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No offense here, because I like the idea of making my car more competitive at track events also. But have you ever driven a GT3? Yes you can get a C63 to perform similarly, depending on how you define that. It takes time and money, and it's never going to handle remotely like a GT3 even if you can rip off the same kind of times. You'll be doing ten times the work of the GT3 guy who will be casually pulling the same times because that's exactly what they're made for. To get to GT3 RS kind of performance it would be a stripped out lexan-windowed non-air-conditioned no-radio-having no fun rattly tin can and a total handful to keep on the track. Weight distribution is all wrong with the massive engine in front and any weight savings is just going to upset the balance and make it even more pronounced. Center of gravity is too high, and you'd have to remove the pano roof etc. Track isn't wide enough and you can't get wide enough rubber underneath without body modification. At a bare minimum you have to do 44O cooling, suspension, BBK, big sticky r-comp tires on light forged wheels, and then FBO to be competitive. THEN start reducing weight and chopping it up if you can live with driving a tin can. It's just not a great platform to start from to get the best times, but yes it's a lot of fun.
There are better cars out there to use as a dedicated track toy platform. With all that said, the C63 can be competitive with your typical DE advanced class cars (Z06, GT3, M3, GT4, etc) it's just a matter of how deep your pockets are and what you want to drive and how you want to drive it.
I think I contradicted myself a few times there sorry. I'm torn on this topic myself. In short, it's never going to keep up with a Z06 or GT3 that has also been wrung out for maximum DE performance. But you can get it to the same level as stock or mildly modded ones. And the driver mod and practice can even the field quite a bit.
This.....
I have had the opportunity to drive both the GT3 and GT3RS. Brilliant cars. In fact i loved the GT3 so much, i may try and buy one next year if at all possible. The C63 is a fantastic street car. Its not a race car. It can be made to be one, but as BLKROKT says it will take some doing. You can find older 328i cars that can be made competitive for much less money. The Z4m coupe of 2007-2008 was a brilliant car and could be made very competitive for little money. The heavier the car, the more you have to do to make it fast and also the more it will break. Racing a heavy car is stressful on the car and parts.
Rx-7s
240-260z 300z
328i
M3
Z4m
Miatas
510s
Vettes
Mustangs....if you can deal with the crummy suspensions
911's my fav
Lots more I cant think of at the moment.
From a few years of track time, and a lot of reading I'm finding there are a couple camps in buying/building a track car:
ROUTE 1 - you are in love with a car, and you accept some sacrifices to make the car you own or love into something more capable.
ROUTE 2 - you start with a clean sheet of paper, and without regard for a passion about a car brand/model.. you buy the BEST track car for your budget plans.
I fall in ROUTE 1 camp. I just can't dump $/time into something I'm not passionate about. as hard as I try I just can't get my juices flowing for an E36, or a C5.
I'm starting to evaluate the option of a W204 build as follows:
1. HOSt CAR - cheapest W204 coupe..... (can be non AMG).
How cheap have these dropped?
What is the resale of parting out everything except the shell?
2. drive train - LSX swap with 6 speed. Custom fab pedal assy.
3. lexan windows
4. racing seats / roll cage
5. wide body kit.... DTM copy stuff.
6. lw wheels
7. BBK
8. suspension..... custom or bolt-on..... need to research this.
From a few years of track time, and a lot of reading I'm finding there are a couple camps in buying/building a track car:
ROUTE 1 - you are in love with a car, and you accept some sacrifices to make the car you own or love into something more capable.
ROUTE 2 - you start with a clean sheet of paper, and without regard for a passion about a car brand/model.. you buy the BEST track car for your budget plans.
I fall in ROUTE 1 camp. I just can't dump $/time into something I'm not passionate about. as hard as I try I just can't get my juices flowing for an E36, or a C5.
I'm starting to evaluate the option of a W204 build as follows:
1. HOSt CAR - cheapest W204 coupe..... (can be non AMG).
How cheap have these dropped?
What is the resale of parting out everything except the shell?
2. drive train - LSX swap with 6 speed. Custom fab pedal assy.
3. lexan windows
4. racing seats / roll cage
5. wide body kit.... DTM copy stuff.
6. lw wheels
7. BBK
8. suspension..... custom or bolt-on..... need to research this.
AM I nutz?
We are all nutz. That's what makes us all car enthusiasts. No normal person modifies or tracks their cars. That build sounds legit. Should be fun regardless.
The other challenge I need to research... can such a car be built to pass TX inspection so as to still drive on the street occasionally? I don't have the space for a trailer at this point in time.
I think you can buy an LSX crate motor that will pass OBDII.
C250 would be the base C coupe.... but a quick check of mkt and they are not much less than a high mlg C63 2008........ and I get part out the AMG bits for more. More research needed.
Are you thinking of putting an LSX motor in the benz? That's a downgrade. They may have more after market parts for the LSX motor, but the AMG motor is better block to block than the LSX. I have had the LSX in a few cars and I was not impressed with the sound or the HP curves unless under boost.
While I agree that there are better cars to start off as a base for a track car, the C63 is pretty damn quick around a track.
A friend of mine has owned many, many cars, and he takes them all to our local race track, Killarney.
Our Clubmans Class A racecars are doing 1 min, 24 sec on full slicks.
His best in a E92 V8 M3 DCT with semi's was a 1min 23 sec
His best in a C63 507 edition with semi's was a 1 min 22 sec
His best in a Nissan GTR was a 1 min 19 sec
His best in a Ferrari 458 was a 1 min 19 sec
Savage - that is a great time in the 507. I've heard it was just an appearance kit... but we see it actually performs as well as it looks.
I'm going to run some numbers on this, from initial purchase, to part out value, and check with my wife on a longer term project. I need to get my garage built out, but then I'm planning on a long term track car build. I just can't help but think how awesome a bugs-in-the-teeth lightwgt widestance, no emmissions W204 would be on the track..... the noise, the heat, the g's.
They are very thrilling to create and race. I think we are getting caught up in trying to win world championships and not living for just the excitement and "can do" of it...
This is my purpose built C63 race car. This is from last week at Super Lap Battle. Did a 1:50.1 (Buttonwillow CW13)
and the car is still in development and shakedown mode. I've also haven't driven in over a year. Nothing is stock but the power is still NA. We just used a SLS Manifold on the orginal M156. https://vimeo.com/191427197
But back to the OP: "my race budget is more baller on a budget"
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you didn't have ANY budget. And that's what it takes to make the C63 competitive.
Had a budget...just didn't come anywhere near sticking to it. Main problem with tracking AMG competitively is 1. Transmission sucks and 2. ECU is like an over controlling girlfriend...and to replace those two items is more the a used 2012 coupe easy.
Honestly if I were to do is all over again I would buy a 190 do a LS swap and throw a dog box in. Cheep and competitive plus old school DTM style.
We are all nutz. That's what makes us all car enthusiasts. No normal person modifies or tracks their cars. That build sounds legit. Should be fun regardless.
I love this response. That reply, and this thread along with the pictures it contains, and the weight loss thread too, are some of the very best of what this site is and can be.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Originally Posted by freefall
Had a budget...just didn't come anywhere near sticking to it. Main problem with tracking AMG competitively is 1. Transmission sucks and 2. ECU is like an over controlling girlfriend...and to replace those two items is more the a used 2012 coupe easy.
Honestly if I were to do is all over again I would buy a 190 do a LS swap and throw a dog box in. Cheep and competitive plus old school DTM style.
EXACTLY THIS ^^^
I've seen an influx of these LS-swapped Frankenstein's over the past year. Mostly BMW's and a 944, but an old 190 would be sweet to see. And like you said, cheap as hell to build and run.
11-02-2016, 03:09 AM
Its not a blown engine though they got that wrong. Its NA...
