W204 C63 buying advice
- Thread starter Rhino2
- Start date
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Steve84N
MB Enthusiast
It is and it isn't.
The Facebook Group has a lot of members so there's usually a few up for sale and most people are genuine enthusiasts. However, this ranges from your twenty something who likes to 'de-chrome' the whole car and remove the secondary cats to those who are typically a bit older and focus more on the mechanicals. The coupes tend to have a high number of owners as they are the body style of choice for those wanting to experience that engine and tick it off a list and (sweeping generalisation) are more likely to have been driven hard around city centres. The estates are usually owned for longer by family people so are likely to have had an easier life mechanically but it varies on the interior wear. The saloons are somewhere in the middle but more towards the well looked after end from what I've seen.
The Facebook Group has a lot of members so there's usually a few up for sale and most people are genuine enthusiasts. However, this ranges from your twenty something who likes to 'de-chrome' the whole car and remove the secondary cats to those who are typically a bit older and focus more on the mechanicals. The coupes tend to have a high number of owners as they are the body style of choice for those wanting to experience that engine and tick it off a list and (sweeping generalisation) are more likely to have been driven hard around city centres. The estates are usually owned for longer by family people so are likely to have had an easier life mechanically but it varies on the interior wear. The saloons are somewhere in the middle but more towards the well looked after end from what I've seen.
Steve84N
MB Enthusiast
Used C CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ C63 4dr Auto 2013 | Lookers
I think this car is worth consideration. Here's why:
- A main dealer will only sell a car as old as this if it's in very good condition. To offer the 2 year AMG warranty they must have faith in it, maybe because they have known the car during its lifetime. You can check where the services were done to test this theory.
- The car is wearing its miles as well as something with a third of the mileage. The interior and paintwork look in excellent condition. I'd query if the front bumper has been resprayed by Mercedes ready for sale as it has a fair bit of orange peel effect and looks too free of stone chips. The wheels have been refurbished and the brakes have been changed as stated so they've clearly spent some money on it and this is reflected in the high asking price.
- I'd wager that car has had 1-2 owners (plus the registering dealer) as it's clearly been well looked after.
- The tyre in the close up is a horrible budget item and the others look similar so it might have new tyres all round. I wouldn't settle for anything less than Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S all round for the asking price. They were probably put on by the dealer as part of the other things that have been refreshed but it is a terrible decision to cut corners on any car, never mind one with this much power/torque. Use it as a bargaining chip or get them replaced.
- The servicing has been done based on mileage rather than mileage or time. Although less than ideal I wouldn't see this as a complete red flag as others have generically said. These cars have relatively simple service schedules that are essentially a series of glorified oil changes, they don't need specialist things like valve adjustments. With the miles within tolerance between services it doesn't matter that much that the oil wasn't changed more. Use it as a strong bargaining chip but have peace of mind from the warranty.
I bought my 2013 C63 Estate from a main dealer in December 2017 with 40k miles on the clock. It had one previous owner from new and the dealer had supplied the car originally. It was actually £500 less than this one after negotiation but was listed at £29,000. If they don't have a queue of people to buy it they are likely to come down if they see you are serious. The interior/exterior of mine was similar to that and was almost like new.
Within the 2 year warranty period I put the thick end of 30k miles on my car and I was able to get some work done. All four camshaft adjusters were replaced which is over £3k worth of parts. I also had the footbrake pedal assembly replaced as it was getting sticky in cold weather. I had some electrical gremlins early on which turned out to be the SRS control module and wiring that wasn't quite connected properly at the factory. Finally, they replaced a driveshaft seal as it looked like it was leaking. In fact, I had had a Wavetrac differential installed and one of the circlips was misaligned so it wasn't breathing properly and pressure was blowing out of the breather hole (not Mercedes' fault). My point is the warranty really is worth having and you will almost certainly not find another 204 C63 at a main dealer from this point onwards.
In summary, if it's as clean as it looks and you can negotiate a better price and tyres then I'd go for it.
I think this car is worth consideration. Here's why:
- A main dealer will only sell a car as old as this if it's in very good condition. To offer the 2 year AMG warranty they must have faith in it, maybe because they have known the car during its lifetime. You can check where the services were done to test this theory.
- The car is wearing its miles as well as something with a third of the mileage. The interior and paintwork look in excellent condition. I'd query if the front bumper has been resprayed by Mercedes ready for sale as it has a fair bit of orange peel effect and looks too free of stone chips. The wheels have been refurbished and the brakes have been changed as stated so they've clearly spent some money on it and this is reflected in the high asking price.
- I'd wager that car has had 1-2 owners (plus the registering dealer) as it's clearly been well looked after.
- The tyre in the close up is a horrible budget item and the others look similar so it might have new tyres all round. I wouldn't settle for anything less than Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S all round for the asking price. They were probably put on by the dealer as part of the other things that have been refreshed but it is a terrible decision to cut corners on any car, never mind one with this much power/torque. Use it as a bargaining chip or get them replaced.
- The servicing has been done based on mileage rather than mileage or time. Although less than ideal I wouldn't see this as a complete red flag as others have generically said. These cars have relatively simple service schedules that are essentially a series of glorified oil changes, they don't need specialist things like valve adjustments. With the miles within tolerance between services it doesn't matter that much that the oil wasn't changed more. Use it as a strong bargaining chip but have peace of mind from the warranty.
I bought my 2013 C63 Estate from a main dealer in December 2017 with 40k miles on the clock. It had one previous owner from new and the dealer had supplied the car originally. It was actually £500 less than this one after negotiation but was listed at £29,000. If they don't have a queue of people to buy it they are likely to come down if they see you are serious. The interior/exterior of mine was similar to that and was almost like new.
Within the 2 year warranty period I put the thick end of 30k miles on my car and I was able to get some work done. All four camshaft adjusters were replaced which is over £3k worth of parts. I also had the footbrake pedal assembly replaced as it was getting sticky in cold weather. I had some electrical gremlins early on which turned out to be the SRS control module and wiring that wasn't quite connected properly at the factory. Finally, they replaced a driveshaft seal as it looked like it was leaking. In fact, I had had a Wavetrac differential installed and one of the circlips was misaligned so it wasn't breathing properly and pressure was blowing out of the breather hole (not Mercedes' fault). My point is the warranty really is worth having and you will almost certainly not find another 204 C63 at a main dealer from this point onwards.
In summary, if it's as clean as it looks and you can negotiate a better price and tyres then I'd go for it.
Last edited:
Steve84N
MB Enthusiast
It makes you outside of the caveated sweeping generalisation. I'm on here and there so I'm simply reporting what I see.What does that make me then nearly 50 with a standard ppp coupe
And definitely NOT on Facebook
Spider10
MB Enthusiast
I do agree in general there's alot of shite out there tyre's is the 1st thing i check before i even go into anything else ,not always but most cheap tyre's means shoe string budget and you can't run a car like this on that kind of budget! Only my opinion of courseIt makes you outside of the caveated sweeping generalisation. I'm on here and there so I'm simply reporting what I see.
Steve84N
MB Enthusiast
I missed the 4 previous owners. Still looks in good condition though.
I agree about using tyres as a barometer check but if the dealer put the tyres on I wouldn't rely on it. The owner might have just waited to part ex it in until they were nearly done.
I agree about using tyres as a barometer check but if the dealer put the tyres on I wouldn't rely on it. The owner might have just waited to part ex it in until they were nearly done.
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Absolutely. A simple check, cheap tyres = cheapskate owner. Beware.
Hey guys, just spoke to my contact, the 3 services were all standard services, MB Maidstone have done a major service, gearbox service, it had an oil leak from the oil cooler, they have replaced the oil cooler and pipework, new pads and discs all round, the bumper was painted in thier approved body shop on the same estate.
They have spent close on £4K in total in prep and services to bring every upto date.
I'm happy to go down and have a look at the car today of you want me to
They have spent close on £4K in total in prep and services to bring every upto date.
I'm happy to go down and have a look at the car today of you want me to
Skd884
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2017
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- 3,534
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- c180 w204
Offer £25k
That's no problem buddy, if you have a chat with him, and let him know I'm coming down to look at it.
My full name lee Valleley
07713 215395
Or on WhatsApp or messenger
Can also do you a walk round video if you want
Lol
You won't get that much off, eap as they have spent 4k on it now. Yiu may be able to work in some free road fund licence etc. Who is the salesman
Skd884
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
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- c180 w204
The work you have listed would not cost anywhere remotely close to £4k
Offer £25k and do not contact them again for a few days.
cluffy
Member
My car is for sale if interested: White C63 Estate, 63-plate, 37896 miles, mint condition with Michelin Pilot Tyres! £22,500 (see Autotrader for more details)
