Tuner Tuesday: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Brabus B63

I know that we don’t spend much time on newer Mercedes-Benz products. Well, truth told we don’t spend much time on any newer cars. There are a few reasons; for one, they’re more readily available. I mean, pop on eBay right now and you can have your choice of color, transmission, year, wheel selection and packages of any newer Porsche, BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. So it takes something special for them to stand out a bit for us to take notice. Unfortunately, in my mind most newer Mercedes-Benz models stick out for all of the wrong reasons. Have you ever seen one of those commercials for a local ‘Octoberfest’ celebration? Predictably, they have some poor interpretation of an Oom-pah band in traditional clothing playing a semi-Germanic tune. It always seems a bit forced, much like humor coming from a native German. To me, the newer Mercedes-Benz products are like those commercials. “Ja, of course vee are German!” they seem to shout – while to me, the still retain vestiges of the merger with Chrysler. They’re a bit ostentatious, and while I know they’re motivated by some serious Nimitz-class firepower it just doesn’t really make them appealing to me.

It wasn’t always this way. Go back a generation or two and the cars were still much more refined. I wouldn’t describe them all as the most attractive cars that were on the market, but they retained the understated approach that made Mercedes-Benz famous. In fact, you had to bring your Merc to a tuner to make it ostentatious back in the 1990s. One of the best at making over-the-top Mercedes back then was Brabus. So what do you get when you take an already over-the-top CLS63 AMG and let bonkers Brabus breath on it today?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Brabus B63 on eBay

Year: 2012
Model: CLS63 AMG
Engine: 5.5 liter twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Mileage: 32,895 mi
Price: $115,000 Buy It Now

2012 Brabus B63 CLS63 AMG Twin Turbo

$60,000 Brabus Conversion done at AutoScope in Dallas

One Owner

P1 Premium Package

993 Lane Assist

P30 Performance Package

Night Vision

Heated & A/C Leather

Rear Heated Seats

Moonroof

Harman Kardon Audio

Carbon Fiber Trim

Carbon Fiber Wheels

Adjustable Suspension

Dynamic Driver Seat

Integrated Passport Radar Detector

Brabus Push Button Open Exhaust

Brabus Turbo Back Exhaust

Schweizer Intercooler

Still under factory warranty! 4 years or 50,000 miles

Call Mark 817-291-3944 or email Markj@Mjec.com for over 50 Photos and contact information for service dealership and for Brabus conversion shop. Conversion invoices available upon request.

My wife and I have had an ongoing argument over whether the Panamera is a viable and attractive family car. Surprisingly, it’s me who has been in the negative corner. There have been a handful of Panameras that I’ve come across that I thought look reasonable; for the most part, I think they’re kind of ugly. But, I also think the Mercedes-Benz CLSs are ugly, too. Last night, pondering this Brabus B63, I wondered which was a better value and which I’d want more; despite my distaste for this model in general, I’d have to admit that I think I’d choose this car over a Panamera Turbo. First, it’s about half the price of a loaded Pamamera Turbo. Let that sink in for a moment. That’s right, spec out a Panamera and you’re looking at a $200,000 plus bill. Even then, that Turbo model would be nearly 150 horsepower shy of the bruiser Brabus. And, of course, this car is virtually new and appears so. If anything, it somehow seems a bit less over the top than I’ve come to expect from Brabus and AMG; perhaps the combination of the two negated each other out. So between the Panamera Turbo and the Brabus B63, which would I buy with my monopoly money?

That’s right, the Audi RS7.

-Carter