Jan AMG

I'm contemplating switching to the W212 - currently looking at S wagons 2015+.
The only problem I have, I just enjoy driving the W210 so much, I have a really hard time getting rid of it.. It is comfortable and quiet most of the time and can become a beast (albeit a baby one) when you want it to. It has a certain presence on the road and people give you thumbs up almost daily (in Europe).

I test drove one E63S and it felt harsher even in the C mode and the interior (engine) noise was something I didn't expect - it was omnipresent even during slow city driving. I totally loved the performance, that's for sure
However I'm not sure how good is it as a daily driver (let's say you like to make phone calls while driving) compared to the calmer and quieter but still plenty fast E55.

Who of you went from W210 to W212 and how do you find the different character?
I'd welcome some thoughts on this before I pull the trigger..

gaspam

i came from w211 to w204 to w212 and the one thing that i think will be the same major difference i experienced coming to W212 that you would notice as well is the lag from a stop in the w212 trans.... the older cars with the trq converters seem to have more instant engagement from a stop

once you get going i think the massive low down trq from the w212 5.5TT would be a major difference from the w210 n/a motor (was definitely noticeable difference from my n/a w204 motor)

PeterUbers

I came from a whisper quiet and cush 2014 e550 4 matic and I daily drive my e63S. It's just fine for many phone calls and is very comfy but you have to make that judgement call

when I want something softer I drive a 2016 m550i or our 2014 Acura mdx

the w210 e55 was my dream car ... amazing vehicle ...

BlownV8

Jay Leno has a silver '99 in his garage. He seems to like it too.

Amg63-

I found that the comfort suspension mode does a pretty good job at keeping the car comfortable as a daily driver on rougher city streets. More than quiet enough inside the cabin for phone calls as long as you don't drive like a lunatic while on the call lol

Jan AMG

So what would you suggest is the best next step after the W210 E55? I was thinking E500 and tune it but then I read about 7G being sluggish. For that reason, I considered X218 CLS500 with 9G and get a (Brabus) tune to 500hp; 720 Nm.

I know E63 is the ultimate package where you get the right engine, right suspension and brakes and no thoughts about "something better"..
There's about a $20k-$30k difference between E63 and CLS500 in Europe.

So why did you decide to go from E550 to E63?

Jan AMG

Sometimes you just have to overtake

Jan AMG

How often do you really need instant engagement from a stop? If you think about it, it's usually a rolling start in the real worls unless you try to race someone from traffic lights..

I can live with the lag, knowing that's what it takes to have a strong/performance transmission.

I was also hoping to get the best/smoothest trans with 2015/2016+ E63.

Jan AMG

Alright, one more question.. is it worth getting a post 3/2015 car with a newer Comand? Is something else updated or you just get a newer system that has different buttons and allows Apple CarPlay which you might not use after all?

PeterUbers

i think you would love the e550 (2012+) with the biturbo v8... wicked fast and so comfy yet can handle rather well. I had two brand new 550's with bad transmissions and they were both bought back and then I was given a very nice incentive by mbusa to get into a new e63S. Haven't had trans issues with my e63S. Tune that e550 and you have e63 level straight line performance

google "peterubers mbworld harsh shifting" and you'll find the thread ...if you're bored

PeterUbers

you can't get CarPlay ... period

the newer command is much nicer but should not be a deal breaker if you find a nice car

gaspam

trust me, when you go to pull out in traffic at stop light to turn and it pauses on you and almost get hit by a car you will wish there was instant response look at the jerky transmission/ lag thread and you will get an idea of how many people have problems with it

also in reality the true 0-60 mph time is more like 4.7 sec when you factor in the 1 sec pause so that's kind of annoying too when you have a 6 figure 600hp car

Amg63-

Are you serious that this car is really doing 4.7?

i think easing into gas lightly then flooring should do better

4.7 is sad for this car

Jan AMG

Reading through the threads, I don't see a confirmation whether is the lag solved in 2015+ cars or not?
please clarify

Amg63-

It's not solved in any of the years but at the same time I don't think even with it that it's as bad as 4.7s 0-60

PeterUbers

After I got my sprint booster I am very happy with the car

the lag phenomenon is part of the MCT technology ... it has to engage the wet clutch ... rest assured that if you wanna race someone and brake stall to 2500 and hit it ... you will be pleased

gaspam

race an rs7 from a stop and you will see what i mean... both have quoted 3.3-3.4 0-60mph time so they should be equal, but when our car pauses for a second before it goes in the real world = lose bad.

that's the problem with recorded 0-60mph time on our car is most mag's use a rollout , so the time doesnt start until the car moves (say 1 ft)... so technically a race can start (stop light) and other car takes off instantly and records a 3.4 time and meanwhile we are still waiting for trans to respond and finally engages and we go and still get the same 0-60 time.... meanwhile the other car is already at the next stoplight eating a ham sandwich waiting for us to get there, even though we recorded the same 3.4 sec time

jvakos

i've never hit the 3.5 sec 0-60, but using racestart i've seen 3.8 several times on the ****ty streets of downtown chicago (assuming my dashcommand app here is accurate...see pic attached);

the lag in C mode is the worst compared to S or S+. If i'm in C mode at an intersection waiting to turn left I have to manually shift it to 1st gear and tap the gas to ensure its "ready" for when you need to go..

gaspam

^ that is usually timed with a "rollout" meaning the timing doesnt start until you move at least a foot, so it doesnt capture the lag

think of it this way... if you and me are at a stop light and light turns green and you go and hit 0-60 in 3.5 sec instantly and i wait 1 second and then go and do the same 0-60 3.5 sec time, who is ahead at 60 mph?

that's the BS of our "0-60" times, they dont account for the lag

Amg63-

I expect you to get those times using brake boost or launch control.

What were here talking about here is a typical stoplight scenario where you don't have the time for all that crap

its when you simply mash on the gas normally after taking foot off the brake as anybody else does.

Even with the lag it has here I didn't think its at 4.7. I thought maybe 3.8-3.9 as butt dyno (at least on a tuned one) seems to feel like it's around 4 seconds to 60.

I wonder if using the "brake hold" feature at a stop would improve it. Gaspam did you ever try it? Don't mash it all the way, I find this makes more lag. Just ease into the throttle then go hard I find it will start moving with less of a lag

and can we get some way of measuring the real 0-60 with the lag BEFORE it actually gets moving, any tool that will take that into account

gaspam

i tried everything and my buddy's tuned audi s3 still beats me to about 40-60 mph from a stop.... that's when i realized our 0-60 times are bs... my app that records 0-60 mph says i do it in 3.3 sec so with no lag, no way i should lose to a tuned S3 but i did, because with lag its more than 3.3 sec

from a roll its a different story as i pull on him no problem

Amg63-

how fast is the tuned s3 getting to 60?

sounds like in some cases you still beat him to 60 though as after 40 your ahead.

Wouldnt you based of this that while the car isnt a real 3.3 it could still be doing 3.8-4.0?

im assuming your not doing brake torque in these runs? Just normal mashing?

Which method did you find works best outside of brake torque/RS?

gaspam

his car is apr tuned and runs 0-60 in 3.8 according to his app and 3.89 according to apr site.... so i must be slower than 3.8 (even though my app shows 3.3) as he beats me

ive done brake trq and mash it and neither is much better than the other.. RS just sucks so i dont even use it.... doesnt really matter as with 600+awhp we shouldnt have to do some special launch tech to beat a 3.8 sec 350 awhp car

ajs76

I got rid of my resonator and I still think the car is plenty quiet for phone calls. Even bluetooth (which often is just awful) surprises people when I tell them I'm driving. I usually just use my handset though to make sure it sounds good if I REALLY care.

Net net - I'd look at what % of your time you spend on the phone vs just driving. If it's like 90% not on the phone then don't buy a car to make your 10% better. Just my thought because the power and sound will keep you happier whenever a phone isn't involved.

Amg63-

im gonna guess our car is probably 4-4.1 vs the audis 3.8 since in some cases you did win by 60.

I agree this car car shouldn't be anywhere in the 4 second range. I know they are making this a trade off to get the better rolling start performance in exchange as no torque converter gives lower drivetrain losses but I'd rather have a better launch...

hopefully soon someone can figure out a way to minimize the torque limits while still maintaining full reliability of the MCT.