Has anyone owned an M5 and an E63 AMG?

[James Rothwell]

I realise this is probably a stupid question in a Mercedes forum but hopefully there is someone out there who isn't a total fanboy of Mercedes and has owned or at least driven often an E60 and a 2007-2009 E63 AMG who can help me out. I need to buy a new car and I really fancy something saloon/sedan and fast, but also somewhat comfortable so I can drive it for hours at a time.

Initially I thought that I wanted an E60 M5 (2007/2008) as I've been in a couple and my friend has an M6 that I love and another friend runs a BMW specialist workshop so I thought that makes sense.

I also considered an Audi S8 (2008/2009) but I've had an older S8 and because of the quattro system it never really felt fun to drive nor did it feel especially fast but perhaps the newer V10 is a totally different machine to my older 360bhp V8 S8. I also did think of an S6 but they don't really sell well here so trying to find one would be impossible.

I thought of a Porsche Cayenne Turbo but I don't think that's such a good idea, besides all the mums drive their kids to school in it and I don't want a school bus.

So after exhausting all the models I could possible think of that I might like, I ended back at Mercedes. Which I originally discounted because I've had so many. But then I realised that I've only had so many of them because I really like them.



So I've done some research and figured out that an E63 would be fantastic for me, I've learnt that the 2009 models have a better comand system and the earlier ones. I can afford it, although a 2009 compared to a 2007 would mean an extra year of finance, is it worth it? I suppose it's a 2 year newer car and the kilometres are about half so maybe it is.

But at the back of my mind I still think I want an M5...
Has anyone had or driven both E63 AMG and E60 M5 enough to form an opinion on both cars?

I'm not that bothered that the M5 is a better drivers car and faster through the corners as I'm well aware that both cars are faster than my ability to drive them to the limit anyway, so I'd never discover the difference on a track. I do intend to take them on a couple of track days a year but I won't be driving them to the limit, I'd mostly use them for commuting to work on smooth highways and taking long drives at weekends.

Also does the E63 AMG have any problems operating in hot climates? I haven't seen many here and I don't know anyone here that has one to ask their opinion.

Sorry for the excruciatingly long post by the way!

 

[d w124]

Can`t help you James but good to see you on the forum

 

[flango]

As a weekend job I used to work for BMW to demo the M5 on track for prospective clients, the cars they also got to drive and compared against were the E63 Audi S8 and Lexus

So I can tell you exactly how the M5 fairs against the E63 but it won't make good reading for the E63

I'll post back more detail later as currently swamped out at work this morning.

 

[redbaron]

Driven both but not owned..

The E63 w212 is the easier / nicer / better car to use daily.

The E60 M5 is the one that will give that special moment on the back roads / circuit.

Both are great cars. One is sublime at 9 or 10/10ths the is better at 1 -8/10ths...

How are you going to use it?

 

[redbaron]

Just re-read your post and you are talking W211... which is a hands down win for the M5..

 

[Biglips]

Have you considered a Maserati? Now reputed to have german build quality plus you would get a real sense of occasion every time you used it.

 

[James Rothwell]

Can`t help you James but good to see you on the forum

Thank you, I haven't been on here for a while. When I got rid of my W220 I ended up in a Landcruiser for a bit and then an Audi S8 and then a Discovery. But since I've moved from UK to Dubai I've been without a car for a while whilst I have been waiting for a job and I really miss having a car, I can't believe how many expats live here without a car.

As a weekend job I used to work for BMW to demo the M5 on track for prospective clients, the cars they also got to drive and compared against were the E63 Audi S8 and Lexus

So I can tell you exactly how the M5 fairs against the E63 but it won't make good reading for the E63

I'll post back more detail later as currently swamped out at work this morning.

Perfect! I look forward to it.

Driven both but not owned..

The E63 w212 is the easier / nicer / better car to use daily.

The E60 M5 is the one that will give that special moment on the back roads / circuit.

Both are great cars. One is sublime at 9 or 10/10ths the is better at 1 -8/10ths...

How are you going to use it?

I don't intend to use it flat out all the time. The roads are busy here so I'd rather a engine with a lot of low down torque for quick acceleration between 60-100kph which I think the AMG is better at? I realise the M5 would pull away from the AMG above 250kph.

Have you considered a Maserati? Now reputed to have german build quality plus you would get a real sense of occasion every time you used it.

I didn't consider a Maserati actaully, I could get a quattroporte about a 2007 but they are not very popular here at all, their AC can't keep up with the heat in the Summer. Plus the dealer network here is pretty useless. Good suggestion though, I really thought I have covered everything.


There is one other factor that is somewhat important I guess, my job here is actually working for Mercedes Dubai. Which would mean I could get starts slightly easier perhaps than a normal customer. The problem is I want to keep whatever I get for 2 years at least and I think that I might get bored of it if I'm working with these cars everyday.

Thanks for your posts guys, I remember why now I like to frequent this forum.

 

[John]

Have you tried either of them yet?

Admittedly, before I decided on an W211 E55, I hadn't driven both cars (and I could have done because the dealer who sold me my E55 had a 2006 M5).

The E55K was the car my heart wanted and I drove one and bought one. M5 didn't really get considered seriously...

At least petrol is cheap out there!

 

[James Rothwell]

No I haven't driven either of them yet but I've spent a fairly long time now as a passenger in the M6 to get a feel for it.

I've never even been in a 63 AMG but I have driven an SL and E 55AMG and I like the sound and the torque. I shall no doubt drive one before I decide, but you can't really tell much from a test drive about how life will be with a car.

I just watched this Top Gear - Mercedes E63 AMG vs. BMW M5 - YouTube and it's interesting.

Yes, the cheap petrol is great. Fuel consumption is literally of no concern here at all.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I've driven both, the M5 on numerous occasions. I've also had the 'pleasure' of the M6 for a three hundred mile round trip.

If you like the M6, you'll love the M5; to me it was just so complete and probably the best car I've ever had the pleasure of driving.

The M6 just didn't feel quite right to me, I couldn't get comfy and it felt like a bigger car than it actually is, whereas the M5 'felt' as though it was connected to my brain somehow (does that make sense?) I couldn't believe that the M6 was actually £9k more expensive to buy when new.

Having said all that, the gearbox & clutch went pop twice, about 15k miles apart and in the end it got traded in.

I'm sure you'll get more in depth help from W211 E63 owners, because I only did about one hundred miles in that but I will say if you are looking for low-down torque, it would win.

I'd give the M5 10/10 and the E63 9/10. If I was buying one with my own readies, I'd buy the E63 (slightly biased, I know) but the mechanics of the E63 stand up to the rigours of performance car use. That's all based on my own experience and opinion of both cars.

Whichever you go for, I don't think you can make the 'wrong' decision.

Good luck.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Both are awesome cars. The biggest differentiator will be the subjective aspect that's unique to you. You won't be disappointed with either...

 

[bolide]

It'd be interesting if the new M5 was in the mix...

Nick Froome

 

[John]

Having said all that, the gearbox & clutch went pop twice, about 15k miles apart and in the end it got traded in.

That's one of the reasons I preferred the MB. Slushy auto has no issues with all that torque and I was concerned, knowing some experiences people had with the SMGII gearboxes in M3s, that the SMGIII in M5s were taking that much more grunt I suspected expensive bills might come from that transmission.

If I bought an E60 M5, I would probably not have had a warranty.

It'd be interesting if the new M5 was in the mix...

And for my money - the latest E63 5.5 biturbo as well...

 

[James Rothwell]

Thanks guys. Yes I'm aware that they are a little fragile, two of my friends here have got E60 M5s and they've spent thousands and thousands on them repairing things, often the SMG pump and the clutch getting worn and slipping but also other things.

The E63 seems like it's more of a muscle car with more 'simple' technolodgy and probably better in the long run as far as reliability goes.

I don't have to really make a decision for another couple of weeks so I'll keep mulling it over and then I will update this thread with my decision.

I'd still like to hear your thoughts Flanaia1 though.

 

[Red C220]

Top Gear - M5 vs E 63 (Estates) circa 2007.

Top gear - BMW M5 vs Mercedes E63 AMG estate.flv - YouTube

EDIT: My bad - just seen you've already viewed it.

 

[C240Sport97]

a CLS63 (219) may be a good compromise ..

Compared to an E63 (211), it has a lower center of gravity, wider track and is also stiffer ..

I find I can throw my CLS around, and it responds pretty well. certainly no problem keeping up with an M6 and 987 Boxsters around country roads.

 

[BenzedUP]

Mercedes-Benz of Edinburgh : CLS 63 AMG 4dr Coupe 2009 model, 15,000 miles

^^One of these would be a good idea in Dubai

The SMG will be annoying if where you live is busy as you say, it's so jerky in the traffic.

I did consider an M6 but the gearbox was a put off and as you say you may end up spending allot on repairs in the long run.

Test drive both and see.

 

[st4]

a CLS63 (219) may be a good compromise ..

Compared to an E63 (211), it has a lower center of gravity, wider track and is also stiffer ..

I find I can throw my CLS around, and it responds pretty well. certainly no problem keeping up with an M6 and 987 Boxsters around country roads.

Or a CLS55.

Been in a C63 and a 55k and it really is a backward step the 63 engine. Sorry folks but that is how it is....

The CLS boasts a far nicer cabin and whilst headroom is contentious its by far the superior car. Even in non AMG diesel form like for like its vastly superior to a 211....

So why haven't I got one despite me advising James Rothwell to get one. Money and that really room wise they are dicing it headroom wise.

After the sheds latest disgrace I thought about a cheap stop gab E60 5 series, but I couldn't bare looking at the thing. The M5 is like that.

 

[Mr. B]

"But at the back of my mind I still think I want an M5 "
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You've answered your own question. So go and get an M5 and have no regrets.

 

[akhan48]

M5