Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe (C217)

Why this car

The C217 S63 Coupe in the facelift form catalogued here applies AMG's 4.0-litre M177 twin-turbo V8 to the S-Class two-door, producing 612 bhp and 900 Nm of torque for a run to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a 300 km/h top speed with all-wheel drive, while the earlier 577 bhp rear-drive M157 car remains the purist context. It combines the M177's effortless torque with the S-Class's ride and cabin, and its Magic Body Control suspension scans the road ahead to prepare the dampers for bumps. A V12 S65 sibling offered more cylinders, but the V8 car is the sweeter ownership proposition.

We have not driven this model for this article. The assessment below draws on Mercedes-Benz media material for the S-Class coupe and the PistonHeads used buying guide for the W222 S-Class generation. The PistonHeads guide concentrates on the saloon, so some observations reflect the wider model family; treat both sources as inspection prompts for the individual example rather than predictions that every S63 Coupe will behave the same way.

Engine and drivetrain

The M177 shares its architecture with the engine in the W213 E63 S, and the same inspection logic applies: the turbocharger oil-feed pipes were subject to a recall covering cars built between August 2018 and April 2019, and completion of that campaign is a buying condition. The seven-speed torque-converter gearbox can develop valve-body and conductor-plate issues, felt as harsh two-three shifts, for which software updates exist. The weak auxiliary battery that supports the start-stop system fails and disables functions, an inexpensive but annoying fix. Timing chain tensioners and check valves on the related M278 engine family can rattle, and a service bulletin addresses them, so listening to a cold start matters.

Chassis, body and equipment

Magic Body Control and the air suspension transform the ride, but the system is complex and its components are costly, so a level-standing car that rises and falls on command is essential. Wheels on the generation are known to crack on poor roads. The sunroof panels on some cars detached under recall, another campaign to verify. The S63 was among the first cars with entirely LED lighting and offered Road Surface Scan as a technology showcase. Inside, the two-door cabin carries the S-Class's equipment and its luxurious materials.

Technology and the S-Class inheritance

The C217 coupe shares its electrical architecture with the W222 saloon, which arrived as the first production car with no conventional bulbs in its lighting system, every function handled by LEDs. Road Surface Scan uses a stereo camera to read the road ahead and instructs the suspension to pre-set each damper before a wheel reaches a defect, a system that transforms rough-road comfort but adds cameras, wiring and control modules to the used inspection. The Comand infotainment system can shut down or go blank, usually a software or module fault rather than a terminal one, but the repair cost is dealership-level. The W222 also received airbag recalls in July 2017 and seatbelt recalls that apply across the family, so the DVSA check is a first-order diligence step rather than a formality.

The case for the V8 over the V12

The S65 AMG used a twin-turbo V12 with 621 bhp and enough torque to make the coupe genuinely rapid, but the V8 car is the more balanced ownership proposition: lighter over the front axle, cheaper to service, and with a character that suits the grand-touring brief. The M177 V8 has known weak points, as any AMG engine does, but they are documented and inspectable, whereas the V12 adds complexity without adding proportionate enjoyment on the road. For a buyer who wants effortless pace in a two-door cabin, the S63 is the pick of the range.

The coupe body and cabin

The C217 body drops the B-pillar for frameless side glass, which gives the cabin an open, pillarless feel but places extra loads on the door seals and window regulators. The doors are long and heavy, and the seats fold forward for rear access with a dignity that suits the car. Inside, the cabin carries the full S-Class equipment list, from the analogue clock to the Burmester audio, and the build quality is the point: this is a car engineered to feel the same at year ten as at year one. The wheels are a known weak point, cracking on rough roads, and the sunroof panels were subject to a recall after some separated at speed. The Comand system can shut down or go blank, a software-level fault rather than a hardware one.

The running-cost picture

PistonHeads records the independent specialist consensus on the W222-generation S-Class: timing chain tensioners and check valves can rattle on the related M278 petrol V8, with a service bulletin covering the concern, and the turbo oil feed pipe recall of August 2018 to April 2019 applies directly to this car. The 7G-Tronic valve body and conductor plate can produce harsh second-to-third shifts that a software update usually cures, and the stop-start system's small auxiliary battery is a frequent no-start source mistaken for a main battery failure. Magic Body Control remains an expensive option to maintain where fitted, with conventional AIRMATIC the cheaper long-term path.

Buying and values

Values for the coupe hold above those of the saloon, with the most desirable cars combining a full service history, completed recall campaigns, healthy suspension and unmarked wheels. The car suits an owner who wants speed delivered without effort, and its running costs are those of a large luxury car rather than a sports car. No present valuation, investment assurance or universal failure rate is offered. We have not driven this model for this article.