Luv the passion for your AMG! Although I never owned an AMG, I did own a ‘12 E550. With a 400hp twin-turbo V8, it was pretty quick. Not AMG quick but still quick. So I share the same passion & enthusiasm for my Benzo! Hopefully I’ll be upgrading to an AMG in the very near future. 👍
@@ixT0PSH0TZxi same here bro, I own a 08 E550.. 382HP it’s a fun sedan to drive, fast too… But my goal is to own an AMG since their a dying breed … would love to own a E63 like yours … I’m looking at a 2010 E63 with 110K miles for 20K$ lol..
@@Enzo-tg8uo Before I bought my E63, I had a w204 C300. Car holds a special place for me. It was the car that really got me into the Benz world. It was also the car that I took to a race track. Super fun. I did two years with that C300. The big key is to not dump so much money into the thing. The most I did was lowering springs, little spoiler, new headlight kit, and cut the resonator. Tasteful mods. That was it, less than $500 total for all that. That’s when I discovered AMG. Didn’t buy anymore mods, saved a fat chunk of money, and sold the C300. E550 though, nice intro to a V8. Def will be better when you get an E63 for sure. Market is a little bit tough, keep looking and exploring as much as you can. Autotempest is my go to. No rush to buying. It took me over 6 months to decide which AMG, and finding that AMG. Mine was $25,000 with 80k miles. 2011 model.
This was a nice little essay, thanks for posting it. I just got a 2010 E63 and I'm still learning a lot about it. One thing I know so far is I shouldn't have waited as long as I did to get one.
pro tip: it's extremely tempting, but keep it stock. The car is already stupid fast and more agile than it should be. Any modifications run the risk of breaking something that shouldn't have been touched or make the car even more of a monetary investment.
That was epic. The end made my eyes teer. My 2010 amg sits in my driveway weeks at a time before i take it 5 miles to the carwash. I need to take her out and get the rust off the drilled rotors. I truly am afraid to drive my prize possession not because of the horsepower not because of anything except for other peoples lack of consideration or respect for other peoples property I’ve driven mine less than 2000 miles in the last 2 1/2 years
Love the video. Inspirational and helpful. Bought mine back in July, and I love every second of being in it. I hope there’s more to come with this car 🤝
Thanks for watching. It has meant a lot to hear these stories in response to mine. After the holidays pass, there will be a 1+ year update video. I want to touch on realities of ownership, maintenance costs so far, and have an essay that will try to go over things i was not able to before because the car was still quite new to me
Thanks for watching the video, I really enjoyed making an essay like this and will have further installments along with other hobbies. The 204 body AMG has always been a bit more popular than the 212 body AMG, but I have not figured out why. The W204 C63 is only a tiny bit smaller, only weighs about 140 less, generally has interiors that do not hold up as well over time, and has about 55 HP less than the W212 E63. They also are becoming infamous for leading much harder lives than the life my E63 lived with its original owner. I think there are just more of them (don't quote me too lazy to look) and the car enthusiasts who are in this segment of cars that will automatically look at the BMW M3 and it's direct rivals. Maybe the W212 (both versions) look a bit understated as compared to the W204... I laid out some things to look out for when buying an AMG of this vintage (yes, these cars ain't new anymore...) in other comments, so do make sure to read up on them and get in contact with a knowledgeable shop to do a thorough pre purchase inspection. I do make sure to tell everyone who is seriously looking at an AMG, or any European monster, to do some research and make sure you can afford the average yearly running costs. between standard servicing, consumables, and an 'oh shit' fund, this is one of the most expensive "regular" passenger cars out there. But I can assure you that the trade off is driving and owning one of the greatest road cars that will ever be made.
Great video. As a mechanic what do you say about 2010 and all the forums talking about headbolt failures, cam adjusters etc? I’m thinking of purchasing a 2010 with 78k miles. Also, it’s hard to find whether the head bolts etc were replaced since I’m not a mechanic. Carfax documents all services at Mercedes dealerships. How would I find out ? Any info is appreciated. Thanks a in advance.
Thanks for watching, it’s been wonderful to get such a responses from this video essay. Eventually there will be an update video about my ownership, but this is a very common topic that it warrants a response here: As a veteran repair technician I highly recommend not becoming too invested in forums, as most of the time they end up painting a distorted picture of a car more often than not. To be fair, the first version of headbolts and valvetrain wear are real concerns that do need to be taken into consideration. By now, however, we are talking about a 12 year car from a “halo” lineup of a luxury car company. Most every example at this point is going to be a well loved and maintained example, or quite roached and abused. Since you have stated you aren’t a mechanic (and I am assuming that outside of forums you may have little car/brand experience), I also highly recommend taking the car to a Benz dealership for a full pre purchase inspection. You can request to have certain things looked at to see what has or has not been done. This isn’t exactly cheap, as it could end up costing a few hundred dollars, but if you are actually serious about purchasing this car than it’s easier to call this your insurance against getting hosed on a poor example. Try to obtain repair orders from dealership that state exactly what services/repairs were performed and when. Take note: just because something has not been replaced, it does not mean that it is on the verge or breaking or will fail prematurely. ‘Common issues’ does not mean it will automatically break soon. what you do with that information is ultimately up to you, whether you buy the car, buy it and make decisions on what repairs to do or when, or it’s a big enough red flag to step away from buying it. One thing forums are good for are real accounts of costs of ownership over time and what things can go bad over the years (things like rear air suspension and suspension bushings are great examples). Ensuring you are able to realistically afford to keep a car like this in good running order can potentially save you from financial ruin. This is an expensive car to run properly, there is no way around it. But if you can afford it, it’s one of the best ‘normal’ car ever made.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 thank you for all the information it is greatly appreciated. The vehicle I’m looking at is very clean at a reputable high end used car dealership. No accidents, nothing on this car. I will definitely take your suggestions and check the car out or ask for a the dealerships inspection documents. Have a good day.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 update. Purchased that 2010. Unbelievable machine. Better yet, I bought a 4 year warranty that would cover all those items you mentioned. Thanks for you advice. Cheers.
I feel you bro, my car is named Ainsley. She is an E350...Ainsley is a greedy girl though as she likes to go to the MB dealership for her services. Next one will be new, one way or another.
thanks for watching. I still love the car and it has still been problem free. I'm still working on, and hopefully will finish, the update video for it. The piece of advice I'd give someone seriously looking at any M156 equipped AMG is to just have a pile of money on standby. Even with no issues, it's an extremely expensive car to run and it inhales consumables. Any work you are able to do youself will be a big help with costs. And whenever possible use OEM replacement parts. With saying this, it's still the most incredible car i've ever driven and still my dream car. Daily use has made me fall in love with it more and more.
I wasn't aware that the W212 came with this as an option. I'm assuming it was an option that a sizeable share of the market chose not to go for. But even if most came with it, I would have sought out a model that didn't have it anyway. It's wonderful technology that makes moving a car around so much easier, but they do malfunction and break. I would be very sad to pay extra for an option that broke. Personally, I find the car easy to move around. The backup camera was very good for its time and is far from bad in 2021. It's turning radius is much smaller than most would think, and it's very easy to see where everything is at because this still is a very angular car with decent 360 visibility.
Cool video! Love it! I am looking to buy a pre 2012 w212 e63 also. I know the engine is pretty strong, but do you think the gearbox is troublesome? Is there are some common places intended to break? Thanks!
thanks for watching, it was fun to make. Make sure that every AMG with the M156 engine had it's headbolts changed (ideally the camshafts and lifter tappets also). By 2021, most all have been done...but do make sure. In standard Mercedes of the era, the 7 speed is not as durable as the old 5 speed. it does have problems with internal electronic and mechanic failures that only a dealership can fix. The reworking it got for AMG models, though, appear to be holding up considerably better. Make sure you have the complete service history of the car. Having all servicing being followed perfectly with documentation is a must for cars like this (AMG, BMW M, Audi RS, 911s, Aston Martins...). If you do not have a lot of auto repair experience, take a potential purchase to a Mercedes specialist and have it thoroughly inspected and scanned. To be upfront, this is a very expensive car to own and maintain. Please keep that in mind. Knowing how to do a little bit of basic maintenance can save a lot of money. With all the not fun stuff said, this is truly one of the pinnacles of motoring. I even think Dale Earnhardt would have driven one...
Thanks for watching, really enjoyed making this video essay. That's a really tough question, and depends on a lot of factors. Having all documentation is a must. This alone weeds out a lot of cars that may seem perfectly fine, but this isn't the type of car to ignore smart moves. Do make sure that all maintenance was carried out at the proper intervals with factory/OE equipment. Do make sure known issues, like headbolts and camshafts/tappets, have been replaced. Who/what shop actually did all the work is another major factor. Depending on where the car lived, make sure it is free of rust. Have the car taken to a shop you trust to do a full pre purchase inspection and complete scan. Make sure that the car wasn't recently cleared of all codes, this can be a red flag to hidden problems. Even though this can cost a couple hundred dollars, its worth finding out it isn't the right car before you buy it. 130k miles is a lot for a 2010 E63, I would consider that high mileage...and $18k is pretty cheap. Not a deal breaker, but keep this in mind look very closely at this car. If you do your research, and the car checks out and passes through all the hoops, than it will most likely be the greatest car you will ever own...just make sure you can comfortably budget maintaining this car; this is a very expensive car to own if you are not familiar with wrenching on luxury cars.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 thank you so much for taking the time and the great information. I will definitely inspect it and check the records before making a decision.
While I haven't touched any of the AMG variants, I have worked on many of the standard W221 S550 models. During my time working on them, I saw few non-wear item issues arise; outside of the M273 intake manifold and counter balance shaft failure. Here in the AMG model, we don't have to worry about either of those things. But like any premium luxury car, be educated and budgeted for overall very high maintenance costs. These cars just inhale brakes, suspension, and tires. However...the ride quality is incredible, it was a huge technological leap forward from the W220 S class (a car that I hold in high regards despite its quite high cost of maintenance over the years of ownership too), and set a new gold standard in luxury in its segment in its time. I would expect the S63 to benefit in a similar manner as the W211 E63 did. This drivetrain can only be explained as obnoxious and epic. I personally see this generation of AMG models to be special. This is the last era of traditional means of high horsepower as we swoon over: the large displacement, naturally aspirated V8 on crack. However, at the same time, this should still be a premium luxury experience that plush and supreme. This ultimately comes down to personal opinion, but here's a hot take: I believe that AMG, from 2006 forward, have produced the best cars on the market today that are the perfect balance of luxury car and borderline race car. While it may not carve corners like a W211 E63, it should be a glorious boat strapped to a rocket.
No, the car is still 100% OEM. The tires are very wide considering trends in 2010, and the obnoxious negative camber and ride height are within factory specs.
Luv the passion for your AMG! Although I never owned an AMG, I did own a ‘12 E550. With a 400hp twin-turbo V8, it was pretty quick. Not AMG quick but still quick. So I share the same passion & enthusiasm for my Benzo! Hopefully I’ll be upgrading to an AMG in the very near future. 👍
You most certainly will. When the time is right, that AMG will be waiting for you my friend 🤞🏼
@@ixT0PSH0TZxi same here bro, I own a 08 E550.. 382HP it’s a fun sedan to drive, fast too… But my goal is to own an AMG since their a dying breed … would love to own a E63 like yours … I’m looking at a 2010 E63 with 110K miles for 20K$ lol..
@@Enzo-tg8uo Before I bought my E63, I had a w204 C300. Car holds a special place for me. It was the car that really got me into the Benz world. It was also the car that I took to a race track. Super fun. I did two years with that C300. The big key is to not dump so much money into the thing. The most I did was lowering springs, little spoiler, new headlight kit, and cut the resonator. Tasteful mods. That was it, less than $500 total for all that. That’s when I discovered AMG. Didn’t buy anymore mods, saved a fat chunk of money, and sold the C300.
E550 though, nice intro to a V8. Def will be better when you get an E63 for sure. Market is a little bit tough, keep looking and exploring as much as you can. Autotempest is my go to. No rush to buying. It took me over 6 months to decide which AMG, and finding that AMG. Mine was $25,000 with 80k miles. 2011 model.
This was a nice little essay, thanks for posting it. I just got a 2010 E63 and I'm still learning a lot about it. One thing I know so far is I shouldn't have waited as long as I did to get one.
pro tip: it's extremely tempting, but keep it stock. The car is already stupid fast and more agile than it should be. Any modifications run the risk of breaking something that shouldn't have been touched or make the car even more of a monetary investment.
Love this video, you nailed it perfectly!!!
i have had my 2010 e63 for over a month now and i can’t be more then happy
That was epic. The end made my eyes teer. My 2010 amg sits in my driveway weeks at a time before i take it 5 miles to the carwash. I need to take her out and get the rust off the drilled rotors. I truly am afraid to drive my prize possession not because of the horsepower not because of anything except for other peoples lack of consideration or respect for other peoples property I’ve driven mine less than 2000 miles in the last 2 1/2 years
Love the video. Inspirational and helpful. Bought mine back in July, and I love every second of being in it. I hope there’s more to come with this car 🤝
Thanks for watching. It has meant a lot to hear these stories in response to mine. After the holidays pass, there will be a 1+ year update video. I want to touch on realities of ownership, maintenance costs so far, and have an essay that will try to go over things i was not able to before because the car was still quite new to me
Very nice video. Love the passion you have for your AMG. I’m looking to purchase 13’ facelift W204 C63 AMG myself.
Thanks for watching the video, I really enjoyed making an essay like this and will have further installments along with other hobbies. The 204 body AMG has always been a bit more popular than the 212 body AMG, but I have not figured out why. The W204 C63 is only a tiny bit smaller, only weighs about 140 less, generally has interiors that do not hold up as well over time, and has about 55 HP less than the W212 E63. They also are becoming infamous for leading much harder lives than the life my E63 lived with its original owner. I think there are just more of them (don't quote me too lazy to look) and the car enthusiasts who are in this segment of cars that will automatically look at the BMW M3 and it's direct rivals. Maybe the W212 (both versions) look a bit understated as compared to the W204...
I laid out some things to look out for when buying an AMG of this vintage (yes, these cars ain't new anymore...) in other comments, so do make sure to read up on them and get in contact with a knowledgeable shop to do a thorough pre purchase inspection. I do make sure to tell everyone who is seriously looking at an AMG, or any European monster, to do some research and make sure you can afford the average yearly running costs. between standard servicing, consumables, and an 'oh shit' fund, this is one of the most expensive "regular" passenger cars out there.
But I can assure you that the trade off is driving and owning one of the greatest road cars that will ever be made.
i feel you, i still cant believe i owned the same car as yours myself. I love it so much.
wish this came in 4matic, rwd year-round in the pacific northwest has always been a gamble for me.
Great video. As a mechanic what do you say about 2010 and all the forums talking about headbolt failures, cam adjusters etc? I’m thinking of purchasing a 2010 with 78k miles. Also, it’s hard to find whether the head bolts etc were replaced since I’m not a mechanic. Carfax documents all services at Mercedes dealerships. How would I find out ? Any info is appreciated. Thanks a in advance.
Thanks for watching, it’s been wonderful to get such a responses from this video essay. Eventually there will be an update video about my ownership, but this is a very common topic that it warrants a response here:
As a veteran repair technician I highly recommend not becoming too invested in forums, as most of the time they end up painting a distorted picture of a car more often than not. To be fair, the first version of headbolts and valvetrain wear are real concerns that do need to be taken into consideration. By now, however, we are talking about a 12 year car from a “halo” lineup of a luxury car company. Most every example at this point is going to be a well loved and maintained example, or quite roached and abused.
Since you have stated you aren’t a mechanic (and I am assuming that outside of forums you may have little car/brand experience), I also highly recommend taking the car to a Benz dealership for a full pre purchase inspection. You can request to have certain things looked at to see what has or has not been done. This isn’t exactly cheap, as it could end up costing a few hundred dollars, but if you are actually serious about purchasing this car than it’s easier to call this your insurance against getting hosed on a poor example. Try to obtain repair orders from dealership that state exactly what services/repairs were performed and when. Take note: just because something has not been replaced, it does not mean that it is on the verge or breaking or will fail prematurely. ‘Common issues’ does not mean it will automatically break soon.
what you do with that information is ultimately up to you, whether you buy the car, buy it and make decisions on what repairs to do or when, or it’s a big enough red flag to step away from buying it. One thing forums are good for are real accounts of costs of ownership over time and what things can go bad over the years (things like rear air suspension and suspension bushings are great examples). Ensuring you are able to realistically afford to keep a car like this in good running order can potentially save you from financial ruin. This is an expensive car to run properly, there is no way around it. But if you can afford it, it’s one of the best ‘normal’ car ever made.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 thank you for all the information it is greatly appreciated. The vehicle I’m looking at is very clean at a reputable high end used car dealership. No accidents, nothing on this car. I will definitely take your suggestions and check the car out or ask for a the dealerships inspection documents. Have a good day.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 update. Purchased that 2010. Unbelievable machine. Better yet, I bought a 4 year warranty that would cover all those items you mentioned. Thanks for you advice. Cheers.
I feel you bro, my car is named Ainsley. She is an E350...Ainsley is a greedy girl though as she likes to go to the MB dealership for her services. Next one will be new, one way or another.
How you liking it thus far? Thinking about getting it myself
thanks for watching. I still love the car and it has still been problem free. I'm still working on, and hopefully will finish, the update video for it. The piece of advice I'd give someone seriously looking at any M156 equipped AMG is to just have a pile of money on standby. Even with no issues, it's an extremely expensive car to run and it inhales consumables. Any work you are able to do youself will be a big help with costs. And whenever possible use OEM replacement parts.
With saying this, it's still the most incredible car i've ever driven and still my dream car. Daily use has made me fall in love with it more and more.
Nice
Cool video
Very cool just weird seeing one without PDC
I wasn't aware that the W212 came with this as an option. I'm assuming it was an option that a sizeable share of the market chose not to go for. But even if most came with it, I would have sought out a model that didn't have it anyway. It's wonderful technology that makes moving a car around so much easier, but they do malfunction and break. I would be very sad to pay extra for an option that broke.
Personally, I find the car easy to move around. The backup camera was very good for its time and is far from bad in 2021. It's turning radius is much smaller than most would think, and it's very easy to see where everything is at because this still is a very angular car with decent 360 visibility.
Cool video! Love it! I am looking to buy a pre 2012 w212 e63 also. I know the engine is pretty strong, but do you think the gearbox is troublesome? Is there are some common places intended to break? Thanks!
thanks for watching, it was fun to make. Make sure that every AMG with the M156 engine had it's headbolts changed (ideally the camshafts and lifter tappets also). By 2021, most all have been done...but do make sure.
In standard Mercedes of the era, the 7 speed is not as durable as the old 5 speed. it does have problems with internal electronic and mechanic failures that only a dealership can fix. The reworking it got for AMG models, though, appear to be holding up considerably better.
Make sure you have the complete service history of the car. Having all servicing being followed perfectly with documentation is a must for cars like this (AMG, BMW M, Audi RS, 911s, Aston Martins...). If you do not have a lot of auto repair experience, take a potential purchase to a Mercedes specialist and have it thoroughly inspected and scanned.
To be upfront, this is a very expensive car to own and maintain. Please keep that in mind. Knowing how to do a little bit of basic maintenance can save a lot of money. With all the not fun stuff said, this is truly one of the pinnacles of motoring. I even think Dale Earnhardt would have driven one...
Watching this because I found a 2010 E63 AMG with 130k miles for 18k. Very well maintained. Do you think it's worth it?
Thanks for watching, really enjoyed making this video essay. That's a really tough question, and depends on a lot of factors. Having all documentation is a must. This alone weeds out a lot of cars that may seem perfectly fine, but this isn't the type of car to ignore smart moves.
Do make sure that all maintenance was carried out at the proper intervals with factory/OE equipment. Do make sure known issues, like headbolts and camshafts/tappets, have been replaced. Who/what shop actually did all the work is another major factor. Depending on where the car lived, make sure it is free of rust.
Have the car taken to a shop you trust to do a full pre purchase inspection and complete scan. Make sure that the car wasn't recently cleared of all codes, this can be a red flag to hidden problems. Even though this can cost a couple hundred dollars, its worth finding out it isn't the right car before you buy it. 130k miles is a lot for a 2010 E63, I would consider that high mileage...and $18k is pretty cheap. Not a deal breaker, but keep this in mind look very closely at this car.
If you do your research, and the car checks out and passes through all the hoops, than it will most likely be the greatest car you will ever own...just make sure you can comfortably budget maintaining this car; this is a very expensive car to own if you are not familiar with wrenching on luxury cars.
@@beverlyhillbilly7914 thank you so much for taking the time and the great information. I will definitely inspect it and check the records before making a decision.
What do you think of the W221 S63 AMG?
While I haven't touched any of the AMG variants, I have worked on many of the standard W221 S550 models. During my time working on them, I saw few non-wear item issues arise; outside of the M273 intake manifold and counter balance shaft failure. Here in the AMG model, we don't have to worry about either of those things. But like any premium luxury car, be educated and budgeted for overall very high maintenance costs. These cars just inhale brakes, suspension, and tires. However...the ride quality is incredible, it was a huge technological leap forward from the W220 S class (a car that I hold in high regards despite its quite high cost of maintenance over the years of ownership too), and set a new gold standard in luxury in its segment in its time.
I would expect the S63 to benefit in a similar manner as the W211 E63 did. This drivetrain can only be explained as obnoxious and epic. I personally see this generation of AMG models to be special. This is the last era of traditional means of high horsepower as we swoon over: the large displacement, naturally aspirated V8 on crack. However, at the same time, this should still be a premium luxury experience that plush and supreme. This ultimately comes down to personal opinion, but here's a hot take: I believe that AMG, from 2006 forward, have produced the best cars on the market today that are the perfect balance of luxury car and borderline race car. While it may not carve corners like a W211 E63, it should be a glorious boat strapped to a rocket.
Did you add spacers or lower it?
No, the car is still 100% OEM. The tires are very wide considering trends in 2010, and the obnoxious negative camber and ride height are within factory specs.