C63/C63S AMG
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Aluminum or Carbon Non-pano options?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old May 8, 2021 | 04:14 PM
  #1  
brentC63s's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Victoria BC Canada
2018 C63s
Aluminum or Carbon Non-pano options?

Any options to replace the pano roof in the C63s coupe to a solid roof? Weight reduction is the goal.
Reply
Old May 9, 2021 | 02:52 PM
  #2  
AlexZTuned's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 372
From: Austin, TX
2017 Porsche 911 C4
Custom job. All US-spec Coupe’s came with the pano roof. Only the early year C63S sedans had a slick top option.

Also, not worth it. This is the wrong car to try to pull weight out of when you’re already sitting at 4100 lbs with a full tank of gas.

Unless you intend on making it a drag or track car and plan on stripping the interior, all seats removed, lightweight bucket seat added, lightweight battery (which the car will hate since it’s so dependent on battery), carbon hood, lighter wheels, remove the entire exhaust and run dual downpipes through the front hood...

...maybe you’ll shed about 350 lbs which will be good for .3-.4 tenths of a second in the 1/4 mile. If you’re doing this for the track, you’ll have to corner balance and who knows how much time you’ll shave off. if you’re doing this to your daily driver, just throw the idea out the window and buy a lighter car or strip and build a salvaged C63.
Reply
Old May 10, 2021 | 01:58 PM
  #3  
brentC63s's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Victoria BC Canada
2018 C63s
Appreciate the info!
Car's not a daily driver, 99% track. Interior's stripped with racing buckets, on the list to upgrade/remove -
  • battery as you mentioned but I'm seeing mixed reviews and options re correct lithium battery.
  • hood (vented)
  • roof
  • trunk (will be running a large wing)
  • light weight wheels
  • cooling options for brakes/intercooler/trans/motor (already running CFS heat exchanger)
I'm running an E50 blend right now with no meth as I need to use smaller injectors (was losing hp with meth). Heat build up under the hood and brakes is the next issue.

Any ideas welcome
Reply
Old May 10, 2021 | 03:43 PM
  #4  
AlexZTuned's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 372
From: Austin, TX
2017 Porsche 911 C4
Good on you! Post pics sometime, I'd love to see a track set-up Coupe! In that case, you could do what I did when I deleted the sunroof on my B5 S4 ages ago - I had a custom carbon fiber panel designed with a lip to "drop" into where the sunroof was and used an automotive grade bonding adhesive. One thing to consider is the size of the pano roof on the Coupe - it takes up a lot of real estate compared to a traditional sunroof, so I'm not sure if or how much of an affect it will have on chassis rigidity.

Definitely look into unsprung weight (the smallest diameter lightweight wheels you can fit over brakes will address that), but you can go with lighter 2-piece floating rotors with stock calipers to shave some rotational mass or bite the bullet and go for a lighter caliper/rotor setup which sounds more appropriate for the track.

For lightweight batteries, I'd go with Antigravity lithium. I picked up their AH-40 (40 amp hours, 1500 cranking amps) for my 911- it weighed 13 lbs compared to the 52 lb OEM for an easy ~40 lb weight savings off the front axle. I'd imagine the C63S battery is the same weight if not heavier. I'd recommend keeping it on a CTEK lithium battery tender to keep it in good shape since it's your track toy and not daily driver.
Reply
Old May 10, 2021 | 06:44 PM
  #5  
brentC63s's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Victoria BC Canada
2018 C63s
Originally Posted by AlexZTuned
Good on you! Post pics sometime, I'd love to see a track set-up Coupe! In that case, you could do what I did when I deleted the sunroof on my B5 S4 ages ago - I had a custom carbon fiber panel designed with a lip to "drop" into where the sunroof was and used an automotive grade bonding adhesive. One thing to consider is the size of the pano roof on the Coupe - it takes up a lot of real estate compared to a traditional sunroof, so I'm not sure if or how much of an affect it will have on chassis rigidity.

Definitely look into unsprung weight (the smallest diameter lightweight wheels you can fit over brakes will address that), but you can go with lighter 2-piece floating rotors with stock calipers to shave some rotational mass or bite the bullet and go for a lighter caliper/rotor setup which sounds more appropriate for the track.

For lightweight batteries, I'd go with Antigravity lithium. I picked up their AH-40 (40 amp hours, 1500 cranking amps) for my 911- it weighed 13 lbs compared to the 52 lb OEM for an easy ~40 lb weight savings off the front axle. I'd imagine the C63S battery is the same weight if not heavier. I'd recommend keeping it on a CTEK lithium battery tender to keep it in good shape since it's your track toy and not daily driver.
Savings me hours of conflicting research, thanks! I'm running 2 piece rotors now and looking at the Victor Racing active aero to help take the load off the brakes.. The aero braking should keep the brake temps down on the longer runs. https://www.victorracing.com/product...tive-aero-wing

Battery ordered, will send pics when the roof problem is solved.

Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:37 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE