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I also have been debating between the 53 and 63 as a daily driver. Today I ordered the 53 to be built the first decade of December with delivery around Xmas.
I also have been debating between the 53 and 63 as a daily driver. Today I ordered the 53 to be built the first decade of December with delivery around Xmas.
Excellent blend of luxury with performance in that build. No lighting package?
Well one must stop adding options to 53 at some point, otherwise it will be pushing (over) $100K in which case an other 25% or so will make awesome 63 suddenly not much more expensive. I imagine most of delivered 53s will be well below $90K.
I think AMG Dynamic Pkg's active suspension is a bit overkill for 53 since AMG Ride Control+ has just enough of AMG in it for 53. Agree, 63's fantastic brake hardware is a must even for 53 and am glad it is offered as stand alone and reasonably priced option (wish my 43 had them). As far as lighting package, you do not need it until you need it (the difference, between having it and not, used to be night and day, pun intended).
I didn't get the Dynamic Plus for a few reasons. I don't want nor need the Track Pace and the Drive Unit (as I prefer a heated steering wheel) but mostly I don't care for the Dinamica steering wheel.
The GLE is top heavy and if you are an aggressive driver then the Active sway bar could make a big difference. It supposedly makes for a better ride but that’s Mercedes claim. The base AMG brakes are the same as in my 450 and they work very well but more stopping power is always a good thing.
The better suspension & more power is my primary reason for moving from a 450 to a 53. I’m on a road trip now with my wife’s SQ5 that has the Audi version that keeps the car flat in corners. Corners at speed are nothing short of amazing. At similar speeds my 450 felt noticeably less Sporty on the same trip. Every toy I’ve ever owned benefited more from suspension improvements than more power.
We all have different priorities but I’m assuming that if one is optioning larger brakes they may also appreciate the better handling. The price difference after paying to have the Calipers painted might be +/- $1800....not much when spending $94k.
Interesting, is yours a 2021? I picked up my 580 in August and the 2020s only offered the basic airmatic suspension or the e-active body control back when I ordered in March.
How did you get yours already? I ordered one in February and it’s been showing “in transit” since June. Dealership rep says he has given up and MBUSA no longer returns his calls. He last estimate was October.
I didn't get the Dynamic Plus for a few reasons. I don't want nor need the Track Pace and the Drive Unit (as I prefer a heated steering wheel) but mostly I don't care for the Dinamica steering wheel.
When I ordered mine in late June Netstar allowed the heated steering wheel with the Dynamic Plus pkg. I thought there was also an option for a different steering wheel but might be wrong. The Canadian 53’s reportedly removed the AMG steering wheel and Track Pace dive unit with the heated wheel.
When I ordered mine in late June Netstar allowed the heated steering wheel with the Dynamic Plus pkg. I thought there was also an option for a different steering wheel but might be wrong. The Canadian 53’s reportedly removed the AMG steering wheel and Track Pace dive unit with the heated wheel.
I would double check with your dealer. In the past, adding heated steering wheel meant removal of AMG steering wheel (awhile back, heated was not available on AMG63s of any kind for that reason). My understanding is that even W167 GLE63S, when specified with heated steering wheel, looses AMG steering wheel for regular heated steering wheel. (Just checked a build for 63S on mbusa.com, steering wheel changed from AMG to regular.) Try to search current inventories of 53 and 63 to find one specced with heated steering wheel and see what steering wheel it has installed.
Edit: I take it back. Found a 63s specced with heated steering wheel and I see AMG steering wheel actually pictured. mbusa.com must have "old" info: https://www.autonation.com/cars/4JGFB8KBXMA273041
This is the side shot of AMG steering wheel in 53 Coupe, what is the "button" above steering wheel up/down/in/out "button"? Is it the "heating" controller?
Found a couple 63s specced with heated steering wheel and I see AMG steering wheel actually pictured. mbusa.com must have "old" info.
There is the regular AMG steering wheel that can be heated and there is the AMG steering wheel with the additional sport buttons that cannot be heated.
How did you get yours already? I ordered one in February and it’s been showing “in transit” since June. Dealership rep says he has given up and MBUSA no longer returns his calls. He last estimate was October.
Yikes! In transit from where and to where? I’m in New York. My vehicle was completed on or about 8/1 and I picked it up on 8/17. It actually arrived at the dealer a few days prior to that but I had another car to turn in at BMW.
Dealer just confirmed no flat bottom steering wheel that’s heated.
That may be correct but my build allowed adding a heated wheel without removing the AMG steering wheel or the controls for Track Pace & customized functions. This was my SA using Netstar & not the Online Configurator. I don’t think anyone currently has solid information unless they show up one way or the other. Did Mercedes make a mistake or did they add a heated AMG Steering Wheel?
Both my 53 vehicles have heated Flat bottom steering wheel. The CLS has the Alcantra trim on each side. Now this is for Canada but if it’s available here, I would think there is a way of getting it in the US. My former 18 E43 with flat bottom steering wheel was not available with heated steering wheel.
PS Neither car has the sport button on the steering wheel.
That may be correct but my build allowed adding a heated wheel without removing the AMG steering wheel or the controls for Track Pace & customized functions.
Maybe this is available with 2021 builds. When I ordered my 53 (in Romania) I could add the regular AMG steering wheel with heating option but when I added the dynamic package (I wanted the red brake calipers) it also included the AMG steering wheel with those lft/right custom AMG buttons and this steering wheel did not allow heating.
Here are another 2 cents after driving both (580 and 53) back to back today.
The 580 is a much smoother to drive and the turbos seems to come in slower but harder when they do spoil up. The transmission does not shift as fast and honestly it seems to drag a little when shifting. But it seems much faster. The exhaust of course does not have the burble or pops but it does sound deeper. The seats are much more comfortable and soft.
As for the 53, the outside appearance is hands down so much better. That new grill is cool and the interior has a nice sporty look. The seats or course are a little more stiff and the exhaust note is just not AMG worthy. The car does seem to get going faster initially but it just does not have the punch or acceleration when compared to the 580. The tartufo in the 53 was pretty dang nice too.
My opinion: if I was buying this car as just a daily driver and not for long trips, I buy the 53. It just looks better and has sportiness to it. But since this is going to be a daily driver and a family car for long trips (3-9 hr trips regularly), I’m going to stick with my 580 order for now.
On a side note, I saw a couple of GLE 63s in black and white and recently a 53 in selenite grey with the night package and black wheels and OMG it was beautiful and so much better looking then the current 63s I’ve recently seen. I see no reason to go for the 63.....yet.
Again, just my $.02.
Last edited by BACnMercedes; 09-19-2020 at 09:35 PM.
Here are another 2 cents after driving both (580 and 53) back to back today.
The 580 is a much smoother to drive and the turbos seems to come in slower but harder when they do spoil up. The transmission does not shift as fast and honestly it seems to drag a little when shifting. But it seems much faster. The exhaust of course does not have the burble or pops but it does sound deeper. The seats are much more comfortable and soft.
As for the 53, the outside appearance is hands down so much better. That new grill is cool and the interior has a nice sporty look. The seats or course are a little more stiff and the exhaust note is just not AMG worthy. The car does seem to get going faster initially but it just does not have the punch or acceleration when compared to the 580. The tartufo in the 53 was pretty dang nice too.
My opinion: if I was buying this car as just a daily driver and not for long trips, I buy the 53. It just looks better and has sportiness to it. But since this is going to be a daily driver and a family car for long trips (3-9 hr trips regularly), I’m going to stick with my 580 order for now.
On a side note, I saw a couple of GLE 63s in black and white and recently a 53 in selenite grey with the night package and black wheels and OMG it was beautiful and so much better looking then the current 63s I’ve recently seen. I see no reason to go for the 63.....yet.
Again, just my $.02.
Glad to hear this, we are going with the 580 for the same reason. We got rid of a RRS SVR due to everything being toward sport and not comfort. Still wanted a 8 cylinder car though. Thanks for the review.
Here are another 2 cents after driving both (580 and 53) back to back today.
Straight line performance difference as you've described were fully expected. You did not mention handling (suspensions are completely different) and stopping(if 53 was equipped with 63AMG brakes), what were your impressions if any?
Keep in mind that 580 can be equipped with much sportier and very reasonably priced interior option via "AMG line interior" which basically means same AMG seats as 53 and a nice flat bottom steering wheel (unfortunately not as thick or as good looking as the one in 53 or 63, but much better looking than "standard" one) plus few more minor items. The great downside of AMG line interior package in 580 is that it is not available with ventilated and multicontour front seats (MB had the same unexplainable restrictions in W166 as well). Also stunning carbon fiber and less expensive (but still very good looking) metal weave are not offered on non-AMG models.
Straight line performance difference as you've described were fully expected. You did not mention handling (suspensions are completely different) and stopping(if 53 was equipped with 63AMG brakes), what were your impressions if any?
Keep in mind that 580 can be equipped with much sportier and very reasonably priced interior option via "AMG line interior" which basically means same AMG seats as 53 and a nice flat bottom steering wheel (unfortunately not as thick or as good looking as the one in 53 or 63, but much better looking than "standard" one) plus few more minor items. The great downside of AMG line interior package in 580 is that it is not available with ventilated and multicontour front seats (MB had the same unexplainable restrictions in W166 as well). Also stunning carbon fiber and less expensive (but still very good looking) metal weave are not offered on non-AMG models.
Good points. Neither 580 had the AMG interior so I’m sure that’s why they felt softer. Even my wife pointed it out when we were in the 53. We drove everything in heavy traffic so I didn’t get a lot of curvy roads. I did get some acceleration and stopping and the 53 felt a little harder to stop during one hard braking incident. Still both are excellent cars that cover different areas.
A few thoughts:
Metal weave is back listed in the DOG for the 2021 GLE.
The AMG interior had limitations in 2020 allowing only Black MB Tex with Dinamica insert upholstery-that might have changed for 2021.
The 53 has the same brakes as the 580 or better ones with the available upgrade and with slightly less weight it should stop better. Probably a factor of the brakes being new, not bedded.
Edit-they added Black & Black/White Nappa for 2021.
Metal weave is out there and for about $1300 (I know on mbusa.com the difference is less, but gle63 sticker says $440 instead of $600) less than carbon fiber is a good value (looks close enough to CB).
When choosing which to get when spending $85K+ for a car, to me handling/stopping is as important as acceleration, so a true test drive is require and not just "around the block" so to speak.
The Metal Weave is $600 for most cars. The 63S is probably less because of the higher priced standard trim.
I’m guessing that side by side the 580 & 53 will perform very close going by the acceleration times. The “feel/sound” of the V8 & the Torque are where it will excel. Towing anything the torque will make it better. My 450 had a decent amount of torque and a wide power band. It performed well on the highway passing and at speed. The 6 is a pretty decent engine, IMO.
I think numbers from brochure put aside, 53 will accelerate closer to 450 than 580, especially down low as you will feel power(torque) of 580 much lower in RPM band than in 53. Where 53 will shine over 580 is in handling (IMHO an important factor in any top heavy car for anyone who enjoys driving rather just getting from point A to B) and in stopping when equipped (as it should) with optional 63 brakes.
09-15-2020, 09:21 PM
