Newbi to MB AMG

[Felstmiester]

To me that would be difficult. They're two cars that are thought to be similar but are world's apart. BMW,s from my experience are great handlers. There a drivers car. The merc is not a great car to throw around, because again from experience I find you get oversteer or understeer when you don't expect it. This is obviously going to make a diffence on the tyres your running. But I know for sure the equivalent BMW model would out handle a c63. This is of cause not the be all and end all. And really your comparing a c63 with an m5 whearas the competition is really an m3.

For wow factor and showing off there's a clear winner. The c63! The sound, the power and the looks I think gets much more heads turning and thumbs up than any m5 or m3. And let's face it, you can't really drive it in anger round the twistys like you ever could on a track.

 

[AMGeed]

^ Quite right. Take a drive in an E63 W212 if you want to compare an AMG with an M5.

 

[stevebgt1]

Welcome. Great Choice of car.
Looking at your car history, you know what you like, and you will love this.
They `feel` different to the `M` Beemers.......you will see !

 

[JimGreen]

I know the C63 AMG is usually compared against the V8 M3, but I enjoy tinkering..... LOL.

A Limited Slip Diff, Remap to 500bhp plus, and a few suspension improvements......... and I think the C63 AMG would fit my bill perfectly.

I was just disappointed by the 2008 E60 M5 that I drove and it was a low mileage car. The gear changes just felt like they wanted to rip the diff apart, but not in a good way, it felt like it smashed its self into each gear when you accelerated hard.

I guess a test drive in a decent C63 will result in a decision. But I love the styling and size of the C63. My TVR wasn't the best handling car by a long way, very tail happy, not the most reliable engine, and crashed over every pot hole and threatened to kill you every time you took it out in the wet, but that car gave me the most enjoyment of any car I've driven...... LOL.

The V6 Clio was also renown for ending up in ditches, it needed another 100bhp for what it was, but another car that gave me great enjoyment.



The Audi S4 V8 I've had for two years is a perfect car in every way and quicker than most think, but it just doesn't give me that thrill.

 

[Y8cel]

Welcome Jim, I've just gone from a S4 to the C63 as you say the Audi is fine, drives nice got some power but is just boring as hell,
Just wait till you get a 63 and ring it's neck wow what a machine I can't wait for some nice dry summer days and give it some stick around Silverstone.

Love the Clio I've always wanted one of those.

Barry

 

[V8andTurbos]

Nice selection of cars, I had an E39 M5 previous to my C63..

Imo get a facelift C63 if u can afford it.

DRL, new headlights, newer MCT transmission, engine revisions and newer interior among other things.

If u can get one with a performance pack it will add 30bhp, Alcantara steering wheel, ceramic brakes with red calipers and carbon spoiler. Also try to get a AMG locking diff too. If u can't get thse options then go to MSL & get a eurocharged remap and Quaife LSD

Servicing is pricey and goes thru rear tyres fairly quick. Apart from that enjoy

 

[JimGreen]

Y8cel & V8&Turbos : Thanks for your info, really appreciated.

I think fitting a LSD & handing over a few £££ to Eurocharged for a remap, will be done very soon after I take ownership.

Budget is up to £25k with a little over for the above.

I sold the Renault about four years ago for £16k with just 28k on the clock and mint, now it would sell for a lot more than that. They've appreciated in value a lot in the last few years as have TVR's.

 

[E55jay]

Jim green how are you mate not sure you will remember me but we keep catching up with each other..... Passion ford m3cutters to name some! My user name was jay on passion ford I owned the escort cosworth yum... And you took me for a run out in your saff many years ago now!! hope your good mate! The lads on here have been very helpful when ever I have needed anything good luck and hope you find what your looking

 

[JimGreen]

Jay....... I do remember you, and I did indeed take you out for a spin in the Cosworth, think I'd just had the Norris Motorsport engine fitted, still remember it put out well over 400bhp, which was a lot back in the day.



Looks like we have similar taste in our cars.

Have to try and catch up when I find the right car, won't be too long I don't think, money burning a hole in my pocket.....LOL.

And yes we were on M3 Cutters as well, I loved the E46 M3 and I had a really nice one, but it was so good it just did everything so well, but I missed the excitement of the Cosworth...... I'm feeling exactly the same now with the Audi, hence me choosing the C63 AMG over the E60 M5.

Also appears to be more scope for tuning the AMG over the M5 (At a reasonable cost..... Relatively Speaking of course).

So it'll be a Quaife LSD (The same as I fitted to the Cosworth ironically) and a remap to just over the 500bhp I hope, then it should be an entertaining car, with just the suspension to sort. As mature (Old) as I am, I never stop playing with cars. When I need to really give myself a fright I take the Fireblade out, only full blown supercars keep with that. I just had that fitted with a RaceFit Exhaust System and a remap.

When I say i'm looking for a particularly clean AMG, then you probably remember the standard I'm looking for......







The Pic Below is from when it was featured in Performance Ford






Regards Jim

 

[Deleted member 113659]

What a great car history Jim. Bet the TVR was a buzz.

Welcome to the site.

Ant.

 

[ecain63]

I had an E61 M5 Touring before my first P31 C63. I loved the M5 because I drove it as it was designed. In manual (paddles) and shift mode 5. Drove perfectly for 2 years! I loved it so much that if the C63 had come with an SMG3 box i'd have kept it forever! Now I'm back in another C63 with the newer MCT box and i love it. It doesn't do paddles that well, certainly not as mechanical feeling as the M5 or fast to react as the A45 i just sold but the new MCT box in the faclift W204 is pretty decent in most areas. I laze around in C mode usually but a few time now i've opted for S or S+. The result is very satisfying.

My verdict: The M5 was ace but needed to be driven as it was originally designed. Too many people assumed it was an auto and that's why they were disappointed. The C63 does everything exceptioanlly well, but isn't as 'drivable / chuckable' as the //M. It's more of a pantomime car with all that torque and smoke. But that's why we love them.

Here are my previous weapons.

Ouch!



L200




Shogun Warrior:



GTi-6 engined 205:




BTCC engined 205:




C5 RS6 (MRC Stage 1) and Prodrive Brera SV6:




E61 M5 Tourer:





2010 C63 P31 (stage 1 with Quaife):







2014 A45 Stage 2. 430bhp. 0-60 3.3s, 0-100 8.1s. 1/4 mile 11.86s.







And the current 2012 P31 saloon with all the toys:

 

[developer]

Loving the M5 Tourer .

 

[JimGreen]

Jim green how are you mate not sure you will remember me but we keep catching up with each other..... Passion ford m3cutters to name some! My user name was jay on passion ford I owned the escort cosworth yum... And you took me for a run out in your saff many years ago now!! hope your good mate! The lads on here have been very helpful when ever I have needed anything good luck and hope you find what your looking

Didn't you have a nice registration on it ???? K --RSC or something similar. Wasn't it a dark blue one ???

 

[JimGreen]

Loving your Red C63 ..... Stunning

I'll reserve my comments on the Metro though, I don't want to get banned before I've been on here for a week at least.

 

[Franzino]

I had an E61 M5 Touring before my first P31 C63. I loved the M5 because I drove it as it was designed. In manual (paddles) and shift mode 5. Drove perfectly for 2 years! I loved it so much that if the C63 had come with an SMG3 box i'd have kept it forever! Now I'm back in another C63 with the newer MCT box and i love it. It doesn't do paddles that well, certainly not as mechanical feeling as the M5 or fast to react as the A45 i just sold but the new MCT box in the faclift W204 is pretty decent in most areas. I laze around in C mode usually but a few time now i've opted for S or S+. The result is very satisfying.

My verdict: The M5 was ace but needed to be driven as it was originally designed. Too many people assumed it was an auto and that's why they were disappointed. The C63 does everything exceptioanlly well, but isn't as 'drivable / chuckable' as the //M. It's more of a pantomime car with all that torque and smoke. But that's why we love them.

Ohh.... That's a great story, but an expensive one I'm sure.

If I get the same enjoyment out of a C63 AMG, as I did with the M5, i'll be happy. Not too many four doors cars with close to 500bhp on the market, so hope a drive of one will prove better than the E60 M5, which I'd wanted for years, but was so let down by the SMG Transmission.

Before deciding I wanted a C63 AMG (FL 2012) I also thought about a e61 M5…and the idea of a V10 in a daily car just sounds awesome and the M5 V10 is a really great piece of motorcar smile But i rather have a smaller 3-series, A4, C-class. For me personally a 5 serie, A6, E class are to big (and I don't need the extra space).

Their are also some problems/issues with the M5 V10. IMO the SMG gearbox is really awful in city traffic (in manual and auto) and is only enjoyable when driving fast on the highways or county roads. My daily car sees 50% city traffic (with traffic jams) and 50% highways. Their are also a lot of reliability issues with the SMG gearbox, the clutch and the V10 engine itself that can quickly turn into a big money pit…

With my Z4M I'm also registered on a couple of dedicated BMW forums and almost every M5 V10 owner has sold his car do to the big and unforeseen expenses. Most ex-owners don't recommend buying, owning this car as a daily driven vehicle. The MPG in a C63 AMG and RS4 is not the best and I can live with that, but in a M5 V10 the MPG is even worse and a bit to much (in combination with the costs of keeping this car trouble free).

But when you see this video and you can drive on these roads then you think; hell yeah lovely car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXeIsHIejD0#t=217


@ Topicstarter; I'm also a completely MB-newbie and the C63 AMG will be my first Mercedes ever… I don't even like the brand or have almost zero emotional feelings for the Mercedes badge. My own personal cars where mostly BMW's… But I have been fortunate enough to have driving some really nice car's in the past. Car's from friends, garage's, sponsors, etc.
From all the car's I tested as a replacement for my new daily car…the C63 came forward as the most exiting and also the best compromise for my purpose in daily city traffic and daily highway traffic jams. But when traffic is low I have something awesome when returning late at night after a long working day. Maybe the choice is different for me, a C63 AMG will be my daily workhorse and for sun, fun & track I also have BMW Z4M… I made my choice and I'm probably getting a C63 AMG (estate) this spring to replace my BMW 325i touring.

My topic with questions about the C63; http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/amg-...y%85rs4-b8-vs-c63-amg-opinions-questions.html

 

[John]

Their are also some problems/issues with the M5 V10. IMO the SMG gearbox is really awful in city traffic (in manual and auto) and is only enjoyable when driving fast on the highways or county roads. My daily car sees 50% city traffic (with traffic jams) and 50% highways. Their are also a lot of reliability issues with the SMG gearbox, the clutch and the V10 engine itself that can quickly turn into a big money pit…

The SMG III is one of the reasons I chose an E55K over an E60 M5 - reliable V8 and 5g slushy.

The V10 is very appealing but I already knew how bad and expensive SMG I and SMG II could be.

 

[ecain63]

Bear in mind you only read horror stories on the internet. Other than a new clutch in mine i had no issues with my gearbox. That's over 2 years too!

 

[Franzino]

Bear in mind you only read horror stories on the internet. Other than a new clutch in mine i had no issues with my gearbox. That's over 2 years too!

Trust me; I did my research about those car's. I also asked the same question at my local M-specialist. He gave me the same answer; don't buy it if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repair bills. Look at the M6 on the bridge… +10.000euros of engine costs

You drove yours for only two years… Nowadays that V10 engine has more miles on it and is probably older then when you had it. I tend to keep my cars for at least 5 years; so 2 years is not a good reference for me

 

[ecain63]

Ok. Listen to the horror stories then

** warning, broad brush opinion** ::

Ask pistonheads //M forum for any long term owners opinions. See what's said there. In my opinion you can't take a brand forum too seriously as you'll find they are often populated by people buying and running on a shoestring (not all forums are like this obviously). People with the money to run a performance car regardless of cost don't spend much time on forums unless they are enthusiasts. Shoestring owners do because they generally want to learn how to cut corners financially. They buy cheap, run cheap and then get burned. Then it's the cars fault etc. With the M5 there were some issues i grant you, but they were easily remedied with a little knowledge and outlay.

Admittedly I ran my M5 at the limit of my budget but I ran it properly, with full dealer attention and did my research as to what was a good car and what was not. It was pretty easy with the Tourer because they were rare as hell and owned largely by people who cared about what they drove and how it was looked after. The E60 was a bit of a secondhand pimp mobile and the choice was a bit of a minefield. A good car would be a sound purchase if you looked after it though. Anyway, moving on..... don't be put off by the big bills brigade. Yes they are pricey to fix when broken, but you only have to open your eyes to find one that won't cause you problems straight out of the box.

Eddie

 

[Franzino]

Ok. Listen to the horror stories then

When focussing only to online stories then indeed you sometimes get worried without to much reason and you will never buy a performance car.

** warning, broad brush opinion** ::

Ask pistonheads //M forum for any long term owners opinions. See what's said there. In my opinion you can't take a brand forum too seriously as you'll find they are often populated by people buying and running on a shoestring (not all forums are like this obviously). People with the money to run a performance car regardless of cost don't spend much time on forums unless they are enthusiasts. Shoestring owners do because they generally want to learn how to cut corners financially. They buy cheap, run cheap and then get burned. Then it's the cars fault etc. With the M5 there were some issues i grant you, but they were easily remedied with a little knowledge and outlay.

Admittedly I ran my M5 at the limit of my budget but I ran it properly, with full dealer attention and did my research as to what was a good car and what was not. It was pretty easy with the Tourer because they were rare as hell and owned largely by people who cared about what they drove and how it was looked after. The E60 was a bit of a secondhand pimp mobile and the choice was a bit of a minefield. A good car would be a sound purchase if you looked after it though. Anyway, moving on..... don't be put off by the big bills brigade. Yes they are pricey to fix when broken, but you only have to open your eyes to find one that won't cause you problems straight out of the box.

Eddie

You are correct on some points and there are probably some people who want to run / own a used performance car and cut costs. On the long run this will bite them back… Maybe most used M5 V10 that people have bought the last years aren't already the best examples anymore. This maybe explains why the M5 V10 became a car with that reputation of big repair bills…because previous owners were running them on a shoestring and good examples are hard to find.

I can only speak for myself; but tips on cutting costs has never been a reason why I visit forum's. In my opinion it's the same with most people of performance cars. I'm an enthusiasts (a real petrolhead) and I want to know the in and outs, every detail, improvements and possible modifications of the car's I already own or want to own in the future.