C55 AMG cylinder lining damage

[schagtai]

I am somewhat heartbroken having learned that my C55 AMG has cylinder lining damage in at least 1 cylinder.



I noticed that my car was asking (via the on dash information) for a litre to a 1.5 litres every 500-800 miles. There were no visible leaks identified and I began to fear the worst but hoping it would be a PCV breather issue.



I took it to Wayne Gates in Harrow who is an independent Mercedes-Benz specialist in Harrow, London who has worked with many AMG engines and they identified cylinder liner wear using an endoscope.



Needless to say, the bill is huge for this job and prohibitive. Any advice? Could someone do this for me for a lot cheaper or do I have to get rid of the car? I am so disappointed as I thought these engines are bulletproof. (((((



The car is a 2005 model with 130,000 on the clock.

 

[Will]

I hate to say it but I’m sure I remember reading about an identical issue on a C55 on this very forum sometime within the last couple of years. Possibly the same car? Have you recently purchased this?

If it’s not got any warranty with it I’d be looking for a replacement engine - perhaps from a 210 E55 or similar.

These are usually pretty bulletproof engines, even with higher mileage.

 

[schagtai]

I hate to say it but I’m sure I remember reading about an identical issue on a C55 on this very forum sometime within the last couple of years. Possibly the same car? Have you recently purchased this?

If it’s not got any warranty with it I’d be looking for a replacement engine - perhaps from a 210 E55 or similar.

These are usually pretty bulletproof engines, even with higher mileage.

Thanks for the reply, Will. I bought the car back in 2017; there is no warranty. Getting a second hand engine will also be risky no? Wayne Gates in Harrow told me they experience the same problem with a number of M113K engines also.

 

[clk320x]

Wayne Gates in Harrow told me they experience the same problem with a number of M113K engines also.

I haven’t read about this being common on the M113k to be honest.

 

[Will]

There’s a lot of modified M113Ks out there, running increased boost/clutch less pulleys and remaps etc.

Yet despite all that I think on balance the amount of failures is actually quite low given the age/mileage of the majority of these engines.

The NA M113 was pretty reliable, maybe they changed some stuff mid cycle or some production quality issues but the late 90s/early 00s 5.4s seemed to soak up miles with ease. 200/300k wasn’t unusual and most of them will have more mileage than yours does without this problem.

My previous two M113Ks were 100K+ milers and never used any discernible oil between services. Neither did my CLK55 with the NA M113 5.4 engine (70k ish on that one though)

A secondhand engine could easily be compression checked and inspected with a borescope if you wanted but generally aside from a few isolated incidents this sort of issue is pretty uncommon.

Maybe speak to someone like MSL for a price on a used engine, they may even be able to fit it for you as they run a workshop/tuning service.

I wouldn’t panic straightaway though, the bore wear isn’t likely to cause any catastrophic issues in the short term and if you’re planning to replace the block anyway there’s not much to lose (aside from the cost of oil top ups!) unless you’re piling on significant mileage in the near future

 

[schagtai]

Where are Msl based?

 

[moodi]

Birmingham

 

[schagtai]

There’s a lot of modified M113Ks out there, running increased boost/clutch less pulleys and remaps etc.

Yet despite all that I think on balance the amount of failures is actually quite low given the age/mileage of the majority of these engines.

The NA M113 was pretty reliable, maybe they changed some stuff mid cycle or some production quality issues but the late 90s/early 00s 5.4s seemed to soak up miles with ease. 200/300k wasn’t unusual and most of them will have more mileage than yours does without this problem.

My previous two M113Ks were 100K+ milers and never used any discernible oil between services. Neither did my CLK55 with the NA M113 5.4 engine (70k ish on that one though)

A secondhand engine could easily be compression checked and inspected with a borescope if you wanted but generally aside from a few isolated incidents this sort of issue is pretty uncommon.

Maybe speak to someone like MSL for a price on a used engine, they may even be able to fit it for you as they run a workshop/tuning service.

I wouldn’t panic straightaway though, the bore wear isn’t likely to cause any catastrophic issues in the short term and if you’re planning to replace the block anyway there’s not much to lose (aside from the cost of oil top ups!) unless you’re piling on significant mileage in the near future

I do about 15k a year, mostly motorway miles. I was thinking of selling the car next year anyway so I’m wondering if an engine replacement is worth it as I imagine I won’t get an engine that easy which hasn’t done high mileage for a Reasonable price.

 

[AMGeed]

Looks like you have two clear choices. Get it fixed, which is going to cost, or top up the oil and p/x it ASAP.
The trouble is, either some poor devil is going to inherit your problem or the dealer will be unable to sell it or make a loss. Depends if you have a conscience or not.

Up to you really.

 

[Teego]

Seems like time to cut your losses and move on before you dive into the money pit. If you have a conscience sell it at auction, bung it to a third level motor trader like Arthur Daley or We Buy Any Car.

 

[schagtai]

Where are Msl based?

Looks like you have two clear choices. Get it fixed, which is going to cost, or top up the oil and p/x it ASAP.
The trouble is, either some poor devil is going to inherit your problem or the dealer will be unable to sell it or make a loss. Depends if you have a conscience or not.

Up to you really.

you’re right it seems it will be expensive to replace engine or get it fixed with the former being a bit cheaper. I will disclose the problem to whoever I sell it to because if I don’t, God will account me in either this life or the heareafter which is not going to make it worth my while especially as He may bless me in other ways.

Thanks for all the advice. I was hoping for a keen mechanic to offer to do this for cheaper than the garages are offering or maybe I can flog the car to such a person for him to work on it himself and get a bona fide AMG for his troubles.

 

[Will]

I reckon you could probably source and fit a replacement engine for under £2k.

I wouldn’t get too hung up about mileage, it’s the condition that matters. My old E55K had done over 150k and didn’t use any oil or water and pulled like a train.

If you sell the car with a major engine problem like this disclosed you’re not likely to get offered much for it, so I would at least explore the option of a good replacement engine as the most practical option and then you can enjoy the car for as long as you wish whilst not losing out either by way of realistic resale value when the time comes to move on. I guess I’m saying you’d probably lose the value of an engine replacement or more sold as it stands, because people would probably wonder why you didn’t proceed with the repair - just the way I see it perhaps.

I guess a lot depends on the current condition and spec of the car itself, if it’s a tidy car with no other real faults/issues I think it would be worth your costs to repair it and use it for another year

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[schagtai]

I reckon you could probably source and fit a replacement engine for under £2k.

I wouldn’t get too hung up about mileage, it’s the condition that matters. My old E55K had done over 150k and didn’t use any oil or water and pulled like a train.

If you sell the car with a major engine problem like this disclosed you’re not likely to get offered much for it, so I would at least explore the option of a good replacement engine as the most practical option and then you can enjoy the car for as long as you wish whilst not losing out either by way of realistic resale value when the time comes to move on. I guess I’m saying you’d probably lose the value of an engine replacement or more sold as it stands, because people would probably wonder why you didn’t proceed with the repair - just the way I see it perhaps.

I guess a lot depends on the current condition and spec of the car itself, if it’s a tidy car with no other real faults/issues I think it would be worth your costs to repair it and use it for another year

Good luck with whatever you decide

Thank you for your kind wishes Will and great sage-like advice I will look into an engine replacement and will ring MSL in the morning. Do you know anyone else who can source, check and install the engine?

 

[moodi]

Sorry to hear

Have you had a quote for any rebuilds?

Here are a few engines but all outside the UK

Mercedes W209 W203 CLK C55 AMG 55 Engine 367PS 120tkm | eBay

Mercedes W209 W203 CLK C55 AMG 55 Engine 367PS 50tkm | eBay

Engine 2005 Mercedes Benz CLK 55 AMG 5.5 M113 113.987 heads planned New CHG | eBay

And one going very cheap but all the way in the USA...

2005 2006 Mercedes Benz C55 Amg 05-08 Clk55 Amg Engine 5.5 Sohc V8 | eBay

I wonder how much work would be involved in dropping a M113K in?

 

[Will]

I was thinking more like this:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/254396865053

Or this:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/174099628323

Should be plenty of older rusty or accident damaged ‘55 AMGs out there for donor engines. The engines were always pretty reliable hence they didn’t sell for high amounts - most ended up being used for engine conversions I would wager.

I know the later cars (203/209 etc) use an electric fan instead of the viscous one driven off the front of the water pump, and possibly a few other ancillary changes which you could swap over from the existing unit, but if you are able to use a 5.4 M113 from something like a 210, 208, even a 220 etc then you should be able to repair this relatively easily.

Check the cam covers for oil leaks, fit new plugs and check the coils/leads etc, check the pulleys/water pump/belt over, again stuff like engine mounts if they need doing would be worth replacing at the same time.

In some ways you’re saving the cost of a typical spark plug job and cam cover oil leak repair. A full day’s labour to fit?

That’s the option I would explore if it were mine

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP, your C55 is a saloon so not a particularly rare car . If the rest of the car is 100% rust and fault free putting a used engine in could be an option (a new M113 n/a engine from MB cost £30K ..and I have heard there is only one in stock, so thats not an option) a used engine will be the only option.

If - on the other hand - it is 'showing its age' it might be time to cut your losses and sell.

I take it you are not in a position to do the work of exchanging the engine yourself ? Whatever happens it is unlikely to be 'cost effective' and it will all be about how much you want to keep your car.

My C55 uses oil between services but well within the limits set by AMG. If the same were to happen to my engine I would be loath to get rid of the car and would explore every avenue to repair it. Mine has 150K on the clock and is my daily driver. Good luck , let us know what you decided to do and how you get on

 

[Alex]

Not uncommon. Sourcing a spare engine and putting it in - as risky as it can be - could be your only option to keep on using the car or selling it successfully.

Sleeving or plating the bore will be more expensive.

 

[W20855amg]

I am somewhat heartbroken having learned that my C55 AMG has cylinder lining damage in at least 1 cylinder.



I noticed that my car was asking (via the on dash information) for a litre to a 1.5 litres every 500-800 miles. There were no visible leaks identified and I began to fear the worst but hoping it would be a PCV breather issue.



I took it to Wayne Gates in Harrow who is an independent Mercedes-Benz specialist in Harrow, London who has worked with many AMG engines and they identified cylinder liner wear using an endoscope.



Needless to say, the bill is huge for this job and prohibitive. Any advice? Could someone do this for me for a lot cheaper or do I have to get rid of the car? I am so disappointed as I thought these engines are bulletproof. (((((



The car is a 2005 model with 130,000 on the clock.

Call pcs down the A3 nice drive they are the best
Just sorted mine up after a conrod bolt broke with a low miles late slk evo engine from
germany

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Is thi

Call pcs down the A3 nice drive they are the best
Just sorted mine up after a conrod bolt broke with a low miles late slk evo engine from
germany

Guessing from your username it’s a W208 CLK55 AMG with the M113 engine?

 

[mbzclk]

I can highly recommend giving Acid at MSL a call, he should be able to help you sort it.

Talk to him he may accept you providing your own engine too. I suspect you can resolve this all for around 2k with MSL, the journey is quick from London.