c32_amg

Guys I'm looking to get a W212 Biturbo E63 just not sure if I should go for the Pre facelift or facelift?

I personally think the Pre facelift looks more aggresive and suits the car more but dont want to end up not being able to sell it on due to everyone wanting a facelift or regretting it and wanting a facelift 6 months into ownership.

Thoughts please

I know it's my decision at the end of the day but just wanted some advice?

Also are there any changes apart from the IWC clock and outside appearance?

Thanks

ace10

Are you being serious?

homeofstone

Check to see which one has that stupid ECO mode that defaults to on every time the engine is turned off. If you don't mind it then go for the style you like best.

c32_amg

Well yes apologies for my ignorance but is there?

I know the speedo dials are all different but what I mean is power, changes to the engine/gearbox etc etc?

I'll reword it for you are there any mechanical changes.

PeterUbers

If you're serious about buying a nearly $70,000 car used ... You'd have read that the biggest change with the facelift is full time awd.... Plus more power and the choice of a non S and S model ... You should go to Mbusa.com and read up a bit too

c32_amg

I am serious but here in the UK we don't get AWD we do get the S and non S version but the S version is out of my budget.

There's about £10k between the prices of the facelift and pre facelift

So that leaves me the choice of the normal E63 facelift and pre facelift.

If the facelift is better then I don't mind waiting and buying the facelift when it comes down in price.

I'd be modding anyway so extra power isn't a big deal.

PeterUbers

Ah, sorry, that makes more sense

If tuning the car... Motor is identical and non issue. Get the car you like that looks the best externally to you. Once tuned you'll have 700/830 hp/tq at least

The led advanced lighting was a key thing I love about the facelift e63 you won't get on pre facelift.... Headlights

360 surround view is also nice on my facelift model not sure if pre lift had it.

c32_amg

Thank you

Usually as with most cars when it comes to selling no one wants a pre facelift and as the cars come down in value the gap between facelift and prefacelift gets less and less.

Also manufacturers make changes and smooth out problems so was wandering if that had happened.

Cheers

Lenin

This is more of a general advice. Avoid MB first year production cars. Look at something closer to you, a 2002 vs. 2004 C32. Or pre 2006 E55 and 2006 E55. Or the C63 head bolt issues in the earlier production models. Also look at the electronics. As Peter stated, look at the headlights, COMAND, things like folding mirrors, driver assist toys.

sdg1871

If you are tuning the car you will really want the post facelift E63.

All post facelift cars have the divorced cooling system. In particular, the engine cooling is separated from the turbo cooling which leads to a much greater cooling capacity including when the car is tuned. If you get the pre-facelift model before they changed the cooling and separated Engine cooling from the turbo cooling you may run into some heating issues if you run a tuned car hard for a long period of time.

cnolke

My understanding is that change was made between 2012 and 2013. I *think* it was AMS that posted that the change could be relatively easily retrofit and that it was only useful is specific performance challenges.

I don't want to trivialize it too much, but they made it sound like a moderately unimportant upgrade and not something worth spending significant $ on.

I'll look around for the old post. Perhaps it would be one of the interesting posts that come up when I search for "divorced"

cnolke

https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/...ml#post6149201

Lenin

"Divorced" cooling system is something only a lawyer would use.
I split the cooling system on my C32. The benefit is that in high traffic, the Intake Air Temps would recover a lot quicker since you don't have a lot of air cooling the Heat Exchanger. Additionally, it depressurizes the intercooler system and that is always better for the longevity/integrity of the intercoolers. There are also benefits if you track the car. The point remains the same. The later you are into the model year, the more positive changes you would see in that particular model.

sdg1871

Actually, "divorced" is the term AMS uses in its thread about its boost cooler. LOL

The top AMG tuner in the country has told me that the post-divorce M157 cooling system really is excellent and that absent a turbo upgrade or tracking the car for many hours in a summer in Dubai, you don't need a cooling upgrade if you are stock or just tuned with bolt ons.

c32_amg

This is the kind of info I was looking for

Anything else

Cheers guys

sdg1871

Good luck in your search!

rory breaker

I prefer the older look too...more aggressive. Just didn't want the older tech/car, so went post facelift.

KaseZome

^ I'm the opposite. I prefer the facelift aesthetic but prefer the driving feel of RWD and enjoy getting sideways once in a while. If the facelift version is offered in RWD, it'd be a no brainer for me...

PeterUbers

I can get sideways with my E63S.....

KaseZome

I'm sure you can. I could get a knee down on a Hayabusa but I'd much rather do the same thing on a R1.

There's also no doubt that AWD has distinct advantages but I buy my cars based on how they make me feel when I drive them. That's why I'm not smitten by the GTR or Audi RSx cars. That's probably why I still love my 17 year old analog E36 M3 so much...

I'm no professional driver (or drifter) and I haven't gotten a '14+ E63S sideways but something tells me I'd have to be a lot more deliberate and committed to wag the rear end on yours than on my '12.

KaseZome

And if anyone is interested, here's the link for the '12 vs '13 cooling system differences. Seems like upgrading is pretty easy!

https://mbworld.org/forums/w218/4530...m-updated.html

otakki

Sounds like moving to UK or sourcing one from there will be the answer.