Used cars are always a gamble, but the risk absolutely increases when you buy someone else’s project. The work may have been done by competent professionals, but you don’t really know until it’s time to fix something that’s broken. The problem is, what if your dream car was never sold in your dream configuration when it was new? You can always try to make it yourself, but that takes time and money. So maybe, just maybe, we should make an exception to that rule for this manual-swapped 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon that’s currently listed on cars and bids.
Its wheels will have to move almost instantly, but that’s probably okay. There aren’t a lot of manual-swapped E63 wagons in America, and Mercedes certainly didn’t offer it as an option from the factory. So when you’re buying a car that shouldn’t have existed, you need to leave some room in the budget to replace a few things. The compromise is important, especially if you want to row your gears while driving the E63 AMG Wagon with the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 that sends 507 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels.
As far as the manual transmission goes, it’s a six-speed Mercedes unit pulled from the 2005 SLK350. This either means that Mercedes could have sold a manual SLK55 AMG and decided not to do so, or the gearbox could explode unexpectedly at some point, thanks to all the extra power (the ’05 SLK350 only made 268 hp). In the comments, the seller claims the transmission can definitely handle more power than its rating, but since “a very good friend who is familiar with these cars” did the work, there’s no shop you can call to talk to you about it.
far from stock
As you probably guessed based on the first photo, the modifications weren’t limited to just the manual transmission and swapping out the necessary paddles. The listing also claims the Mercedes has a custom driveshaft, an upgraded throttle plate, AMG Black Series engine mounts, a new catch can and an exhaust resonator delete, along with lowering links for the air suspension and 19-inch staggered BBS LM wheels. Other key features include a subtle carbon fiber aero kit, an AMG Black Series steering wheel, an upgraded sound system and a new head unit that enables Apple CarPlay.
Unlike many cars that have had this much work done, the listing says the dual-zone climate control still works. The original car also had a power sunroof, driver seat memory package, rear sun blinds, and rear-facing third row seats that seem perfect for punishing your least favorite child. I know I know. You love them all equally, but that doesn’t mean you have to Like They all equally. Or so I listen. My brothers’ kids are absolute angels, so I don’t know.
Would you still take some risks here? Absolutely. Then again, Mercedes has only sold 153 S211 E63 AMG wagons in the US so far, so you don’t have a lot of options to choose from, with or without a manual transmission. Which perhaps helps explain why bidding has already topped $20,000, even though there are still six days left in the auction at the time of writing. You’ll definitely have to spend real car money if you want to win, and you’ll still have to find a set of monoblocks to complete the look, but if you carry some cash around, you could soon be the new owner of an E63 AMG wagon with a naturally aspirated V8 and a six-speed manual transmission – a rare claim by any standard.
