Just Thinking About Things

"Tripper" (tripe46)
08/26/2020 at 16:35 • Filed to: None

A pretty quick station wagon

Paging AMG Tech or any other Oppos who know a lot about Mercs. How bad is a fella meant to be beaten by one of these? I’m not saying I’m looking but I just got to drive one, and I’m looking.

I’d be looking for one of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ..er..caliber. I will do my own work assuming I can. EDIT: I’m not considering that particular car it’s just the first one I found that is comparable to the one that is being offered/that I’m asking to maybe buy.

I’m going to go ahead and assume that the brakes and related are extremely expensive.

Will this be worse than my e90 M3?

DISCUSSION (28)

E90M3 > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 16:40

Wasn’t your E90 also a three owner car?

Tripper > E90M3
08/26/2020 at 16:44

I was #3 but yes. I’m not seriously considering that particular car its just the first one I found that I thought I might be able to swing.

I just drove a brand spanking new one and the owner has a 2014 that he’d sell. He’s the original owner 80k miles.

E90M3 > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 16:46

Ah that makes more sense. I was going to say I’m surprised given your previous experience.

Tripper > E90M3
08/26/2020 at 16:48

Yeah # of owners is paramount to me for pretty much any modern car. This guy is going to want too much money, but I’m going to pitch a real offer on his doorstep and see what happens....Pending some encouraging responses from oppos.

WilliamsSW > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 16:49

I’ve dailied a 2014 E550 (same color combo!) for over 2 years now. It’s been fantastic other than this - which I don’t believe applies to the M157.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/shout-out-to-amgtech-now-with-more-recalls-my-unus-1844805740

Parts are gonna be very expensive. Best if you can do brakes etc yourself.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 17:11

Hoooo boy! This’ll be fun!

Check for engine oil in the wiring harness at the cam sensors. On this engine, that’ll be your main concern because it’s engine R&R to replace. A 2016 might be clear of that issue.

Brakes are expensive. Tires wear out quickly.

You probably won’t be able to do trans services yourself, and maybe not plugs either. But most everything else should be fine. Using aftermarket parts is often a recipe for a headache (fitment, noise, etc.)

The wet clutch gets shitty sometimes in these (in place of torque converter), which is a grand in parts, but also should get a new valve body to go with it. All in for like 5k. It’s not common enough that I would worry about it, but I don’t want you to be surprised.

As always, get a pre-purchase inspection from someone like me. When taken care of, these AMG's tend to be pretty good. Don't buy the cheapest one you can find. Send me a VIN and I'll check service the VMI if you want. Service history matters. A lot. CPO will be your best bet, but as Shane discovered with that GLA45, not all dealers are created equal so some CPO cars might be shit.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 17:16

I don’t see what’s wrong with the one you posted anyway, it’s not that high of mileage and 3 owners doesn’t mean a thing.

From what I’ve read, probably more reliable than the M3 but more costly should something go wrong.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 17:33

Ah, so my problem does apply to the M157, too? Makes sense since I think the engines are closely related.

BTW the Glib is growing on me. Engine is awfully damn noisy, but it does pull pretty hard in S.

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 17:43

Thank you! I would definitely PPI but I don’t know any AMG specific dudes/ladies and wouldn’t trust the shops I know as they are Porsche / BMW centric. Not on the east coast, are you?

I haven’t actually seen the car, I drove his new one and he showed me pics of the 2014.

My wife is amazing and supportive of cars, normally shed be like “yeah cool!” but she won’t like this one, could be a hang up.

I will definitely reach out, if you don’t mind, if I get any kind of serious. I’ll see the car tomorrow and get his bottom dollar then.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 17:44

Oh, please do. I’ve been encouraging people to buy these, rightly or wrongly . I think that they are a great idea.

Nibby > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 17:57

hey can you buy 2.... one for me pls

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/26/2020 at 18:12

Harness, yeah, absolutely. All 276, 278, 157 up to 2015 (June???) p roduction date.

I actually really like the glib and A for what they are. Which is a cheap Benz. But they're twice as nice as the previous family (CLA/GLA).

Discerning > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 18:16

I occasionally really want an M157. Do they all have the cam sensor issue? Is the DCT strong if the clutch is in good shape?

Also, I've fantasized about getting an R231 SL63. Is it a money pit or is it really only prone to the issues related to an E class?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 18:16

Left coast, sorry. Don’t know anyone out that way either to recommend. Find an AMG performance center and ask for their AMG guy, or best tech, to do the inspection. That’ll get you the best chance of getting someone who knows what they’re looking for.

The new one is a LOT different from this chassis, just so you know. Completely different everything.

What’s not to like!? Family car, AWD, stylish, safe. It's perfect!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Discerning
08/26/2020 at 18:24

Cutoff for that issue is around June 2015 IIRC. It’s not a DCT. It’s basically the standard 7 speed auto, with beefed up internals for AMG, and a wet clutch instead of a torque converter. But yeah, I wouldn’t worry about the transmission.

All SL's are money pits. Avoid hard top convertibles like the plague unless you live somewhere that never rains and/or have money to burn.

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 18:48

Yeah I was thinking, maybe I should not have driven the new one first. I have driven the same vintage sedan, but that was a long time ago.

Discerning > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 18:55

I did not know that about the transmission. Interesting.

Figured the SL was a money pit. Wife thought it was fugly apparently but I still had a soft spot for them

OPPOsaurus WRX > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 20:16

You wi ll be the 4th owner in 6 yrs....

Tripper > OPPOsaurus WRX
08/26/2020 at 20:26

That car is just a place holder, the one im actually kicking around is still with the original owner slightly more miles.

feather-throttle-not-hair > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 20:29

I have very little interest in ever buying an AMG, but despite that, I just had to say that i love your posts on here! Just so much fun learning about stuff from someone with lots of first hand experience!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 20:32

The 212 is still a badass car. Just don’t expect quite the same level of badassery as the 213.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/26/2020 at 20:33

Thanks!

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/26/2020 at 20:57

It is a beast (the 213) he let me take the nannies off and everything. Smoked out our parking lot haha.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/26/2020 at 21:30

That’s awesome!

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2020 at 08:56

Drove the 212. Liked it, but the car was dirtier than a car would EVER be in my driveway, especially something as nice as it. K inda got a bad vibe.

I checked where I think you meant in the harness for oil, didn’t see anything.

It just didn’t give me the goosies and for the kind of money he wants I still have a few bucket list cars out there.

I really appreciate your input!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/28/2020 at 10:45

People with the kind of money to get the latest and greatest AMG every few years often have the mentality where maintenance and cleanliness don’t matter so much because their getting rid of it when the next one comes out anyways. Not always of course. But if they can’t be bothered to keep it clean, could they really be bothered to change the oil?

Do you know if it was AWD? That would be 2014-2016 for 212, with the same headlights as pictured in your original post. If it didn't have those headlights, then it wasn't AWD. And that Bi-turbo motor in a RWD car is undrivable in a fun way. It just can't put the power down.

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2020 at 10:58

It was RWD he said “DO NOT TURN THE TCS OFF” this time lol. Having looped my E90 M3 the first time I tried my hand with it off...I left it on. I got the notice from the car at the exit of EVERY turn. The tires were not beat, but not fresh.

The guy was really nice to let me hoon BOTH cars, but he def does not take care of his stuff. Ya cant have that on a car like this or really any car.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Tripper
08/28/2020 at 13:48

Find an AWD one and take it for a spin.