TrueSpirit
Active Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2021
- Messages
- 734
- Location
- surrey
- Car
- W212 6.2l.e63, E93 M3, prev w212 e63s, w211 e63, s205 C63s, GLA45,.E46M3, E64645c1, 330ci etc
S213 E63S EARLY THOUGHTS
having spent quite a few years (since early 2021) out of the more modern end of mercs 2016+ newer models, I forgot about the “modern” comforts such as an electronic parking brake, digital displays , decent parking sensors Etc , manual mode in any drive mode, performance exhaust buttons, transmission temperature displays , heads up displays , built in android auto, mercedes me app functionality , speed limit detection etc etc
Ignoring the potential downsides of such overwhelming technology whose longevity is unknown and the sort of repair bills to expect when things go wrong, theres at least in the interim , immense upsides. This is my first 213 E class though I've been in a few before, but never had my name stamped on the V5C. Prior to this I had a w211 e63 with great options, a 2015 w212 S version E63 with very few options and a w212 e63 6.2l with a huge options list. i havent had the chance to experience the E55 and E53. Both look like great cars in their own right , the legendary M113k and the very modern 53 facelift looks a great car overall.
Focusing on a few things I like:
640 litre boot is immense,it's why I parted with my superb 6.2l. Though i cant seem to find places to hang my shopping bags too so i'll look to get a box of some sort. This is class leading estate realestate, the RS6 simply isnt close to this.
Manual mode is available for any engine mode by pressing a button unlike the 212.
Loud exhaust note is available in any drive mode (huge plus)
The distronic plus really is excellent
works better than in my 2018 c63s and also the w212 prefacelift (no surprise there ) i use it all the time on the motorway and A roads.
The digital displays are fantastic (though android auto only uses up around 2/3rds of the screen real estate )
The angry growly exhaust note is a real win. The note is very different to the c63s i had, certainly vs the w211 and 6.2 and 5.5 w212 models. The key adjective is growl. It's full of character and while you don't feel the depth of sound from that 6.2 (stock) , it's damn good. I'm still Learning how to play the note to the fullest on drives but I'm quickly finding that retracting the boot load lip (significant increase in sound in the cabin doing this ) comfort mode, exhaust flaps open, and slowly rev between 2.5k to 3k is music to my ears. Some neat vibrations can be experienced too from engine - note the steering wheel and chassis communicates all road data , bumps will be through noise, and the steering wheel picks up a lot of road bumps etc.
Ride quality is decent with sports seats (sports seats are mandatory if you want distronic , no bucket seats if you want distronic) , distronic > bucket seats for me. Mine doesnt have dynamic seats which is a bit meh. The HUD is excellent though I'm not used to it anymore and Keep looking at the instrument cluster.
I like that i can control android auto music from the instrument cluster.
Ofcourse I need to comment on the performance, and plan to stick the car on a dyno but having done a couple of drags without launch control) in wet and cold conditions on terrible pirellis and its doing 60mph in less than 4 seconds. Absolutely ridiculous. Looking at online dyno runs people are getting 560+ wheel horsepower. I thought my 535ish WHP 5.5l e63 was fast and powerful but this newer one is in a completely different bracket. It left me feeling a bit intoxicated from the crazy G force the first few tjmes i ragged it around. Yes it was elating, so thats great.
The interior looks fantastic and the seats are very cool with a bit of alcantara everywhere. Steering wheel controls are comprehensive. in the dark each button is beautifully illuminated.
It goes sideways very easiky in sport handling.
The drivers seat area is huge, theres so much space in the cabin
Kids love the ridiculous LED strip colour options, I get to distract them by them choosing a shade.
Some things I am not a huge fan of:
I can't see the manual mode, sport handling etc buttons on the left side of the touchpad / jogwheel thing at all, I didn't have this problem in the C class. Must be my seating position.
The steering wheel touch button on the left side is very confusing. I keep using it when trying to scroll through the left screen on the instrument cluster screen if that makes sense.
Too much pace, the car is just too fast
Those pirelli tyres are death traps. I can not believe how woeful those tyres are. I get constant potentially dangerous traction loss and can't wait to replace them. They're shockingly bad.
Terrible wired android auto charging power whereby the USB power output isn't enough to charge the phone sufficiently while android auto is running.
I might be very old fashioned to miss not having a CD player !
The tyre skipping does take the fun away from coming Out of junctions, that used to be my main source Of entertainment on my regular commutes.
The heavy steering. It's heavier than the NA cars I've owned. I get it's powering the wheels and so they'll want to straighten under throttle, it's only something to get used to and not a major thing.
The visibility with all the thick pillars. Trying to eliminate my near side rear blind spot requires me to lean all the way forward to view the diagonal from my window. I'll try and get my seating position changed. The good news is the car has some cool sensors which warns you at least on the motorway / dual carriageways so this is mainly at some extreme angled junctions around where I live and also my m3 spoils me a bit as it has pillarless side windows.
The big compromise I had to make was I wanted different options on the car but wanted exhaust loudness, distronic, HUD so had to settle on a prefacelift 2018. Had been watching the market for a long while and its a pity the facelifts generally seem better specced with distronic etc but at the same time having an OPF etc so i don't have dynamic seats or some other very useful options but the low mileage (25k miles) and 4 year warranty i think sealed the deal on a car i probably wouldn't have bought otherwise.
having spent quite a few years (since early 2021) out of the more modern end of mercs 2016+ newer models, I forgot about the “modern” comforts such as an electronic parking brake, digital displays , decent parking sensors Etc , manual mode in any drive mode, performance exhaust buttons, transmission temperature displays , heads up displays , built in android auto, mercedes me app functionality , speed limit detection etc etc
Ignoring the potential downsides of such overwhelming technology whose longevity is unknown and the sort of repair bills to expect when things go wrong, theres at least in the interim , immense upsides. This is my first 213 E class though I've been in a few before, but never had my name stamped on the V5C. Prior to this I had a w211 e63 with great options, a 2015 w212 S version E63 with very few options and a w212 e63 6.2l with a huge options list. i havent had the chance to experience the E55 and E53. Both look like great cars in their own right , the legendary M113k and the very modern 53 facelift looks a great car overall.
Focusing on a few things I like:
640 litre boot is immense,it's why I parted with my superb 6.2l. Though i cant seem to find places to hang my shopping bags too so i'll look to get a box of some sort. This is class leading estate realestate, the RS6 simply isnt close to this.
Manual mode is available for any engine mode by pressing a button unlike the 212.
Loud exhaust note is available in any drive mode (huge plus)
The distronic plus really is excellent
works better than in my 2018 c63s and also the w212 prefacelift (no surprise there ) i use it all the time on the motorway and A roads.The digital displays are fantastic (though android auto only uses up around 2/3rds of the screen real estate )
The angry growly exhaust note is a real win. The note is very different to the c63s i had, certainly vs the w211 and 6.2 and 5.5 w212 models. The key adjective is growl. It's full of character and while you don't feel the depth of sound from that 6.2 (stock) , it's damn good. I'm still Learning how to play the note to the fullest on drives but I'm quickly finding that retracting the boot load lip (significant increase in sound in the cabin doing this ) comfort mode, exhaust flaps open, and slowly rev between 2.5k to 3k is music to my ears. Some neat vibrations can be experienced too from engine - note the steering wheel and chassis communicates all road data , bumps will be through noise, and the steering wheel picks up a lot of road bumps etc.
Ride quality is decent with sports seats (sports seats are mandatory if you want distronic , no bucket seats if you want distronic) , distronic > bucket seats for me. Mine doesnt have dynamic seats which is a bit meh. The HUD is excellent though I'm not used to it anymore and Keep looking at the instrument cluster.
I like that i can control android auto music from the instrument cluster.
Ofcourse I need to comment on the performance, and plan to stick the car on a dyno but having done a couple of drags without launch control) in wet and cold conditions on terrible pirellis and its doing 60mph in less than 4 seconds. Absolutely ridiculous. Looking at online dyno runs people are getting 560+ wheel horsepower. I thought my 535ish WHP 5.5l e63 was fast and powerful but this newer one is in a completely different bracket. It left me feeling a bit intoxicated from the crazy G force the first few tjmes i ragged it around. Yes it was elating, so thats great.
The interior looks fantastic and the seats are very cool with a bit of alcantara everywhere. Steering wheel controls are comprehensive. in the dark each button is beautifully illuminated.
It goes sideways very easiky in sport handling.
The drivers seat area is huge, theres so much space in the cabin
Kids love the ridiculous LED strip colour options, I get to distract them by them choosing a shade.
Some things I am not a huge fan of:
I can't see the manual mode, sport handling etc buttons on the left side of the touchpad / jogwheel thing at all, I didn't have this problem in the C class. Must be my seating position.
The steering wheel touch button on the left side is very confusing. I keep using it when trying to scroll through the left screen on the instrument cluster screen if that makes sense.
Too much pace, the car is just too fast
Those pirelli tyres are death traps. I can not believe how woeful those tyres are. I get constant potentially dangerous traction loss and can't wait to replace them. They're shockingly bad.
Terrible wired android auto charging power whereby the USB power output isn't enough to charge the phone sufficiently while android auto is running.
I might be very old fashioned to miss not having a CD player !
The tyre skipping does take the fun away from coming Out of junctions, that used to be my main source Of entertainment on my regular commutes.
The heavy steering. It's heavier than the NA cars I've owned. I get it's powering the wheels and so they'll want to straighten under throttle, it's only something to get used to and not a major thing.
The visibility with all the thick pillars. Trying to eliminate my near side rear blind spot requires me to lean all the way forward to view the diagonal from my window. I'll try and get my seating position changed. The good news is the car has some cool sensors which warns you at least on the motorway / dual carriageways so this is mainly at some extreme angled junctions around where I live and also my m3 spoils me a bit as it has pillarless side windows.
The big compromise I had to make was I wanted different options on the car but wanted exhaust loudness, distronic, HUD so had to settle on a prefacelift 2018. Had been watching the market for a long while and its a pity the facelifts generally seem better specced with distronic etc but at the same time having an OPF etc so i don't have dynamic seats or some other very useful options but the low mileage (25k miles) and 4 year warranty i think sealed the deal on a car i probably wouldn't have bought otherwise.
