- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 12,751
- Location
- North Oxfordshire
- Car
- His - Denim Blue A220 AMG Line Premium / Hers - Obsidian Black R172 SLK55
In all honesty, the differences are unlikely to mean that there was something you couldn't live with on a pre-facelift car but depending upon your use pattern (and particularly if you do much night driving on unlit roads) they could be worth taking into account. I posted most of my thoughts on the differences in my Addicted thread, in post #35 and post #36 but after another couple of years I'd add in the Live Traffic on the sat-nav too which is much more responsive and reliable than the old TMC.
I'm sure you know this already, but if you're considering any W/S212 E63 then have a good look at the brakes which are ruinously expensive if it needs discs on the front. Think in terms of around a grand for front discs and pads if you get them from one of the eBay sellers, plus fitting unless you're going to do it yourself. MB dealer list price for the parts is north of £1,500(!) and there are no pattern discs available for the front. Rears are around £350 - £450 for discs and pads. Other pricey / time consuming maintenance includes plugs (4-year intervals), and the gearbox oil & filter every 37k. The AMG Locking Diff needs an oil change every two years (from memory). I've no idea at what sort of mileage the diff will need new clutch plates, but they are a wear part that people tend to forget. On the subject of the AMG diff, if fitted it's normal to feel the rear tyres scrubbing at low speed in tight turns such as pulling out of a junction.
Regarding price, as a marker my better spec'd 2012 pre-facelift PPP W212 (it really did have the Luxury Pack and the Driving Assistance Pack with Distronic+, plus the external carbon pack, yadda, yadda - it even had a factory-fit fire extinguisher!) with 45k miles on it in February 2016 attracted an offer of £27k from WBAC. I know the wagons fetch a modest premium, but I'm not sure a two year older wagon with nearly double the mileage, less spec and not in such good condition is worth just £3k less, so it's definitely worth some negotiation.
I'm sure you know this already, but if you're considering any W/S212 E63 then have a good look at the brakes which are ruinously expensive if it needs discs on the front. Think in terms of around a grand for front discs and pads if you get them from one of the eBay sellers, plus fitting unless you're going to do it yourself. MB dealer list price for the parts is north of £1,500(!) and there are no pattern discs available for the front. Rears are around £350 - £450 for discs and pads. Other pricey / time consuming maintenance includes plugs (4-year intervals), and the gearbox oil & filter every 37k. The AMG Locking Diff needs an oil change every two years (from memory). I've no idea at what sort of mileage the diff will need new clutch plates, but they are a wear part that people tend to forget. On the subject of the AMG diff, if fitted it's normal to feel the rear tyres scrubbing at low speed in tight turns such as pulling out of a junction.
Regarding price, as a marker my better spec'd 2012 pre-facelift PPP W212 (it really did have the Luxury Pack and the Driving Assistance Pack with Distronic+, plus the external carbon pack, yadda, yadda - it even had a factory-fit fire extinguisher!) with 45k miles on it in February 2016 attracted an offer of £27k from WBAC. I know the wagons fetch a modest premium, but I'm not sure a two year older wagon with nearly double the mileage, less spec and not in such good condition is worth just £3k less, so it's definitely worth some negotiation.