Hi all, as the title says, I'm transitioning from a 2022 BMW X5M to a 2024 G 63 and would love to know what mods I should consider to help bring the AMG closer to parity with it.

Thanks

 

Sell the G and buy a Cayenne TGT or GTS.

 

if you still want a mercedes, sale the G and buy a GLE63

 

Don't get a body on frame and stick with a unibody SUV.

 

Consider the RENNtech ECU+ module which will increase HP to 731.

 

That's a significant boost for the price. Thanks for the share, I'll dig in further.

 

I don't believe that any mods available for handling or horsepower on a G63 are 'worth it'
everything to add has a minimal value add.
just my two cents.

I suppose it depends on which bucket you fall into.
Do you want to wrap it neon green and make sure everyone can hear you coming by tinkering with an exhaust? If so, I expect you won't care about paying 10k for an exhaust or 5k for 80HP. But frankly, for that mindset - why not consider Brabus?
If you fall in the later, where G63 is what it is, enjoy it and don't try to make a shipping container-shaped, sub 5sec, tractor into a vehicle with capabilities to rival a GT3.

 

As others have said it will be difficult to match the handling from an X5M.

I own a 2019 M5 Comp, and while it's not the X5M, it is the same motor. Or nearly the same motor. Of course a sports sedan will handle night and day better than the G63 and M5 will be much much quicker than my G63. Thats a given.

But personally I would wait until after you own the G63 for a while to see if you need/want to make adjustments. When I step out of my M5 into the G63, it's a very different experience, not better or worse, but just very different. Driving either I do not miss the other. I enjoy both cars a lot, for very different reasons... Surprisingly I get A LOT more attention in the G63 than the M5, and the M5 is flashy in its own right. So be prepared for that coming from an X5M.

Like others have mentioned it'll be difficult to achieve the handling. The power/acceleration? You could probably get the G63 up to similar performance numbers. But remember the G63 is between 700-1000lbs heavier than the X5M, and 1000-1200 lbs heavier than my M5. That alone will make it hard to compare handling. But straight line performance numbers you could get the G63 to similar times as the X5M, although it would require a tune, and some other aftermarket parts, which would also void any type of warranty on the G63 (if thats important to you). A good tune, and accompanied mods like exhaust, down pipes, etc could easily push the G63 into the 7-800HP range. If thats what you want. Just like the E63S, you can get the power right up there since it's nearly the same engine.

The G63 is like a mid 12 second 1/4 mile (12.3-12.7) which is no slouch in stock OEM form.... theres a lot of cars that wont touch that type of performance #s. However, with that said the X5M is high 11's, low 12's. Which is extremely fast for how big and heavy it is. My M5 Comp his high 10's low 11's, and even it, is heavy for a performance car, @42-4300lbs. Given that cars like the M3 are in the 3700-3900lb range which does very well for its weight as well. For another comparison the Escalade we got ride of is somewhere in the mid low-14 second range 1/4 mile. which is a MASSIVE difference vs the G63. The gap would be huge. The new Escalade V is high 12 seconds, (12.7-13), so the G63 should also beat that in stock form. Escalade V has 680 HP, about 100 more than the G63, but it's slower. Go figure.

I think it will be difficult to get the G63 to be a "back canyon twisty road carver" type of SUV. But I'll say it drives/handles night and day better and sportier than our out going 2018 Escalade. Which is also body on frame type of platform.

 

Where do you drive that this has become a problem? GPS coordinates please so I can go there (lol).

 

I own a G 63 AMG 2019. It handles alright. Its on par with an X5/X6 40i from an older generation. Its a bit worse to a current gen RAV-4/CR-V/Tiguan (although these SUVs handle great nowadays, my Tiguan handles nearly as well as the C 63 AMG W204 I own LOL). Its pretty decent, you can lean and trust the car. It also rides very well, sounds awesome, and is quite good fun overall. The old one was awful, felt like driving a VW Kombi.

Nonetheless I have also owned a X6M Competition 2022 (which was what I switched into the G63 AMG, got an awesome deal in the G, and I have always wanted a G), its another league of performance, handling and tech. The X6M Competition also rode nearly as well as the G 63 AMG. Overall an impressive car, I think dynamically superior to it, there is only the Cayenne Turbo GT/Purosangue and maybe an Urus

 

Give RENNtech a call and ask for Mitch as he knows the G63, you'll want the ECU tune and CPC to really make some power!

 

Went from an X5M to an M5 and now have a g63 on order. i dont have any illusions about the difference the drive will be.

 

For what it's worth I went through 2021 and 2022 Cayenne Turbos to my 21 g63

Not for a second have I thought about the Cayenne since... g63 changed the SUV game for me

 

Never understood the appeal of trying to make big honking SUV's ride like sports cars... Not just talking about modders, but manufacturers as well. I guess they're only playing into what ppl are buying.

Savagegeese did a video a while back (forgot which exact one) where they outlined how complicated these "sporty" handling SUV's have become and all of the mechanical/suspension/software f*ckery that needs to be done in order to make them drive not like the 3 ton slabs they are. They will all be nightmares for whoever will own them past their warranties, not to mention they will never be as agile as an actual sports car with the weight, height and shape penalties.

If I were you, Id take whatever amount you're considering for mods and save up a little more and buy an actual sports car. That way you have best of both worlds with a beast off-roader/cruiser and something for back roads.

 

definitely agree to an extent.

this is why I have the g63 and an M5 , and many would argue the m5 is not even a real sports car either which I can relatively agree with. The handling just isn’t there the car is too big and heavy to ever be considered a sports car. That being said it will run circles around the g63. In a straight line the m5 runs circles around even many exotic super cars…. I’ve tuned the m5 with a baby tune and a couple other minor mods and it does very well hanging with a Ferrari F8 on the 1/2 mile run.

But…. As for the g63 I personally don’t think you’ll find a lot of need to modify it too much. Maybe I’m wrong. But I also thought about tuning the g63 and doing some performance mods but after having it for a while, that thought mostly has gone away. I appreciate the car for what it is. It’s plenty fun for me. Especially knowing I have the m5 in the garage also.

the only regrets I have it when there’s been a couple of kids or folks in cars that would probably beat the g63 wanting to play and I just let it be, mumbling to myself, y’all are lucky I’m in this pig and not my m5. 😂😂.

but that’s the extent of that. Stock g63 and fast car if you want to have fun and the budget can support it!

 

Fixed it for you

 

Id take a drop in performance to not have a look at that monstrosity of a grill on the x5 anymore.

 

Some of us feel the same way about the G63's cow catcher brush guard.

 

Yet you’re in a subforum talking about a car you obviously can’t afford.

 

I wish I had the 63, sadly I couldn’t afford it for the same year vehicle here in the UK, was around £40k GBP more for 63 compared to the 350 diesel here.

i love the G and will wait 12-18 months for a 63 Im sure, I wanted the better ride that the 63 offers, more muscular front end and ofcourse petrol V8 Bi Turbo over my diesel engine.

I think a lot about replacing suspension springs and swap bars with AMG items to provide that slight improvement in ride ability, not because I want a sports car just because I think the improvements are possible and aren’t hugely expensive either, bolt on stuff etc. I have 21” AMG G63 wheels to fill the arches better so the AMG springs and front sway bar will probably be the limit, don't want to lower or raise it actually.

The 350d doesnt ride like the 63, it rolls a lot more, so I assume the G63 is better because of the springs and sway bar, I realise dampers contribute a lot too but Im not thinking about mods that interfere with electronic system’s compatibility, I assume thats not a plug and play swap out like springs and front sway bar. Im saying plug and play for those based on H&R offerings being for the full range BTW.

Im envious of the 63, its about as good as it gets, never mind your X5M and that nonsense LOL it doesnt get close to G63.

Carl

 

Not that I disagree with some of the grills from not just BMW, but MB, Lexus, many have this "grill" identity issue. At least until its normalized and then theres just another controversy about a different styling aspect of newer cars...

With that said... What year X5 are you referring to?

Ive always thought the X5M and X6M actually looked decent, and not crazy. The 2024 is updated and has a black surround, but the grill itself isnt that bad in my opinion? 2023 and previous looks ok to me as well.

Are you sure youre not referring to the X7??? That grill leaves a lot to be desired... Or the newer M3/M4s have been quite controversial. But the 5 Series, X5 always seemed more subdued to me?

 

Seems obvious he can't afford one.

 

If you lived in a country like Brazil, or in a region with really rough roads, you would understand the appeal of these cars. These cars are for people who want something sporty, fun, practical and that can handle rough & badly paved roads. Here in Brazil, they sell by the boatloads due to the overall nastiness of the road conditions here (São Paulo streets are awfully paved, roads are awesome though, other states the roads are rough as hell and the streets are better LOL).

I owned a X6 M Competition, and boy oh boy was it impressive to drive. Dare I say, it handled almost like a M5 F90 on stilts, it was darn impressive, and I was less concerned with potholes (although its ride was on the stiffer side of things). The G63 AMG is a car also that I don't care so much about potholes (it just glides through them). I only owned thus far two "sporty SUVs" (a X6M and the G63 I currently own), and I get their appeal.

Although I agree with you 100%, they are not as good to drive (but they have come so close to the sportscars that its impressive), and they are complicated to a point that out of warranty, you are doomed to have expensive repairs.