Bad Engine
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5
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From: Philly
02 C32
Bad Engine
Hello Everyone,
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 318
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From: Boston, MA
2004 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by ALLBOOST
Hello Everyone,
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 10
From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
i would take it to a nearby daeler and reproduce the sound. Most of the problems have been with the transmission.
I just had my transmission along with the ecu replaced, due to the jerky shifts from 1 and 2. The jerky shifts are gone, but the tranny is not the most smoothest outthere, I still feel a little jerk from 3rd to 4th. I might have them check it out once more.
Not all dealers provide full service. Example.
I took my car to Newport Beach Fletcher jones MB and told them about the tranny. They test drove and COULD NOT duplicate the shifts. 1 month later, i took it to Caliber Motors MB Anaheim, and they quickly changed my ECu, that didn't work and changed the Tranny.
just my $.02
I just had my transmission along with the ecu replaced, due to the jerky shifts from 1 and 2. The jerky shifts are gone, but the tranny is not the most smoothest outthere, I still feel a little jerk from 3rd to 4th. I might have them check it out once more.
Not all dealers provide full service. Example.
I took my car to Newport Beach Fletcher jones MB and told them about the tranny. They test drove and COULD NOT duplicate the shifts. 1 month later, i took it to Caliber Motors MB Anaheim, and they quickly changed my ECu, that didn't work and changed the Tranny.
just my $.02
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 1
C32 AMG
Allboost: What does the noise sounds like? Could it be a bad tensioner bearing?
MB top end is very robust. I have yet to hear or see anyone having problems with it.
Can you reproduce the noise in neutral? Does it go up with RPM? Do you have low oil pressure light on?
MB top end is very robust. I have yet to hear or see anyone having problems with it.
Can you reproduce the noise in neutral? Does it go up with RPM? Do you have low oil pressure light on?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, California
C32 AMG
Originally Posted by ALLBOOST
Hello Everyone,
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
I hate for this to be my first post. I have had my C32 for 2 months now. The car is all stock, has good full oil and always runs on super gas. I drive it a little hard but far from beating it. After getting off 95 going about 80 MPH in the 95 degree heat the engine started rapping loudly from the top end. The car has 38K and about 8,000 miles on the last dealer oil service. Has anyone had a similar problem or is there a common weak link in these engines? Im so glad it is still under warranty but now Im wondering if I should consider keeping the car as the warranty experation approaches. I love this car but Im very sceptical of Chry/MB quality at this point. Dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any info, JP
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5
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From: Philly
02 C32
Guys,
Thanks for the replies. The engine raps at idle and drive and increases with rpms, with a deff metalic sound. I am suprised that no one else has seen this problem? I will keep everyone posted as to what the dealer finds. Coincedently I was looking at an 01 M5 the other day but I always thought the AMG motor was better. This might make it an easy decision
Thanks for the replies. The engine raps at idle and drive and increases with rpms, with a deff metalic sound. I am suprised that no one else has seen this problem? I will keep everyone posted as to what the dealer finds. Coincedently I was looking at an 01 M5 the other day but I always thought the AMG motor was better. This might make it an easy decision
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Originally Posted by ALLBOOST
Guys,
Thanks for the replies. The engine raps at idle and drive and increases with rpms, with a deff metalic sound. I am suprised that no one else has seen this problem? I will keep everyone posted as to what the dealer finds. Coincedently I was looking at an 01 M5 the other day but I always thought the AMG motor was better. This might make it an easy decision
Thanks for the replies. The engine raps at idle and drive and increases with rpms, with a deff metalic sound. I am suprised that no one else has seen this problem? I will keep everyone posted as to what the dealer finds. Coincedently I was looking at an 01 M5 the other day but I always thought the AMG motor was better. This might make it an easy decision
Good call. 
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
2000 BMW M5
I have never seen or heard of a problem with the top end of these motors. I'm in a fairly large dealership enviornment so I think if it was a problem I would have heard about it by now.
05C55- Lightning package?? Awesome, let lightning strike when you go WOT!!
05C55- Lightning package?? Awesome, let lightning strike when you go WOT!!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5
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From: Philly
02 C32
Just got word back from the dealer. They were not very forth coming with much info but here is what they said. "There was a blockage in an oil passage which caused the rocker arm, cam , and poss lifter (s) to fail." Some what disappointing to here, this car has not been beaten or seen any track events but it sounds like no one is having any of these problems so Im going to try not to worry about it.
-JP
-JP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,511
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From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
This is a nice dose of reality to be diligent with oil changes. Do you know if the correct oil was being used? A blocked oil passage - but due to sludge, or from 'foreign' matter? (sorry for the bad pun).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,645
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From: San Diego
2002 C32 Black/Charcoal
Originally Posted by 05C55
Yeah one bad C32 motor would definetly steer me into an M5, who coincidentally is the same division of the same manufacturer of the oh so stout and robust S54 for the M3. Good call.
Good call. If you are looking for reliability, go Toyota/Lexus (SC430) or Honda/Acura (NSX), not MBZ and not BMW.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,511
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From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
And even then you're not totally in the clear - in the snow belt states Honda and Acura cars continue to rust in the same place - where the rear bumber meets the rear quarter - very early. Lexus continues with their silent campaign to fix their V8s with the wrong main journals installed. The cars ping at idle - but its actually a rod knock. Only one thing is for sure - if it's mechanical... it'll break, maybe.
There was also a certain range of current model M3s that had journal problems - another silent campaign by an OEM.
There was also a certain range of current model M3s that had journal problems - another silent campaign by an OEM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Philly
02 C32
This car is up to date on all dealer recommended oil changes (mobile one). According to the dealer the car was sold at their facility and all scheduled maintence was done on time by them. They did not say anything about the oil quality but guessed it was a factory defect in the oiling journal of one of the replaced lifters or cam. Anyhow Im not going to lable C32's as unreliable yet, it is such a great car I would not consider a Jap car in place of it.
05C55,
I was looking at M5's before the AMG motor went. Thanks for the old info on the E46 engine problems, I will now base all my decisions about BMW engines based on that
05C55,
I was looking at M5's before the AMG motor went. Thanks for the old info on the E46 engine problems, I will now base all my decisions about BMW engines based on that
