C63 Cam Adjuster Noise

[R77C]

If you buy an AMG from official dealer as approved-used it comes with two years warranty. You only get one with non AMG, unless of course it’s new enough to have more left on the original three year

Not my experience I'm afraid. I bought mine in February this year from a MB dealer, approved used, and it only came with a 1-year AMG warranty.

Futhermore, my father bought a C43 AMG in April from a MB dealer (part of MB retail group in fact), and again, only a 1-year AMG warranty.

Edit - emails from Mercedes UK documenting the warranty details confirmed the 1-year. So this wasn't "hearsay" from the dealer!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Not my experience I'm afraid. I bought mine in February this year from a MB dealer, approved used, and it only came with a 1-year AMG warranty.

Futhermore, my father bought a C43 AMG in April from a MB dealer (part of MB retail group in fact), and again, only a 1-year AMG warranty.

Edit - emails from Mercedes UK documenting the warranty details confirmed the 1-year. So this wasn't "hearsay" from the dealer!

I’ve read similar in posts on this very forum, but the 2 year warranty was in place for many years, and some people are still receiving it so strange that it’s no longer consistent.

 

[Jobsworth]

To be fair I haven’t bought a car this year. It was definitely in place last year. If they have dropped the two year warranty this year I haven’t heard anything about it.

 

[R77C]

My warranty letter for confirmation. They are clearly in a transition because the dates on the top right indicate a year, whereas the final line of the first paragraph says "24 months". I called to check and they confirmed it's only 12 months.

 

[mart72]

My warranty letter for confirmation. They are clearly in a transition because the dates on the top right indicate a year, whereas the final line of the first paragraph says "24 months". I called to check and they confirmed it's only 12 months.

That's exactly the same as the letter i had. Very confusing and very odd why they haven't removed the 24 months .

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That's exactly the same as the letter i had. Very confusing and very odd why they haven't removed the 24 months .

My warranty letter for confirmation. They are clearly in a transition because the dates on the top right indicate a year, whereas the final line of the first paragraph says "24 months". I called to check and they confirmed it's only 12 months.

it was a few years ago now but I bought a car which qualified, and if I remember correctly then I received two letters, with two sets of 12 months, so you never know you still might get a further 12 months

 

[Jobsworth]

it was a few years ago now but I bought a car which qualified, and if I remember correctly then I received two letters, with two sets of 12 months, so you never know you still might get a further 12 months

Exactly what I received. Two letters, two seperate one year warranties to run sequentially

 

[R77C]

Update: despite the new parts the rattling upon warm start-up remains!!!

The dealer have gone back to Mercedes HQ, and we are awaiting to hear further. Any ideas what it could be now that all adjusters have been done and the timing chain tensioner?!

 

[Jobsworth]

You need Tasos Mochatos

 

[R77C]

You need Tasos Mochatos

If only he worked for Mercedes and could do the required work under warranty

 

[Jobsworth]

Lol! He is a former AMG engine builder working in the UAE. Great youtube channel.

back to the issue in hand. Have new cam adjusters and tensioner made any difference to the issue at all? Is the problem only when hot starting? Is there any noise at all from a cold start?
My feeling is it has to be related to the oil thinness (is that a word) when hot. My next step would be to plumb in an oil pressure guage and see if the pressure is taking time to rise while the noise is occurring.

 

[R77C]

Lol! He is a former AMG engine builder working in the UAE. Great youtube channel.

back to the issue in hand. Have new cam adjusters and tensioner made any difference to the issue at all? Is the problem only when hot starting? Is there any noise at all from a cold start?
My feeling is it has to be related to the oil thinness (is that a word) when hot. My next step would be to plumb in an oil pressure guage and see if the pressure is taking time to rise while the noise is occurring.

Thanks for the reply Jobsworth.

No difference whatsoever I'm afraid. Only hot starting (after being sat for 30mins +), cold starting it's completely silent!

I know one of the tests MB HQ asked the dealer to do was oil pressure so perhaps that's already been done, although I don't know under what circumstances they measured it.

 

[R77C]

Little meaningless update...Mercedes Technical came back offering more suggestions/areas to look at but apparently the approved used warranty are now tiring of me and not willing to fork out any more money on diagnosing the issue because there hasn't been evidence of a "failed part" and the warranty only covers "failed parts" apparently...

 

[GillyC63]

So they will now only investigate if your engine decides to destroy itself? Absolutely shocking!
Have you thought of contacting MB UK to see what their take is on this?

 

[R77C]

So they will now only investigate if your engine decides to destroy itself? Absolutely shocking!
Have you thought of contacting MB UK to see what their take is on this?

Indeed.

That will be my next step, it seems like the best action to take at this stage.

 

[Spider10]

Indeed.

That will be my next step, it seems like the best action to take at this stage.

I've just checked mine and it definitely doesn't sound like that hope it gets sorted

 

[LeeJV]

I'm truly shocked by the poor service you have been given By MB, I had the same issue with mine, and they replaced everything without question, it took 3months to do, as they were waiting on parts etc, in total with various other parts and bits I wanted addressed they spent close on 18K. Under warranty

 

[R77C]

So...I wrote to the Mercedes UK CEO and it got passed to an "AMG Operational specialist" who apparently deals with these matters on behalf of the CEO in relation to AMG vehicles.

The reply was pretty blunt and said that they won't offer any more support and echoed the line I'd previously heard; I will have to pay for any further diagnostic work, and should a faulty part be found then Mercedes will cover all of the work (including reimbursing me the labour for the diagnostic work).

Clearly that's going to be a financial black hole, as I wouldn't put any faith on a Mercedes dealer successfully diagnosing the issue!

The lady ended the email by saying if I wanted to dispute her reply then I should take it up with the Motor Ombudsmen. Do any of you have any experience with this? Would this sort of thing be something that they'd support? From my perspective I understand that the warranty rules are for "failed parts", and I'm thankful that they've done as much as they have thus far to look into the issue considering a failed part has yet to be found. My argument was really more powerful to Mercedes themselves i.e. "you've gone this far, why stop now", but in terms of a legal-ish case to bring to the Ombudsmen...I don't think I stand a chance!

EG Do I have to pay for diagnostic work on my car? - The Motor Ombudsman

It's pretty black and white, but my only recourse is that they've replaced so much already which contravenes with the above so that forms a precedent.

Any thoughts welcome.

I still think it must be the lifters not developing enough oil pressure on a warm re-start where the oil is thinner. At operating temperature there's enough oil pressure, and from cold the oil is thick enough to balance it out. My car doesn't exhibit the "clicking" on idle that most do when the lifters start going wrong, but perhaps it's only a matter of time!

 

[sirius9]

Have you taken the car to a recommended Indie to have a look and maybe try and diagnose the problem? If both Cam Adjusters been done, pretty much the big stuff is already covered.
Might also be worth changing to 5W40? and add a bit of Ceratec Liquimoly?

 

[R77C]

Hi Sirius, I'm already using 5W40, but could try the additive yeah. I've been planning to read up about it having seen a huge thread on one of the US forums about it.

Could take it to an Indy who I'm sure would diagnose and fix immediately, but Mercedes should really be held accountable and pay IMO. I'm not letting their reply scare me off, so we'll see what happens.