Purchasing a W204 C63 - Advice Appreciated

Purchasing a W204 C63 - Advice Appreciated

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Discussion

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Tuesday 18th September 2018
quotequote all
Hi,

I've been watching (and wanting) the NA C63 for a while now, and am finally ready for the plunge. I had a few questions for anyone who has owned/knows a bit more about these cars and would appreciate any advice.

I'm being very fussy with the spec and maybe there are some of these options that I should reconsider?: Non PP/PPP and stock (mostly due to my insurance quotes being a fair whack more), 19" alloys, DAB, Harman Kardon, colour: not white/red ideally not silver, mileage <35k, 4dr saloon, 2013/14 model.

Other questions below:
1. I know the 19"s have a tendency to crack/buckle, is there any way to check for this when checking out a used car?
2. Is there anything else that I should be looking out for? I've searched and found things like cabin rattling can be a problem, but unsure if any other problems have come about now these cars are a few years old.
3. When test driving, is there anything I should look out for? Besides the obvious engine lights, steering/braking pulling etc.
4. Anything I should check for on the service history?

Any other advice/things I've missed would be much appreciated. cool

G13NVL

2,732 posts

83 months

Tuesday 18th September 2018
quotequote all
Can’t really check the wheels without taking them off and they do crack two of mine did and £600 each to replace.
All seem to get the odd rattle think it’s the firm ride and 19’s create them after a few years mine had a sqeeky sunroof aswel but sorted with abit of grease.
Full services history a must half the ones I looked at with ‘FMBSH’ had missing services or overdue.
Check disks/pads as they aren’t the cheapest to replace (more so if ppp) and people seem to get rid just before they need doing.
Oh and watch your shins on the exhaust when getting something out the boot after an ‘enthusiastic’ drive!

JimmyR1

108 posts

132 months

Wednesday 19th September 2018
quotequote all
Rattles can be quite subjective - what drives one person nuts another might be happy to put up with or simply not notice. I reckon the real howlers would have been sorted by now anyway. Try to drive a few to get a feel for how they sound, but if you are after a totally rattle/buzz/creak free C63 you will be looking for a long time.
19s as you have already learned can develop cracking but outside of motoring enthusiasts' websites I wonder how common it really is and the extent to which under inflated tyres or unsympathetic driving habits on bad road surfaces is a contributor. The 19s in my opinion look better than the 18s and are easier to keep clean. On the down side the tyres are considerably more expensive to replace than the 18s, offer inferior ride quality and arguably offer little additional grip to the typical driver.
If you can get a look at the inner aspect of the rims - from underneath at the rear or by turning fronts to full lock and back again - you might be able to spot evidence of previous repairs. Maybe a cracked rim that has been repaired properly is not all bad, but you should be extra vigilant for signs of abnormal tyre wear on the affected wheel, and look out for anything unusual on the test drive.
In terms of spec target the options that are important to you and not the next owner.
Depending on how fussy you are with your cars' appearance the drivers seat bolsters tend to cop a beating and can start to look pretty tatty. Similarly the hard plastic on the rears of the front seats can also scratch and scuff easily, and will be looking less than ordinary if the rear seats have been used a lot.
Not specific of course to the C63 it is always a good idea to check out Previous Destinations in the SatNav to get a feel for what the car has been up to and whether this fits with what the seller is telling you. If there are lots of MB dealers in there, or worse something like "Nurburgring", then perhaps a good idea to keep looking. Similarly the long term mpg reading will give a few clues as to what the car has been up to and how it has been driven.

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
G13NVL said:
Can’t really check the wheels without taking them off and they do crack two of mine did and £600 each to replace.
All seem to get the odd rattle think it’s the firm ride and 19’s create them after a few years mine had a sqeeky sunroof aswel but sorted with abit of grease.
Full services history a must half the ones I looked at with ‘FMBSH’ had missing services or overdue.
Check disks/pads as they aren’t the cheapest to replace (more so if ppp) and people seem to get rid just before they need doing.
Oh and watch your shins on the exhaust when getting something out the boot after an ‘enthusiastic’ drive!
Do you know if the service schedule is an annual service, regardless of mileage? I'm looking at fairly low mileage cars, so should I expect less frequent servicing?

Great advice on the shins, the tips do seem to stick out so I bet they've caught a few people out! laugh

JimmyR1 said:
Rattles can be quite subjective - what drives one person nuts another might be happy to put up with or simply not notice. I reckon the real howlers would have been sorted by now anyway. Try to drive a few to get a feel for how they sound, but if you are after a totally rattle/buzz/creak free C63 you will be looking for a long time.
19s as you have already learned can develop cracking but outside of motoring enthusiasts' websites I wonder how common it really is and the extent to which under inflated tyres or unsympathetic driving habits on bad road surfaces is a contributor. The 19s in my opinion look better than the 18s and are easier to keep clean. On the down side the tyres are considerably more expensive to replace than the 18s, offer inferior ride quality and arguably offer little additional grip to the typical driver.
If you can get a look at the inner aspect of the rims - from underneath at the rear or by turning fronts to full lock and back again - you might be able to spot evidence of previous repairs. Maybe a cracked rim that has been repaired properly is not all bad, but you should be extra vigilant for signs of abnormal tyre wear on the affected wheel, and look out for anything unusual on the test drive.
In terms of spec target the options that are important to you and not the next owner.
Depending on how fussy you are with your cars' appearance the drivers seat bolsters tend to cop a beating and can start to look pretty tatty. Similarly the hard plastic on the rears of the front seats can also scratch and scuff easily, and will be looking less than ordinary if the rear seats have been used a lot.
Not specific of course to the C63 it is always a good idea to check out Previous Destinations in the SatNav to get a feel for what the car has been up to and whether this fits with what the seller is telling you. If there are lots of MB dealers in there, or worse something like "Nurburgring", then perhaps a good idea to keep looking. Similarly the long term mpg reading will give a few clues as to what the car has been up to and how it has been driven.
Thanks for the tips. I'm pretty set on the 19s, so I guess I will have a thorough look to see if there are any obvious cracks/repairs. The cars that I've seen so far have all suffered from the bolster wear to some extent, so I've pretty much factored that in as a given! Never thought about checking the Sat Nav, but that is a top tip - I think alot of these cars will have been thrashed and any clues to finding out if this is the case are appreciated!

I actually seem to be having a hard with the cars that match my desired spec at the moment. I've now had three which have sold before I could get to them, I guess they're in hot demand at the moment?! confused For example, I saw an advert posted on Autotrader last night at 9-10pm and I called at lunchtime today to be told it had just been sold! Had a similar experience with a car I saw listed on the Approved Mercedes stock last week! Fingers crossed the right one for me comes about soon rotate

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
Does anybody have much experience with the Harman Kardon sound system? Is it a big step up from the stock speakers? It's something on my list, but I've not really compared cars with to cars withoutc

krisdelta

4,566 posts

200 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
Ah, someone with excellent taste smile good work! The standard stereo in the C63 is better than the HK set up in my last M3, I am sure it's a step up and a nice to have, but wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

There are a couple of readers cars threads on this, if you have a look through. Servicing is annual or 10k, whichever sooner. MCT oil every 37.5k IIRC, A = service small, B = service big - every 2nd B service, bigger (I think - spark plugs perhaps?).

19" wheel are very prone on UK roads - I am now on 18" and whilst it doesn't look as sharp, it's more stealthy (except the noise) and the ride is significantly better.

Happy shopping. Take the plunge!

noodleman

827 posts

212 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
The service is every year or 12k miles.

Worth it though. The best car I’ve owned (except the Elise). I’ve really fallen for it.

Mark83

1,157 posts

200 months

Saturday 22nd September 2018
quotequote all
I recently bought a low mileage, facelift PPP wagon with a long options list recently. I was swayed to the PPP. I liked the extra power, kudos of some SLS internals, red calipers and the alcantara steering wheel feels special. I'd like to think come resale, it'll be easier to sell. I didn't realise they were more expensive to insure. If you're looking to remap, both achieve similar figures.

  • Touches wood* no rattles in mine.
I have the 19in wheels but intend to swap for 18in due to cracking. My car had failed its last MOT for a cracked wheel and it needed replacing.

I have the HK sound system in mine. Couldn't tell you much though. I'm not really into my sound systems. As long as it plays the radio, I'm happy.

I wish I have bought one sooner. In estate form it's so practical and flies under the radar.

V8rumble

59 posts

201 months

Monday 24th September 2018
quotequote all
Hi just sold my 2011 estate. Best car I have ever had by a country mile, although hoping the next one will be even better. Yes a few ( very minor) squeaks and rattles but nothing that bothered me. Mainly on poor roads. Cracked alloys are a problem. My 19” wheels I had both rears discovered as cracked when new tyres fitted. Replaced new. Next was a front and had it welded, seemed okay and was about £120. Taken out tyre and wheel insurance on new car which is E class with 20” wheels. HK okay, but front speaker had gone crackly towards the end.

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
Best car I've owned since the evo.

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
krisdelta said:
Ah, someone with excellent taste smile good work! The standard stereo in the C63 is better than the HK set up in my last M3, I am sure it's a step up and a nice to have, but wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

There are a couple of readers cars threads on this, if you have a look through. Servicing is annual or 10k, whichever sooner. MCT oil every 37.5k IIRC, A = service small, B = service big - every 2nd B service, bigger (I think - spark plugs perhaps?).

19" wheel are very prone on UK roads - I am now on 18" and whilst it doesn't look as sharp, it's more stealthy (except the noise) and the ride is significantly better.

Happy shopping. Take the plunge!
I've stopped restricting my search to HK audio cars, having looked at a car with stock audio yesterday I agree it is plenty good enough! I've seen some cars with 'full service history' that have only had three stamps since 2013.. rolleyes Seems like a bit of a minefield finding a good saloon at the moment!

I'm still keen on the 19" wheels, but it seems a lot of people have switched to 18s after issues..

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
Mark83 said:
I recently bought a low mileage, facelift PPP wagon with a long options list recently. I was swayed to the PPP. I liked the extra power, kudos of some SLS internals, red calipers and the alcantara steering wheel feels special. I'd like to think come resale, it'll be easier to sell. I didn't realise they were more expensive to insure. If you're looking to remap, both achieve similar figures.

  • Touches wood* no rattles in mine.
I have the 19in wheels but intend to swap for 18in due to cracking. My car had failed its last MOT for a cracked wheel and it needed replacing.

I have the HK sound system in mine. Couldn't tell you much though. I'm not really into my sound systems. As long as it plays the radio, I'm happy.

I wish I have bought one sooner. In estate form it's so practical and flies under the radar.
I ran a few different plates by my insurance company and the difference for PP/PPP cars was noticeable, I think it may be down to age/car combo, and I'd rather spend the saving on extra rear tyres laugh

I don't plan to remap any time soon, but we'll see if I start getting the power addiction!

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
V8rumble said:
Hi just sold my 2011 estate. Best car I have ever had by a country mile, although hoping the next one will be even better. Yes a few ( very minor) squeaks and rattles but nothing that bothered me. Mainly on poor roads. Cracked alloys are a problem. My 19” wheels I had both rears discovered as cracked when new tyres fitted. Replaced new. Next was a front and had it welded, seemed okay and was about £120. Taken out tyre and wheel insurance on new car which is E class with 20” wheels. HK okay, but front speaker had gone crackly towards the end.
Looks great! Is the new E a 63? I'm actually looking at going from an E250 wagon to the C63, so a step up in power but a major step down in terms of space/practicality - but who needs practical when you have a big smile on your face? biggrin

Waser

5 posts

190 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
yo-gurt said:
Hi,

I've been watching (and wanting) the NA C63 for a while now, and am finally ready for the plunge. I had a few questions for anyone who has owned/knows a bit more about these cars and would appreciate any advice.

I'm being very fussy with the spec and maybe there are some of these options that I should reconsider?: Non PP/PPP and stock (mostly due to my insurance quotes being a fair whack more), 19" alloys, DAB, Harman Kardon, colour: not white/red ideally not silver, mileage <35k, 4dr saloon, 2013/14 model.

Other questions below:
1. I know the 19"s have a tendency to crack/buckle, is there any way to check for this when checking out a used car?
2. Is there anything else that I should be looking out for? I've searched and found things like cabin rattling can be a problem, but unsure if any other problems have come about now these cars are a few years old.
3. When test driving, is there anything I should look out for? Besides the obvious engine lights, steering/braking pulling etc.
4. Anything I should check for on the service history?

Any other advice/things I've missed would be much appreciated. cool
Your criteria was pretty much the same as mine. I bought one back in June this year. I wanted a dark colour PPP, 2013 or newer with 19", H/K and cream or two tone cream/black interior.

I managed to find one at a great price and it's by far the best car I've ever owned. I can't think of anything that I could possibly replace it with. I genuinely look forward to every drive and the sound / power makes even a routine weekly shop at Tesco an event. Might sound over dramatic but it's the truth lol

As some have said 19" to crack and you can't really check without the wheels off so I just checked as well as I could. I've since had all the alloys off and no cracks or signs of repairs so I'm happy. I wouldn't worry too much about the number of owners, most I saw had a lot as some owners only realise the cost of running one of these too late then sell after a short period.

My headliner in the cabin rattles a bit but it's not that bad. Some are worse than others of course. It was annoying initially now I just roll the window down and listen to the engine instead :-)

When test driving check for camber and pulling to either side. If it has FMBSH you should be able to call MB and ask for run down of the history.

The one thing I had as a nice to have on my list was a LSD but the PPP was a must have. Mine doesn't have the LSD but from my research the aftermarket Wavetrac LSD is better and lower maintenance than the MB fitted LSD anyway and doesn't cost the earth should you want one at a later date.

irish boy

3,523 posts

235 months

Tuesday 25th September 2018
quotequote all
Superb cars, one of the most bullet proof high performance cars out there. They also hold their money well which somewhat offsets the fuel consumption.

Servicing is very reasonable, I had a B service this year with merc which was £250, included a loan car and they left a litre of oil and a litre of screen wash in the car. I didn't bother with extending the warranty based on how reliable my last one was, and how good my friends e63 has been, both much higher miles than my 17k car. Merc also only put my break pad wear at 20% at 17k. Obviously not trying hard enough.

Options are very confusing. As far as I can tell, the performance pack was coded a p30 in the pre facelift and included the lsd, the facelift car is was changed to p31 and dropped the lsd which needs to be shown extra as option code 471. To make things worse, the facelift cars for some reason show option code p30 on the Mercedes vin checker.

From what research I've done it seems to not have changed numbers in Germany after the facelift. I got caught out with this as did the seller, having printed out the list of options my 2013 car had, p30 was one of them, a quick google showed this included the lsd and he advertised it as such, and I bought it as such. He never drove the car hard so didn't know, and it is not the sort of thing you check on a test drive. One night a few weeks later I decided to apply a 'dab of oppo' out of a wet and wide junction. Much to my surprise the only thing happened was a single stripe up the road. Sorted now with a quaife soon to be fitted, but was an expensive mistake. Had the whole thing been simpler I would have chipped the seller the cost of the parts at least. The extra hp in the performance pack is felt, and in my opinion every bit as strong as the 520 horse mapped cars.

All in all as said a great car, and one that many people like myself are on their second one having not been able to find a car that ticks as many boxes. I did drive a w205 but it didn't feel or look as special, and despite early w205's being almost level with late w204's, I still went with the older car.

Edited by irish boy on Friday 12th October 16:08

V8rumble

59 posts

201 months

Thursday 27th September 2018
quotequote all
Hi yo-guru,

The new car is an E63S estate. Now at the detainers having a paint protection film on the front and ceramic coating on the rest of the paint work. I will post picture next week. Paint protection film because C63 suffered from loads of stone chips - probably due to my bad style of driving more than anything else. As others have said, car is bullet proof.

yo-gurt

Original Poster:

32 posts

68 months

Saturday 29th September 2018
quotequote all
So I had an offer accepted on an obsidian black 2013 car with 27k on the clock bounce

It’s not a brand new car and all 4 wheels could do with a refurb, new tyres and brake pads needed and a couple of other minor niggles - which all add up, but I’d like to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Having looked at a few cars from various dealers, with questionable wheel refurbs that was one of the things I don’t mind getting done properly anyway. Does anybody have an good recommendations on alloy refurbishment? I’ve been quoted around £450-500 by Pristine Wheels in Milton Keynes.

Also, my insurance are insisting on a tracker for the car, and they seem to be a fair bit cheaper than the next best quote. Any recommendations?

I’m picking her up on Wednesday, so let’s hope I can contain my excitement until then! biggrin



Edited by yo-gurt on Saturday 29th September 08:45

V8rumble

59 posts

201 months

Saturday 29th September 2018
quotequote all
Well done Yo, looks a beauty and low miles too. I cannot help you on wheel refurb in Milton Keynes, but I was quoted £95 a corner by place in High Wycombe for cash so I think you are in the right ball park. Places seem to charge an extra £10 a wheel as they are diamond cut.
May as well get a Shell loyalty card now though!

CousinDupree

779 posts

66 months

Monday 1st October 2018
quotequote all
Lovely! Black works so well on C63s.

Pristine wheels in Woburn do a great job. Not the cheapest though.

jet_noise

5,631 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2018
quotequote all
yo-gurt said:
<snip>
Also, my insurance are insisting on a tracker for the car, and they seem to be a fair bit cheaper than the next best quote. Any recommendations?
Change insurer.
A quote'd have to be a lot cheaper to make it economical to have a tracker.
Based on my experience with a Monaro maybe 8 years ago and a CLS63 maybe 3.
IIRC install cost was about £150 and yearly subscription another £80.
You may wish to do so for other reasons but economy isn't one of them.

YMMV