Hi Members, I must say, that this forum has been great help to me through the very rich forms of discussion, excellent knowledge and experiences shared by the members, both experienced and new. I have been experiencing Mercedes cars during the last 23 years. Two company cars S203 and S203 1.8 Kompressor, great business and family cars. Then on leaving the corporate world purchased a 2006 S211 CDI @ 52k miles in obsidian black (what a great colour, changes with light). This car, I was happy to keep for a very long time, as it covered thousands of miles on tours and holidays and met every family demand, economical (two tanks to Portugal), serviced by Mercedes, and yes controls arms, ball joints, black death injectors changed, and water pump as a precaution, were the main mechanical expenses. 2018 outer London( inside north circ) ULEZ was announced, so on checking, my S211 @ 205k miles was non compliant. On checking my wife's Lexus RX300 2003, to my astonishment it was compliant with ULEZ, so in 2019 my next move was to find a compliant petrol S211 ( Didn't like W212 design and the paint looked thin on the panels and no interest in AD blue tech). So on browsing as you do, I was looking for late 2007-9 petrol variants, and then I saw a stunning silver E63 S211 advertised by a classic car dealer AutoStorico . I then spent hours on this forum reading as much as possible about AMG with the m156 (headbolts etc), checked MOT's etc. Made an appointment for a test drive, asking William the owner to start the drive at pace as I had never driven a 500+BHP car down narrow country lanes. Then took over, to see if my wife would be able to drive it. William provided a 6 month insurance warranty and when considering the high value quality cars he sold and his experience I felt confident he had a reputation to maintain and committed to buying the 2006 AMG E63 @ 92k miles.
I have no doubt that this car may have been owned by a current or past forum member/s as there was a label "AMG collection" on the rear window.
The car is fully loaded, HK sound, 7 seats, 2 rear passenger video screens in front seat head rest's, two additional screens in the tail gate, reversing camera, 19" classic split rims plus numerous other features.
She is a keeper as it's a very rear model car, with a long lived stylish design which is not dated and provides a lot of satisfaction.
I expect things to go wrong or wear out as she is 17 years old but as a member of Mercedes Club and an avid reader of this forum ( I have read almost all the posts on the historical AMG part of the forum) the information will help.
Service is by Mercedes on a 4 year service plan and will renew.
Mechanicals
Replaced rear break hoses as advised
Serpentine belt
Rear flex disc's
Replaced leaking front oil cooler (6 month warranty)
Gearbox fluid, filter, plugs etc
Split rims re-sprayed and coated by Just Wheels in Halstead Essex (great job) recently
DIYed jobs
Personally I feel the M156 is the last AMG Mercedes V8 for the DIYer like myself with basic engine knowledge and basic skills with tools to work on. This is part of the fun for me owing this car.
Installed new battery. If you see the RED ESP warning suddenly appearing on your dash, check the SAM's supply voltages using a diagnostic tool, you may find them giving a "under voltage" error message due to a weakening battery.
Invested in Xtool D7 diagnostic kit which has paid back some investment for the battery diagnosis and when coil pack on No 5 cylinder gave up and was diagnosed as causing rough running. All coil packs have since been replaced.
Frayed serpentine belt, broke thermostat expansion tank connector (loss coolant not far from home). Decided to replace thermostat, all idler wheels, tensioner and serpentine belt.
Recently replaced all the old injectors as these can cause catastrophic failure to an aged engine such as mine.
Future Jobs being considered
Expansion tanks due to crumbling inlet pipe.
Change PCV (it's ok but 2006 date)
Check the outside condition of the intake manifold
Inspect the camshafts
Steering fluid filter housing and fluid
Check type of head bolts (It seems this failure is very rear in Europe)
Experience
What is there to say other than, its an event to get behind the wheel, fast or slow, 12 hours behind the wheel is no stress in the most comfortable function rich seats.
I am always driving the long way round.
Received many nice comments and the local car wash guys love to wash her when I don't, She has many characters, but she is not abused, but must work, moving the family on UK or euro road trips, cruising, with heavy luggage, roof box @ 80+ or going to the local dump on the odd weekend with waste. She as a Mercedes estate is at her best when fully loaded, as was my S203's, S211 CDi. The air suspension is fantastic. The stock performance is frightening, so no need to modify for more power at present and the stock exhaust note is nice and variable, quite or raucous when in the mood.
Thanks for your time as its taken me too long to write this up, but now retired I look forward to enjoying our shared interest no matter what the model is.
Car history
Vauhall Viva
Vauxhall Cavalier (Mrk 1) (I converted to electronic ignition)
Opel Monza GSE 3.0 ( Digital dash, great engine, great cruiser, great styling) I should have kept her
Vauxhall Cavalier (Mrk2) company
Rover 600 company
BMW 3 series company
S203 1.8 company
S203 K1.8 company
I have no doubt that this car may have been owned by a current or past forum member/s as there was a label "AMG collection" on the rear window.
The car is fully loaded, HK sound, 7 seats, 2 rear passenger video screens in front seat head rest's, two additional screens in the tail gate, reversing camera, 19" classic split rims plus numerous other features.
She is a keeper as it's a very rear model car, with a long lived stylish design which is not dated and provides a lot of satisfaction.
I expect things to go wrong or wear out as she is 17 years old but as a member of Mercedes Club and an avid reader of this forum ( I have read almost all the posts on the historical AMG part of the forum) the information will help.
Service is by Mercedes on a 4 year service plan and will renew.
Mechanicals
Replaced rear break hoses as advised
Serpentine belt
Rear flex disc's
Replaced leaking front oil cooler (6 month warranty)
Gearbox fluid, filter, plugs etc
Split rims re-sprayed and coated by Just Wheels in Halstead Essex (great job) recently
DIYed jobs
Personally I feel the M156 is the last AMG Mercedes V8 for the DIYer like myself with basic engine knowledge and basic skills with tools to work on. This is part of the fun for me owing this car.
Installed new battery. If you see the RED ESP warning suddenly appearing on your dash, check the SAM's supply voltages using a diagnostic tool, you may find them giving a "under voltage" error message due to a weakening battery.
Invested in Xtool D7 diagnostic kit which has paid back some investment for the battery diagnosis and when coil pack on No 5 cylinder gave up and was diagnosed as causing rough running. All coil packs have since been replaced.
Frayed serpentine belt, broke thermostat expansion tank connector (loss coolant not far from home). Decided to replace thermostat, all idler wheels, tensioner and serpentine belt.
Recently replaced all the old injectors as these can cause catastrophic failure to an aged engine such as mine.
Future Jobs being considered
Expansion tanks due to crumbling inlet pipe.
Change PCV (it's ok but 2006 date)
Check the outside condition of the intake manifold
Inspect the camshafts
Steering fluid filter housing and fluid
Check type of head bolts (It seems this failure is very rear in Europe)
Experience
What is there to say other than, its an event to get behind the wheel, fast or slow, 12 hours behind the wheel is no stress in the most comfortable function rich seats.
I am always driving the long way round.
Received many nice comments and the local car wash guys love to wash her when I don't, She has many characters, but she is not abused, but must work, moving the family on UK or euro road trips, cruising, with heavy luggage, roof box @ 80+ or going to the local dump on the odd weekend with waste. She as a Mercedes estate is at her best when fully loaded, as was my S203's, S211 CDi. The air suspension is fantastic. The stock performance is frightening, so no need to modify for more power at present and the stock exhaust note is nice and variable, quite or raucous when in the mood.
Thanks for your time as its taken me too long to write this up, but now retired I look forward to enjoying our shared interest no matter what the model is.
Car history
Vauhall Viva
Vauxhall Cavalier (Mrk 1) (I converted to electronic ignition)
Opel Monza GSE 3.0 ( Digital dash, great engine, great cruiser, great styling) I should have kept her
Vauxhall Cavalier (Mrk2) company
Rover 600 company
BMW 3 series company
S203 1.8 company
S203 K1.8 company
