W204 C63 or E92 M3

Author
Discussion

RSTurbo50

Original Poster:

6 posts

76 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Looking to get a weekend toy to accommodate my F31 330d M Sport Touring. I had a W204 C63 a few years ago and honestly it was in at Mercedes under warranty more than I had it on the road, I think I was unlucky but after 8 months i moved it on. I was gutted as it was always my dream car. I do think I was unlucky because generally iv heard they are pretty reliable. BUT the E92, facelift M3 is another car im thinking about. I think maybe the M3 looks a little smarter but has anyone on here owned both and if so which did you prefer? Both sound great and I love the induction roar from the M3. Price wise i have a maximum of £23000 but it has to be clean, good history and not looking for one thats had loads of owners. W204 wise im looking for a coupe but wouldnt rule out a saloon either.....

Any thoughts?

Shabaza

224 posts

100 months

Saturday
quotequote all
For me, the option to have a manual gearbox for a weekend toy trumps the other accolades.
Subsequently, I'd take the e9x M3.

If it was going to be used more frequently, but not on track the C63 is more fun hooning about in (in terms of asbo unintentional wheel spin and back end mischief).


TeaVR

1,236 posts

230 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Lexus ISF?

ZX10R NIN

27,861 posts

128 months

Saturday
quotequote all
I have a CLK63 & my brother has an E90 M3, we've both had them for 10+ years, in between that my OH had had two C63's.

My car has easily been the least heavy in terms of maintenance, my brothers is now fully sorted with all the issues taken care of & has been 100% reliable for the last four years.

They're very different in character the 63 feels like an event at any speed whereas the M3/4 is a car (imo you have to up the pace a bit to access that special feeling) the 63's engine is a peach of a unit,

The E90 suits the dct better than it does the manual, this is just my personal opinion they don't have the greatest manual box.

A car that often gets overlooked is the RS5 (if you're considering an M3 I'd also look at one of these.

Here's a review:

https://youtu.be/I8anqtoNEi8

I'm bias but get the C63 wink

MattMF1

239 posts

158 months

Another vote for the C63. I had an E46 M3 before and the C63 is a much more fun car to drive in my opinion. The gearbox doesn’t detract (provided it’s MCT) and the engine is fantastic. I don’t think either car will be light on maintenance at this age, but it helps if you can do little bits yourself.

The problem with the E46/E92 as someone else has said is that you need to really thrash them to enjoy it, and because there is limited opportunities to do that it can be a frustrating thing. Not to mention you go straight into license losing speeds. If this is going to be a part time track car then the BMW’s are a much better option, if it’s just to blast around on the weekend the C63 is much better.

If you do go for one, get the secondary cat taken out and that is absolutely perfect sound wise. Quiet when you need it to be, no drone, but sounds incredible under a bit of load, plus a few pops and crackles as well!

GT9

7,093 posts

175 months

Rear tyre life...
Get friendly with your local tyre place if you opt for the C63.
Might be ok for a weekend car.

nobrakes

3,079 posts

201 months

ZX10R NIN said:
I have a CLK63 & my brother has an E90 M3, we've both had them for 10+ years, in between that my OH had had two C63's.

My car has easily been the least heavy in terms of maintenance, my brothers is now fully sorted with all the issues taken care of & has been 100% reliable for the last four years.

They're very different in character the 63 feels like an event at any speed whereas the M3/4 is a car (imo you have to up the pace a bit to access that special feeling) the 63's engine is a peach of a unit,

The E90 suits the dct better than it does the manual, this is just my personal opinion they don't have the greatest manual box.

A car that often gets overlooked is the RS5 (if you're considering an M3 I'd also look at one of these.

Here's a review:

https://youtu.be/I8anqtoNEi8

I'm bias but get the C63 wink
A CLK63?! Rare as rare thing, indeed.