AMG1312

Hello Merc-heads!!!

Since i was a Kid and to this day this is one of my favourite SUV's,not just because how it looks but the comfort it brings me always when i get inside.

I have decided since my wife will be taking her driver's license soon and we always wanted from day one an SUV to join our car family to Buy a w164 ML 63 AMG (i prefer the facelifted one after 2008)My wife was debating with me regarding the Porsche Cayenne Turbo from 2008
Well i like Porche but i Love Mercedes
Also It's just that i have heard some very bad reviews regarding the interior parts of the 1st gen Cayenne although the one i was looking at is facelifted (2008 cayenne turbo)

Ofcourse the Merc here is a bit more expensive although it's not a problem i want to pick the better car and that is why i am writing here.I have always wanted to own the 6.2l m156 Classic and why not in a ML? Hah!The facelifted 1st gen Cayenne turbo has a 4,8l 500hp the Ml 6.2l 63 AMG has around 520hp i thinkat this phase power is enough for me it is just which of the 2 cars is better?

Any advice will be appreciated guys!!!

I know about the headbolts ,i know about the suspension problems of the Ml ,the expensive brakes and i think i heard some other things i cannot remember now regarding reliability of the ML.
So any thoughs on this guys?
Honestly im really excited for the ML even tho i know in order to stream music from my phone i need those cables and stuff xD or just install a carplay xD

Soo from Porsche Cayenne Turbo 2008 and Ml 63 2009 which is the better pick?

Tsumi

Test drive both and see which you like better.

Mercedes will be geared more towards cruising and comfort. The N/A engine will make most of its power in the upper RPM range, later than the turbo does. The Cayenne will be sportier and have more power in the lower RPM ranges, but you have all the issues and maintenance requirements of a turbo engine.

EWT

I actually looked at both a few months ago to replace a X164 GL550. The M156 is a spectacular engine, but has plenty of issues beyond head bolts (lots of cam related stuff wears out). I'm not a Cayenne expert, but I'd advise spending a little more and look at 958 Cayennes, (2011+?) rather than 955/957s. They have fewer issues. 958s do have transfer case problems, but Porsche recently extended the warranty on them.

As Tsumi mentions, Cayennes are sportier and MB leans toward the luxury side of things. I'm a performance car guy, but just didn't get excited enough about the extra performance, extra cost (and potential headaches) that came with the 63, and ended up with a ML550, which has a 5.5LV8 that isn't as raw or powerful as the M156, but is more reliable and still pretty quick (quarter mile in ~14.0 @100 mph). It s a great (and overlooked IMO) motor. Power throughout the rpm range, very smooth and lasts a long time if taken care of (I've got 247K on the one in my GL).

Good luck with the search - they're both great SUVs, it just depends on what you want out of one.

Tsumi

A better option might be to get a ML550 from the W166 generation. That gets you a 4.7L TT engine that can be tuned to outrun the M156-based ML63.

AMG1312

Thank you very much for replying to my post guys!
Thanks for the info as well!!!

Well Honestly the m156 can be a big pain sometimes for sure i know that.
I have a w204 c300 4matic Cdi going through some engine modification right now stock is 231hp(aiming to reach 350-370Hp) i even have a post about that here if you search it.
I just want the second car we have to come with at least 450-500hp stock.The price here in my country of a good looked after Ml 63 w164 is 16 000 - 19 000- 25 000$ dollars

The price of the same year Porsche Cayenne Turbo(2008-2009 facelift model) is only 11 000$
I even met a very good looked after Porsche Cayenne Turbo with TechArt Magnum Kit - 24 000 $
and Honestly i like the facelift of the 1st gen Cayenne
The 2010 and on from that year models..Yes they have less problems but just not my style :P ..yeah i know that consumatives and repairs are important but The cars you drive must appeal you and make you feel great when you drive them as well.

I've seen cars that when are kept in garage and taken good care of (especially Mercs and Porches) even if they are 15-20 years old they are still "rollin' " like they are New

Well Ml63 -525hp 0-100 about 4,8s 4,6s
Cayenne facelift turbo 1st gen 0-100 about 5,1s 5,0

eHhh im really confused on which i should go with xD
I will post here in the upcoming months the car i will get and my opinion when i test drive both the Ml63 and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Well having only Mercs and just one Porsche doesn't hurt i suppose xDDDD
If you have any questions or advice on maintaining the Porsche or a specific Model Merc feel free to comment on this Post!
Thanks once again for the awesome comments guys!!!

EWT

I'd rather have a M156 than a M278. Their problems, while not cheap to fix aren't motor killers if fixed in time. The M278 has problems with scoring of the cylinder walls (shows up as a misfire often on cylinder #5) as they get miles in addition to having coolant leaks and issues with oil getting into the wiring harness. Personal preference, but I also prefer the ergonomics of the 164 platform with its lower dash to that of the 166.

AMG1312

EWT, yeah i have heard that the m156 is better in some ways than the M278
Well i have looked at the ML 500 2013 year( Ml 550 GLE 500) and was Not satisfied fully by the acceleration :P

Yeah i am looking at the space also which is nice but my main concern is Power and satisfaction that the vehicle brings( interior ,exterior)
and for 18 000 american dollars to 24 000 $ i was mostly satisfied by watching videos for now with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo with Magnum TechArt kit

As i said

Porsche Cayenne after 2010(2nd gen) nah don't like it even if it is with Magnum kit

ML500 2009,not satisfied with the acceleration
Ml 500 2013, not satisfied with the accelerarion also the engine is only 408 hp and has here and there some major bugs

The Only conqueror for the Cayenne Turbo(2009 1st gen) i liked is a 2009 ML 63 AMG

I have patience and i will test both before i buy one
I want this time to really think my moves and buy the best product for the price

And yeah ofc i am looking at more sportiness than comfort here so Damn.. i guess the Porsche may beat the Merc but let's see!!! W164 is a classic..even if i dont't get it now there is always the day after today ;D !

EWT

If you want sportiness, it is hard to beat a Cayenne. Handling wise, they're in a different category than the rest of the German competition. Like the 164 platform, lots of forum support for the 955/957 if you go down that road. Not sure if you've seen it, but Fifth Gear did a comparison between the two (although the ML is a X166):

AMG1312

Yes ! I remember this episode watched it i think 2 years ago even when i was not in the market for such type of car
Well Maaan.. i like both of the cars but i am really looking at something that both has space and is very good in angles,power sliding and very Very sporty and 0-100 time is descent

Well honestly i was looking for the Ml63 (2013y) they are around 28 000$ in my country ( a good one)
But this 957 turbo with the TechArt Magnum kit i just saw it and something in me "clicked" and fell in love with it

I will still test drive both cars but things are really falling in favor of the Cayenne

Well the 2nd gen Cayenne after 2010 is nice too!
I like very much the interior but for some reason the exterior does Not please my eye the way the 957 does(especially with the Magnum kit)

And my country here is a bit small and the chance of seeing another Cayenne Turbo 957 with the Magnum kit is probably 0,00% or 0,01%
so that also adds to the i don't how "rarity" meter

I like how the turbo cayennes have Porsche sign on all seats and the armrest as well! Yes you have heating seats only but damn the car looks and is very sporty (u give one in favor of the other u kno) The Ml 63 (2013y) looks exactly like a Massive Juggernaut which is ready to eat everything in it's way!I just love that as well but for now i need something ready for power sliding and a lot of corners to be taken very fast ;D
Let's see what this future will bring im very exited

In the meantime any advice on the engine maintaining is appreciated bud's!!!

The m157 i heard had more problems than the m156 because it is a turbo engine but other people said exactly the opposite so i am kinda confused when it comes to that
The 957 turbo engine has minuses here and there nothing very major just another turbo engine i guess?!??? Or maybe and most probably you guys know more than i do xDD

Tsumi

I think part of the reason the M157 engine is cheaper to maintain than the M156 is the fact that the M157 is a bored and stroked M278, and there are a lot of M278 owners out there. There is a lot of parts commonality between the M157 and M278 while M156 parts are generally unique to it, making the knowledge-base more limited and parts more expensive for the M156. Can't speak for the Porsche, not as familiar with their stuff.