It all started when my favourite car in the whole world, my 2016 E63S Wagon was running out of factory warranty. I started pestering my salesman for a new one in 2021. He informed me all '63 orders were cancelled, we can only 53s. Then suddenly November 2022 I get a call from him that we can order a 2023 E63 Wagon!

The ups and downs of that start here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ml#post8664730

I order a fully loaded Hightech Silver car. Then my CCB got denied, they said we could wait, so we waited. Then everybody's orders got cancelled! I am offered a different color, missing CCB. I say no. Then I get FOMO and say yes. Then Montreal advertises a Black one with CCB. I get the paperwork for it but sit on it. A few more cars start popping up here and there for sale, a few have CCB a few are low spec.

I re-examine the cars for sale and and I decide I'm going bite the bullet and buy the best car with CCB, the black car in Montreal. I can always wrap it.

Literally 10 minutes after that decision @bobblehead posts an almost fully Loaded Hightech Silver car with CCB! "As long as the colour is ok for you". Ok? OKAY? I want Hightech silver!
https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ml#post8783083

I immediately rush to the dealer and buy the car!
https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ml#post8783083

After 8 months of hounding and shopping and almost buying two different cars I get the car I tried to order.

I started this thread because I regret not documenting the 2016 better. I'm going to keep this going with all the mods and milestones and adventures this car has.

Immediate Mods Planned:
Exhaust Valve Control
Suspension Lowering
Wheel Spacers
AMG Twin 5-Spoke Wheels in Matte Black
Winter Tire & Wheel Package

Post warranty/not for a while/maybe never dream Mods:
Activate Dashcam
Cold Air Intake
Stage 1 ECU CPC TCU
Aftermarket Wheels
Rear Door Panels with roll up shades
Dinamica Headliner, pillars, sun visors etc.
Upgrade Stereo maintain stock look
AMG Cargo Box

 

Pre Delivery PPF and Tints.
Full front, rockers, mirrors, and the bumper in the loading area of the trunk
After inspecting my 2016 with 185,000 kms I decided I didn't need full coverage.
One thing I should have added and may is the black B pillars. They were swirled on delivery, I had to have them corrected already! So I'll likely cover those too as soon as I get a chance.

Some PPF short videos

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HJoshjzIps8

https://youtube.com/shorts/52McHcGFOXo

https://youtube.com/shorts/SRKOWT3H5_A

 

That’s an epic journey ( the ups & downs) in buying a dream car. There are many members here have followed your journey in the last 1/2 yr or so.

May i suggest to add in orig posting or links on what kinds of mods you have planned out for the wagon (even though you have posted in a few different threads already).

Also, maybe add in some of your latest general observations of your likes and dislikes of the w213, like driving dynamics, comfort, sound and interior tech.

the only left to do is to run it on the track 😄

 

900 more break in kilometers! I’m driving a buddy to Markham to look at motorcycle today, so that’s a few hundred more. I’ve been a good boy.

I’m thinking of an oil change at 1500 to get rid of all the break in junk before driving it like I drive. Required? I floor my old car every drive as soon as it’s warmed up.

 

Congrats again and great idea on a journal of sorts. Can't believe how clean your old one looks.

 

I would change out the oil as well at around 5,000km. I also changed out the rear diff. fluid as well at around 3,000km which was initially recommended by the factory but somehow this was dropped as no longer needed.

 

I like to use Blackstone at break-in oil change.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com

 

Thank you!

I’m struggling internally selling the old one. I addressed every issue cosmetic or otherwise immediately. Even dumb stuff like hood insulation. If I change my mind one day the fear is I’ll never find one as good. Realistically it’s still costing money depreciating to zero.

 

In my 2021 AMG supplement it still states to change the diff oil at 3000kms or 2000 miles. The dealers do seem puzzled by this as my request to change it was greeted with " You don't need to"

 

DONE!

 

First of all I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to care for and enjoy such an amazing vehicle.

These are my observations after 900km mostly in comfort mode obeying the break-in procedures. I say mostly because it gives me the heebie-jeebies to let a brand new engine sit at a constant RPM on the highway so I flick between C, S, Race to vary RPM's. I also vary speed between 100kph and 140kph. Which I must say takes great concentration as this car masks speed SO well.

It's BIG. SUV-like. It is not a driver's car like the W212. Maybe it's because I'm still driving like I'm "taking grandma to church, there's a platter of biscuits and 2 gallons of sweet tea in glass jars in the back seat, and she's wearing a new dress and holding a crock pot full of gravy" but my initial reaction is one of slight disappointment. Maybe that's too strong. Apprehension? I can minimize the SUV feel a bit by lowering the seat to the max. This makes more of the hood disappear, but unfortunately then the very bottom icon of the HUD disappears. I have my seat adjusted up a c-hair so the Speed is not missing pixels at the bottom of the HUD, but I'm still missing everything else under the speed.

This size feeling translates into speed. OMG it's a struggle to keep it under break-in speeds. 50 feels like 30, 100 feels like 50, etc. this is a BEAST of a high speed cruiser for sure. So comfortable. With 1/3 throttle input it's smooth and just wants to go, and will if you don't slap yourself.

The side view mirrors are in my way. They seem massive. And did I say they are in my way? LOL. If grade/slope is just right the passenger mirror will entirely block a whole cross street as I approach it. Exiting the parking lot at the office every day I experience the mirror blocking all traffic to the right which is a sweeper. It blocks the whole road completely. I have to move my head to look up or behind the mirror.

And, having my seat so low to mitigate the SUV feel makes the mirror "problem" worse.

Sound: It's quiet and luxurious except for some reason I can really hear when the tires pickup dirt and debris - it's very loud. My old car did not seem to magnify when the car kicked up thigs inside the wheel wells. Less insulation? Different design? Not a problem just an observation.

Exhaust: I haven't pushed it hard to open the flaps etc. - but so far emotion start is AWESOME and flipping on race mode and varying RPM with the paddles while cruising sounds GREAT. I never really enjoyed the "straight piped RAM 1500" sound of my catless downpipes so to me this softer deeper growl is very grown-up and good.

HVAC: Smooth quiet, refreshing. Love it. A lot more air flow then my old car with a lot less blower and vent noise.

"Hey Mercedes" I like it. Still getting used to it I am using it more and more. I was joking the other day with my wife in the car and said to my 'other woman' "Hey Mercedes! My wife is HOT!!!" and Mercedes replied "I'm adjusting the temperature to 21 degrees" LOL LOL LOL

MBUX Interior Assistant: I do not need to flash gang signs to my car. I wish I had the sunglasses holder instead. Anyone use this? The only thing it's done for me so far is accidentally turn on my dome light.

Storage: LACKING! No sunglasses holder. No under front seats flip open storage. No pockets/nets on the transmission tunnel. Mercedes umbrellas don't really fit in the doors like they did in my old car. I put them in the back seat doors to not annoy me but then how will I reach them?

Tech: Slider haptic things on the steering wheel driving me bat **** crazy. That's all I have to say about that. I really hope I learn how to use these dumb thumb controls. It's a problem. I don't even use the volume one, I reach over and use the passenger side wheel.

Same with the touch screens. I hate not being able to just learn where a real button is and use muscle memory to reach and push it. Constantly having to take my eyes off the road is not ideal. I _drive_ my cars.

My passengers love that the car hugs them. Now they know why I loved my old car so much! It's given me a LOT of hugs.

If it sounds like I'm complaining I'm just reporting what I've noticed so far not being able to rip in it yet. As soon as I'm allowed some spirited driving I'll report back! Overall I'd still make the switch. It's a much more luxurious car. And as fast as the modded old one. Stock. With warranty.

I'm sure I'll get used to all these things and the issues will melt away. Partly from increased familiarity and also because I am a fanboy. Plus, it hasn't given me as many hugs yet!!!

 

I had Justin out from https://www.purblanc.ca/

Interior Ceramic coat all soft surfaces
Exterior Paint Seal and Wax
Ceramic Coat Wheels
Ceramic Coat Exhaust Tips

Turned out GREAT! Super Happy! Justin is super patient and does top notch work.

 

I was so happy to help you find that one car, but I'm glad @bobblehead found you a configuration closer to what you wanted at the final hour.

Dude I'm more than happy to trade you my roll up shades for your CCB's or audio comfort package!! For some reason one has to get the Sun Protection Package (the roll up shades and rear window sunshade) if one gets the DINAMICA headliner. Don't ask me why.

So we can activate the dashcam? I assume this is one of those things where it comes with the car but just needs to be turned on in software? (I assume "coming with the car" means the dashcam is the front camera, not a separate camera?)

 

I did not know they took out rear door panels roll up shades. Did MB remove that in FL ?

 

I have the 2023 E63s Sedan and mine has them, they're still manual. The rear window is still automatic. His just doesn't have the Sun Protection Package, that's all he's saying. The door panels seem a bit thicker than usual, so I imagine if he could pull it off aftermarket you'd have to replace the entire interior panel or possibly entire door altogether.

 

I'm glad that you're enjoying your new ride. However, i'm not understanding some of your "issues" with seating and controls. I've owned several W212 vehicles and I would never call them nimble. I keep my driving position fairly high with the seatback only minimally reclined. I'm 5ft 11" and the mirrors do not get in my way. The SUV like comment does puzzle me. The wagon is 191 inches long and significantly lower off the ground than any SUV that I've driven. Lowering the vehicle's 20mm will only change the visual of the wheels in the openings. The tires are already super wide and going to a 21" wheel will only increase the risk of wheel damage due to the decreased sidewall. The noise from the tires seems to be dialed into the wagons even with the noise reduction package. I found the PS/4 tires contribute to that as well which is why I switched to the PS/4 A/S. The sunglass holder is removed by the interior gesture option. I would recommend that you acquire some Microfiber cleaner for the steering wheel as the material is very efficient at absorbing the oil from your hands. BTW, you can remove the cupholder from the door so that an umbrella will fit. I would give up on the roller shades as they require a different door panel and window trim. You can adjust the vertical position of the HUD by selecting the rightmost panel, settings, scroll up or down with the lefthand scrollbar on the steering wheel.

I have almost 19000 miles on my wagon now and every one of them has me smiling as well as my occasional passengers. I've been looking for a replacement vehicle for the end of my lease, but I can't seem to find anything that punches all of the tickets so I'm going to keep it for another 4 years with the extended warranty that I purchased when I got the wagon.

Enjoy your ride.

 

@I.T. Guy did you drive your car in manual mode yet ? I find it more fun and engaging

 

For shades you need the sun protection package which mine is missing.

 

I think I saw somewhere if you already have U19 Augmented you can unlock dashcam with a dongle but I have not googled it yet.

 

Please post your build sheet or window sticker. Inventory manager at my dealer suggested it is hardware. Hope he is wrong as all cars should be like Tesla with sophisticated dash cam and sentry mode. Only two options weren't available for 2023 MY: dash cam and rear power outlet.

 

You are correct. I also believe that the VR function for Navigation uses the same hardware. Dashcam requires U19 + 21U.

 

This is my biggest complaint with the car, it's very annoying, makes for poor visibility, and I still haven't gotten used to it.

I think it's due to the high belt line of the car and high position of the mirrors, which is happening to all cars, for improved safety, less glass and more steel in the doors.

 

I believe we have it (the right hardware). U19 augmented reality navigation and 549 high end head unit (in our case NTG6.) We're ready for it. 21U is just the dash cam option. (U21 is AMG performance exhaust, probably a typo.) I'm 99% sure @I.T. Guy (and myself) are ready for it hardware-wise.

 

Correction: 21U is the dash cam option. The specific hardware connects the front camera to the USB outlets and controls the video flow and timing. I doubt that you have the installed hardware, but keep us posted.

 

I think having 21U allows you to have it pre-activated via the Mercedes me services. I'm talking about possibly activating it via dongle or coding. But you could be right, like maybe it's a separate camera or it's impossible to "hacktivate" without connecting to Mercedes. Either way, if it can't be done, will just get an aftermarket setup. I've heard the Mercedes dashcam and/or related app have quality issues anyway.