Feedback on W212 E63 (M157) vs E55 M113K?

[Sam87]

I had heard they are a bit diesely alright.
Mine is silver with the blue-black two tone seats, which I've recently refreshed. It has a nice spec (pano roof and dynamic seats), but probbaly not what you're after if you're looking for a designo one!
2004, 124k miles, Wavetrac LSD, gearbox TCU upgrade (MK Ultra, SLR tune or something like that), g-paddles. No engine mods.
It could do with a bit of cosmetic upkeep, but is in great mechanical shape, and doesn't have much rust.
I will put up a for sale ad when I can (post count). Might say hello to a few new members lol.

If you have some pic's and a price in mind, please pm me. I could be interested?

 

[Bootdog]

The transmission does shift very fast in sport plus and manual. On my prefacelift M156 it is almost instantaneous but less refined and more jerry than the facelift M156 which is super smooth in any mode.

Thanks, very detailed feedback there. The comment I got was specific to when the W212 was moving off from a standstill, but I think the gearbox subsequently turned out to have a fault.

 

[Bootdog]

Others have already nailed it. The 212 M157 is without doubt the best all rounder I've ever owned, and is a real sweet spot in my opinion. The engine is absolutely epic with a map - how many ICE cars can give >1,000nM torque? You will certainly not be bored/underwhelmed, it's supercar quick once rolling and hilarious fun.
Agree with @AMGeed re. Resonator delete.

Re. Your gearbox comment, I've personally never understood the criticism. I think the MCT is really very good, way better than previous MB boxes. There is a minor delay with the paddles, but you very quickly get used to that. Coming from the 5 speed, there's no comparison.

There's enough tech to do most things modern owners want without being OTT techy.

Based on all the feedback, I think the underwhelming feeling I got was because I dialled everything down during the test drive as I was focussed on ride quality (it being a family wagon and all that).

 

[Rich764089]

Based on all the feedback, I think the underwhelming feeling I got was because I dialled everything down during the test drive as I was focussed on ride quality (it being a family wagon and all that).

I know when I test drove mine I was fairly tentative. You need to familiarise yourself first to really use the potential.

 

[Rich764089]

Thanks, very detailed feedback there. The comment I got was specific to when the W212 was moving off from a standstill, but I think the gearbox subsequently turned out to have a fault.

It can jerk when moving into gear at a standstill when on a slope (normal; I stand to be corrected), but otherwise shouldn't.

 

[Bootdog]

I know when I test drove mine I was fairly tentative. You need to familiarise yourself first to really use the potential.

100%

 

[Bootdog]

If you have some pic's and a price in mind, please pm me. I could be interested?

Sorry, I can't PM as I'm still a noob here (<30 posts), but I've added some recent pictures to my (old) new member thread from way back when I signed up first : E55 W211 ex VX220/TT/Seat/BMWs | New member introductions
Will do a proper for sale ad, I think it is a good one and should be of interest to anyone looking for one of these.
I am only changing as I want to get an estate (we got a Cavapoo which turned out to be a giant and twice the size he should be ... he is a bit too big for me to be comfortable driving him around on the back seat)

 

[Bootdog]

Just to round this off this chat, decision made, so I can break cover on this now:

2003 E55 wagon, 73k miles, has a few niggles here and there, but overall condition is fantastic.
It came with the original alloys in great shape, but needed rear tyres, so I popped on a spare set of wheels with matched tyres all round.

 

[Bootdog]

Thanks for all the feedback on the W212, it was a very close call between the 2 models.
In the end, having an E55 (saloon) already swayed it for me, I just really like how they drive, and I wouldn't be looking at all if I had an estate instead of a saloon. My use case is also mainly pottering around London, with the odd motorway run a few times a year. In day to day driving, I rarely experience anything close to a decent driving road, so handling prowess is very low down the priority list. Ditto more bhp.
I went to view as many as I could find across England and Republic of Ireland (including someone I approached to see if he would sell me his car, it wasn't for sale) : none of them actually wanted or needed to sell - meaning high prices for what I considered a step down in condition from my saloon.
I wasn't going to view the one I ended up buying as it had 20 years of main dealer service history! (I was after a specialist service history and a more involved owner - I think that makes sense on a 20+ year old car). But after an inspection showed a spectacular lack of rust underneath, I was able to get a deal done.
- so there's a little insight into the man maths than ends up in a 23 year old V8 estate

 

[jonboyE63]

Nice job John, looks good & exactly what you really wanted
Did you have to travel far..??

 

[Bootdog]

It was the closest by far (25 mins away), furthest was an 8h round trip from Dublin to Cork in Ireland. There are more for sale at the moment (3 or 4) than I spotted during the past year.
Just to add, it was your own car that prompted me to start this thread, there's a good chance that I'd have bought it if the E55 wagon fell through.

 

[Rich764089]

Congratulations, awesome car - enjoy!
And thanks for the update

 

[badgx]

Congratulations Looks a bit like my S211

 

[E55BOF]

An S211 in Brilliant Silver is the best-looking estate Mercedes have ever made.

 

[Skd884]

Just to round this off this chat, decision made, so I can break cover on this now:
View attachment 166376
2003 E55 wagon, 73k miles, has a few niggles here and there, but overall condition is fantastic.
It came with the original alloys in great shape, but needed rear tyres, so I popped on a spare set of wheels with matched tyres all round.

Congrats and a far better car than any m157

 

[E55BOF]

Congrats and a far better car than any m157

Maybe; depends what you want. I know which I'd have...

 

[jonboyE63]

Maybe; depends what you want. I know which I'd have...

Me too

 

[TrueSpirit]

An S211 in Brilliant Silver is the best-looking estate Mercedes have ever made.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think this is prettier

 

[Alps]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think this is prettier

View attachment 167221

will be filthy after one drive in the rain , the silver one will still look clean!

 

[AMGeed]

Congrats and a far better car than any m157

It's not Slim. I've had both.