Looking at a 17 GT
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 282
From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
Spent nearly $2k on PPI's before finding the one. Leaking head gaskets, blown shocks, oil overfills, and straight up water in the dry sump - all bullets dodged thanks to the PPI on otherwise seemingly great candidates. These cars are getting just cheap enough to be more attainable, but that doesn't mean the upkeep is cheap if something goes wrong, or people don't want to pay for the bare minimum maintenance.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,515
Likes: 6,350
THIS. Unless you're purchasing from an MB dealer, or a place like Carmax that has a solid initial out the door warranty, PPI PPI PPI PPI. Tip two...get a PPI! Spent nearly $2k on PPI's before finding the one. Leaking head gaskets, blown shocks, oil overfills, and straight up water in the dry sump - all bullets dodged thanks to the PPI on otherwise seemingly great candidates. These cars are getting just cheap enough to be more attainable, but that doesn't mean the upkeep is cheap if something goes wrong, or people don't want to pay for the bare minimum maintenance.
Spent nearly $2k on PPI's before finding the one. Leaking head gaskets, blown shocks, oil overfills, and straight up water in the dry sump - all bullets dodged thanks to the PPI on otherwise seemingly great candidates. These cars are getting just cheap enough to be more attainable, but that doesn't mean the upkeep is cheap if something goes wrong, or people don't want to pay for the bare minimum maintenance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 282
From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
You can enter the VIN directly on MB's website to search if the unit you're looking at has had or needs any potential recall issues addressed. Unlikely you'll see anything on a 2017, barring a potential software communication update.
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 475
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
2001 E55AMG
THIS. Unless you're purchasing from an MB dealer, or a place like Carmax that has a solid initial out the door warranty, PPI PPI PPI PPI. Tip two...get a PPI! Spent nearly $2k on PPI's before finding the one. Leaking head gaskets, blown shocks, oil overfills, and straight up water in the dry sump - all bullets dodged thanks to the PPI on otherwise seemingly great candidates. These cars are getting just cheap enough to be more attainable, but that doesn't mean the upkeep is cheap if something goes wrong, or people don't want to pay for the bare minimum maintenance.
Spent nearly $2k on PPI's before finding the one. Leaking head gaskets, blown shocks, oil overfills, and straight up water in the dry sump - all bullets dodged thanks to the PPI on otherwise seemingly great candidates. These cars are getting just cheap enough to be more attainable, but that doesn't mean the upkeep is cheap if something goes wrong, or people don't want to pay for the bare minimum maintenance.Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 32
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From: Simsbury, Connecticut U.S.
2016 AMG GTS, 2018 Volvo V90, 1956 Ford F500, BMW R1150R
Let's make something crystal clear. The transmission "issue" has never been publicly identified. The "what is broken" has been identified. The "why it broke" different story. The 16 and 17 transmissions are identical. Literally. Same all the way through the latest generation. The 17's have the same radial shaft seals keeping clutch fluid in the shaft bearing, and the gear oil out. The seals themselves are actually two parts and can be separated. They can fail in a multitude of ways. It's not a matter of if, but when, with any radial shaft seal. The 16's in particular had an issue with bearing creep. There is a small retainer ring that should reside in a super small channel next to the bearing and keeping it from sliding laterally. If that clip isn't in its seat, the bearing pushes on the gearbox-side seal enough where it is no longer sealing the tiny slit that is directly in the middle of it, around the seal's seat - causing the leak. Was the clip not installed correctly? Why is it out of it's seat? More questions than answers. When Loctite 648 is used on the bearing walls against the casing, it's locked in and my sources (think racing techs and Ferrari technicians) have said they never saw the bearing creep again even if the retaining clip somehow pops out. Even if the bearing doesn't creep laterally and push the seal, radial shaft seals wear. A drip or two is fine. A puddle is no bueno!
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,515
Likes: 6,350
Let's make something crystal clear. The transmission "issue" has never been publicly identified. The "what is broken" has been identified. The "why it broke" different story. The 16 and 17 transmissions are identical. Literally. Same all the way through the latest generation. The 17's have the same radial shaft seals keeping clutch fluid in the shaft bearing, and the gear oil out. The seals themselves are actually two parts and can be separated. They can fail in a multitude of ways. It's not a matter of if, but when, with any radial shaft seal. The 16's in particular had an issue with bearing creep. There is a small retainer ring that should reside in a super small channel next to the bearing and keeping it from sliding laterally. If that clip isn't in its seat, the bearing pushes on the gearbox-side seal enough where it is no longer sealing the tiny slit that is directly in the middle of it, around the seal's seat - causing the leak. Was the clip not installed correctly? Why is it out of it's seat? More questions than answers. When Loctite 648 is used on the bearing walls against the casing, it's locked in and my sources (think racing techs and Ferrari technicians) have said they never saw the bearing creep again even if the retaining clip somehow pops out. Even if the bearing doesn't creep laterally and push the seal, radial shaft seals wear. A drip or two is fine. A puddle is no bueno!
