W211 E63 AMG head bolt damage
#52
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 256
From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
We were both wrong. I have a bad secondary cat that's rattling (some bolts were a bit loose though). Not sure if we'll try gutting it or I'll just swap in high flow ones and hope it doesn't get noticed when having a smog check done. The car is low enough now that I don't think they'd really notice a set of aftermarket secondaries on it without putting it on a lift, which the smog place I use doesn't have.
Pretty much the worst possible outcome there. Since I'm in CA I technically have to spend thousands of dollars to fix this right. **** that, buying a new setup (driver's primary and both secondaries) will be my last resort. Those 3 cats are on the same pipe and can't be purchased separately.
Pretty much the worst possible outcome there. Since I'm in CA I technically have to spend thousands of dollars to fix this right. **** that, buying a new setup (driver's primary and both secondaries) will be my last resort. Those 3 cats are on the same pipe and can't be purchased separately.
Last edited by Strigoi; 02-20-2018 at 07:04 PM.
#53
If I was still in Bay Area I'd let you run mine, I just removed all of the stock pipes/cats with 32.5k miles on it. I wont be out your way until next christmas.
Were you able to get any other info on how your tech was tightening your headbolts? I have the passenger side apart, and was going to replace the bolts tonight. I did mess up and not install the bolt/pin on the cam adjusters before removing the cams, hope it isn't rocket science.
Were you able to get any other info on how your tech was tightening your headbolts? I have the passenger side apart, and was going to replace the bolts tonight. I did mess up and not install the bolt/pin on the cam adjusters before removing the cams, hope it isn't rocket science.
#54
I started working on the headbolts last night, I googled the size torques socket I needed and found someone who claimed it was a T60. Mine is a T55, not sure if the other person misspoke or if they have different sizes. So far my bolts are like new, no corrosion like the ones I have seen pics of. My car was serviced more than needed and I wonder if the antifreeze changed helped out. My car has 32500 miles and a 2008.
#55
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 256
From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
At only 32,500 miles I wouldn't expect to see much, if any, damage to them. From what I've read it seems like it happens once you get higher mileage.
#56
We were both wrong. I have a bad secondary cat that's rattling (some bolts were a bit loose though). Not sure if we'll try gutting it or I'll just swap in high flow ones and hope it doesn't get noticed when having a smog check done. The car is low enough now that I don't think they'd really notice a set of aftermarket secondaries on it without putting it on a lift, which the smog place I use doesn't have.
Pretty much the worst possible outcome there. Since I'm in CA I technically have to spend thousands of dollars to fix this right. **** that, buying a new setup (driver's primary and both secondaries) will be my last resort. Those 3 cats are on the same pipe and can't be purchased separately.
Pretty much the worst possible outcome there. Since I'm in CA I technically have to spend thousands of dollars to fix this right. **** that, buying a new setup (driver's primary and both secondaries) will be my last resort. Those 3 cats are on the same pipe and can't be purchased separately.
#57
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 256
From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
Luckily my car only gets plugged in and they don't put it on the rollers for smog. I'll keep you in mind with the Magnaflow cats.
#60
I took the chance, haven’t lost any fluid. I follow him on FB and his customers have the $$ I don’t. Some of his work is amazing, and if he was closer I might have waited and had him port my heads, but I’m not so I did the 1 bolt at a time. If you do end up messaging him, he responds in videos. I sent him 2 videos about a concern and he responded all was good. I would use the ARP bolts for the cam timing install, wiestec does give you the torque values on the website and he told me it’s normal to see timing off after higher mileage, also replace the diamond coated washers. I used engine assembly grease on all threads and parts before I put back together.
#61
I took the chance, haven’t lost any fluid. I follow him on FB and his customers have the $$ I don’t. Some of his work is amazing, and if he was closer I might have waited and had him port my heads, but I’m not so I did the 1 bolt at a time. If you do end up messaging him, he responds in videos. I sent him 2 videos about a concern and he responded all was good. I would use the ARP bolts for the cam timing install, wiestec does give you the torque values on the website and he told me it’s normal to see timing off after higher mileage, also replace the diamond coated washers. I used engine assembly grease on all threads and parts before I put back together.
#62
I don't think anyone is arguing that one at a time is better than head removal but it usually works well. As long as you know there is a small chance you could end up removing the heads anyway if something goes wrong ie snapped bolt then go for it.
#63
Im in NM and there isn’t too many shops out this way but if it isn’t leaking why not research a little farther away for your home town? MA shows 10-15 shops near Boston. Another option is to take the engine out and ship it off, or even have the heads ported if they have to come off. The guy that helped me with xentry said he had done a few, he was in NJ. Another option is to ask for help in the C63 or ML63 forums and maybe someone near you will reply.
#64
** Update **
So the car is in the shop. I get a call from the manager telling me that the job is a lot harder then they expected. He was able to remove 8 head bolts from one side and 6 from the other. 2 head bolts have broken heads and are stuck. He said he is unable to remove the Actual head because there is not enough room. He will have to drop the engine to remove the head. I know the price will change now.
I came to the shop to find my Engine on the floor. (Almost Cried)
W211 E63 Engine Dissembled
You Could see the stuck head bolt on the right side.
W211 E63 engine torn apart. Head Bolt stuck
Ill Keep udating you guys as it gets more expensive.
So the car is in the shop. I get a call from the manager telling me that the job is a lot harder then they expected. He was able to remove 8 head bolts from one side and 6 from the other. 2 head bolts have broken heads and are stuck. He said he is unable to remove the Actual head because there is not enough room. He will have to drop the engine to remove the head. I know the price will change now.
I came to the shop to find my Engine on the floor. (Almost Cried)
W211 E63 Engine Dissembled
You Could see the stuck head bolt on the right side.
W211 E63 engine torn apart. Head Bolt stuck
Ill Keep udating you guys as it gets more expensive.