RobDoc

I've seen it written on here that there are a bunch of former E46 M3 owners now driving 211 AMG's. Well, I just came out of a Competition Pack. '05 that I took ED on and drove for 4 years.

-What's the deal with the paddles in the E63? Mine don't shift every time I pull on them. They are very vague. My M3, and every Ferrari I've driven, have all been much more predictable and obviously more 'positive'.

-The p030 sticks coming out of corners so well that I've almost forgotten it's bigger & heavier than my <former> M3.

-Gas mileage sucks around town, even in C mode. I get about 13mpg just stroking it.

-Electronics/COMAND are great! I've barely scratched the surface though.

-The car looks fantastic! It has a lot of 'presence'.

-In most any condition, it's just dead-easy to blow by other regular cars who are trying to go fast. Like fish-in-a-barrel easy.

-To feel the pull from that 63 motor from 2k-redline is really, WOW! It's really amazing to have that under your right foot. The pull is looooong.

-Surprisingly small turning radius.

-I LOVE the CLKBS steering wheel! So chunky & with that straight bottom edge...

220S

Paddle shifting isn't super precise. There seems to be a bit of lag. Sometimes it seems best to just keep it in S or C mode and let it do it itself. I only use them for downshift to get the rpms up and then to keep it staying up if needed. Seems better in M mode, btw.

I'm P030-less, but the suspension tuned as it is, is a lot better than the non-AMG E Class. Steering is less boosted and car stays a bit flatter. But ABC would be nice on these cars (like the CL63) I think the E63s handle better than the E55s.

Turning radius is great on MBs, not only the E63. Crank the wheel and then step out and take a look. The wheels angle in (tilt) so you have a really small turning circle. For a big car they feel nimble turning, parking, etc.. It's fun to do a fast and dirty U-turn and watch your passenger's face.

COMAND on the 2009 is much improved over 2008 and earlier. You can pretty much do everything with voice control and be hands-free. Real time traffic (from XM; it shows on the nav screen) if you want, too.

Here's a tip: do the voice command training session and you'll learn all the voice commands available. One that's not mentioned is "audio off." Instead of muting (which means your CD/iPod/Music register will continue to play) just say "audio off." Then it will pick up where it left when you hit the volume button.

Yeah, torque is smooth. I think it's a great NA motor.

I can get 15-17 mpg now in stop and go if I drive like Grampa in C. You'll probably get better as time goes by. But 13-15 is about it for 'normal' driving. On nice empty flat roads I've got it down to 9 mpg Octane in CA sucks and I'll sometimes mix 100% race gas with 91 premium. The mpg seems better that way (but more expensive of course.)

I have the reg sport wheel, but ya, it's comfortable.

They do look nice on the road. Unassuming but still muscular enough.

btw, Parktronic has kept me from running over peds when they decide to cross the street and I'm trying to make a right on red....

VCA_AMG

Great first-hand info, keep it coming. Love hearing new owners' evaluations and impressions.

LB63

My trip computer says I've been averaging 8.8 mpg. Something must be wrong with the car or my left foot

transferred

Paddles suck as your coming from smg2 which is basically a manual gearbox except it has an computer controlled clutch...E63 is an auto with a tq converter....if it's any consolation the CLK BS guys have to deal with the same slow unresponsive shifts in "manual" mode too...

i'm pleased you like the car, a buddy of mine has an E63 030...I've driven it and it handles far better than you expect...great sleeper

-Rob

Newzchspy

Driving with the brakes on????

blk07bruins63

Must be your foot

LB63

Oops, I meant right foot!

llcd

Does the 09 E63 can blip the throttle?

LB63

Nope, but the 2009 CLS63 can

RobDoc

I figured out the vagueness in the paddle "feel" and it not shifting every time...
-Unlike SMG or Ferrari F1's, you must pull on the bottom 1/2 of the paddle in the E63. If I pull on the top 1/2 it refuses to do anything every time. Weird. Ferrari's and BMW's shift no matter where you pull on the paddle.

Is my car the only one that does this?

RobDoc

Thanks Rob! Although, I did know these things already.

llcd

and the c63 can blip the throttle also right?

VinceB

Think I found an '08 w/ perf package. More familiar with the SL offering.

I'm thinking on the E63, it's the smaller alcantara covered steering wheel, carbon fiber trim, wheels, LSD? Any changes to suspension or just recalibration? Other goodies?

Does it cause the car to ride much rougher or can this be adjusted via the electronic dampening control?