W205 AMG Line Ride v W204 C63?

[SiT]

Evening,

I started a new job six months ago and needed a car so picked up a ‘17 plate C Class AMG Line which has been perfect, however now job has settled down I want to get into something more fun for the weekend.

Before the C63 is extinct I would like to own one BUT my W205 rides horrendously!!!! It’s not a comfortable ride although looks the part. Does anyone have any experience of how the W204 C63 rides in comparison?

Would dearly love one but this has put me off Mercs a bit.

Si

[Paddymcc]

I cant comment on the w205 as I only drove an amg line coupe for a short while when my c63 was in for warranty work, but it was comfy enough on 18" wheels.

I did own an estate c63 w204 and it also had 18s. Found the ride firm but not overly too firm or annoying. I specifically sought out a model on 18s for the better ride quality and less chance of cracking wheels.

[SiT]

Thanks Paddy that’s helpful, I think the 18’s would definitely be a better proposition - as nice as 19’s look, the W205 is awful on AMG Line suspension and 19’s.

Will seek out a local W204 and get a test drive to confirm I think.

Si

[gregpot2000]

Do you have run flats fitted?

I have the chocolate 20inch turbine wheels (they crack for fun!) fitted to my w213 e-class, and the ride was absolutely horrible for the first year with them fitted, any slight defect in the road knocked my teeth out with the most horrendous of impact noises! these situations would happen several times on every journey.

I changed all the tyres to non-run flats back in September, and whilst I'm not saying it rides like its on 16inch steel wheels now....it has transformed the car, I now no longer fear every dip in the road, and those "bloody hell" impact moments have been reduced from several times a day, to maybe once per month now with a particularly badly maintained road - Of course I don't go looking for potholes! but in the winter in total darkness sometimes impossible to avoid!

I was actively looking to chop the car in before thinking the ride was horrible, but now its generally fine

Something to consider if you have run flats fitted.

[SiT]

Do you know what I assumed they were standard tyres but I haven’t actually checked if they are run flats or not! That’s a very good shout - I will pop out and check but your experience pre ‘normal’ tyres sounds very similar to mine.

Si

[SiT]

gregpot2000 said:

Do you have run flats fitted?

I have the chocolate 20inch turbine wheels (they crack for fun!) fitted to my w213 e-class, and the ride was absolutely horrible for the first year with them fitted, any slight defect in the road knocked my teeth out with the most horrendous of impact noises! these situations would happen several times on every journey.

I changed all the tyres to non-run flats back in September, and whilst I'm not saying it rides like its on 16inch steel wheels now....it has transformed the car, I now no longer fear every dip in the road, and those "bloody hell" impact moments have been reduced from several times a day, to maybe once per month now with a particularly badly maintained road - Of course I don't go looking for potholes! but in the winter in total darkness sometimes impossible to avoid!

I was actively looking to chop the car in before thinking the ride was horrible, but now its generally fine

Something to consider if you have run flats fitted.

You hit the nail on the head here! Checked and they are Continental Sport Contact SSR - the key here is SSR Self Supporting Runflat!

So if I switch these for non runflats I should see a very different car based on your experience?

Si

[gregpot2000]

Well worth a check then!

I would say it would make a huge difference! My E Class is the first car with them fitted, coming from an A4 B9 with 17 inch wheels that felt like a magic carpet!

For the first year with the E class, I hated the ride. I put it down to the 20inch wheels ("well what do you expect" kind of thing), and then just down to Mercedes in general. I was looking into all sorts, new replacement wheels, changing down to 18inch etc, and even looking to chop the car in for something else.

I had a nail in one of the rear's in September, so thought this was a great time to change both rears out, and noticed an improvement then. And that I thought I may as well go ahead now and change the fronts, it stung a bit because they had plenty of life left in them (even though rear and front were all mis-matched tyres despite being approved used! go figure!)

Since then, the biggest compliment I can give the car is that the ride is simply...unremarkable! and not something I really think about anymore, it feels fine without a fuss. I'm sure I could still improve the ride further getting smaller wheels, but I don't feel it necessary to make any changes now, whereas before it was something I thought about daily

Thanks