Looking at ordering an E63 wagon here in the US, and I am having difficulty finding answer to a bunch of questions.... Would very much appreciate help.

Here we go:
1- I saw an almond/black interior on the CLS63 and it looked great to me. Is it possible to get that on the e63 wagon, or just the almond/mocha?
2- Is there an order option for privacy glass (ie factory tint rear windows)? I saw this on the UK options list.
3- Is there an order option for side and rear model delete (also saw this on UK option list)
4- What exactly does the premium leather option add to the car vs base? any drawbacks to the premium leather - wears more quickly?
5- Looking at ordering the optional 18" wheels for a little bit softer ride. What do they look like (UK showed them as similar to the 5-spoke, saw them described in US guide as like the stock - which would I would think means 10-spoke?)
6- What tires come on the 18" wheels (ie high performance summer tires, 3 season, or all season)?
7- Is there a way to get part of the performance pack (I just want the higher power, I don't want the steering wheel, red brake calibers or carbon fiber engine cover.)
8- Any good links to see pictures of non-black interiors? It seems like 99% of the cars around are black interior with carbon fiber or black ash trim.
9- Is there a definitive order guide listing every option possible (including all designo options) - On earlier postings I found some info, but they seemed like early/pre-release guides. (ie showing p1/p2 as order options).
10- Are there any drawbacks to getting the limited slip diff? I saw one article claiming that it would clunk and bind in parking lot-type driving.

I understand that a lot of the above could be accomplished with aftermarket and/or trading parts with folks, but I would prefer to have it 100% factory stock if possible.

My thinking so far is:
Steel Grey - or maybe Palladium
Black interior / Black ash
18" wheels
Driver assistance
Limited slip diff
Would like the PP but not happy about red calipers and alcantara steering wheel (worried that steering wheel will not age well.)

 

the steering wheel is the greatest thing in the world,
get steel grey, im not regretting not getting it, but it was my first choice
lunar blue is also nice

u can get a variety of very nice designo interior and exterior options, i posted PDFs of them on a nother thread sometwhere in here

where ar e u buying from

 

steering wheel - no concern on the alcantara getting messed up? I read that some folks were having problems with that at <12k miles on the car unless you always drove with gloves?

Thanks for posting the pdf on the designo options, but there was something strange with it. The colors were off (at least on my computer), ie white interior appeared grey and the "reddish" color option was cut off. I'm not complaining, I could find no other information online at all , but I am hopping there are some additional interior pictures out there. I am also a bit cheap by nature, so if I can get the almond/black interior for free vs paying for designo and the extra wait for manufacture...

dealer - haven't decided yet. My go-to sales guy from the local dealer isn't with them anymore. Tried with another guy and he answered 4 out 5 of my questions with the wrong information. Ah, well, that what good forums are for

 

yeah those colors on the pdfs are off, probably lighter than real

the bamboo interior looked cool. wonder if anyone has it

what issus are people having with alcantara, loosening?

 

I also wonder about the '12 and beyond 18" design. But I figure they look the same as the '10/'11 18". I'm sure they all come with summer tires. It would be nice they would let us choose.

I don't think you can config the new vehicle as indicated...That would be nice, though.

Alcantara wearing off on the steering wheel? Hopefully that will be covered under warranty.

 

I had an alcantara steering wheel on a Lambo and it goes nasty quite quickly. It gets matted and hard and doesn't feel as good as leather. I'd accept it on a car where there was no choice but I'd never order it.

 

Now I'm worried about my steering wheel. It does feel good. Hopefully warranty will cover it...but probably not.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I did want to post a summary of what I learned in case anyone else had the same questions in the future.

1- I saw an almond/black interior on the CLS63 and it looked great to me. Is it possible to get that on the e63 wagon, or just the almond/mocha?

-> Only possible under MB special order program (ie $10k plus cost of the work)

2- Is there an order option for privacy glass (ie factory tint rear windows)? I saw this on the UK options list.

-> same as #1. Car does come with some tint on rear windows from the factory.

3- Is there an order option for side and rear model delete (also saw this on UK option list)

-> unknown, probably just best to remove them yourself.

4- What exactly does the premium leather option add to the car vs base? any drawbacks to the premium leather - wears more quickly?

-> difference is in the tanning process, just softer to the touch, should have similar wear to standard leather. Doesn't add any additional leather to any surface.

5- Looking at ordering the optional 18" wheels for a little bit softer ride. What do they look like (UK showed them as similar to the 5-spoke, saw them described in US guide as like the stock - which would I would think means 10-spoke?)

-> they look like the ten spoke. Picture is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/5036268-post82.html

6- What tires come on the 18" wheels (ie high performance summer tires, 3 season, or all season)?

-> michelin ps3 high performance summer tires.

7- Is there a way to get part of the performance pack (I just want the higher power, I don't want the steering wheel, red brake calibers or carbon fiber engine cover.)

-> same as #1

8- Any good links to see pictures of non-black interiors? It seems like 99% of the cars around are black interior with carbon fiber or black ash trim.

-> check autotrader for dealers that might have one in stock with pictures.

9- Is there a definitive order guide listing every option possible (including all designo options) - On earlier postings I found some info, but they seemed like early/pre-release guides. (ie showing p1/p2 as order options).

-> still working on this. Need dealer to screen grab from MB order system.

10- Are there any drawbacks to getting the limited slip diff? I saw one article claiming that it would clunk and bind in parking lot-type driving.

-> only known drawback is requirement to change diff fluid more frequently (3k mi and then 30k mi intervals).


Since my test drive, a new question has come up... Has anyone else found that the horizontal "ribs" on the back of the seat are a bit uncomfortable? I am wondering if the natural leather would be more comfortable. That was the one disappointment. I found the multicontour seats in the "base" e350 were much more comfortable for me. Anyone want to trade their base multicontour seats for amg seats?

 

Any one have pics of an LSD installed in a car vs one that had not.

 

To the naked eye its not easy to tell the difference- the simple way is to rack the car and move the passenger wheel and see if the driver's rear wheel moves too.

 

Is that when they move in opposite directions or that something else

 

Order is in. Now I have a few months to torture myself if I picked the right options and colors before it is locked. If I read it correctly, there are ~6 customer cars nationwide in the build queue for the month of March. Talk about a rare car!

Steel Grey
Almond / Mocha / Burl
18" wheels
LSD
Driver Assistance

Still thinking about premium leather. It was really, really nice, but I am almost certain that I will accidentally knick it at some point. Seems much less durable then the standard leather.

BTW, if anyone is considering Almond interior, be careful, the Mercedes online configuration picture is way off. Color is darker and steering wheel in non-PP car is Mocha not Almond. Strangely, in the CLS63 steering wheel is almond.

Here's my picture of the almond/mocha interior with no-PP steering wheel. Sorry about the quality, the lighting was quite poor, but at least it pretty close to the real color (maybe just a little bit darker).

 

I have an E63 Estate on order, be prepared if/when you do go in to actually order it that you will want many more things then you thought. I went in thinking I was ordering one with just the performance package, LSD and forged wheels... they got me for Designo everything!
I'm so excited though!

 

I'll try to hold out, but we'll see...some of the designo choices look very cool!
What was your final order configuration?
When are you expecting to receive it?
And please post pictures when you get it!

 

Unfortunately the Designo options added 5 weeks to an already long wait time; best guess is May delivery at the moment. I will most definitely post photos upon arrival!

Going off memory here my final build sheet was something like this:

Diamond White (though I thought long and hard about matte white)
Designo Mystic Red leather
Performance Package
Red Calipers
LSD
5 Spoke Forged wheels
Rear side airbags
Illuminated AMG sills

 

That should be a killer combination. Looking forward to the pictures!
What interior trim did you get with the Mystic Red?
I think you made the right choice with Diamond White. One of the dealers here has a matte white and I think it's one of those colors that looks better in pictures then in real-life. It just looked like a white car with matte wrap, not like a the lambo SV type matte finish that has zero gloss. Plus the care instructions make it looks like a nightmare. (can't use a car wash, if you polish it, it will get shiny, etc.)

 

I think you may be right about the matte, and I have a Lamborghini Reventon Grey Escalade, AND a MB Certified shop
We started painting matte a few years ago, and despite me still loving the look, part of me thinks it's a passing trend.

I went with the Black Ash trim, clean and simple, there's something about the CF trim that I do not like for some reason.

 

That is an interesting comment... I have the premium leather (dont really know the physical difference) on mine as well. One of the things I am struggling with in this car is the seats just don't seem as comfortable to me as my old 05 E55 Premium Leather seats were... I keep telling myself that I am imaging it, but the feeling just wont go away.

Also, I strongly suggest ordering the "Illuminated AMG sills". They were a last second add for me (prior to the build order being frozen) and I just love them. They look fricken cool.

Lastly, I know others have a difference of opinion, but you should consider Distronic and Active Lane keeping assist. Its crazy good to have. When I drive now, I can have my head up my a$$ in traffic and be just a bit safer.... Not to mention sticking the Cruise Control at 65MPH and not worrying about all the traffic effects.

Russell

 

I spent some more time in the car before ordering, and while I still don't think the seats are as comfortable as the standard active multicontour (like what you would get in an e350), the trick for me was to put a big amount of tilt on the seat bottom cushion - put the back down low and the front up high and that made it pretty good.

I am 100% sold on the the distronic plus. I tried it in stop and go traffic and it was magic. The only thing missing was having to manually resume if at a dead stop for more then a few seconds.

I did not realize that there is no backup beeper, just the camera... Disappointing as a backup beeper can be a great safety feature and its on the base e350 wagon...

I'll check out the Illuminated AMG sills. Have you had a problems with the premium leather, ie scratched from jacket zippers, creasing, or anything else?

 

I did a similar thing to my seats as far as the rear pitch, but the other problem is, they dont seem to have as much adjustment range as my old seats did... and another little annoying thing. My old seats used to move back when I shut the car down and open the door (to make it easier to exit/enter) and this new car only the steering wheel moves. Granted, it does appear there is more space and easier to get out of this car. One thing that helped a little was to push the lower lumber out more... seems to help

I have only had the car for a month so have not had it long enough to know about the leather wear/scratch resistance... but the premium leather in my old E55 looked like new when I sold the car to my friend last month.

my distronic does not require a restart if stopped at a light... there seem to be certain circumstances that are shutting it down but dont think its normal stop/go traffic

 

Was there ever an issue with ordering "Designo Mystic Red leather"? I didn't think your car came with it.