REDLINE ALLEYMercedes AMG C 63 W204 buying guide
2007 to 2015. A W204 C 63 suits a keen driver who wants the 6.2 V8 and will pay for a specialist inspection before buying.
Big jobs
- M156 cylinder head bolts (2008 to 2011). On early cars the head bolts can break and let the head gasket fail, which wrecks the engine. PistonHeads calls it rare and more common in the USA, and the facelift fixed the weak bolts.
- Camshaft lobe and lifter wear. Cam lobes can wear when the lifters fail, mainly on early cars, and the fix is a top end rebuild.
- Sticking injectors. An injector that sticks open can flood a cylinder with fuel, and the hydraulic lock can break a conrod.
- MCT gearbox cooling (facelift cars). The facelift bumper restricts airflow, so the MCT gearbox is more prone to overheating in hard driving. The fix with genuine parts can pass 5,000 pounds.
Workshop jobs
- Intake manifold leak and oil use. A rough idle can mean a leaking intake manifold. Oil use runs high, so the level needs checking often.
- Suspension, steering and brakes. Dampers leak, high km cars need new bushes, and a knock over bumps can be slack in the steering rack. Performance Pack discs are expensive.
- Crash damage and seat wear. Rear drive cars with big power are prone to accidents, so check carefully for crash damage. The front seat bolsters wear from getting in and out.
Questions for the seller
- Has the head bolt or camshaft work been done, and is there an invoice?
- Is it pre facelift with the 7G-Tronic or a facelift car with the MCT gearbox?
- Does it have the limited slip diff or the Performance Package?
- Has it done track days or been tuned?
- Has the engine and gearbox software been updated?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-05. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.