to the right for drive, again to set it in sequential mode. For manual gear changes, a forward toggle downshifts, back upshifts, and gears can also be immediately selected with paddles positioned around the steering wheel. For neutral, toggle once to left. The gear lever always returns to the center position, except when pushed left and forward for reverse. Anything missing? Ah yes, park. Here is where it gets tricky. There is no dedicated park button or lever position. To park the car, you leave it in drive, neutral, or reverse, put your foot on the brake, and push the ignition/off button. Once you do this, the gear indicator in the instrument panel will flash to P before fading as the car goes into accessory mode, politely leaving the audio system on and the power windows operational. To fully shut down the car, you either hit the ignition button again with your foot off the brake (at which time everything goes off) or exit the vehicle and hit lock on the key fob. Theoretically, this is a handy feature for people like me who enjoy listening to the radio as they grab their bags, coffee, iPhone, etc. upon exiting the vehicle

• 
• 

Annoyance 1: Your foot must be on the brake when you initially shut down (go to accessory mode), even if you set the parking brake. The car will let you shut down the engine in D, N, or R, but if you don't have your foot on the brake, the transmission goes to neutral, not park. You can then exit the vehicle, but it honks loudly if you try to lock it and move on with your day. To rectify the situation, the vehicle must be set to park, which for me usually means putting down my phone/sunglasses/bag of In-N-Out, climbing back in, and hitting the ignition button again (without touching the brake pedal -- otherwise I'd start the car again

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz3gSRGgPEa

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...w_m3_update_1/
#ixzz3gSR2Flax


3. I like both HUD and I don't see what is better about the BMW there as you can have the gear and rpm and speed and directions on both.

 

Oh another real problem for me with the BMW is you can't use the paddles in drive temporarily like downshifting coming up to a stop and then it just goes back to drive a little later. The BMW goes to manual when you use the paddles and will not come back to drive so the MB can be used both ways which I like but the BMW can't.

 

OP, let me help you out on this one because I see where the comments are headed. Got any cool pics of your car you care to share with us? Its almost a requirement when you mention you own the car.

 

Mmmmm. In N Out.

 

Yeah, that was my takeaway from this thread too. Can you say double double?

 

It isn't a question of not liking the car, and the limited time you have in a test drive hardly allows you to learn all the peculiarities of a new model.
There are many things I like about the car, but wouldn't everyone like to have everything work as if they designed it themselves?
I.e. Why would the car not go into park when you brake and shut the engine off?
My beemer does.
My wife and I joked that with the X5M and the 63S in the garage, perhaps they'll breed and make the perfect car.
I do not have any HUD that shows tachometer, as does BMW.
As to car not automatically going into park, on this forum is mentioned an E63S that requires a shifter replacement due to this.

 

No I was not looking at the engine temp, it is the outside temp display in the center display.

 

I get it OP. You have to remember though that this is not a Beemer. The quirks and differences you noted are really where Benz (and others) are headed so when you switch brands, you have to be willing to accept the quirks. Trust me, I've been a high-end BMW guy my entire life so I know this car is not the same. Having said that, it only takes me a few times using new functions before I get it and get over it. I don't even realize now that I'm shifting at the column any more -- got over it on day two.

You're not going to win by asking why don't they change X to be like BMW -- they're not and never will. Personally, I swore if the brand differences (and there are many) were too unbearable, I'd go back to BMW. At this point, they don't bother me at all. Hell, I did stop the car the first week and forgot to press the "P" button. The car rolled on me -- never happened again. I got over it and moved on. Now I'm enjoying the hell out of this car. My only beef at this point is I have to wait until break in is over before I can play like I want.

 

My car is not here yet but I did a extensive test drive and the HUD on the car has a tach. --I don't know if you have to select it or not but it was there on the one I drove--it is a straight line on the bottom with vertical marks for speed

 

Its there. Just press the HUD button twice to toggle between the two views. I think if you press it once, it changes from default to the view you mentioned. Press it again and it shuts off the HUD altogether. I spent some time playing with all the buttons and learned a lot about the car. If you don't read the manual, its the only other way to figure it out. My wife will tell you I don't read manuals.

 

Thanks everyone for the input, keep it coming. The car is awesome, now to not get in trouble.
Do have a faulty temp.,sensor for outside temp. but won't take it in just for that.
Small stuff like not having always on ODO and trip ODO is annoying, have to scroll for it.
On the other hand the X5M only has a very small digital display for time which requires glasses to see. My wife is pleased that the Merc actually has a clock!

 

Be sure to upload pics.

 

Ok, I see the "ruler" style tach, however no RPM readout, but you do have MPH, gear, and an "interpretive" style tach.
My car is Polar White, red/black sport seats, all options except "air balance", if my car smells bad, do they still sell the pine scent danglies for the mirror
I'll get some pics up but it looks just like all the other white ones!
Wouldn't change anything unless I was smart enough to reprogram some of the stuff, i.e. Leave the sport exhaust on always, unless I want it OFF. It resets every time car is shut off, and also switching from C to S shuts it off! But going from S to S+ leaves it on. Silly.
Also would program so foot on brake, stopping engine also puts in park.
Little stuff for sure.
Oh and Reverse camera will not override display off, so have to have screen in "some" on function. With radio muted with thumbwheel, put in reverse, camera displays, but radio turns itself up! Weird.

 

My car remembers my setting up to six hours after switching off.
If I start after six hours the settings default back to normal but I just push the scroll to individual while I am still in ignition position 2 before I start the vehicle. This way the car starts with all settings how I like it including the loud exhaust.
On my f80 this used to bug me cause even if I just went to the mall or shops the moment you switch off and restart it would default back to comfort settings. It never remembers the settings you last chose even if you tried restarting after a second. So everytime I started the m I had to hit the m1 or m2 buttons. And it does not let you select it while the ignition is on you had to start the car first. I hope i am making sense. I think six hours is long enough to remember you settings. I only have to put it on my settings normally when I start my car in the morning and that's just by flicking the switch upwards. Easy peasy. Well done mb

 

Personally options like settings park automatically is there for if you forget to do it yourself, not as something you use all the time. Learn to press the P when you want to park, it's a good habit.

There's a good reason to not have it set automatically when you switch the engine off which would be car washes which ask for the car to be in neutral with the engine off. It'll still switch to park if you truly mean to stop and have forgotten to engage park when you open the drivers door.

All brands have their own way of doing some things. Doesn't mean the BMW or any brands way is right, it's just different and not a big deal to get used to and learn. Better to have a bit of variety in life? I'm switching from a BMW to a C63S when actually I could have got an M5 for less.