E63... tell me about options

[hufggfg]

Hi all,

After being away from Merc for about a year (sold a C63 Estate to fund another car purchase), we're in the process of moving out of the city, and I think an E63 Estate (W212 facelift) may be required...

I'm likely looking at either a 2013 or early 2014 car. Seems to me the cars are very well spec'd as standard, and from a brief look around I don't really need to worry about options.

While I think a car like this absolutely needs an LSD, very few seem to be spec'd with it, and it's a relatively easy fix to get a Quaife fitted, so I'm ignoring that.

Any options that I should really be aware of that are necessary/highly desired?

While I'd love an 'S' there seem to be barely any for sale other than nearly new, are they very rare, or just happen not to be many around at the moment?

Cheers!

 

[st13phil]

Hi there!

I've owned my pre-facelift W212 E63 Biturbo PPP car for almost two years and have just done a deal on an ex-dem 2015 facelift E63, so I have some experience of ownership and also what's about on the market at the moment.

The 'S' model is pretty rare, and if there are particular options you absolutely must have then finding one is even more difficult. In the end I decided to go for the standard car as I just couldn't find an 'S' model that ticked all my boxes. Like you, I will almost certainly go down the Quaife route to deal with the lack of LSD on my new purchase.

Options that I really wanted were Ventilated Dynamic Multi-Contour Seats, and the Driving Assistance Package. The seats because they are probably the most comfortable I've ever sat in, and the Driving Assistance toys primarily for the Distronic Plus which makes motorway driving much less stressful.

Regarding other options, I'd say that a Reversing Camera is helpful (but can easily be retrofitted) and the rest of them are primarily cosmetic: Carbon Fibre exterior / interior trim, etc.

One thing I would avoid if the car is to be a daily driver is the Designo Magno Paint as the maintenance routine is just too arduous. I did actually find an 'S' model that had the options I wanted, but turned it down primarily because of the Magno paint (and a dealer who wouldn't deal!).

Good luck with your search.

 

[developer]

There was an S Estate on MB Approved Used last week.

As Phil, seats and Driving Assist Package are useful. Watching your car steer itself is literally seconds of fun .

 

[developer]

and have just done a deal on an ex-dem 2015 facelift E63,

Er, hello .

 

[st13phil]

Er, hello .

Hehe

Thread here!

Picking it up this Friday morning and driving straight to COMAND.co.uk so Alfie can fit the Reversing Camera

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Guys- the automatic parking, is this function listed as 'parktronic'?

Just looking at a few cars and one of them has this listed in the features

 

[st13phil]

No, Parktronic is just the parking sensors; Option code 235 is the one that does the automatic parking and is described as "Active parking assist incl. PARKTRONIC".

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

No, Parktronic is just the parking sensors; Option code 235 is the one that does the automatic parking and is described as "Active parking assist incl. PARKTRONIC".

Oh I see I thought that's what they meant by DPC, just looking in general sales ads. Got my hopes up there!

 

[st13phil]

The only DPC I can think of is Damp Proof Course

Seriously though, I've found that dealer descriptions are often woefully incomplete or incorrect, so the only way to find out what the car really has on it is to ask them for a copy of the OASIS report which lists all equipment, both standard and fitted options.

As for the Automatic Parking feature, it became standard fitment at some time or another on some models so you just need to find out when!

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

The only DPC I can think of is Damp Proof Course Seriously though, I've found that dealer descriptions are often woefully incomplete or incorrect, so the only way to find out what the car really has on it is to ask them for a copy of the OASIS report which lists all equipment, both standard and fitted options. As for the Automatic Parking feature, it became standard fitment at some time or another on some models so you just need to find out when!

Haha yes that springs to mind. It's in my head from somewhere, probably from looking at facelift bumpers and the mentioning of doc or dcp holes for the sensors

Good idea on the oasis reports I'll look into them

Off topic but I just read your addicted to E63 thread, looking forward to the pics!

 

[hufggfg]

That's great, thanks for the info guys (particularly Phil).

Sounds like both the multi contour seats, and 360 reversing camera would be "nice to have"s, but not essential for me. Phil, with the aftermarket camera install, does the auto parking function then work ok? I've been absolutely ****e at parallel parking since I had a prelude with rear wheel steering (as least that's my excuse!).

I'm not really a fan of any driver aid type things (other than cruise control), I'm not going to stop manually checking my blind spot, so unless you get something particularly great with them, I probably see no need.

Will be looking for either one of the grey or blue colours, have always mostly hated white cars (some look ok to me, but its rare) and black on these things just makes it look like a hearse!


I'm now just trying to work out whether I should go pull the trigger on something in the high 30s, or whether they're going to do another dump in value as more details of the new version comes out this year... hmmm.....

 

[AMGeed]

Will be looking for either one of the grey or blue colours, have always mostly hated white cars (some look ok to me, but its rare) and black on these things just makes it look like a hearse!

Guess what colour Phil's new E63 is.

Any idea why Developers E63 is called a hearse

 

[hufggfg]

Haha, well I should say that I have previously owned both black and white cars myself, I'd just rather the E63 in something else.

 

[st13phil]

I'm having a camera retrofit done with all OEM parts, including the coding. This means it will be exactly the same as if it had been fitted at the factory.

There's a relative glut of ex-dem cars available at the moment as dealers are trying to clear out their W/S212 stock before the first of the new model arrives. As I understand it, we're unlikely to see the new E63 until either late this year or early next, so it will be a good couple of years before they're available on the used market in any number - which is when I'd expect the current cars to take another hit. The real killer with these cars is if you buy one from a dealer and then decide to move it on again within the first 12 months. If you keep it for two years or more then it doesn't hurt quite so much

Oh, and my outgoing E63 is black

 

[hufggfg]

Yep, totally see what you're saying. I do think though that as more details of new car come out you will naturally see the current model prices dip a bit. Certainly don't think it'll be drastic, I'm just trying to work out whether I should buy a car in the high 30s now, or whether low 30s will be possible in next 6 months or so...

I basically just hate depreciation, so am always trying to find cars where they're in the plateau stage.

 

[st13phil]

I do think though that as more details of new car come out you will naturally see the current model prices dip a bit.

The supply of new (or nearly new) W/S212's is about to dry up. Current prices of ex-dem cars that are under a year old are around 65% of the new list price, and it is this that has driven down the value of 2, 3, and 4-year old cars.

My logic is that in the absence of further sub-one year old cars, the prices are likely to be relatively stable for older used E63's for a while. And someone who's in the market for a new W/S213 E63 is unlikely to be looking at used W/S212's.

I could be wrong of course

 

[Gurd63]

I agree with phil on the multi contour seats, they're ace!

 

[c_200k]

iirc my E63 was pretty well specced it was loaded with loads of extras just like Phils out going E63 is. I loved that car but just couldnt get on with the seats.

Also as Phil said dont buy for 6 months then sell, I did

Otherwise I love distronic I always try and get the most specced car I can, even if I never use any feature.

 

[st13phil]

Otherwise I love distronic I always try and get the most specced car I can, even if I never use any feature.

Distronic is one of those options you don't know you "need" until you've had it on a car. It makes cruise so much easier to use on our relatively congested motorways and on so many other roads too. The autonomous braking adds another worthwhile layer of safety too. After you've lived with it going back to a basic cruise control is like stepping back to the dark ages.

Good point about getting the best spec you can for your money too. Aside from the fact that lots of the toys are fun to have, when resale time comes if all other things are equal the best spec'd car is always easiest to sell as it will have the "must have" option(s) that a broader spectrum of buyers are looking for. While no E63 could be described as "poverty spec", the ones with no options at all tend to stick to the forecourt longer than they otherwise might.