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After doing abit of searching around and finding mixed comments in regards to the valve cover on the M156 Engine from the C63.. i want to confirm what are the real difference between a M156 engine that has the black valve cover and one that has a silver cover?
from forums and posts people mention that Black valve cover is supposed to be fixed with better head studs as to the engines with silver however i dont believe this is true, i also read that apparently black is suppose to be on all 2011+ models however i went to have a look on a car sales website with all models ranging from 09 - 2013 and i can only find ONE C63 AMG with a black valve cover?
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
The picture you posted is an Intake Manifold and not a valve cover. The darker (titanium grey) intake manifold is part of the Performance Package or Development Package cars commonly referred to as P31 package cars.
Yes at some point the valve covers were changed from aluminum to black plastic. It has been mentioned this change may have taken place when the head bolts and cam followers were upgraded. Not sure of this exact timing myself.
My understanding is that in Australia the cosmetic changes to the M156 motor (as used in the C63 at least) went something like this:
- early ie original M156 motors from 2008 onwards had silver valve covers and silver manifold
- sometime in late 2010 builds black valve covers began to appear.
- by the time the facelift versions appeared here in early 2012 valve covers on both "standard" (336KW) and performance pack (358KW) motors were now black, but the performance pack motors now had dark grey manifolds rather than the silver colour.
While timing would suggest the appearance of the black valve covers signalled the new head bolts were in use I personally would err on the side of caution and rely upon the engine number were I trying to pick which engine to go for (or avoid).
There is a range of engine numbers for those engines "afflicted" with the old head bolt design that is widely quoted in various forums (though of course as per all "facts" quoted on the Internet this engine range could arguably be just as reliable as the "black valve covers = new head bolt design" claim).
Last edited by JimmyR; 10-23-2014 at 10:27 PM.
Reason: typos
As Mort mentioned the darker intake manifold translates into performance package. Therefore you can have PP engines affected by the headbolt issue.
Darker valve cover generally means the engine is no more in the affected range with updated headbolts. But this is no 100% sure.
My understanding is that in Australia the cosmetic changes to the M156 motor (as used in the C63 at least) went something like this:
- early ie original M156 motors from 2008 onwards had silver valve covers and silver manifold
- sometime in late 2010 builds black valve covers began to appear.
- by the time the facelift versions appeared here in early 2012 valve covers on both "standard" (336KW) and performance pack (358KW) motors were now black, but the performance pack motors now had dark grey manifolds rather than the silver colour.
While timing would suggest the appearance of the black valve covers signalled the new head bolts were in use I personally would err on the side of caution and rely upon the engine number were I trying to pick which engine to go for (or avoid).
There is a range of engine numbers for those engines "afflicted" with the old head bolt design that is widely quoted in various forums (though of course as per all "facts" quoted on the Internet this engine range could arguably be just as reliable as the "black valve covers = new head bolt design" claim).
Thanks Jimmy, It's odd.. you see after going on carsales.com.au and looking out for the different models i focused on the 2012+ models which had the PP and they still have the silver intake manifold and not the dark grey... so i'm a little confused. for face lift cars there are two options correct me if im wrong but there is PP and PPP... the dark grey cover i saw was from a car that had just the performance pack so why is it the only car with a black intake manifold :S
Could be just the quality of the photo ie the "dark grey" manifold of the PP motors does not look dark in the photo?
I am not aware of PP and PPP in Australia. In the UK you see reference to PP and PP+.Please don't shoot me down in flames but I believe this meant the Performance Pack = brakes/suspension/cosmetic changes and the LSD, while the Performance Pack Plus = the high output motor (lightened internals etc) in addition to the above but minus the LSD as standard.
Could be just the quality of the photo ie the "dark grey" manifold of the PP motors does not look dark in the photo?
I am not aware of PP and PPP in Australia. In the UK you see reference to PP and PP+.Please don't shoot me down in flames but I believe this meant the Performance Pack = brakes/suspension/cosmetic changes and the LSD, while the Performance Pack Plus = the high output motor (lightened internals etc) in addition to the above but minus the LSD as standard.
I'm pretty sure there is a big difference man, definitely not a quality of photo issue here... have a look at these two cars and tell me their not the same, both have the performance package and one has a noticeable grey and one is just plain silver like any other for the intake manifold. like i said this is the first one i've ever seen with the dark grey cover so i'm just curious to know whats really different about this car compared to others.. i mean it cant just be a color thing.
There is definitely a color difference between the 2. You can tell as the airboxes are standard silver, but the manifold is that darker grey for the 1 car. Odd. I have no idea what's going on with that.
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
You will have to run the VINs and get the data cards to know the options' list for sure. The one with the lighter intake manifold should not be a P31 or Performance Package car.
In Australia your model year is the calender year (I believe) and in NA it runs from September to September (approximately) with exceptions. This can lead to some confusion when talking model years. If this is true then some Australian 2010s can have the updated head bolts and cam followers from July or August, 2010 build dates forward. Again you have to get the engine number and compare it to the sticky information to know for sure.
My data card specs my car as a P31, but my manifold is the lighter color.
Perhaps the darker one is a U.S. thing.
Well thats what all the other Performance pack cars show " the silver manifold "
i'd say no its not a U.S thing because this is in AU.. im going to ring a dealer and see what they say. i'm really concerned.
SOOO.... i rang the dealer and after some ummms... and ahhhs they just said they dont pay attention really and dont know. maybe ask the salesmen? LOL
Rang up a reputable shop and they said his only seen 507 editions with the dark grey intake manifolds... and so i went on to look online and their all fkn SILVER LOL... shurgs man i give up
I'm pretty sure there is a big difference man, definitely not a quality of photo issue here... have a look at these two cars and tell me their not the same, both have the performance package and one has a noticeable grey and one is just plain silver like any other for the intake manifold. like i said this is the first one i've ever seen with the dark grey cover so i'm just curious to know whats really different about this car compared to others.. i mean it cant just be a colour thing.
I fully agree there is a difference in the 2 cars you have listed. It could be that the Tenorite Grey coupe, which is a 1/2012 compliance ie late 2011 build, is at the mythical transition point from silver to dark grey colouring for the intake manifold of the high output/SLS con rods and pistons/Performance Pack/P31 motor.
An equally likely scenario is that the dealer has simply used a file photo of a standard C63 engine to include in the advertisement. The only reliable way to check would be to lob down there and have a look for yourself - I really don't think you would get a straight answer out of the salesman in a random phone call.
The only facts I can share with you is that I have owned a May 2010 Aus delivered C63 with silver manifold and valve covers x2 and my current car is a Feb 2013 delivered PP optioned C63 with dark grey manifold and black valve covers.
The other fact I can share is that Australia is per capita the highest rate of uptake of AMG vehicles in the world, and that in Australia the number of AMG cars as a percentage of all MB sales is the highest in the world. (Hence the reason MB Germany refers to Australia as "Treasure Island"). This suggests (to me at least) that changes in production for AMG vehicles intended for Australia are likely to be the norm rather than the exception.
I fully agree there is a difference in the 2 cars you have listed. It could be that the Tenorite Grey coupe, which is a 1/2012 compliance ie late 2011 build, is at the mythical transition point from silver to dark grey colouring for the intake manifold of the high output/SLS con rods and pistons/Performance Pack/P31 motor.
An equally likely scenario is that the dealer has simply used a file photo of a standard C63 engine to include in the advertisement. The only reliable way to check would be to lob down there and have a look for yourself - I really don't think you would get a straight answer out of the salesman in a random phone call.
The only facts I can share with you is that I have owned a May 2010 Aus delivered C63 with silver manifold and valve covers x2 and my current car is a Feb 2013 delivered PP optioned C63 with dark grey manifold and black valve covers.
The other fact I can share is that Australia is per capita the highest rate of uptake of AMG vehicles in the world, and that in Australia the number of AMG cars as a percentage of all MB sales is the highest in the world. (Hence the reason MB Germany refers to Australia as "Treasure Island"). This suggests (to me at least) that changes in production for AMG vehicles intended for Australia are likely to be the norm rather than the exception.
You're definitely right on that. I would have to see the car in person myself. I didnt think about the file photos being used for advertising also. this somewhat makes sense. And because you've came across this yourself prior to owning the previous model that clears it up.
I'll go ahead and change the title of the post, i think it will help others also.
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
My 2010 (Canadian C63) with a Feb 2010 order date and April 2010 build date and May 14 2010 Delivery date is an AMG Performance Package (on the window sticker) and it has the darker intake manifold. I think P31 was the MBUSA package reference at the time as mine was referred to as an APX - AMG Performance Package Plus on my sales order from the dealer.
10-23-2014, 07:41 PM
