Lil754boy

Last year I bought a 05 E500. I enjoy the car so much i have decided i wanted a newer/less mile one. After searching I drove a 07/08 E63 and feel in love. After doing a little more research i found i can get a 2010-2012 E550 with same mileage for the same price range. Now I'm not sure what to do. For longevity, maintenance, etc.. which and why?

KEY08

I had an '04 E500 4Matic and my current car is a 2010 E550 4Matic. The 550 is a rocket ship and cruises the highway like nothing else. I have owned one AMG, a C32 that I had ordered. It was a great car, and I love AMG, but in the E class they are a pretty big premium. I prefer the style of the W212 over the W211, but that is open for debate. There is no disappointment with the 550. Your model year of 2010-2012 includes two unique engines. I prefer the naturally aspirated version, but the turbo will allow you to boost power if that is what you are after.

J.M.G.

Straight line performance is about the same for the E63 W211 and 2012+ E550 4matic (402hp) W212. The main difference is in the corners. While the E63 comes with an optional limited slip differential, 2-piece front brake rotors (very expensive), a good sounding exhaust and so much more, the E550 is pretty much unspectacular. The 4matic is great in the rain (not to talk about snow) but it does not hammer that smile in your face. So it is up to you: The way more modern car that is nearly as fast or the more emotional...

rediesel

My 2012 E550 is such a great car. The 2012 E550 is twin turbo and 4matic which is great in the rain and snow. It can be dull in that it performs without much spectacle. I'm sure it will be less maintenance cost than an E63. The M156 enigine in the E63 has known issues with headbolt failure; however, it is one of the great engines of all time. It is a joy to drive and engages the driver more than any other. I hope to own another M156 or M159 car eventually. Prices are good on the 2010-11 W212 W63, but I love both the W211 and W212. No bad choices here.

more_amg

If you leave in the state with no snow, go for E63, no questions. NA AMG engine is a gem, period.

jahquan3

IMO the 2008 E63 is very dated looking inside, on top of the fact, I don't like the look of the egg lights on any MB. With that being said many people like the look and may not feel the inside is as dated looking as I feel.
A question that I think is worth adding is can you get the 2012 as a CPO?

jonUF02

I recently posted about a similar buying decision: 2010 E63 or 2012 E550. I was also considering a much cheaper cash purchase of a 2005 or so E55.

The E55 actually has MORE power than the E63, and costs quite a bit less. I'm not sure why anyone would go for W211 E63 over E55.

The W211 looks and feels extremely dated compared to the beauty and feel of the new W212. This was a deciding factor of not buying the E55 because I loved the power of it.

The W212 E63 has very high maintenance costs. Just look at the cost of a brake job and you will see it's over $2K in parts for just the front brakes. I don't need that headache, so I opted out of the W212 E63. The reason they drop so much value is due to complexity and maintenance costs.

So I was left with a decision on the W212 E550: do I get the 2010-2011 model loaded up with every possible option including 4matic, or a 2012-2013 with the newer, more powerful Biturbo engine? A test drive between the two engines sealed the deal. The newer TT engine has way more kick than the old 5.5L NA engine. As a bonus, the 2012-2013 E550 did not come with the troublesome Airmatic suspension, and all come with the 4matic AWD.

I found the cheapest 2012 E550 in the country without damage history, and bought it at about 25K.

If you're happy with W211, then find a 2005-2006 E55 AMG with low miles for under $15K.

bob2011

I'm literally in the same boat as you OP. I was thinking of a w211 E63 next year to add as a stable mate to my E550. I would love the E63 but most are not under warranty, and the maintenance costs are insane. ( so I've heard) but on the plus side the M156 engine is a absolute treat, and it's a AMG, so I can look smug AF everytime some asks me what car I drive lol. But then the twin turbo V8 in the newer Non AMG E Class also makes me giddy, as after warranty it can be tuned up to M156 engine numbers, without the AMG maintenance costs. It's tearing me apart.

jonUF02

Why not E55 over E63 w211? E55 has more power and sells much cheaper.

lawguy

Is the difference in the two engines that noticeable?

jonUF02

Yes, the take off of the N/A engine was much slower, which is counter to what you would think of a Turbo engine having lag, but there is no noticeable turbo lag at all, and 50 more torque is really felt.

I suggest you drive them both, or don't drive the TT engine if you intend to buy a bargain on the 2010-2011 550.

Torque is also why I say the E55 probably feels better than the E63 in the W211. It's been hard adjusting to the shift points and power delivery with all those 7 gears, not to mention thinking about which gear you're in while trying to use the paddles.

jahquan3

Many have said that the Airmatic ride is much smoother and it handles better to offset the additional power of the TT. Only issue is the Airmatic is known to be troublesome.

KEY08

Slow take-off with the N/A engine? You cannot be serious. It is instantaneous. Not sure what kind of turd you test drove.

cc16177

Only due to the outside appearance I would go with the E550.

Then again i'm biased as I was in the same situation as you and went for E550 because I needed CPO, and any time I see an older E63 on the road i'm happy with my decision.

The G Man

The E63 will be a bit faster than the E550, but that twin turbo makes it feel like it is faster.

J.M.G.

Are you sure?
62-125mph (100-200km/h)

2012 E550 4matic
https://www.instagram.com/p/-EyAZLMd8W/

2008 E63 (left run is stock)
https://www.instagram.com/p/6QWYHnp1P_

And the E550 can be made very fast! Brabus piggy pack:
https://www.instagram.com/p/-MAM7ZMd8H

lawguy

I feel like I just started one of those old "e55 vs. e63" flame wars. LOL.

I havent driven the TT, but figure its the better bet.

Also, any other changes between the 12-13-14 cars besides the external cosmetic changes of the MY14 cars?

That was the reason I let go of my '07 e63. Loved the car but the maintenance was abhorrent.

At least in my situation. Although I sure did love the car.

AKnight55

Get the 2012+ E550.

The G Man

You didn't start the flame, you just re-lit the fire The NA vs. FI engine debate has been going on for a while.

As far as the difference between the 2013 and 2014, the 2014 E class has some minor interior changes such as a revised gauge cluster, analog clock and new wood trims. It also add eco start stop and improved electric steering.

mrmotoguzzi00

We started looking at 2012-2013 and then went to 2014+ partially for the exterior and i kinda like not having a shifter in the middle, for me it just seemed cleaner ?

Ride and power felt about the same...

Mike

jonUF02

Yes they are the same. 2012 and up had the TT engine, as well as the column shift stock in the E550. E63 has center shifter.

2010-2011 look the same as 2012-2013, but have the old 5.5L non-turbo engine.

lawguy

Thanks. That was my thought, but wasn't 100% sure.

Last Q - Any differences in software or technology

jonUF02

Spend another US$2000 +/- on the E550 TT tune and it's a monster, without the maintenance costs of E63. There is the argument of handling with the AMG version, but let's get real, I'm never taking it to a track, just burning the take-off at a few stop lights. I'm more than satisfied with the speed as stock, but the option exists, where it does not with the 5.5L engine. It's really more than I can use without getting in trouble. Wish I had the Autobhan, it will go from 80mph to 120mph very quickly!


As far as software differences in W212, I'm sure there are minor updates to the Command system every year, but I don't know where to find info on specific differences. I know that I was looking at a 2010 E550 with P2 and every available option and 44K miles, which was the same price as my 2012 E550 with only P1 and few if any other options, 65K mi. They were the same price, but I still chose the 2012 for the engine, and absence of Airmatic. I didn't see any noticeable differences in the Command system, but had little time in the 2010 to play around with that.

lawguy

Excellent thoughts. Appreciate your response greatly.

jonUF02

Drive them back to back, you will know the difference.