SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: How dependable have the V12 engines been?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
Likes: 377
From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
The early V12s had some flaws: coil pack failures and oil leaks were endemic. But I think those were corrected by the time the turbochargers came, or shortly after. Other than oil consumption (commonly about a quart per 2,500 miles if the car is driven hard), which bothers some people, you don't hear about a lot of engine problems on the latest V12s, 600 or 65. In two years, my only problem has been the IR sensor on the door handle. The engine and drivetrain have been flawless.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
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From: CA
2010 CL65
Have several colleagues who've had new 65s bought-back as lemons for motor-specific issues...
Presumably, given 65Blk is based on same old-tech motor, AMG has worked over last ?4+yrs to debug the archaic 65 motor...
Would much rather see MB R&D focused on developing a new-tech, lightwt AMG V12, rather than a useless diesel/hybrid/wimpy motor, for US mkt...
In US, cars and fuel are 50% cheaper than EU....and much demand exists for 600+hp/lb-ft motors for daily commuter cars in SF/LA, unlike primitive, low standard-of-living mkts like Munich/Frankfurt/London...
Presumably, given 65Blk is based on same old-tech motor, AMG has worked over last ?4+yrs to debug the archaic 65 motor...
Would much rather see MB R&D focused on developing a new-tech, lightwt AMG V12, rather than a useless diesel/hybrid/wimpy motor, for US mkt...
In US, cars and fuel are 50% cheaper than EU....and much demand exists for 600+hp/lb-ft motors for daily commuter cars in SF/LA, unlike primitive, low standard-of-living mkts like Munich/Frankfurt/London...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 444
Likes: 8
From: Sweden
2008 MB CL600. 2020 MB E300 de. 1987 BMW M535i.
Another thing with those engines, is the water cooling system for the intercoolers (it's separate from engine cooling). That goes for both 600TT and 65's.
The system tend to get air pockets, with lower turbo pressure as a result, and therefor need to be "bled".
The system tend to get air pockets, with lower turbo pressure as a result, and therefor need to be "bled".
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
My V12TT runs smooooooooth! No problems, no leaks, no sounds, no vibrations, flawless.
I treated it to some 'interesting' mods yesterday...
Intake tubes from a Lamborghini Gallardo... designed better and looks better:
Here you can compare the inside of the stock intake tube versus the Lamborghini one...
Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooth!
I treated it to some 'interesting' mods yesterday...
Intake tubes from a Lamborghini Gallardo... designed better and looks better:
Here you can compare the inside of the stock intake tube versus the Lamborghini one...
Smooooooooooooooooooooooooooth!
air, coil, dependability, dependable, gallardo, intake, lamborghini, lamborghinis, motor, r230, repair, sl65, tubes, v12
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