Hey guys, just picked up a new-to-me 2018 E63s sedan with 18k miles. After driving it for 2 weeks, I found some droplets on the floor of my driveway. I've been monitoring the leak throughout and I finally took it to the dealership, they are 99% certain it's another RMS leak... My question is, looks like this is a MAJOR issue for w213, WHY IN THE WORLD didn't MB recall for this issue?? This seems like it's a super common issue and in my car group, everyone and I mean everyone who had a w213 E63s has had a RMS failure.

 

Damn, that's unfortunate. I totally share your frustration with this issue, MB should really issue a TSB asap. Here I am with a '18 at 26k miles thinking I was safe for at least another 10k. I could be wrong but I think you hold the title of lowest mileage w213 e63s to report a RMS leak.

Is your car modified at all?

 

Yeah this is definitely the lowest mileage E63 I've seen with an RMS failure, I'm very sorry to hear that OP.

 

All stock.. unfortunately this is something that's happening to all of us.. where is a petition that we can sign to demand MB to recall this issue lol, I'm afraid after I spend $5k to replace the damn $26 part, its gonna fail in 20k again.

 

Sorry to hear. Please update when the diagnosis is available. It will be interesting to know if your engine has (a) failed vapor separator(s).

 

parts are cheap (per se). It is all about labor costs for this repair and the time length as well (assuming all parts are readily available)

 

Hmmmm.. This is a bit of a concern. I am looking into a 2019 CPO with a couple years of factory warranty tacked on, but still. The other thing is this seems to be a recurring problem. Some years a go I had an almost new 2012 C63 (the did not have an S at that time, just what they called the development package). In any case it also developed a rear main seal leak. It was a different engine than what we are talking about though.

 

Definitely concerning. Seems to be that the issue with the rear main seal leaking is one of two things... 1) the seal is just **** to begin with or 2) the oil separators are not working as designed and creating too much pressure and pushing oil out through the rms.

With the M156 engine, there's aftermarket oil air separators/catch cans that run the blowby through the oem PCV valve and back to the intake manifold. However, I don't currently see something similar being sold specific to the M177 LS2. I think the smart thing to do on these cars is to inspect underneath for an oil leak, if you don't see anything - thank god - and then throw a new set of oil separators on the car.

 

Is an RMS leak something you can spot just by looking under the car, or reaching your phone under it and taking a pic? Or are there shields/panels in the way? ‘19 here with 35k miles and no signs of any drips under the. At, but I’d be curious to put my phone down there to get a little better look.

 

There is a protective metal sheet panel right underneath to protect the tranny/engine. You have to rely on the fluid stain on the garage floor to give you the sign you may have an issue.

 

RMS seal leaking with cover removed

 

yup. No mistake.

what model year ? What mileage ?

 

Given what seems to be the emerging prevalence of this issue, expect to see a third party catch can to replace the factory catch can (vapor separators). MB poor engineering strikes again.

 

I agree. I think nobody will design / make it now as w213 is at end of life.

 

Good point. Hopefully there are enough of these engines out in the wild that someone will take a chance and design a fix for it.

 

2019 Wagon with 46,000 miles. It had the leak when I purchased it. Dealer is covering fix with CPO warranty.

 

Just make sure dealer is fixing the seal + changing out the separators at the same time

 

I did. They are also replacing the oil pan. They have had it for a month now. I know this fix requires extensive labor, but it shouldn't take this long.

 

Technically, if dealer has all the parts, j was told it should be a 4-5 days job.

But mine took exactly 1 month because of waiting for parts here and there and it was over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

 

Parts are a huge problem. I've had an engine mount for a different MB model on order for 11 months and still waiting. I was at the dealership yesterday to order a couple small parts and they said they are having trouble getting anything delivered. It seems the only parts being made are for the production line.

 

What are the odds that even once repaired that the RMS could fail again in 20-30k miles? Does changing it out with newer parts somehow make this less an issue down the line or are we just buying time until it fails again due to poor engineering? I have 2021 wagon with 7,000 miles and I wonder if and when this will go out for mine.

 

Only time will tell … as you can see in this and another thread on this matter, the mileage can vary greatly.

mine failed at 5 yrs mark with 100,000km as i daily drive it

 

Wonder if anyone has repaired the seals twice now in their lifetime ownership

 

The vapor separator failure may be time related as much as mileage related. Higher mileage in a shorter time suggests higher average engine temperature, which to my way of thinking helps separator function. A garage queen would have generally cooler average engine temp (over the long term) and oil vapor can migrate, condense and gum up the works (plug the separator). The separators have some fussy valves (overpressure or relief valves) and maybe a mesh filter or two. Perfect for getting plugged.

Removing the factory separators and replacing with an aftermarket catch can would be one option. Or opening up the MB separators and modifying the internals by removing check valves and filters. Problem is the separators appear to be blow molded plastic and these could be hard to reassemble once taken apart. Someone will figure something out.

 

Anyone used AT205 for resealing?