Yuille36

Yep, 1.3 qts sounds right. The rear differential on our cars are independant, not like a solid rear axle on old muscle cars or trucks, where the fluid flow thru the axle to lubricate the axle seals at the wheels hence the large 3 qt capacity.

cetialpha5

Because it's so little, when it's just one or two quarts, I just get the Mercedes fluid. You can usually just buy it online and typically it's in the $20 range so you're not really saving that much money by using some other aftermarket fluid that may not meet spec.

Yuille36

You can’t argue with solid logic 😷

Trainingdragon

Thanks

Yuille36

You are welcome

anomadtoo

William, thank you for the info and offer to taking a look at it for me. I have no set timeline in mind yet; but I will certainly let you know if I take you up on the offer. It's the black 2015 E63 wagon at Imperial Highline Vienna.

Yuille36

Well, I have some good and bad news concerning my E63. The good news first, I had my passenger keyless go door handle replaced. Also we were supposed to replace my oil temperature sensor, which is located behind and to the left of the power steering pump.
Bad news, we didn't replace it, as we noticed a tiny leak from the power steering pump, and a little leak from the upper oil pan. Now since both the power steering pump and the upper oil pan gasket needs to be replaced, we will replace the oil temp sensor at that time.
And the bad news continues, the price to replace the power steering pump and replaced the upper oil pan gasket is $3280. The power steering pump is pretty easy, but the upper oil pan is a 13 hour job, as the engine sub frame needs to be dropped along with the rack and pinion, front suspension.
After the subframe is dropped, access to the lower oil pan can happen, as the bolts for the upper oil pan are located inside the lower oil pan, so that needs to be disassembled. But some light at the end of the tunnel, the leaks aren't critical. But I'm planning on having these issues addressed next month.
AMG = "All Money Gone"

cfmistry

Since you’re going to replace it anyways, why not try a little AT-205 Re-Seal? It’s worked very well on my Chevy to stop a few different leaks. It’s very well supported on BITOG.

Yuille36

The leak isn’t critical, so I have time. Besides, I haven’t been driving this car much anyway due to the pandemic. The last time I was under this car, I had no leaks, and I don’t want to add any chemicals to my power steering or engine oil, as I don’t know what the long term effects would be.

But thank you for this information, I will discuss with my tech, and get his take on it.

For some AMG owners, looking at the cost of the repair, they could live with the leaks for now. But not me, I’m having this addressed ASAP.

cfmistry

Well you’re doing it right, if money is no object then fix it the right way. But that stuff saved me about $1000 in repairs on my Tahoe.

Yuille36

I’m not looking for a bandaid, but a long term solution. My tech already told me that to fix the power steering leak will require a new power steering pump. Or a remanufactured one. But I’m getting a brand new one. But that's a simple fix.

But the bigger issue here is the upper oil pan gasket, that is a huge task, as there is a ton of stuff like the front suspension, engine subframe, steering rack has to be dropped in order to provide room to the oil pan.

Then the lower oil pan needs to be removed to access the bolts inside it for the upper oil pan to be removed and replace the gasket, along with the lower oil pan gaskets.

And while they are doing that, they will change out my oil temperature sensor, as that is a pain in the *** to get at from underneath the car, as it sits right next to the power steering pump, with no room but for the tiniest hands to access.

Trainingdragon

Wow. That's a lot of work and money. How many miles do you have your car Yullie36?

Yuille36

I currently have 91,594 miles, I know what your about to say. I have more money than common sense, as the cars current KBB value is about $9000. And you would be correct, as I’ve spent more money on this car, then it’s worth. I’m a little **** when it comes to my vehicles.

Funny story, when I was at the shop yesterday Greta (Manager) and I were talking. And I asked her how much money have a spent on my E63, she totaled it up a whopping $20,461.26 🤔 not counting this new repair.

Wow....I told her that I don’t have OCD but a little **** about my vehicles. She looked at me an smiled, and I said what. She said I know you, you will fix every little thing wrong on your car, and you don’t care about the cost. So you have a little OCD, and I started to laugh, and said you got me 😩

So she said, when do you want to drop it off? 😁

Trainingdragon

Well my friend you are not alone. I'm **** as well. I've already fixed a half dozen silly little things on my newly acquired E63 and am not done yet. I'm not sure I can stomach those fees though. I do quite a bit myself but the job you're talking about, dropping the pan and pulling off a lot of the front suspension and raising the engine, I'm not sure I would take that on myself. Main thing is that if you enjoy it, than you spend your money the way you want to.

That being said, I've driven mine back and forth to work several days now this week. I like it. Rides pretty smooth and that power........................... oy vey. It's got muscle. I'm still getting used to the throttle response and the touchy brakes. Then again, every car has it's little driveability quirks.

I'm having the brake fluid flushed today and plan to change rear diff fluid on my own this weekend. Also, check around on the suspension to see what's making the little squeeks and bumps. Also try to see if I can see if I have a power steering leak or just fluid build up from a bad top off.

I added a back up camera (Vantop H610) rear view mirror cam. It's nice but the mirror is so tight to the upper console that it doesn't really sit properly . Not much I can do with that. I'm also going to get creative and add a USB port (cigarette lighter style) in the ash tray. I hope it doesn't look like crap LOL. I'll take photos and share when I'm done. I'll upload photos of the car this weekend as well. It's a cool color. I thought it was gray, but it actually has some brown or green in it. Weird but nice.

Yuille36

But I can say for certain, that I'll spend more money on my car in the years to come. My philosophy, is to fix the big ticket items first, and the small issues second. I think that your car maybe Graphite in color.
After this fix, I'm having my windshield cowl replaced, as I got cracks on the corners, where leafs and crap gather.

My next step is to address the speakers in the rear deck sub-woofer assembly. My car lacks the highs in the rear, I do however have a JL Audio Sub-Woofer enclosure in the trunk, for the boom.
My system sounds awesome when sitting in the front seats, but lacks the highs from tweeters in the rear. So I will have them drop the Rear Sub-Woofer Assembly in the rear deck, and replaced the tweeters.
The pan-cake sub will stay in place, I will also have them move my digital display screen for my Passport 9500ci radar detector from the ashtray to underneath the rear view mirror.
As I have to constantly look down, when the radar detector goes off, to see where "Catch Em" is hiding. Which is dangerous to say the least, especially at highway speeds.

Then my attention will turn to my X5M, and all its fluids, over the next several months. As we start returning to normal, I will have to get all its services done when I can.

Trainingdragon

Sounds like you love this car a lot. I can appreciate that. These repairs and upgrades, while can be pricey, are also part of the hobby and therefore the fun.

So I just had my brake fluid flushed out and they noticed that I need front brakes and front control arms. I thought I had more time. I'm going to check it myself but it doesn't surprise me.

So next question, what are some of the best on line resources for parts?

Yuille36

I myself get a great sense of satisfaction, working on my car. Relocating the radar display to the rear view mirror, along with new tweeter in the rear deck, is about $500, the windshield cowl is around $300.
I don't have just one website. I buy from multiple sources, that really depends on what I'm looking for. I shop Rock Auto, Autohausaz, FCP Euro, eBay, ECS Tuning, MBOEMParts.
Ebay can be a great resource for parts like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brembo-Fron...kAAOSwg9hdHwQy

Trainingdragon

Ok great. Thanks for the recommendations.

Yuille36

I would also recommend getting rid of the OEM Semi-Metalic pads and replace them with carbon ceramic pads, as they’re dustless. I am go weeks without ever cleaning my wheels, if I choose to do so, as they never get dirty 👍🏽. I just waiting for the pads and rotors to wear out on my X5M, so that I can change them out 😁. I absolutely hate the dust.

Trainingdragon

Do you have a brand you like for the pads? And the rotors?

Yuille36

I’ve always used the OEM 2 Piece Floating Brembo Front Rotors, and Pagid Rear Rotors, they come with a anti-rust silver coating on RockAuto. As far as brake pads go, I’ve used Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic. The trade off compared to OEM, is you sacrifice that great initial bite, but you have little to no brake dust. So most owner opt for the ceramics.
For everyday driving ceramics are fine, but would opt for the semi-metallic pads if I was tracking it.

Trainingdragon

Any reason why you didn't go with Brembos for the rear?

Yuille36

Pagid is one of the OEM suppliers for Mercedes. I just choose Pagid, as they have a silver anti-rust coating that matches the same coating that comes on the Brembo 2 Piece front rotors. The Brembo rear rotors have more of a primer gray coating to them. And typically rust to start to show they the primer coating after a few months. The anti-rust coating on my Pagid’s, still do not show any rust on the hub surface. I’m not referring to the friction surface, as rust is inevitable.

If I was you, I would create a spreadsheet where you track all the maintenance on your AMG. Where you can assign a color code that represent time, so that you know this color means yearly, this color means every two years, this every four years.

This is how, I track preventative maintenance on my two vehicles. I absolutely love my E63, and I’m a big proponent of the M156 engine, as I belief it gets a bad wrap from a lot of E55 owners, that never had one.

if you want to ask me question privately, just send me a PM and I can provide you with my email address, that way a can send you links to certain items, website, etc.

William

Trainingdragon

I tried to send you a private message but wasn't able. The message was that you cannot receive private messages.

I ran into a little dilemma today. Yesterday when I had my brake fluid flushed, they told me that I needed front brakes (down to 10%) and I needed front control arm bushings. I checked today and I think my front brakes are a little better than that, but are getting close. I couldn't verify a bad bushing in front but I do feel it when I'm driving over speed bumps. It was really hard to see the bushings and they didn't say which control arm bushings. This car seems to have several. Any suggestions?

Trainingdragon

Also, have you considered Brembo Ceramic brake pads?