What is considered a true Amg vehicle on this forum? Is the Amg Glc 43 and upcoming Amg Gle 55 series considered a true 100% Amg vehicle versus say a Amg Gle/Glc 63 series? Or is the Amg 43 more similar to a Bmw M sports package but not a true 100% M vehicle? I am more familiar with Bmws and Audis that have a M and RS vehicles so curious how mercedes owners see things.

 

Maybe lite vs Heavy. AMG 43 is an AMG or it wouldn’t be called one. It’s not AMG line which is available on the non AMG variants.

that said, there are major differences in the 43 and 63. Engine’s are different. The 63 has a handmade motor with more cylinders and tuned by AMG. The 43 uses a mass produced motor that was then tuned by AMG. So, still AMG but not as involved or expensive via price and gas mileage. From there, I believe the suspension, drivetrain (sans rear diff) are all AMG. Someone may clarify more and possibly correct me on what else is different/same between 43/63. I love the 63 but doesn’t fit my priorities as much as the 43.

I can’t compare to BMW as a long Time Audi owner.

This is my first Merc and I do really like it and it’s superior to the Macan GTS imo which was what I almost bought until a family member made me drive a AMG.

 

Touchy subject.

For anyone has owned an AMG before 2015, they don't consider anything that has less than 8 cylinders to be real AMG.

For anyone who has come into the brand via 43/45/53 products, they consider themselves to have real AMG products.

But the most telling part is from my SA's sales sheet, when it comes to discounts, 300/400/43/53 usually have discounts but 45/63 are always excluded from them.

In term of only the Germans lines up (MB -- BMW -- Audi), where * is the model line.

Basic: *300/400 -- *30i -- A*
Sporty: *35/43/53 -- *40i -- S*
Crazy: *45/63 -- M* -- RS*

I think they are all very similar. Sporty line tends to retain all the sporty/suspension bits form the top end but lacks the best power plant of the range.

Now as for 2017 I believe 43/53 owners are still being treated to AMG Driving Academy in the US. So they are still being treated like real AMG owners. But if come from real M and RS lines, you should stick with 63s to stay in the same class.

Also, if you are interested in GLC63s, get one in 2020 or 2021. On refresh, most expected the 4.0TT engine will be replaced by a 2.0TT Hybrid. These 2 years are rumored to be the swan song for 4.0TT GLC class. C class will lose it next year.

 

For the GLC. There is the GLC63. The GLC43 is just a AMG appearance package and some badges. Nothing against the 43 but that is just what it is.

 

Not exactly true. The brakes on the C 43 are different; the 4matic set up is also different putting 60% to the rear wheels and 40% to front. The suspension settings are also different. So it is more than badges and cladding that differentiate the 43.

 

That, plus the 43 has a twin turbo 3.0L V6 that sounds amazing and develops nearly 370 HP pushing the vehicle to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. A re-badged GLC300 it certainly is not.

 

And people wonder why MB owners get a rep for being pompous d-bags. As if the "look at me list" of past MB cars in your sig isn't douchy enough C280 you go out of your way to slag the 43. Class act you knob.

 

Can I ask what is up you a$$? What did I say to offend you? Nothing. Sounds like you need to calm down. This is a MB Forum. You have a problem with my signature because I list all of the MB's I currently own and have owned on a MB forum? Get a grip lol.

 

Not even close to a rebadged GLC300. Never said it was. The 300 has the 2.0 4 banger. The 43 is AMG enhanced with the 3.0 TT V6. But in my post I was stating that the GLC63 is the only true AMG in the GLC Lineup. Again I am not nocking the car at all I am just stating facts.

 

AMG Vehicles

Most people associate Mercedes-Benz vehicles with AMG. Yet AMG is not exactly the same as Mercedes-Benz. AMG is the performance division/trim of Mercedes-Benz. AMG Mercedes-Benz automobiles are tuned in a specific way and upgraded for additional power. These vehicles also provide extra-sporty handling and more stylish aesthetics. The AMG engineering team invests the time and effort necessary to hand build each engine. These engines make the vehicles that much more exclusive and consequently, more coveted by automobile enthusiasts around the world. . All of these qualities add up to distinguish AMG vehicles from so-called “normal” vehicles.

AMG - hand built engine (one man one engine)
Non AMG - assembly line built engine

Open hood of car and inspect top of engine. If you have a small plaque approx. 3 x 3" with text "handcrafted by engine builders name" then its an AMG.

 

see what you’ve done by asking your question? You’ve ruined the day of a couple of these people. It’s all your fault! 😂

In spite of buying in the AMG store and being a member of AMG lounge and all the same benefits some still feel superior to others.

maybe a GT owner can come tell all of us 43/63 GLC owners that were crying over SUV’s that handle as such and can’t possibly be a real AMG because it’s a tank not a sports car.

We all have that friend who has a 911 and talks about how stupid it is to own any other Porsche.

If you’re thinking a 63 - buy one. If not get a 43 and I promise to not make you feel inferior.

Now apologize for starting *****!

lol

 

Yeah but some still don't consider the 2L 4 banger in 45s to be real AMG engine even with the tag.

But the world is changing, and MB is in huge emission headache which will end the V8 in most models sooner or later. Next C63 and GLC63 are rumored to have a 48V 2.0L powerplant. Which means all C lines will be 4 bangers going forward. It's going to be sad.

 

Not true.
The '43 models have the following components engineered by AMG and different than the base X253 or W205 counterparts:
Brakes
Suspension
Steering
ECU tune

Additionally the GLC43/63 have ABC as standard equipment. You can get airmatic on a GLC300 or a C300 but you cannot get ABC.
The difference between a 43 and a 63 is a bigger badder hand built motor with a bunch more hp/tq, different transmission hardware with added features in the 4 matic+ models, and wider fender flares.
The 43s and the 63s are more similar than the 43s and the 300s are.

 

In the truest sense and what many people still consider to be the true AMGs are the 63 and GT models. Up till the all-new A45 was introduced recently, even the 45 wasn't considered a true AMG, but now that it has an AMG hand built engine, it makes the ranks. So the 45, 63 and GT models have AMG designed, tuned and hand-built engines, whereas the 43 and 53 models have mass produced engines that are then tuned by AMG for some more power. The rest of the model's components are to various degrees tuned and upgraded for the additional performance. Even AMG still clearly differentiates between the 45/63/GT series and the 43/53 series by no longer giving full complementary AMG Driving Academy days to 43/53 owners as of April 2019. They only get an $800 voucher now and have to pay the difference out of pocket while 45/63/GT owners continue to get a full complementary day. Many feel the AMG brand has been watered down by calling the 43/53 AMGs. Audi has S-line, which is some sporty visual bits for the A models, then there are the S models that are at the level of the 43/53 and then the R(S) model, which compete with the 63/GT lines. BMW also started to muddle the lines by calling the lesser models something like M340i, vs M3 for the real M. One thing that's kinda unique about BMW as of recently and Audi is that they also tune the drivetrains for the lesser models. The M sport models can now be had with a limited slip rear differential and Audi has made their torque vectoring rear sport differential an option on their S models and not just the RS models. AMG still doesn't do that. Only the 63/GT models get the trick rear differentials or the 4Matic+ with drift mode. The lesser AMGs don't get those. They still get 4Matic+, but w/o drift mode. There are other performance systems like the new AMG DYNAMICS integrated driving dynamics system that is only available on 63 and GT models, so the 63/GT very much are separated by the engine and drivetrain technology from the lesser 43/53 models. So I guess another way of differentiating them that just occurred to me is the real AMGs are those that you can properly drift by either having full RWD, or a drift mode.

 

What is this ABC you are talking about? Active Body Control? No such this is offered on the GLC of any model.

 

I agree with many (also an owner of a glc43)

The glc43 is an enhanced / tweaked vehicle by amg (and a great suv).

The glc63 is a full blown amg product (hand built engine).

We all will debate the amg mb vehicle... however this is my opinion and thoughts.

 

https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/model/glc/suv/glc43w4

 

I think it's funny how people get hung up on the idea of "A HAND BUILT ENGINE" (queue music, spotlights to center stage, camera pan then center slowly transition to closeup).

There is one reason that the the 45, 55, 63, 65 model engines are or were all hand built. The production volumes are not high enough to warrant a fully automated assembly line. In the case of the 45 models some of the engine is assembled by machine prior to being finished by hand.

In manufacturing, there is a volume threshold upon which it is cost favorable to add automation. The top trim AMG vehicles are a small fraction of total until volume even thought they pull in much greater gross margin per unit. They are GM leaders but they are smallest volume production runs for Mercedes. Even the C63 which if by far the most common "True AMG" has tiny production volumes compared to the huge amounts of W205s built every year. Trust me, if it made financial sense to automate engine production for the 45/63 cars Mercedes would already have done so.

I think a lot of the fanboys are going to have an identity crisis when AMG ultimately hybridizes the entire line. We know this is where they are going. If all the 63s eventually become modular 4 or 6 cylinder motors with electrified drive trains, you can bet your **** that there will be very little hand built on them besides the nameplate. At that point the modular motors will simply be highly tuned versions of the mass market motors. MB will automate the production to reduce cost and AMG margins will climb even higher.

 

All of these manufacturers are doing this in some manner to their top performance lines because....they want to sell more cars. So, they get to make the decision on what is considered an AMG (or M, or RS, or...) and MB (like others) considers the 43 an AMG vehicle. Case closed, IMHO. You can like it or not and in the grand scheme of life, who gives a *****. If you buy your AMG/M/RS based on what others think of you, I'd argue you've got bigger issues. They are all great vehicles, and in my case, the 43 was sufficient for my needs at the time. That said, I will one day have a 63...probably sooner than later as all of the manufacturers are moving to hybrid crap, because I want to have/listen to that honking V8 when I slam the throttle and am a fan of ICE's. I just can't decide if I should put "True AMG" or "Real AMG" on the license plate....

 

If the car supports power going to all the four wheels and also an optional Drift mode (i.e. pure RWD) only then it is 4Matic+. If power can be sent to all four wheels but no drift mode, then it is just 4Matic. Only few support 4Matic+ as you pointed out like the GT63, E63, A45, etc. and it's an option (or only available on higher trims in some cases).

 

Let it go

 

That's not true. The GT53 for example has 4Matic+, but no drift mode. The GT63S gets drift mode standard and it's optional on the GT63. 4Matic+ is more than drift mode. The main difference is that 4Matic had a fixed torque split front to rear, whereas 4Matic+ has a variable torque split, sending 100% to the rear under normal conditions and only if traction isn't sufficient will power be sent to the front wheels. It's dynamically quite different from the old 4Matic.

 

 

Probably only a decade or so away from our unelected representatives banning the IC engine altogether, so at that point will there even be real AMGs of any type? How do you "hand-build" a battery pack? Or an electric motor, which is ludicrously simple compared to an engine? Enjoy the party while it lasts folks.

 

Simple. Mercedes and AMG call it an AMG. It is an AMG.

Yup. Lots of extra wasted power in the 63 that hardly helps on a track (most could not drive it any faster)

I had a C43 and beat a C63 on a track day. There are advantages to lighter and in that case a better drive system in the cheaper car.

Ok. I don't have a "True AMG". But it is an AMG. The badge from the factory proves it.

Who cares? Why did I waste my time responding??????