This Used Mercedes Is A Sweet, Naturally Aspirated German Muscle Bargain
Few used cars deliver the combination of drama, luxury, and outright performance that the naturally aspirated, 6.2-liter V-8-powered W212 Mercedes-AMG E63 sedan does — and fewer still do it at a price that won’t empty your savings account. In a market increasingly dominated by turbocharged everything, this high-revving, sonorous AMG is a genuine anomaly: a six-figure German sports sedan that has quietly become one of the best-value used car purchases available today. While the W212 generation E63 AMG was produced until 2017, models after 2011 replaced the glorious 6.2-liter V-8 with the smaller and more powerful 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8.
This means there were only two model years of the naturally aspirated variant for this entire generation before Mercedes moved on to the more powerful and efficient engine. Yet, power and efficiency aren’t everything, especially at the expense of character, which the high-revving 6.2-liter platform offers in spades. You would by no means be making the wrong choice by selecting the twin-turbo platform, as those cars are more plentiful than the naturally aspirated option, but because they are newer, these variants tend to carry higher price tags.
The real appeal of the 6.2-liter-powered E63 AMG is that it remains undervalued on the used market and, with enough patience, these sedans can be found for under $20,000. Let’s dig into why this E63 model is one of the best-performing luxury bargains available on the used market right now.
The AMG Performance We Miss
The naturally aspirated variants of the W212 generation E63 AMG occupy an elevated level of enthusiast-spec status that only one other “modern” German saloon can really claim: the V-10-powered E60 BMW M5. The reality is that the twin-turbo V-8 platform is ubiquitous among modern high-end performance vehicles, so naturally aspirated platforms tend to stand out nowadays. Performance cars are also, in general, so fast and powerful today that at a certain point horsepower loses its meaning — we’d put that threshold at around 500 horsepower.
The 6.2-liter V-8 Begs You To Party
2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Performance Specifications
| Engine | 6.2-liter V-8 |
| Horsepower | 577 horsepower |
| Torque | 590 lb.ft |
| Driveline | RWD |
| 0-60 mph | 4.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 mph (limited) |
This also means the 518 horses provided by the naturally aspirated AMG platform are more than enough to have a serious good time. So if you ask any dyed-in-the-wool enthusiast whether they’d trade even 100 horsepower for an additional 1,000 RPM of rev range, most would take the extra range without hesitation. That is exactly what you get with the 6.2-liter V-8 and its intoxicating 7,250 RPM redline.
You can only go so fast on the street, and going flat out in an E63 AMG — even in second gear — is a quick way to attract the attention of local law enforcement. Despite this, you’ll feel compelled to stomp on the gas pedal at every realistic opportunity just to hear the sweet sound of the M156 V-8 for one moment more. It is the addictive character of the 6.2-liter AMG platform that makes the E63 so special and desirable.
Comparing The 5.5-liter Twin-Turbo V-8 To The N/A 6.2-liter V-8
The 6.2-liter V-8 engine begs you to engage with it and be playful with its peak torque output of 465 pound-feet at 5,200 RPM — a drastic character change compared to the 5.5-liter twin-turbo E63 model that came after it. The 5.5-liter, even in its “weakest” variant, produces more torque at 2,000 RPM than the 6.2-liter does anywhere in its rev range.
That low-end torque makes the twin-turbo platform easier and smoother to drive at 3/10ths on the street. Yet, in those rare opportunities when you do get to ring out the naturally aspirated V-8, you quickly remember why you waited longer for this specific experience. Once cruising at freeway speeds, both of these V-8 engines settle into a refined hum and can make 100 mph feel like a walk in the park.
The E63 AMG Does Not Compromise
The W212 E63 AMG is a true German sports sedan in a way that brings a tear to our eye. No, they do not make them like this anymore — despite the W212’s size, the pre-facelift E63 AMG is both sensitive and agile. This is thanks to the hydraulic steering that was still standard across the board in early W212 models, delivering impressive damping and genuine road feedback. 2011 was a major transitional year, as it would be the last time Mercedes used traditional hydraulic steering before a new electric steering system became the brand’s standard. That newer electric steering is more comfortable and precise, but it lacks the fidelity and tactile feedback of the older hydraulic setup.
The E63 AMG Values Its Sportiness
If you are hoping the E63 AMG is the most comfortable Mercedes of its generation, that is not the case — the E63 AMG is a sports sedan first and foremost. The W212 generation E550 sits one step below the E63 AMG and offers Airmatic suspension front and rear while retaining a twin-turbo V-8 engine. By comparison, the E63 AMG only offers Airmatic suspension at the rear with conventional springs up front, and converting the rear to a fully spring-based setup is a common topic of discussion in W212 ownership circles.
These Airmatic suspensions are known to develop leaks over time, and you will need to monitor their condition closely if you want to retain the adjustability of your suspension. We think the E63 suspension feels best in “Comfort” mode, but driving mode preferences are always a matter of context and personal taste.
The W212 E63 Is A Serious Bargain
Prices for W212 generation E63 AMG sedans have reached their realistic low end and have held in the same general range for several years now. The E63 AMG no longer exists in Mercedes’s current E-Class lineup, and there are no V-8-powered E-Class models of any variant left in production either. If you want a semi-modern V-8-powered E-Class, your only options are on the used market.
Thankfully, the W212 E63 AMG strikes the perfect balance of old-school German engine character blended with just enough modern Mercedes creature comfort. Although these cars are rare compared to a standard E-Class, they are out there — along with an even rarer wagon variant available in twin-turbo form.
W212 E63 Price Averages Over The Last Five Years
Of the five W212 generation E63 AMG models sold on Classic.com at the time of writing this, the average price has been $24,917. KBB reports the Fair Purchase Price to be between $15,400 and $30,600 for the entire generation.
Six-figure Luxury Car Ownership Considerations
We cannot emphasize enough that the W212 generation E63 AMG was every bit a six-figure vehicle when new, so the fact that you can acquire one today for a small fraction of that original price is beyond tempting. Few vehicles are as complete a package in every aspect of performance as the W212 E63 AMG at this price point.
Yet, just because you can buy an E63 AMG doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to afford to maintain it. The problem with any $100,000+ used car you’re getting a deal on is that when maintenance or repair time comes around, the upkeep costs haven’t decreased — quite the opposite. Early 6.2-liter models are known to have more issues than later variants, so if you want the best odds of a trouble-free ownership experience, we suggest sticking to the 2011 model year.
You are always better off finding an example with a solid maintenance history above all else, but that won’t change the fact that a replacement M156 engine will run you at least $4,000–$6,000 — and that’s considered cheap for what it is. Even so, if you have the pleasure of driving one of these naturally aspirated — or even the turbo — variants of the W212 E63 AMG, you can be assured you are enjoying one of the greatest sports sedans ever made.
Sources: Mercedes, KBB, Classic.com
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments