daniel3ooo

Hi Gents,

Just sold my M4 and am considering jumping back into a C63. Here are the two cars I'm considering:

2009 C63 AMG
74k miles
Fair condition (scrapes here and there and may need brakes soon)
Bone Stock

2013 335IS
43k miles
Great condition
JB4 + downpipes + BC coilovers


The 335IS feels similar to my M4 which is great. I do love turbos in the BMW but the sound of the C63 is intoxicating as always and easier to drive. The C63 is more convenient and comfortable (4 doors) but my other car is a Prius which handles the "convenience and comfort" part. I'm looking at this next car to be my "fun" friday and weekend car.

If both car are priced similarly (both within $1k of one another), which car would you choose? Which would potentially depreciate slower? And, which one is fast as is?? I know ultimately, the decision is mine but would be great to hear your thoughts!

Jake215

Alrighty just wanted to address a few things first. If you just sold an M4 i'd recommend a 2012+ C63 as to avoid the head bolt headache. Also again if you just sold your M4 why would you want something similar and slower such as a 335 when you had something better? In terms of depreciation the PFL models have bottomed out just about, where as the 335's will fall till they're worth about nothing as they aren't the top of the line in it's class like the M3/4. Stock vs. stock the AMG is gonna win out in all acceleration categories. My logic when looking at this is that if one can afford a new M4, then a FL such as a 2013 should be affordable unless you really like the PFL over the FL model. Also I know that the E92 335's had terrible reliability, and i'm not sure if the current F30 model was improved at all. So my verdict is buy a FL C63, and come back over to the dark side where all the cool kids are.

Alex.currie44

Was there a question in all that?

INS1GNIA

daniel3ooo

Unfortunately an FL is out of my budget. One of the biggest reasons for getting rid of the M was to get rid of the car payment for a larger loan on some property.

I know the question might sound ridiculous when asked to compare a C63 to a 335IS. I think I'd be happy with either car but I'm also looking at depreciation, maintenance, reliability

JPetros2008

In terms of reliability, the c63 is pretty bulletproof. Only thing to worry about is potentially the headbolts. 335's I'm not too knowledgeable about, but I know the earlier ones had problems, but then were revised later wth a newer engine? But then the 335is went back to the old engine I believe (might be wrong). Not sure if they suffered from the same problem or not.

Regardless, I would never get a non M 3 series over an AMG.

Jake215

If it's a financial situation, then in no way is it silly OP. Even so In the three categories you listed the AMG will still outperform the BMW. Although I will say the F30 interior if the car you're looking at is fully loaded will be better than the PFL interior. Another thing is that with the BMW being a 2013, an aftermarket warranty may be more affordable to acquire compared to an 09 C63. If you can pick up an 09 with the headbolts already serviced then you're in luck. One thing though you may want to consider though is holding off until the end of the year to buy a FL car as they may come down in value a bit, to where it's falls in your price range.

AMGonFire

You are on the c63 Amg section of these forums. Of course we are going to tell you the c63. Compared to the bmw it's much better in my opinion. I'm an n54 fan however reliability even in the 335is is similar fixed some problems but not all. I'd go face lift only though on the c63. To me you either get an m car or you don't get any bmw.

CraigC63

I went from C63 to 335is back to C63. Bought the 335is for a similar reason - was buying a condo and felt like putting more money towards that so wanted a lower car payment.

I enjoyed that car a lot when I had it. Nice exhaust note, nice DCT, love the 19 inch 5-spokes with the concave, and it was reasonably quick.

I didn't have much in the way of reliability issues. HPFP warrantied for 10 years/120k miles on the N54's so not much to worry about there. There are other issues here and there, though.

I just find the C63 an overall better car. It feels more substantial in every way - build quality, power (obviously). It just feels solid. The 335 felt a little more brittle.

Based on the car i currently own i think you can guess my recommendation. Coming from an M4 and it sounds like a C63 in the past, I think you will always feel as if you took a step back going into a 335is.

Alex.currie44

Interesting that last night on Megaspeed - do not know how old the piece was - Mika Salo and some other dude were doing some comparisons of the C63 - don't know the year - with some hotted up M3 at Rockingham.
They did a staight drag, a drift score and a lap time comparison but given they changed drivers it perhaps was not a straight up comparison because Salo ended up in the C63 for the lap time. Other than nearly smacking the wall coming out of the last turn there were no dramas and the C63 did the lay in 0.4 sec less.
But the real story is when asked about which car the drivers would pick to buy it was no contest. The C63 is a much more driveable car with lots of a fun factor and track capability whereas the M was more a race car in street clothes.

604 C63

I have owned both, and my 335 also had a JB4 and coilovers.

Since a two year ownership cycle with that, I have bought 3 C63s in a row.
To my mind, not a contest.

daniel3ooo

Hey folks - the 335IS i was specifically interested in, sold so I'm going to be looking at picking up the C63. There are two options:

2009 - 74k

or

2010 - 87k

Assuming the same price on both and same options except the 2010 has a backup camera. Which deal is better? Is it better to pick up a 2010 over a 2009? I know both still are in the affected headbolt range..

BLKROKT

Honestly, unless you're also putting $5k aside to do the headbolts, I'd just save that and put it towards a FL model. Coming out of an M4 and having been interested in a '13 335, I think the '09 or '10 is probably going to feel old to you.

I don't get the rush here, but if you want a car, you want a car I guess. I'd just rather save up for a nicer car with less problems, than get an AMG on the cheap that could potentially be a very expensive headache.

daniel3ooo

That's actually a really good point. I'm not in a huge rush - just antsy to get something fun since going from an M4 to a Prius is like falling of a cliff in terms of "fun"

604 C63

Yeah the facelifted model has a much nicer interior and feels more up to date. BLKROKT is right (damn it) when he says that you will be happier with that coming out of the M4.

Spazdoc

I am another person here to have experience with the 335.

I came from a 2007 335i and just loved it, held onto it for 8 years. Exhaust and tune (Cobb ECU flash/Accessport) made it so I never felt the itch to upgrade to a V8 M3 when I had the funds. I don't track and so the gobs of low-end torque in a tuned 335 is great for daily driving on the street and highway (300 torque by 3000 rpm). The JB4 with DP will net you a little more power, at the risk of wear on wastegates and turbos, which are not bulletproof on the 335. I went through 2 wastegate and 1 turbo replacements ($4500 each time).

I waited for the new C63 to come out before deciding on picking up a 2012 C63 with P31, as I wanted to stay away from FI. Sure, the 335 had more torque below 3000 rpm, but there is nothing else that the C63 does not do better. Granted, I am talking about a 335 a generation prior to yours, but tuned 335 engines react similarly.

I agree with BLKROKT in that if I were you, I would hold off on a weekend car for a few months and put that money away to get a FL. Unless you have to show something off immediately, keep looking. Used/CPO C63 are coming up in droves and a better one will always come along. I almost settled on several C63s outside my area (no P31), and then a pristine, low mileage coupe showed up in my local dealership and they worked to make the sale.