AmyC

Hi G63 fans! So I was heading for a movie marathon night at a friend's place on Friday night. She lives in a condo complex with secured underground parking. Since I was spending the night, I decided to park my new G63 in her underground garage. As I entered her garage, I noticed that the height clearance level was "6.5 ft" (i.e., 78.0 inches) as labeled on the overhead white plastic tube bar we are all familiar with at indoor garages. I knew it would be tight, but figured I should be able to clear it given that the G63 has a height of 6.45 ft (i.e., 77.4 inches). I know this because I keep my car's specifications readily available on my phone. I proceeded slowly and... OOPs, the tube rubbed against the top of my roof.

The following day my friend and I measured the height of the overhead tube bar. It was indeed an exact 78.0" (we actually had fun goofing around and hanging a pendulum then measuring the string to ensure accuracy) . After some deliberations, I decided to check the tire pressure on my car's dashboard electronic monitor - my first time doing it since I purchased the vehicle. My G63 is fitted with the factory Pirelli Scorpion 295/40 for R22s. All 4 tires reflected a PSI of 45. I then cross referenced with the factory recommended PSI inside of my fuel cap opener, which states the recommended PSI for the front tires (38 PSI) and rear tires (35 PSI). I reduced my tire pressure to the factory's listed recommendations. Lo and behold - my G63 was then able to clear the tube. It was extremely close, but it cleared.

There was zero damage to my vehicle's roof, but I called my dealer to notify him of the incident. After checking with his service department, he said that they typically inflate all new G class tires up to 45 psi when they prep new vehicles for buyer pickup. He said that may be the source for the slight variation in height. In retrospect, I suppose over-inflated tires do give the buyer more of a new car feel when driving it off the lot?

No harm done, but it's an additional piece of information that I'm learning/accumulating about my new G63. To be honest, I'm not even certain tire pressures would raise or lower the actual height of the vehicle, but I just wanted to share my real life experience with the members on this forum. For those of you who regularly use indoor parking, PLEASE memorize the height of your G63 and pay attention to the clearance warning signs.

Have any of you ever had funny (or not so funny) experiences with the height of your G63?

Hope you're all enjoying a safe and fun holiday weekend!

nsgymd

Glad that your car was unscathed!

I bumped the PVC pipe at my work garage. It was listed as 80” clearance which was confirmed by me on two occasions. On my first trip to work with my new G, I confidently drove under the PVC pipe only to hear a series of bumps from the roof area. It turns out that the chain holding the PVC had unfurled which lowered the pipe by two inches. Luckily, I had installed paint protection film on the roof so there was no damage.

Bob Z.

iTrader: (1)

I always bring a good tire gauge along when getting a new vehicle, which is essential for motorcycles. Otherwise, we have those tubes in our underground parking garage at our condo and just before we got our last G my wife and I moved 2 of the tubes up by 2 links, which lead to the back row where we park.They are marked as 6'7" but better safe than sorry!

The Butcher

Sounds like the dealership PDI guys are lazy. Instead of checking the door jamb for correct tire pressure they throw 45lbs in since that will likely keep it well above the TPMS threshold on most MB vehicles. Over-inflated tires might net you a little better gas mileage, but performance (grip) and tear wear can potentially be affected. Glad your G was unscathed during this experiment!

Hodog16

Glad to hear your vehicle is okay but agree it’s lazy for a dealer to inflate to 45, especially with the ADM you paid!

AmyC

Hahaha... @Hotdog16, you're so right. With the ADM I paid, all I got (other than the car) was a bunch of AMG merch. For the model, they should change the name from "AMG G63" to "ADM G63". In all honesty, when you're buying a car at this price range, the dealer should know you're not really looking for free merch. What really irritated me was when I went to the dealer's storage to pick up the car, they placed a huge red bow on the hood - maybe because I'm a girl because I can't imagine they would do that for men? I don't mean to sound unappreciative, but a red bow on Night Black Magno???!!! I had them remove it to make sure there were no scuffs to the matte paint before I drove it off the lot.

@TheButcher, dealers do cut corners. In all fairness though, I think dealers want you to drive off with the new car feel and have that feeling for as long as you can. I noticed that I do somehow get a bit of the new car sensation when I drive my other cars after inflating the tires.

One good thing I did learn and have already placed into my notes - my Pirellis are NOT run-flat tires. I was a bit surprised since most new high end vehicles now have run-flat tires as a standard and also to help reduce their potential legal liability. I'm not sure if this is something MB spec'ed only for the G class for performance purposes. Regardless, since this is my first G63, it's good to know early into my ownership.

Be safe!

Hodog16

Right they are not run-flats and be aware they are summer tires, but since you live in SoCal that's not really an issue come winter time, but I try not to drive on them under 45 degree weather, especially if wet.

Also assuming you have the cross-spoke 22's like everybody else, the tool to remove the center cap to get access to the bolts is under the left rear passsenger seat where the jack and tools are. It's a black circular disc that looks like a miniature bundt cake pan lol. You use the grey metal tools that form a T to remove them.

AmyC

@Hodog16 , thank you for the useful info. I was honestly surprised that G63s are not equipped with factory run-flats. I would think a vehicle such as these would've been a no-brainer for MB. The only reason I can think of is perhaps regular tires (not run-flats) somehow help in handling/performance? I'm glad I found out now early into my ownership. Much obliged for the information regarding the existence and tool and its location for removing the center discs - I didn't even know a special "tool" was required...

As you indicated, since I'm in SoCal, I don't think my vehicle will ever see "45 degree weather", unless I take it up into the mountains during ski season.

I've been looking at your past posts and learning quite a bit. I commend you as you seem to be a walking encyclopedia of the G63. Thank you for sharing all of your experiences/knowledge with this forum. My purpose of joining this forum is to learn more about my new G63 from other owners, and to share my own personal purchase/ownership experience as well. You are indeed very knowledgeable and experienced with the G63.

Do you mind sharing why you've had so many G63s? Based on your posts, it seems like you upgrade to a new one every year MB releases a new model. That's very cool, but I don't think I can do that as I have a tendency to get sentimentally attached to my vehicles.

Stay safe.

drew138

I've tried a few 6'5" garages and I always end up backing out. Unless it says 6'6" i move on. It's amazing how many garages in SF are 6'5"! :-(

AmyC

I think NorCal is the same as SoCal - there doesn't appear to be a standard minimum height for indoor parking. The parking facility is simply required to display the maximum height clearance. This will be the last time I test the overhead white or yellow plastic tube bar with this car... I'm putting the minimum threshold at 6'7" into my G63 notes. Otherwise, I'll just take my AR which can fit easily under most big rigs...

Stay safe.

Hodog16

Glad to hear my posts have been helpful! Anytime I get interested in a vehicle, I go down the rabbit hole and read everything I can about it. I started researching the 2019+ G's about 2 years before I was in a position to get one and literally started on page 1 in this forum and read every thread that was of interest to me.

When I bought my first G, the dealer told me to try to keep it under 10,000 miles in one year to maximize value, and I've taken that to heart. I've been very fortunate in that every G I've bought has been at MSRP, using three area dealers, so for me I prefer to reset the mileage on the vehicle and trade-up while also avoiding any maintenance costs. Thanks to the G's amazing residual value, this has been rather easy to do on a regular basis.

Of the ones I've had, I've only ordered the 2021 and 2023 G63's. The other three were cars that became available when the person ordering it either flaked out or could not secure financing and I was happy to step in.

achatgrau

I might be too paranoid here, but I don't enter garages with a posted clearance of less than 7 feet; I always see things hanging from the ceiling (chains on water pipe caps for a sprinkler systems, etc.) that make me think they weren't included in the clearance for the structure. I end up scouting parking garage entrances on street view if I need to.

AmyC

Your G63 purchases make perfect sense. It's good to see that not only did you go down the "rabbit hole", it seems like you've stayed in that rabbit hole because you love the G's. I fall in love with different makers/models on a monthly basis, but only buy the ones that I've stayed in love with and have researched for over 1 year. I always give myself at least 1 year before I start the actual seeking and purchasing process for any car I fall in love with. My "1 year rule" has worked well for me so far.

Your purchase strategy is very smart and well thought out, especially when you always seem to get them at the MSRP. I'm not sure where you live, but I do know some states place restrictions/limitations on dealer markups for new vehicles. Purchasing a G63 or any highly sought after car is IMPOSSIBLE in SoCal. The dealers will escort you out the door and probably ask you never to come back if you ask for MSRP. Even with preorders, the dealers in SoCal always reserve the right (and will almost always exercise that right) to add an ADM once the car physically arrives at its facilities. They are not bound by the numbers they provide in preorders regarding markups. Of interest is that my dealer tells me over 1/3 of the ordered vehicles here don't get consummated because the buyer either ran into personal financial issues or can't secure the necessary financing after inking the deal. That's actually how my G63 became available. It was ordered and in the delivery process when the buyer backed out on the last minute. I was fortunate in that it was equipped with 99.9% of the items on my spec sheet. It has the black Napa diamond leather interior, but not the red stitching I had in my spec'ed - small sacrifice to make.

It's really good to meet you, and I look forward to learning more from your posts.

Stay safe.

AmyC

The "series of bumps" noise probably were probably the sound of your heartbeat when you heard them... I'm glad there was no damage to yours.

Hodog16

Yup I'm in NC. Most dealers do have a restriction on new cars (in-state only, MSRP for ordered cars) but none on used cars, so it's a perfect win-win setup.

The ones who do charge ADM on vehicles on the ground often waive it when you bring a used G to the table.

AshishChhatrala

Haha