Meeting point of value for CLS55 vs. CLS63?

[Lenny63]

Your's is stunning Alex

 

[Alex225]

Thanks Lenny, I was fortunate to get hold of a 2007 example with less than 18k on the clock but I did pay the premium for it.

I'd imagine if you can get good of either a 55 or 63 with under 60k for a good price that'd be my optimum. That said they feel more solid than my W211 and that's amazing for 106k!

 

[Cyclone1]

If you'll never hanker for more power then consider both.

Go and try a CLS63 as you may find you prefer it. Performance wise as std they are very similar, as has been said it is just the delivery that is different. Being newer and with '63 prices dropping you are likely to end up with a "better" car for your money.

Good luck as either way you can't go wrong,

Jules

 

[E55BOF]

B
The 55 has instant low down pull which makes it feel fast. That's because it IS fast The 63 doesn't have the low down thump, but it keeps pulling long after the 55 had to shift. It's a fraction faster on the stopwatch, but it has to be wound up to be so. It, too, is fast, but in a different way

Both will be remembered, but I believe the 63 will be the one which is considered an icon. I don't, not least because they've been sold by the boatload. /QUOTE]

I doubt either will disappoint.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

The '55 has white dials, therefore wins.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

B
The 55 has instant low down pull which makes it feel fast. That's because it IS fast The 63 doesn't have the low down thump, but it keeps pulling long after the 55 had to shift. It's a fraction faster on the stopwatch, but it has to be wound up to be so. It, too, is fast, but in a different way

Both will be remembered, but I believe the 63 will be the one which is considered an icon. I don't, not least because they've been sold by the boatload. /QUOTE]

I doubt either will disappoint.

You're right it (E55) is fast. But the delivery makes it feel faster than the 63. Or perhaps I should say the more progressive delivery of the 63 makes it feel less fast (aka slower).

In the W211 chassis I'd personally go for the 55, but neither will disappoint.

Popular doesn't mean it's not an icon. They sold a few Model Ts, Beetles and Minis, but they seemed to manage icon status (for many).

 

[SteveG321]

B
The 55 has instant low down pull which makes it feel fast. That's because it IS fast The 63 doesn't have the low down thump, but it keeps pulling long after the 55 had to shift. It's a fraction faster on the stopwatch, but it has to be wound up to be so. It, too, is fast, but in a different way

Both will be remembered, but I believe the 63 will be the one which is considered an icon. I don't, not least because they've been sold by the boatload. /QUOTE]

I doubt either will disappoint.

I dont think the sold by the boatload statement is right. If we are talking CLS63 M156 which I think the OP was they are much rarer than CLS 55. There are currently 125 CLS 63 M156 registered in Uk versus 370 CLS55. So there are 3 times as many 55s about.

 

[AlanD]

Random question on the heated/cooled seats in the CLS - do the backs and bottoms both heat up and cool? Also, can you test dynamic seats?

 

[b1g1an]

The difference between the 55k and the 63 is very similar to a diesel and a petrol engine with similar hp.

The diesel will feel faster 95% of the time because it makes gobbits of torque from nothing but on paper the petrol will probably have the better times as that relies on it having the life thrashed out of it.

Obviously the 63 is still fast even though it may be lacking in grunt compared to the 55 but it still has a lot more than the majority.

I drove an R8 V10 Plus a couple of years ago and in normal driving it felt a bit limp compared to the 55 but get the revs up and it came into its own.

 

[SteveG321]

Random question on the heated/cooled seats in the CLS - do the backs and bottoms both heat up and cool? Also, can you test dynamic seats?

Its only the bottom part that heats up and cools, but you do feel a benefit in your lower back. The only way to test the dynamics work is to turn it on and drive round a couple of roundabouts or twisties. The mechanics on the dynamics are pretty basic and I think fairly reliable. Never had a problem with mine and the car is 8 years old now. The pulse massage function is a bit on the slow side, but I guess you dont want it too vigourous as it might be a bit of a distraction!

 

[SteveG321]

The difference between the 55k and the 63 is very similar to a diesel and a petrol engine with similar hp.

The diesel will feel faster 95% of the time because it makes gobbits of torque from nothing but on paper the petrol will probably have the better times as that relies on it having the life thrashed out of it.

Obviously the 63 is still fast even though it may be lacking in grunt compared to the 55 but it still has a lot more than the majority.

I drove an R8 V10 Plus a couple of years ago and in normal driving it felt a bit limp compared to the 55 but get the revs up and it came into its own.

I have owned both the 55k engined car in a 2005 E55 and the 63 in a 2008 CLS. Both unmodified. They are different, the 63 is quicker off the mark to 60 but barely noticeable. The 55 was quicker because of the extra torque accelerating from 50-70 and say 70-90 which is really good for fast overtakes. That doesnt mean the 63 is slow in those two scenarios, the 55 is just a big quicker. After 100 (on a closed road) the 63 is quicker all the way.

There is a tendency to talk rubbish about having to work harder with the 63 to deliver performance. The bottom line is, if you put it in sport setting and floor it at any speed it revs up to 7200 red line and just keeps delivering.

If you want to modify to get massive increases in performance then go for the 55. In standard form the 63 gets my vote every time and I owned each for four years.

 

[AlanD]

Its only the bottom part that heats up and cools, but you do feel a benefit in your lower back. The only way to test the dynamics work is to turn it on and drive round a couple of roundabouts or twisties. The mechanics on the dynamics are pretty basic and I think fairly reliable. Never had a problem with mine and the car is 8 years old now. The pulse massage function is a bit on the slow side, but I guess you dont want it too vigourous as it might be a bit of a distraction!

Funny, I could swear the back heats up on my C55 and not the seat. Haven't used it since last winter though so can't remember!!

Just as well with the massage function .. otherwise might become .. uh .. popular with one sex more than the other ..

 

[AlanD]

On another random point .. how much weight do you put into the amount of owners and why? A 2006 CLS I'm looking at now is on it's 8th owner ..

 

[WG M-B]

It's not unusual to find such cars with high owners. A few bits and bobs on top of a service can run into a couple of grand. Coupled with the high fuel costs people can move them on pretty quick.

 

[SteveG321]

On another random point .. how much weight do you put into the amount of owners and why? A 2006 CLS I'm looking at now is on it's 8th owner ..

I reckon the golden rule is not how many owners, but how good is the service history. You dont want any gaps in the history. If these cars are well looked after they are fine.

 

[Grovsie31]

Funny, I could swear the back heats up on my C55 and not the seat. Haven't used it since last winter though so can't remember!!

Just as well with the massage function .. otherwise might become .. uh .. popular with one sex more than the other ..

Mine does the same. its supposed to be the back and the bottom, but the bottom often breaks.

There is a tendency to talk rubbish about having to work harder with the 63 to deliver performance.

hahaaha yeah you would think it was a 1.6 Honda VTEC unit the way some people describe it.

 

[AlanD]

I reckon the golden rule is not how many owners, but how good is the service history. You dont want any gaps in the history. If these cars are well looked after they are fine.

Yeah, service history is 100% MB until an Indy MB specialist. Nothing missing by the look of it. Only MOT failures have been for over-cooked tyres. Looks clean in pictures, will know more when I see it!

 

[AlanD]

So the C55 should heat bum and back, but the CLS55 only heats/cools the bum? What about the rear heating (which this one has)? Why the difference?

 

[Lenny63]

What one is it Alan ?

 

[SteveG321]

So the C55 should heat bum and back, but the CLS55 only heats/cools the bum? What about the rear heating (which this one has)? Why the difference?

To be honest Alan, I rarely use the heated seat, but my Mrs does and confirms it also heats the lower back. I thought it was just residual heat creeping up! I think rear heated seats was an option on the CLS, mine has it, but heating and cooling in the front only.