Hello all...I have a 2014 E63 wagon that I am considering trading on a 2019 E63 wagon. My car only has 16,000 miles on it and about 1.5 years left of MB extended warranty. I know the w213 is a step up from the w212 in terms of performance, but I also read about some dislikes regarding ride comfort and CEL complaints, etc.. I don't have any issue with my w212...just not sure I want it out of warranty. Flip side is the ~75k price differential of the w213 makes me feel like I am not getting "enough" improvement over the w212.

Anyone go from a w212 to w213 E63 (wagon or sedan) that either has regrets...or at least the feeling they really didn't get that much for the $$$...or has strong feelings that the w213 is much better than the w212?

 

I would defo stay with 212 while it has warranty.

 

No regrets here since W213 is superior in all aspects compared to W212 Sedan...
Was in similar situation with over 1 1/2 yr left on extended warranty ... Just reading about W213 could not make me move, as my car was perfect... or, I thought so....
Until I had a loaner W213 for over a month last summer.

My 2c: there is not universal answer to 75k question, it all depends and is personal. Have some time with W213 and then make informed decision...

 

Test drive the w213; I opted to stay with my 14E63S tuned with AMS and have 2 years left on elw warranty - I've had the car since brand new

the w213 didn't do it for me

 

what did you not like about it?

 

I didn't like it enough to make the switch and I'm hoping the rear end gets improved; ultimately I have to replace my 2014 in two years when the elw is done and it'll likely be the latest e63 that's out so I have some time to hope!

 

do you actually drive uber for money?

 

No

 

Oh man, that is a low mile car with warranty! I'd keep the W212 until the end of warranty at least

 

I've never driven a W212, but I'd upgrade to a W213. I wouldn't do it for $75k though. I'm more of a lease guy. $1.4k-$1.8k/mo is the sweet spot for me. There's a guy offering $12k on Swapalease on these forums to take over his wagon. $12,000!

 

Not much of a lease guy personally. When I buy a new car I typically do not look at the price. Rather, I focus on the likely depreciation over whatever timeframe I intend to own the car. In the case of my wagon it stickered right around $116k in 2014 and I have been offered just under $60k by a dealer. So, in my approximate 66 months of ownership the car cost me about $850 a month.

Focusing on depreciation--rather than price--can get you some Ferraris "cheaper" than some AMG products.

 

$60k for a 2014? If I tried to turn my 2018 in tomorrow, they'd offer me $80k max. I'm pretty sure a 2014 goes for more like $35k-$45k. They're all over CarGurus for $50k retail, which I would guess means trade in at $45kish?

 

My car is a wagon...not sure if you are aware of that...which hold their value far better than the sedan (at least with regard to the w212)...plus, I assume my low mileage has some factor in the value. KBB.com shows trade value ranging from $57-61kish for "very good" & "excellent" condition 2014 E63 wagons so I feel good about my trade offer...especially since here in AZ we are able to avoid sales tax on the value of your trade...makes the true value of my trade closer to $64-65k.

 

do you also see wagons for $45k on cargurus?

 

Honestly, I have never been to the cargurus website. I check Autotrader.com (primarily) and Cars.com. At least on those sites you aint gonna find wagons "all over" for $50k. Plus, my trade offer was just under $60k. The dealer is also offering 3.5% off MSRP on their car...add in TTL...and you get approximately a $75k delta over my w212. Which is the entire point of this thread. Just not sure if the w213 is worth the $$$...2014 they went AWD so I see the value in trading...the w213 seems like an incremental improvement, but was hoping some members that owned both would have a strong opinion one way or another...for all I know the w213 may be a bargain at $75k over my w212.

 

Sorry, but this input just needs some clarification:
Test Drive was around the block, or something more involved/race track?

I drove the W213 for over 3k miles, under different road/speed/weather conditions...
And my comparison is based on plain stock cars.
And finally, What is the value in apples to oranges comparisons to modified w212?

.

 

I love my S213 wagon.... but I wish it had the latest tech package (hi Mercedes)..... I’d wait for that upgrade.

 

No regrets!

 

My 212 is a daily driver and I never track it. Your opinion is better mine; my test drive simulated my use of the w213, daily driving and occasional spirited driving - max 20 min. It seemed the OP was at least somewhat concerned with daily driving and comfort. He didn't mention anything about racing the car on the track in the original post

I just offered an opinion based on a test drive; I imagine the OP is going to take all these opinions and not any single one into consideration ... before he makes his decision or test drives the car himself. Cheers and didn't mean to offend anyone and certainly not you

oh, what is the value of comparing a tuned 212? A tune would potentially optimize the OP's ongoing enjoyment with his current 212 and give him something further to consider when searching for "more performance" in the 213 and shelling out $75k

 

Just a quick update. Went ahead and made the switch from the 212 wagon to the 213 wagon. Minimal seat time so far...and still in the break-in period obviously...but my initial reaction/feeling is the 213 is far more of an upgrade over the 212 than I expected...and this is coming from a person who was driving to the dealership to finalize the paperwork thinking I was an idiot taking the depreciation hit on my wagon (less than 16,000 miles on it) and starting the depreciation clock over for what I considered a "minor" upgrade over my 212.

 

looks really good! can you elaborate on some of the biggest improvements you like?

would be curious to hear what you think they got wrong/could do better coming from somebody with the comparison fresh in their mind

 

Congrats!

 

Well, and I know this is probably universally accepted, the interior of the 213 is just far superior to that of the 212. I am not exactly an early adopter of new technology and part of me is sad to see the demise of analog gauges, but the dash--both in appearance & functionality--is really well done, IMO.

I pretty much always drove my 212 in S+ and, based on previous comments I read on this forum, was afraid the 213 was too firm/harsh to do the same. Again, not much seat time, but the 100ish mile drive up to Phoenix in my 212 was less comfortable than the ride back in the 213--both cars in S+ (yeah, I know that is not advised during break-in period). Highway driving so not a great 'test', but I was expecting a harsher ride. Only about 30ish miles around town so far and nothing yet makes me feel like the ride in the 213 is going to be any worse than the 212 in S+.

The transmission in the 213 is better and worse. Better in that my 212...despite being updated/reprogrammed by the dealer...often suffered from that dreaded lag leaving from a stop sign/light. So far the 213 is super smooth. Downside to the 213 tranny...again in S+...is that when you are coming to a complete stop at about the 5-10mph range when the transmission drops to first gear the ride is rather 'jerky.' I have been experimenting with my brake pressure and I do seem to be able to mitigate some of the 'jerkiness,' but haven't found the solution just yet. Could be nothing and with additional seat time I will figure out how to avoid the issue, but it is a change from my 212.

I am 6'5" and find that the cockpit feels roomier to me...which is somewhat odd as I typically have a bit of learning curve to find my best fit. I assume the 212/213 interiors have similar dimensions, but wherever they are different it seems to work for me.

The exhaust (performance exhaust option) is great coming from the stock 212 exhaust. My wife has a RRS SVR and that is one wicked exhaust from the factory. I will no longer need to hear the phrase "oh, I couldn't hear your car" as I drive home thankfully.

Just a few things off the top of my head...very pleased so far.

 

I have my individual setting set to S+/engine, Comfort/suspension, Powerful/exhaust, and ESP off. I live in the northeast and our roads are horrible so comfort is about as stiff as the suspension can tolerate on many local roads. My biggest issue with these settings is the stopping jerkinesss that you mention. The jerkiness in S+ coming to a stop results from the engine braking/compression that happens as the car drops down into 1st gear as it comes to a stop. I am not sure that braking technique helps very much. I will often pull the up paddle (i.e. shift up a gear) just before stopping (at 10 mph or so) and it seems to solve the problem. If I am in stop and go traffic I typically shift out of S+or individual to S and when I am on a smooth highway I typically just shift into S+..

 

i paddle shift every gear manually and haven’t noticed any jerkiness

i will say the rev hang in the auto modes like sport/sport + are laughably bad
might be better if i used it more through learned adaptations

not sure if “rowing your own” digital gears is an option for you :P