cfoster

Took a deposit on my SL55 today so in a position in the next couple of weeks to get a replacement, at the moment torn between a C63 (2008/2009) or a V8 E93 M3 (convertible). I've heard on track M3's are awesome but as a daily the C63 could be the better option, plus has an ounce of practicality. Only downside is they look like pretty much any other C class (I have a C220cdi sport already) so would it be that 'special' to own??!!

Any opinions, has anyone driven both to offer a comparison? Been on both BMW and Merc forums and of course opinions are bias either way!

Other alternatives I have considered was an RS4 but found it very dull to drive....

Cheers

Caddyshack

My friend has a c63 amongst many Porsches and Ferraris and he still says the c63 is a very special car.

ajamesc

C63 all day long. They are a serious bit of kit. I know someone who had one they sound amazing

gcfcos

I love bmws and not keen on mercs. I think it's personal preference really.

Fullflush

C63 I can spot a mile off

imnoteasy

My mate has an ml63 amg. It's amazing and shouldn't be that fast

Pratical and puts a smile on your face everytime you get in

ajamesc

I don't the m3 is even in the same league as the c63. The bm is a nice car just a bit too estate agent for me lol

JasonPD

I'd go for a C63, crazy sound and anyone that knows their cars can spot them a mile off.. A C63 wagon is on my dream car list

dan le moignan

Depends what you want from the car.
People that have had both tend to say the m3 has better handling and the dct is better than the merc offering.
Also not all C63's have an LSD do they?.

Harris.

Out of them 2 I would go for the M3 as the c63's running cost is crazy ,that's not saying the M3 is cheap .


RS4 I wouldn't say is dull , with mine I tend to plod around in it and think the same . Seems very much like a normal A4 ,but its not until you come up against something else you realise how much of a good all rounder they are . A trip to MRC and Ł650 will see 1st,2nd,3rd gear unlocked with 445bhp and 450lbft from the standard 414bhp (with a drop to 390 due to carbon build up) and 320lbft all for Ł14500!!! I wont be getting rid of mine for a while yet !


Its like most well built cars , going from the cossie to the Rs4 the cossie feels faster but infact the RS4 would stamp all over it with ease .

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

C63 for me. But then i do like the look of the RS4s.

tony66

iTrader: (7)

i have an e92-not m3 but 335d[so no m factor] the donkey[engine] is good-the rest ok
still wouldnt go near an e92 m3 if the merc was available
e92 m3 not a car i fancy-feel flat to drive,no grunt

not driven the merc but would quite fancy one tbh[estate for the dogs]

stu21t

A mate of mine recently sold his c63 and immediately regretted it. He now has a 700bhp r35 skyline and said the merc was better in every way. Before that he had a 600bhp 911 turbo, a e60 m5 and an rs4. The c63 is his favourite out of them all.
I'm a bmw fan and don't really like mercs but I would choose the c63.
I think he had a miltek exhaust on his and it sounded amazing!

Thrustyjust

Mate had the M3 V8 and whatever you do, get the BMW extended warranty. He owned it for 2 1/2 years and worked out the cost for repairs was Ł35k. He did 40 k miles in it and averaged about 18 mpg. Luckily his boss gave him a fuel card !!. Servicing uses some odd engine oil, which seems to be hand made by virgins. My MD also has a V8 and has been fine other than the traction system shutting down at mad moments and had to try and keep it straight mid overtaking. Sound great on cold start. MD's has a Milltek system on his, but the scares of bills would haunt me if I got one.

cfoster

thanks all seems pretty even with the C63 edgin slightly! I'm defo off of the RS4's I think. Having 4 doors help as the missus is pregnant so a bit more practical, plus the back seats fold down for tip runs! Oddly enough cheaper to insure, only thing that puts me off it its not a convertible! I think running costs are similar for both M3 / C63 and not all C63s have the LSD (although i doubt i'd even notice the difference tbh....).

Watch this space!!

visa_broke

interested to see what you end up with, we are thinking of going from audi to merc in the future.

Rod-Tarry

Merc for me not a BMW fan.

nice_head

iTrader: (2)

What bout VXR8? 5drs and a lot rarer than the M3 and C63.

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

Never spent much time in a C63 but have in an M3 and love them. They feel quite special to me when driven fast. And the DCT 'box is better than any other I've driven, including Porsche's PDK and the Nissan GTR 'box. It's very easy to drive fast and slow, certainly wouldn't have problems running one daily. They're generally pretty bullet proof, too. The only thing that would put me off is the fuel consumption, but guessing you're used to that with the SL!

NEIL A

iTrader: (6)

For me it would be the C63 , I also think the 4 door E90 M3 is a better looking car than the 2 door E93.

Blades Rally Team

Get the 335d I have one and you get the speed and fuel economy but change the run flat tyres to something better I use Khumo's they are great even in the wet haven't let me down yet even when pressing on

Staffi

iTrader: (1)

I owned a C63 for 3 months, awesome car, great performance and sound but fuck me it was juicy and I mean juicy, 9 MPG when booting it, un less mine had issues sold it and bought the Tommi, I wouldn't have another, it was kinda a wish list buy if that makes sense?? Great car though.

tony66

iTrader: (7)

i"ve got one too[335d] but quick as they are they lack the special feel most of the m cars have got
day to day the 335d has more usable power and does 2.5 times the mpg,and its less than half to tax...but....its diesel lol
those mercs though well nice tools

rog

iTrader: (2)

Not a massive fan of either option, and I've experienced a few of both.
I really don't like Mercs at all, but given the choice I'd probably have the C63 as long as it had aftermarket pipes, worst case it will still sound good
Forget the Audi, unless you want something utterly boring.

Harris.

Yeah and new rear tyres every 9k , oh and the heavy tax too !!!! But agree they do look nice .


Ill be boring and stick with the RS4 until my little one is bigger then a 911 turbo is coming my way .

gingeRS

agreed 4 door M3 would be my choice

my 2ps worth:

The M3 will be a better drive, more dynamic more focused, the brakes on the AMG will be superior as they are massive, the noise from the Merc is pretty special. In terms of economy there wont be much between them, the bmw might be a little cheaper on parts.

FATTBOYY

C63
RS4
M3

in that order for me, the merc feels far more superior

Mickyflint

I have a C63 coupe PPP and it is a much better car I had a M3 and just never liked it the 63 is a awesome car and fuel never bothers me as it a compleat joy to drive and keeps a smile on my face the sound is in a league of its own

kyle_st200

My Dad took a c63 out as he was toying on getting rid of his 911,took it out in the wet and he said it was useless the traction control just flashed away and cut the power and you couldn't really press on in it. Reckons his Porsche would of leathered in it in the wet as it had too much power to be useable. Do sound the tits though

cfoster

Thanks all some great opinions, very mixed! It does seem the C63 is favoured... Consumption not bothered about, I rarely see 15mpg from my SL at the moment so no real issue, and its guaranteed to be more reliable! Definitely NO NO to a 335d! I had an E93 335i petrol, hated it, and the run flat tyres as mentioned above - SHIT!! I do 6 miles a day so would ruin the diesel. I love the look of the porkers but shit me their interiors are awful and sooo out of date! They are getting better but out of budget....

Hoepfully going to look at a couple of C63s this weekend, will report back!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

There are two in the village i live in, one is black and agreed it looks a bit like an ordinary c class, until you hear the thing.

The other is yellow (black version lol) and fuck me, that thing must have an exhaust on it as you can hear that bastard coming a mile away.

I dont know why, i have never driven a c63 amg, or a v8 m3, or an rs4. But id have the c63.

Although saying that i was stopped next to one at some traffic lights a couple of years ago and a kid and his dad crossed the road, the lad waved at me sat in my Ł4k blue impreza UK300 and didnt even give the merc next to me a look.
I laughed, lots, and waved back.

tony66

iTrader: (7)

if you had a 335i you gonna hate the m3 too-better but not that much lol

andrewjswain

Had a c63 didn't like it sounds great had a v8 m3 as people say great daily car dct the only one to have got a m4 now the probably the best car I have ever had and I have had loads just miles ahead

ajamesc

The only bmw I'd consider over a c63 is the m5 gran coupe as they look seriously nice

steviecossie

C63 amg look and sound amazing

vroooom ptssssh

No such car exists from BMW, it's either an M5 saloon, M6 coupe or M6 Gran coupe.

I'd probably have a biased opinion being an E92 M3 Owner so will keep it short.

DCT box - fantastic
LSD/M-Dynamic mode - great fun!
Performs brilliantly as an every day car, happily sit in slow moving traffic without being jerky or annoying, or will sit at 170mph all day long comfortably.
Mpg I average 22mpg, thats a mixture of motorway, town and booting it.
I reset it and sat at 65 on the motorway, done 20 miles and it returned 34mpg.
Exhaust note is a bit disappointing, but nothing an exhaust mod (OEM exhaust mod set you back the price of cutting and welding some metal)
I've had a few issues with mine, but I work in a BMW Main dealer and I can say i've just been unlucky, but all covered under warranty no question asked. The engines and gearboxes I can't say i've saw any problems other than throtle actuators, idle valves which are fairly common.
Competition pack and individual paint, or even a special edition make it that bit different from the rest.
As for engine oil - Castrol TWS Proffesional 10w/60.

My 2p worth, I've never liked mercs as a whole but the C63 does sound good, is that enough to buy a car though?

*edit*
if noise is you're thing,....

ajamesc

I guess Google is wronge then I'm not into bmw's in any way at all. I see a m5 with a coupe back and 4 doors googled it and it said m5 gran coupe. What ever it is they look good

vroooom ptssssh

Well now you know! They look especially good in San Marino Blue

ajamesc

Was a very light pale blue one I see with black leather looked really nice

cfoster

Could've been the M4 Gran Coupe?