Give an Inch, Lose a Mile: AMG C63 Black Series vs BMW M3
Tuned 750 HP AMG C63 Black Series can cover a mile in less than 30 seconds. But is it quick enough to beat a tuned 700 HP BMW M3?
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Black Series seen here is nearly a decade old, but it was fast when new and slapping a supercharger on top only made it faster. It currently puts out 750 horsepower and 700-foot-pounds of torque. The chief rival to the AMG is of course the BMW M3. The M3 here has also been tuned and is currently pumping out 700 horsepower and 700 foot-pounds of twist. The stage is set for yet another Mercedes vs. BMW showdown.
This showdown is brought to us by Mat Watson, who posted the video on the Carwow YouTube channel. What is special about this matchup is that this is not just a 0 to 60 or quarter mile drag race. The race continues for a full mile. So, the car with the best launch may not necessarily be the winner. There is a lot of ground to cover and a lot of time for one car to reel in the other.
And while the power figures may be similar the curb weight is not–the AMG tips the scales at a not inconsiderable 3,858 pounds. The BMW weighs only 3,417 pounds. So, while the BMW is down 50 horsepower in total, it only has to carry 4.88 pounds per horsepower. The AMG is lugging around 5.14 pounds per horse. Needless to say, the power to weight advantage goes to the BMW.
Rolling Race Number 1
Before the first race can begin, there needs to be the obligatory exhaust battle. The AMG revs quickly and sounds amazing. However, the BMW doesn’t sound half bad either, so the competition already seems tight. With that out of the way it is time for the first actual race. They start with a roll race. Both cars at 50 mph and in third gear, nail it at the signal.
The BMW jumps out to an early car length lead. However, once they reach about 160 mph the AMG begins to close the gap. By the 180 mph mark the AMG is in the lead. At the end of the mile the AMG is doing about 200 mph and has a couple lengths on the BMW. Score one for the AMG C63 Black Series. “This thing is a monster,” said Watson.
Rolling Race Number 2
Another rolling race, but this time it is from 70 mph in fifth gear. This race should favor the turbocharged BMW. And it does. The BMW jumps out to a sizable lead and the AMG begins to reel it in around the 160-mph mark, but it is too little too late. The BMW wins by about a car length.
Brake Test
Before the cars do the drag race from a dig Watson wants to see how they compare when it comes to stopping. From 70 mph both cars slam on the brakes to perform an emergency stop. The AMG didn’t like this test very much. “God the brake pedal just went to the floor,” Watson said after the car finally stops.
The BMW was stopped over a car length shorter than the AMG. This is likely another side effect of carrying an extra 400 pounds around.
Drag Race
From a dig the AMG C63 Black Series destroys the M3. The AMG jumps off the line first and just builds up the lead from there. It runs an 11.19 in the quarter. The mile is completed in a scant 27.05 seconds at 194 mph. They run the same race again with near identical results. The BMW is well off the pace in this race. By the half-mile mark, the M3 is more than a full second behind the AMG. Check out the video below and see these two bitter rivals go at it once again.
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