Sky Hye

Hi Guys,

As stated, I'm new to Mercedes. I'm a fellow american muscle guy who's coming into ze German muscle scene. I just sold my 2013 Boss 302 for a C63. I just need help deciding.

I've been lurking for a while trying to learn as much as I can to make an educated decision about the various packages and options on cars. I love the interior of the 2012 and the exterior of the pre facelift cars.

The question I have is trying to figure the differences between the P30 and P31. The offerings on 2011 Performance package cars vs 2012. I intend to track it so I also want the LSD. Is the LSD part of the package on the 2012 development package? How about on the 2011?

I am looking for a diamond white or iridium silver sedan. I appreciate any help decoding these packages and their contents. I searched the web but no avail.

- Shant

jmueller

Here is some reading material for ya.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...31-vs-p30.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...-n-number.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...king-diff.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ny-advice.html

Sky Hye

Thanks J. There's lots of good info there. I apparently need to learn how to do an advanced search. So it seems I have to be sure the car has a P31 AND LSD.

esses

LSD is a must-have on these cars.

good luck. you will love it. mine is an iridium silver sedan, on black and red interior. looks great in person.

Sky Hye

What year is yours esses? Have you tuned it yet?

rediesel

Don't forget the MTC transmission is 2012+ vs the 7g in the earlier cars.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ic-vs-mct.html

The LSD helps grip, but the aftermarket Wavetrack is probably just as good.
The P31 is nice too, but a tune and some 2-peice rotors and your almost there.

I also like the interior of the 2012+ and the pre-facelift exterior. However, the interior more than makes up for it IMO.

anthonymckay

If you're gonna mod it, I would't worry about the P31 package, cause you'll surpass what that gives you anyway. Aside from the 2-piece rotors, I sort of feel like I wasted money getting that option now.

LSD is a must, but not part of the P31 package. It's its own option. Not sure about pre-2012 cars with p30 though.

zibby43

As others have mentioned, 2012+ cars get the MCT. Also, these same cars have a revamped suspension.

Sky Hye

What about the forged internals?

Is the extra 30HP purely based off a tune? I hear conflicting opinions that it's due to the weight savings.

roadtalontsi

you aren't going to gain 30hp from some fancy light weight engine internals on anything this side of a 100k in a production car from the factory lol.

2pc rotors are quite a bit lighter - less rotational mass had big benefits other than looks.

lsd is a must

keyless go is something once you have you cant live without

08-09 p30 cars have way stiffer suspension than the later performance package cars

Xenons - yes sadly you can buy a 70k$ amg benz without them

Distronic - if you get a newer one, not many have this option but the radar cruise control is great if you're ever on a road trip or stop and go traffic.

The better radio/navigation is pretty good. Some people are never satisfied and go aftermarket but for me the harmon kardon is plenty loud enough, 2011+ get bluetooth streaming audio.


The mct does shift alittle quicker/harder however they have over heating issues on track days which may require adding a blackseries trans cooler. The older torque converter works just fine, drives much smoother all around especially in parking lots, and runs cooler. If you plan on using manual mode on the track you're stupid anyways. Manual is only good for holding gears at the dragstrip to avoid upshifting while spinning and drifting. The mct and older transmission are nearly the same, instead of a torque converter it just has a Multiple Clutches inside a drum in place of where the torque converter would go.

Keep in mind if you get anywhere near 10k miles out of rear tires you probably drive like a grandma.

zibby43

I don't have any problems with the MCT at low speeds. Controlled Efficiency/Comfort Mode is incredibly smooth.

edwardsflight33

I would say the distronic shouldn't be a deal breaker. My wife's GLK has it and it pisses me off. I'm glad my C 63 doesn't have it.

jmueller

Agreed here. My MTC is one of the smoothest trannys I have ever experienced.

When I was shopping for my car, I decided that after driving a 2011 and a 2012 back to back, I couldn't live without the updated interior. It's a decision you'll need to make if you're looking at used C63's.

zibby43

Agreed. I also feel that the interior on the LCI/face-lifted models is a substantial upgrade. Less plastic, no pop-up navigation screen, updated COMAND system (w/ black, white, and red graphics), updated color instrument display inside the speedometer, better steering wheel (thicker, flat-top, flat-bottom, perforated leather on the sides).

With the LCI, you also get the Driving Mode Selector or whatever the hell that little circular knob is that lets you select from Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport, Sport+, and Race Start.

I'm not saying that I don't like the pre-LCI interiors. I just think the LCI interiors look and feel noticeably "fresher."

Sky Hye

Thanks guys. So far I found 4 sedans online. Two had a white interior, one had a red and black interior and one had an all red. Bummer. If they were black one would be in my garage by now

roadtalontsi

Im not bashing on the mct in any way guys. If you drove the 2 side by side the mct is little more jerky or should i say more sensitive to throttle inputs. mct definately shifts quicker, harder and launches better. launch control is kind of pointless but thats the same with all the amgs.

how does distronic **** you off lol? i wouldnt call it a deal breaker as i've seen maybe 2 c-classes with it and neither were 63's.

Sky Hye

I agree. If I'm buying this car I'm buying it to DRIVE it, not ride in it. I never used the cruise control in my mustang, nor the radio. Who needs a stereo when there are 4 speakers out back.

edwardsflight33

It pisses me off when traveling down multilane roads. I'll be waiting for a car to pass me on the left before I switch lanes. I'll have plenty of time to maintain speed before switching and passing the car in front of me, but the distronic will start slowing me down. Keep in mind this is on the wife's 250 Bluetec and the diesel doesn't exactly have the same 50-70 as the AMG. I typically only use the cruise control when driving on connecting roads to ensure I don't speed.

austintipton

I actually like that the 2011 model doesn't have the multi-color information area. The graphics in the 2012+ look like they were designed in 2007 and already look really dated. I'd rather have my simple looking information area than one that already looks like web 1.0.

Harsh gradients are just not in anymore.

I haven't tracked a version with the MCT, but the shift times with the torque converter are horrendous. However, I'm not sure making it 100ms faster is going to be much better. 500ms to 400ms to shift is going to be frustrating either way.

Sky Hye

Excuse my ignorance, is the information area the screen in the dash or the in the steering column?

Do these cars hold up well on road courses? I've given up auto crossing an overpowered rear wheel drive V8. My boss had a tranny, diff, brake, engine oil and a few other coolers and I never had overhearing issues. Has anyone here tracked their car?

austintipton

There are two information areas, one in the dash and one in-between the tach and speedometer. I was referring to the information area between the tach and speedo.

I've tracked my 2011 for four hours straight in Texas heat and didn't have any problems. I found it fun, but it is obviously has its limitations in corners. The C63 isn't a sports car, it is a sports sedan. (I'd call it a hot rod long before I'd call it a sports car)

I like to think of my C63 as a 4,000 pound ballerina. If you can squeeze the gas instead of mash it, you can do a pretty waltz with quite a big girl. If you aren't graceful, you'll need a more graceful partner. :-)

zibby43

Looks fine to me?

austintipton

To each their own, but the gradients in this image drive me crazy. When I get a new C-series loaner from Mercedes, I'm glad the 2011 doesn't look like this.



Call me crazy, but I'd rather have something simple than old school gradients.

zibby43

Haha I won't call you crazy but I agree, to each their own.

I think the new display look simple and sharp. Better than the display in my old F30 335i.

To me, the screen you prefer looks like the start-up screen on an early 90s computer. Still nice though. Just like the new one better.

Diabolis

The MCT shifts in 100ms in S+ mode, which is where I would keep it for track use.


As for the graphics, I guess to each their own. To me the pre-LCI dash graphics look archaic.