C63 Estate - the "sensible" family car
Discussion
Another C63 estate owner checking in.
I too swapped from 19s to 18s and it was win win. The ride definitely improved, cheaper tyres and no worries about the brittle OEM 19s cracking. It also helps the car fly under the radar a little more. I sold the 19s which paid for two sets of 18s, one of which had winter tyres on so I'm covered all year round.
Took me ages to find the right car. Eventually went for one that ticked all the boxes except an LSD so that's on my list too.
I too swapped from 19s to 18s and it was win win. The ride definitely improved, cheaper tyres and no worries about the brittle OEM 19s cracking. It also helps the car fly under the radar a little more. I sold the 19s which paid for two sets of 18s, one of which had winter tyres on so I'm covered all year round.
Took me ages to find the right car. Eventually went for one that ticked all the boxes except an LSD so that's on my list too.
A small update as I've spent most of the last month out of the country, the car continues to behave well and I've just booked it in for it's 3rd B service at Guildford Mercedes - I did consider getting it done at an independant but the difference was only £100.
£454 for a "B" service on a monster like the C63 is seriously good value in my view at a main dealer - cheaper than a years road tax! A large part of this is the discount on labour costs over 3 (or 5?) years old.
I want to get the car detailed this spring, so looking for local options that don't cost a billion pounds.
Taking a look at values, I've racked up 15k in the last 30 months of ownership (I am disappointed in myself too - usually higher mileage!)
I think £22k on the used market is probably about right, although I may get more - the cheapest 2013 car is 23.5k with 60k miles.
So far that would make £7800 depreciation / £3100 a year. I think my man maths vs a Golf R estate are spot on...
£454 for a "B" service on a monster like the C63 is seriously good value in my view at a main dealer - cheaper than a years road tax! A large part of this is the discount on labour costs over 3 (or 5?) years old.
I want to get the car detailed this spring, so looking for local options that don't cost a billion pounds.
Taking a look at values, I've racked up 15k in the last 30 months of ownership (I am disappointed in myself too - usually higher mileage!)
I think £22k on the used market is probably about right, although I may get more - the cheapest 2013 car is 23.5k with 60k miles.
So far that would make £7800 depreciation / £3100 a year. I think my man maths vs a Golf R estate are spot on...
The car sailed through the service, they couldn't find anything worn or upset needing to be replaced - not bad going for a now 6 year old monster of a car.
It's covered just over 47.5k miles now and only one sensor has gone awry in that time, besides that - purely consumables and lots and lots of petrol, so much petrol!
The Goodyear Eagles are lasting well, 18 months and 9k miles with plenty of meat left in them still. Better than the OEM Conti's on the 19's which ate themselves on the inner edge in 6k miles.
I did a tip run on the weekend with a single divan base, mattress and bedroom carpet just dropping the rear seats - so many boxes are ticked by this car and lets remind ourselves - cheaper over 3 years than a Golf R or Focus ST Estate
It's covered just over 47.5k miles now and only one sensor has gone awry in that time, besides that - purely consumables and lots and lots of petrol, so much petrol!
The Goodyear Eagles are lasting well, 18 months and 9k miles with plenty of meat left in them still. Better than the OEM Conti's on the 19's which ate themselves on the inner edge in 6k miles.
I did a tip run on the weekend with a single divan base, mattress and bedroom carpet just dropping the rear seats - so many boxes are ticked by this car and lets remind ourselves - cheaper over 3 years than a Golf R or Focus ST Estate
Very nice. I’m having dangerous thoughts of getting one of these in a few months. I came close to buying a C63 saloon but ended up in a ISF. I’m all about the wagon life now though after buying a Saab 9-3 estate to shed about in.
There don’t seem to be many for sale but my budget would get me a 09 pre facelift with 70-80k on the clock. Is there anything to look out for on these? I know the earlier models had issues with the head bolts.
There don’t seem to be many for sale but my budget would get me a 09 pre facelift with 70-80k on the clock. Is there anything to look out for on these? I know the earlier models had issues with the head bolts.
As the summer holidays draw to a close, the sensible car has taken it all in its stride. Snacks whilst on the way home from holiday club, sand covered...everything after a day at the beach, food, drinks and grumpy kids as we wafted through France (25mpg - yeah, wafted). One wipe down with a damp microfibre cloth and a touch of Sonus leather conditioner and I can pretend all is well with the world, if I close my ears and eyes, at least.
The great thing about a car with no mpg is that when you put a roof box on it makes no difference. It’s always like someone has stuck a screwdriver through the fuel tank. The best I saw on a tank was 28mpg in France, the drive south was slow due to rain and roadworks.
I can strongly recommend a Tag if you’re driving in France, during holidays it can save 10 minutes at a toll station, swanning though a TAG lane at 20mph is amongst the best feelings you can get whilst fully clothed.
The great thing about a car with no mpg is that when you put a roof box on it makes no difference. It’s always like someone has stuck a screwdriver through the fuel tank. The best I saw on a tank was 28mpg in France, the drive south was slow due to rain and roadworks.
I can strongly recommend a Tag if you’re driving in France, during holidays it can save 10 minutes at a toll station, swanning though a TAG lane at 20mph is amongst the best feelings you can get whilst fully clothed.
krisdelta said:
The great thing about a car with no mpg is that when you put a roof box on it makes no difference. It’s always like someone has stuck a screwdriver through the fuel tank. The best I saw on a tank was 28mpg in France, the drive south was slow due to rain and roadworks.
Made me laugh - brililant line I will use it with the LC as despite breaking 30 mpg on the way from Norfolk to Milan a few years back (Mrs BC on board) it resolutely refuses to do better than 24 mpg now - Mrs BC hates itkrisdelta said:
I can strongly recommend a Tag if you’re driving in France, during holidays it can save 10 minutes at a toll station, swanning though a TAG lane at 20mph is amongst the best feelings you can get whilst fully clothed.
We got tags for both France and Italy for our Euro trip back in May. Became a bit of a game seeing how fast we could go through the TAG lane. Foot hovering over the brake incase the barrier didn't go up, the anticipation and build up waiting for the 'BEEP', to be followed by a cheer and flooring it it when it did beep last minute 
Kewy said:
krisdelta said:
I can strongly recommend a Tag if you’re driving in France, during holidays it can save 10 minutes at a toll station, swanning though a TAG lane at 20mph is amongst the best feelings you can get whilst fully clothed.
We got tags for both France and Italy for our Euro trip back in May. Became a bit of a game seeing how fast we could go through the TAG lane. Foot hovering over the brake incase the barrier didn't go up, the anticipation and build up waiting for the 'BEEP', to be followed by a cheer and flooring it it when it did beep last minute Love these; that engine makes one of the best noises ever. And it’s shoehorned into a relatively modest estate / saloon. Ace. I think these are better looking than the replacements (the estate being the best of a bad bunch).
Yours looks great in red and I much prefer the smaller wheels.
Yours looks great in red and I much prefer the smaller wheels.
B'stard Child said:
krisdelta said:
The great thing about a car with no mpg is that when you put a roof box on it makes no difference. It’s always like someone has stuck a screwdriver through the fuel tank. The best I saw on a tank was 28mpg in France, the drive south was slow due to rain and roadworks.
Made me laugh - brililant line I will use it with the LC as despite breaking 30 mpg on the way from Norfolk to Milan a few years back (Mrs BC on board) it resolutely refuses to do better than 24 mpg now - Mrs BC hates itjoropug said:
C350 said:
As a fellow W204 owner, I’ve been watching this thread with envy...
I have the little brother C350 petrol, and you’re not that far behind mpg wise. This is one of my recent efforts on a long run
Here's my effort , admittedly my engine is a third of the size of the OPs....I have the little brother C350 petrol, and you’re not that far behind mpg wise. This is one of my recent efforts on a long run
*other genders are available.
p1stonhead said:
B'stard Child said:
krisdelta said:
The great thing about a car with no mpg is that when you put a roof box on it makes no difference. It’s always like someone has stuck a screwdriver through the fuel tank. The best I saw on a tank was 28mpg in France, the drive south was slow due to rain and roadworks.
Made me laugh - brililant line I will use it with the LC as despite breaking 30 mpg on the way from Norfolk to Milan a few years back (Mrs BC on board) it resolutely refuses to do better than 24 mpg now - Mrs BC hates it
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff