coolant leak - was it just inevitable
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 58
From: OC
i drive them all, fast and hard
coolant leak - was it just inevitable
100000 miles but i think this started 10K ago. Last yr i had thermostat issue where car was getting slow to reach temp. Had the Stat replaced and since then have to top off the coolant monthly.
Finally got under the car to do an oil change and saw this.
I really like the car a lot and i know its a 100K amg which means potential money pit.
Hoping i can avoid such.
Finally got under the car to do an oil change and saw this.
I really like the car a lot and i know its a 100K amg which means potential money pit.
Hoping i can avoid such.
Last edited by vdubpower; Dec 13, 2023 at 02:03 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,987
Likes: 6,821
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
COOLANT
100000 miles but i think this started 10K ago. Last yr i had thermostat issue where car was getting slow to reach temp. Had the Stat replaced and since then have to top off the coolant monthly.
Finally got under the car to do an oil change and saw this.
I really like the car a lot and i know its a 100K amg which means potential money pit.
Hoping i can avoid such.
Finally got under the car to do an oil change and saw this.
I really like the car a lot and i know its a 100K amg which means potential money pit.
Hoping i can avoid such.
Just in case it's referring to coolant salts deposited on passenger side bellycovers... it's caused by tank overflow due to improper refill procedure. It discharges safely from under side of tank.
Are these great cars money pit... it depends who works on them : this thread is a perfect example about troublesome repair work.
High maintenance for sure. I hear BMW need even more frequent fixings
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,799
Likes: 3,229
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
They are higher maintenance and costly for sure but when they run right they offer something the less expensive or more reliable cars just cannot. Carpe diem.
Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 135
From: par·a·dise
2012 E63 Wagon
Mandated use of recycled plastics by the Germany government that started more than 20 years ago. With BMWs, failures begin in the 60k range. When it comes to these OEM parts, 100k is a safe limit for life expectancy.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 593
Likes: 184
From: SomewherebetweenDCandFL
On the shoulder
Somehow the picture has gone missing ....
Just in case it's referring to coolant salts deposited on passenger side bellycovers... it's caused by tank overflow due to improper refill procedure. It discharges safely from under side of tank.
Are these great cars money pit... it depends who works on them : this thread is a perfect example about troublesome repair work.
High maintenance for sure. I hear BMW need even more frequent fixings
Just in case it's referring to coolant salts deposited on passenger side bellycovers... it's caused by tank overflow due to improper refill procedure. It discharges safely from under side of tank.
Are these great cars money pit... it depends who works on them : this thread is a perfect example about troublesome repair work.
High maintenance for sure. I hear BMW need even more frequent fixings
I was told a long time ago this saying, it's basically held true:
BMW will have electrical gremlins
Audi will pop motors
Mercedes will be reliable, but the maintenance will cost as much as if stuff had broken.
Granted, that saying doesn't hold all of the time, the meaning behind it is more important: They all cost a significant amount of money over a Honda Accord to drive. For one reason or another.
Since that saying came out so long ago, BMW M cars require high dollar "fixes" to things that BMW should have never allowed to go into production. If you don't take care of these fixes, your M motor will blow.
AMG has had the head bolts issue on the M156, M157 has the cylinder scoring and the oil in the ECU issue.
Audi ... well, they still pop motors. LOL
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 871
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
I think BMW has come a long way on electrical, at least in the lease window. Maybe they still fall apart at 100k. But they are WAY up the chart on initial (up to 3 year) quality metrics compared to MB. I take that stuff with a grain of salt though. I've been happy with all three of my MB products. Complex cars can have issues. Even Lexus has had issues with air suspension, for example. Nobody makes a car like the E63 but totally reliable. It's not a thing.
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 593
Likes: 184
From: SomewherebetweenDCandFL
On the shoulder
I think BMW has come a long way on electrical, at least in the lease window. Maybe they still fall apart at 100k. But they are WAY up the chart on initial (up to 3 year) quality metrics compared to MB. I take that stuff with a grain of salt though. I've been happy with all three of my MB products. Complex cars can have issues. Even Lexus has had issues with air suspension, for example. Nobody makes a car like the E63 but totally reliable. It's not a thing.
Agree!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 96
Likes: 24
From: West Columbia, SC
2016 E63 S AMG Wagon
I think BMW has come a long way on electrical, at least in the lease window. Maybe they still fall apart at 100k. But they are WAY up the chart on initial (up to 3 year) quality metrics compared to MB. I take that stuff with a grain of salt though. I've been happy with all three of my MB products. Complex cars can have issues. Even Lexus has had issues with air suspension, for example. Nobody makes a car like the E63 but totally reliable. It's not a thing.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 697
Likes: 172
From: Seattle, WA
2019 M5 Comp, 2005 Ariel Atom 2
I agree...But they're sooo close. The MB failure modes mentioned could all be easily remedied. Metal coolant lines, better seals on CPS and solenoids, get rid of the stupid dual oil pressure system. Don't understand why there is no aftermarket interest in producing better cooling lines!?
I had two M5s (and still have an M3, but it's almost 30 years old and OBD1...), Mercedes has done a MUCH better job w/ engineering in my opinion. Little things like keeping the same oil drain plug bolt for 15 years across multiple platforms - yes these cars are over-engineered, but the Merc seems to be on the more thought-out end of the spectrum (rather than changing things just to stay ahead, fine tuning when it's not exactly needed etc).
I just did coolant lines on my E63, 70k miles and one failed. Did water pump, t-stat and oil cooler gasket etc too. I was expecting it, it happened, and the job was very straight forward. I'll take that over constantly worrying about my BMW rod bearings any day!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 871
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
People running around with a tune are much more at risk, due to building torque at lower RPM. These tiny turbos are capable of ridiculous torque at low RPM but the bottom end can't handle it. No tune, should be no problems. Would it be nice if they built these for 1000 hp? Yeah. But they didn't, and we know this.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 1,356
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
People running around with a tune are much more at risk, due to building torque at lower RPM. These tiny turbos are capable of ridiculous torque at low RPM but the bottom end can't handle it. No tune, should be no problems. Would it be nice if they built these for 1000 hp? Yeah. But they didn't, and we know this.
Well, I know what I am doing today -
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 58
From: OC
i drive them all, fast and hard
Well, I know what I am doing today - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZJSGN8qZ4
