C63 questions from an M3/C350 Canadian owner
12-22-2010, 09:29 AM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
C63 questions from an M3/C350 Canadian owner
Hey guys,
I come from a long line of M3 driving. Put about 100k kms on an E36 and E46 over the past 7 years so that is where my POV is coming from. That said we also have a 2008 C350 4matic which has been an awesome car. The 350's lease is up next year and it's the right time to sell my 2005 M3 mileage wise so I am thinking of upgrading to a C63 + some other used 4wd for winter (I live in Calgary Alberta, Canada).
Some questions
1. I need a 4 door car for driving clients and kids around. Is the big V8 bearable from the back seat? For those owners with young children - are they comfortable back there with the noise? I would spec 18" wheels but also the performance package. How is the ride quality compared with a C350 on 18s?
2. What is the feedback you are getting from passengers regarding the seats on longer trips. We do several trips to montana every summer and I need my wife to be comfortable in the passenger seat or she'll make us take our SUV.
3. The stock tire sizes just don't make sense to me. I'd like to go 285s on the back and 245s on the front. Can I fit these on the stock rims without rolling fenders? The techs at the dealership couldn't agree on this when I asked. For those owners with 285s on the back do you still break traction in the dry when you go WOT right off the line?
4. Is the 'manual automatic' setting a true manual? like if I roll up to a stop in 5th gear will it try and pull it or does it kick down to first? Is there launch control with the gearbox?
5. Does the gearshift allow you to roll through the gears same as the paddles? In my C350 I can shift up/down by moving the gearstick left or right. I can also hold the gearstick all the way to the left for a second or two and it will shift to the optimum gear for acceleration. Work the same in the C63? Can you skip gears with multiple clicks of the paddle or do you have to work your way down? I wish we could spec this car with a stick.
I'm sure I'll have more after responses but thanks in advance!
I come from a long line of M3 driving. Put about 100k kms on an E36 and E46 over the past 7 years so that is where my POV is coming from. That said we also have a 2008 C350 4matic which has been an awesome car. The 350's lease is up next year and it's the right time to sell my 2005 M3 mileage wise so I am thinking of upgrading to a C63 + some other used 4wd for winter (I live in Calgary Alberta, Canada).
Some questions
1. I need a 4 door car for driving clients and kids around. Is the big V8 bearable from the back seat? For those owners with young children - are they comfortable back there with the noise? I would spec 18" wheels but also the performance package. How is the ride quality compared with a C350 on 18s?
2. What is the feedback you are getting from passengers regarding the seats on longer trips. We do several trips to montana every summer and I need my wife to be comfortable in the passenger seat or she'll make us take our SUV.
3. The stock tire sizes just don't make sense to me. I'd like to go 285s on the back and 245s on the front. Can I fit these on the stock rims without rolling fenders? The techs at the dealership couldn't agree on this when I asked. For those owners with 285s on the back do you still break traction in the dry when you go WOT right off the line?
4. Is the 'manual automatic' setting a true manual? like if I roll up to a stop in 5th gear will it try and pull it or does it kick down to first? Is there launch control with the gearbox?
5. Does the gearshift allow you to roll through the gears same as the paddles? In my C350 I can shift up/down by moving the gearstick left or right. I can also hold the gearstick all the way to the left for a second or two and it will shift to the optimum gear for acceleration. Work the same in the C63? Can you skip gears with multiple clicks of the paddle or do you have to work your way down? I wish we could spec this car with a stick.
I'm sure I'll have more after responses but thanks in advance!
12-22-2010, 09:59 AM
#4
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'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
Ride is rougher than the C350.
The car is the same size, so I don't know why you are asking questions about space and comfort. My wife loves the seats.
The C63 transmission is nothing like SMG or even the auto in the 335.
I can take you for a ride if you like.
The car is the same size, so I don't know why you are asking questions about space and comfort. My wife loves the seats.
The C63 transmission is nothing like SMG or even the auto in the 335.
I can take you for a ride if you like.
12-23-2010, 03:17 AM
#5
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'09 SL Black, '12 ML63, '13 SL63, '14 E63 Wagon, '14 458 Italia
1 & 2. I actually rode a fair amount in the passenger & rear seats getting my cars back from the east coast, and the rear is almost the same as the 350. The passenger seat is obviously significantly more bolstered than the couch you get in a 350, but it wasn't uncomfortable to me or my Mom (6' 175-ish).
3. Got nothing on the size question, but as someone ^ mentioned, you can get the tires to break off at pretty much any size that's been tried thusfar.
4. The manual setting will kick you down a gear or some gears if you fall below a proportionate speed, but it will hold, and bounce off of, the rev limiter on the top end. No launch control - you'd have to go E class for that.
5. Yep - gearstick = paddles. Hold = maximum down or upshift.
Keep in mind I owned a 2010, so there may have been some tweaks for '11, but I think most of these options are the same.
3. Got nothing on the size question, but as someone ^ mentioned, you can get the tires to break off at pretty much any size that's been tried thusfar.
4. The manual setting will kick you down a gear or some gears if you fall below a proportionate speed, but it will hold, and bounce off of, the rev limiter on the top end. No launch control - you'd have to go E class for that.
5. Yep - gearstick = paddles. Hold = maximum down or upshift.
Keep in mind I owned a 2010, so there may have been some tweaks for '11, but I think most of these options are the same.
