C63 AMG (W204) 2008 - 2015

Reliability and safety - about to make the switch.

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Old 04-28-2010, 01:14 AM
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08 C63, VW Touareg V8, VW Touareg V6
Reliability and safety - about to make the switch.

I'm coming from a 335i and am sick of the reliability issues. I can deal with a few warning lights but no more being stranded on the side of the highway. My question is, compared the the M3 and 335i how does the C63 stack up? Are there any reoccuring issues leaving drivers stranded? Also, does the traction control agressivly step in and save you as needed - wife will also be driving.
Old 04-28-2010, 01:17 AM
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I've had no issues, but in early models there was a cam sensor issue that was a quick fix I believe.

ESP can be On, Sport, or completely Off, so you can choose how much help you need.
Old 04-28-2010, 01:39 AM
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Originally Posted by AMG638
I'm coming from a 335i and am sick of the reliability issues. I can deal with a few warning lights but no more being stranded on the side of the highway. My question is, compared the the M3 and 335i how does the C63 stack up? Are there any reoccuring issues leaving drivers stranded? Also, does the traction control agressivly step in and save you as needed - wife will also be driving.
Just about 12,000 miles and all I've had to do are the service A and a few oil changes. No problems.

With ESP ON, the traction control is quite aggressive in cutting the throttle when necessary. However, turn it OFF and you had better know what you're doing...
Old 04-28-2010, 02:35 AM
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C63 AMG
Originally Posted by Even Money
Just about 12,000 miles and all I've had to do are the service A and a few oil changes. No problems.

With ESP ON, the traction control is quite aggressive in cutting the throttle when necessary. However, turn it OFF and you had better know what you're doing...
If you turn off the ESP you had better be ready. We all remember what happened that "One Crazy Night."

But seriously I have enjoyed 13,000 fun-filled miles with no real issues.
Old 04-28-2010, 09:23 AM
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2009 C63 AMG / 2007 BMW 130i M Sport
M3 is undoubtely more stable and controllable than C63, though the ESP is quite agressive. Watch the Topgear episode where they compare C63 x M3 x RS4.

Never got stranded on the highway, but some individual vehicles got some issues, like needing to complete the oil level each 2-4k miles and changing the tyres quite often. All info you need is in this forum.
Old 04-28-2010, 09:28 AM
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18K miles on the car and I only went to dealer for oil change and a broken fog light.
You will spend more money on tires and gas but it is because you will want to hear that engine roar every time you get into the car.
You will not regret a purchase.
Old 04-28-2010, 09:35 AM
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2009 c63, 2010 E63
14,000 miles here and no problem. An oil change, service A, a few oil fills, and rear tires replaced (@ 8k miles). Other than those regular maintenance, no problems at all.
Old 04-28-2010, 09:51 AM
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'09 C63 AMG
20k mi. so far w/ zero issues! btw -- lol to the OP on reading your post about "a few warning lights but no more being stranded on the side of the highway." I also came from driving an '07 BMW 335i (PROcede v3 tuned) and experienced the typical BMW malfunction lights and was almost stranded on the hwy. when my entire dash light up light a X-mas tree...got 6 malfunction warning lights at one time. It turned out to be just 1 "road sensor" malfunction as the car drove normally; just all the lights went on suddenly at one time and I freaked out!

This time, I bought my '09 C63 AMG!!! And, we also have an '07 MB GL450 w/ > 37k mi. and again, no issues with my wife's GL. So far, I've found that MB is actually more reliable than BMW.
Old 04-28-2010, 06:29 PM
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What I like!
No recurring issues. The C63 is solid. I hear you on the N54 problems - I have a 135i on its 3rd fuel pump, less than 10K miles. You never know what surprises you're going to get from your BMW. MB's quality has improved while BMW's has gone down.

Make the switch, you won't regret it!
Old 04-28-2010, 07:24 PM
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C63 AMG
c63 is a very realiable and solid car just because the car is made of such a simple recipe. C class(a very realiable platform to start off with) + a hand made amg engine that will last for quite a while.

Go for a C63 and you will never miss ur 335.... guranteed
Old 04-28-2010, 08:10 PM
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C63,ML 350,S60 2.5t and E350
Ive put about 5k on my car only problem I had so far is oil and tires gotta invest in some rubber

on another note
its been said before but there is no replacement for displacement
Old 04-28-2010, 08:40 PM
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Wife like the C63 better than the 335.
Old 04-28-2010, 09:02 PM
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C63 AMG Arctic w/ Stage 1 Tune, DoubleXX pipe, MCD-631X coming soon
Working on tuning N54's as well as 6.3's, I have to say the N54 is MUCH more temperamental to mods that is for sure, also plagued with dumb issues like sunroof malfunctions, intermittent warning lights and the sort. I loved my E92 335i modded, it was very quick the way I had it set up, but got sick of always having weird Idrive issues(plus the STUPID unusable Navi LOL), sunroof malfunction (happened 3 times), as well as wastegate rattle etc etc. My c63? a service A, and a set of tires in 12K modded, no BS lights or anything of the sort, I'm glad to be back in an AMG.

GO AMG!!

Oh, and for those who "think" the M3 will walk all over a C63 handling wise on the track??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sIE3dAGChE
http://www.eurotuner.com/eventcovera...gp/gt_pro.html

Last edited by Brian GT PRO; 04-28-2010 at 09:12 PM.
Old 04-28-2010, 10:33 PM
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2011 GLK350, 2010 ML350, 2008 C63 AMG
i have had no issues with my 2008 C63. i got it in May 2008 so it is one of the earliest models that hit the US.
Old 04-28-2010, 10:45 PM
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'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
335s suffer from fuel pump issues, injector issues, turbo issues just to name a few. Too bad, it is a great car and platform, but my 2008 keeps going to the shop.

If the service at BMW in Calgary wasn't so bad, I wouldn't mind, but it is and it pisses me off. I was thinking of replacing the 335 with an M3 or an X5M, but I can't bring myself to do it.
Old 04-29-2010, 12:48 AM
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09 E320 Bluetec
benz is usually more reliable then bmw
Old 04-29-2010, 01:15 AM
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06 C55, 09 E350
All the newer lines of MB vehicles are solid. I work @ a dealer and this is actually a problem for us since a lot of the revenue comes from warranty work. Every year these vehicles are becoming more and more reliable and the warranty work on these vehicles has dropped dramatically. I cant speak for BMW, but I did have an E46 325i which was decent without major power-train issues, but I did get rid of it because of all the small problems that kept going wrong with the car and costing me big. The C63 is a work of art and you will definitely not regret the purchase, go for it!
Old 04-29-2010, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by benyl
Wife like the C63 better than the 335.
Do you guys fight for it each morning?
Old 04-29-2010, 12:42 PM
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Sorry to say this (to diehard BMW fans), but I wouldn't wish a 335i on my worst enemy.
Old 04-29-2010, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by AMG_G
Do you guys fight for it each morning?
Well, this morning I had the choice of swapping the winters back onto the 335 or the C63. She told me to do the 335 cause it is such a beater and the C63 shouldn't go out in the snow anymore... hahaha

There's no fighting. She likes how the 335 takes about half the gas the C63 does.
Old 04-29-2010, 01:14 PM
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As a possible future C63 owner myself, it's good to hear that they are reliable cars. Now my main concern would be running costs (and speeding tickets -lol). I hear a lot of people mention gas and tires. C63s are rated at 12/19, are you guys not even hitting those numbers? And it seems rear tires only last 6-8K miles (I remember seeing one post mention needing new ones at 4K!), has anyone gotten more than 10K from their tires? thx
Old 04-29-2010, 01:28 PM
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Jwoods, your figures are spot-on. 6-8,000 on rears, but the OEM's can be taken out in 4,000 with a smile on your face
Old 04-29-2010, 02:39 PM
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Jwoods - I get 14mpg around town and get 20mpg on the highway. Nothing stellar but well within what it is advertised for. I did not buy it for good gas mileage.
Regarding tires, only a few guys on the forum have been able to get more than 10K on the rear tires. The first set (Pirellis) lasted 6K. My second set has 6K (PS2) and I should be good for another 2K.
Old 04-29-2010, 02:56 PM
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gas mileage is spot on the dealer quotes... however my tires were not slick but slipping and below the wear bars at 4300 miles. i dont do aggressive take offs but i do 85 plus highway runs and semi aggressive interstate on ramps from time to time. only a weekend driver so i wasnt super mad but all my buddies fell down when they saw my tires especially because i BABY all my cars.

back on topic.... ZERO issues with the car. its a JOY to own. best car i have ever had. however the most sporty car i have had was a C5 corvette.
Old 04-29-2010, 03:33 PM
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3500 miles on my first set


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