e63 engine just blew
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 348
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From: Bay Area
2005 E55 / 2008 E63
e63 engine just blew
2008 with 105,xxx. Started sputtering, check engine light came on and exhaust note completely changed. Shut it down and got towed. Took it to my trusted indy and he calls saying #7 cylinder gave out. Head gasket likely shot, coolant and oil throughout the motor. Getting towed to MB dealer I know tomorrow, they said it's worth a shot in dealing with corporate. TBD. $15k for a used engine replacement, $8k for rebuild. Or trade in. Been driving a AMG E55/63 for 8 years, first bad experience. Stock, well maintained and not abused. Sucks...
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Joined: Jun 2014
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2007 E63 AMG
Sucks but it happens, happened to me in my 2003 Z06 with 34K miles. Yours seemed a bit tame, mine was disastrous. Big "POW", CEL flashing, sounded like marbles smashing around under my car, then the huge oil slick behind me. Got warranty?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 348
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From: Bay Area
2005 E55 / 2008 E63
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
2005 E55 / 2008 E63
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From: Orbiting the planet
This place is a joke.
It may not be as bad as you think. If you had the common head bolt failure and simply blew the head gasket you may be able to save the engine. You need to have the cylinder(s) inspected with a boroscope. If all looks OK a head gasket and bolt change along with an oil flush may get you back on the road.
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
It may not be as bad as you think. If you had the common head bolt failure and simply blew the head gasket you may be able to save the engine. You need to have the cylinder(s) inspected with a boroscope. If all looks OK a head gasket and bolt change along with an oil flush may get you back on the road.
This, but they still may charge you $8K
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From: Sleepy Hollow, IL
65 Chevelle Wagon w/ C5 frame, 08 ML63, 04 S600, 04 E55,(sold) 00 ML55,(sold) 98 C43-55K Swap
It may not be as bad as you think. If you had the common head bolt failure and simply blew the head gasket you may be able to save the engine. You need to have the cylinder(s) inspected with a boroscope. If all looks OK a head gasket and bolt change along with an oil flush may get you back on the road.
The fact that you have a "trusted Indy" sounds like you don't have it dealer serviced. MB will look at your history and see you don't have it dealer serviced and you may be screwed. MB does help out good customers, ex original owners that spend there money at a dealer getting it serviced. If your car hasn't been to a dealer in years and you show up asking for a hand out
I hope I'm wrong. Good luck, I hope there at least willing to do a 50/50 split on goodwill.
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From: Bay Area California
W211 E55
True, but the way it sounds it may of coolant hydro locked and bent some rods.
The fact that you have a "trusted Indy" sounds like you don't have it dealer serviced. MB will look at your history and see you don't have it dealer serviced and you may be screwed. MB does help out good customers, ex original owners that spend there money at a dealer getting it serviced. If your car hasn't been to a dealer in years and you show up asking for a hand out I hope I'm wrong. Good luck, I hope there at least willing to do a 50/50 split on goodwill.
The fact that you have a "trusted Indy" sounds like you don't have it dealer serviced. MB will look at your history and see you don't have it dealer serviced and you may be screwed. MB does help out good customers, ex original owners that spend there money at a dealer getting it serviced. If your car hasn't been to a dealer in years and you show up asking for a hand out
I hope I'm wrong. Good luck, I hope there at least willing to do a 50/50 split on goodwill.You are absolutely correct. I've worked for mercedes dealers for 10 years, and had a client with a ML63 that engine grenaded. The diamond washer that holds the cam gear to the camshaft let loose and long story short, cylinder 7 piston was almost completely sideways. The ML had 78k miles. He regularly serviced it at the dealer and every maintenance recommendation (per mercedes) was done. So mercedes first argued that it was abuse that caused the failure, the client pointed out that all maintenance was done and that he bought a AMG vehicle to drive it hard. After some back and forward mercedes ended up taking the vehicle back and gave him a $40k credit to buy another mercedes. I would say if you don't service it there then your wasting you time asking or goodwill. But I agree that it's probably the head bolt issue and that it can be saved
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2007 E63 AMG
I had 34k on my Z06 but the warranty had expired per time not mileage. They inspected the damage and determined it was a busted valve spring which turned out to be a factory defect, brand new crate motor with no warranty. Maybe he can get that lucky, seems the car was driven easy and it's stock, who knows. Let's see what MB has to say.
Last edited by stvbreal; Jun 25, 2014 at 11:48 PM.
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From: Dallas
08 E63 AMG P30, 2013 S550, 09 E63, 14 E63 S Wagon, 14 E350 Wagon(current), 13 C63 P31 (current)
Damn....op good luck man...its sad to see we are starting to see these type of threads more often..not complete engine failures but lots of major repair issues
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From: Silicon Valley
V60 Polestar, Veloster N 6MT
Sorry to hear this - please keep us posted. I'm in the Bay Area as well - which MB dealership are you going to? In any case, hopefully they will extend some goodwill.
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From: Bay Area
2005 E55 / 2008 E63
You are absolutely correct. I've worked for mercedes dealers for 10 years, and had a client with a ML63 that engine grenaded. The diamond washer that holds the cam gear to the camshaft let loose and long story short, cylinder 7 piston was almost completely sideways. The ML had 78k miles. He regularly serviced it at the dealer and every maintenance recommendation (per mercedes) was done. So mercedes first argued that it was abuse that caused the failure, the client pointed out that all maintenance was done and that he bought a AMG vehicle to drive it hard. After some back and forward mercedes ended up taking the vehicle back and gave him a $40k credit to buy another mercedes. I would say if you don't service it there then your wasting you time asking or goodwill. But I agree that it's probably the head bolt issue and that it can be saved
I had my E55 and the E63 serviced at this dealer up to warranty on each prior to the warranty expiring. Post warranty, cutting to the indy was more for convenience, a few blocks from my house compared to 25 miles.
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From: Bay Area California
W211 E55
Then I would say its definately worth a shot, as long as they know you, they're more inclined to help out. If it's just your head bolts, I'd say you should be good, out of pocket cost for the dealer to do a job like head bolts and gaskets isn't too much
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From: California
E63 AMG
Damn that sucks. I have a few questions jdeastbay?
- Are you the orignal owner, if not what year did you aquire the car and how many miles did you accumulate of that 105,xxx?
- If you aquired the car used, did you have records of all services performed (maintenance, repairs, warranty, TSB's, etc.)?
- What dealer and independent shops worked on your car? As an FYI, I've only taken my E63 to Fletcher Jones Mercedes (Fremont) and Mercedes Exclusively (San Jose).
- What do you think was the root cause of the failure and were you surprised (given the miles accumulated)?
- Was there anything that you observed differently (even if it's slightly minor) within the last week, month, 6 months, etc. with car prior to breakdown (noises, vibrations, feedback, etc.)?
- As a current 2007 E63 owner with 48k miles (meticulously maintained), should I be super concerned? If I can get to 100k+ miles like you than I'm fine with that.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: San Diego
E55
Damn that sucks. I have a few questions jdeastbay?
- Are you the orignal owner, if not what year did you aquire the car and how many miles did you accumulate of that 105,xxx?
- If you aquired the car used, did you have records of all services performed (maintenance, repairs, warranty, TSB's, etc.)?
- What dealer and independent shops worked on your car? As an FYI, I've only taken my E63 to Fletcher Jones Mercedes (Fremont) and Mercedes Exclusively (San Jose).
- What do you think was the root cause of the failure and were you surprised (given the miles accumulated)?
- Was there anything that you observed differently (even if it's slightly minor) within the last week, month, 6 months, etc. with car prior to breakdown (noises, vibrations, feedback, etc.)?
- As a current 2007 E63 owner with 48k miles (meticulously maintained), should I be super concerned? If I can get to 100k+ miles like you than I'm fine with that.
jdeastbay… Sorry to hear, as mentioned hopefully some goodwill will be done by the dealer. Keep us updated, Good Luck man!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 348
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From: Bay Area
2005 E55 / 2008 E63
Damn that sucks. I have a few questions jdeastbay?
- Are you the orignal owner, if not what year did you aquire the car and how many miles did you accumulate of that 105,xxx?
- If you aquired the car used, did you have records of all services performed (maintenance, repairs, warranty, TSB's, etc.)?
- What dealer and independent shops worked on your car? As an FYI, I've only taken my E63 to Fletcher Jones Mercedes (Fremont) and Mercedes Exclusively (San Jose).
- What do you think was the root cause of the failure and were you surprised (given the miles accumulated)?
- Was there anything that you observed differently (even if it's slightly minor) within the last week, month, 6 months, etc. with car prior to breakdown (noises, vibrations, feedback, etc.)?
- As a current 2007 E63 owner with 48k miles (meticulously maintained), should I be super concerned? If I can get to 100k+ miles like you than I'm fine with that.
*Bought the car 2 years old with 10k miles. All the miles where mine. A good chunk of them a riot.
*Yes warranty work done at MB and maintenance post warranty at indy who I have a long relationship with.
*Same as above
*My guess is the combination of brutal daily bumper to bumper and hard driving when I had the chance took its tool over the years. Even with proper maintenance.
*Nothing. Ran very strong up to the event.
*Not my call, but percentage wise your on the right side of the equation. These engines are not going daily. Mine had a weak link that gave out.
I ended up dumping it to a person that has the ability to bring it back to life. And what I learned along this path is if she blows under 80k miles there is a decent chance MB will work with you. Between 80-90k a gray area. Anything above 90k and your screwed, no leverage.
