So I joined awhile back and have been reading the common issues thread and some of the diy threads. Is the E 63 platform as much of a nightmare as it seems or have I spent too much time reading the downside threads? I have pretty good diy skills. I had an M5 and a Ferrari 328 and handled their up-keep. I have a 4 car garage and a 4 post lift. After reading hours of threads here I am afraid I'm getting into a more maintainence less fun car. Have I just over thought this ? Anybody have an idea what annual maintainence other than easy stuff like fluids, tires and brakes entails? Is an E 63 S capable of going 100k without a total engine out catastrophy?

 

Time to leave the interwebs and realize that the majority of people happily drive their cars for years, with regular maintenance.
Sounds like you will be more than able to do 90+% of the work needed and then outsource some of it as needed.
And in return get an incredible stealthy car that can do it all (esp in wagon format).
Come join the believers!

 

I was afraid I was reading Myself into a dark hole.

 

I've had two M5s (and also do my own work and have a lift), they were much worse than the E63! Honestly the only thing I make sure to keep an eye on is the wire harness oil stuff, but I don't actively worry, it's rare to cause any kind of actual engine damage (i.e. not like finnicky rod bearing issues). The M157 in our GL63 is now turning over 100k miles and that wire harness has been the only bigger repair, and it started leaking under the previous owner who wasn't checking it so had we had it from lower miles I'm not sure we would have had to do an engine out replacement of it.

Otherwise it's all normal european car maintenance items, and I've found Mercedes engineering easier to work with than BMW.

 

I should add that over a couple years, annual repair and maintenance has been under $1k/yr and I'm around 70k miles.

 

The E63 has been a reasonable expense car to own, bought it new in 2014, I also own an Acura and bmw. I am at 46,000 miles. The return of fun and joy blows the Acura and bmw out of the water.

I purchased the service plans at discounts from my dealer since day 1. I re-upped twice for a grand total of $4500 for 9 years since new. I paid my indy $1400 out the door to do my front and rear rotors and pads (all OEM brembo hardware sourced from vendor on eBay), about 1 year and 5k miles ago. New tires were $1200, I've been through two sets in 9 years.

I maintain the sticky and I definitely realize this forum will attract mostly people looking for tuning info or repair info or a place to vent frustration - very very few will post just to say how awesome the car is or how relatively easy it is to own and maintain.

if you stay ahead of certain things as mentioned in the sticky you'll be more anxiety free and have more mental and spiritual energy left to focus on the fun and joy of owning this car.

 

Just oil changes / regular maintenance, a total of 35k miles (2015). Due to the low mileage, probably cannot comment on long term reliability.

I am due to replace the 'summer tires' which still have 70% tread (due to age) as I have winter tires on for half the year.

Bottom line: so far a great car to own/drive/maintain, and an AMAZING winter car When brakes need to be addressed will do that myself to save some $$$.

 

Always good to hear real life experiences. Thanks for making that sticky I am one of those that over researches everything and the reading has been great. Hopefully I will be testing a wagon in MA very soon.

 

I'm enjoying mine. 66k miles on a 2014. I've put over 30k of that on the car. Coolant tank leak, failed brake booster. Other than that, it's been great. I routinely do long-distance drives with the car. Not many cars out there that would be better for me.

 

My 14 wagon now has 38,000 miles. Bought extended warranty now expired. Routine services done on time. Only two issues are slightly noisy steering and sometimes starts off in 2nd when in sport or sport +. Dealer could never fix. Can not duplicate/replicate. Have RennTech tune for 92 octane. Still enjoy this ride.

 

I just sold my 2014 E63S with 120k miles after 5 years of ownership & am debating now on a F90 M5 or a W213 E63S. My car was stock except for a stage 1 tune. The only thing that failed was the rear air suspension which I had replaced at a indy shop for only around $1000. Other than that, it was all basic maintenance. & I made sure to follow the threads here to change the cam position sensors. Back 5 years ago, I was debating between the F10 M5 or the E63S. I recall seeing F10 M5's needing clutch pack replacements after going to stage 2, & rod bearing issues (yet once again), ending up going with the E63S

 

I tested a 2014 in Acton Mass. yesterday. It gets a PPI Monday, if all is well My journey begins.

 

From where I’m standing, this vehicle doesn’t seem to have anything that sets it apart from a typical German auto when it comes to maintenance. I’ve owned 4 Audis prior to my E63 and each one had its own set of issues but nothing that broke the bank. My E63 seems to be following the same pattern. Keep in mind, I DIY or my BiL does it for me at $105 an hour.

 

Approaching 100k miles in my tuned 2014 E63S and have done nothing but regular maintenance and replacing general wear and tear parts. I'll be doing preventative maintenance once she hits 100k for the water pump, thermostat, and pulleys.

 

I've kept up on everything and if not for factory and then extended factory warranty my car would have been extremely expensive to keep running. I'm glad I never had to pay out of my own pocket except for mods and nit-picky stuff like worn switches and cosmetic things like new front bumper canard, steering wheel switches, under trays etc.

Although since it was all sorted out it's been rock solid, so, maybe it's all good

 

Warranty helped me to the tune of about $1000 over 7 years

 

Nice @PeterUbers
Mine helped me out over six figures. I had so many things replaced, it's like a new car. Dealer never fought anything either.
Struts
Control arms
Axles
Propeller shafts and hangers
Coolant lines
Wheel Bearings
Hubs
Coolant reservoir
Batteries
Airmatic
Crate engine

Just off the top of my head

 

^^ and even with all that MY FAV CAR IN THE WORLD no regrets. So much so I'm in a new one for another 7 years of pain and pleasure.

What a great machine. **** happens, what are you gonna do.

 

Best $110,000 I've ever spent in a purchase that didn't have monetary return on investment ... but the return was happiness and pure entertainment
and continues to do so.

 

So probably worth an extended warranty then. I bought the car from Mass. PPI exposed bad alignment, weeping CPS sensor and gutted secondary cats. Acton Auto Boutique was happy to replace ALL of the cps sensors and alignment. Hopefully the PA safety inspection won't find the gutted cats. The outfit that did the PPI said it was hard to see the modification so maybe I will get lucky. We pick Her up tomorrow. Acton Auto used Freedom Warranty and has good results with them for over 2 years.

 

did the oil get to the ecu plugs?

 

Budget 1k a year, which is pretty reasonable. As someone who regularly sees the earlier 6.2L til the current 4L's they really are much more reliable than you want as long as you are smart about where you buy your parts, where and who does your work, and actually diagnosing things properly without throwing tons of parts at it because the internet tells you to at a certain mileage.

10 years, 10k pretty normal. The big ticket item is the thermostat, paying someone to do the water pump/front drive accessories and watching them bend you over without factoring overlapping labor, radiator replacement, and definitely the big expensive brake rotors but once you switch to ceramic it's a non-issue.

 

There was no oil in the harness, just evidence of seepage at the CPS. All 4 have been replaced. The PPI shop was a BMW/MB only sbop so well aware of what to look for.

 

All in one year. Opted out of warranty paid everything out of pocket. Serviced only at the dealership.

Trasnmission Service
Ride height sensors
Control Arms
Brake Service
All Four Michelin Tires
Alignment
Brake Flush Service
Refurbished Front Differential install
Lower control arms replaced
Wheel bearing placed
Front Differential fluid service again
Front Passenger Side Axle Seal again
Cam Position Sensors
Coolant Flush and Reservoir replaced
AC recharge Service
Four Wheels Balanced
Sacrificial Pigtail Harness/Solenoids
Both Air intake duct
Wipers
Airmatic Filter replaced
Spark Plugs
Cabin filter
Engine filter
Front Passenger Side Axle Seal
Front Differential fluid service
Rear Differential fluid service
Transmission fluid & filter replaced

 

I bought my '14 from the original owner at 98k. He bought the maintenance contracts and did everything by the book. After buying the car I did the following:
- Tightened creaky sunroof bolts (added Loctite) (common)
- Replaced right rear tail light (the running light strips were dead, fairly common)
- Rear shocks were leaking so I bought a used set on eBay from a '15 CLS63 (saving like $1000 or something)
- Replaced the cam position sensors because all had traces of oil in the plug. Also added the harness extensions. ECU totally dry. Cam magnets are dry so leaving alone for now.
- Engine air filters (part of 100k service)
- Cabin air filter
- Preemptively replace vacuum pump check valve w/ correct orange seal. Mine was actually totally fine so I didn't throw it away.
- Oil change (previous owner seems to have done 10k intervals but the timing cover area looks spotless)
- Brake fluid flush (also part of 100k service)
- Preventatively replaced wastegate vacuum control hoses
- Preventatively replaced intercooler pump. Mine was working but this one was OEM and I did the always-on relay mod so wanted to start from new here.
- Traced random interior rattles (one was the passenger seat storage compartment - new at dealer for $80, and the other was a broken clip on that Airbag cover for the right rear C pillar panel when I did the sunroof bolt fix)
- Recharged A/C, because I discovered it leaks. No smoking gun yet but assuming condenser (also common, and less than $200 plus taking the front end apart, someday)

Oh I also replaced a tire which was showing belts. Alignment.

Purchased the Benzninja (need to take advantage of that soon).

None of this stuff was insane for pricing. I haven't added up the actual costs. All DIY of course.

In the parts funnel I have plugs, coils, driveshaft flex couplers and those plastic covers for the rear lower control arms. This is over about 3 months. Car has 100k now. It replaced my totaled E55.