New owner C63 W204, first thoughts!

[BTank88]

Just thought I'd share some first impressions and observations on my C63 as a new owner. It's a facelift coupe with an MSL remap and Wavetrac diff.

1. Engine bay gets extremely hot! When I get out the car I can feel very warm air being blown out from the engine bay. V8 thing I guess . Coolant temp sticks at ~90c and oil at around 110c I hope this is normal.

2. The fuel guage seems extremely sensitive to driving habits. I can pretty much make the fuel light go on and off at will with the accelerator pedal if I am at around a quarter tank full.

3. Real shame it doesn't have frameless doors. Love the pano roof though. I serviced it the other day gave it some fresh grease and works like a charm.

4. Engine is a masterpiece. Pretty much why I bought the car. Coming from a BMW M, bags of torque at low revs is a new experience for me. On the other hand, unless you shift down, you are already doing crazy speeds without getting a chance to hear the exhaust . I really don't want any further mods on this car, but can't stop thinking about removing secondary cats.

5. Grip levels! Heard a lot about this thing being lairy at the rear, honestly I find it grips extremely well. As long as I keep it straight, tyres are warm, I haven't had the traction light come on in a straight line this thing just pulls relentlessly. I wonder if the LSD helps with this. I am running PS4S all around too.

It's a beast, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it

 

[SmartAmg]

Sounds awesome!
Pics please.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Id remove the centre resonator first, see how you get on with that. that will be a big difference on its own. removing the secondary cats can be OTT for some.

 

[ec1991]

Had mine 2 months and 2500 miles now!

1. Engine bay gets extremely hot! When I get out the car I can feel very warm air being blown out from the engine bay. V8 thing I guess . Coolant temp sticks at ~90c and oil at around 110c I hope this is normal.

- Yup oil temp is normal, I actually wanted to get summer out of the way because these cars hate hot weather too! real sluggish. I often get 'heat waves' from the bonnet even under normal driving, they run hot and this is normal and well known.

2. The fuel guage seems extremely sensitive to driving habits. I can pretty much make the fuel light go on and off at will with the accelerator pedal if I am at around a quarter tank full.
- First 1500 miles I was addicted to the noise and thought wow it's so thirsty, now I drive like a normal person on the commute and the needle doesn't move as crazily at all, totally agree with you here.

What M did you come from?

 

[BTank88]

Had mine 2 months and 2500 miles now!

1. Engine bay gets extremely hot! When I get out the car I can feel very warm air being blown out from the engine bay. V8 thing I guess . Coolant temp sticks at ~90c and oil at around 110c I hope this is normal.

- Yup oil temp is normal, I actually wanted to get summer out of the way because these cars hate hot weather too! real sluggish. I often get 'heat waves' from the bonnet even under normal driving, they run hot and this is normal and well known.

2. The fuel guage seems extremely sensitive to driving habits. I can pretty much make the fuel light go on and off at will with the accelerator pedal if I am at around a quarter tank full.
- First 1500 miles I was addicted to the noise and thought wow it's so thirsty, now I drive like a normal person on the commute and the needle doesn't move as crazily at all, totally agree with you here.

What M did you come from?

From E46 M3.

I did an introductory post earlier in AMG Lounge I think with a couple of pics.

I'm taking the car to Ragley Hall this weekend for the car show where I hope to get some nice pictures of it, I'll put some up when I get them.

First white car too, never realised bug splats were such a problem!

The blood splats everywhere

 

[Spider10]

That all sounds right to me lovely cars

 

[Rich764089]

5. Grip levels! Heard a lot about this thing being lairy at the rear, honestly I find it grips extremely well. As long as I keep it straight, tyres are warm, I haven't had the traction light come on in a straight line this thing just pulls relentlessly. I wonder if the LSD helps with this. I am running PS4S all around too.

Let us know how you feel about this in the wet

Glad you're enjoying it

 

[Steve84N]

Id remove the centre resonator first, see how you get on with that. that will be a big difference on its own. removing the secondary cats can be OTT for some.

Other way round.

 

[ec1991]

From E46 M3.

I did an introductory post earlier in AMG Lounge I think with a couple of pics.

I'm taking the car to Ragley Hall this weekend for the car show where I hope to get some nice pictures of it, I'll put some up when I get them.

First white car too, never realised bug splats were such a problem!

The blood splats everywhere

Me too (polar white), never realized so many bugs on the road! quite comical.

Do like the E46's, I nearly got an M4 but just HAD to get this engine while I could, plenty of time for turbos etc etc.

 

[grum71]

Saw your earlier thread - car looks well. A great choice
Interesting, it has the diff and remap. The 2 things I am currently considering (had the car over 4 years now and feel it may need a 'tweak')
Exhaust - I had the Milltek secondary cat insert fitted. Sounds way better than stock without being ASBO silly. A mod I would recommend.
Link: Mercedes C63 AMG Milltek Secondary Cat Bypass Pipes Exhaust Upgrade W204 Estate | eBay

I've had 5 E46 M3's. As per the number - enjoyed each one. 2 x E92's followed. Again, great cars. The M4...not so much.

Enjoy the car (and the forum) - both good places to be

 

[ec1991]

Saw your earlier thread - car looks well. A great choice
Interesting, it has the diff and remap. The 2 things I am currently considering (had the car over 4 years now and feel it may need a 'tweak')
Exhaust - I had the Milltek secondary cat insert fitted. Sounds way better than stock without being ASBO silly. A mod I would recommend.
Link: Mercedes C63 AMG Milltek Secondary Cat Bypass Pipes Exhaust Upgrade W204 Estate | eBay

I've had 5 E46 M3's. As per the number - enjoyed each one. 2 x E92's followed. Again, great cars. The M4...not so much.

Enjoy the car (and the forum) - both good places to be

Actually didn’t like the M4 or it was great but not as good as the others? I have a real hankering for one but people don’t seem to love them and it seems a posers car.

 

[Spider10]

Saw your earlier thread - car looks well. A great choice
Interesting, it has the diff and remap. The 2 things I am currently considering (had the car over 4 years now and feel it may need a 'tweak')
Exhaust - I had the Milltek secondary cat insert fitted. Sounds way better than stock without being ASBO silly. A mod I would recommend.
Link: Mercedes C63 AMG Milltek Secondary Cat Bypass Pipes Exhaust Upgrade W204 Estate | eBay

I've had 5 E46 M3's. As per the number - enjoyed each one. 2 x E92's followed. Again, great cars. The M4...not so much.

Enjoy the car (and the forum) - both good places to be

Just out of interest what was wrong with the M4 I'm looking at the competition pack thanks

 

[badgx]

Thought this video might be of some interest. It has secondary cat delete with h pipe configuration

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[grum71]

I bought the M4 when 1st released.
The colour combo I chose didn't suit it (Sakhir Orange) with black alloys. Grey would have been better.
Interior didn't Wow me and...the audio system is such a faff to use. I'd travelled through 2 villages before I got to the album of choice.
I also had a bit of a 'sound off' in the Blackpool illuminations queue with a...yep...C63.
The M4 couldn't touch it for noise
I tried to sell it back to the dealer after 2 months of ownership. They called me back within minutes and said they didn't want it. Great brand advert right there!

That said, a pal has a newer M4 (19 plate) competition in black. It does look well. He came from an M2 which...he hated!

To be fair to the M4, I had experienced quite a few cars since the E46/92 ownership which kinda spoiled me. I thought, getting back into an M3/M4 would be like getting back into my comfort zone.
It didn't.

Try one - you may be inspired (I'd rather have the W205 C63 coupe - much better to look at as well)

 

[Spider10]

The 1 that caught my eye's was yellow but sold earlier today I sold my c63 ppp a month ago and its quite hard to replace it I think I'll wait until the prices slow down there stupid at the mo

 

[Skd884]

Just out of interest what was wrong with the M4 I'm looking at the competition pack thanks

204 - M4 = Downgrade.

 

[grum71]

Car prices are crazy right now. Our local dealer refuses to be drawn in and has virtually no stock (from 60 - 80 cars usually)
I think you'd be disapointed going frmo a 63 to an M4 personally. No character. This is just my opinion, of course

Generally, and from experience...
BMW drivers won't touch a Merc
Audi drivers won't touch a Beemer
Merc drivers don't care and will have either

 

[Steve84N]

Generally, and from experience...
BMW drivers won't touch a Merc
Audi drivers won't touch a Beemer
Merc drivers don't care and will have either

I had a string of BMWs, all with a 3 litre straight six but never an M car. Wanted a performance estate and BMW don't deliver here. Tried an S204 C63 and a B8 RS4, no contest the C63 won easily. Our other car is an Audi A3 1.8T Quattro.

I can see the appeal of all three marques. However, I'd probably still be in a BMW if they made an M3 Touring. Audis are overpriced second hand and don't deliver for me on the driving experience. The Mercedes is much better than I expected.

 

[Rich764089]

I had a string of BMWs, all with a 3 litre straight six but never an M car. Wanted a performance estate and BMW don't deliver here. Tried an S204 C63 and a B8 RS4, no contest the C63 won easily. Our other car is an Audi A3 1.8T Quattro.

I can see the appeal of all three marques. However, I'd probably still be in a BMW if they made an M3 Touring. Audis are overpriced second hand and don't deliver for me on the driving experience. The Mercedes is much better than I expected.

I don't get why BMW don't do M touring cars (often). It seems they're really missing a trick to me.
I actually think a modded B8 S4 is a good match for a C63 (and quicker than a B8 RS4).

 

[Spider10]

I've had BMW M car's the last being a big mistake the E92 ,im not set on any tbh I just like different the M4 was bright yellow 1 owner but sold, audi i agree with the above ,merc yes I probably sold the best but something else will come along im in no rush