Kickens

Hey,

Before posting I did do a bit of research but couldn't find a direct answer. I purchased a 2011 C63 back in March and always noticed something odd about the suspension but thought that's how the car came until I saw another one recently in person. I don't currently have pictures due to the car being at Mercedes for repairs after a burnout (lol). I am going to use another member's car as reference.

Slow_C63's Picture:



As you can see in the picture both of the tires are somewhat at the same height in side the well. On my car, the rear is about 2-3 inches lower and the front being raised about 3-5 inches (seems to depend on weather?) I live in Miami where it gets very humid, not sure if that has to do with the difference in height. Also, not everyday but quite frequently when turning the wheel or turning the car makes a bit of screeching noise and the turning radius is worse than a bone stock 2015 C300. Not sure if it's supposed to be like that but was expecting better, even though its older it's AMG. I also recently ordered new PSS tires to see if that would help with the extreme pull to the right after alignment. Also, when coming to a stop the steering wheel flicks back left and right and gets locked aiming left and have to apply power to get it straight again. This doesn't happen as frequent, roughly 7-9 times a week.

Any advice or knowledge if this has happened to other owners is greatly appreciated. The car only has around 43k miles on it and runs perfectly, other than the problems stated above. Thanks a lot!

604 C63

Wow. Lets unpack this one item at a time lol.

You are saying that relative to Slow's car, your car is simultaneously 2-3 inches lower in the rear and 3-5 inches HIGHER in the front? So the rear is LOWER than the front?!?!?!

Also:

- screeching noise when turning
- huge turning radius
- pulls to the right
- steering locks to the left

But other than that, its great?

Kickens

Correct. The difference in the height sort of balances out, almost as if it were flat. Most of these look like the tilt forward.

- Correct though doesn't seem to occur when just changing lanes
- The turning radius isn't as tight as a stock '15 C300
- Quite excessive, have to hold the wheel to left to keep it straight
- Yes, doesn't happen to often though and needs to start moving to unlock

Thanks!

604 C63

You buy this car at a dealer, or privately?

My guess is that the previous owner had put in aftermarket springs or coilovers, took them back out to sell the car, and buggered it up. Completely.

Why does your car need to go to the shop after doing a burnout?
Something tells me that the shop is going to tell you whats wrong here.

JimGnitecki

OP: Did you carefully check for accident history before buying the car in March?

If no Carfax or other accident history, consider the possibility that the car was involved in an accident which the owner did not report, but instead but fixed "privately" to avoid both the cost of a proper repair and the diminished value that follows any accident. A private fix versus proper repair could explain why the car is exhibiting some problems - the work might not have been done properly. A Mercedes C63 is a complex car that not just any backyard shop can repair correctly.

The problems that exist even after an alignment was apparently done reinforce the likelihood of accident damage. This would not necessarily manifest in bodywork - the accident could have been a high speed hit on a curb, which could do serious chassis damage without wrinkling the body.

At a minimum, the car was obviously repaired or modified incorrectly, and the nature and severity of the problems you have reported suggest that you might be at risk driving it.

Jim G

JimGnitecki

Blkrokt: Please don't forge my signature on your rants.

Jim G

BLKROKT

You hacked my account

Thrilla

Check your suspension, then get an alignment. If those check out, the previous posts about prior accidents and frame damage my be valid.

m a x i m u s

C63 is longer than the regular C, so that could account for the turning radius difference.

Kickens

The car was purchased at a dealer and had an accident. The accident was very miniscule though, it rear ended another car but damages for both cars were under 1000$ which is very little considering how much these cars cost to repair. Nothing else reported. Hopefully it isn't anything else and the previous owner did maintenance very frequently. Also, my right passenger tire with only 2k miles on it popped after doing a burnout and blew off the rear bumper and the inside liner and is currently being repaired at a certified Mercedes body shop. Hopefully, this isn't anything too serious and can just be replaced or re-adjusted. Thanks for all the advice.

MTV10

Can someone confirm this?

Jasonoff

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced..._C-Class_(W204)

Length
4,582 mm (180.4 in) (sedan)
4,596 mm (180.9 in) (wagon)
4,726 mm (186.1 in) (C63 AMG sedan)

EDIT: Wiki link may not be 100% accurate for non AMG. From the owners manual for a 2010 https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi...&class=C-Class
Main dimensions All non AMG C-Class
Overall vehicle
length
182.3 in (4630 mm)

Main dimensions C 63 AMG
Overall vehicle
length
186.1 in (4726 mm)

604 C63

You can see just by looking at it from the side. The hood is longer, cos the engine bay needed to accommodate the 6.2. Obviously, same with the fenders. Nothing north of the firewall basically is in common with the regular C class.

Visually its easier to see on the PFL. Stand beside one and the hood looks wacky long compared to an MB C. The FL they changed the way the hood is cut around the headlights and a few other things so its not as noticeable but it is definitely longer.

JimGnitecki

The front end on the C63 also has a wider track which affects turn radius.

Also, aren't the front tires also wider than on a regular C? If so, even if the front fenfders are wider, the lock to lock turning range is likely restricted to prevent tire contact with the chassis.

Jim G

604 C63

In a regular C class the turning radius is 35.3 ft, while a C63's is 38.5ft.
That's definitely wider, but I don't know that it would feel dramatically so.

SOURCE (well, after Google):

http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/m...ally-unveiled/

Alex.currie44

I am with the frame damage crowd on the pull to the right.
My 2003 E was smacked really hard just forward of the left front tire. In fact he just clipped the tire.
The left frame rail extension was bent 3/4" the right was only 1/8 out. The frame did not appear to be bent.
When it came to alignment they ended up taking it to a specialty shop and the offset bolts and other stuff seemed to get it close. Not in. Close.
To this day I cannot explain why the insurance fixed it. More to the point I don't know why I let them.
End of the story? I ran 4 psi more pressure in the right tire to keep it from drifting. The marginally larger circumference seemed to keep it tracking reasonably well but I never took my hand off the wheel.
Get it to an alignment shop that can do a proper job on the car.

Alex.currie44

The 2013 range in length from 181 to 182 depending on the regular model and the C63 is 185.5. The WB of the 2013 C63 is 0.2 inches longer. (Owner's Manual)

Jasonoff

I can get mine much lower than that...

Mort

The 2012 MB Operator's Manual: Vehicle Data P351-352

All Models Turning circle is 35.57ft (10.84m)
All Models Wheelbase is 108.7" (2760mm)
C 63 AMG Turning circle is 36.42 ft (11.10m)
C 63 AMG Wheelbase is 108.9" (2765mm)

604 C63

So basically we have established that the turning radius IS bigger, but not by much.

Jasonoff

AND can be made much smaller with your right foot...