S205 C63 estate
Discussion
Having sold my M4 Competition to free up some cash for our extension and learning I'm going to be a dad, the only obvious family car was another C63 estate, having had a S204 C63 estate before the M4 which I still regret selling.
I sold the M4 at the end of August for a good price. Spent a few months waiting for the right car. A very patient mate and Mercedes specialist steered me to a non-S to avoid the potential e-diff failure. The Drexler LSD being much more robust. He also put up with my endless WhatsApps with various AT and PH links; no, no, no, yes. Options wise I wanted 360 camera, noisy exhaust button and HUD. If it came with a reputable remap, that would be a bonus.
This car popped up in PH classified in late November that ticked all the boxes except the HUD and with an MSL remap. I went to view and the seller was really nice chap and obviously looked after the car. 580bhp-ish was a bonus. FMBSH including a service and MOT the day before I collected from him so a year until either of those are needed. Newish MPS4S tyres. Brakes have plenty of life left.
I've always said the C63s are great 8/10ths car which is what this is and what I wanted.
Running costs have been minimal as expected as it was well looked after and needed nothing when I bought it. Annoyingly reversed into our builder's skip which fortunately cost less than £200 at the body shop. I want to visit Royal Steering Wheels for a re-trimmed steering wheel but that it.
You'll probably want to know MPG - 20mpg but my driving is mainly around town. The sail function is great for motorway MPG and saw 35mpg.
I sold the M4 at the end of August for a good price. Spent a few months waiting for the right car. A very patient mate and Mercedes specialist steered me to a non-S to avoid the potential e-diff failure. The Drexler LSD being much more robust. He also put up with my endless WhatsApps with various AT and PH links; no, no, no, yes. Options wise I wanted 360 camera, noisy exhaust button and HUD. If it came with a reputable remap, that would be a bonus.
This car popped up in PH classified in late November that ticked all the boxes except the HUD and with an MSL remap. I went to view and the seller was really nice chap and obviously looked after the car. 580bhp-ish was a bonus. FMBSH including a service and MOT the day before I collected from him so a year until either of those are needed. Newish MPS4S tyres. Brakes have plenty of life left.
I've always said the C63s are great 8/10ths car which is what this is and what I wanted.
Running costs have been minimal as expected as it was well looked after and needed nothing when I bought it. Annoyingly reversed into our builder's skip which fortunately cost less than £200 at the body shop. I want to visit Royal Steering Wheels for a re-trimmed steering wheel but that it.
You'll probably want to know MPG - 20mpg but my driving is mainly around town. The sail function is great for motorway MPG and saw 35mpg.
Edited by Mark83 on Thursday 7th December 15:19
Boobonman said:
Lovely colour and a great plate too.
I realised I buy a lot of blue cars. Over half my car history is blue. Randomly stumbled across the plate on the DVLA website last week and it was one of the cheapest so it was an impulse buy. I assigned it yesterday and updated my insurer but some databases haven't updated so expecting a tug by the police if I pass one until that's rectified.
JAMSXR said:
You’ve had some nice blue cars, will the C63 make it to the ring?
Unlikely. Our first baby is due in six weeks so will be a while until I can get back out there. It's probably not the best of cars to lap either but would be nice to open it up on the autobahn. Edited by JAMSXR on Sunday 5th February 07:14
jwwbowe said:
Brilliant nice colour they are quite understated compared to a M car IMO, good to see it being pressed into proper estate duties to 
How does it compare to the S204 in terms of boring stuff like ride comfort, rear seat space etc? I’d consider both a S204 or S205 to replace our family bus and things like this are now a consideration 
Both have decent rear leg room although an adult will be a little squashed behind me in the 205 and I'm only 5'10. Both swallow the garden shed with the rear seats folded. Not tried it in the 205 but the 204 swallowed my bike with both wheels left on. How does it compare to the S204 in terms of boring stuff like ride comfort, rear seat space etc? I’d consider both a S204 or S205 to replace our family bus and things like this are now a consideration 
S204
I swapped the fragile 19s for 18 and the ride improved massively.
The engine is the reason to buy the car alone.
Driver's seat is probably the most comfortable seat I've sat in.
S205
Firm ride on the 19s and clenched a few times with surprise potholes. Considering some 18s for next winter.
Infotainment is obviously a step up.
LSD as standard
Better MPG
Easily tuned
A better daily driver
I would have bought either and was looking at both. My priority was a car that offered value for money. It just so happens this S205 came along.
I was looking at, and about to buy a facelift W212 E63 until my mate who's a Mercedes specialist and a local specialist strongly suggested the S205 over the 5.5 W212. They said the 4.0 is more reliable and robust than the 5.5. One example that stuck in my head was any turbo work on the 5.5 is an engine out job rather than on top of the engine like the 4.0. Maybe the pre-facelift with the 6.2 is the safer bet but they're over 10 years old now.
Edited by Mark83 on Sunday 5th February 13:43
I'm poking fate with a pointy stick here but my S204 was faultless apart from servicing which wasn't cheap for the big B (£1000+) service, although that was cushioned by a £40/m service plan. Too early to say in S205 experience but fully expecting AMG tax like the M tax I paid on my M3 and M4.
Edited by Mark83 on Sunday 5th February 17:57
jwwbowe said:
on the TT 5.5 well noted. We’ve had VAG cars for a long time as A. We get on with them and B. We have an excellent VAG specialist nearby. A switch to Mercedes would mean a new hunt for another specialist, is there an AMG tax in your experience? There very much is with RS (not so much S cars) our specialist warns me away from a C7 RS6 anytime you care to mention them for that very reason as a lot of the parts (even outside of the engine & box) are bespoke to the RS cars. Specialist wise, Gareth at Ace Engineering in Billingshurst (West Sussex) is brilliant for all things AMG, he's a Mercedes specialist and wish I lived closer to him.
ftogpx said:
What a small world! I bought Mark's S204 C63 back in Dec 2019! Congrats on the news of the new arrival mate - your life is about to change in many wonderful (and some not so wonderful 
) ways. I bought your old C63 because I'd just had my first.... and now I've got two!
The new car looks great! Love the blue!
You'll be happy to know the old girl is still going strong... she's had many a trip to North Wales to blow the cobwebs away, and is a constant source of irritation to the other parents when driving off from the nursery pick up
I've had a map and secondary cat delete to give a bit more sound on full throttle, and I couldn't resist a bit of dechroming and adding the 19s back (cos I'm a tart 
).
I've been toying with replacing her for some time now... purely because I feel like a bit of a change (I also had the coupe version before this) and as you say, the ride quality is pretty bad on the 19s (not ideal as a daily driver family car with our shocking roads). But tbh, I just can't find something suitable to replace it with... I test drove the S205 C63, F80 M3, an S212 E63, and an Audi RS6 C7. All have clear plus points over the S204 C63 (mainly daily driver comfort, interior improvements, and looks - especially the RS6!). But ultimately, they just couldn't replicate the soul and emotional response I get from the 6.2 V8. Perhaps when we look to move to a two car family I'll have more success replacing her with a dedicated sports car, but as a single 'do it all' family car, she's def a keeper!
Congratulations on your second! ) ways. I bought your old C63 because I'd just had my first.... and now I've got two! The new car looks great! Love the blue!
You'll be happy to know the old girl is still going strong... she's had many a trip to North Wales to blow the cobwebs away, and is a constant source of irritation to the other parents when driving off from the nursery pick up
I've had a map and secondary cat delete to give a bit more sound on full throttle, and I couldn't resist a bit of dechroming and adding the 19s back (cos I'm a tart ). I've been toying with replacing her for some time now... purely because I feel like a bit of a change (I also had the coupe version before this) and as you say, the ride quality is pretty bad on the 19s (not ideal as a daily driver family car with our shocking roads). But tbh, I just can't find something suitable to replace it with... I test drove the S205 C63, F80 M3, an S212 E63, and an Audi RS6 C7. All have clear plus points over the S204 C63 (mainly daily driver comfort, interior improvements, and looks - especially the RS6!). But ultimately, they just couldn't replicate the soul and emotional response I get from the 6.2 V8. Perhaps when we look to move to a two car family I'll have more success replacing her with a dedicated sports car, but as a single 'do it all' family car, she's def a keeper!
Great to hear you're still enjoying it. I've never had so much seller's remorse than seeing you drive off and ever since to be honest. It's the one car I've owned that I would buy again.
Sounds like you've looked at every car I also looked at too before I settled on this one. I don't blame you for wanting keeping your car, it was faultless when I had it and loved owning it.
I can see myself keeping this long term and buying a fun car to compliment it once we've recovered financially from our son's arrival and the extension.
Latest car related purchase
Networkgeek said:
Fantastic C63, I really do like these cars. I really thought about buying one but decided to go for a BMW M2 instead. Talking of Clio RS200's, I still daily drive mine.
It does make me chuckle how many owners of really fast cars, either want a Clio RS or have one tucked away. It really is only a matter of time before the Clio RS start shooting up in value, well, that's what I keep telling my other half
.
I have a lot of love for M2s, I'm sure you're enjoying it. It does make me chuckle how many owners of really fast cars, either want a Clio RS or have one tucked away. It really is only a matter of time before the Clio RS start shooting up in value, well, that's what I keep telling my other half
. Genuinely loved my Clio 200 Cup and such fond memories, particularly on track; a great duel at Oulton and a three-way battle with two other 200s around Spa. Both ending in boiled brake fluid and taking too much of a liberty into a safe chicane with run off. I'm keeping an eye out for a clean Meglio 200 at a sensible price.
Networkgeek said:
The M2 is utterly fantastic, it's incredibly comfortable, effortlessly fast and the soundtrack from the N55 engine is lovely. But, I still look forward to driving my Clio Cup every day. They're just so much fun and now I have the M2, I don't crave more power from the Clio.
If you can find a good Meglio, you'll be onto such a winner. I had a play with a Meglio at Thruxton last year, I believe it was running 280/290bhp and at no point could my Clio keep up.
Spa is a fast circuit, how did the Clio get on there? I found mine was somewhat down on power at Thruxton when compared to the speed of all the other cars.
I was at Oulton last year in my M4 Comp having a nightmare in the rain. The fastest car that day was a Meglio on wets. It was comically fast and on rails, obviously racing wets aided massively but still. If you can find a good Meglio, you'll be onto such a winner. I had a play with a Meglio at Thruxton last year, I believe it was running 280/290bhp and at no point could my Clio keep up.
Spa is a fast circuit, how did the Clio get on there? I found mine was somewhat down on power at Thruxton when compared to the speed of all the other cars.
Spa - I was full throttle, a lot. I could have read a book down some of the straights but still great fun through the corners. Cheap enough and slow enough to fully to commit into Blanchimont.
Five year plan is keep this and add a 718 GT4 but a bit of me loves driving a cheap car hard. I had just as much fun on track with my CIio, DC2 and mk2 MX5 as I've had in M3/4 and Exige.
Edited by Mark83 on Thursday 23 February 10:16
CB 987 said:
I can recommend a car seat protector mat under the isofix base to reduce the indentations in the leather. I have used them for years in our cars and it has helped reduce wear and any permanent marks. I think ours are the Diono Ultra Mat ones, but there are loads of options.
Ordered. Thanks for the recommendation. The old towel can go back in the airing cupboard. First unplanned expenditure. Stone through the A/C condenser. £1200 drive in and out job at Mercedes. Hmmm. Alternatives?
Local Mercedes specialist replaced the condenser for less than half that, and with the same product warranty. While the bumper was off, they sourced a couple of new Mercedes bumper blades to replace this cracked and faded one from when I bought it.
Local Mercedes specialist replaced the condenser for less than half that, and with the same product warranty. While the bumper was off, they sourced a couple of new Mercedes bumper blades to replace this cracked and faded one from when I bought it.
Polarbert said:
I've put about 12,000 miles on my 6.2 W212 E63 now. I've never really had a car with all the modern features for any length of time so don't really miss them. The engine is bloody lovely.
The engine is one of the greats! Sounds like you're enjoying it as much as I did. It's service and MOT time next month and I'm torn between the Mercedes service plan at £58pm for two services and two MOTs and that includes roadside assistance for the two years. This also maintains the FMBSH.
Or use a local specialist and pay out £100+ per year for AA cover.
Next service is a cheap one, £300ish - A2
Next year will be a big B service which in my S204 C63 was over £1000 had I not had a service plan. Obviously cheaper at an independent.
Thoughts?
Or use a local specialist and pay out £100+ per year for AA cover.
Next service is a cheap one, £300ish - A2
Next year will be a big B service which in my S204 C63 was over £1000 had I not had a service plan. Obviously cheaper at an independent.
Thoughts?
JAMSXR said:
I went in for the plan, takes away the hassle and you save a bit of cash main dealer wise. The dedicated breakdown cover was invaluable when I dislodged the under-tray in a large puddle, I also appreciated the Sprinter van with Mercedes livery.
Miss that V8, as an all rounder you’ll struggle to find anything better.
I'm swaying towards the plan. Not much price difference when you factor in the MOTs and breakdown cover being included plus any perceived reassurance with the FMBSH when I sell. Miss that V8, as an all rounder you’ll struggle to find anything better.
Plan is to keep this until my son is three and nursery fees reduce considerably so that's another two and half years then reassess. It's currently doing everything I need.
Edited by Mark83 on Saturday 28th October 10:18
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