GT500E
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2014
- Messages
- 86
- Car
- 1967 GT500E
So I thought I would start a tread about my new car.
I have owned several BMWs(320i, 323i,330i,335d) before buying the C63 and Merc feels far more refined than the BMWs.
I was afraid that buying the C63 would feel too close to the 335d but the C63 is twice the car. I know it is not like for like in terms of performance/Handling but I am referring to the quality/interior/feel/looks.... Its the small things that I notice...like when you stop and jump out of the bmw to grab something out of the boot it remains locked and you have to jump back in a hit the central locking button to open the boot whereas the C63 lets you open the boot. Everytime you get into the BMW and it start raining you have you manually turn on the automatic wipers but if you stop again you have to turn them on again. Why not just leave them on all the time like the Merc? My 335d is a prefacelift but even a facelift 3 series interior is far, far behind the facelift W204. I am sure you can code your BMW or mod it to do these things but the Merc seems to have met expectations 1st time.
The only niggle I've had with the car so far is a creaking noise from the button panel under the heater controls. I have a good level of mechanical skills so after 10 minutes on google I stripped the dash down, put a little silicone spray on it, reassembled and the creek is gone. I know the car is still under warranty but my nearest dealer is over an hour away and the hassle of taking time off work to take it there, etc and collect it was more hassle than it was worth. And i like fixing things myself.
So in terms of performance i don't really need to tell you guys on here that it is sublime. I love the noise from cold start up....sometimes it is slightly more muted than i would like but not enough for me to go modifying the exhaust. I came from a 7.4lt V8 Mustang with side exhausts and it had one foot in the "Too Loud territory". I like that i can blend in with the C63 and when it suits me i can floor it and make noise. The mustang screamed attention everywhere you went but the C63 is more civilised when it needs to be. I guess the car suits me far better. I can jump in it whenever I want, go wherever I want, park wherever I want, etc...This was not possible in the mustang.
I still have the 335D and am using it during the day now....So i am jumping between the two and can compare them. The 335D sounds like a tractor and it being the only diesel car I have ever owned it is now also the last. The drive is a lot hard in the C63(PPP with 19"s) but it feels very planted on the road, body roll is minimal and it gives me a little too much confidence for my driving skills.
So I reset the trip computer when i picked it up and checked it 1 week later. According to my car i spent just under 25 hours in the driving seat which surprised me but that included a 300 mile/7 hour road trip up the coast.
On the motorway I am getting mid 20s, not sure what town driving is giving me but 18mpg average is fantastic......If you consider the mustang returned an average of about 6-8mpg.
So the only thing i plan to do is put a new set of boots on the car then i am off on a 2,800 mile road trip across Europe in 2 weeks.....To say I am excited about this is a massive understatement.
I have owned several BMWs(320i, 323i,330i,335d) before buying the C63 and Merc feels far more refined than the BMWs.
I was afraid that buying the C63 would feel too close to the 335d but the C63 is twice the car. I know it is not like for like in terms of performance/Handling but I am referring to the quality/interior/feel/looks.... Its the small things that I notice...like when you stop and jump out of the bmw to grab something out of the boot it remains locked and you have to jump back in a hit the central locking button to open the boot whereas the C63 lets you open the boot. Everytime you get into the BMW and it start raining you have you manually turn on the automatic wipers but if you stop again you have to turn them on again. Why not just leave them on all the time like the Merc? My 335d is a prefacelift but even a facelift 3 series interior is far, far behind the facelift W204. I am sure you can code your BMW or mod it to do these things but the Merc seems to have met expectations 1st time.
The only niggle I've had with the car so far is a creaking noise from the button panel under the heater controls. I have a good level of mechanical skills so after 10 minutes on google I stripped the dash down, put a little silicone spray on it, reassembled and the creek is gone. I know the car is still under warranty but my nearest dealer is over an hour away and the hassle of taking time off work to take it there, etc and collect it was more hassle than it was worth. And i like fixing things myself.
So in terms of performance i don't really need to tell you guys on here that it is sublime. I love the noise from cold start up....sometimes it is slightly more muted than i would like but not enough for me to go modifying the exhaust. I came from a 7.4lt V8 Mustang with side exhausts and it had one foot in the "Too Loud territory". I like that i can blend in with the C63 and when it suits me i can floor it and make noise. The mustang screamed attention everywhere you went but the C63 is more civilised when it needs to be. I guess the car suits me far better. I can jump in it whenever I want, go wherever I want, park wherever I want, etc...This was not possible in the mustang.
I still have the 335D and am using it during the day now....So i am jumping between the two and can compare them. The 335D sounds like a tractor and it being the only diesel car I have ever owned it is now also the last. The drive is a lot hard in the C63(PPP with 19"s) but it feels very planted on the road, body roll is minimal and it gives me a little too much confidence for my driving skills.
So I reset the trip computer when i picked it up and checked it 1 week later. According to my car i spent just under 25 hours in the driving seat which surprised me but that included a 300 mile/7 hour road trip up the coast.
On the motorway I am getting mid 20s, not sure what town driving is giving me but 18mpg average is fantastic......If you consider the mustang returned an average of about 6-8mpg.
So the only thing i plan to do is put a new set of boots on the car then i am off on a 2,800 mile road trip across Europe in 2 weeks.....To say I am excited about this is a massive understatement.
