Mercedes-benz C63 AMG Estate
A major service and a minor repair are done. So what’s next?
I’M NOW SIX MONTHS INTO C63 ownership and to my delight I’m yet to receive a wallet-crushing Amgbranded bill. With the previous owner having covered only a couple of thousand miles in R55 AWP in the year prior to me purchasing it, my 800-miles-per-month average could well have been an excellent way to bring underlying issues to the surface, but thankfully nothing has reared its head yet.
A recent run from Lincolnshire down to Goodwood put the car’s long distance and practical estate abilities to the test. Despite ongoing sound system issues, the cruise control, comfortable seats and that torquerich M156 made motorway cruising a pleasure. I even managed to achieve a 25mpg average on the motorway stretches, but the sound of the V8 was just a little too good on those tree-lined Sussex roads for it to stay that way.
The car performed flawlessly for the entire trip, but a run-in with a poorly loaded gravel truck on my return cost me a foglight. Though still operational, a crack in the glass called for a completely new unit, setting me back a notinconsiderable £140. At least this was partly offset by the UK’S fuel supply nightmare a couple of months ago, which reduced journeys in the C63 to a minimum as I tried to eke out what petrol I still had in the tank. Fuel shortages and a 6.2-litre engine aren’t entirely compatible, but thankfully spontaneous B-road blasts were soon back on the menu.
The C63 has also now undergone a major service with AMG specialist MB Automotive in Loughborough. The previous owner used the same outfit, and keen to avoid full main dealer prices I thought I’d follow the same path. A reasonable £400 later and the C63 was ready to go, with very few issues to note. A corroded gearbox sump pan and a minor oil leak may require attention next year, but neither are expected to be costly fixes.
The folk at MB Automotive did note uneven wear on the current set of tyres, likely due to less-than-ideal alignment. To ensure the same doesn’t happen to the incoming set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres I intend to get a full geometry overhaul next. The thought of adding a limited-slip differential has also been lingering, but the important stuff comes first…
Date acquired May 2021 Total mileage 48,385 Mileage this month 756 Cost this month £642 (see text) mpg this month 18.0