Reliability of upgraded turbos on W213
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 683
From: IL
19 E63s, 23 M3 compX, B9 SQ5
Reliability of upgraded turbos on W213
Do you have bigger turbos on your W213 from any aftermarket company? If so what has your experience been with reliability, drivability and daily driving? Would you do it again?
As this is still a fairly new platform and the cars are still fairly expensive and out of reach of most people willing to tinker past full bolt on power levels, I wanted to get some opinions from the few that have done it.
Strongly considering PTG1000s or PTGX turbo upgrade, but worried about the transmission being able to handle it.
As this is still a fairly new platform and the cars are still fairly expensive and out of reach of most people willing to tinker past full bolt on power levels, I wanted to get some opinions from the few that have done it.
Strongly considering PTG1000s or PTGX turbo upgrade, but worried about the transmission being able to handle it.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,761
Likes: 594
From: Seattle
'19 E63S, ‘16 CLS63 RIP, '09 E63 Gone, '06 M5 Gone, '97 Supra TT Gone
I follow a guy in Cali who upgraded his turbo's and promptly blew out his transmission. That's your weak link. Any time you upgrade turbo's, especially if this is your daily, you can expect reliability to go south.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,934
Likes: 387
From: Kenilworth, il usa
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Do you have bigger turbos on your W213 from any aftermarket company? If so what has your experience been with reliability, drivability and daily driving? Would you do it again?
As this is still a fairly new platform and the cars are still fairly expensive and out of reach of most people willing to tinker past full bolt on power levels, I wanted to get some opinions from the few that have done it.
Strongly considering PTG1000s or PTGX turbo upgrade, but worried about the transmission being able to handle it.
As this is still a fairly new platform and the cars are still fairly expensive and out of reach of most people willing to tinker past full bolt on power levels, I wanted to get some opinions from the few that have done it.
Strongly considering PTG1000s or PTGX turbo upgrade, but worried about the transmission being able to handle it.
Was very happy with the result but one unfortunate fill with contaminated gas damaged a lot of things and caused the propellers to bend.
Had to replace them with stock unit as I had no desire to spend another $18k for new ones from Renntech.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 629
Likes: 123
From: Fla
The horses are now in the barn, 2019 E63s
Dinan is a performance name many know but maybe not Steve Dinan's recent history. He's started a new company called Carbahn and has been working on AMG's. He's got some very enlightening applications regarding handling and engine/turbo output performance. You be the judge but I'd love for him to take on the W213 E63 based on what he's accomplished with the
.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 629
Likes: 123
From: Fla
The horses are now in the barn, 2019 E63s
Yes, they are a completely different animal producing unmatched results and apparently some reliability. Which should be expected with their price of admission.
Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 192
Likes: 102
From: Northants UK
MY23 C63 S Final Edition
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 629
Likes: 123
From: Fla
The horses are now in the barn, 2019 E63s
The Carbahn approach to performance in the C63 project video is still worth watching so that one can better manage their expectations of the upgrades they've chosen. Numbers vary, physics doesn't.
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,934
Likes: 387
From: Kenilworth, il usa
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Best engineered and the only one MB respects and is met with tacit approval by them.
Any other tuner would cause a loss of warranty coverage by Mercedes in case they find out.
Not in case of Brabus.
Back in 2004 I had my S600 converted to SV12 package, MB warranty continued to cover it with no issues (engine exempted but covered by Brabus).
25k miles absolutely trouble free....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 146
From: Ohio
AMG E63 Hammer Wagon. Alfa, Rover, Ferrari, Porsche.
It sounds like fun but I really don't get the point anymore. Back when performance cars had half the horsepower they do now, sure it was worthwhile, but now that we have 600hp+ factory monsters I just don't get it. I'd rather be 100% sure my warranty and reliability achieved by way of the thorough, wholistic engineering of the "system" remains intact. I'm sure Brabus is amazing stuff and I'd love to try one out, but the cost is astronomical. Just buy another sports car! 🤷🏻♂️ Not bashing anyone who wants to do this at all, just my thoughts...
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 629
Likes: 123
From: Fla
The horses are now in the barn, 2019 E63s
Brabus seems to be the AMG of 40 years ago. They take the AMG to where the manufacturer cannont (due to expense) just as AMG took the ordinary Mercedes to extraordinary. It's still amazing to me that they managed to get the power they refined through the transmission without destroying it. However the point is well made that performance in the current E63s is good enough to outperform 98% of the cars you'll encounter on a daily basis and do it in the most James Bond kinda way.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 683
From: IL
19 E63s, 23 M3 compX, B9 SQ5
There's always a threshold on any platform where the modifications/power level collide with reliability, and after this point they continue forward inversely. The M177/178 engines are strong and very capable, however the supporting drivetrain components may not be. I'm just trying to gauge what this threshold is lol. Upgraded turbo power/TQ levels might be a bad idea for reliability it seems on the 9 speeds on 4Matic cars like our W213.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 474
Likes: 210
From: cali-hawaii
2020 e63s wagon
the next question is, who will be the guinea pig for carbahn autoworks and the e63s?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,934
Likes: 387
From: Kenilworth, il usa
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
It sounds like fun but I really don't get the point anymore. Back when performance cars had half the horsepower they do now, sure it was worthwhile, but now that we have 600hp+ factory monsters I just don't get it. I'd rather be 100% sure my warranty and reliability achieved by way of the thorough, wholistic engineering of the "system" remains intact. I'm sure Brabus is amazing stuff and I'd love to try one out, but the cost is astronomical. Just buy another sports car! 🤷🏻♂️ Not bashing anyone who wants to do this at all, just my thoughts...
It's a drug for some though, it is for me, just can't help myself and every car I get I try to improve the performance, even when that gain is fairly academic and not meaningful in real applications, I am just not that reasonable enough I guess.
It's a drug addiction, a disease of sorts.......
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 629
Likes: 123
From: Fla
The horses are now in the barn, 2019 E63s
the next question is, who will be the guinea pig for carbahn autoworks and the e63s?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 683
From: IL
19 E63s, 23 M3 compX, B9 SQ5
PTG has a few W213s running around with their PTG1000 turbos, it will be interesting to see what these cars do as the platform progresses.
Last edited by raudiace4; Sep 9, 2021 at 10:30 AM.
