Item: 2008 Mercedes W204 C 63 AMG
Rating: 3.5

Eager 6.2-litre M156 V8 engine sounds great
Excellent dynamics
Accurate, well-weighted steering
Powerful brakes

M156 V8 engine susceptible to cylinder head bolt failure, camshaft lobe and valve lifter wear
Awkward, offset driving position
High fuel consumption
Suspension lacks low-speed compliance

Review: Mercedes W204.I C 63 AMG (2008-11)

Overview

Released in Australia in March 2008, the Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG was a high-performance, compact executive sedan. Manufactured in Germany, the rear-wheel drive W204 C 63 AMG was powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

M156 V8 engine

Developed and hand-assembled by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, the 6208 cc M156 V8 petrol engine had an aluminium-silicon alloy (AlSi7) block which had 102.2 mm bores and a 94.6 mm stroke, an aluminium-silicon alloy (AlSi17) cylinder head, a Cromax 42CrMo4V forged steel alloy crankshaft, fracture-split forged connecting rods, cylinder bores with twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating, Bosch 9.7 engine management system, double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank (intake cams driven by a double chain from the crankshaft and small gears on the intake cams drive the exhaust camshafts), continuously variable intake and exhaust camshafts (over a range of 40 degrees via electrohydraulic vane-type adjusters), four valves per cylinder (40 mm intake valves and 34 mm exhaust valves) with bucket tappets, a magnesium variable intake manifold (with two integral throttle flaps) and a compression ratio of 11.3:1. Maximum engine speed for the M156 V8 engine was 7200 rpm.

The C 63 AMG could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Over the combined ADR 80/01 test cycle, fuel consumption was 13.5 litres per 100 km.

Mercedes-Benz W204.I C 63 AMG specifications
	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
C 63 AMG	6.2-litre petrol V8 (M156)	7sp auto	336 kW at 6800 rpm	600 Nm at 5000 rpm

AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic

For the seven-speed ‘AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic’ automatic transmission, the gear ratios were 4.38 (1st), 2.86 (2nd), 1.92 (3rd), 1.37 (4th), 1.00 (5th), 0.82 (6th) and 0.73 (7th), while the final drive ratio was 2.85; for the two reverse gears, the ratios were 3.42 and 2.23. Furthermore, the driver could perform gearshifts using the steering wheel paddles and select from three drive programs:

Comfort, ‘C’, for softer throttle response, smooth gearshifts and early upshifts to minimise fuel consumption;
Sport, ‘S’, for greater throttle response, higher engine speeds before upshifting and gearshifts that were around 30 per cent faster than in Comfort; and,
Manual, ‘M’, for gearshifts via the paddles, maximum throttle response and gearshifts that were around 50 per cent faster than in Comfort.

The transmission also featured an automatic throttle-blipping function during downshifts for almost jolt-free gearshifts and to reduce load-change responses.

Dimensions and body

Compared to the W203 C 55 AMG which preceded it, the W 204 C 63 AMG was 115 mm longer (at 4726 mm), 51 mm wider (1795 mm), 27 mm taller (1439 mm) and had a 50 mm longer wheelbase (2765 mm); kerb weight increased by 95 kg to 1730 kg.

Relative to the standard W204 C-Class , the W204 C 63 AMG could be identified by its bonnet with power domes, AMG radiator grille, flared front wings, AMG rear apron with black diffuser insert, AMG sports exhaust system with two chromed twin tail-pipes and AMG spoiler lip.

Suspension

The Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG had three-link front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension, both with coil springs, gas-pressure shock absorbers and stabiliser bars. The suspension also included Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Agility Control’, an amplitude-selective damping system which utilised:

A bypass channel in the shock absorber’s piston pin; and,
A control piston moving within a separate oil chamber.

When linear travel of the shock absorber was low, the control piston forced oil through the bypass channel to produce a smaller damping force at the damper valve. For greater shock absorber movements, the control piston moved to close the bypass channel so full damping force was available. To be clear, Agility Control used hydromechanics, not electronics to vary suspension behaviour.

Compared to the standard W204 C-Class , changes for the W204 C 63 AMG included:

A stiffer front axle design with a 35 mm wider front track;
A larger front torsion bar, new head bearings and dampers with rebound buffer springs;
Firmer springs and shock absorbers;
A 12 mm wider rear track;
Increased rear camber; and,
Reinforced rear drive shafts and drive joints.

Steering

The Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG had rack-and-pinion steering with speed-sensitive power assistance and a ratio of 13.5:1.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front and rear side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints, front and outer rear seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

The C 63 AMG was also fitted with Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Pre-Safe’ anticipatory occupant protection and ‘Adaptive Brake’ systems, the latter included emergency braking preparation, a brake-drying function and hill start assist (‘Start-Off Assist’). Furthermore, the electronic stability control system had a ‘Sport’ mode which raised intervention thresholds and could be turned off completely.

Brakes

The Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG had 360 mm by 36 mm front discs with six-piston fixed callipers and 330 mm by 26 mm rear discs with four-piston fixed callipers; both the front and rear discs with internally ventilated and perforated.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , the Mercedes-Benz W204 C 200 CDI received a five star safety rating which included an 82 per cent adult occupant protection rating and 70 per cent child occupant protection rating. This result corresponded with an adult occupant protection rating of 36.16 out of 37. In the frontal offset impact test, there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the driver. In the side and pole impact tests, however, maximum points were awarded.

Features: Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG

Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG included 18-inch alloy wheels, 8.0 J x 18-inch front wheels with 235/40 ZR18 tyres and 9.0J x 18-inch rear wheels with 255/35 ZR18 rear tyres, a Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound system with twelve speakers, a six-disc CD player, MP3-compatibility and auxiliary input (3.5 mm), Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND APS (Cockpit Management and Data System) including satellite navigation, a seven-inch colour display, DVD player, a 4 GB hard-drive for music storage, Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition (‘Linguatronic’), three-zone climate control air conditioning (‘Thermotronic’), AMG-embossed soft nappa leather seats, power adjustable and heated front seats with active bolsters, cruise control, directional bi-xenon headlights, front and rear fog lamps, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a mobile phone interface, 1/3 to 2/3 split and folding rear seats with load-though, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, remote central locking, power adjustable mirrors with heating and folding functions, power windows, a power adjustable steering column (for height and reach), front seat memory settings, electrochromatic rear view mirrors, tinted windows, a power-operated glass sunroof, trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring, 12 volt power outlet, ‘Race timer’ function, an immobiliser and motion-sensing alarm.

As standard, the Australian-delivered C 63 AMG was fitted with a rear axle differential with a 40 per cent locking effect.

From April 2010, the C 63 AMG was fitted with a reversing camera as standard.

Mercedes-Benz W204 C 63 AMG Edition 63

In November 2009, a limited-run ‘Edition 63’ version of the C 63 AMG was released; the Edition 63 was distinguished by its 19-inch DTM-style alloy-wheels with 235/35 R19 front and 255/30 R19 rear tyres, Designo Sand or Designo Classic Red leather, black leather dashboard trim, contrasting colour-coded stitching, blue illuminated door sills and ‘Edition 63’ floor mats. The Edition 63 was also fitted with an AMG rear differential that provided an additional 40 per cent locking effect under load.

Brochure

Brochure: Mercedes W204/S204 C 63 AMG (International) (September 2007)

Review: Mercedes W204.II C 63 AMG (2011-14)