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Mercedes C63 AMG (C204) | PH Private Area

The 6.2-litre C63 was a riot with 450hp or so - this one has almost 600...

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There can’t be many cars that so firmly established legend status in their lifetime quite like the ‘204 era of Mercedes C63 AMG. Finally, there was a core Affalterbach muscle car that could properly rival the best that BMW M and Audi Sport could offer, powered by an unforgettable V8 engine. Mercedes ensured the engine went just about everywhere at the time, from CL to GL, and never did it feel quite as at-home as shoehorned into a C-Class. 

From an auspicious start, the first C63 only became better and better. A coupe joined the saloon and wagon, a facelift introduced a new gearbox, the Black Series was epic and the Edition 507 a fitting farewell to a much loved Mercedes. With SLS engine internals and a ruded up look, the C63 couldn’t have departed in more unapologetic (or wholly appropriate) fashion. 

But all that was more than a decade ago now, and it would be fair to say that not every 6.2-litre C63 has been cherished and cared for as they should be. Like every AMG short of a One, they depreciated; while some C63s are now priced at around a quarter of their original RRP, none will be any cheaper to run than in 2009. Probably more expensive than ever, in fact, given the price of tyres, fuel, VED, spares and the rest. Add in another 10 years of general use, with the most senior ‘204s now 17 years old, and really nice C63s are now harder than ever to come by. 

This looks very much like one of the good’ns. Even before knowing the details, it looks fantastic on the multispoke wheels, and the interior really benefits from a bit of red leather pizzazz. There’s even a sunroof, serviced last year. As the C63 edges closer to modern classic territory (if it isn’t there already) and likely to be an occasional car, so the spec details really matter. You’ll want the Performance Pack Plus, the HK audio and (probably) the reversing camera - this car has all three. 

Then there’s the really fun stuff. To give the limited-slip diff a real test, this C63 benefits from both IPE headers as well as an ECU upgrade from MSL Performance, to the tune of 587bhp - or 595 metric horsepower. Which ought to be absolutely hilarious fun. Just imagine how strong third, fourth and fifth gears are going to feel now; they were ferocious enough to start with. 

With the modifications, condition and recent service work (including front brakes, aux belt, injectors and lambda sensors this year), this is one of the pricier standard C63 coupes out there at £24,250. But work done by the previous owner doesn’t have to be done by the next, and the reputation of this era surely means that good one will remain in demand for a while yet. Maybe some will prefer a standard spec - don’t be surprised if 595hp does quite a lot of convincing, though… 

See the original advert here

[Master Bean]

They have a Brummy image problem but I still love the engine sound.

[JRaj]

Traction will be hilarious. Hopefully the gearbox can keep up with changes too. Considering the price of some crap out there, seems like a reasonable buy.

[Motormouth88]

Wonderful engine and sound, shame they’ve dropped low enough for people to start ruining them. Saw one in a blue mirror wrap the other day

[biggbn]

Master Bean said:

They have a Brummy image problem but I still love the engine sound.

Do they go BrumBrumBrum....?

[Kawasicki]

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

[fantheman80]

Kawasicki said:

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

Must admit I thought the same. Turbo cars are easy to turn the wick up, but these gains on NA? happy to be told otherwise

[EV8]

Kawasicki said:

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

My first thought also. Even if they somehow did it, it would have horrible mpg.
But hey, no dyno and you can say any number.

[Grantstown]

There was a 520 bhp version so at least this is known to be achievable

[Twinair]

Bought my 1st one from MB Liverpool, PPP car (At the time DR520’s were still silly money)

Remember thinking that 3rd - 4th - 5th acceleration felt like it was going to bend the floor pan…!!

I left that particular area on ‘re-heat’ - wonderful machines

The several I had - for rwd - the traction was waaaay better than it had ANY right to be…

Never felt the need to ‘tune’ any of mine - they were plenty fast enough tbh…

Throttle assembly was a ‘restrictor’ I think - you could change it for the SLS - that was worth 3 digit gains, if you had the forged crank etc on the performance pack models… I am no expert though…

Like I said in other convo - I never found anything these couldn’t keep up or walk from about 90+ mph…

The noise…!!!!!

[Johnnybee]

Loved mine although it was a "base" model.

Strange how it's impossible to start the engine without the driver's door open

[B_Tank88]

Kawasicki said:

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

The M156 is good for ~530hp from a remap. From 453hp or whatever the C63 comes with from factory. The MSL remap will get it there. After all, the same engine in the higher end Mercs come with 518hp from factory. The C63 is de-tuned from factory to sit better alongside the other Mercedes offerings.

Then, removing the primary cats with the IPE headers and a further tune will get them to around 540-550 I believe. There's no replacement for displacement

I don't know how more than that is achieved here though without a supercharger.

Edited by B_Tank88 on Wednesday 19th November 08:51

[J4CKO]

fantheman80 said:

Kawasicki said:

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

Must admit I thought the same. Turbo cars are easy to turn the wick up, but these gains on NA? happy to be told otherwise

They used the same engine across lots of cars and they were software limited or otherwise reigned in a bit in the C63, with it in other models like the CL63 producing over 500 bhp. The AMG SLS had a highly tuned version with over 600 bhp so its very possible with some tuning to have getting on for 600.

N/A cars dont usually respond that well compared to turbo cars but they took what had been pegged back and added some more, its a big engine so gains for traditional things like manifolds will be bigger, a 10% gain on a 500 bhp engine is 50 bhp, wouldnt bet against it being that strong.

[Robertb]

This looks like a very nicely prepped example. I wonder what 911 the seller is after, this will be a hard act to follow.

[Water Fairy]

Very tidy that

[pSyCoSiS]

The M156 is a fantastic engine.

I have it in my CLS63, but also had an S63L and CL63 with the same lump, but an extra bhp and more torque.

Lots of power from a naturally aspirated power plant. Sounds immense.

Reliable, if looked after and correctly maintained.

Thirsty, but that is the price you pay for the privilege.

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Wednesday 19th November 09:41

[Cryssys]

If I was in the market I think I would prefer originality over upgrades but I'm not so what the hell.

Estate version for me please.

[Twinair]

I see this is a PPP car - so the internals are closer to the SLS.

Pretty sure these are ‘over proofed’ to start with, so can easily imagine these mods have added the stated gains…

It is a nice one - I always had saloon or wagon, this shape suited the black series - but wasn’t for me…

But like I say - this looks like a very nice one indeed, and for performance per pound - it’s a very inexpensive for the M156 V8 hit… get em whilst you still can…!

[Night Owl]

B_Tank88 said:

The M156 is good for ~530hp from a remap. From 453hp or whatever the C63 comes with from factory. The MSL remap will get it there. After all, the same engine in the higher end Mercs come with 518hp from factory. The C63 is de-tuned from factory to sit better alongside the other Mercedes offerings.

Then, removing the primary cats with the IPE headers and a further tune will get them to around 540-550 I believe. There's no replacement for displacement

I don't know how more than that is achieved here though without a supercharger.

Edited by B_Tank88 on Wednesday 19th November 08:51

My M2C tunes up the same way to about the same power. The replacement for displacement is a turbo or two

Love the W204 C63 though. Would have had mine as a wagon.

[richinlondon]

still looks classy - so nice to see it hasn't been adorned with ""improvements""

[Twinair]

B_Tank88 said:

Kawasicki said:

From 450 to 600 bhp with headers and ECU?
Really?

The M156 is good for ~530hp from a remap. From 453hp or whatever the C63 comes with from factory. The MSL remap will get it there. After all, the same engine in the higher end Mercs come with 518hp from factory. The C63 is de-tuned from factory to sit better alongside the other Mercedes offerings.

Then, removing the primary cats with the IPE headers and a further tune will get them to around 540-550 I believe. There's no replacement for displacement

I don't know how more than that is achieved here though without a supercharger.

Edited by B_Tank88 on Wednesday 19th November 08:51

I was out and about one day in my Wagon, and a guy pulled up next to me, I remarked that his was a PPP - and we got chatting.

He went through the detail on the accelerator pedal assembly & onwards into the throttle assembly in the engine - he described that with the forged crank & lightened pistons on the PPP - this mod used the SLS accelerator gubbins & that was ‘free’ power without doing anything to the ECU etc…

He also had the ECU and headers done on his also, it sounded fab…

Mind you - ‘tuning’ on these is all relative, the 2 ‘standard cars’ I had never felt weedy or lacking in sound & drama versus the PPP I had…! In many ways my stock estate car was the ultimate sleeper… no one really knew until they saw the exhausts - which to be fair - many nearly always saw the exhausts…!! :-))

They really are something, quite the way to return 6 to 9 mpg on a cross country run, I am not sure you’d get away with it these days… with all the dash cam dobbers out there…

I got pulled by an unmarked 335d one night, took him about 10 miles to be close enough for the blues to come on though…

They were sound road coppers though -they were car enthusiasts & I went on my way, ticket free… amazing really… these days you would be on the front of the daily fail I suspect…