I purchased my ML63 in Sept of 2006 and it has performed flawlessly for almost three years until about 2 months ago. While sitting at idle at my place of business, I was unloading something from the back of the truck when it suddenly stalled with a clunking sound. I thought it was strange but when I tried to restart it I became concerned when it wouldn't even turn over. The dealership sent a flatbed tow truck and hauled it away. I figured it was maybe a starter or an electronic glitch.

Imagine my surprise when they told me that the engine had totally siezed up! After a week or two of diagnosis they determined that a simple valve spring had broken allowing the valve to drop into the cylinder. From that point on the engine block was toast.

What shocked me the most was the fact that the replacement engine invoiced out from Mercedes at about $68,000 complete! $68,000!!!! That didn't include labor! Even though the ML is assembled in the states, the engine had to come from Affalterbach which took about another month.

Props to Vin Devers Mercedes and Mike for making the best out of a really bad situation. I picked up my ML last Friday and it's good as new although I have to go through the whole engine break in proceedure again.
A real P.I.T.A.....

My whole reason for the post is to warn everyone to strongly consider never owning one of these vehicles out of warranty. If I decide to keep my truck at lease end, I'll be sure to get an extended warranty from Mercedes for as long as I own it. I was told to make sure it was a Mercedes Extended warranty because many aftermarket warrantys don't cover AMG parts.

My service manager told me that if the spring would have broken while at highway speeds it could have been catastophic... not just the engine but transmission and other drivetrain components could have been trashed as well. The vehicle might have been totaled!

I have one of the first ML63's sold in the US and my engine was built by Tobias Schultz. As these vehicles age I hope this was just a fluke, but if your ML63 is about to run out of warranty, I'd really consider extending your warranty. Just think of it as Insurance.

 

That absolutely scares the crap out of me.

How many miles did you have on your car?

 

Holy ****! I am sure if you did not have warranty, you would have had thoughts about torching it. (Not recommended as it is illegal)

I am just about out of warranty on my 07 and I will be checking into extended warranty.

 

Extended MB Warranty 7/100K, I have one. It will and can be as the OP said your saving grace.

There are many here that debate on this, and as pointed out most aftermarket warranties do not cover AMG parts, and for that matter some of the MB systems such as airmatic and others when the insurer finds out the price tag.

MB Extended are more expensive, but when it comes down to arguing about labor rates with an aftermarket warranty because they won't cover MB dealer rates it gets ugly.

Just a thought to add.

 

Man, I'd hate to have to foot a $68,000 bill for a new engine!!
I'm definitely going to look into extended warranty.

 

Wow, thats crazy $$ for a small issue turning into a big one. I am glad the waranty was there for you!

 

Just turned over 30K...

One bad ten dollar spring = $75,000 engine. If I were MB, I'd be ripping that parts mfr a new one.

 

30,000 miles on an AMG engine and it failed? What kind of oil were they using in the vehicle. Sounds to me like the valve overheated and broke. These motors should run 300,000 miles easy. I got 320,000 on my 1990 190 and 300,000 on my VW Jetta. Oil is so important. I only use synthetic extended performance Mobile. Man for that repair bill you could go buy another used vehicle (AMG). 130,000 on my ML55 and I drive all my vehicles like I stole them, run them to redline 50% o the time. Sad. or maybe the valve was bent then broke. Odd.

 

Just had the oil changed at the dealership about a month before failure. I didn't ask but I'm assuming they used mobil 1? The mechanic showed me the broken spring and valve and the valve was bent, broken and badly mangled but I assume that happened when it dropped into the piston.

As for buying another ML63 for the cost of the repair... you're right! Prior to this event, if anyone would have asked me what I thought a 63 engine would cost I would have guessed around $25,000 to $30,000. Never in my wildest would I have guessed $68,000!

 

You mentioned that if it had happened at speed the other damage might have been enough to total the car. Isn't $75K already enough to total a 2006 ML63 with 30K miles? Here's a CPO 2007 ML63 with 7,111 miles for "only" $64,925. I guess MB warranty and the insurance companies have different measures of "totaled".

 

Since it was an engine failure , insurance really does not factor in. However had the OP crashed as a result of the engine failure, different ball game.

The OP is very very very very fortunate it was cut and dry. Warranty eats the 75k cost and the op essentially used the ML for 30k miles and get to start over . Nightmare, but definately a happy ending.

 

I realized that insurance was not involved. My point was that the basis for deciding "totaled or not" must be different for the warranty company vs. the insurance industry. I guess it's harder (impossible?) for the warranty company to just scrap your car and leave you with bluebook cash.

 

Bent frames are an issue for totalling. So is blue book. Factoid: Insurance companies get back 20% of what they pay out for totaled claims. It's not professional, but sometimes adjusters total cars that they want to buy. It's like horse-trading out there.

 

I know 68k sounds like alot but mercedes covered it... and who did the dealer buy the engine from MERCEDES so in the end with this mark up and that mark up and this handling fee the dealer didnt make as much as you think and mercedes wasnt out as much money as you think.. It just looks like alot on the paper you got. AMG builds the engines and guess who owns AMG...mercedes so it was more like taking money from one account and putting it in another haha

But good you had waranty...

 

Glad to hear the story has a happy ending, ironically, the list price of $68,000 is the same price I saw on mileoneparts.com for the E55 supercharged engine...sheesh. For those who want to know MSRP list price on the 5.5L V12TT in the 600 cars is $80,000.

 

Not true in most states. Many have a requirement that in order for anyone (including owner etc) to retain salvage (meaning you get back the totaled vehicle less (minus) the salvage value), it must be over a certain age. For example in IL it has to be over 9 years before you can keep a totaled vehicle (owner retained salvage). Other factoid: Where do you get the fact?? that insurers get 20% of the totaled vehicle back. Often it is way less than that??? So, on a $4000 car, they are getting back at least $800.00??? Often it can be only $300-$500 or less?

 

Well - you just told me someting I didn't know, such as the law in IL. I'm sure it varies in a lot of places. The 20% was insider information.

 

75000$, can't be serious.
I'm a member in another forum, and I know somebody there who payd 27500€ for new engine for his CLK63, here in Germany at the Mercedes dealer..
It can't be that expensive in the U.S.
In that case it would be cheaper to ship the whole car to Germany and back.

 

Glad it was covered under warranty..... I always try to advise anybody buying a Mercedes (especially an AMG) to extend warranty as much as they can for as long as they own the vehicle. $68k

 

Wow! Glad they took care of you. I had a new 2006 55 kompressor motor quoted at only a mere 48k from dealer..