waisoserious

I am in the market for a used W204 C63 here in Taiwan. The cost is quite high and my options are kind of limited so I need your opinions

Prefacelift:
Pros:
- 30-40k USD for 30k miles 2010
- 7G Tronic is supposed to be rock solid
- Alot of 2008-2011 C63s for sale here (including Estate).
- I can probably find a Wagon
Cons:
- Possible Headbolt Issue
- Super dated interior. (Does it have bluetooth audio connect??)
- 7G Tronic is slow

Post Facelift
Pros:
- 7G MCT is Faster than 7G-Tronic
- No Headbolt Issue
- Updated Interior (Does this have bluetooth audio connect??)
Cons:
- 40k-50k USD for 2012 with around 40k-50k miles already
- Less 2012-2014 C63s for sale here and more are Coupe or Sedan (very very few Estate).
- I read that 7G MCT is prone to overheating?
- I probably cannot find a Wagon

About Taiwan: Hot and Humid 10 months a Year and I live near the Ocean.

I know that the prefacelift M156 headbolt issue is catastrophic, but can anybody tell me what mileage this typically occured? Or is this more related to maintenance? Also will the 7G MCT overheat from daily driving if I drive very enthusiastically even if I never take it to the track?

The extra 10K USD difference isnt a big deal to be honest, the main issue is the difficulty in finding a post facelift model that I want as there arent many. Right now I am considering just getting the prefacelift 2010 for about 35K and using the difference I would have saved from the post facelift model to fix the car.

What do you guys think? Anything else I should be aware of?

G_Money

If you don't mind spending the extra money, you will be much more satisfied with a facelift car I think. As you mentioned, mainly the interior and audio system seem very outdated in the pre-facelift models. Yes, the FL models do have bluetooth. I'd hold out for one with the upgraded Harmon Kardon stereo. Plus you'll have the piece of mind of knowing you don't have to worry about head bolts.

waisoserious

There was a 2012 C63 Wagon with 25k km for 55k last week. But but it sold too quickly for me to do anything about it. That car might have been 1 of 2 post facelift C63 Wagons Ive ever seen on sale here. The majority of them are Sedans or Coupes.....

Yea I guess it makes more sense to hold our for a facelift model to come around. How reliable is the 7G MCT?

G_Money

I think the difference in reliability between the 2 transmissions is probably marginal at most.

PeterA90

waisoserious

So you are telling me that the MCT is actually more sturdy?

PeterA90

BalanBro

While the MCT theoretically shifts faster, I wouldn't get hung up on it. I haven't sent anything suggesting that the Facelifts were measurably faster in the quarter mile, and some of the best times are put up be PFL models. However, I do agree that the updated head bolts are a big deal considering the age of the PFL cars (unless you find one that already had them replaced), and the updated interior IMO feels more premium.

roadkillrob

I think your analysis is spot on, like others have said, the transmissions are both very reliable, MCT is more desirable in my book, but really neither shift terribly fast compared to the competition, MCT is a bit faster and can handle a bit more power neither hold a candle to a true dual clutch in speed or even a modern ZF full auto box. Facelift car looks much more modern in my book, in and out, yes BT audio connect is on the FL (at least the 2013 and 14 I have had). In the FL range, 2013 and 14 have a nicer instrument cluster color and did have a few minor refinements over the years, transmission software being one, newer ones seem a bit better shift feel wise.

Otherwise, if it was me I would do headbolts on the pre-FL so add that into the cost - so if a nice pre-fl is say 35k and you have to pay 5k for headbolts, then it is 40k and you may be able to get an FL car for 40k, then I would do that, if you can get the pre FL car and do headbolts and still save 10k then maybe that is the way to go.

zonnie

If you can get a late 2011 model then go for that one if the price savings is there.

late 2011's are NOT prone to headbolts. The rest of your research is spot on.

In my opinion the front of the PFL looks way better. The rear tail lights is where it needs the upgrade.

The 7g although a tad slower than MCT has proven to be rock solid. Haven't seen or heard complaints about it. Late 2011's are solid. aka any MY SEPT 2010 onwards is good.

Gsrchris

I got a really good price on a PFL 09 C63. It saved me about 20k CAD in comparison to a FL C63. With that amount of money, I was able to build the transmission, add a ESS supercharger, and get the headbolts done, add a carbon fiber driveshaft and an aftermarket Wavetrac LSD.

waisoserious

If you dont mind me asking, how many miles did your car have when you bought it and how many miles have you put on it?

waisoserious

If you dont mind me asking, how many miles did your car have when you bought it and how many miles have you put on it?

Gsrchris

waisoserious

I see....my 2 largest problems are

1. Its super rare to find a FL Estate C63. I have only ever seen 1 FL C63 Estate for sale here in the past year and a half. It had 34k Km and it sold within a few days.
2. Most of the C63s I see for sale are all over 85000km already. Most of them are actually well over 100-110k kms. Only a handful are ever under 50k km and they do not stay available for sale for long.

Gsrchris

G_Money

So small but so crucial tbqh. That yellow color looks WEIRD.