I've test driven an E450 and, for a variety of reasons, am now leaning strongly toward it over an A6.

When I ask the sales person about an E53, he is urging me to stay away from that version as it would be rougher riding and less quiet (both important to me).

Is this a true issue, or can the E53 be about as smooth and quiet as an e450? It's not an issue of wanting me to order a car from the lot, as I'd need to factory order either model.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

HBH

Hi I just took delivery of an E53. I actually find it very smooth and too quiet at least as compared to my C43. I do have the acoustic comfort package which really helps dampen the sound even with the sport exhaust option that I have. In retrospect I would have passed on that option but it will definitely help with the noise if that's what your looking for. It also rides much better and shifts much smoother than the C43. The wife definitely approves!

One difference is that the lease is much worse on the AMG version. The MF is atrocious and the lease will be much worse than an E450.

Can't comment on the reliability since I only have 600 miles, but so far so good. I can see how the complexity of the new engine can be a concern however.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Just bought an E450 CAB and can attest that it is a smooth riding, packed with sufficient horsepower, driving car. The price difference between the two isn't worth in IMO.

Plus all the extra weight on the E53. Just drive the two side by side and see what you think.

Id love to spot check it against my E 43. Im definitely not tempted to switch since Im sure the differences are at best slight. If I were to upgrade it would be a 63.

For me, the E450 is simply the perfect combination of power, refinement and comfort. I could afford an E53, but wouldn't have any need or interest in having one. The value of diminishing returns..........

I agree. For us, the E400/450 has plenty of power and comfort. That said, on our way to dinner last night we were following a CL63 AMG and the driver stepped on it and the sound was intoxicating. I'd love to hear what a 53 with performance exhaust sounds like.

Even as a teenager, muscle cars and the exhaust burble never interested me. I have always thought of it as a "Look at me" sound. JMHO, of course. Let's face it, a Tesla driver could floor it and smoke the CL63 without making a sound.

Oof. True.

I think the E53 is also a waste. 450 or 63 are the only choices.

I always chose speed, performance and handling when I was younger....comfort on the list as I got older. Burble and exhaust noise was always a by product of the engines back in the 60's and 70's....but todays engines can give you all that without the noise; even the sport+ mode is more refined and controlled exhaust noise-wise than wayback when. To have the Dynamic Select driving programs gives you that freedom to choose. It's nice to have those options on today's modern cars; just can't beat them.

well said, I agree, this car with the dynamic select can be the everything car. A performance car, a comfort car or a economy car. It's a very versatile car, much more so than any car I can think of. It would be a shame for someone just to order or go and buy a E53 AMG without at least giving the E450 a Test drive. The E450 is one of the smoothest cars I've ever driven, the 60 degree V6 Twin turbo lends itself to smoothness without even the need for counterbalancing like the old 90 degree V6's which they had so many issues of failure with. Mercedes is really king of the V6's motors out of all cars IMO with all their race experience in Formula one and so many years making V6's and learning what works best. I really can compare either of my E450's to the kind of smoothness I got out of my 2015 S550, it's that smooth. I just don't see the need for a new inline 6 connected to a hybrid motor with all the weight of a bunch of batteries when it does not even get better MPG and I'll bet on a race course with some curves the E450 with the wider AMG line wheels and tires would be right up there with the more heavy E53 AMG, I would like to see a test like that. The E450 would be more nimble and make up ground that was lost due to the extra power of the E53 AMG. If the E450 had a tune adding 100 extra HP to the 362 HP stock motor it would race over real quick for the E53 AMG. A tune on the E450 can be had for as little as $800.00. So around 70K out the door and a tune for $800 or a 80K 500 lb more heavy and more expense down the line because of the complexity of hybrid design, which you gonna buy?

It's amazing the level of hate of the E53 here. I get that most people here don't want any real performance, but geez most posts against the car make it clear there has been NO experience with it.

M

OMG man It is clear that you really have no clue about the E53 vs the E450. Have you actually driven the E53? The E450 won't come anywhere near the handling of the E53 or the outgoing E43 for that matter. Wider tires on the E450 would do NOTHING man. Don't' you realize that the even the E53 has more finely tuned suspension (sportier) than the E450? It isn't about bigger tires or how big the brakes look. You keep talking about tuning a E450 for more power? For what? The chassis wouldn't be able to handle it in the corners. Performance isn't just about straight line speed. In just looking MBUSA's mpg numbers you're getting the better performance for the same fuel efficiency for the E450. The actual city mpg number is higher for the E53. I think deep down you realize the E53 will smoke the E450 in every performance metric and that bothers you for whatever reason.

M

That is nothing more than an uninformed opinion. You can't speak to what people would or wouldn't buy because you don't know what they're looking for. The E450 is supposed to be more comfortable, it doesn't have "sport" as part of it's mission. Better balance toward comfort yes, but it will fall far behind a E53 on a track or twisty road. Different cars for differen't buyers. The E53 or E63 buyer might think a E450 drives like a Buick in comparison, but we all know it doesn't. Mercedes' uses air suspension because it provides the best ride possible in car like a S-Class or anything else bent on luxury. Almost all high-end luxury/sport cars today have some sort of air suspension from E63 to the Panamera to the Phantom to the Continental GT. Have you even driven the E53? My guess would be no.

M

As a happy owner of an E450 who's also never driven the E53, I can tell you right now that I wish I had the E53. It really appeals to me but I just couldn't justify the extra cost in terms of what I'd be getting for my money. The E450 certainly wasn't cheap but I found it to be the better value proposition and the more sensible choice for me.

Maybe one day I will trade up for the AMG, it's quite possible. In the meantime, I don't feel the need to rubbish the E53 and I'm very happy for those who have opted to buy one. In fact, I very much enjoy reading about their experiences on this forum and seeing their photos.

To the OP, I can't really advise on whether an E53 could be as smooth or as quiet an an E450. My E450 rides on standard springs and has no acoustic package, yet is very smooth to drive, great over bumps in the road, and is very quiet and relaxed. There is a real luxury to it, as you'd expect.

An E53 on the other hand, has been tuned by AMG to be a much sportier car but then if specced a ceratin way, it can have a duality to it. Air suspension to improve ride comfort, possibly an acoustic package to keep out some noises, and you need not purchase the performance exhaust system if it is of no interest to you (although you would have a switch for it). Perhaps with these options it could match the E450 for comfot, but I can only speculate. Ultimately you'd need to test drive them and decide for yourself.

Please let us know what you decide and I wish you all the best.

Not naming names, but someone on this thread brought up the track. Seriously, please don't unless you do...track. Consequently, all further "track" reference should be ignored unless track times for the 450 and E53 are made available. Candidly, they are both portly (read, fat for the track at over 4200 lbs) and my estimate is that less than 1% of buyers take the AMG cars to the track. The AMG is a cool car. But it's for show and everyone knows it. In which case, pony up to the BIG SHOW because the E53 is simply the JV version of the E63. Period. And if you're spending 100k on a car, you can afford 120k.

I just picked up an E53. Not for one second did I consider the E450. Just my personal preference. Nothing wrong with either car.
Would I rather have had an E63S, of course, but I leased and the difference in payments was over $800.00 a month.

I'm guessing that the residual on the 63 is a killer. Anyway, these are all fantastic cars. We are splitting hairs and priorities...and dollars. ;-)

It's all about peoples perception and they miss the boat by not considering something that could work out really well for them. A lot of what your paying for with any new AMG is for people to go out and beat the snot out of the car and make warrantee claims so naturally they have to jack up the sticker price of the car and thats one reason the the e53 is more expensive than the e450 also because of the extra batteries, hybrid motor, electric supercharger, etc. Also the Depreciation curve on any AMG model is gonna be much greater. The E450 gets the job done quite nicely and is a beautiful driving car. I Like either one of my E450's much better than my 2018 E63 AMG wagon. It's not a question of money, I could have a Ferrari and Bentley in my garage.

I traded my 18 E43 for a CLS53. Big difference! The new propulsion system really smoothed out the car. No dead spot because of the super charger and electric motor. And of course the I-6 is not grindy like a V6. Don't get me wrong, I loved my E43 and it was one of the finest cars I have owned. That said, the 53 is in another league.

It's funny to read your stuff. You have a good performer but it will never equal a E53. That's a fact.