Well it really is 14 months with just about 17K miles. Here are some simple lessons learned with regards to owning/leasing an AMG. Hope it is helpful for other potential buyers as I am now comfortable with these facts.

1. Get used to adding oil every 2K miles or so. Initially this was a shock to me but now I accept the fact that this is a very different piece of machinery when compared to other MB models. The performance level is so very different so don't expect the standard 10K mile oil change you get with the E350 or E500.

2. These engines are very sensitive to what gasoline is put in the tank. Using 93 octane is borderline and I had my bouts with pinging. Switching to Hess seemed to stop this behavior, but really these cars need a higher octane.

3. The acceleration is quite scary. Even with 30+ years of driving under my belt the time in which these cars reach 80mph when entering a highway is quite stagerring. Don't let your 18 year old get near these cars.

4. Expect to be challanged on the road.

5. Raise the car in city driving. Protect that front air dam.

6. AMG owners are like a pack of dogs it seems. I was on the Garden State Parkway one day where me a CLS63 and an S63 basically were neck and neck with each other for 20 miles before we drifted off.

7. Beware of jealous people and their snide comments. "You're a show off"; "You do it for the girls"; "It's nice to be rich", etc. These people should be placed on ignore. They cannot understand the fact that these cars are fun to drive.

8. Keep your day job, but keep a reserve for lease or loan payments. This may be a tough thing in this economy. I myself may have to deal with this fact shortly.

For me these facts hold true. Others may have similar or different experiences, some good, some bad.

 

Stay positive and always have reserves. A car is a car. Life goes on.

 

Oil every 2k miles?You have a problem sir.I have over 14,000 miles on mine&it NEVER needed any oil added.Period.
How'd you break-in for the 1st 1000mi???

I love my 63,puts a smile on each time I hop in

 

I agree...I never had to put oil into the vehicle prior to having the oil changed..not even during the "break in" period!

 

Hi .. I did confront MB on this and they ran oil consumption tests, etc. They concluded that the oil burn rate was within accepatble limits. Even reimbursed me with 2 months payments for my troubles. Since it is leased I just keep an eye on it. It's already got 17K miles. I can live with it. Add a 1/2 quart to a full quart every 2-3K miles or so. No other troubles ... oh yeah except the potholes around here in the NYC area. Lost 3 tires already.

I think I broke the car in OK. Nothing over 80mph. Normal city and highway driving. Played with the paddles a little bit.

Jangy ... the pinging stopped when I switched gas. I bet some of these places around here rip you off by putting lower octane fuel in the super unleaded tanks. I need to be more diligent in my fuel selection. I was slacking off there for a while.

 

Something's wrong with it.

I've owned or had a lot of experience with a lot of cars, including several of the more notorious oil-drinkers and leakers (late 90s porsche flat-6s, early 90s rolls' 6.75L V8, Benz M120 V12, 80s Benz diesels), and in my experience the reputations that get built up are bogus. None of them ever lost a drop unless there was something wrong with them, even though everybody wants to tell you that it's "normal" for that car.

I think it's a point-of-view difference really, but to me "normal" doesn't mean "not worth the expense of fixing" or "it happens to a lot of these". Just because you'll lose the rear main on some porsches at 40k miles, or the valve seals on a rolls V8 after 35k, doesn't mean it's "normal" when it goes. When my 300sd started drinking oil, everybody wanted to tell me that it was "normal" and mine was actually better off than most, but I had it rebuilt anyway and the oil consumption stopped completely.

Anyway, I'd get it checked out.

 

Yeah agreed, Oil every 2000 miles is insane.. either there is a leak somewhere, or your driving around at 7500 rpm everyday.. lol jk

even when I raced my porsche I was putting some in only every 6-7500k
something you should check out though..

at most you should be adding it every 12k and that is not even the norm..

after 4 mercedes, I can say, I rarely put oil in before 12-15k

just some thoughts

 

UBERKAR,u have any more pix of ur 63????

 

When you get your gas,make sure you go to a gas station that has pumps with a separate hose for each grade of gas. Usually BP or Hess has a hose for each octane.

Usually a pump that has all three octanes and one hose ,the octane you choose could be off ,because the previous person who used the pump put regular gas in their car on that pumps last use.

If you came after that person and you select premium,chances are some of the lower octane fuel is going into the tank first prior to the premium gas you selected.

 

I add one quart every 2,000-2,500 miles

 

I agree with everything you have written. Thank you for your observations. I've had my car for almost 6 months now, and 5K miles. However, I have not had to add oil.

 

Oil consumption would also explain the detonation. I'll bet if it used zero oil, it would be less sensitve to octane. I still don't own a 63 (yet), but in 5 MB's (3 AMG's), none of my cars have used any oil between changes.

 

Just curious....how much fuel is in the hoses and pump...before you actually get your grade...with the assumption that the person before you got regular. Also, does ethanol raise or reduce the octane number?.....

 

i believe ethanol raises octane level.. but dont know if its just me or its true that only recently at gas station pumps, started seeing 10% ethanol on the pumps

 

<1. Get used to adding oil every 2K miles or so. Initially this was a shock to <me but now I accept the fact that this is a very different piece of <machinery when compared to other MB models. The performance level is so <very different so don't expect the standard 10K mile oil change you get with <the E350 or E500.

Sounds really odd. I had to add oil to my previous M5, but the E55 never, I would be surprised if the E63 was any different.

 

I've had my E63 for about a year now and never had any oil problems or warnings either? Changing oil every 2k miles just doesn't sound right I change mine every 2k to 7k.

 

I think this is the same for anyone who owns a nice car.

I just tell people it is not my fault they chose not to work hard to get what they want.

 

I would imagine the length of the hose and some perhaps. Could be more.

 

Mine doesn't do this, but i've got a 55.

Yes they are. In Sweden we can only get 95, 98, and 99 (shell v-power) octane fuel. On a side note, my car feels better now that I only treat it to 99.
Yes it is. Thats why we bought these cars On another side note, I was 23 when I bought my E55. I think your 18-year old will treat your car very kindly (as long as you make sure that he might lose his ability to reproduce should anything happen).

Gotta love it...

This is an absolute must.

We're a big happy family. I love it. Also RS-class Audi's can play too. I find M-owners are usually bitter, angry people (applies to Swedish M-owners in any case)

No I'm not.
No I'm not. I hate to admit it - but I can't stand girls that like you for your car. It's ridiculous.
Yes it is. Slaving away, sometimes 18 hours a day for 6 days a week means I can spend a little more on something that makes me happy.


Oh good god, yes. The damned thing is ruining me


Folks, remember: When you turn on your car, it should return the favour.

 

Oil consumption has nothing to do with pinging.
I live in Southern Cal and we don't even have the option of getting 93 oct at the pump.
My CLK63 is like a rattlesnake by the time i make it up the hill to my house.
I think I dumped two qt of Mobile 1 right around 6500mi.

 

If you had a 63 you might know that they eat a bit of oil.

so your 6.3 amg badge does not eat oil? How about your non amg motor?

 

does this go for the 55s as well? Mine doesn't eat any oil, but maybe its because its debadged...

 

Umm, may want to go check with a mechanic that knows, 'cause burning oil will absolutely contribute to detonation.

 

This was just prior to the 20K service.

I had a few times where the car would start and make the sound heard that increases with rpm. Also noticed that Costco 93 gas would create a pinging sound like predetination.

The next day after the video I took the car and it was not doing it (of course) and the dealer could not get it to repeat it (of course.) The only proof I have is the video which speaks for itself.

They reflashed the ecu/tcu and no more problems since, although they could not give me a definitive answer as to what was causing it.

Comments welcome!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jckGD3w9Bus

 

I have had 2 (still have 1) 55k cars and I never added oil to them. They both had a tendency to puff blue smoke if you started the car, shut it off, and then restarted it 20 min later but they never "ate" oil.

My S63 needed 2 quarts at 6k miles (and I changed the oil at 1500 miles) Since then I have 8800 miles and its still fine.

My E350 at a couple quarts when it was new but it stopped at 10k miles. It also smoked at start up as well until it finally broke in at 10k miles.

From the sounds of it the 6.2L motor just eats oil. It may get better with time as the seals seat better but I cant tell as of yet. I hear many eat oil even after 10k miles. "Race Motor" I guess!