SL/R231: Help - Cowl Shake R231.2 AMG SL63
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Joined: Apr 2018
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From: Florida (primary), South Carolina
2017 AMG SL63 _ 19 AMG S65 Cpe _ 23 R8 Spyder Rwd _ 17 911 C2S _ 16 Boxster Spyder _ 01 BMW Z8 etc.
Help - Cowl Shake R231.2 AMG SL63
I am the proud (and lucky) owner of two facelift AMGs SL63 (2017+). One of them is exhibiting serious cowl shake; and the other exhibits none at all.
Car A:
It has 30,500 miles on her. Maintained according to the maintenance schedule. Shows no faults and has not needed any repairs. ABC system functions correctly and has been maintained via voluntary ABC fluid exchange.
Car B:
It has under 10,000 miles on her. Maintained according to maintenance schedule. Shows no faults and has not needed any repairs. ABC system functions correctly and has been maintained via voluntary ABC fluid exchange.
=====
Car B seems to have a cowl shake problem. I notice vibration in the steering column and lots of vibration and movement of my windshield-mount magnetic smartphone holder. Observable on local business district roads and definitely on the highway. This car was a bit of a garage queen when I acquired her so I am wondering if that is an issue. The ABC system functions correctly; there is no noise, hissing, or squealing.
Can people please advise on what the possible culprits are? Meaning what should I specifically ask the mechanic to check? I am thinking engine mounts — anything else?
I seriously doubt there could be so much variation car to car. Car A is as stiff as solid steel and Car B seems to flex; and I’m wondering what could be broken on it that needs fixing.
Thanks for your help.
Car A:
It has 30,500 miles on her. Maintained according to the maintenance schedule. Shows no faults and has not needed any repairs. ABC system functions correctly and has been maintained via voluntary ABC fluid exchange.
Car B:
It has under 10,000 miles on her. Maintained according to maintenance schedule. Shows no faults and has not needed any repairs. ABC system functions correctly and has been maintained via voluntary ABC fluid exchange.
=====
Car B seems to have a cowl shake problem. I notice vibration in the steering column and lots of vibration and movement of my windshield-mount magnetic smartphone holder. Observable on local business district roads and definitely on the highway. This car was a bit of a garage queen when I acquired her so I am wondering if that is an issue. The ABC system functions correctly; there is no noise, hissing, or squealing.
Can people please advise on what the possible culprits are? Meaning what should I specifically ask the mechanic to check? I am thinking engine mounts — anything else?
I seriously doubt there could be so much variation car to car. Car A is as stiff as solid steel and Car B seems to flex; and I’m wondering what could be broken on it that needs fixing.
Thanks for your help.
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
Always start with the easiest possibilities first and work your way up the diagnostic chain.
So easy just to swap wheels between cars. We call that a “free” diagnosis…
Cars that sit flat spot tires. Also the wheel swap would pick up a bent wheel as a possibility.
Walking into a shop, ask them about engine mounts, They’ll be more than happy to charge you to swap them.
30k miles? Sure, engine mounts might be possible (especially as a second owner with an unknown history), but it would be further down my list.
Good Luck!
So easy just to swap wheels between cars. We call that a “free” diagnosis…
Cars that sit flat spot tires. Also the wheel swap would pick up a bent wheel as a possibility.
Walking into a shop, ask them about engine mounts, They’ll be more than happy to charge you to swap them.
30k miles? Sure, engine mounts might be possible (especially as a second owner with an unknown history), but it would be further down my list.
Good Luck!
Last edited by crconsulting; Jun 17, 2025 at 05:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 415
Likes: 98
From: Florida (primary), South Carolina
2017 AMG SL63 _ 19 AMG S65 Cpe _ 23 R8 Spyder Rwd _ 17 911 C2S _ 16 Boxster Spyder _ 01 BMW Z8 etc.
Always start with the easiest possibilities first and work your way up the diagnostic chain.
So easy just to swap wheels between cars. We call that a “free” diagnosis…
Cars that sit flat spot tires. Also the wheel swap would pick up a bent wheel as a possibility.
Walking into a shop, ask them about engine mounts, They’ll be more than happy to charge you to swap them.
30k miles? Sure, engine mounts might be possible (especially as a second owner with an unknown history), but it would be further down my list.
Good Luck!
So easy just to swap wheels between cars. We call that a “free” diagnosis…
Cars that sit flat spot tires. Also the wheel swap would pick up a bent wheel as a possibility.
Walking into a shop, ask them about engine mounts, They’ll be more than happy to charge you to swap them.
30k miles? Sure, engine mounts might be possible (especially as a second owner with an unknown history), but it would be further down my list.
Good Luck!
Otherwise that would be a good start.
Tires are definitely not flat spotted - I keep them inflated and they sit on foam “flatstoppers” by race ramps — I am highly obsessive with storing my cars. Gasoline stabilizer, etc.
I’m confident the wheels and alignment are fine… the alignment was done just 3-4k miles ago and I am the only one who has driven it… there have been no pothole incidents etc. But it makes sense to check anyway.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 739
From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
This is a clue on where to look.
Since you have two of the exact same cars. Open the hood on both (obviously since they’re not in the same location you’ll be comparing at different times).
With the car in D, step on brakes, while applying throttle. Do the engines on both cars “lift” the same distance?
I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve had to re-balance newly mounted tires due to techs not balancing tires right the first time, or weights falling off due to not being adhered properly. (I’m also assuming tire age isn’t a factor)
Thats not saying it can’t be engine mounts, but rule out the obvious first.
Good Luck
Since you have two of the exact same cars. Open the hood on both (obviously since they’re not in the same location you’ll be comparing at different times).
With the car in D, step on brakes, while applying throttle. Do the engines on both cars “lift” the same distance?
I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve had to re-balance newly mounted tires due to techs not balancing tires right the first time, or weights falling off due to not being adhered properly. (I’m also assuming tire age isn’t a factor)
Thats not saying it can’t be engine mounts, but rule out the obvious first.
Good Luck
Last edited by crconsulting; Jun 17, 2025 at 05:47 PM.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,498
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 415
Likes: 98
From: Florida (primary), South Carolina
2017 AMG SL63 _ 19 AMG S65 Cpe _ 23 R8 Spyder Rwd _ 17 911 C2S _ 16 Boxster Spyder _ 01 BMW Z8 etc.
Update — I put the car on jack stands today and removed the wheels myself. Will take them to the tire shop tomorrow to check the wheels for straightness, balancing, and road force. (I will subsequently re-check the engine mounts which were verified good at my last engine oil change.)
I do this kind of operation myself because when I take the wheels off and replace, I know I’m lifting the car correctly and I know I’m not damaging the wheels. I watched a shop mechanic at a Ferrari dealer crack a rocker panel right in front of me during my own pre-purchase inspection by lifting the car incorrectly. Ten years later I saw a LaFerrari Hypercar at a different Ferrari dealer on a lift with not even enough space for a piece of paper between the lifting arm and the rocker panel. Qualified mechanics are usualy a good option, but cars often undergo wear and tear while in their custody; and at today’s labor rates I try to bring them the difficult stuff, not the easy stuff I can knock out first. The reason I began this thread was to brainstorm the easy places to look first, so thank you to those who have helped so far.
Last edited by 348SStb; Jun 25, 2025 at 09:19 PM.
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