Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Tuned by Carbahn Autoworks Drive Review

Modified Mercedes-AMG C 63 S produces 674 horsepower, 666 lb-ft of torque, and has handling prowess that could make a Miata envious.

The C 63 has always held a soft spot in the hearts of car enthusiasts around the world. A thunderous V8 engine paired with the hallmark Mercedes luxury, all stuffed into the compact(ish) C-Class body, what’s not to like?

While the original W204 C 63 featured a 6.2-liter, naturally-aspirated V8, this current W205-based model trades some displacement for a pair of turbochargers, as is the modern way. Now displacing just 4.0-liters, the newer M177 engine, is actually much more potent than the engine it replaces. In the C 63 S, it produces 503 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, allowing this 4,000 pound luxury rocket to do the 0-60 sprint in just 3.8 seconds.

But what happens if you want more? More power, more aggressive suspension tuning, more grip and more performance? You turn to the aftermarket. You turn to Carbahn Autoworks, because this Carbahn Autoworks-tuned Mercedes-AMG C 63 S produces 674 horsepower, 666 lb-ft of torque, and handles way better than a 4,000 pound anything should.

Led by renowned racer and tuner Steve Dinan, the team at Carbahn offers a variety of tuning packages for high-performance models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This particular C 63 S features their $21,890 GTS package, which is their middle ground option, for a fun road car. Carbahn will convert your ride to near-GT4-spec race car, should you choose to do so.

What Does Your Money Get You at Carbahn Autoworks?

The GTS package includes upgraded turbochargers, sourced from Pure Tuning, as well as custom carbon fiber airboxes, upgraded heat exchangers and a custom ECU tune, which includes a speed limiter delete option. That’s where the big power figures come from.

Additionally, and, perhaps, crucially, are the suspension upgrades, of which there are many, and all of which are designed and built in-house, by Carbahn. The factory AMG shocks are converted into an adjustable coil-over system, which an inch of height adjustment. Those new springs are slightly stiffer, to compensate for the lowered ride height. Then all of the suspension bushings in the front and rear control arms are replaced with spherical bearings, which allows for bind-free movement of those arms, through the entire range of suspension travel. That should make for more predictable handling.

Then there is the street aero package, which includes the front splitter and rear lip spoiler. According to Mr. Dinan, those two pieces produce 100 pounds of downforce at 150 MPH.

This particular car also rolls on a set of 20-inch Forgeline wheels. They aren’t part of the package, but Dinan just likes to equip these fancy rollers on his rides. They measure 9.5-inches wide up front and 10.5-inches wide out back, and wear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, sized 285 and 305, respectively.

This all sounds lovely, but can this tuned C63 S dance with the best of them on a winding back road? Well, there’s just one way to find out.

Continue reading about the Carbahn Autoworks Mercedes-AMG C 63 S on the next page…

Jake Stumph

Jake Stumph is a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, and former content editor for Internet Brands Automotive which he joined in 2015. His work has been featured by several other prominent automotive outlets, including Jalopnik and Autobytel.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Ohio State University in 2013, then pivoted from covering politics and policy to writing about his automotive adventures, something that, he says, is a lot more fun. Since that time, he has established connections with most of the world's major automakers, as well as other key brands in the automotive industry.

He enjoys track days, drifting, and autocross, at least, when his cars are running right, which is uncommon.