2016 AMG c63 estate - what to look for

[dank]

Hi, I am very tempted as my new work car / weekend away car the 2016 C63 estate! It looks awesome, and is significantly cheaper than an RS6 that i am also looking at, and same price as RS4's which I have read have awful issues from new with the auto boxes.

Does anyone have any pointers what to look for with the AMG C63 ? Are they reliable, well built interiors etc etc, any information would be appreciated.

Also i am coming from 4wd B7 S4 V8, to a RWD car, is the AMG very very snappy to drove in the wet, or is it is totally usable in all weathers????

thanks

[dank]

Thanks for your review!

I am totally intoxicated by the exhaust note, recently saw a saloon manoeuvring a low speed, and the deep growl was amazing, and also saw an estate the same time drive by and it was like thunder.... wonder if they had standard exhausts as the one I am looking at doesn't have sports exhaust, hoping that the standard exhaust sound is perfect and doesn't need me spending more to get the right noise!

I see the extended warranty is expensive, £2700 per year, wasn't sure if that included MOT and service, which i am sure I read somewhere...

As much as I will miss the 4WD of my S4 or possible RS6 - Is the C63 very tail happy in the wet??? you are always worried about it loosing the back end, or do you have to push pretty hard i slippery conditions to get it out of shape, would prefer a car I can relax and drive briskly, not flat out as I realise then you have to be very switched on

[dank]

thanks for that!

I am very excited as I feel this is going to be my next long term / work car! What a car!!! I'll be keeping the 911 Turbo alongside it, and not bothering with the Gallardo!

[dank]

Thanks for the info

The one I am looking at doesn’t have the performance exhaust - but the car / history / colour and spec and all spot on, can’t wait for another to come up that has the exhaust ! They don’t seem to be that common a car do they!?

Would the performance exhaust cost loads to retro fit ?

[dank]

I have put my deposit down on a very nice 2016 AMG C63 Estate, very excited, will post pics and details when i collect it ! Doesn't have performance exhaust, but hope the normal exhaust sounds good enough in sport+ mode?

[dank]

Thanks for the info

Is there any way to make the exhaust louder, whilst not messing up the AMG warranty? Is it just a reprogram of the ecu to keep the valves open all the time?

also, anyone know of a decent boot liner, cover?

thanks

[dank]

Thanks for the info

I won't bother with an aftermarket exhaust, don't want it to sound chavvy and too loud, or invalidate the AMG warranty!

I'll check out the boot liner

thanks

[dank]

Been reading up a lot on the C63 AMG estate's in the wt and i am still non the wiser. I am used to driving briskly in my S4, wet or dry, so what i am wondering is in comfort mode can does the c63 drive like any other car, safe in the wet, no wheel spin, aquaplaning etc, it's only if you switch off esp, put it in sport + in the wet you might get the back out of shape. I do need to be able to reliably drive int eh wet UK as my daily driver, is the c63 likely to just loose the rear end for no reason in the wet, making it scary and unpredictable?

[dank]

thanks for the advice!

Yes i saw the Brooklands experience and would definitely book myself onto this.

[dank]

off_again said:

I have a 2016 C63S saloon with pretty much every option. Bought it in November last year and so far it’s been great. Fuel consumption can be an issue and pushing on will really impact it, but hey what should I expect!

Things to note though:

Squeaks - earlier ones did, a lot
Exhaust - performance is louder, but told it makes little difference in power
Smartphone integration is good, just dont expect CarPlay or Android Auto, only on latest models
Tires - I have the Dunlop’s and they are loud! Told Pilot Sports are way better
Traction - took a little time and yes I live in California so weather is generally good, but just be aware. Surprisingly competent in the wet. But big wide tires and shallow grooves will never be perfect. It’s good and traction control is good too.
Gearbox - supposed to be very reliable, but watch for the coolers. Prone to damage, as is cooling system. Seems roadkill will trash it, so watch out.
Gearbox again - comfort in earlier models is ok. Sport does seem to smooth out the changes though, but It also brings in 1st, so be careful
Wipers - seems to be a common thing here in the US, but skipping is an issue. Go with the OEM fit ones and it should be fine.
Tire pressures - go with what is in the door sticker, not the fuel door. They are different and lower really improves the ride.
Carbon brakes - if it has them, they will squeal. But are excellent and work really well, even from cold. Standard brakes are also excellent too. Probably don’t need carbon.

Other than that it’s great. The anonymity is great and not that many people know what it is. But it’s really capable and as a package to live with it’s great. I have the extended warranty until 2022, totally intend to keep this; well until the inevitable push to electric forces us out of these things. What a fitting tribute to fossil fuels!

Thanks for al this information! I

[dank]

Picked up the C63 AMG Estate yesterday evening!!!! I was so excited all day, and it was painful waiting for it to be ready for me to collect. When I went to the dealer to drive it, check it over and then hopefully make the purchase, my first initial impression of the colour / black wheels, overall looks, I was gobsmacked....it's a real monster, looks incredibly mean, not like a normal C class in any real way, looks like it means business. I think it's so much better looking that the RS4 and S4, very muscular and very big! Wheels look huge compared to my 911 Turbo.

Anyway, I had a bit of a drove last night, a guy in a new M4 was trying it on with me immediately and I had a little play, but didn't want to be one of those guys who wraps up his new car within the first few hours.

Car sounds amazing, very throaty, like a deep growl, roar, and the pops and bangs on down changes are addictive, wish it did this a little bit more though, but maybe then it would get on your nerves!? A few of the down change bangs and growls literally had me laughing out loud, insane sound! I love the start / cold start sound, ferocious growl, like a race car idling, love this! Interior is black napa leather and I think its a very nice place to be, steering wheel is superb, chunky and well designed, really liking the AMG silver spoke and the flat bottom, generally i am so happy with the interior, all the buttons etc etc, no idea what half of them do yet, but that's fun finding out all the bits it can do.

Ride is firm, and potholes and rough surfaces do judder the spine as has been mentioned, much harder than my S4. As a comparison, it's not in the same league, the AMG is miles ahead in all aspects, ,aspects the S4 look like a boring small estate. The power delivery form the AMG is also very different. Initially driving it, I didn't feel it felt that fast, not as fast as my 911 turbo, but then in sport+ i floored it and the way it picked up speed was like a freight train, very very fast / 911 fast. I was a bit reluctant to do this too much as I really not used to RWD with such power. I need to really read up on the vest way to drive it, not lifting off throttle mid corner etc etc, so any advice on driving style would be helpful. So it feels like there is a slight dead zone on the throttle peddle, on slight, then the power is there, gearbox amd changes very different from the S4 which felt like crisper / quicker changes than the AMG. The AMG feels much more mechanical, brutal and almost industrial, the noise, the bangs and pops, like a sledge hammer!

One thing I would like opinion on, is that the red triangle traction control light seems to come on at odd times, after acceleration in a straight line, the lifting off the throttle, after a few seconds the red triangle and a beep.... driving along maybe 50mph, steady cruising, red triangle and beep, so it seems to be coming on at odd times, that don't feel like i am pushing the car in any way, or going round a corer at speed etc, i am driving very carefully... so what does this actually mean??? Is it just saying there is a little loss of traction? I am slightly worried that in the wet this might turn into an unexpected spin, as it's bone dry and very hot currently, so should not be loosing traction, slippery at all??? any advice about this to put any fears to bed....oh yes also i was in comfort, not sport+....

Overall though i am very impressed by it, the looks are incredible, have a had several people staring at it.

Tyres are Michellin Pilot sports I think, i can double check incase this is the reason???

few pics

[dank]

[dank]

[dank]

thank you!

ah yes, ok that reassures my mind, was worried the car was loosing traction!!!

dumb question now, how do you put the car in manual, so you can just use the paddles, as i suspect manually controlling downshifts will mean more pops and bangs!

[dank]

Ok so just went out for my 4th drive of the day! Lots of fuel used today and set up the individual setting / manual / sport+ and goodness what a monster!!! Popping and banging and growling on down changes, some bangs sounded like gun fire. So loud!!! And the whole car felt much more responses and so fast. What’s Jekyll and Hyde car!!!!! Amazing thing

[dank]

Thanks I will check tyre pressures as you suggest. One thing that I have noticed is that comfort mode, the car doesn't feel that responsive, powerful or willing to move, is that just me?? It does feel a bit vague and floaty and seems quite reluctant to get going...my S4 from stand still was always quite nippy and responsive in normal Drive mode...or is this because i have been driving the AMG in manual / sport+ a lot and then the contrast to comfort seems very obvious....??

I was thinking of doing the Brookland AMG C63 experience, to learn the limits of the car in the wet etc, anyone done this, is it worthwhile to get a better understanding of such a beast, especially in the wet!?

[dank]

ah ok, i bought my car used, so didn't get the day offered, am i missing out on something!? It's £225 for the hour by the look of it, and seems to be a good way to learn the car, handy when it rains, which tbh i am slightly apprehensive about

[dank]

I have been driving it so much since I picked it up on Friday, it's utterly amazing, and looks so mean, I love it, what an incredible car!!

[dank]

I don't want to use my own car, would rather use theirs!

another evening drive yesterday and stunning sun set.

[dank]

The more I drive the car the more I feel comfort is a little bit odd. Sudden downchanges or keeping the car is very high gears when going super slowly, not a bad gearbox but not as razor sharp as the S4 - all adds to the character