Returning to the fold-ML 63 advice.

[Crispian]

Looking for some pointers please folks.

After a departure from mercedes for the last 14 months(bmw x5 40d msport) I'm looking at a new steed,namely a 2012 year ML 63amg.

61k,currently for sale at sytner coventry if anyone knows the car.

Whats to look out for on these ?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome 'back' - how was the X5?
What you're looking at is the W166, and with the M157 Engine - 5.5 V8 Bi Turbo.
Very little wrong with that and the engine certainly is a peach, plenty grunt and very tuneable as a few on here will attest.
Other folks with specific ML experience will be along soon..
Sytner though....wasn't impressed dealing with them to be honest

 

[Crispian]

Hiya,I've still got the X5,and to be fair,its been a great car.
Something that big and heavy shouldn't handle like a sports car but it does!

But it will be a 3rd car and I want to get away from diesel as its only used for the mrs shopping trips and carrying the dogs.

Unfortunately its a no go on that particular car,only 61k miles but hasn't seen mercedes for 6 years, that and also a lack of mot history online is ringing to many alarm bells for me.

The hunt continues.

 

[JBell]

Unfortunately its a no go on that particular car,only 61k miles but hasn't seen mercedes for 6 years, that and also a lack of mot history online is ringing to many alarm bells for me.

You will find many 2012 cars out there that haven't seen MB for years, mine is one of them.

The MOT thing is strange though BUT if it has a current one then that is a good thing

 

[Uncle Benz]

You should familiarise yourself with the timing chain issues affecting early m157 engines. You can inspect through the oil filler cap. You are looking for a fat, single centre link rather than twin thin plates making the centre link. The twin type are prone to stretching. The later type is not easy to retrofit, as the sprockets are not compatible. 2012 you are likely to be in the danger zone

 

[Crispian]

Cheers for the info re timing chain,I presume lots of cashpoundmonies to rectify?

The above car,although nice miles,just screams its been run on a budget,although it had new discs and pads all round 2 years ago it was also fitted with the cheapest ditchfinder tyres,not something I could live with with that amount of power.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Cheers for the info re timing chain,I presume lots of cashpoundmonies to rectify?

The above car,although nice miles,just screams its been run on a budget,although it had new discs and pads all round 2 years ago it was also fitted with the cheapest ditchfinder tyres,not something I could live with with that amount of power.

It is expensive, sadly. To upgrade to the new chain design means replacement of the crankshaft sprocket. The new chains won’t fit the old sprocket. That means front timing cover off, which means both heads and sump off. Its a biggie. Best avoided if you can.

 

[Crispian]

Which year was it changed to the better chain?

 

[Uncle Benz]

2013, choose a 2014 car to be safe, or check inside the oil cap.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Good call I’d quite forgotten about those early 157s when singing it’s praises ....mine was 2014 but that didn’t stop me having a peek inside the oil filler cap!!
As you say tyres can speak volumes about previous owners

 

[Crispian]

I can't understand the lack of mot history though.

Possibly a irish import?

 

[DSK]

On the timing chain issue, don't judge alone on a plate but, get the BUILD DATE validate from Mercedes. (May be there was a recall for this so affected cars may have been upgraded).

I read about a check valve issue/recall and a camshaft sensor issue on the M157 engine also. Lastly engine mounts I've heard don't last long on these. Other than that they seem to be highly regarded.

As mentioned above, Synter is a horrid dealership.

 

[Crispian]

Think I'll be changing the search to a c63 estate,that 6.2 is something I need to experience.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Think I'll be changing the search to a c63 estate,that 6.2 is something I need to experience.

Just look out for the head bolt issues then...

 

[DSK]

Think I'll be changing the search to a c63 estate,that 6.2 is something I need to experience.

I believe the NA 6.2 is a really well designed block. I tried it in a E63 and found the low down performance below that of what I expected and it was an engine that needs to be kept up in the rev range to do decent work but, flat out it pulls well. Its not something I personally fancied for effortless day-to-day road use but, it does have character.

 

[Crispian]

Does anyone know this car on the off chance?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102068756442

I came across it by accident as its listed as being a land rover M class.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Don't know it sorry, I wonder what they are ACTUALLY selling? Listed as 3.0 litre, as you say also a Land Rover. Sytner at their best....pictures look nice though

 

[Crispian]

Dunno guv,comes up ok on the website though.

Been scouring the web looking for an ML63,this came up out of the blue,looks a nice motor,shall see what happens.

 

[Blobcat]

Don't know it sorry, I wonder what they are ACTUALLY selling? Listed as 3.0 litre, as you say also a Land Rover. Sytner at their best....pictures look nice though

Dunno guv,comes up ok on the website though.

Been scouring the web looking for an ML63,this came up out of the blue,looks a nice motor,shall see what happens.

They list it wrong to get potential buyers who are searching for something else... quite common so search engines bring people in

 

[Crispian]

Having done a bit of research on this,it would seem the engine would need the additional oil check valve,tensioners and guides fitting according to the mercedes tips(from 009368 to 017984)

In reality,how common a problem is it?

And how much to have the tensioner and guides fitted?

The car has fmbsh and relatively low miles(58k)