PC Valkyrie

Taken from GermanCarForum. These are the first head to head tests of the facelifted C63 AMG coupe (with Performance Package Plus) vs the BMW M3 (with Competition Package and DCT) to see if the revised suspension and new MCT transmission can put the C63 on top.



1st place: BMW M3 DKG Competition Package

• Power: 420 hp
• Torque: 400 Nm
• Gearbox: 7-speed-DKG
• Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport
• Weight: 1601 kg
• Vmax.: 280 km/h (limited)
• 0-100 km/h: 4,5 s
• 0-200 km/h: 15,3 s
• 18 m slalom: 68,9 km/h
• 110 m ISO-evasive test: 144,0 km/h
• Braking (100-0 km/h) cold/warm: 34,4 m/34,8 m
• Avg. fuel consumption: 15,1 l/100 km

2nd place: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé Performance Package Plus

• Power: 487 hp
• Torque: 600 Nm
• Gearbox: 7-speed-MCT
• Tyres: Continental SportContact5
• Weight: 1744 kg
• Vmax.: 280 km/h (limited)
• 0-100 km/h: 4,4 s
• 0-200 km/h: 13,8 s
• 18 m slalom: 63,1 km/h
• 110 m ISO-evasive test: 138,5 km/h
• Braking (100-0 km/h) cold/warm: 34,8 m/35,1 m
• Avg. fuel consumption: 15,7 l/100 km

Verdict:
The M3 won the comparison because of its roomy interior, better comfort, better economy, less costs and better handling. The C63 is brutally fast on the straightline, but it's heavy and uncomfortable.

PC Valkyrie

Autobild Test




1st place: BMW M3 DKG Competition Package

• Engine: V8, 420 hp, 400 Nm
• Drive: 7-speed-DKG, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
• Weight: 1637 kg
• Vmax.: 280 km/h (limited)
• 0-100 km/h: 4,4 s
• 0-160 km/h: 9,8 s
• 0-200 km/h: 15,3 s
• 0-250 km/h: 27,7 s
• Quarter mile: 12,63 s
• Flexibility 80-120 km/h (5./6th gear): 5,4 s/6,6 s
• Braking 100-0 km/h (cold/warm): 33,8 m/33,5 m

2nd place: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé Performance Package Plus

• Engine: V8, 487 hp, 600 Nm
• Drive: 7-speed-MCT, Continental SportContact 5P M0
• Weight: 1812 kg
• Vmax.: 280 km/h (limited)
• 0-100 km/h: 4,3 s
• 0-160 km/h: 9,2 s
• 0-200 km/h: 13,9 s
• 0-250 km/h: 22,9 s
• Quarter mile: 12,45 s
• Flexibility 80-120 km/h (5./6th gear): 6,8 s/9,0 s
• Braking 100-0 km/h (cold/warm): 34,1 m/34,9 m

Hockenheimring short course (2,6 km):

1. 1:14,47 min - M3 DKG CP
2. 1:14,50 min - C63 AMG PPP

PC Valkyrie

It's good to finally see the C63 came out almost equal to the M3 in terms of laptimes (very small difference) at Hockenheim. As usual, the C63 is a monster in acceleration, but the M3 is not that far off either. And in the in-gear Autobild accleration tests, the M3 is actually faster, likely due to the much closer gearing of the M-DCT compared to the MCT.

AMG still has not broken the long-standing notion that the M3 is still the preferred machine when it comes to the automotive press. Let's see if the English and American press agrees as more tests come out (hopefully).

This pattern has always been there. BMW comes out with a M3. MB counters with a C-AMG car. The C-AMG car has decent, often superior straight line acceleration, but cannot match the M3 dynamically. MB then revises things on the facelift (one or more of the following: new engine, new transmission, new suspension). The handling is improved, but still not superior to the M3, and the "old" M3 (with minimal changes) still is the winner. It's been like this for the E36 M3 vs the C36/C43, the E46 M3 vs the C32/C55, and now the E92 M3 vs the C63.

AMGC60-3

MB never wins with these two magazines, Auto Motor und Sport is the worst when it comes to MB,s.

02Drunkenup

Car and Driver (I think) is also a heavily BMW biased mag as well

wawy

Appreciate you posting this. It reminds me of when they replaced the C32 with the C55 and ran it against the E46 M3-- came 9/10ths close to the M3 handling but faster in a straight line. Can you say deja vu..

BerBer63

Is that a chick driving the m3?

wawy

I do find it rather puzzling that there was so little difference in straight-line speed between the two.....

C63 AMG 0-100 km/h: 4,3 s
0-160 km/h: 9,2 s
0-200 km/h: 13,9 s
0-250 km/h: 22,9 s
Quarter mile: 12,45 s


M3 0-100 km/h: 4,4 s
0-160 km/h: 9,8 s
0-200 km/h: 15,3 s
0-250 km/h: 27,7 s
Quarter mile: 12,63 s

.......as I had thought the C63 would destroy the M3 in this area. Did the C63 driver not know how to control wheel spin? Did they use the new launch control? Is the M3 with 7-speed-DKG that good? Perhaps the Continentals on the C63 just don't hook up as good? I do realize this is just one review and I look forward to other comparisons coming up however I am a bit bewildered. Thoughts anyone??

turbo8765

How did the C63 gain 68kg for the second test?

I realize it didn't actually gain weight.

Does anyone who's familiar with these publications know if they actually weigh the cars?

emericr

Wawy: not sure why you think it did not destroy it in acceleration.
We all know that 0-60 times is going to be close due to the skinny tires of the C and the better DCT of the M3 but past that, .6 sec to 100mph is a huge difference and 1.4 sec to 200 is an eternity and bus lengths.
I think the test seems fair. What the magazines fail to test every time is the daily drivability and the sensory feedback. The AMG wins on this one as the torque down low makes it a much more pleasurable experience coupled with the roar.

I am Jeff

These tests are skewed. I have rolled from 50-130 against various M3's, and it is not that close. There DCT is fast, but it can not make up for the HP differential.

turbo8765

Don't forget there's a significant weight differential too.

The published curb weight for a coupe is barely over 3800#. I wish that were true but I'm afraid it's closer to 4000#.

wawy

I was specifically referring to the 0-60 time. I should have been more clear. As you indicated though, there are many factors that could come into play. The M3 may have just been easier and more controllable to launch.