It’s always fun to look at those crazy fast SUV from Mercedes-AMGs past and given they’ve been pumping them out for over 20 years now, there are quite a few. However, when you happen to see one for sale that is tuned by the madmen over at Brabus, you take an extra close look. That is what I thought was going on with this 2012 ML63 AMG with the B63S Widestar kit. Someone spent a pile of money to tack on the extra bodywork and paint it, no matter how you feel about its looks. However, I was quite surprised when I looked under the hood.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Brabus B63S Widestar on eBay
Year: 2012
Model: ML63 AMG Brabus B63S Widestar
VIN: 4JGDA7EB0CA033186
Engine: Twin-Turbocharged 5.5 liter V8
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Mileage: 98,782 mi
Location: Hollywood, Florida
Price: $37,995 Buy It Now
Full Brabus Body Trim
New Tires
Rear TV / DVD
Panoramic Roof
Vossen Wheels w/ 22†Tires
Two-tone leather upholstery
Adaptive damping system (ads)
Rear view camera
Garage door opener
Adaptive cruise control Plus (DISTRONIC PLUS)
Active Parking Assist
Active Blind Spot Assist
Active Lane Keeping Assist (driver cockpit)
Drive package
Right electric adjustable driver’s seat with memory
Automatic dimming inside rearview mirror and outside mirrors
Memory Package (driver’s seat, steering column and mirror)
Leather steering wheel with trim insert
Climatized front seats
Panoramic sliding sunroof/glass roof
7-speed automatic transmission
Electrically adjustable steering column
ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM
Tire pressure monitor (TPM)
AIRMATIC Dual Control/semi-active air suspension
Electrically folding exterior mirrors
COMAND Online with 6-disc DVD changer
Sirius satellite radio complete system
Headlamp cleaning system
Running board in aluminum look with rubber naps
Rear Seat Entertainment System (2 screens)
Left and right rear seat heating
Interior Light package
KEYLESS-GO
EASY-PACK liftgate
Automatic transmission
open-pore brown ash wood trim
V8 spark-ignition engine M157 – AMG
Displacement 5.5 liter
Intelligent Light System
MIRROR PACKAGE
Front Memory Package
Lumbar support adjustment
Floor mats – AMG
DVD player with region code 1 USA
designo Exclusive package
designo leather porcelain single-tone
designo headlining in black DINAMICA microfibre
As you can see in the photo above, that M157 engine is lacking all the extra Brabus goodies. That means we are left with a vehicle that has all the bark of a Brabus build, but none of the bite. Granted, the 550 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque from the factory ML63 is more than enough, but this is a real letdown considering how much this bodywork much have cost. Also, those wheels are a little disappointing considering they aren’t from Brabus either.
As for the price, $38,000 seems to be in line given this one has a pile of miles on it. I don’t think you can really ask a premium for the bodywork given it isn’t all that attractive and a little ugly with the contrasting silver, plus the number of people who know what Brabus is can’t be many at all. A cool piece, but rather disappointing.
– Andrew
ahh… Brabus Lite…all the ugly looks without the performance.
How to not build a Brabus car. Spend all your money on the bodykit, then have none left over for the paint/interior/drivetrain.
Is Brabus competing with Mansory to see who can make the ugliest vehicle?
Seriously, maybe they didn’t do the Brabus engine because it would require shipping it to Germany?
I mean, weren’t these made in Alabama? So you would have to ship it to Germany to get the Brabus engine. The body kit could probably be shipped over and installed by any aftermarket yahoo.