Quaifing the C63
Discussion
Its not the cheapest experiment ever, but after some research and bludgeoning from LSD-pro owners im going to bite the bullet and compare the difference. I'm not going down the OEM route but am instead booking myself in at Birds for their home developed LSD upgrade.
My 2010 PP+ has no LSD and thus far has shown no situation where i have felt it might need one. However, the men in the know seem to think the car will be transformed by the fitting of this item and on the 3rd of August it'll be dropped off for its fitting. On a plus note, they've assures me that the fitting of the Quaife diff will not affect my manufacturer warranty as it is has been developed by Birds for the C63 and has no adverse effect on the mechanics of the car and was only produced as an improved alternative to the OEM unit. Its also visually undetectable vs the standard one and wont need servicing.
Perks of going Quaife: Zero maintenance. Literally a fit and forget item unlike the OEM unit that will wear out over time and needs regular fluid changes. At £1900 fully fitted its cheaper than the OEM unit. The Quaife system is tried and tested. OEM LSD has a 30% lock (im led to believe) and the Quaife has up to 80% (again this is what im told) lock which means that it should be even more manageable in a slide than the OEM item.
I did look at a DIY or independant fit but it seems that Quaife are only distributing through Birds in the UK for the Merc (and BMW) specific items. You can get the old Quaife QDF9V from America but this is actually just a pickup truck / SRT item converted for the C/E/SL63 market and not the same as this home developed, C63 specific part. The QDF9V is about £750 vs about £1200 for the Birds system plus fitting. The QDF9V does work, but im happier to go down the advised route.
So, with that i guess i'll be writing again once its in. I pick the car up on the 10th August so ive got less than 5 weeks to go.
Eddie
Also, anyone else here had this done?
My 2010 PP+ has no LSD and thus far has shown no situation where i have felt it might need one. However, the men in the know seem to think the car will be transformed by the fitting of this item and on the 3rd of August it'll be dropped off for its fitting. On a plus note, they've assures me that the fitting of the Quaife diff will not affect my manufacturer warranty as it is has been developed by Birds for the C63 and has no adverse effect on the mechanics of the car and was only produced as an improved alternative to the OEM unit. Its also visually undetectable vs the standard one and wont need servicing.
Perks of going Quaife: Zero maintenance. Literally a fit and forget item unlike the OEM unit that will wear out over time and needs regular fluid changes. At £1900 fully fitted its cheaper than the OEM unit. The Quaife system is tried and tested. OEM LSD has a 30% lock (im led to believe) and the Quaife has up to 80% (again this is what im told) lock which means that it should be even more manageable in a slide than the OEM item.
I did look at a DIY or independant fit but it seems that Quaife are only distributing through Birds in the UK for the Merc (and BMW) specific items. You can get the old Quaife QDF9V from America but this is actually just a pickup truck / SRT item converted for the C/E/SL63 market and not the same as this home developed, C63 specific part. The QDF9V is about £750 vs about £1200 for the Birds system plus fitting. The QDF9V does work, but im happier to go down the advised route.
So, with that i guess i'll be writing again once its in. I pick the car up on the 10th August so ive got less than 5 weeks to go.
Eddie
Also, anyone else here had this done?
Edited by ecain63 on Monday 8th July 20:48
Slight change to proceedings:
The Quaife goes in on the 29th now and at my local German specialist (who ive used lots on my RS6 and M5 Tourer). Birds were more than happy to send them the parts as its good PR for Birds and in turn my mate gets the work and i get a bit of money off. Now under £1600 fitted.
The Quaife goes in on the 29th now and at my local German specialist (who ive used lots on my RS6 and M5 Tourer). Birds were more than happy to send them the parts as its good PR for Birds and in turn my mate gets the work and i get a bit of money off. Now under £1600 fitted.
Edited by ecain63 on Tuesday 16th July 20:10
Zanderman said:
I was looking for a C63 for a while and ended up paying more for one with LSD, a car like this needs it badly!
Thats what im looking to work out. As yet im stuck as to where it might have helped me. Hopefully the difference is noticeable enough for me to feel it on the drive home.TackMEU said:
Output Flange said:
Fairly trivial in the scheme of things though, no?
I would imagine how far down the ownership list you are. A car bought new/nearly new and low miles is unlikely to need replacement. However there are a few now with 60,000+ mileage and does anyone know how long an OEM diff will last?DanX5 said:
Ah ok, I used them for all work on my X5 once the manufacturer service pack ended and found them very good too. Allowed me to source my own air suspension parts from the US which saved a fortune. Always seemed knowledgeable and happy to chat through options.
Good luck, will await the outcome with interest as mine same as yours I think, pre facelift ppp but no standard LSD. Any thoughts on the exhaust yet or are you happy with standard?
Ive asked about but it seems that the OEM system is about as good as it gets. You can go louder but i dont think the sound is as nice. Dont want to turn it into a tin can full of nails. BTW, the oem system is made by Eissenman so i trust them to get it more right than some of the other brands.Good luck, will await the outcome with interest as mine same as yours I think, pre facelift ppp but no standard LSD. Any thoughts on the exhaust yet or are you happy with standard?
Well, its in. Nowt much to report so far due to evening traffic but there are a couple of minor things I noticed on the way home.
1. No longer 'searches' or darts along in the tramlines of the road. It used to do this a lot at 70 or so. Much more planted now.
2. Seems to punt itself out of corners more than before. As this is a roughly 80% locking diff id imagine this will feel more obvious than oem diff even (30% lock).
3. Finally. Didnt see the traction light all the way home, but maybe I wasnt trying hard enough.
1. No longer 'searches' or darts along in the tramlines of the road. It used to do this a lot at 70 or so. Much more planted now.
2. Seems to punt itself out of corners more than before. As this is a roughly 80% locking diff id imagine this will feel more obvious than oem diff even (30% lock).
3. Finally. Didnt see the traction light all the way home, but maybe I wasnt trying hard enough.
^^^The fit was apparently very straight forward and the only extra on the bill was a pair of exhaust clamps. They needed replacing due to the oem ones being crush fit. Total cost was £1640 and the job takes 5hrs.
Thanks to Kartechnic for the excellent service and for saving me £300+. Thanks also to Birds for supplying the parts and being very informative during the whole process.
Thanks to Kartechnic for the excellent service and for saving me £300+. Thanks also to Birds for supplying the parts and being very informative during the whole process.
Honestly, its just different. The C63 is quicker, more fun and more usable, no doubt about it, but the M5 was a more refined and more involved drive. If the C63 had the SMG box itd be fantastic. If the M5 had the 6.2V8 of the amg itd be perfect. As they are both are just different.
Oh, I think the C63 is a quicker car now thanks to the quaife. Been out in it tonight and Claire actually cried as we fired out of the exit of a local roundabout. 100% of the power was there from the off and the push coming through the apex was a definite increase on what was there before.
Its early days but I think I may be converted.
Oh, I think the C63 is a quicker car now thanks to the quaife. Been out in it tonight and Claire actually cried as we fired out of the exit of a local roundabout. 100% of the power was there from the off and the push coming through the apex was a definite increase on what was there before.
Its early days but I think I may be converted.
A bit more of an update now its had a few days of use.
Totally silent and no whine like you get with the M-diff in the M5 / M3. Or with Pork or GTR's.
Car doesn't squirm at all now when pulling away with full WOT. Its dead straight and feels fully planted. Can't feel any power loss either so TC mustn't be grafting too much now.
Havnt seen the traction light on tight corners or under hard acceleration since fitted. Not had TC fully off yet to test the break point. Will do this weekend.
Car feels a lot more planted on the road and no longer tramlines or hunts the grooves in the road. Generally feels less 'floaty' at speed.
Oddly, it doesnt feel as loose / doesnt feel as rattly with regard to suspension or steering. Before hand it had that C63-esque disconnection between the driver and the steering / wheels that we all notice. Now it feels very much firmly connected. Could this be to do with the LSD?
Not sure if its quicker as ive not got a V-box to test it with but im pretty sure off the mark its better at getting away cleanly. Thus probably a few 10ths quicker.
Doesnt suffer unwanted lateral movement when hard accelerating across lanes / over the white lines. It used to squirm a little at the rear when crossing lanes under WOT but now it doesnt. Feels safer and more confident.
Generally feels better.
Its not a huge difference made to the car but, not like getting into a Ferrari after driving a Lada. The little bits here and there do add to up to be something quite noticeable. For those who don't have an LSD I'd say its something to consider due to it feeling a better, more capable car, but its not life changing given the standard car is still pretty good. For those with an OEM diff it'd be interesting to do a comparison test. Pre-FL PP+ with OEM LSD vs Pre FL-PP+ with Quiafe anyone?
Totally silent and no whine like you get with the M-diff in the M5 / M3. Or with Pork or GTR's.
Car doesn't squirm at all now when pulling away with full WOT. Its dead straight and feels fully planted. Can't feel any power loss either so TC mustn't be grafting too much now.
Havnt seen the traction light on tight corners or under hard acceleration since fitted. Not had TC fully off yet to test the break point. Will do this weekend.
Car feels a lot more planted on the road and no longer tramlines or hunts the grooves in the road. Generally feels less 'floaty' at speed.
Oddly, it doesnt feel as loose / doesnt feel as rattly with regard to suspension or steering. Before hand it had that C63-esque disconnection between the driver and the steering / wheels that we all notice. Now it feels very much firmly connected. Could this be to do with the LSD?
Not sure if its quicker as ive not got a V-box to test it with but im pretty sure off the mark its better at getting away cleanly. Thus probably a few 10ths quicker.
Doesnt suffer unwanted lateral movement when hard accelerating across lanes / over the white lines. It used to squirm a little at the rear when crossing lanes under WOT but now it doesnt. Feels safer and more confident.
Generally feels better.
Its not a huge difference made to the car but, not like getting into a Ferrari after driving a Lada. The little bits here and there do add to up to be something quite noticeable. For those who don't have an LSD I'd say its something to consider due to it feeling a better, more capable car, but its not life changing given the standard car is still pretty good. For those with an OEM diff it'd be interesting to do a comparison test. Pre-FL PP+ with OEM LSD vs Pre FL-PP+ with Quiafe anyone?
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