c63 head bolt issues?

[niketpatel71]

From reading various posts on the US version of the MB problem this seems to be fairly common over there. However apart from Acids post i haven't heard of this happening much over here. I have recently bought a 59 plate c63 and I am just worried of how likely this is?

 

[television]

Never seen anything over here on this., it should apply though.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Some info...

The design of the head bolts is faulty causing them to fail. The tops corrode off. This leads to a head gasket failure which caught in time can be fixed. If you're under warranty its covered. Even if you're out of warranty there have been cases were MB will pick up a major portion of the cost. Indications of head bolt failure is repetitive low coolant level, high oil level (from coolant getting into the oil, CEL, white sweet smelling exhaust smoke). MB will refuse to retrofit an engine until the failure occurs. They can check for it by pressurizing the coolant system and letting it sit over night to see if the coolant level has dropped and coolant is present in the oil. If you're out of warranty it's about £5-6k. If you don't catch it in time, the engine will hydro lock usually resulting in bent or broken rod(s). This is a new engine fix. The cam lobe issue is not a problem with the cam, it with the lifters not properly compressing and decompressing putting too much force on the lobes causing premature wear. The MB service bulleting replaces with a new design head bold, head gaskets, and lifters from the M159 (SLS) engine, or go all out and put in ARP studs...

 

[daveenty]

Known issue on early M156 engines (not just the C63)

It's not affected too many people, but the unlucky few have experienced anything from head gasket failure to full engine rebuilds. Mercedes swapped the bolts (and cam buckets) out after a certain year (2011?) though there is a cut off with engine numbers if you have a search.

Bit of a thread here http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=142 on it, though this is a minor case compared to some. A lot of info on specialist AMG sites.

A few have been sorted by swapping out the bolts for a stud design without removing the heads which seems to have been successful...

ETA Doh: What DSB put up there so much more eloquently.

 

[Developer]

From engine number ending 60658 modified bolts were fitted by MB.

 

[S.Speed]

Luckily the CLK63 I had a while back had been modified..
The previous owner told me the bill was £6,700 !!!
It had the modified lifters as well.

 

[Frontstep]

£6700 thats some fancy bolts and lifters.

 

[C350Carl]

They have Mercedes Logos stamped on the them.

 

[WG M-B]

Luckily the CLK63 I had a while back had been modified..
The previous owner told me the bill was £6,700 !!!
It had the modified lifters as well.

 

[wheelie]

From reading various posts on the US version of the MB problem this seems to be fairly common over there. However apart from Acids post i haven't heard of this happening much over here. I have recently bought a 59 plate c63 and I am just worried of how likely this is?

Stick with a 2011 onwards. No head bolt issues and no lifter issues either, where the cam lobe wears through the lifter and then ouch!

OR

Have a decent warranty for the ownership of the car to take care of the cost.