Stealth7

As you may have noted, several "magazine" tests of the E63s have indicated that even in Comfort Mode, the ride is very rough or flinty over less than perfect roads. In fact, in at least 2 reviews, this was the primary deciding factor in picking the M5 over the E63s. I live in SoCal where we do not have winter pot holes, snow or ice (in most area anyway), but we do have cracked and over-used streets, uneven freeway expansion joints, etc.

For those of you with stock suspensions and OEM tires, what is your experience on this topic?

Thank you for your thoughts!

chiromikey

Walter Chavez

Personally I believe the ride on the E63s to be a little to firm for my liking. I was temporarily in an 18 M550i and it was running 20's and that car felt like a cloud compared to the E63s. It's crazy too since the AMG has an air suspension which you would think would make it very variable in terms of comfort depending on the modes, however I feel like in all modes it's just too stiff. In sport and sport+ I would understand, but in comfort I would've liked it to be just a little softer.

...however with that said, it has little body roll compared to a softer car. It's a fun car so all can be forgiven. For reference, I live in New Jersey where it is pot hole city.

Walter Chavez

True, the new 9 Speed MCT shifts very aggressively, and it's slightly noticeable in comfort mode as well. Especially in the transition from gear 1-2.

limeypride

I found it compliant and reasonably comfortable given the tire patch and wheel size. Once I lowered the car, not so much--now it's a bit jarring and I tend to use the raise function (below 40mph) to offset that on horrible road surfaces.

E634Me

Its difficult for me to compare as my current other vehicles are a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, an F-250, and a Honda Odyssey mini-van.

I'm used to driving over pretty much anything with the Jeep and Truck and not worrying about it. But while their suspensions are more compliant I wouldn't call their rides smooth.

But I'm fairly happy with the ride of the E63. Not all of our streets are perfect in San Diego, plus I've had the experience of driving the car in Europe as well as cross country.

Wasn't looking for something S class plush or a waterbed on wheels like my father in-law's Caddy.

I like the way the car corners flat with very little body roll and would trade that for a rougher of a ride.

I have the P zeros so maybe the ride would be better still on the Michelins . . .

Wolfman

This is our first AMG with Airmatic. The only other Airmatics we have ever driven were S-Class models. All other MB's with ABC. The E63s does feel stiffer than ABC suspensions (AMG or non-AMG) and nothing like the regular Airmatic. Performs very well though which makes me think they has to calibrate it as hard to make it work, given the cars weight. Our drop is 20mm front/rear but still riding on softer Pirelli snow shoes so we'll see once we have the Michelins back on...

NickBoz

mmmamg

i traded in Audi s6 with 20" Pirelli tires and air suspension. It was too soft for me even in sport mode. Also it was super quiet and it had noise reduction glass as E63s
. So,,,my red wagon is too firm but I think it's a suspension tuning to make it sportier as possible.

Nothing to do with tires or wheel size since I had the same with super quiet Audi but huge difference how I can take turns with AMG and its worth it.

HBerman

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I find little difference in ride comfort between Comfort and Sport settings for the suspension. I usually have the transmision in Sport mode and the suspension set to comfort. My transmission shifts very smoothly from 1-2. I am coming from an E550 with Airmatic and the E63S comfort setting feels even stiffer than the sport setting on the E550. I think that MB should come out with a change to soften the ride a bit which should be possible given the adjustable suspension. Just my 5 cents here

Vic55

Ted: there is not much of a difference IMHO... so I usually run Sport (1 light) and with our good OC roads things arent so bad. I enjoy the car for the function it creates as the Air Body Control (thats the new airmatic we have) is very flat in turns and high speed curves. So this car drives more than it comforts if you get my drift. And while the new M5 might be an even better driver, this car pulls a better skidpad weighing over 300 lbs more. Its a definitely a transition for AMG which was always considered the "sledghammer" with comfort and now its more of a scalpel with some heft. If your roads are good and I know they are, you will be fine but we all know comfort is so subjective in feel. If I rated the comfort mode from 1 to 10 (10 stiffest)- C mode is a 7.5, Sport is 8.5, and Sport+ is 9.99.

I spend a lot of time in Texas too and if my car was here ... it wouldnt be.