Any reason not to buy a W205 C63?
Discussion
sanguinary said:
From what I understand, it's potential for ruinous bills exceeds the 204.
Great car, not as raw as the 204, but the interior is much more on spec for a modern car.
It has a very clever electronic rear diff, only found on the C63 I understand. Very expensive if it fails. Very, very expensive!
But, to be fair, they do appear to be fairly robust. Just keep some cash aside, just in case!
Any rough idea on cost? Great car, not as raw as the 204, but the interior is much more on spec for a modern car.
It has a very clever electronic rear diff, only found on the C63 I understand. Very expensive if it fails. Very, very expensive!
But, to be fair, they do appear to be fairly robust. Just keep some cash aside, just in case!
Probably not representative to you, as the failed diff took some other bits with it, including a drive shaft. I think the total bill was around 8k. The car was off the road for almost three months whilst merc sourced the bits. This was about a year ago.
The diff wasn’t replaced as warranty as merc claimed wear and tear.
The diff wasn’t replaced as warranty as merc claimed wear and tear.
sanguinary said:
Probably not representative to you, as the failed diff took some other bits with it, including a drive shaft. I think the total bill was around 8k. The car was off the road for almost three months whilst merc sourced the bits. This was about a year ago.
The diff wasn’t replaced as warranty as merc claimed wear and tear.
Thanks for the info. Mine has only done 21K miles, so not sure wear and tear would be the reason for failure in my case. The diff wasn’t replaced as warranty as merc claimed wear and tear.
I’ve had the C63 W204 for over 3 years now, love it, great build quality, so quiet & comfortable on the road.
Until you hit the loud pedal.
Apart from the usual servicing, MB & specialist, the biggest bill I’ve had was a new MB original condenser, fitted by my local Honda dealer, £990.
Thinking of storing it for a year as want a Nissan GTR now.
Good luck with the search, like me, I recommend getting from an authorised MB garage, like has already been said, comes with a 2 yr AMG warranty.
Until you hit the loud pedal.
Apart from the usual servicing, MB & specialist, the biggest bill I’ve had was a new MB original condenser, fitted by my local Honda dealer, £990.
Thinking of storing it for a year as want a Nissan GTR now.
Good luck with the search, like me, I recommend getting from an authorised MB garage, like has already been said, comes with a 2 yr AMG warranty.
Picked up a W205 estate at the start of the year. Awesome bit of kit - track days and dump runs, what more could you want.
I clearly didn’t buy it for its fuel economy but managed 34 mpg on a 200 mile motorway run.
I was initially looking for a S204 but figured the S205 would make a better occasional daily. The S/W204s are approaching garage queen status in my opinion - I love them.
I recently did an experience day at MB World and my instructor said that all the of the instructors prefer the pre facelift 205 non-S with the mechanical diff. I’m sure it doesn’t make a difference in my amateur hands, but apparently if you know what you’re doing the mechanical diff is sweeter. I wasn’t a fan of the enhanced sound in the 2019 I drove.
The motor is glorious, the box is not DCT but good enough, and I was pleasantly surprised by steering feel and handling characteristics for such a heavy modern car.
I clearly didn’t buy it for its fuel economy but managed 34 mpg on a 200 mile motorway run.
I was initially looking for a S204 but figured the S205 would make a better occasional daily. The S/W204s are approaching garage queen status in my opinion - I love them.
I recently did an experience day at MB World and my instructor said that all the of the instructors prefer the pre facelift 205 non-S with the mechanical diff. I’m sure it doesn’t make a difference in my amateur hands, but apparently if you know what you’re doing the mechanical diff is sweeter. I wasn’t a fan of the enhanced sound in the 2019 I drove.
The motor is glorious, the box is not DCT but good enough, and I was pleasantly surprised by steering feel and handling characteristics for such a heavy modern car.
Edited by JAMSXR on Tuesday 5th April 23:00
I had a 21 plate for 3 months, from new. The build quality was pony, as was the dealer based near Gatwick.
Spent more time with them in that period than with me.
Shame, as I had wanted one for ages and it was stunning in Silver.
I had a M5 comp while I was waiting for another car. So much better than my C63s and I would have another one of those in a heartbeat.
Spent more time with them in that period than with me.
Shame, as I had wanted one for ages and it was stunning in Silver.
I had a M5 comp while I was waiting for another car. So much better than my C63s and I would have another one of those in a heartbeat.
C63sxb said:
I had a 21 plate for 3 months, from new. The build quality was pony, as was the dealer based near Gatwick.
Spent more time with them in that period than with me.
Shame, as I had wanted one for ages and it was stunning in Silver.
I had a M5 comp while I was waiting for another car. So much better than my C63s and I would have another one of those in a heartbeat.
I have read some reports that build quality isn't exactly stellar. What went wrong on yours?Spent more time with them in that period than with me.
Shame, as I had wanted one for ages and it was stunning in Silver.
I had a M5 comp while I was waiting for another car. So much better than my C63s and I would have another one of those in a heartbeat.
I do like the M5 (F10 is in budget), but I've driven them before and just find them too big for me personally. I know the W205 isn't small, but it's about half a size down from the F10.
Buffy d said:
I have read some reports that build quality isn't exactly stellar. What went wrong on yours?
I do like the M5 (F10 is in budget), but I've driven them before and just find them too big for me personally. I know the W205 isn't small, but it's about half a size down from the F10.
Love my S205 C63 (pre facelift) mechanical slip diff. I do like the M5 (F10 is in budget), but I've driven them before and just find them too big for me personally. I know the W205 isn't small, but it's about half a size down from the F10.
Great looks
The sound it’s what it’s all about
The grunt it’s fast everywhere. I normally leave it in comfort but change to sport or sport + or individual - I do like the flick forward of modes to individual and that’s mad man mode.
Economy is good as others have said long trip well over 30 mpg whereas a 35mile trip (non stop start in town) mine gets to 26-28 season dependant.
It’s front end as in handling is great
Brakes well for me moving from a 535d F10 we’re worlds apart
Value the estates seem to hold most value from what I’ve seen.
Failures well in 30 odd months I’ve had the oil cooler (I think it was that) holes by a chipping of some sort that was from memory £750 and unexpected.
It is the modern day hammer wagon.
I do wonder what the top speed of these are? The old C55 was a 174mph car all day long how much faster is the S205 C63? I’ve seen no tests for v max nor any YouTube vids which is strange. Personally I’ve only breached the ton a couple of times mostly I enjoy the 30-80 punch so flexible.
I did consider the M5 F10 but coming from a F10 535d it didn’t seem too different plus that was a wide car on B roads & I wanted an estate and wanted to find a F10 M5 with folding split rear seats…. Hens teeth
Buffy d said:
I have read some reports that build quality isn't exactly stellar. What went wrong on yours?
I do like the M5 (F10 is in budget), but I've driven them before and just find them too big for me personally. I know the W205 isn't small, but it's about half a size down from the F10.
It had a leak on a gearbox oil cooler, it was delivered with damaged interior panels, sunroof was temperamental. When driving it on the concrete section of the M25, you needed ear plugs due to rattles.I do like the M5 (F10 is in budget), but I've driven them before and just find them too big for me personally. I know the W205 isn't small, but it's about half a size down from the F10.
i sold it after 3000 miles, WBAC bought it for £7k more than I paid.
The M5 is big, but the C63 is no light weight and it feels more hot rod than sports car.
I’ve just got a 992 GTS now, it’s an amazing car but the M5 has left a genuine hole.
C63sxb said:
It had a leak on a gearbox oil cooler, it was delivered with damaged interior panels, sunroof was temperamental. When driving it on the concrete section of the M25, you needed ear plugs due to rattles.
i sold it after 3000 miles, WBAC bought it for £7k more than I paid.
The M5 is big, but the C63 is no light weight and it feels more hot rod than sports car.
I’ve just got a 992 GTS now, it’s an amazing car but the M5 has left a genuine hole.
What was the M5 F10 like on B roads? I found F10 535d to feel wide. i sold it after 3000 miles, WBAC bought it for £7k more than I paid.
The M5 is big, but the C63 is no light weight and it feels more hot rod than sports car.
I’ve just got a 992 GTS now, it’s an amazing car but the M5 has left a genuine hole.
Welshbeef said:
What was the M5 F10 like on B roads? I found F10 535d to feel wide.
It was an F90, but to be honest I can’t see it being much different.I guess you just can’t get away from the weight/size. They are large vehicles, I found it quite easy to place.
my whole C63 experience was tainted, a good friend also got one at the same time. His dealer Guildford, we’re great.
SmithCorona said:
I echo the comments above. My c63 was a big pile of meh, my F90 comp. remains my favourite all round car I have ever owned - and the only car I miss.
And yet the F90 comp has been roundly flagged as not great and not worth the extra over base whereas the CS is an ECOTY. Shame that BMW never continued with the M5 estate, I would have been all over that. My 340i, although a good car, was dull as dishwasher.
Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
JAMSXR said:
Shame that BMW never continued with the M5 estate, I would have been all over that. My 340i, although a good car, was dull as dishwasher.
Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
And unless you use you private car on a track - then swooping through B roads at 60mph pretty much any road car could sustain that. Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
JAMSXR said:
Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
It depends what you baseline it against. Steering isn't very good in a 205, its reasonably direct but turn in could be far sharper and there is no feel - certainly not a patch on an M product, or many JLR. Rear end isn't twitchy on it either, extremely predictable.
Also, you can absolutely feel the weight of it, espescially the rear of the estate, and especially on track - which I took mine on.
I drove mine, properly, in all weather; it just isn't that good a car. The f90 comp is night and day a better car, apart from the lack of estate tailgate.
SmithCorona said:
JAMSXR said:
Horses for courses, but I feel like you must be doing something wrong to find the C63, meh. Good steering feel and a twitchy rear make it a winner in my books. I guess if you’re looking for train track type performance it’s not that way inclined.
It depends what you baseline it against. Steering isn't very good in a 205, its reasonably direct but turn in could be far sharper and there is no feel - certainly not a patch on an M product, or many JLR. Rear end isn't twitchy on it either, extremely predictable.
Also, you can absolutely feel the weight of it, espescially the rear of the estate, and especially on track - which I took mine on.
I drove mine, properly, in all weather; it just isn't that good a car. The f90 comp is night and day a better car, apart from the lack of estate tailgate.
I’m guessing using all the horses in third and higher gears on the public highway…?
That aside I think you’ll find Chris Harris a rather experienced road tested / racing driver disagrees with you fundamentally.
OP this is a great video of the car
https://youtu.be/n4XUTu2lzTo
Oh well, if Chris Harris says it then my opinion is invalid.
Of course, he owned one for years, drove it tens of thousands of miles and formed a full real world opinion as opposed to a day long paid jaunt around estriol or wherever.
Ironically, that video is what made me order one because I had test driven and found it "meh" - but watched that a few times and thought "I'll buy one anyway as I maybe didnt get the whole experience and Chris Harris thinks its good" - I watched it many times as mine was being built. Six-ish years later, my opinion is still "meh".
The F80 M3 is a better drivers car, the RS4 of the same era is better built and more comfortable, and there are more characterful engines in the 5.0s that JLR and Lexus have/had.
The 205 isn't the best c63 estate, and, ignoring tech and overall power, the c55 is a better daily. The 4.0 TT is probably fourth in the hierarchy of modern AMG engines.
If I have to point to a respected motor journalist from Top Gear to validate my opinion (as seems to be the precedent) then I'll pick Clarkson's Times review of the 205 63 - that's bang on the money without the rose tinted spectacles.
Finally, have I used all of the horsepower on a public road and wrung through the gears?
Well, if I answer yes I am certain you will jump on me and suggest that I am irresponsible, have broken the speed limit and killed all the local wildlife because "blah blah gear ratio, tops out at whatever in fourth etc.". However, I have, in Germany - where it is entirely legal to do so - and, as mentioned, on track. The same in the M5C, and many other things.
Have you used all of the horsepower in third and fourth?
Of course, he owned one for years, drove it tens of thousands of miles and formed a full real world opinion as opposed to a day long paid jaunt around estriol or wherever.
Ironically, that video is what made me order one because I had test driven and found it "meh" - but watched that a few times and thought "I'll buy one anyway as I maybe didnt get the whole experience and Chris Harris thinks its good" - I watched it many times as mine was being built. Six-ish years later, my opinion is still "meh".
The F80 M3 is a better drivers car, the RS4 of the same era is better built and more comfortable, and there are more characterful engines in the 5.0s that JLR and Lexus have/had.
The 205 isn't the best c63 estate, and, ignoring tech and overall power, the c55 is a better daily. The 4.0 TT is probably fourth in the hierarchy of modern AMG engines.
If I have to point to a respected motor journalist from Top Gear to validate my opinion (as seems to be the precedent) then I'll pick Clarkson's Times review of the 205 63 - that's bang on the money without the rose tinted spectacles.
Finally, have I used all of the horsepower on a public road and wrung through the gears?
Well, if I answer yes I am certain you will jump on me and suggest that I am irresponsible, have broken the speed limit and killed all the local wildlife because "blah blah gear ratio, tops out at whatever in fourth etc.". However, I have, in Germany - where it is entirely legal to do so - and, as mentioned, on track. The same in the M5C, and many other things.
Have you used all of the horsepower in third and fourth?
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