X5 4.8is vs ML63 AMG!!
 

Morning everybody!

I was driving for 3 years a X5 SUV for daily. I'm very happy with that car.
But now I already sold my last X5 that is the 4.8is. I have nothing bad to say about this car and specially then 4.8 engine and also will miss it.

I recently ordered the ML63 with all the goodies. Never drove one so I hope I'm not making a mistake getting this car and already sold the X5.

I'm curious if somebody can tell if we compare the performance of 4.8is vs the ML63 in braking, confort, handling... Does the difference is night and day??
I'm excluding the power becuase I know that has NO comparacion, and basically that's the big reason I choose the ML63 over any other SUV!!

Thanks in advance for any input!

Thanks so much!!!

Braking - I prefer the 4.8is, the ML just doesn't provide the same level of feel and control as the 4.8is. It's not that the brakes aren't powerful but I suspect Mercedes system has too many electronic controls trying to be clever. As it is when braking from speed, the ML doesn't impart the same level of confidence as the 4.8is that you will stop in time, resulting in braking increasing the closer to the 'target' you reach and passengers noticing that an effort had to be made. It's all about 'feel' rather than 'power'/

Comfort - no comparision, the ML63 is much more comfortable than the 4.8is, a smoother ride and less effort in covering the ground. In the ML you can adjust the dampers from SPORT->COMFORT->REGULAR and also the ride and handling is adaptive, so better balances the compromise of handling with ride.

Handling - difficult one this. The ML's adaptive handling allows it to feel slightly more secure at normal speeds, so it provides the feeling of handling better than the 4.8is. However, up the speeds (admittedly to the kinds of speeds that most people would never consider driving an SUV) and the 4.8is has better suspension control and feels more keyed to the road surface. The ML63 feels like its CofG is higher than the 4.8is and therefore feels less stable through high G corners or in fast switch-backs.

The ML63 is the kind of SUV that you could have a very big accident in, partly because it reaches speeds much more quickly than a 4.8is and partly because once up to speed it isn't quite as composed as the 4.8is. It's very good, but you get the feeling that BMW would have engineered it to handle in extremis whereas Mercedes (rightly I guess) presumes that no owner would ever consider driving it so fast so better use the ESP safety systems to keep things tied down.

Ultimately the 4.8is encourages you to drive to the limit of the tyres adhesion, whereas the ML63 prefers a more considered style of driving. It's 95% as good as the 4.8is in this respect, but perhaps because of all that extra power it's less accomplished at using all its power as freely as the 4.8is.

You will enjoy it, there's no doubt about that, but the 4.8is is the car that's been engineered to be more accomplished on a track whereas the ML63 would be the better car in most road conditions.

Hope that helps. :thumbup:

p.s. I am enjoying the change (after 5 years of X5 ownership) and I suspect I will appreciate an X5 (or X6) even more when I change back in a few years

BTW, beautiful garage there TRD. Impressive vette, and supra. The lambo speaks for itself lol, Post some pics please!

i also have now e53 and ordered e70 4.8 with everything which is possible can be on x5 e70. But my order is still ON ORDER. and today i cancelled of my order. I will take ML 63. Tomorrow show you some pics

what made you decide to cancel the 4.8? ...and choose the ML?

first reason '$'
1) My x5 that i ordered was delayed, first date was 20-30 december and it is still ON ORDER(OC CLUB).
2)msrp of my x5 was about 77000$ + aerodynamic kit+underride alum+for all seats mats+illuminated door sills= ~4000$
~~==81000
but it is not reasonable to drive car which cost 55000$ for 81000$. One year later almost all people will be riving x5 for 60-62k and i will be driving car like ....... for 81k?
But when i take ml for 90k everyvody and also i will know that this car is really expensive. And also like i read smwh in this forum when i will stop on street near x5 e70 people will be more afected from ml63.
second reason

I dont think its clever to take now x5 with this engine. Remember last e53 x5 you can take ith 4.4 engine plus all packages and wheels and accessories it is price of 4.8is with everything included so extra hp from 4.4 to 4.8 is free.

and its better to wait new x5/x6 with new great engine and almost everything included in this car...
But i have some doubt i think that new x5 with v10 or v8 turbo will be slower or same with ml 63, just remember m5. we were everybody waiting for m5 is much faster than e55. but what we get? We were waiting for almost 2 years when was first introduced e55 and after 2 years it was m5. When i was waiting for m5 i thought that it will be devil mobil that bmw should put a lot of brains and $ in this motor. But what we get?almost same e55 vs m5! i know that m5 with smg and so on...but i was driving this 2 cars and my answer : almost the same!!!
so why i should wait for a fast x5 for 1-2 years if it will be the almost the same?

third reason
in ml 63 everything in leather(dash, doors...)like on m5, so interiour with leather is much more luxury that in plastic

and one more reason:
in my city this year i think it should be 40-50 new x5 and only few ml 63