My C63 and my Harley breakout! It's a modest fleet by Mercedes forum standards, but it's high quality.




Jim G

 

Welcome!

What led you to this version of the C63 VS the newer twin-turbo platform? If you don't mind me asking?

Great car. Can't beat white.

 

Two factors led me to this 2012 C63:

1. Price. I am retired on a modest retirement income. I cannot afford a new C63 ($97,000 MSRP approx for one equipped like my 2012), and even a used newer model would be a stretch not worth it to me. The 2012 used one with low miles on it, coupled with the 4-year aftermarket warranty, makes sense.

2. I am not a fan of turbos. I prefer superchargers and also big displacement V8s. I've had 2 supercharged V8s (a Mustang that I added a Roush supercharger and suspension to, and a Chevrolet SSR retro-pickup that I cammed, supercharged, and regeared dramatically). I have owned 4 Corvettes in the past, but am turned off by the build quality, recalls, and non-subtle styling, and at this point in my life, I absolutely need a 4-seater. I also strongly prefer smaller cars. And, I prefer to a have a vehicle that is somewhat rare. So, combining the requirements - V8 power, sporty, 4-seater with REAL backseat, and design and build quality, a used C63 becomes a logical and reasonably affordable choice.

I don't think I have mentioned here yet that I authored, back in 2005, an over 300 page book on the Chevrolet SSR, titled "The SSR Experience". That vehicle fascinated me with its numerous contradictions:
- Hardtop convertible pickup truck!
- Unclear whether it was a car or a truck
- Looked absolutely custom even though really not
- Gorgeous combination of classic American styling elements
- Flawed execution (wrong LM4 engine at first before GM finally got it right in 2005 with the Corvette engine, way too heavy, wildly wrong gearing)

I spent about a year getting it modded, but it ended up with things like a 575 hp supercharged engine, Z06 Corvette cam, headers, LOUD exhaust , 4.56 gearing (NOT insane when your tires are 30" in diameter, and the vehicle weighs 4950 lb with gas and driver, and you end up at only 2200 rpm at 60 mph), a carbon fiber driveshaft (to fix a GM design problem), and a modified GM automatic tranny (2004 model) from Phoenix Transmissions that shifted in 300 milliseconds (My SSR chirped the tires on normal, not high throttle shifts! I had to have Pheonix "back it off"). The book was a result of other SSR owners asking for the details of what I had done. THAT was a fun project . . .

Please do NOT assume I have similar plans for the C63! This is my retirement car, funds are very limited, and I don't want to give the aftermarket warranty company any excuse to decline any costly future repair the car might need! So, no mods and no tune even . . .

Jim G

 

Riiiiiiiiight. Best of luck with that Jim. Once a rodder and a modder, ALWAYS a rodder and modder. It may take you longer to get there, but.......get there you will.

My wife has said "Why cars? Why can't you get hooked on something cheap like gambling? Why did you have to go and get hooked on car parts?"


Pretty sure she wasn't even joking.

 

This is scary. My wife says pretty much exactly the same thing . . .

But she only "talks" a good game. Whenever I have offered to go "practical", she has insisted that I'd better get "what you really want, or you'll be unhappy with it and will trade it very quickly".

Example: I had sold my Honda 1700cc VTX motorcycle and was all set to buy a used Victory at a sensible price ($about $7500). She insisted that I buy the brand new Harley instead for well over 3 times that amount. She said I always came back from a Harley shop wit a grin on my face, but thought the Victory shop was no fun at all. Who am I to fight her?

I have to be disciplined on this C63 though. I have to remember that I don't want to jeopardize the 4 year aftermarket warranty. So, even if a Eurocharged tune complete with handheld is on sale for a decent price, I must resist. And even though the C63 is much too quiet in stock form, that is no good reason to go out and make it satisfyingly louder. And I need to avert my eyes when someone posts a dyno chart. And Lord knows that 100 millisecond paddle shifts are unwarranted!

I am retired! Be mature, Jim! Don't let these C63 fanatics tempt you . . .

Jim G

 

Welcome and nice car. I'm starting to really dig those wheels. I am considering getting a set of 19" wheels and for some reason started not liking the 507 ones. As for the alcantara cleaning, you sometimes don't even need a brush, just squeeze the alcantara with a warm damp rag. Too much scrubbing will damage the fibers.

 

I have to agree with 604 C63. You're either the kind of person who buys a car and leaves it as is. Or you are the kind of person who likes to tinker. And Jim, you definitely sound like the latter.

 

There's currently a forum group buy for DSS carbon fiber driveshafts. Fixes an AMG design flaw also, because somehow they forgot to make the OE units out of carbon fiber. Just sayin.....

 

You guys are a very, very bad influence on me . . .

Jim G

 

There have been a few members who have held out until the warranty ended but I'm sure you've seen the posts where the handheld helps you easily switch back and forth from tunes if you want to be extra safe when you go in for service. Also if you get something like Mikes H or X pipe, how easily of an attachment it is, just in-case you change your mind . But I'm sure through your research you saw these things. A helpful reminder never hurts though hehe.

 

Can the dealership detect though that the ECU was recently reflashed?

You fellow car mod addicts are SO bad . . .

If my wife finds out what is being whispered to me here, she will ban me from coming to the forum!!

JIm G

 

Jim, Jim, Jim...your first mistake was joining the forums! Hahaha.

They can't detect the ECU changes.

 

Just stop with the misinformation. Of course the dealer can find out if they look for it.

Flash counter will still increase. Just because most dealers don't check, don't assume they won't if faced with a big $ warranty claim.

 

Welcome, Jim!!



Dave

 

BLKROKT is correct. 99.9% of dealers don't check and/or don't care. The only time I have heard of them checking is if the engine fails/explodes and they have to send back to Germany. Then the people there will absolutely check.

I have also never seen anyone get denied service or have their warranty voided though due to JUST a tune (not saying it can't happen).

 

Welcome Jim!

BTW, it isn't the tires fault for how long they will last. High torque and lots of toe-in alignment are what does the tires in. I think the FAQ has some good info on the alignment.

Cheers,
D

 

My apologies, that was not my intention. I thought they couldnt notice since I never had any issues in fhe past.

 

If you want you could always start with the visual stuff. Side markers, carbon fiber goodies, Fender flares . It's a slippery slope as we all know though.

 

With that in mind, where do you find the stainless steel door lock buttons that I've seen somewhere in the past?

I do have what appears to be a complete carbon fiber interior - I did not mention that in my opening post.

Jim G

 

I believe here JBSPEED offers aftermarket door pins. Otherwise eBay or a dealer will sell them. To my knowledge I belive the coupe, or front doors for the sedan screw right off. You'll probably ruin the plastic ones getting them off since they're in there really tight.

 

Good to hear that they screw off, and can I assume that the underlying mechanism does not do a disappearing act when they are removed? (i.e. becomes slightly misaligned to the point that you cannot get new ones on). Don't ask why I am asking . . . (bad experience on another vehicle where there was internal stress when assembled, so when the pin was removed, the threaded matching part moved sideways out of alignment! )

Jim G

 

The threads in which the pins screw onto shouldn't shift. They should be completely visible when the door is unlocked. I went ahead and just bought a pair off of eBay, so I'll be trying this in 2 weeks if they get here. I know it's super easy to do on the W205, however i'm not sure if the 204 is drastically different.

 

Welcome to the forums Jim.

Beautiful ride and an absolutely amazing way to introduce yourself. Wish more of these newbies would learn from your experience of using forums.

Congrats on the ride, enjoy it in good healthy!

 

Jim's post should be made a sticky titled "DIY: How To Properly Introduce Yourself"

It's refreshing to have a new guy engage in intelligent conversation. We're used to getting "hey, how cans I makes ma car loudest?" or "heer look at ma cuel street race vidseos how can I has most powers?"

 

I expected more from you. You forgot the barking exhaust.