Good to know the jerky problem was resolved.

 

For sure...

 

Yes, I just think the coupe's are really attractive. Guess I'm in the minority.

 

Personal preference for sure but it is not that, I thought I remember you having the regular SUV and one of the coupe, didn't realized you actually have both in coupe forms, I remembered it wrong.

 

So what do you think of the 53? How is your 63 holding up? My 63 has a headlight problem on the passenger side...the lens constantly has condensation inside. The only fix is a new headlight, which is a $3,800 problem. And independents are hesitant to work on it because the radar has to be recalibrated, and few independents have that equipment. So, I'm kind of stuck, which makes selling the 63 to a dealer for $48k more palatable. What do you think? KBB says trade in range is $50-52 for wholesale and $53-56 for private party.

 

You are probably not asking me since I have a C 43 but my thoughts on the 53? Forum member superswiss love his C 63 S.

As long as you like the interior of the X254, I say it is solid. The M256 is solid, ample power, smooth (since inline 6 is inherently balanced), efficient (less so than bmw B58 though), sounds good. There is an official clip for it on this page https://media.mercedes-benz.com/en/a...1-5ae0133298ad

 

As for the condensation issue, if it is not an actual bad seal I don't think they should use that to devalue/low ball the trade, get a few other offers. Since condensation on MB headlight are common and depending on the amount, it is as designed as what MB says.

 

it is throwing off tons of error messages....right parking lamp not working, auto dim not operative, and about four more errors for every possible function that light provides. The driver's side is always dry as a bone. The passenger side looks literally like it is raining inside. It has to go, for sure. But to the extent I don't sell to the dealer, I will effectively get $4m less than otherwise due to having to fix the problem.

 

By the way, sorry for confusing you with Superswiss!

 

Does drying it out stop those messages? Wonder if you just need to replace the seal or if the actual hardware is indeed damaged then maybe try salvaging it if there is corrosion using some contact cleaner? Maybe an independent shop can do the trick.

 

Sorry for the confusion.

 

I've been to three independents. One guys says he thinks he can do it. Two others said recalibration of the radar will make the job just as expensive as the dealer and more or less steered me in that direction, which says a lot. I don't think they even make seals for this lamp, To get at the unit, you have to take the bumper off, and that may or may not disturb the radar that sits behind the emblem on the front of the car, which has distronic. Assembly replacement appears to be the only viable alternative. However, MB Parts in Texas or Arizona can get me the parts for about $1,000 cheaper than the local dealerships that would do the work. Oakland Mercedes said they would be willing to install with the MB Parts in lieu of their own, but the work wouldn't be warrantied. The likelihood of the unit itself failing in the near future is very small, but spending $2,800 with no warranty to entirely take care of the issue doesn't make me feel all that great.

 

Disconnecting the battery may or may not eliminate the need of recalibration, removing the star with the battery connected might be causing the miscalibration since the sensor is still powered and constantly sensing things.

 

it is not an electrical issue, it is an alignment issue. If the radar gizmo is moved like 1/4 of a millimeter it doesn't work the way it should.

 

Yeah, I've pointed out many times that the 63 V8 aren't great commuter, stop&go and city cars. I'm in the Bay Area as well, but I don't commute or daily drive really. I work from home, and most of my daily errands I can do on foot. I hear you on the weight. I've long said SUVs are too big and too heavy and don't really offer that much utility unless you often need to carry larger items in the trunk. Best about them is the additional suspension travel, so you don't have to watch as much what you are driving over, although the GLC 63 doesn't ride great. The weight and the need for the suspension to keep the body with the higher center of gravity under control makes the suspension stiff.

I have a C63S Coupe which is much nimbler and lighter on the feet around here, but even so, if I just need to make an A to B trip to get something or whatever, I generally use my wife's VW Beetle. Just so much easier for getting around town. Much much lighter even than your 43. Weighs only a little over 3000 lbs and is compact with a short wheelbase, so fairly easy to find parking in places such as San Francisco and I'm zipping around much more powerful cars, because they are just too unwieldy to quickly react in city traffic. Still love my C63 and have no plans of selling it, but around town I have to constantly modulate the throttle to make it drive smoothly and I have to make sure I don't hit potholes and such, so it's slower around town than driving my wife's car. The good thing is I have the Driver Assistance Package, so on the few occasions I find myself in traffic, DISTRONIC does an excellent job driving smoothly and let me keep my sanity, but really the 63 are made for higher speeds and the open road, so for me it's mostly a weekend car for heading out of town, or driving when there's not much traffic and hitting up mostly deserted canyons where I can let it rip. The definition of a grand tourer.

I'm curious, why two SUVs? I get having one SUV if one has a need for it, so why not get something nimbler and sportier as the second car and get something like a 300 or another regular commuter car for the daily slug? Even the 43 has much more power than you ever need for commuting around here. My wife's car has only about 100 hp. That's about as much as you need for just driving from A to B around here, provided the car doesn't weigh as much as a tank.

 

Hopefully testing driving the X254 GLC you will end up liking it.

 

Although I agree but I always thought performance SUVs are for those "dads" that can't have another vehicle either due to space or because of their significant other doesn't want them to get another car, so GLC 63 is the do it all type of car. Can carry kids while also having fun occasionally. Maybe MB did intend to design the SUV at least 63 model to be a daily family commuter, or those soccer moms, I mean they did put 4MATIC in it after all, unless I really am still missing a point?

Too much power is a cool problem to have, does the GLC 63 have a way to limit power and drop the sensitivity of the throttle to make it less hard to control for OP in traffic? I know it has a slippery mode which replaced the eco mode in pre-facelift cars?

If I were given a choice, I will always consider wagons over SUVs if I need the practicality but that is just me, I do admit not having to slow down when approaching potholes and train tracks is cool to have.

 

The reason for two SUV's? Simple. I bought the 43 and was pretty satisfied. Then started reading these forums and I got tired of people saying the 43 is not a "real" amg. Really felt like a second class citizen. And I curious about all the hub hub. Also, I wanted the distronic. After having had distronic, it is a must have for me now. In stop and go traffic is really reduces driver wear and tear. The 63 isn't that much heavier, but all the extra weight is sitting right on top of the axle which probably exaggerates the problem. Compared with my 43 it feels like a 1000 pounds heavier, or like i'm towing a trailer. I purchased the 63 thinking i would sell one of them, but I like them both and so it has been hard to decide. The 53 with distronic is a great alternative, and I would sell the other two.

 

Ahhhh gotcha but to be honest the 63 really is a different beast and really is worth it. I got the 43 because I didn't need an SUV and I would appreciate 4MATIC, the sedan C 63 S was RWD, I rather it wasn't branded amg so there wasn't amg tax on both purchase price and service as well as insurance. I do appreciate the M276 engine and the exhaust note. I long debadged my car for that reason. Regardless though, it is more important to get something you like or not some bystanders that likes. It is your money after all.

I was looking at maybe you can retrofit distronic but then realized maybe the cost wasn't worth it but is it still cheaper than having to sell two cars and then buy a new one? Probably yes but then you are getting a new car, new tech and all the extras.

 

I wonder if you should just get the GLE 53 instead? Yes, it is more heavy but you also get a upscale interior less capacitive touch and at least some physical buttons to make the transition easier, it is a big vehicle though but since you are consolidating two vehicles into one, the GLE 53 might fit the bill or get the GLE 580 so you can keep the V8 while also enjoying a very comfortable vehicle without most of the amg tuning in suspension, transmission etc.

 

Yes, I bought the other two used to limit my downside. Will still take a bath, but I don't care. I retired a couple of years ago and so I don't really care. I drove nothing but a 1965 mustang (acquired in 1975) for ten years, and japanese economy cars for the next 35. So I deserve to have some abandon in my old age.

 

Actually, on the flip side, I confess as I recently bought myself a W214 E 350 as a daily driver so I can try out MB's "new" "fancy tech" (well that is not the main reason) but I admit I am not 100% loyal to the C 43 as I used to be. The C 43 on the other hand is occasionally driven out on weekends, I don't think I ever will sell the C 43 since I too enjoy it very much. If you really like the C253 GLC 43 that much, it might indeed as you mentioned, make sense to just buy one with DISTRONIC and forget about the X254, buying what you like while you also save money in the end, can't complain about that.

Speaking of E-Class, the DISTRONIC may or may not be better on the V167 GLE compared to the X254 but do keep in mind the X254 is a newer generation than the V167 so it is possible the DISTRONIC tech (generation) may be superb to even the V167 GLE.

 

Yes, the GLE 53 is a nice alternative too, but quite a bit more expensive. I've never driven one but it certainly seems to fit the bill. I'm glad you mentioned it because I am definately not a big fan of exclusively capacitive layouts. I like knobs and levers.

 

Totally, you should use your hard earn money to enjoy yourself! Nothing wrong with that, in fact that is a brilliant idea!

 

Sorry for the back and forth with my recommendations (a few posts above), ultimately ... and um... to sum up:

Going to mention C253 and C254 since you prefer the coupe

Decide which one you like or test drive them all (3 of them) pre-facelift V167 GLE, first facelift V167 GLE or second facelift V167 GLE:
(note: there are two facelifts, the first is starting 2024 model year, the second facelift is still coming which is 2027 (ish?) model year. So pre- any facelift will be 2019 (?) or 2020 till 2023 model year. )

a. test drive C254 GLC 43 with DISTRONIC see if you like it
b. test drive the V167 GLE 53 with DISTRONIC,
The advantage of this is you can also try out the M256 and see if you like it just do keep in mind there might still be changes in the X254's version of M256 in the form of GLC 53.
c. test drive the V167 GLE 580 with DISTRONIC, see if you like it.
d. wait for the C254 GLC 53 with DISTRONIC and test drive that and see if you like it
e. wait for the V167 GLE 580 or 53 second facelift with DISTRONIC and test drive and see if you like it.
f. test drive C253 GLC 43 with DISTRONIC and see if you want to stick with the old layout/car/interior.

Sticking with MB right? no competitor brands considered?

Order of test drive depending on availability and your preference.