Mercedes-AMG C63: performance, engines and what owners say

Mercedes-AMG C63 W204 in Iridium Silver, AI illustration

Pictured: the W204 C63 (2012).

C63 AMG W204 · 2008–2014

451horsepower

3.90–60 mph, sec

155mph top speed

Hand-built 6.2 V8, no turbos. 451 hp, 510 in the Black Series.

C63 Sedan W205 · 2015–2021

469horsepower

4.00–60 mph, sec

155mph top speed

4.0 twin-turbo V8, rear-drive. 503 hp in the C63 S.

C63 S E Performance W206 · 2024–2025

671horsepower

3.00–60 mph, sec

155mph top speed

2.0 turbo four plus rear e-motor. 671 hp, all-wheel drive.

W204 C63 · 2008–2015

How fast is the W204 C63?

Sedan, Coupe, 2008–2015. 0–60 times are magazine tests where we have one, otherwise the maker's figure.

C63 AMG

2008–2014

451 hpat 6,800 rpm (the 2014 brochure says 6,500)

Torque: 443 lb-ftat 5,000 rpm
0–60 mph: 3.9 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 4.3 s
Top speed: 155 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, rear-driveAMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS; SPEEDSHIFT MCT from 2012
Weight: 3,860 lblisted with the Car and Driver test
Price new: $53,8002008, plus $825 destination

Sources

AMG Development Package

2010–2013

481 hp

Engine changes raise output to 481 hp and the speed limiter to 174 mph.

0–60 mph: 3.9 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 4.3 s
Top speed: 174 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, rear-drive

Sources

C63 AMG Coupe

2012–2015

451 hp

Torque: 443 lb-ft
0–60 mph: 3.7 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 4.4 s
Gearbox: 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive
Weight: 3,870 lblisted with the Car and Driver test
Price new: $62,3302013 (earliest MBUSA price found), before destination

Sources

C63 AMG Black Series Coupe

2012

510 hp

Torque: 457 lb-ft
0–60 mph: 3.7 sMotorTrend test · Maker: 4.2 s
Top speed: 186 mph
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, rear-drive
Weight: 3,770 lblisted with the MotorTrend test
Price new: $105,000before destination

Sources

C63 AMG Edition 507

2014

507 hpat 6,800 rpm

Forged pistons, new rods and a lighter crankshaft from the SLS AMG add 56 hp.

Torque: 450 lb-ftat 5,200 rpm
0–60 mph: 3.9 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 4.1 s
Top speed: 174 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive
Weight: 3,924 lbsedan and coupe
Price new: $70,0002014 sedan ($72,500 coupe), plus $925 destination

Sources

The engine: Mercedes-AMG M156

Mercedes-AMG M156 engine, AI illustration

6.2-liter V8, naturally aspirated

Output451–510 hp, up to 457 lb-ft

Bore x stroke102.2 x 94.6 mm, 6,208 cc (sold as 6.3)

Cylinder boresTwin-wire-arc-sprayed coating, twice as hard as cast iron

ValvetrainBucket followers with hydraulic lifters

Engine's YouTube owner tone 43/100 · #3 of 3 C63 engines (videos about the Mercedes-AMG M156 in every car that uses it, so it differs from this car's own tone below)

Mercedes-AMG M156 engine page →

Why the engine page shows fewer: it counts only the 49 owner complaints and 0 recalls for 2008–2015 that name this engine or a version that only had it. This page counts all 18 complaints and 0 recall campaigns NHTSA files under "Amg C63" for those years, other engines included.

Known issues

Cylinder head boltsMaker bulletin
Head bolts can stretch and snap on engines up to serial 060658 (built to about mid-2010), letting coolant into the cylinders. Mercedes covered it in an April 2011 bulletin.
Fix: Replace all head bolts and the hydraulic lifters; many owners fit studs.
Camshaft and lifter wearMaker bulletin
Intake cam lobes can wear into the lifters, often near 100,000 miles, with clatter at cold start. Mercedes acknowledged the wear in a 2009 bulletin; a U.S. class action over it did not proceed.
Fix: Replace worn camshafts and lifters, and change the oil often.
Intake manifoldParts seller
The center plate of the magnesium intake manifold, which holds the throttle bodies, deteriorates and causes rough running at idle.
Fix: Replace the manifold or fit a center-plate repair kit.
Crankcase breather valveParts seller
The breather valve diaphragm or its hose cracks, raising oil burning and setting a P0170 fuel trim code.
Fix: Replace the breather valve; the intake manifold has to come off.

Engine sources

What owners say on YouTube

49This car's YouTube owner tone, out of 100 · #3 of 3 generations · videos about this generation only (the engine's tone above covers every car with that engine)

Owners praise

Looks23%

Handling and steering21%

Power and acceleration20%

Interior and seats16%

Owners complain about

Coolant leaks / water pump / overheating7%

Head bolts7%

Oil leaks (gaskets, seals, housings)6%

Lifters / AFM / cam phasers / Hemi tick5%

Share of the 177 most-watched W204 C63 videos that praise or criticize each topic (a praise or trouble word near it in the title or transcript).

Most-watched videos

BMW M3 vs Mercedes C63 AMG vs Audi RS4 - Top Gear - BBCTop Gear · 13.4M views

2014 Audi RS5 vs 2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 507 Coupe! - Head 2 Head Ep. 51MotorTrend Channel · 9.3M views

Should you buy a W204 C63?

New, the C63 AMG cost $53,800 (2008, plus $825 destination).
YouTube likes the 2015 best (56/100).
Maker fix: Cylinder head bolts. Replace all head bolts and the hydraulic lifters; many owners fit studs.
Maker fix: Camshaft and lifter wear. Replace worn camshafts and lifters, and change the oil often.
Repair costs: we don't have owner-reported repair costs for the C63 yet.

Sources

W205 C63 · 2015–2022

How fast is the W205 C63?

Sedan, Coupe, Convertible, 2015–2022. 0–60 times are magazine tests where we have one, otherwise the maker's figure.

C63 Sedan

2015–2021

469 hpat 5,500–6,250 rpm

Torque: 479 lb-ftat 1,750–4,500 rpm
0–60 mph: 4.0 smaker figure
Top speed: 155 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive9-speed MCT from 2019
Weight: 3,924 lb2017
Price new: $63,9002015, plus $925 destination

Sources

C63 S Sedan

2015–2018

503 hpat 5,500–6,250 rpm

Torque: 516 lb-ftat 1,750–4,500 rpm
0–60 mph: 3.9 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 3.9 s
Top speed: 180 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive
Weight: 3,935 lb2017
Price new: $71,9002015, plus $925 destination

Sources

C63 S Sedan

2019–2021

503 hpat 5,500–6,250 rpm

Facelift: 9-speed MCT replaces the 7-speed.

Torque: 516 lb-ftat 2,000–4,500 rpm
0–60 mph: 3.7 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 3.8 s
Top speed: 180 mphlimited
Gearbox: 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive
Weight: 3,900 lb2020, maker estimate
Price new: $74,6002019, plus $995 destination

Sources

C63 S Coupe

2017–2022

503 hpat 5,500–6,250 rpm (2017 sheet: 6,200)

Torque: 516 lb-ftat 1,750–4,500 rpm
0–60 mph: 3.8 sCar and Driver test · Maker: 3.8 s
Top speed: 180 mphlimited
Gearbox: 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, rear-drive9-speed MCT from 2019
Weight: 4,096 lb2017, maker figure
Price new: $75,0002017, plus $925 destination

Sources

The engine: Mercedes-AMG M177

Mercedes-AMG M177 engine, AI illustration

4.0-liter V8, twin-turbo

Redline7,000 rpm

Output469–503 hp, 479–516 lb-ft

TurbosTwo turbos inside the V ("hot inside V")

Bore x stroke83.0 x 92.0 mm, 3,982 cc

Engine's YouTube owner tone 55/100 · #1 of 3 C63 engines (videos about the Mercedes-AMG M177 in every car that uses it, so it differs from this car's own tone below)

Mercedes-AMG M177 engine page →

Why the engine page shows fewer: it counts only the 50 owner complaints and 7 recalls for 2015–2022 that name this engine or a version that only had it. This page counts all 21 complaints and 22 recall campaigns NHTSA files under "Amg C63" for those years, other engines included.