Ok so I need an ‘interim’ car for a couple of years that I can enjoy with my wife and daughter. I previously owned a Lexus isf and don’t like going backwards. I have looked heavily in to the e92 m3 but actuator issues and push rod bearings are putting me off.

So my search has taken me to the amg coupe 2013/2014 models. Few questions below if folk could assist.

- From looking at forums there don’t seem to be any common major issues with this year car.... is this correct?
- I appreciate the gear box is a weak point but is it that laggy really?
- Running costs are not an issue but is there anything I need to look out for?
- What are residuals like on these? From looking there is 3-4K difference between 2012 and 2014 cars worh 5k per year and similar specs. Assume I am looking at 1.5k per year if I continue this mileage?
- Any options I need to consider as must haves?
- Any tuner recommendations? I understand there is a tuner in London called eurocharged but I can’t find their website!

Cheers

stu

I wouldn't say that anything major has commonly gone wrong with these cars. Knock on wood, I've had my 2013 for 4yrs and nothing is bad. Early cars (someone will give specifics I'm sure) pre-2011 had a headbolt issue leading to head gasket failure. I imagine all cars have now been recalled and have had the revised bolts fitted. 2011 and later cars came with revised bolts from factory.

Facelift cars (after 2011) had the MCT gearbox. I've personally never felt bad about it. I find it fast and intelligent enough to suit the engine, as well as strong and reliable.

Running costs are reasonable. Servicing is good value for a +/- 500hp car although rear tyres are eaten quickly, yet reasonably priced due to their "narrow" 255 width (a 275 can get under the rear arch if not lowered on stock rims.

Residuals are dependent on the market of your area/country. Here in the U.K they to constantly fluctuate up and down but seem on average steady, due to the lust people have for them still.

Must haves I'd say should be:
- COMAND Online, which I think was an option, although "free" on Edition 125 cars.
- The next would be the Performance Pack which gives you forged pistons, forged crank, red brake callipers with Alu composite front discs and an extra 30hp courstesy of an ECU tune. In the real world though, you probably wouldn't notice or care as it makes zero difference other than a little extra poke from the ECU tune. I'd say this pack is a nice to have rather than necessity. Note that this didn't give you an LSD, that was a separate item that could be spec'd to any C63.
- Limited Slip diff (although aftermarket easily retrofittable)
- 19" wheels look better to me

Other little things could be reversing camera (although easily retrofittable) and HK audio, albeit standard is pretty good too.

Tune, as you're in the UK is a choice of Eurocharged or MSL. They are both sold by MSL in a craphole known as Birmingham, but the company is very very good.

A "standard" C63, Performance Pack or 507 will all remap to the same power, so if that's what you're planning to do then it's probably not necessary that get the Performance Pack at all.

Thanks.

When I was looking for mine, I was looking for the PP without really thinking about it, it was just so hyped that I felt that's what I needed. I then got tired of looking at abused PP cars (yep, beat on only 1yr old) and poor spec examples that I almost gave up.

I then opened my mind to non-PP cars, at which point I still didn't realise that PP's didn't come with a diff automatically, and found some pristine non-PP examples. Luckily I worked out the diff thing as it helped me choose between two non-PP cars, one with and one without.

I do still like the idea of a PP for the cool little additions but ultimately, I picked up a good car which is probably like one of the 10% over here that anyone bothered to spec a diff on. With headers on, I'm
kind of committed to it and doubt I'll sell it at all; I guess I could always paint my intake mani grey and callipers red, to play pretend :D.... kidding.

Great responses folks! Really appreciate it. Some great advice there. Getting a car with the right options is important if they are something i deem worth while waiting for. The pp I like the idea of for the added internals more than anything else but will research more. I think it is something I could pass on in favour of comfort packs and sound system upgrade packs etc.

Keyless go is standard surely? So must have options seem to be... lighting pack, Harman Kardon and 19inch wheels for me. Is there a list of the options that were available anywhere?

Mike - good to know. Thank you for replying. I starts with the amg but then moves to the m3 due to its better handling dynamics. If I am honest it’s looks always left me cold.

Perfect! Thank you. Perfect spec is lighting and multimedia packages, rear side airbags, keyless go, lsd, dynamic cruise control and parking guidance. Fingers crossed.

We P31 owners should have our own sub-forum where we don’t have to deal with the inferior standard owners and can talk about our forged pistons and red brake calipers in peace.