W204 C63 dad wagon
Discussion
Great choice of family car. I have a FL saloon, I got it when my son was 6 months old and he is two today. He absolutely loves it and calls it “brum brum car” because of the noise it makes.
I’ve done about 8,000 miles in that time and bar a misfire (I replaced all eight injectors, £230 DIY) and two wheel speed sensors (£75 each for the part and DIY fitting) it has been faultless.
Enjoy OP. Good choice on the wagon for prams too. We are on a buggy now so less of an issue but the size of prams these days was a little challenging in the saloon.
I’ve done about 8,000 miles in that time and bar a misfire (I replaced all eight injectors, £230 DIY) and two wheel speed sensors (£75 each for the part and DIY fitting) it has been faultless.
Enjoy OP. Good choice on the wagon for prams too. We are on a buggy now so less of an issue but the size of prams these days was a little challenging in the saloon.
Brett748 said:
Great choice of family car. I have a FL saloon, I got it when my son was 6 months old and he is two today. He absolutely loves it and calls it “brum brum car” because of the noise it makes.
I’ve done about 8,000 miles in that time and bar a misfire (I replaced all eight injectors, £230 DIY) and two wheel speed sensors (£75 each for the part and DIY fitting) it has been faultless.
Enjoy OP. Good choice on the wagon for prams too. We are on a buggy now so less of an issue but the size of prams these days was a little challenging in the saloon.
Excellent - I am hoping for similar from my son! I'd like to more DIY on this, but the young family, lack of drive and it being our only car put me off. I used to DIY my 986, but we had alternatives if I didn't finish a job in time. I’ve done about 8,000 miles in that time and bar a misfire (I replaced all eight injectors, £230 DIY) and two wheel speed sensors (£75 each for the part and DIY fitting) it has been faultless.
Enjoy OP. Good choice on the wagon for prams too. We are on a buggy now so less of an issue but the size of prams these days was a little challenging in the saloon.
Wheelspinning said:
His one has been decatted, cat bypass and remapped by MSL to about 530bhp.
The noise is just sublime!
As mentioned, the fuel economy sucks but like you its used sparingly.
I'd love the get the secondary cats removed. Bumped into a fellow owner at a petrol station the other day (the natural stomping ground of any c63 owner) and it sounded great. Don't think I can get away with it whilst it's our only car and used by the OH. The noise is just sublime!
As mentioned, the fuel economy sucks but like you its used sparingly.
Well the past week has been an eventful one for the C63. We are a week into an 8 week family euro trip - tunnel to Calais, then slowly wending our way down south to get the ferry back from Spain.
It's been great to stretch the car's legs. It's a lousy mile muncher due to the range - a £120 tank of super barely gets 300 miles. That's fully loaded, with two bikes on the roof (20mpg even with the cruise set at 110kph). However we're only driving short hops, so expense aside, it works well. And some good opportunities for hooning on empty french roads.
It's been great to stretch the car's legs. It's a lousy mile muncher due to the range - a £120 tank of super barely gets 300 miles. That's fully loaded, with two bikes on the roof (20mpg even with the cruise set at 110kph). However we're only driving short hops, so expense aside, it works well. And some good opportunities for hooning on empty french roads.
However the enjoyments been curtailed somewhat by a massive hailstorm in the Loire Valley. We were in the cellar at a wine making chateau when the storm hit. Extremely fortunate because the hailstones were deadly, the size of golf balls.
The car did not fare so well sadly. Every single panel on it ruined, particularly the roof and the unique-to-thr-C63 bonnet and wings. Looks like its been sat 5 foot into a driving range. Glad that the family are safe, but rather gutted!
Silver linings - I didn't get round to having a parking scuff on the rear bumper sorted, and it looks like the insurance company will sort the broken windscreen and delay the claim until we're back in the UK. So the next 7 weeks is in all likelihood the swansong before its written off. A selection of pics.
The car did not fare so well sadly. Every single panel on it ruined, particularly the roof and the unique-to-thr-C63 bonnet and wings. Looks like its been sat 5 foot into a driving range. Glad that the family are safe, but rather gutted!
Silver linings - I didn't get round to having a parking scuff on the rear bumper sorted, and it looks like the insurance company will sort the broken windscreen and delay the claim until we're back in the UK. So the next 7 weeks is in all likelihood the swansong before its written off. A selection of pics.
That must be infuriating. Glad your family were safe and sound.
If the glass was replaced would the car be serviceable?
Not for yourself, cleary, but I wondered if it could be a kind of rat rod - engine and mechanicals fine.
Body damaged but then protected?
Otherwise seems a waste of a lovey car…
If the glass was replaced would the car be serviceable?
Not for yourself, cleary, but I wondered if it could be a kind of rat rod - engine and mechanicals fine.
Body damaged but then protected?
Otherwise seems a waste of a lovey car…
Bloody hell! I was just going to commend you on taking the scenic route (I love a good euro roadtrip) when I saw the hail damage post.
Well, roadtrips are fun because of the memories they create - years from now it won't sting as much when you recount to the little one about the trip where daddy's car got smashed up by massive hailstones.
Possible silver lining, now your car has aero dimples like a golf ball, your 20 mpg might increase to 20.1
Well, roadtrips are fun because of the memories they create - years from now it won't sting as much when you recount to the little one about the trip where daddy's car got smashed up by massive hailstones.
Possible silver lining, now your car has aero dimples like a golf ball, your 20 mpg might increase to 20.1
Thanks for the well wishes guys.
It will be interesting to see what the insurance company say when we're back. There will be a good chunk to spend on repairs given the value of them, but some bits like the roof won't be replaceable and will be tricky to repair. Who knows! Either way, I will use the next 7 weeks as to give the rear tyres a send off, just in case...
It will be interesting to see what the insurance company say when we're back. There will be a good chunk to spend on repairs given the value of them, but some bits like the roof won't be replaceable and will be tricky to repair. Who knows! Either way, I will use the next 7 weeks as to give the rear tyres a send off, just in case...
OM98 said:
Thanks for the well wishes guys.
It will be interesting to see what the insurance company say when we're back. There will be a good chunk to spend on repairs given the value of them, but some bits like the roof won't be replaceable and will be tricky to repair. Who knows! Either way, I will use the next 7 weeks as to give the rear tyres a send off, just in case...
I would push to have it repaired.It will be interesting to see what the insurance company say when we're back. There will be a good chunk to spend on repairs given the value of them, but some bits like the roof won't be replaceable and will be tricky to repair. Who knows! Either way, I will use the next 7 weeks as to give the rear tyres a send off, just in case...
Its not the sort of damage that would show on any register, and it would be mint afterwards.
Dinks in the roof would be pulled and filled.
The value of these are still very strong.
Time for an update. After the hail damage in France, I got the windscreen replaced (insurance) and continued to drive the car around France and Spain for a couple of months, much to the amusement of passers-by. It was certainly a good way to give much less of a toss about the inevitable parking dings it picked up when parallel parked in various on-street spots too.
The insurance took a couple of weeks but agreed to cover the circa £14k of work required without much debate, and even provided a thrilling Hyundai Elantra as the "equivalent replacement". The garage took the car in over 2 months ago, and after a long wait for a new bonnet, front wings, door trims, a side skirt and a rear spoiler, I should have the car back next week. I'm having them respray the bumpers and door mirrors, so it should be as good as new - I'm excited to get it back!
It being "as good as new" brings me onto a question - should I get PPF to protect the new paint from stone chips? The car will never be a garage queen - it's my only car, lives on the street, doesn't get washed often and is used for all the usual family stuff. It'll also never be particularly valuable - it's done 80k and that'll only rise. On the other hand, that "first stone chip" moment might be lessened slightly with PPF... Thoughts and an idea of cost for doing the front are welcome!
The insurance took a couple of weeks but agreed to cover the circa £14k of work required without much debate, and even provided a thrilling Hyundai Elantra as the "equivalent replacement". The garage took the car in over 2 months ago, and after a long wait for a new bonnet, front wings, door trims, a side skirt and a rear spoiler, I should have the car back next week. I'm having them respray the bumpers and door mirrors, so it should be as good as new - I'm excited to get it back!
It being "as good as new" brings me onto a question - should I get PPF to protect the new paint from stone chips? The car will never be a garage queen - it's my only car, lives on the street, doesn't get washed often and is used for all the usual family stuff. It'll also never be particularly valuable - it's done 80k and that'll only rise. On the other hand, that "first stone chip" moment might be lessened slightly with PPF... Thoughts and an idea of cost for doing the front are welcome!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff