2018 E63s blown engine
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Canada
2018 E63S
2018 E63s blown engine
Have a 2018 E63s and while driving last week noticed the CEL light on so pulled over and shut off. 5 minutes later started it up and drove home with no CEL and full power. Later that day I started car and had CEL blinking and car shaking. Shut it off and had towed to dealership. They told me that tip of a spark plug broke off and damaged the cylinder and I would need a new engine. The car has only been serviced at one dealership and they completed the spark plug change under a year ago.
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this and what the outcome was? Also heard that engine is on backorder with no ETA??
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this and what the outcome was? Also heard that engine is on backorder with no ETA??
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Haven't read this scenario on this forum yet; no blown engine posts (plenty on the w212 amg forum)
were you running rich that the spark plug tip burned and broke off?
are you modded? Tuned?
refurb engine?
are you covering the cost of all this?
were you running rich that the spark plug tip burned and broke off?
are you modded? Tuned?
refurb engine?
are you covering the cost of all this?
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From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
Given your dealer did the spark plugs change not that long ago, could the technician have not installed the plugs correctly to begin with? Need the dealer to discuss this possibility.
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From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
Mb canada will ask you to deal with dealer. They won’t do anything for you without dealer route first.
to me if plug is broken, then it’s parts failure and dealer needs to investigate and discuss with you. If they just tell you need a new engine, then sounds like they are not taking any liability/responsibility at all. There should be a protocol for dealer to follow especially the service was done by them
to me if plug is broken, then it’s parts failure and dealer needs to investigate and discuss with you. If they just tell you need a new engine, then sounds like they are not taking any liability/responsibility at all. There should be a protocol for dealer to follow especially the service was done by them
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From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
Chat gpt does suggest a completely broken off plug can indeed cause severe damage to the cylinder (assuming it went down to the cylinder and destroyed it), the engine may need to be replaced or repaired.
So, dealer parts failure is what your dealer should start with. They provided the plug, they are still somewhat responsible for it … imo.
So, dealer parts failure is what your dealer should start with. They provided the plug, they are still somewhat responsible for it … imo.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
As far as I know, Mercedes has 24 months warranty on genuine MB parts used in repairs, so I'd say this is gonna be a warranty claim since the part that failed is less than 12 months old. Unless they can demonstrate you did something that caused it.
As to engine damage, yes broken off spark plugs getting into the combustion chamber will do a number. Dealerships won't rebuild an engine, but if you take it to an engine builder, they may be able to sleeve the damaged cylinder. The trick is the NANOSLIDE cylinder wall coating process that AMG uses. The sleeved cylinder will have to be coated as well. That's something to keep in mind if you are left footing the bill. As said, though, there should be warranty on the spark plugs and the workmanship.
As to engine damage, yes broken off spark plugs getting into the combustion chamber will do a number. Dealerships won't rebuild an engine, but if you take it to an engine builder, they may be able to sleeve the damaged cylinder. The trick is the NANOSLIDE cylinder wall coating process that AMG uses. The sleeved cylinder will have to be coated as well. That's something to keep in mind if you are left footing the bill. As said, though, there should be warranty on the spark plugs and the workmanship.
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Well...
while the engine is out have the tech
while the engine is out have the tech
- Install the latest version OVS and RMS (on your own dime unless you have an extended warranty that would cover this in the future)
- This is presuming the dealer covers parts and labor for the engine replacement
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From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
That type of spark plug damage is usually caused by detonation/pre ignition. ( the clue is it ran fine for 11 months AFTER the plug change)
Blaming the parts is going to be a stretch….
I had a wall full of those type of plugs up in my old shop as a reminder. Usually happens on the ragged edge in search for more power in racing applications. Ceramic/electrode parts of the plug will destroy that cylinder/valvetrain in less than a second. Very little margin of error on these engines. High compression coupled with forced induction is very efficient, but if something is “off spec”., these engines, while making a ton of power, can be quite unforgiving. Always run best gas you can get!
How MB handles this type of failure will be an entirely different matter
Good Luck and sorry this happened to you!
Blaming the parts is going to be a stretch….
I had a wall full of those type of plugs up in my old shop as a reminder. Usually happens on the ragged edge in search for more power in racing applications. Ceramic/electrode parts of the plug will destroy that cylinder/valvetrain in less than a second. Very little margin of error on these engines. High compression coupled with forced induction is very efficient, but if something is “off spec”., these engines, while making a ton of power, can be quite unforgiving. Always run best gas you can get!
How MB handles this type of failure will be an entirely different matter
Good Luck and sorry this happened to you!
Last edited by crconsulting; Aug 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM.
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From: Nor-Cal
2020 GLC300 -2014 Sl550 - 1997 SL600
We all trust that the gas we put in our cars is to spec. But what happens in the gas stations storage tanks can also impact what’s in our cars tank. Or even unscrupulous owners switching gas grades is not unheard of….
Many if not most of the failures posted on this (and other non MB) forums is detonation/pre ignition related. The common thread is over 10:1 compression and/or turbocharged engines and pump gas.
When everything is running in spec. Not a problem.
Once a fuel or ignition issue crops up, that’s when the failures start to happen. It would be interesting to see what codes popped up in XENTRY on your car….
Knock sensors are great but engine needs to knock first in order for them to adjust timing.
None of this is any consolation, and I definitely would pursue the fact they changed the plugs and repair is under warranty. It’s leverage even though it’s probably just a coincidence. Can’t tell you over the years how many times I’ve done a simple repair such as an oil change only to have the car come back the next day needing a water pump
Total coincidence, but poor owner doesn’t realize it….Good Luck
Last edited by crconsulting; Aug 11, 2025 at 11:37 AM.
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2018 AMG E63s Ed1
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2018 AMG E63s Ed1
To the op...
It sounds like something that happened to me.
I was at a light about to turn right and the car started sputtering and not being able to rev past 3000 rpm. Had to hobble the car back home. Check engine light came on.
Next day, took it to the dealer, still had Check engine light but the car ran fine. Tech saw faults on 3 cylinders AND low fuel pressure but tank was full. So they reset light AND ALL learned adaptations and recommended "italian" tune up (technically they said it is an AMG so to drive it like an AMG).so I did..has not happened again.
what i can tell you, it felt AND sounded like the car went from 8 to 4 cylinders and "forgot" to come out of that mode.
It sounds like something that happened to me.
I was at a light about to turn right and the car started sputtering and not being able to rev past 3000 rpm. Had to hobble the car back home. Check engine light came on.
Next day, took it to the dealer, still had Check engine light but the car ran fine. Tech saw faults on 3 cylinders AND low fuel pressure but tank was full. So they reset light AND ALL learned adaptations and recommended "italian" tune up (technically they said it is an AMG so to drive it like an AMG).so I did..has not happened again.
what i can tell you, it felt AND sounded like the car went from 8 to 4 cylinders and "forgot" to come out of that mode.
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2019 C63CS
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
As mentioned up above, find the paperwork from the spark plug replacement and see what the warranty period is. The dealerships almost always offer the longest warranty on their repairs, up to two years. BUT, if it's only twelve months, you need to investigate that avenue immediately. Maybe the tech actually did make a mistake or drop a plug before install. You really need to get to the bottom of the issue and see if any other codes were thrown in the background just before the issue. Unfortunately since the car was run after the initial cel, quite a few things can get banged up in there, and thats easy enough to see with a boroscope, from which they should provide pics. I would also personally want to put hands on the spark plug to inspect it and keep it in case you have to fight with the dealer...and take pics of it in front of them at pickup so there's no question of you tampering with it after the fact. If it's not under warranty, it's time to find your friendly indy. Good luck, this is a hard one to swallow.
Any aftermarket warranty?
Any aftermarket warranty?
