W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63

rear subframe movement

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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 08:06 PM
  #1  
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mercedes e55 amg estate
rear subframe movement

I was woundering if anybody come across their rear axle and subframe trying to rip itself from its floor mounts (e55 estate).
Also my car has never used any oil or had any visual smoking from the exhaust but since my cars been serviced by my local main dealer it as started to smoke, not from cold it seems if i drive it approx 3 miles between 30-40mph park up say at work which its left for approx 8 hours the car smokes for a split second then it clears, if you have come across with any of my present faults please let me know,cheers
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by cookiee55amg
I was woundering if anybody come across their rear axle and subframe trying to rip itself from its floor mounts (e55 estate).
Also my car has never used any oil or had any visual smoking from the exhaust but since my cars been serviced by my local main dealer it as started to smoke, not from cold it seems if i drive it approx 3 miles between 30-40mph park up say at work which its left for approx 8 hours the car smokes for a split second then it clears, if you have come across with any of my present faults please let me know,cheers
both items are common. I have had 3 cars with the 5.4L kompressor motor and all 3 smoked just like you said. My S63 does that and so does the C350.

It's a MB thing.

Subframe issues are not unheard of as well. Several users have had the bolts completely rip out of the body.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:47 AM
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Originally Posted by CynCarvin32

It's a MB thing.
I don't mean to be confrontational but I have only seen a few MB that blew smoke....and the ones I've seen were all older. Your S63 blows smoke ?? When ? My 63 NEVER does.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 05:45 AM
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I've noticed mine smokes now after having a LET tune to the ECU. Exhaust tips are now black where they used to be gray. I assume its the a/f ratio reduction as part of the program.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 11:46 AM
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Lets be clear on smoke. There is the black that spews out while hot that is from running rich. Then, there is the oil burning which the 63s are known for. Apparently, they burn oil and need to be topped off. I dunno if you literally see smoke, though.

My E55 has been driven hard and hard. I don't look behind me often, but it has never had any low oil issues. Neither has our C350.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 12:12 PM
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My E350 used to burn quite a bit, and the 550 is also getting the occasional blue cloud on startups as well. It's an MB thing, and not just on the AMG engines.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by jangy
Then, there is the oil burning which the 63s are known for.
I am not aware of ANY of the 63 motors buring excessive amounts of oil. Can you point me to a link ?
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:29 PM
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Luke, my Black Series actually blows a lot of smoke on cold start up, I'm not sure if that is a result of no cats or not, however I don't have cats on any of my cars and they don't blow any smoke. After about 25 seconds the smoke goes away. My motor is sound, evosport just did a compression check and everything is good, all withing 1-2 pounds of each other and at all near factory new specs.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by LZH
I am not aware of ANY of the 63 motors buring excessive amounts of oil. Can you point me to a link ?
I don't have a link but there was some concern early on that the cars were needing some oil prior to time for change. As has been mentioned, this is a phenomenon that has mostly been reintroduced in the newer motors (350, 550, 63).

I'm sure many factors play into it, including the actual oil used and how the seals were broken in. I rarely go over 5k miles before a change but usually check where my level is because i am paranoid of this happenning.

Last thing, it is true that MB said it was "normal". In California, I believe the precedence is 2 quarts per 3K miles deams it a burner.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 03:39 PM
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I was woundering if anybody come across their rear axle and subframe trying to rip itself from its floor mounts (e55 estate).
Can you be more specific? Are you getting wheel hop? I had that and it scared the crap out of me orrrrr are you talking about the wiggle when you accelerate hard.

Both can be a little scary. Wiggle is common and can be corrected/tamed with Renntech toe links.

Wheel hop is dangerous, just get out of it when she starts hopping.

My LSD cured that BTW.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 03:49 PM
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I never had hop in this car. Maybe gearing? Anyhow, the wiggle will get worse as the bushing wears and will eventually give if not replaced. Next thing you know, your rear tire is at a 90 degree angle to the car.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by LZH
I am not aware of ANY of the 63 motors buring excessive amounts of oil. Can you point me to a link ?
Sorry to OP, at tsome point this thread went OT.

Luke, there was a bulletin issued by MB about oil consumption in the 63's stating they burn a quart of oil ever 3000 miles and it stated that they recomend filling the oil to the second line on the dip stick. I have not had this problem, however I only have about 7k on my car and I have had the oil changed 3 times. I did find some links to threads here on MB world with guys burnign in excess of a quart every 2k-3.5k miles. I have a friend with a C63 and his burns oil at a rate of about 1.5 quarts every 3k miles.


https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...oil+burning+63

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...oil+burning+63

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...oil+burning+63

It appears burning oil and oil leaks are rather common in the 63, I would think with the way I drive mine it would be an issue, but I have not seen any evidence so far.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:32 PM
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CLK 63 Black Series, 2009 S550, 2011 Range Rover Supercharged, BMW F800 GS Anniv Edition
Thanks Jim. I wasn't aware of any issues with the 63 buring oil. Mine hasn't burned a drop in close to 7000 miles and I think I drive my car like you
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by LZH
Thanks Jim. I wasn't aware of any issues with the 63 buring oil. Mine hasn't burned a drop in close to 7000 miles and I think I drive my car like you
...maybe that's the secret, maybe these guys burning oil have light feet
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:58 PM
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My '55 is burning a quart every 1200 miles..has been for quite a while
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by regor60
My '55 is burning a quart every 1200 miles..has been for quite a while
Me too. My beast runs like a champ though.

Quoted from my buddy who is a MB Service Advisor "Most the E63's that come in literally drink oil until they are fully broken in."

Last edited by Max.H; Mar 17, 2009 at 07:46 PM.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by cookiee55amg
I was woundering if anybody come across their rear axle and subframe trying to rip itself from its floor mounts (e55 estate).
...
Are you talking about wheel hop under hard acceleration?
My CL55 did that on certain surfaces.
It's a function of the huge torque.

My 63 likes to puff a bit of smoke now and again on start up.
A quart in 3k seems right.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 08:43 PM
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mercedes e55 amg estate
rear axle-subframe

I noticed when my car got mot'd and i was under the lift that my exhaust hanger bracket on the subframe was touching the rubber hose connecting the filler neck to the fuel tank, which i was a little concerned due to it being serviced at a main dealer 2 days before. I contacted them to see if their was any recall or buliten about this, they asked me to take the car back to them to inspect, where they have found a snapped bolt on the subframe and the subframe is trying to leave the car floor. My car is standard (at present) fully main dealer serviced this should not happen SHOULD IT. I know alot you out their are running many modifications where more power could cause this but being standard im concerned. Cheers for the replies by the way
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 08:49 PM
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i noticed the smoke upon cold startup once, scared the hell out of me... it only happened once though and the car was parked on the driveway, when normally it would be parked in the garage... it's only happened that one time though, i didn't get any cel lights and the car ran fine... glad to see that it's "somewhat" normal...
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by cookiee55amg
...they asked me to take the car back to them to inspect, where they have found a snapped bolt on the subframe and the subframe is trying to leave the car floor. ...
I think if you do a thorough search, you'll find others had this same problem.
If I remember correctly, one guy found one of his bolts stripped and the dealer claimed no responsibility.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 10:28 PM
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...Subframe issues are not unheard of as well. Several users have had the bolts completely rip out of the body.
+1

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ch-pulley.html

Have it inspected straight away.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 11:02 PM
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Splinter beat me to it... Yes, I discovered to my dismay that rear passenger-side subframe connector failure is not uncommon. The dealer who denied my warranty claim had seen it four or so times prior to me, so you know MBUSA has seen hundreds of cases... Get in there and fix it quickly and you'll escape with little damage. Drive on it and you'll tear up your diff. casing, etc...

Skeeter
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 04:37 PM
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I'm unfamiliar as to how big of a fix it is to repair this issue.

How much does it cost to fix this? Would it be cheaper to just weld the subframe back onto the unibody? I know it is unlikely that you'll ever have to replace an entire subframe so the risk of having to un-do the wields is probably minimal. Either way it can be done.
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 05:32 PM
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Just under $1k to replace my torn out passenger side rear subframe connector. A couple of weeks for the part to come in from Germany, a day or so labor at the frame shop... Not a huge cost if you diagnose and repair quickly. Not sure how you'd weld it directly to the unibody, it looked like the only way to fix it was to replace the insert and weld back up as original. I posted some pics of the repair (and damage) on my thread.

Best luck,

Skeeter
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 05:37 PM
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https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...03-medium-.jpg

The rear suspension/drivetrain bolts to this part, which can tear out and leave the bolt connected to nothing. Like I said, easy to repair if you get on it soon after it tears. You'll hear the car make clunking noises in back when you go over bumps or sudden start/stop stabs at the throttle/brakes. Get the car on a lift and you'll see the passenger side slump down if it is busted.

Skeeter
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