I just can not decide. Really looking for advice

[Deadeye1212]

Im in such a quandary. Let me gove you some back story.

A year ago i steched myself and baught a S350 AMG - i always wanted an S Class and searched high and low for the spec i wanted. Although i didnt get the full spcoec i got close. I got the massage and cooled seats. Within a week i had issues so much so tge dealer baught the car back from me and it really tainted my S Class experience. I looked for another, i found one test drove it and the drive was night and day (the previous car had susoension issues at the rear, ride hight was way off) but something didnt sit right with the car, i called the mercades dealer where it was meant of been for it full service history and they informed me that they had never seen the car and there was no record of it on any of the MB data bases. They told me there had been service books made avalable to buy from ebay, so i walked away.

I gave up lolking and baught a 740d - had a few issues but nothing major, untill i got car jacked!

I have for the last year owned a Jaguar XJ portfolio woth lots of options, its a fantastic car and i really do love it but the milage is getfing on a bit, 110k and i really fancy a chamge.

Now i do do alot of M Way miles, but im also a true petrol head. Ive always wanted a CL63 amg (2007 shape) or a S63 AMG. If i go this route i want big spec. It would have to have night vision (i know some see this as a gimmic but living in the country side and with oncomeing car lights getfing ever brighter i really think it advantageous) it deffinatly has to have cooled seats, once you have had them you will never drive a car without them again, and deffinafly massaging seats. Like i say i do lots of M way miles. Distronic would also be on my list.

I posted in the AMG section and was told about the head bolt issue on the engines of this year and also someone else has told me about coul packs.

Ive seen 2 S63 listed with the right options, one is private so im very reluctant to buy privately especially when they want trade money (all be it for a lesser spect car) and ine at a dealer. The one at the dealer has very scetchy history so thats put me off although its prices nicely. I just dont get why someine with a car of this nature would not keep up with service history!

There seams to be more CL63 with the spec im after, again most are Private but most also have MB history.

So should i really he worred about this head bolt issue as none ive found so far hahe had the work done. Keeo in mind the cars im looking at ar between 80k and 95k miles and when should the soark plugs of been changed? Or should i revert back to a S350 AMG?

I know things will need doing to a car of this age but i dont really want to rund the risk of the head bolt issue if i can help it. Or the coil packs at 1200 a side!

If anyone has advice it would be greatly appreciated, i just need ti get this big luxury AMG itch scratched!

Equally if anyone knows of a car fof sale or coming for sale please let me know!

I apologise in advance for soelling and typos i suffer from severe dyslexia.

John

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

If you are after an AMG then go and get one. Look for plenty of service history with a decent garage or MB independent . There are a few CL/ S/ and E500’s about that might be just as nice but not as quick.
headbolts with a high mileage car should have been sorted out and I think cars from 2014 do not have the problem.
any second hand car is likely to have some problems or signs of use, a good dealer will give a warranty, in fact I think they have to give a three month one..

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Im in such a quandary. Let me gove you some back story.

A year ago i steched myself and baught a S350 AMG - i always wanted an S Class and searched high and low for the spec i wanted. Although i didnt get the full spcoec i got close. I got the massage and cooled seats. Within a week i had issues so much so tge dealer baught the car back from me and it really tainted my S Class experience. I looked for another, i found one test drove it and the drive was night and day (the previous car had susoension issues at the rear, ride hight was way off) but something didnt sit right with the car, i called the mercades dealer where it was meant of been for it full service history and they informed me that they had never seen the car and there was no record of it on any of the MB data bases. They told me there had been service books made avalable to buy from ebay, so i walked away.

I gave up lolking and baught a 740d - had a few issues but nothing major, untill i got car jacked!

I have for the last year owned a Jaguar XJ portfolio woth lots of options, its a fantastic car and i really do love it but the milage is getfing on a bit, 110k and i really fancy a chamge.

Now i do do alot of M Way miles, but im also a true petrol head. Ive always wanted a CL63 amg (2007 shape) or a S63 AMG. If i go this route i want big spec. It would have to have night vision (i know some see this as a gimmic but living in the country side and with oncomeing car lights getfing ever brighter i really think it advantageous) it deffinatly has to have cooled seats, once you have had them you will never drive a car without them again, and deffinafly massaging seats. Like i say i do lots of M way miles. Distronic would also be on my list.

I posted in the AMG section and was told about the head bolt issue on the engines of this year and also someone else has told me about coul packs.

Ive seen 2 S63 listed with the right options, one is private so im very reluctant to buy privately especially when they want trade money (all be it for a lesser spect car) and ine at a dealer. The one at the dealer has very scetchy history so thats put me off although its prices nicely. I just dont get why someine with a car of this nature would not keep up with service history!

There seams to be more CL63 with the spec im after, again most are Private but most also have MB history.

So should i really he worred about this head bolt issue as none ive found so far hahe had the work done. Keeo in mind the cars im looking at ar between 80k and 95k miles and when should the soark plugs of been changed? Or should i revert back to a S350 AMG?

I know things will need doing to a car of this age but i dont really want to rund the risk of the head bolt issue if i can help it. Or the coil packs at 1200 a side!

If anyone has advice it would be greatly appreciated, i just need ti get this big luxury AMG itch scratched!

Equally if anyone knows of a car fof sale or coming for sale please let me know!

I apologise in advance for soelling and typos i suffer from severe dyslexia.

John

I’m not aware of any coil pack issues (although V12 engines were affected) but head bolts, cam adjusters, and valve buckets are known weak points.

Not every car will be affected, far from it in fact, but unless preventative work has been done then the risk may linger like a dark cloud over your ownership experience.

If you’re naturally not keen on cars with incomplete service history then don’t make the exception with an S or CL with the “63” M156 6.2 litre engine.

The car and engine are both relatively expensive to maintain and repair, and so if someone is prepared to skip services then they’ll be happy to cut corners elsewhere.

The S 350 is a fantastic car, but it’s not an AMG, and will still be relatively expensive to maintain and repair. If it’s an AMG you want, just bide your time and buy the best you can afford.

I would also suggest keeping a relatively health contingency budget, just in case you get a “CIlla Black” (a Surprise Surprise, when the unexpected hits you between the eyes).

Good luck with your search, and enjoy the car you find

 

[MrGreedy]

I gave up lolking and baught a 740d - had a few issues but nothing major, untill i got car jacked!

Sorry to ask if this opens up a sore subject, but where was this? South Africa? Colombia? Are there any lessons you can share to help us prevent this?


In terms of service history, the issue these days is it's more likely the paperwork from a garage, even an Merc independent, has just been chucked in the bin and therefore forgotten.
However, whilst I might be more tempted to take a risk on a lesser model, on the 63s, I think it's worth holding out for documented proof of service history, because the difference in price of a car with and without the history is probably small.

Good luck in your search

 

[Deadeye1212]

Sorry to ask if this opens up a sore subject, but where was this? South Africa? Colombia? Are there any lessons you can share to help us prevent this?


In terms of service history, the issue these days is it's more likely the paperwork from a garage, even an Merc independent, has just been chucked in the bin and therefore forgotten.
However, whilst I might be more tempted to take a risk on a lesser model, on the 63s, I think it's worth holding out for documented proof of service history, because the difference in price of a car with and without the history is probably small.

Good luck in your search

Manchester!

 

[Deadeye1212]

Would you buy a car with 85k full mb history but not had the head bolts ets done?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Would you buy a car with 85k full mb history but not had the head bolts ets done?

I wouldn’t worry too much about the head bolts specifically. They may or may not fail. Cam adjusts, valve buckets and maybe cams may or may not need replacing.

As long as it really is a full Mercedes service history, je nothing skipped and all documentation available - and you have a small reserve ready for repairs - then go for it.

Cars without preventative or remedial maintenance are fine as long as you’re prepared for the worst and can choose to do the work proactively or reactively if required.

 

[Deadeye1212]

Any idea on what sort of money id be looking at to do all?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Any idea on what sort of money id be looking at to do all?

The cost will vary significantly depending upon who does the work and what actually needs doing. Main dealers in the south east will cost a lot more in labour than an independent specialist in the north, and not everything will need doing.

If you kept a reserve of £5k then that would cover most scenarios but it could easily cost more. From memory a cam adjuster is around £600 so four of those would be £2.5k before labour; but you probably wouldn’t need four.