I had posted about my oil leak earlier this week, after originally be diagnosed as an upper pan leak, they looked more into and feel it is the bedplate; this is an idny shop who specializes in MBs, BMWs, Porsches, etc; I paused on the repair b/c I purchased the car within the last 2 months with 28600mi on the odo. I knowing purchased the car with out a warranty (was eligible), and understood the risks, from an independent dealer; I'm not happy but fortunately I can deal with it. I work in the car business and buy for a very large wholesale operation so I do have some connections. The selling dealer (local to me) has been very accommodating to help make the situation right. The will car be in route (going up on a rollback) this afternoon to the selling dealer's shop, who also inspects all of this dealer's inventory (and other dealers I know) cars. The shop has an excellent reputation with experience fixing this issue, the owner actually told me it was quite common.

I feel it was an honest miss in the inspection b/c the car's engine had been cleaned (purchased from another wholesaler) for the selling dealer's acquired the car. When my shop cleaned the motor and drove the car the next day it was bone dry after - I have put an additional 200 miles on it and am not seeing or smelling any oil....yet - the initial problem didn't start showing the floor until about a month after the purchase. Everyone has been helpful and I feel this will be made right, I know I will come out of pocket, but initial conversations lead me to believe everyone will be throwing in on this one.

I read about this issue in my research, but it didn't look to be that common - little taken back. This is not my first AMG, had an 04 E55 that was flawless .

Will keep this thread updated as the saga progresses.

 

A search on the forum of "bedplate leak" turns up exactly zero hits other than yours. So that's the answer. Not common.

With that said, if it's bone-dry after hundreds of miles, and a huge job to do, but might leave a couple of drips every now and then.... is it a problem that's likely to get worse over time, or can it just be lived with (i.e. is it not critical or likely to dump all of your oil out without warning). Or is it something to address down the road if it gets worse. Serious questions. I'm all for fixing things as they happen, but a drop or two of oil on the floor every couple hundred miles.... given the magnitude of the repair on an 8yo car is it worth it?

Glad your guys are stepping up either way. Hope you get a good resolution.

 

Thanks for the insight - considered waiting on it too - given the fact that all parties are will to help at this point, I am willing to explore it now. He said the last one he did was 4-5k off the top of his head - he intimated to the selling dealer that he could save 2-3k off of that (I am sure there is goodwill here as the dealer is a big client). I like the car - a lot, and plan on not getting rid of it - it has some soul; same reason I still have my R32.

 

Are they sure it's not the upper pan? That leak is common.

 

 

The upper pan is still very difficult to correct. I'm pretty sure that's where my leak is coming from and I'll just try an exterior gasket sealer like this https://www.permatex.com/products/ad...t-leak-repair/ whenever I get around to it.

You can also go to this thread and see a lot of pics of the engine apart. https://classicmotorsports.com/forum...110824/page73/

 

**** UPDATE****

The shop confirmed it is the upper crankcase gasket that is leaking; I will be coming out of pocket for half the cost - significantly better than footing the whole thing. Car should be done at the end of the week and the shop is taking pics to document the repair. Wow, certainly didn't expect this one, but I am over it, looking forward to enjoying it next week. I will post pics of the repair when I get them.

Thanks again for the info!

 

Crankcase and bedplate is the same thing no?

So they'll be removing your engine for the repair?

 

Yes and yes.

 

*** Update ***

I heard from my mechanic today, the story gets more interesting, but the car will be fine and fixed in the end and I will purchasing a warranty (at selling dealers cost) which is surprisingly reasonable, still need to look at the fine print.

- Someone (PO) had previously been in there to fix the initial leak

- The previous tech reinstalled the dowels, that line up the lower crankcase with the bottom of the block, improperly, causing the leak

- This caused some minor damage to the lower crankcase, but is repairable and will not cause any further issues. They also found a hairline crack in the lower crankcase where the oil pump shaft goes through - he is not too happy about it, but it is not possible to source just the lower crankcase from MB. He will be repairing the hairline crack and is confident that the repair will stop any further damage.

- The last, and most alarming find, was that one of the crank bearings moved a little bit (again poor initial repair), they fixed the issue, the crank has no damage.

- As much as this experience has sucked, I feel better that they found the bearing issue, that could have been catastrophic!

- They are waiting on 2 bolts for the bearing caps as they are one use only and apparently tough to find in this country; they should be there tomorrow and they will start the rebuild process.

 

 

My car is getting the same warranty work done. My local MB dealer quoted it at 32 hours of labor and the engine indeed does need to come out to fix it, but ill have my car back this week! ~$8700 of warranty work covered in one trip makes me glad I bought the aftermarket warranty.

 

Good for you, hind sight is 20/20 for me, lol. Did you buy the warranty at the MB dealer and what company is it?

 

The warranty is through USAA. Full coverage. RBFCU wouldn't provide a warranty and I wouldn't buy an aftermarket warranty through a dealer.

 

Yeah, I dont't have any plans to get rid of it - keeper just like my 04 R32; I plan to keep adding if I can...

 

Thx, I am not military so I think I am SOL, but good to know as they are a great company with an awesome reputation.

 

How exactly...? I'm intrigued....

 

Received these pics today; they are in chronological order.

 

 

The motor has been cracked open once before by some monkey.

 

And I think that it what caused your oil leak issues.

 

No, the bearing issues. Read the thread, it was opened up before to fix a leak and likely not re-assembled very well.

 

I picked up the car today - ran fine on the way home (about 40 miles).

Whoever did the previous repair, reused all of the original stretch bolts . That, plus reinstalling the dowels wrong caused the leak and the bearing to start to spin.

Will post in more detail, just catching up on work.

 

Start to spin ?

Although the mains pic isn't entirely conclusive, they don't look all that bad to me....

What was the thing that made the tech say the mains were showing to spin or showing signs of wear?

 

One of the bearings started to move, slight movement; happy it was caught
.