When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What a car. Turned in my W204 C63 yesterday. Thought there was a chance I'd be missing it massively by this time today. Not the case. I do miss it, but I'm definitely equally as thrilled with the C43.
The driving experience and soundtrack could not be more different than the W204 C63, and I love it. The C43 doesn't have an NA V8, but it sounds special in S+ with the Performance Exhaust. Transmission blows the old MCT transmission away. I'm still getting used to the steering feel. The W204 had a heavy, communicative, and very direct hydraulic rack.
The C43 has a firm ride, even with the adjustable dampers in the softest setting, but it is nowhere near as organ and spine-rattling as my W204. Welcome improvement. The interior and technology department is where the C43 is really leaps and bounds better over my old W204. I'll elaborate on the review later. These are more like initial impressions.
A quick question: My car came with the 18" wheels and grand touring, all-season (M+S), runflat tires. I'm guessing I should be using the M+S reference for tire pressure on the fuel lid door, and NOT the R18 number at the top? It recommends something like 36 (front) and (35) rear.
Many thanks for all of the kind words, gentlemen! It is my first white car ever. It's gotten more attention in my first 2 days of ownership than my Iridium C63 did, that's for sure.
This subforum was very helpful in making my decision. Will be a lot more active on here now that I actually have the car. Was mostly just lurking beforehand.
Congrats man! No love for the engine? Break it in!
Thanks munis!! I'm waiting to comment on the engine until I can put some more miles on it. I'm limiting the revs to about 4,500 rpm at the moment.
Originally Posted by Lazz83
Drive it like you stole it!
Haha yep; all I've wanted to do is go out and drive it since I picked it up. That's always a good sign. I'm about to go try to bed in the brakes and get a nice, uniform transfer of pad material on the rotors.
Congrats! I aswell came from a NA V8, only thing i miss would be the sound & top end . The torque @ 2krpm and 9g tranny is so much more exhilarating for daily use in my opinion, Car launches pretty hard. Assuming your c63 didn't hook well, the C43 would put a bigger smile on your face from 0
Thanks munis!! I'm waiting to comment on the engine until I can put some more miles on it. I'm limiting the revs to about 4,500 rpm at the moment.
Haha yep; all I've wanted to do is go out and drive it since I picked it up. That's always a good sign. I'm about to go try to bed in the brakes and get a nice, uniform transfer of pad material on the rotors.
My suggestion to take it a bit slower on break in. less than 4000 would be ideal. And drive it in comfort as Sports+ will give you a little bit of engine brake which an absolutely no no. A little bit of patience at the beginning ensures a very healthy engine for the future. I suggest taking a long trip right away.
Also the ECU cuts power for the first 1500km. The car will get progressively louder for the first 2500km. Trust me in no time you forget your C63 haha.
Congrats! I aswell came from a NA V8, only thing i miss would be the sound & top end . The torque @ 2krpm and 9g tranny is so much more exhilarating for daily use in my opinion, Car launches pretty hard. Assuming your c63 didn't hook well, the C43 would put a bigger smile on your face from 0
Thanks! Yep, those are the only two things the C43 is really missing. But, like you said, it makes up for those deficiencies with things like better grip for launching, much better transmission, etc. Completely agree with you there my friend.
Originally Posted by munis
My suggestion to take it a bit slower on break in. less than 4000 would be ideal. And drive it in comfort as Sports+ will give you a little bit of engine brake which an absolutely no no. A little bit of patience at the beginning ensures a very healthy engine for the future. I suggest taking a long trip right away.
Also the ECU cuts power for the first 1500km. The car will get progressively louder for the first 2500km. Trust me in no time you forget your C63 haha.
I did not know that about the ECU cutting power for the first 900 miles or so. That is great to know! Thanks man!
And re: the break-in, I may do mine a little different than most. The break-in sheet for my C63 recommended to vary engine speed (so no staying in one gear at the same rpm for long stretches of time), stay below 4,500 rpm, and no kickdown switch. I think those are the most important rules to follow for the motor. So I'll constantly be going up and down through the gears and occasionally getting on the throttle up to about 4,500 so that the pistons and rings can seat and seal well.
Goal is to seal the cylinder pressure and keep oil out as well. So, for the most part, once the oil and other fluids are up to temperature, I won't hesitate to get on the throttle a little bit, so long as I'm avoiding WOT.
I had 1 turbocharged car that I babied during break-in and it turned into a bit of an oil burner. I broke in a later model spec of the same car a few years later and did what I set out above and that car was an animal that put down higher-than-expected numbers.
Used a similar break-in on my W204 and never had my C63 in the shop for anything other than oil changes.
All that said, I know everyone has their own thoughts on break-in and I totally respect that. Just sharing what has worked for me.
Originally Posted by hyperion667
That car really needs some more AMG badging.
I don't get this attempt at sarcasm at all. It has less AMG badges than the W205 C63.
And it has less than the W204 C63 I just turned in.
Same threshold as my W204 (minus the illuminated door sills):
Thanks! Yep, those are the only two things the C43 is really missing. But, like you said, it makes up for those deficiencies with things like better grip for launching, much better transmission, etc. Completely agree with you there my friend.
I did not know that about the ECU cutting power for the first 900 miles or so. That is great to know! Thanks man!
And re: the break-in, I may do mine a little different than most. The break-in sheet for my C63 recommended to vary engine speed (so no staying in one gear at the same rpm for long stretches of time), stay below 4,500 rpm, and no kickdown switch. I think those are the most important rules to follow for the motor. So I'll constantly be going up and down through the gears and occasionally getting on the throttle up to about 4,500 so that the pistons and rings can seat and seal well.
Goal is to seal the cylinder pressure and keep oil out as well. So, for the most part, once the oil and other fluids are up to temperature, I won't hesitate to get on the throttle a little bit, so long as I'm avoiding WOT.
I had 1 turbocharged car that I babied during break-in and it turned into a bit of an oil burner. I broke in a later model spec of the same car a few years later and did what I set out above and that car was an animal that put down higher-than-expected numbers.
Used a similar break-in on my W204 and never had my C63 in the shop for anything other than oil changes.
All that said, I know everyone has their own thoughts on break-in and I totally respect that. Just sharing what has worked for me.
Oh ok, got it. You are doing it perfectly then. I actually did the same thing, minus I drove it in comfort with small amount of S+ where I shifted up before 4k rpm. And ofcourse varying rpm no cruise.
And you are right, it matters how you break it in. For example my car's stock dyno was 10hp higher than any multiple C43s I have seen which was not broken in properly. Also my engine to this day after 45k kilometers feels as strong as it did in the beginning. Just do not let anyone tell you drive you like it stole it. Because it should not be up for debate. Read the manual. No matter who that person is, does not know more about the car than the people who made it.
Oh ok, got it. You are doing it perfectly then. I actually did the same thing, minus I drove it in comfort with small amount of S+ where I shifted up before 4k rpm. And ofcourse varying rpm no cruise.
And you are right, it matters how you break it in. For example my car's stock dyno was 10hp higher than any multiple C43s I have seen which was not broken in properly. Also my engine to this day after 45k kilometers feels as strong as it did in the beginning. Just do not let anyone tell you drive you like it stole it. Because it should not be up for debate. Read the manual. No matter who that person is, does not know more about the car than the people who made it.
Yeah, you definitely did a good job with your break-in and the numbers ended up proving it.
Did you post your stock dyno on here? If so, I gotta go find that! I would love to see the baseline for this platform.
07-14-2018, 05:38 PM
C43
