E43 AMG Estate Ride & Comfort

[rockits]

Well I got myself back into an AMG again October last year. Had a chance to live with the car for a bit and there is so much to like about it but just not getting on with the ride. I've been out of AMG's for a few years after an E55K estates being my last but they seem to have shifted the bias a little. So from the E55K estate being a very comfortable car that was also good to hustle along too to my E43 Estate that is much more of a focussed more drivers car.

I thought it might be the optional 20" alloys and very low profile tyres that were not helping the ride quality. However, I have changed the 20" alloys to the stock 19" alloys with slightly higher sidewalls and it has helped but not really silly noticeably. It is a cracking drivers car and very focussed to give a great handling, sharp and enjoyable car to drive. Problem is that I was looking for something more comfortable that was still interesting to drive when desired. I think I might have bought the wrong car and maybe a non-AMG E Class Estate might have been better for my desires with a softer less driver focussed bias.

I fear I might have bite the bullet and sell it to replace with something a little softer edged. Not sure if I'm getting old but just wanted something more comfortable most of the time and not something so focussed. Don't get me wrong the E43 AMG is a great car that does it does very well. Just wasn't expecting it to be so driver focussed and so sharp with the harder edge it seems to have.

I'm never one to chop and change cars too much after only a few months as normally keep my cars a fair bit. Just not sure I can concede this one and think I'm going to have to sell it. I suspect I'll drop a chunk of cash on it too which is annoying as just replaced the alloys, new front tyres and new parking sensor that was intermittently failing.

Has anyone experienced the same or has any thoughts please?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

You’re not alone: this is a much repeated theme amongst AMG and BMW M series drivers who try to use their vehicles for everything. These set ups are great for high speed con brio performance but are compromised in daily use.

The usual workaround is to buy a cheaper, smaller, runaround for daily use: the ubiquitous Golf / A class, or even a convertible. Could that be a solution for you?

 

[rockits]

You’re not alone: this is a much repeated theme amongst AMG and BMW M series drivers who try to use their vehicles for everything. These set ups are great for high speed con brio performance but are compromised in daily use.

The usual workaround is to buy a cheaper, smaller, runaround for daily use: the ubiquitous Golf / A class, or even a convertible. Could that be a solution for you?

It does seem this way that two into one doesn't fit so well. I just thought with the modern adaptive air suspension setups that two into one would fit better but it seems not so much for my needs. I'm looking for something 60-70% comfort ideally.

I always found the 211 E55K Estate to be more comfortable biased but still interesting to drive so maybe 60-70% comfort and 30-40% sporty to drive. Whereas the E43 flips it the other way so maybe biased 60-70% sporty and 30-40% comfort. I did think about an E33k Estate again but just wanted something a little newer.

Seems MB have changed the focus a little over the last few years. It is always hard to get to know this though after only a short test drive. You need to live with the car a little longer to get to know it more.

The E43 ticks so many boxes and is a great achievement for MB as it is a really good drivers car. Just that a more comfy ride bias isn't one of them IMHO. I must be getting old!

 

[Alps]

The AMGs, especially the E class has got more driver focussed over the years, the W211 was the most comfy IMO, then the w212 got harder and the w213 being the hardest of them all ride quality wise.

maybe another e55 for you? although a good one will be hard to find.

 

[rockits]

The AMGs, especially the E class has got more driver focussed over the years, the W211 was the most comfy IMO, then the w212 got harder and the w213 being the hardest of them all ride quality wise.

maybe another e55 for you? although a good one will be hard to find.

Yes, sure seems that way which I never expected. I did consider another E55K but really wanted something a little newer really. Always loved the way they drove. Nice and relaxed with the SC motor and slushbox. With the stock 18" alloys and suspension setup it was spot on for me.

I thought the E43 might be a decent middle ground and less focussed than the more focussed E63 but it seems not.

It did come with the optional 20" alloys and 30/35 series tyres and I have dropped them down to the stock E43 19" alloys with 35/40 series tyres. I thought that might do the trick and it has helped but negligible really. Just seems the chassis is set up as more driver focussed. The Audi S6 Avant I drove before I bought the E43 was better biased to comfort in comfort mode but I didn't like the S-Tronic gearbox.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It's amazing how much the game has changed these last three decades.
We take for granted performance saloon performance that would have been 911 turbo territory in 1992.

And it's about to change again, as AMG's engine expertise gets thrown in the bin to replaced by these lovely new silent motors being designed in Oxford.

No doubt there's a market for them. I guess.

My point still: is it better to have two or three, than one that "tries" to do it all ?

The more you have, the less important it is that they be brand new or work perfectly all the time.

 

[Londonscottish]

Well I got myself back into an AMG again October last year. Had a chance to live with the car for a bit and there is so much to like about it but just not getting on with the ride. I've been out of AMG's for a few years after an E55K estates being my last but they seem to have shifted the bias a little. So from the E55K estate being a very comfortable car that was also good to hustle along too to my E43 Estate that is much more of a focussed more drivers car.

I thought it might be the optional 20" alloys and very low profile tyres that were not helping the ride quality. However, I have changed the 20" alloys to the stock 19" alloys with slightly higher sidewalls and it has helped but not really silly noticeably. It is a cracking drivers car and very focussed to give a great handling, sharp and enjoyable car to drive. Problem is that I was looking for something more comfortable that was still interesting to drive when desired. I think I might have bought the wrong car and maybe a non-AMG E Class Estate might have been better for my desires with a softer less driver focussed bias.

I fear I might have bite the bullet and sell it to replace with something a little softer edged. Not sure if I'm getting old but just wanted something more comfortable most of the time and not something so focussed. Don't get me wrong the E43 AMG is a great car that does it does very well. Just wasn't expecting it to be so driver focussed and so sharp with the harder edge it seems to have.

I'm never one to chop and change cars too much after only a few months as normally keep my cars a fair bit. Just not sure I can concede this one and think I'm going to have to sell it. I suspect I'll drop a chunk of cash on it too which is annoying as just replaced the alloys, new front tyres and new parking sensor that was intermittently failing.

Has anyone experienced the same or has any thoughts please?

That's really interesting as (when looking at the figures) the E43 is the natural replacement for my 212 E500.

Apparently not.

One of things I love about the 500 is the ride and that's a key consideration in what I get next. These days I'm often in the back of an Uber and, from what I can tell ride quality, has almost completely ceased to exist as an engineering priority for just about any manufacturer over the last decade (although non-AMG E Classes are still pretty silky in that regard).

Anyway, sod that.

My current plan is get my 212's subframe inspected (as that's the only thing I'm vaguely concerned about) and carry on with it for a while longer.

When I retire I really fancy getting a CL55 as a toy. That epic engine in a 211-based Airmatic-suspended chassis. Smooth as silk when required, Led Zep turned up to 11 when not. Great combo.

 

[rockits]

It's amazing how much the game has changed these last three decades.
We take for granted performance saloon performance that would have been 911 turbo territory in 1992.

And it's about to change again, as AMG's engine expertise gets thrown in the bin to replaced by these lovely new silent motors being designed in Oxford.

No doubt there's a market for them. I guess.

My point still: is it better to have two or three, than one that "tries" to do it all ?

The more you have, the less important it is that they be brand new or work perfectly all the time.

It has shifted a lot but way beyond what I and most seem to need in a car. Most are way to powerful and faster than is needed or is practical on most roads at most times. The E43 is way quicker than I need but I liked the interior, the seats, the dashboard, the infotainment, the understated look of the car so it has so many pluses. So much to really like but I just need a bit more compliance in the ride.

I have always had two or three cars to better suit the requirements and was trying to avoid that. It got silly a few years back as had 14 cars! I've scaled back now for various reasons so have 7 currently. I think 5 or 6 would work just trying to nail the work/daily for a few years.

I had a MK1 XC90 4.4 V8 for a few years that was great. Then a 2018 Outlander PHEV that was great in many ways but I conceded and tolerated for 3 years. I despise CVT gearboxes!! It had to go in the end. I've had E39 Touring's also great like the E55K but was trying to keep a bit newer.

Going to look at a MK2 XC90 and Q7/SQ7 I think.

If anyone wants a cheap E43 AMG Estate that is maybe younger, wants a more focussed drivers car or less worried about ultimate ride comfort then let me know Maybe a swap deal could be possible with something viable.

 

[rockits]

That's really interesting as (when looking at the figures) the E43 is the natural replacement for my 212 E500.

Apparently not.

One of things I love about the 500 is the ride and that's a key consideration in what I get next. These days I'm often in the back of an Uber and, from what I can tell ride quality, has almost completely ceased to exist as an engineering priority for just about any manufacturer over the last decade (although non-AMG E Classes are still pretty silky in that regard).

Anyway, sod that.

My current plan is get my 212's subframe inspected (as that's the only thing I'm vaguely concerned about) and carry on with it for a while longer.

When I retire I really fancy getting a CL55 as a toy. That epic engine in a 211-based Airmatic-suspended chassis. Smooth as silk when required, Led Zep turned up to 11 when not. Great combo.

It might just be me but I don't think so. Coming from a 212 E500 I think you would notice the difference. The E43 has amazing grip and handling also the steering is very un MB like to me! In a very good way. It just does so much so well if you are looking for something that the E43 offers. I can't fault the E43 in what it does so well. Maybe I should sit on inch layer of foam or bubble wrap

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It might just be me but I don't think so. Coming from a 212 E500 I think you would notice the difference. The E43 has amazing grip and handling also the steering is very un MB like to me! In a very good way. It just does so much so well if you are looking for something that the E43 offers. I can't fault the E43 in what it does so well. Maybe I should sit on inch layer of foam or bubble wrap

Is it really that stiff that you’d let it go cheaply after having it such a short amount of time? If it’s as good as you say in every other respect, could you not just accept the tide quality as being one compromise?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

And the roads. Oh Lawks, the roads. Just back from deepest Surrey this afternoon and the potholes are gobsmacking.

No wonder people are moving to SUV's with thick rubber.

It's almost as if people have been driving around this winter in two tonne EV's and SUV's

 

[rockits]

Is it really that stiff that you’d let it go cheaply after having it such a short amount of time? If it’s as good as you say in every other respect, could you not just accept the tide quality as being one compromise?

Well to me it feels pretty stiff and more than I expected. I guess the shocking roads don't help and we are a little rural so the lanes around us a far from perfect. You seem to notice it a lot less in different cars but certainly the new cars all suffer in this regard. My Jaguar XJL Supersport I sold recently seemed to get the balance much better.

I normally keep my cars for a few years and am not one to chop and change but I know when I am not going to be happy with something. If I wanted and would use/appreciate the driver focussed aspect of the E43 I certainly would forgive the ride. It is that good in those areas. On the test drive for 20 mins it didn't seem so bad but maybe the roads were better there or 20 mins is just not enough time to get to know it enough. The 19's with 5 series higher tyres are better but maybe only 10-20% better so doesn't get it to where I would like it ideally.

Maybe turning 50 doesn't help. I also have tinnitus, hyperacusis and certainly noise sensitivity has become a bigger problem for me than it ever was. So clearly this doesn't help either.

 

[rockits]

And the roads. Oh Lawks, the roads. Just back from deepest Surrey this afternoon and the potholes are gobsmacking.

No wonder people are moving to SUV's with thick rubber.

It's almost as if people have been driving around this winter in two tonne EV's and SUV's

Agreed. The modern move to larger alloys and lower profile tyres with worsening roads isn't the best combo. With heavier cars and lardy EV's it seems it is only exacerbating the issue further.

 

[SL03WLY]

I saw this video on the new Citroen and its interesting to see about their new suspension setup which is a shock within a shock absorber. Apparently they also supply Rolls Royce:

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Not sure if you want to go from a merc into a Citroen but it is a plugin hybrid.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I saw this video on the new Citroen and its interesting to see about their new suspension setup which is a shock within a shock absorber. Apparently they also supply Rolls Royce:

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Not sure if you want to go from a merc into a Citroen but it is a plugin hybrid.

Which reminds we that the legendary suspension on the RR Shadow and BZmW E34 5 Touring was a simplified variation on the Citroen hydropneumatic suspension.

The predecessor of MB’s ABC ….,

 

[fabes]

At the moment, with 19s and 35/30 profile tyres, my eyes are on stalks as the cold and rain has excavated more ground than a classfull of archeology students on speed

It is a more relaxing drive in the Xtrail with it's 55 profile 18s

Which is a sad state of affairs and why my next car will be more sensible in the wheel dept.

However (really) good I think mine looks today.....

 

[jimjamiejames]

I'm surprised you find the e43 so stiff. Everything I've read about it says they are more compliant then the full fat AMG and strike a decent balance. I thought it was air all round too so you'd hope for a good ride. I've not driven one but considered then as a more family friendly option before getting the e63

This might be a silly question but are you using the softest damper setting, sure you are (probably defaults to softest on start I guess) but ya never know

 

[badgx]

There are lots of car community who retrofit back to air suspension, very popular have seen set up from classic to new skool Mercs. Suspension kits are very expensive though but you do benefit from a comfier ride to a track set up from a touch of a button. The Maserati guy in this video explains a bit about Airlift Performance. I think they actually sell bolt on kits for w204 and w213

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[TeddyRuxpin]

Are you running runflats?

 

[HB]

Are you running runflats?

The AMG cars don’t come with runflats but, some owners may have fitted them …..