BMW M5 v Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 2012 Comparison

BMW M5: $240,520 as tested
Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG: $251,180 as tested

More photos of the BMW M5 vs. Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG stoush

Our test route around and about Victoria’s Yarra Valley couldn’t have been more picturesque, but the twisty-parts weren’t helped by the constant drizzle that turned much of the road surface into a slimy skating rink.

With the cars producing a combined 798kW along with a total 1380Nm of torque, thoughts of tentative-only explorations of their potentials were dominant.

As it turned out - and with the application of appropriate levels of safety and sensibility - our fears were pretty much ungrounded, so to speak. In fact, there was little doubt we felt more planted and secure in these cars in these conditions than we undoubtedly would have in regular, less monumentally powerful family sedans.

The 386kW, 5.5-litre Benz may have an extra litre or so of engine at its disposal, which helps with torque output, but the 4.4-litre BMW produces 412kW to balance out the aggregate total. The M5 is further helped along by the fact its lower torque figure of 680Nm comes in from just 1500rpm compared to the Benz, which starts producing its 700Nm maximum at 1750rpm.

With both cars weighing within around 30kg of each other (the BMW is the heavier of the two), the result is similar performance levels and identical zero to 100km/h claims. Both, according to the manufacturers, reach that figure in a blindingly fast 4.3 seconds.

Both drive through seven-speed gearboxes. The BMW features a dual-clutch automated manual, the Benz a unique box that combines a multiplate clutch with a conventional automatic box. Both cars are equipped with every imaginable grip-maximising system to make the most of the mega power and torque. This, along with the adhesion provided by seriously wide rubber, played a major part in the behaviour of both cars on the slimy test roads.

Although still unrelentingly animalistic, the M5 is remarkably supple in terms of ride quality in most conditions, quieter on the road and emits a V8 bark that is a bit more in the background than the E 63 AMG.

The BMW’s seven-speed M DCT Drivelogic gearbox also operates with a tad more refinement than the E 63’s AMG Speedshift MCT, both in stop-start circumstances and in hard-pressed up or downshifts.

The E 63 AMG is appropriately sharp and efficient, telling the driver in no uncertain terms exactly what is going on in the transfer of effective power to the rear wheels, but ironically the BMW feels a little closer to a regular auto transmission, with the only deficit being a little more delay than the Benz in kickdown response. The BMW also offers the driver a choice between steering wheel paddles or a sequential shifter on the centre console, where the E 63 AMG only offers paddle-actuated manual shifting.

That said, the M5’s shifter takes a lot of acclimatising with its often counter-intuitive actions. The E 63 AMG’s more conventional shifter rarely catches the unfamiliar driver out.

This is especially noticeable due to a slightly delayed stability control actuation that delights keen drivers by allowing a little rear-end step-out when the limits are being pushed. Generally, the BMW’s bigger wheels and meatier rubber simply hang in much longer before any thought of the rear end wandering off line is entertained.

This is all accompanied by a tendency to sit flatter than the Benz, despite the M5 having a slightly more absorbent ride.

The result is that it is easier to punt the BMW quickly. It handles the tight, tricky stuff with amazing agility despite its close to 1.9-tonne mass and, with its tenacious grip, requires a lot more determination to have the multitudinous electronic systems kicking in, even in the wet and slippery conditions experienced during our test.

The E 63 AMG is unremittingly fast, grippy and fantastically responsive to the throttle, but it leans a little more, and the driver needs to work harder if the BMW is to be kept in sight. The E 63 AMG’s electronics intervene with more aggression too, just to keep everything in neat working order.

We couldn’t decide whether we preferred the E 63 AMG’s manually activated park brake pedal or the BMW’s electronic switch - but we would, any time, prefer a regular, mechanical pull-up lever to either.

Speaking of brakes, both Benz and BMW offer enormous reserves of stopping power. The BMW in particular has a strong, meaty sense of retardation via its massive blue painted callipers (which seem to occupy more than a quarter of the total disc area).

The E 63 AMG favours a slightly fussier approach with - in the case of our test car again - a more sombre black presentation and what appears to be a more confusing array of controls.

The sense of being in a premium high-performance sedan prevailed in both, aided by things like the E 63 AMG’s active side bolsters that squeeze front-seat passengers straight at any suggestion of lateral G forces. The full audio visual experience in the BMW is state of the art - complete with the home theatre style LCD screen.

Both remained true to their status as large sedans, with excellent back seats, decent boot space (via power-closing lids) and load-through facilities accessible through split-fold rear seats.

They can also return reasonable fuel efficiency. The combined consumption and CO2 emissions figures of the pair are virtually identical at 9.9L/100km and 232g/km, and 10.0L/100km and 230g/km for BMW and Benz respectively.

Typical of top-end European cars, the ability to up the on-road price from the base manufacturer’s recommended retail is mind-numbing, but the BMW does have a slight advantage with its base $230,000 sticker price coming in below the E 63’s starting point of $240,985.

In the end, the decision comes down to exactly what the buyer is looking for in an ultra high-performance large sedan.

We found the BMW’s slightly more finessed road behaviour, comfort and presentation, underscored by more easily-accessible engine performance, were enough to tip the balance in its favour. Add to that the M5’s more generally admired presentation, inside and out, and the decision was made even easier.

More photos of the BMW M5 vs. Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG stoush

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Price: $240,985 ($251,180 as tested)
Engine: 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8
Output: 386kW/700Nm (410kW/800Nm)
Transmission: Seven-speed MCT
0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Wheels / Tyres: F: 19 x 9.0-inch / 255/35R19 R: 19 x 9.5-inch / 285/30R19
Fuel / CO2: 10.0L/100km / 230g/km