Not Rare But Fun: C63 AMG W204 Coupe
Discussion
I used to own a 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet with the V6T engine. While it was great fun in the summer, it wasn’t the best all-round daily driver. The fuel economy was poor—15mpg on some trips—and for what’s now fairly modest performance, it started to feel a bit underwhelming.
I’d been considering a pre-facelift C63 AMG, but the well-known head bolt issues and dated interior put me off. Recently, though, I came across a late-production (2014) facelift C63 Coupe in Obsidian Black with reasonable mileage for its age. Needless to say, the S5 was quickly offloaded to a WBAC-type place, and I made the switch.
All C63’s come as standard with a reasonable spec, this one has the illuminated door sills (£600 option) and privacy glass. It’s a not a Performance Pack version so it’s 457bhp as standard, a remap up to around 510bhp is less that £300. No previous owner has felt the need to slap on a load of Ali-Express carbon and it’s completely standard.
Compared to the S5, the C63 is in a completely different league performance-wise. I’ve found myself driving most of the time with the radio off, just to enjoy the sound of that glorious V8. The M156 engine does have its known issues, so I took it to a specialist to have the cam phasers rebuilt and the leaking rocker gaskets sorted. While it was in, we checked for cam lobe wear, and thankfully everything looked good.
Click here for some V8 goodness:
https://youtube.com/shorts/qeIpZF-75Lg?si=8J5tDnsS...
The S5 used to get the occasional nice comment, but with the C63, I’ve had people actually come up to me wanting to chat about the car. These aren’t exactly rare, but they seem to hold a soft spot for some people, which has been a nice experience.
I found an active owners club and have been to a few events at Caffeine & Machine and Goodwood, I’m often at the Port Solent Car Meet so if you are ever there say hi!
I’d been considering a pre-facelift C63 AMG, but the well-known head bolt issues and dated interior put me off. Recently, though, I came across a late-production (2014) facelift C63 Coupe in Obsidian Black with reasonable mileage for its age. Needless to say, the S5 was quickly offloaded to a WBAC-type place, and I made the switch.
All C63’s come as standard with a reasonable spec, this one has the illuminated door sills (£600 option) and privacy glass. It’s a not a Performance Pack version so it’s 457bhp as standard, a remap up to around 510bhp is less that £300. No previous owner has felt the need to slap on a load of Ali-Express carbon and it’s completely standard.
Compared to the S5, the C63 is in a completely different league performance-wise. I’ve found myself driving most of the time with the radio off, just to enjoy the sound of that glorious V8. The M156 engine does have its known issues, so I took it to a specialist to have the cam phasers rebuilt and the leaking rocker gaskets sorted. While it was in, we checked for cam lobe wear, and thankfully everything looked good.
Click here for some V8 goodness:
https://youtube.com/shorts/qeIpZF-75Lg?si=8J5tDnsS...
The S5 used to get the occasional nice comment, but with the C63, I’ve had people actually come up to me wanting to chat about the car. These aren’t exactly rare, but they seem to hold a soft spot for some people, which has been a nice experience.
I found an active owners club and have been to a few events at Caffeine & Machine and Goodwood, I’m often at the Port Solent Car Meet so if you are ever there say hi!
Edited by Krupp88 on Wednesday 18th December 14:16
Edited by Krupp88 on Wednesday 18th December 14:25
I've not got to experience that engine shoe horned into that car but a friend of mine who drives all sorts of great stuff has reliable informed me they're "absolutely f
king wicked mental fun" as you'd hope.
One of the absolute best ICE engines that has ever been or will ever be. Love the POO plate too.
king wicked mental fun" as you'd hope. One of the absolute best ICE engines that has ever been or will ever be. Love the POO plate too.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Wednesday 18th December 14:32
Love a C63 and still miss my estate variant. That looks like a nice spec you have.
Depening on your mileage you might want to get a set of new injectors if they havnt been done yet. They are probably the major headache on these as they reach older age and can lead to a catastrophic engine failure by flooding the engine with unburnt fuel.
I had the factory LSD on mine which made it put the power down even better.
Depening on your mileage you might want to get a set of new injectors if they havnt been done yet. They are probably the major headache on these as they reach older age and can lead to a catastrophic engine failure by flooding the engine with unburnt fuel.
I had the factory LSD on mine which made it put the power down even better.
Paddymcc said:
Depening on your mileage you might want to get a set of new injectors if they havnt been done yet. They are probably the major headache on these as they reach older age and can lead to a catastrophic engine failure by flooding the engine with unburnt fuel.
I had the factory LSD on mine which made it put the power down even better.
Thanks - Injectors were an early list item, thankfully the various FB owners groups make much mention of this as well so realised early and had them replaced.I had the factory LSD on mine which made it put the power down even better.
I’m considering one of the aftermarket LSD’s, bit of a toss up between a budget for that or some exhaust work…
Dr G said:
I'm next-door to Birds (who supply Quaife for these); if I see you outside will know which option you picked 
Quaife looks to be a popular option, only thing holding me back is that I have never really pushed the car/do I really need it. It’s an amazing car but one drawback, as I’m sure is the same with many other performance cars these days, is that you can’t push it anywhere near it’s potential on public roads, approaching redline in 3rd and you’re shifting towards 90mph…
Krupp88 said:
Quaife looks to be a popular option, only thing holding me back is that I have never really pushed the car/do I really need it.
It’s an amazing car but one drawback, as I’m sure is the same with many other performance cars these days, is that you can’t push it anywhere near it’s potential on public roads, approaching redline in 3rd and you’re shifting towards 90mph…
An LSD will help every time you hoof it out of a junction or off a roundabout, if you're going to spend any money on modifying/improving the car that's where I'd spend it.It’s an amazing car but one drawback, as I’m sure is the same with many other performance cars these days, is that you can’t push it anywhere near it’s potential on public roads, approaching redline in 3rd and you’re shifting towards 90mph…
GeniusOfLove said:
Krupp88 said:
Quaife looks to be a popular option, only thing holding me back is that I have never really pushed the car/do I really need it.
It’s an amazing car but one drawback, as I’m sure is the same with many other performance cars these days, is that you can’t push it anywhere near it’s potential on public roads, approaching redline in 3rd and you’re shifting towards 90mph…
An LSD will help every time you hoof it out of a junction or off a roundabout, if you're going to spend any money on modifying/improving the car that's where I'd spend it.It’s an amazing car but one drawback, as I’m sure is the same with many other performance cars these days, is that you can’t push it anywhere near it’s potential on public roads, approaching redline in 3rd and you’re shifting towards 90mph…
That engine
Unfortunately there have been some downsides with ownership, during the summer there was a post on the village FB group about a car being stolen, I had a look back through the nights Ring footage and saw this:
No damage done but a Ghost 2 was promptly fitted to accompany the disc-loc.
No damage done but a Ghost 2 was promptly fitted to accompany the disc-loc.
B_Tank88 said:
Oh man
I didn't know these cars were targets. Does yours have the keyless entry/start option?
I imagine it would be hard to get into one of these otherwise? All least compared to all the newer keyless entry/start cars anyway.
Mine isn’t keyless, from various FB posts it looks like they went from one end of the village to the next, opportunists really, ended up taking Suzuki SUV a couple of roads down. With mine they may have been after the headlight loom, apparently there is something called a canbus injection attack that gives them access. I didn't know these cars were targets. Does yours have the keyless entry/start option?
I imagine it would be hard to get into one of these otherwise? All least compared to all the newer keyless entry/start cars anyway.
Absolutely fantastic cars and yours looks excellent in black. Must be nice to have a standard one too. Wish you well!
My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
MTK1919 said:
Absolutely fantastic cars and yours looks excellent in black. Must be nice to have a standard one too. Wish you well!
My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
Thanks! Your old 507 looks like an amazing example, certainly enough different about them to stand apart from standard models, I have only seen a couple in the flesh so they are a rare sight. My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
J51dhu said:
Amazing car! That engine never gets old.
12k miles in and I love my estate..
Injectors are definitely worth doing for peace of mind.
What gearbox work are you getting done?
When warm it’s clunking as it comes down from 3-2-1, then if you suddenly go back on the gas it jerks, really isn’t smooth, there is also a vibration coming through when sat at idle. It’s still within 6 month warranty so the Mercedes specialist recommended getting it stripped down.12k miles in and I love my estate..
Injectors are definitely worth doing for peace of mind.
What gearbox work are you getting done?
Waiting to hear the outcome, they only started today and Xmas break starts tomorrow so will be NY now.
Enjoy your estate, I think they look great in that guise.
MTK1919 said:
Absolutely fantastic cars and yours looks excellent in black. Must be nice to have a standard one too. Wish you well!
My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
Absolutely gorgeous My biggest car regret was letting my 507 edition go a few years back. I've since had a few really very good motors but nothing has hooked me like the C63.
One day, I'll have another. Hopefully before these things become a thing of the past!
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