Leonardick

Hi guys! I am looking to purchase a used E550 4MATIC but I am kinda fall in between the 4.7L V8 BT and 5.5L V8. Which one is more reliable in the long run. Those cars I am looking at are between 2011- 2013 under 50k miles.
Please give me some advises

KEY08

I’ve had both and the engines are equally stout and reliable. If you are looking to tune it you should chose the 4.7 BT. You can get almost 600HP and massive torque out of it.

Leonardick

Thank you!

ghlkal

I choose the 4.7 BiTurbo over the 5.5L due to the increased mileage of the DI engine. I know some don't like Direct Injection, but it provides both great power and mileage. Of course, the NA 5.5L is a great engine also, but since I was buying used and had a choice, I went with a 2012 over a 2011.

cocobeex

bi-turbo all the way........

jahquan3

Based on everything I've heard it is Bi-Turbo by a landslide. It outperforms the N/A in almost every way.

KEY08

Just about, with the exception of the stock exhaust note. I still miss the sound of the 5.5 at WOT.

Johnny Rad

The low-end torque from the forced induction biturbo is intoxicating.

I’m continually astonished with the immediacy of power from the M278, as 90% of my driving history has been in normally aspirated cars. I can only imagine what an E63 is like...

If if you don’t need awd from the 2012 and up E550, what about a slightly older E55?

thefisch

By now, we would know if there was a signficant difference in reliability. Both engines are great. If the premium packages/options with all the goodies are there, go with the newer model if the pricing is good for you.

gunnerz101

i agree, i have a 14 e550 biturbo and i love it.. you wont be disappointed

Munich77

Drive both - the bi-turbo is awesome! Think of it as the W212 equivalent of an E43 AMG.

$100 GUY

What about the reliability of the bi-turbo? Any known issues? Oil consumption?

KEY08

Bullit proof. No oil consumption beyond normal. This is not a flat plane crank V8.

Abrown3mtg

I bought my 5.5 intentionally as I didn't want to deal with potential turbo hassles. I also wanted the more linear power curve of of a n/a.

In reality, I got a car that gets worse gas mileage with substantially less power (tuned vs tuned).

I will say though, with the exhaust system I put on my car, the note is intoxicating. Much better than 4.7. I sometimes debate selling it for the newer engine but think it is pretty unlikely for the time being.

I would tip my hat to the side of the 4.7 but you really can't got wrong with either. I agree. Drive them both.

$100 GUY

LOL I liked the flat plane reference.

I asked because I have read issues with the V8 turbos from BMW.

I think the E-class is quite reliable, but hey, wanna see what is going on with the MB V8 turbo.

$100 GUY

We all appreciate your feedback, even though you do not have the M278, so you might as well share what has been your experience with the engine you have.

KEY08

Seriously, I have not heard of excessive oil consumption in either the 5.5 or 4.7, whereas that Voodoo engine has reported issues of high oil consumption. I'm not into high oil burning autos and stopped searching for a GT350 because of that specific problem with those engines. It is a crap shoot. Some are burning a quart every 500 miles. No thanks.

Abrown3mtg

I am pretty sure that was a sarcastic comment. If it was, I should note that I found and arranged the pickup of my colleague/business partner's 2013 cls550 with a Eurocharged tune and down pipes. That car is not only a m278, but built on the same chassis as a w212. I have spent at least 30-40 hours this year behind the wheel + daily drove it for a week while my car was getting a touch up. There is no part of the driving experience I have missed. During the 30k miles he put on it this year, there have been no issues (40k>70k). Also it is an old enough motor at this point that if it was problematic, there would be a LOT more posts about it.

I feel like the 7g+ tranny in the biturbo is also a bit more responsive, especially in the paddle shifting mode.

Engine wise: The 5.5 IS fantastic. It benefits substantially from a tune to remap the power curve and pep it up. It will not provide the same level of power though. There is not a lot to say about it... reasonable gas mileage for the size of motor. More than enough power for practical purposes, fantastic sound once you get rid of the stock exhaust that mutes it...

Had I not driven my buddies tuned m278, I would never have second guessed my decision.... after a lot of seat time, I am still happy enough with the 5.5 that it hasn't been traded up but if I could do it over, I would have a much harder look at 4.7 options. Still, there is something about what is likely to be one of the last large displacement n/a Benz v8s that will ever be produced. It is all about priorities.

$100 GUY

Oh no buddy, why should I be sarcastic? LOL, no way. I know, I know, it is the internet, but we are trying to grow up here. Great feedback.

I like both engines, they are both MB fantastic engines, I believe each one for the time they were released. I really like how MB thrives to innovate and deliver the best as time moves on.

550x2

I’ve had both and the m278 is by far the best way to go. It has power high and low that the non turbo just lacks. It’s very linear for a turbo and very reliable. Best of all, it makes me smile every time I drive!

Abrown3mtg

This thread is making me start to substantially reconsider the desire to retain my existing w212... ugh.

Munich77

I totally agree about the smiling comment. I have a 2014 E550 4matic that I bought new. Usually around 3-4 years after I bought the car I start thinking of what I want next. There is no way I am replacing this car any time soon!

$100 GUY

LOL, nice

$100 GUY

Yes, especially when there is no actual replacement.

fallen

Same thing here!
Actually bought mine after leasing it for 3 years!