Quaifing the C63

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Discussion

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

176 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Factory diff offers circa 30% lock. The Quaife diff offers up to 80% lock. Result is that the Quaife is a bit snappy when letting go but it does offer better traction.

Aquanaut

134 posts

188 months

Saturday 21st December 2013
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I took part in the group buy and getting it installed early Jan so looking fqd to the results!

Aquanaut

134 posts

188 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2014
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Got the quaife installed today and very pleased with the results. Agree with everything ecain63 says. Car feels far more planted and grip is far better. Defo a great addition to the car.

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

176 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2014
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Good show mate. Go forth and enjoy.

Carlton Banks

3,642 posts

237 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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Hi there,
My new (to me) C63 does not have an LSD and I remember reading about your Quaife purchase.
Looking back, what was your overall summary and was it a worthwhile purchase?
My first C63 had a PP with an LSD so I never experienced the 'lighting up but standing still' feeling when turning out of junctions with a prod of the loud pedal. Bizarre feeling!

Franzino

494 posts

161 months

Tuesday 17th November 2015
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ecain63 said:
Honestly, its just different. The C63 is quicker, more fun and more usable, no doubt about it, but the M5 was a more refined and more involved drive. If the C63 had the SMG box itd be fantastic. If the M5 had the 6.2V8 of the amg itd be perfect. As they are both are just different.

Oh, I think the C63 is a quicker car now thanks to the quaife. Been out in it tonight and Claire actually cried as we fired out of the exit of a local roundabout. 100% of the power was there from the off and the push coming through the apex was a definite increase on what was there before.

Its early days but I think I may be converted.
Did you like the SMG box of the e60 M5 V10 better then the gearbox of the C63? I'm personally thinking of buying a C63 AMG 2012 facelift…but the gearbox is something I'm not sure about. Still I did not like the SMG box in the M5 V10. I found it really annoying in manual and auto mode in traffic and it was only enjoyable when going fast on open roads or highways… Also it seems the SMG gearbox has a lot of issues with some owners.

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

176 months

Tuesday 17th November 2015
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Franzino said:
ecain63 said:
Honestly, its just different. The C63 is quicker, more fun and more usable, no doubt about it, but the M5 was a more refined and more involved drive. If the C63 had the SMG box itd be fantastic. If the M5 had the 6.2V8 of the amg itd be perfect. As they are both are just different.

Oh, I think the C63 is a quicker car now thanks to the quaife. Been out in it tonight and Claire actually cried as we fired out of the exit of a local roundabout. 100% of the power was there from the off and the push coming through the apex was a definite increase on what was there before.

Its early days but I think I may be converted.
Did you like the SMG box of the e60 M5 V10 better then the gearbox of the C63? I'm personally thinking of buying a C63 AMG 2012 facelift…but the gearbox is something I'm not sure about. Still I did not like the SMG box in the M5 V10. I found it really annoying in manual and auto mode in traffic and it was only enjoyable when going fast on open roads or highways… Also it seems the SMG gearbox has a lot of issues with some owners.
I think the SMG box clicks with some people and not with others. I really liked it and am of the opinion that if the C63 had the option of an SMGIII box to go with the big V8 it'd be the ultimate weapon. But not everyone would agree and it really depends how you use it. Of all the vehicular gadgets i've had, the M5's box and the C63's engine are the things i miss the most.

Franzino

494 posts

161 months

Tuesday 17th November 2015
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ecain63 said:
I think the SMG box clicks with some people and not with others. I really liked it and am of the opinion that if the C63 had the option of an SMGIII box to go with the big V8 it'd be the ultimate weapon. But not everyone would agree and it really depends how you use it. Of all the vehicular gadgets i've had, the M5's box and the C63's engine are the things i miss the most.
Did you hate the C63 gearbox….or did you find the SMG V10 box more of your taste and you could also live with C63 gearbox…?

Franzino

494 posts

161 months

Tuesday 17th November 2015
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ecain63 said:
I think the SMG box clicks with some people and not with others. I really liked it and am of the opinion that if the C63 had the option of an SMGIII box to go with the big V8 it'd be the ultimate weapon. But not everyone would agree and it really depends how you use it. Of all the vehicular gadgets i've had, the M5's box and the C63's engine are the things i miss the most.
Did you hate the C63 gearbox….or did you find the SMG V10 box more of your taste and you could also live with C63 gearbox…?

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

176 months

Tuesday 17th November 2015
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Franzino said:
ecain63 said:
I think the SMG box clicks with some people and not with others. I really liked it and am of the opinion that if the C63 had the option of an SMGIII box to go with the big V8 it'd be the ultimate weapon. But not everyone would agree and it really depends how you use it. Of all the vehicular gadgets i've had, the M5's box and the C63's engine are the things i miss the most.
Did you hate the C63 gearbox….or did you find the SMG V10 box more of your taste and you could also live with C63 gearbox…?
I found the C63 box perfectly adequate. Paddle shift wasn't that special but the auto modes were quick enough for 99% of applications. I think the different boxes are supposed to be learned rather than liked from the start. The facelift C63 box was quicker by all accounts but i'm not convinced it was better.

Another key point is that the experience will depend greatly on the roads on which you spend most of your time. I spent much of my time on national speed limit roads so the cars were in their preferred zones most of their days. If the M5 was around town all the time it'd be a nightmare. Same as the C63, if it spent all it's time shuffling around the streets of London i reckon i'd be fed up within a couple of months. These cars are designed to hammer the autoroutes and will behave better in that environment. I've since moved on to a modified A45 and can say whole heartedly that it's perfectly happy around town and on the back roads. For a 4 pot turbo / MCT box combo holds it's own on the motorway but it's not at its happiest there that's for sure.

Franzino

494 posts

161 months

Wednesday 18th November 2015
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ecain63 said:
I found the C63 box perfectly adequate. Paddle shift wasn't that special but the auto modes were quick enough for 99% of applications. I think the different boxes are supposed to be learned rather than liked from the start. The facelift C63 box was quicker by all accounts but i'm not convinced it was better.

Another key point is that the experience will depend greatly on the roads on which you spend most of your time. I spent much of my time on national speed limit roads so the cars were in their preferred zones most of their days. If the M5 was around town all the time it'd be a nightmare. Same as the C63, if it spent all it's time shuffling around the streets of London i reckon i'd be fed up within a couple of months. These cars are designed to hammer the autoroutes and will behave better in that environment. I've since moved on to a modified A45 and can say whole heartedly that it's perfectly happy around town and on the back roads. For a 4 pot turbo / MCT box combo holds it's own on the motorway but it's not at its happiest there that's for sure.
Thanks for the input…. Indeed; around town they are not the best cars to enjoy…but I think a C63 AMG will be the nicer town car then a M5 V10.

PorkRind

3,053 posts

206 months

Wednesday 13th June 2018
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I've been advised that a quaife woukdnt be the best diff option for the c63 as it's cog driven and if up in the air for whatever reason the drive won't go to the wheel with grip. I've been led to believe a plate style diff would be better, can anybody confirm this?

mrnoisy78

221 posts

194 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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PorkRind said:
I've been advised that a quaife woukdnt be the best diff option for the c63 as it's cog driven and if up in the air for whatever reason the drive won't go to the wheel with grip. I've been led to believe a plate style diff would be better, can anybody confirm this?
This is an old thread but essentially yes that's right - Wavetrac is what you would want in that sort of scenario, but a little more money.
Very popular in the States apparently.

theador

129 posts

118 months

Friday 17th September 2021
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Hehehehe thread revival. I think both the Quaife and Wavetrac work on the same ATB principle, just the Wavetrac has a patented design of the plates. Wavetrac is US made, Quaife is UK made which may be why Wavetrac is popular in USA and Quaife in UK.

The Wavetrac design is meant to keep power to both wheels under more scenarios but I dont know anyone who has driven both diffs in a 63 to give a proper comparison.

TheAnimal

3,472 posts

194 months

Tuesday 26th April 2022
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The Quaife is great though the seals can leak oil, but Birds were great about replacing seals at a reasonable cost after a few years. Great diff btw worth every penny.





Edited by TheAnimal on Tuesday 26th April 22:53