If you’ve seen any videos from Nick Murray, the host of a car-based YouTube channel, you’d know that he owns a BMW M4 and is actually a very big fan of it. He’s made several videos of his M4, showing it drive through snow, on highways and comparing it to other cars in its class. In his latest video, Murray drives the brand-new Mercedes-AMG C63 S, a direct competitor to the BMW M3/M4.
We read a lot, talk a lot and drive a lot of cars, comparing them and reviewing them. However, it’s rare when you see a review of a car by a reviewer who owns the direct competitor to the very car they’re reviewing. So let’s take a look at what Murray, a very happy M4 owner, thinks about the new AMG.
Probably the biggest takeaway Murray has from the AMG C63 S is that it’s far more comfortable than the M4. The suspension, especially in Comfort mode, is much softer and smoother than the M4, soaking up bumps and being the easier car to live with. The M4 is much harder edged and more sports car-like. Murray also goes as far as to say that the AMG is the nicer car to drive everyday.
It also sounds fantastic, with a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, compared to the M4’s sort of strange sounding twin-turbo I6.The AMG V8 sounds like a proper supercar’s engine and is more exciting to drive. While they are just about as fast as each other on paper, Murray says that the AMG is likely faster in real life by just a bit, thanks to its much higher power output. The AMG makes 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in C63 S guise, while the M4 makes 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, so the M4 is vastly outgunned. Murray claims that you can feel it from behind the wheel.
Murray also goes into how the interior looks and raves about it. The M4 interior is nice and very functional, but the Mercedes-AMG is far nicer, at least to Murray’s eyes. He loves it and points out some of the really nice details that the BMW M4 doesn’t have. However, he doesn’t like the tacky iPad-like nav screen tacked onto the dashboard. Me personally, the nav screen is fun but the column-mounter shifter stalk is ridiculous and does not belong in a Mercedes-AMG.
However, there are some things Murray doesn’t like. One of them being the way it looks. He isn’t the fan of how it looks and feels it’s somewhat boring. In this regard, Murray claims that he likes his BMW M4 much better from the outside. We have to agree.
He also isn’t a big fan of the way it handles. While it rides really well and is far more comfortable than the M4, it simply isn’t as fun to drive. It’s a great car, one that’s super powerful, very fast and has a gorgeous interior. However, it isn’t as fun to drive as his M4, isn’t as good looking as the M4 and overall not the car Murray would buy over the M4. He claims that if he had the choice right now and they were both the same money, he’d buy his BMW M4 all over again.
So there you have it, a BMW M4 owner, who has no strong allegiance to any car brand, would still buy the BMW M4 over the C63 S. The AMG is easier to live with, has more power and a nicer interior. However, it just isn’t as fun as the M4, not as good looking and not as enjoyable to drive. So the M4 it is.
Absolutely love the W205 C63. I’d still pick the M3 just because I’m a BMW guy through and through but the C63 is a very close second, something I couldn’t say with the W204 C63.
i prefer the old c63 to the new one.
Why? The old one was really ugly imo! The new one is just a copy of the S Class. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s ugly… it’s just a smaller S Class.
IMO, the only thing the W204 has on the W205 is the naturally aspirated M156 engine but it’s not like the W205 M177 sounds bad or performs terribly. Everything else, the W205 C63 is leaps ahead of the W204.
yeah i get what you mean :)
“each other o paper”
There’s one thing I admire about the engineers at AMG, and it’s the time and effort they put in to make their cars sound fantastic. Yeah, I know a straight 6 will never sound like a V8, none of BMW’s V8 can touch AMG for emotional sound. A high performance car must sound the part. I guess if you are taking your car to the track very often, the the M4 is the one to get, but the AMG might be the one to get if the car is just a daily driver. That sound!!!
Well, a 6 cylinder vs a 8 Cylinder powerplant, its not even a fair comparison. Mercedes likes displacement, full stop. Its far easier to get more punch, because it has two more cylinders, but the M4 with a I6, is pretty incredible, making over 425 horses, and has over 400 lb/ft of torque. For me, that is more emotional than a V8 Mercedes
Yes, but it’s an engine that’s capable of so much more! They could have tuned it to make 500 hp easily. And they did it with the M4 GTS.
Yes you r 100% right, & they did have an insane 3 litre, isn’t that GTS tune 6 on sale, so owners of 3 and 4 Series, who will like to have Motorsport engines, have a choice to choose between a muscular 3 liter engine, or a Super Duper insane 3 Liter 6. The only thing in here, is that BMW choose not to add 2 more cylinders but the end result is the same.
Come on… Mercedes 2.0 liters 4l makes 386 horses. Be realistic man, m4 sounds like crap and the v8 it really sounds good. This tells you someone who is working for bmw, not a Mercedes fan of.
Yes, I know, but isn’t that the CLA AMG which has been known to be the most problematic car in the planet
How did you came to the conclusion that cla45 is the most problematic car on the planet? If you knew bmw problems as I know…
Ah… Consumer Report, I like CLA AMG 45, its not bad, but Consumer Report has it, it is by far the worst, not the worst Mercedes, the worst car. If I recall correctly, they have 4 times more problems than industry average. I am not sure, its engine related, but it seems to be the chassis.
Well here in Europe Mercedes is third best rated car for reliability and the bmw it’s one of the the worst cars for relativity. Just Google bmw n47 and you will understand. I saw M3 with 40.000 km with engine broken, I saw a lot of v10 from e60 with low mileage with the engine broke and recently I saw a f10 m5 with the engine broken. Bmw engines are not reliable at all. I feel bad about that, but it’s the truth.
Thanks for the info, but I expect cars in here are going to have tons of problems, way worse than Europe. Why? Incline, decline, narrow curvy, bumpy roads, not that we don’t have straights, but its usually packed with buses, taxis, and tons of Traffic Lights…
Same old story. Dynamically the M4 is superior but this time round it would seem the C63 is a whole lot closer than in the past. I also agree with Nick on the looks, the M4 is just stunning in comparison, even years later.
Good that you’ve only showed pics from the front of the c-class, because the rear is a pain to look at :O
“Probably the biggest takeaway Murray has from the AMG C63 S is that it’s far more comfortable than the M4.”
Come on! People are complaining on this forum everyday that newer BMWs are too soft etc. so who gives a damn shit on comfort in such a car? Yes, M-cars are made for daily driving, but still it has to have that pure M feeling everyone wants it to have! The interior looks is maybe a question of choice..but have u ever used the crap Merc infotainmaint system? Its nowhere close to BMWs iDrive, having this everyday is not comfortable its just annoying!
Exactly Max, the rear is a real pain to look at, and to be a man, you won’t look comfortable to drive that thingie around, because we have to pretend to be females. The Command System versus the iDrive, is not even a comparison, Mercedes still hasn’t got past the prototype stage, because BMW is way more in command in that category, the Merc is just eye candy, Audi MMI and iDrive are head and shoulders above them. As for comfort, good luck on the Merc, its going to be BOUNCY, unless you like the AMG BOUNCE, stay the hell away from it.
I am kind of surprised that people rated AMG 63S more comfy, I wouldn’t be too sure. I don’t own the 63S, but mine should be very close in terms of suspension and wheels & tires configuration. Sorry to crash the party, but I have to confirm, no matter, which way I set the W205 AMG, Comfort does not exist. The experience is similar to a review written by Car & Driver. The ride is just weird, and yes it wears Summer Runflats, or may I call it bouncy, the psi setting recommendation is at ridiculous 44 at the back, but even if I lower it, its still like riding the horse. The upcoming tire change, I am going to use Michelin Super Sport, may be the ride will be as smooth as a camel, I hope. So you guys praise the Merc, & the transmission lever on the side plus that spa?tic Brake Hold. Oh Dear, BMW is way better.
REALLY NICE REVIEW!!! reality check for all ignorant bmw fanboys