Today’s performance cars really have to do everything, don’t they? The modern blueprint includes a slug of turbocharged torque, the security of all-wheel-drive, enough noise insulation to spit a verse in the cabin, enough toys to make Best Buy look like a mennonite enterprise, out-of-this-world test track numbers, and surprisingly reasonable fuel economy for what you get. The W204 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG doesn’t care much for any of that. It’s a four-wheeled four-letter word, and in today’s performance car landscape where almost everything even somewhat attainable seems like a good citizen of the road, it feels like eating chips in church. Sometimes being immoral just feels way too damn good.
In case you just awoke from cryogenic freezing initiated during the Great Recession, the new Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is seeing all kinds of vitriol for featuring a four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. Sure, it may make a boatload of power and be objectively a great performer, but four isn’t as much of a party as eight.
So, with the future not looking as visceral as the past, let’s give the original C63 AMG a good hard look. Not only does it feature the Suge Knight of naturally aspirated German V8 engines, you can now pick up an early example for dirt freaking cheap. Let’s party.
What Are We Looking At
For a while in the 2000s, BMW felt untouchable in the supersedan arena. The E39 M5 handed out ass-whooping left and right, the E60 M5 had a V10, and people knew that the then-incoming E90 BMW M3 would be rocking a high-revving small-displacement V8. Then AMG dropped a 6.2-liter V8 into a C-Class. Yeah, the W204 C63 AMG was born great, with a thumping M156 V8 cranking out 451 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque in base trim. For those keeping track at home, that’s 37 more horsepower and 143 more lb.-ft. of torque than a V8-powered E90 BMW M3. So what if the C63 AMG only came with a seven-speed automatic transmission? The sheer torque of the thing mashed the M3’s face in if you lined both cars up in a straight line.
In a 2007 Car And Driver comparison test, the C63 AMG ran from zero-to-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and blitzed the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 116 mph. That was four-tenths of a second, half a second, and three mph quicker than the M3 on test. More importantly, the five-to-60 mph test came in worlds apart, with the C63 clocking 4.2 seconds and the M3 clocking five seconds flat. In this arena, eight tenths is an enormous amount of time, which made the C63 AMG a force to be reckoned with. So much of a force that Car And Driver actually called it a bit much, thanks in part to seriously starchy suspension.
In the end, we found the C63 to offer the most special experience in this highly desirable trio, but as the days wore on, we became slightly less enamored with the Mercedes’ aggressive behavior and looks—the creases, the bulges, the vents, and the gaping front fascia could almost pass as an aftermarket job in this tasteful group. But if you like to be seen, heard, and talked about, the C63 is your Lamborghini of sports sedans.
Here’s the thing, though — in an age of downsizing and hybridization, a 6.2-liter overhead cam V8 in a sedan the size of a Civic is freaking awesome. Not only does the C63 AMG feel like a muscle car in a suit, it makes all the right noise. We’re talking “Vanishing Point” amplified through Steve Aoki’s decks and blasted at the speed of sound directly into the face of the driver behind you. It’s provocative. It gets the people going. And it can be yours for less than the price of the cheapest new car in America.
How Much Are We Talking?
The cheapest new car in America is the Nissan Versa S with the five-speed manual gearbox, stickering for $17,820 including freight. While you certainly aren’t getting a facelifted C63 AMG for that sort of money, you can totally get an early car within that budget, such as this 2010 C63 AMG that hammered on Cars & Bids last month for $13,300. Sure, it might have 121,500 miles on the clock, a hit on its Carfax, a broken tilt function for the steering column, and the expected cosmetic wear of a used car, but it’s also seen its head bolts preventatively replaced, and the person who won it claimed it drove “13 hours and 930 miles home without a hiccup.” Hell yeah.
Oh, but we can go cheaper than that. Earlier this year, this 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG hammered on Cars & Bids for $12,200, and while it may be rocking a whopping 148,000 miles on the clock and have a minor hit on its Carfax, it has the P30 Performance Package that bumps output to 481 horsepower, adds a limited-slip differential, and raises the top speed limit to 174 mph. Alexa, play “Kickstart My Heart.”
Even on the private market, you still have some selection in this price bracket. Here’s a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG up for sale at a used car dealer in Ohio for $14,500. Sure, it might have 142,728 miles on the clock, and it probably won’t be perfectly reliable, but this is one kick-ass car for the money.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong With A Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG?
Oh man, all sorts of stuff, but some are issues in small numbers, so it really just depends on how much risk you want to take on. The M156 V8 engine in these cars was notorious for head bolt failure on cars with an engine serial number smaller than 156983 60 060658, so early 2011 model year and prior cars. It’s fixable with the engine still in the car for about $3,000 to $3,500, but if you’re already in there, you might want to replace a few other things on a high-mileage example.
Lifter failure is an uncommon but noted issue in pre-facelift W204 C63 AMG sedans, and if you already have the top end open, you might want to replace the lifters too. Figure another $883.59 in parts from FCP Euro and 2.8 hours of book labor. If they aren’t changed soon after they show signs of being problematic, your camshafts are going to have a bad time. Oh, and while you’re in there, it’s probably worth changing the air oil separator, as they’re known to go bad and are fairly cheap to replace.
Oh, and the final issue worth noting is conductor plate failure inside the seven-speed automatic transmission, a bastard of a job for DIY-ers because it requires the new part to be coded to the car using Mercedes-Benz diagnostic equipment. Yeah, that bill’s gonna have a comma in it.
Should You Buy A Cheap Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG?
Honestly, if you’re on a budget and can’t wrench, a cheap Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is up there on the list of bad ideas with trusting the gas station sushi. However, if you can spin a ratchet and want to deploy heinous horsepower with extreme prejudice as you commit acts of ultraviolence against rear tires, all while looking prim and proper at the office, a cheap Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is exactly what you need.
It’s a NASCAR Spritz at a wedding, a Kubrick stare in a Zoom meeting, an act of enormity that perfectly explains the vitriol against the new, downsized, hybridized C63 AMG. The people don’t want F1-derived technology or clever wizardry. The people want an anti-hero, and the W204 C63 AMG is the perfect caped miscreant.
(Photo credits: Cars & Bids, Autotrader seller)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
What’s This Regular-Ass Volkswagen Jetta Doing On Bring A Trailer?
-
This Ridiculously Clean Cadillac Cimarron Looks Like A Great $5,100 Luxury Car
-
This Innocuous Saturn Sky Hides A Seven-Liter V8 Secret
-
This Pristine 2004 Scion xB Just Sold For $2,685 Above MSRP
-
You Can Buy An Audi R8 For The Price Of A New Ford Mustang
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
Years ago my then-boss had this same engine in a CLK 63 convertible. I asked him once how he liked the car, and he paused a minute. Then, in his meticulous British accent he said: “Imaging you’re dating a woman with the most perfect, spectacular natural breasts you’ve ever seen in your life. Sure, she has other flaws but do you really care? The engine on that car is so good that any other issues don’t even matter.”
I think one of these would be fun but I laugh hearing “small car V8”. Its 4000lbs which is not exactly Civic curb weight territory.
Still would be a blast.
I’ve owned a 2009 model for five years and only added about 25K miles – I just hit 101K miles. My independent MB specialist says that the head bolt issues appear at fairly low miles and promises that my engine is safe, even though my serial number falls into the bad period. I’m not a fan of the style of the exterior, but the engine and driving dynamics are much more important to me.
I’ve done these items myself: valve cover gaskets, brake pads, windshield washer fluid pump, water pump. The parts were affordable, nothing egregious. My mechanic diagnosed and replaced a fuel pressure sensor for about $300.
Honestly, the majority of my maintenance money went towards tires. These cars have a TON of toe-in dialed in from the factory on the REAR tires. I found a racing shop that set my rear toe alignment as close to zero as possible without negatively affecting anything. It made a huge difference – I used to get less than 10K on a set of Michelin PS4s on the rear, the front tires lasted a lot longer. I wish the chassis could accept significantly wider tires, but I’m not going to change the stock wheels or make the car look stupid.
Also, 9+ quarts of oil per change, and very specific Mobil One required for best results. I no longer commute with it, but it received about 15MPG in Portland metro traffic when doing so, and maybe 22-24MPG on highway trips.
Overall, the car has been a joy to own and very reliable. Rough riding suspension at slow speeds, but probably no worse than my old 2013 Scion FR-S. These cars are at the absolute bottom of their depreciation curve.
The naturally aspirated 6.2 engine is way more special to me than the newer turbocharged models (and they sound WAY better too). I used to own a w124 500E, and this C63 is way closer in character to the 500E versus my old w211 E55 (supercharged), which was also a very reliable vehicle.
No I can’t.
This sounds appealing except for the existence of the Maserati Quattroporte. If I’m going to have something sit broken in my driveway, it should be prettier.
Those Maseratis tempt me even though they are a shit idea.
I was walking to my car at the office the other day and there was a Maserati sedan pulling out. Man it does sound awesome.
I want one for the sound alone.
You really should check with Sreten at M539
German HotRod. Small car Big engine. The tone of the exhaust is like an American V8, only better than any American V8 ever.
This car has one of, if not the, best sounding exhaust notes of all time.
I own one, and I agree 100%.
I’ve heard SLS AMG safety car going flat out at Monza, it sounded just awesome. I think it is pretty much the same engine.
An executive at a former employer had a 2013 C63 AMG with the P31 package that I parked next to all the time. For three years I walked by it on a daily basis and lusted after it, and relished the days when he and I would leave at the same time and I’d get to hear the aftermarket exhaust he had on it. On my list of AMG cars I wish I could afford, the C63 is #3 behind the CLK63 (#2) and the CLK63 Black Series (#1).
I had a 2009 E63 with this same engine which was tuned a bit higher in that application to 505 HP. I bought it in 2019 with 100k miles on it, one owner who traded it in for the bad headbolts, which were then replaced at a MB dealership before selling to me.
Expensive maintenance? Yes. OEM Brembo brakes are $4,000 just in parts, I replaced them with a good aftermarket set that was still $2,500. One air strut went bad on me (those might be just on the E-Class and up), so replacing both front struts was $2,000. I also had a bad PCV valve which was cheap but a hell of a process to replace DIY.
Other than that it ran well with no engine issues for the short time I had it. I put about 20k miles on it and sold at the worst time during Covid when car prices were at the bottom :/ It was the right move at the time since I was barely driving it but man I miss that car.
If you can afford $3-5,000 per year in maintenance there is not a better car to drive. It is perfectly calm and comfortable when you want to cruise, but comes alive if you lean into it and loves to rev! It would keep up with anything on the street and 120 would feel like 60 on the highway. I will probably end up getting another one in the future when I have the means again.
I had a 2005 E55, yes airstruts are expensive to replace. I own a 2009 C63 now and comparing the w211 to the w204 is apples to oranges. COMPLETELY different ride, size, manners, complexity, etc.
Everyone should own a German car at some point to fully understand that ‘German engineering’ doesn’t mean what they thought it meant.
-previous BMW owner
Is there a specific term for the siren song of used German performance cars? ßchiren ßong?
I’ve been saying for years that I could easily afford to BUY an AMG/ M3 / any Porsche, but I could never afford to own one.
That’s why I bought a C6 instead of a Boxter. Corvette maintenance and insurance (assuming you are of a certain age) is very affordable.
Praised be the LS
I know someone who just bought a C8, and noted the insurance was less than his wife’s modestly priced crossover.
This is ultimately what might get me to buy a C6 as well. I’m too cheap to be spending thousands at the German specialty mechanic.
This would be a terrible idea, but if the US had gotten the wagon like Canda did, it’s probably a bad idea I’d consider.
I believe we only have later-model AMG C wagons, but we didn’t have this generation either. Meanwhile, the US had B6 S4 Avants and we didn’t…
Yes, we only got the W205 wagon, and even then only in C300 and C43 guises, not the full-fat C63.
I love everything about these and the era of German sports sedan anarchy that spawned them. It’s hard to believe today that in the 2000s the S4 had a V8, Mercedes managed to shove a 6.2 liter V8 in the C class, the M5 had a V10, all but the AMG were available with manuals, etc. I’m 33 so I was starting to really hone my interest in cars around this time and the German super sedans would always capture my imagination when flipping through Motor Trend at the barber.
Is it wise to buy a used one? Conventional wisdom says no, but as I’ve said if the price of admission is way under your budget and you can either wrench yourself or afford to pay a good mechanic, who cares? I’ve definitely considered paying cash for a well loved German sports sedan at the bottom of its depreciation curve and just budgeting for the running costs.
Speaking of which, is the CLA45 AMG worth it? For some reason they depreciate pretty badly. I see lightly used ones in the 40s all the time. I get that it’s a 4 popper but it’s a full AMG, the performance is nuts, and they’re sexy as hell.
Arguably this era of Benz had the worst modern M-B interior. It just looked cheap. Although now with M-B turning every surface into a screen on their interiors, maybe we didn’t realize how good we had it.
I still see them around though and always liked the look. They had a nice “squat” to them, and the V-8 power is obviously more than enough to be fun. I’d rather not have to deal with thousands worth of repairs on it though.
My only issue is that I have simply never liked the W204 C-Class. I think it’s clumsily-styled, the pre-facelift in particular. I could probably stomach the coupe, but the sedan is a no-go.
But you know me. Since I’m extra stupid, I’d get a contemporary AMG CL 63 with that same M156 engine and four times the complexity for twice the price, and then be pissed when presented with a $7,000 brake job.
But the C63 handles so much better, and the quick steering is fun! Like you, I don’t appreciate the styling either.
The only other recent car that I’ve driven that I like more than my C63 is an Alfa Giulia. I guess I’m a sucker for great-handling vehicles. I still own a beater of a Saab 9-5 Aero that is a surprisingly good tradeoff of a good-handling sedan while being comfy at the same time.
Stretching your budget AND your head bolts.
“the creases, the bulges, the vents, and the gaping front fascia”
BMW says hold my beer, we’re going to make a gaping front fascia that can store your hats.
The following is a list of people cross shopping a new Nissan Versa and 15 year old AMG with 100K miles:
*crickets*
I agree, although generally the way the C63s I see in the wild are driven gives off a pretty strong Nissan Altima energy.
There always seems to be some 4th owner out there who sees a $10k Mercedes AMG car and thinks it is a good idea instead of a Civic.
Should you get one? Yes.