Shout out to AMGtech - now with more recalls- - my unused Mercedes CPO warranty extension is about to pay for itself...

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
08/21/2020 at 15:05 • Filed to: AMGtech is awesome, M278 maybe not so much, But I'm liking that CPO extension!

AMGtech has been banging the drum lately about M278 issues, and even gave me tips on how and where to look. I pulled one cam position sensor on the driver’s side, and it was dry. Then, a cam adjuster magnet on the same side - it seemed a little damp. Next was the top cam position sensor on the passenger side, which is this:

Overlubricated cam position sensor - top pax side, M278

It should not be shiny, and my fingers shouldn’t be covered in oil from pulling it...

Now to call the dealer and get a loaner. Wish me luck peeps - this can range from new sensors, to a new engine harness, to a new engine. Or all of the above.

Yay warranty!!!

DISCUSSION (53)

UserNotFound > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:10

o_O

facw > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:14

Got those fancy oil-cooled electronics I see...

WilliamsSW > UserNotFound
08/21/2020 at 15:14

Leave it to the Germans to create a path for engine oil to get into the wiring harness and destroy it.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:15

What part is actually failing here?

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:16

Old BMW’s had a similar issue with the coolant temp sensor. It would weep, wick all the way back to the computer and ruin the hell out of your day.

WilliamsSW > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
08/21/2020 at 15:23

Presumably a gasket between the sensor itself and the wiring harness connector shown in the photograph.

Hopefully I found it early - - I’m having no issues with the car. However, oil can wick back and destroy the engine harness. You can read more here:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1844432023

WilliamsSW > facw
08/21/2020 at 15:24

Yup. They’re expensive. Very expensive.

WilliamsSW > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
08/21/2020 at 15:28

Thanks to AMGtech, I did an inspection without seeing any symptoms - the car runs fine, no CEL or anything. Hopefully that means catching it before oil got too far back.

But that sensor looked bad. I pulled 4, 2 of which were bad (the other was just slightly damp). Stopped when I pulled the one in the picture - there’s 4 more.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:33

Fingers crossed, but warranty so hopefully they get to eat as many of their transgressions as possible. Preferably now while rather than after they're off the hook.

WilliamsSW > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
08/21/2020 at 15:37

My biggest worry is that they band-aid (replacing the connector and whatever gasket was supposed to protect it) it without figuring out how deep into the harness oil got. Warranty is from MB directly, and runs through 6/30/21, unlimited mileage.

fintail > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 15:54

That’s just a rust prevention measure.

I hope the replacement part solves the design flaw, not a certainty.

WilliamsSW > fintail
08/21/2020 at 16:03

Yeah that’s my concern exactly.

Sitting at the dealer already, getting a GLB loaner.

Michael > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:
08/21/2020 at 16:30

Sebrings/Intrepids et al had oil pressure switches that seeped, pressurizing the connector, and thus reducing the measured pressure and tripping the low oil pressure light.

The solution was a new connector with a dummy wire, that let the pressure build-up out the other end of the wire

TSB 08-36-99 for anyone interested

fintail > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 16:38

A “Glib” as I call it.

Dr_Watson > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 16:38

word. I love exercising my fancy German car warranty. Lasts until 7/2021.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 16:49

Bare minimum, you should be getting 4 cam sensors, 4 cam solenoids, and a new harness. It’s the solenoids and sensors themselves that leak internally, since they’re exposed to oil directly.

If your car is 4matic, I’d ask them to check the engine mounts at the same time because they require a ton of work, but 90% of that overlaps with the harness replacement. If warranty won't cover the mounts, you might want to ask about a quote and just pay for them as long as the engine is going to be out already.

I also do oxygen sensors and crank sensor with the harness, and possibly other things if more is found contaminated. Sometimes they even get new ME's.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 17:01

ME? What’s that? Thanks for the note. I just dropped it off and got a loaner GLB. The tech won’t look at it today - it’s pretty late now.

It is a 4matic - 2014 E550 with only 59k miles. CPO runs until next June 30. I’ll ask about engine mounts, though that seems early to do them?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 17:37

Motor electronics - engine computer.

It’s early. But I’ve seen one or two get loose before that. And you don’t want to to have to go all the way back in there again.

How do you like the glib?

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 17:37

Oh wow! That’s crazy.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 17:51

It’s fine. It’s really quite roomy for what it is - had no trouble throwing two car seats in the back. Dash is nice too - all glass.

I’m not a big fan of the drivetrain in any of the FWD MB chassis - engine is a little buzzy and the trans up shifts too quickly. I’ll probably just keep it in sport mode while I have it.

WilliamsSW > shop-teacher
08/21/2020 at 17:52

Better to happen now while it’s under warranty!!

shop-teacher > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 17:56

Darn right!

WilliamsSW > Dr_Watson
08/21/2020 at 18:26

Yeah, mine is good through 6/2021. I’ve had the car for over 2 years and this is the first time I’ve used it.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 18:35

OK, so apparently the tech had time to dig into it today already - - they’ve ordered the engine harness, cam sensors, and solenoids already. All covered by M-B. I’ve asked him to take a look at the engine mounts while he’s in there - thanks!

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 18:53

Also, just out of curio sity, what would the bill be on that for customer pay?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 19:58

I think they actually did a real nice job on the interiors of these and new A/CLA. But yeah fwd is fwd. Non-performance 4cyl is non-performance 4cyl.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 20:00

Nice! As for customer pay, keep in mind there's a ton of variables here depending on the specific car and how many contaminated stuff is. But it could be $5k-10k real easy.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 20:45

I f igured- and I know that markups and labor rates vary by region, too. Was just looking for a ballpark number thanks!

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/21/2020 at 21:25

The glass screen is really nice, and visibility is great, too. Its shockingly roomy for the size. I'm guessing it's roomier than the GLC?

I barely used the touch screen but it and the touch pad on the console seemed to work well. I’ll get to know it better this week. Only drove a couple miles today. But I’m big on torquey engines down low (and now spoiled) hence the attraction of the M278.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/21/2020 at 21:41

No idea on space comparison honestly. Personally I hate the touchpads and wish they would've kept the knobs.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/22/2020 at 00:23

We’ll see how I like it after living with it for the next week or so. I like the glass IP, and so far only used the touch screen briefly while parked (really to just get a stupid error message off of the IP, which I failed at).

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/22/2020 at 00:35

Steering wheel buttons are great for getting rid of stupid warning messages. I've actually got one of those instrument display assemblies on order for a glib. Just straight up died.

WilliamsSW > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/22/2020 at 08:52

The downside of those glass panels is that I presume there’s no repairs to be had by you. If literally anything goes wrong on them, you’re swapping it out.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WilliamsSW
08/22/2020 at 08:53

Yup. I'm the the aftermarket will figure it how to repair them eventually though.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/22/2020 at 13:11

With the move to touchpads and voice commands/MBUX, my current pre -MBUX car might be as new as I ever go. I don’t like touchscreens in cars (unless they’ve invented fingerprint-resistant glass) and I still feel weird talking to a car. Traditional COMAND is like muscle memory for me now.

Also not a fan of the E facelift, and the dopey decision to discontinue the “luxury” trim E along with the non-cladded wagon in the dumbed down USDM.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/22/2020 at 21:57

I’m totally with you. I just like a lot of the other things they have going on right now and that might outweigh the things I don't like. Are you thinking maybe keep the current car longer?

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/22/2020 at 22:34

I might keep this S213 or seek out another if I can’t make a deal when the time comes . The car is ideal otherwise, but some of these mid-life updates don’t thrill me, and I really like having a hood star. I don’t need cladding or a lifted suspension - might as well just get a G then (way past my budget for one I’d really want) . Some of the I6 and mild hybrid tech they’ve been implementing look interesting, but if I can’t get a car in the trim I want, it makes things tough. I’d also consider a 212 E250 or even an S212 , but I’d want a fully loaded lux car, which isn’t easy.

One thing still bugging me, just like on my 212s - juddery wipers. Nothing solves it other than squirting wiper fluid, which is a very temporary “solution”, and all the dealer can give. I have a suspicion there’s something weird about the glass.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/23/2020 at 00:49

I honestly haven’t been a fan of the hood star since 211. They just don’t fit the styling as well in my eyes. I’m really liking the I6 stuff though (not as any 53 AMG stuff, that’s all super disappointing). I’m currently infatuated with 167's honestly, especially with E-ABC. But money.

Your wipers aren't skipping are they? Just like shaky as they wipe?

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/23/2020 at 01:42

I recall all 212s had it, and I like it, I like driving behind it. Maybe something the fintail made me stick with. As few seem to choose the “luxury” trim now, I suppose it is expected. I recall the salesguy on my latest car said something like “people don’t like this” in regards to the front end, but it was a selling point for me. It might have also helped sell the car, as it sat around a little, and I notice another one is on the lot sitting for months, too. If I don’t buy this one out at the end of the term, I might seek a similar car, but a full load with things like air suspension, acoustic package, etc.

Yeah, the wipers don’t really catch air, they just jerk. Some fluid helps it, but the jerkiness comes back. I had the same issue in all my 212s - I fixed it in the first (pre facelift) one by fitting Bosch blades to the OEM holder assemblies. But it doesn’t work with the redesigned holders. There are a lot of complaints about it on various forums.

Do you get a subsidized lease? I’ve seen some new GLE with AMG or sport trim, not full AMG cars, they can look decent. But if money wasn’t an object, I’d have a new G - but it would probably have to be special order, as I’d want a non-AMG non-bling one.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/23/2020 at 10:59

Oddly, the luxury trim cars tend to come with fewer options. He was right though, most people want the more aggressive look. Personally, I don’t care about a more aggressive look, I just like cohesive, flowing design and I don’t feel they’ve managed that work a luxury trim since 211.

Good luck with the wipers. I think your best bet there would be to try to get it out of your head and stop focusing on it. If they wipe clean and don’t make noise, Benz don’t care, it at least doesn’t have a fix.

Yeah, I’ve heard 12% off and I’ve heard 18% off, plus a check for I think $150 per month that’s meant to go towards the monthly payment. I looked into G’s, but they’re so expensive. Love the way the new ones look and drive, hate the way the old ones drive. I’d probably go GLS (room to carry 6 for bike trips, and room to sleep inside ) and special order . I’ve been checking dealer inventories all over the country, and maybe only 5% have E-ABC and then those have stupid options on top of that like air balance and driver assist crap. Lots of people love those, but I keep my cars clean and doing need it smelling like a Russian night club with enough Axe in the air to be the next Beirut (too soon? ). And for driver assist stuff, I can drive myself and don’t care for the added cost or stuff to break. I don’t need multicontour seats, just ventilated, they're already super comfortable. Trailer hitch, a requirement for my bike rack, is also surprisingly rare, and insanely expensive to retrofit. Acoustic comfort seems even more rare than the others, that's a want and not a need though.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/23/2020 at 13:12

It seems 98% of the stuff on the lot isn’t loaded, no doubt to ease leasing. A full load car will be special order. I don’t want the false pretense of sport, either. I want something somewhat traditional, and as you say, cohesive. The lux trim cars are as close as it gets, but now they are gone. I did find a lux S212 for sale, 2014 model, fairly loaded with leather, DAP, etc, and something like 15K or similar miles. Around 30K, who knows what it will be when my lease is up, one of those could be tempting. I’m liking the wagon a lot. As even a used current G will likely be out of my comfort zone in price and running costs for some time, a wagon is likely the sweet spot.

A friend’s husband works for MB on the IT side. They get a lease, they can apparently choose from a bunch of stuff from a list for something like 500-600/mo, sign and drive (but they have to pay for registration). Their prior car was a GLE43 coupe that she disliked, before that an E wagon that she loved, now they have a GLE that she likes, and I think a GLS might be next. A new G is stupid expensive, but if I had the money - make mine a plain G550 with no bling. I drove a prior model, I think a 2014 - felt like a 1990s truck. I couldn’t justify the price.

My wagon has air balance. I have no plans to use it. I like DAP, but it has quirks. I love surround view, as I park in some really tight areas - almost a dealbreaker now. I’d like HUD and acoustic, and warmth and comfort is fun (wagon has it, a heated steering wheel seems like a gimmick until you use it, then feels like real luxury). Air suspension on a wagon also seems cool, but I worry about long term issues. Speaking of GLS, when the new one debuted, my local dealer had a very basic one with something on the sticker stating something like credit for missing standard features. Never seen that before.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/23/2020 at 21:09

Our ideas of cohesive are a little different lux wheels and grills don't fit the rest of the proportions for me

There’s a Daimler corporate campus near us. They get insane lease deals. I don’t know exact numbers, and they probably change, and I know for sure they vary from employee to employee as far as pricing and what cars they can get. But a good example is that I’ve heard they pay around $150/month for a C300 and don’t have to pay for tires or maintenance or anything like that, sometimes getting a new lease every year . A handful of high-ups there have stuff like GT’s and GLS63's. Their discounts make mine look like a joke.

A bunch of those options are awesome. I just don’t want to pay for them if I’m special ordering, especially if I’m already spending $6k on E-ABC. Missing options though, yeah, I’ve seen it. Usually early production, something got missed at the VPC. Like a post-factory option. Could be trailer hitches, illuminated stars or running boards. Things like that.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 01:05

I like how the cars look without side skirts, no aggressive bumpers/cladding, and without low profile tires. Reminds me of cars in Germany, which have more options, and many don’t go for the faux sport look. But I might be different - if I want AMG, I want the real thing, not to pretend. I also like peering down at the hood ornament as I drive.

The corporate leases you describe sound like what my friend’s husband gets. They only have to keep it for a year, and I don’t think they have to pay for any maintenance or consumables (IIRC, they can only keep it for a max of 10-12K miles). Do salespeople get anything cool like that, or just a smaller discount like yours? Or nothing at all?

I figure, if I am doing a special order, I am already in pretty deep, might as well go deeper :) All of my leases have been for cars on the lot, usually less popular trims, which gives me bargaining power (and are often what I like anyway). This might be the last lease though, I am finally to the point where it seems frivolous. Another odd option car, my local dealer has an S560 coupe - it has a designo paint/interior package, and almost nothing else. No drivers assist, amusing on a 145K car. I suspect it is an abandoned special order, as it is kind of a dark red on porcelain and brown interior - that’s going to be a tough one to sell.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/24/2020 at 09:21

My preference tends to be the least aggressive sport trim as I could muster. Smallest wheels, no carbon, no night package, no spoilers. Can’t stand how wheels keep getting bigger and bigger, and tires wider and wider. All that does is make them wear out faster (because low tread wear performance tires) and cost more. First thing I would do is swap out for better tires that last longer, DWS on a car or probably Cooper discoverer on an SUV.

Salespeople get the same as I get. Most of them immediately pick up C or E cars. Then end up not keeping the job, or getting fired, within a couple months. Then they lose the kickback and are on the hook for the full amount.

Yeah. GLS build I like is at 95 on the MSRP . That actually sounds like a neat S!

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 12:48

It seems virtually all sport Es have the 19" wheels with low profile tires, which is ridiculous given the suspension tuning - far too harsh for a non-sporty car. Runflats make it that much harsher. The way I see it, it isn’t a sports car - stop pretending. My E450 is fast in a relative sense, but isn’t sporty, and I don’t want sporty - I think one part of a luxury product is having some choice. MBUSA is cutting that.

I know quite a few who worked for the prior family-owned local dealer here ran away when Autonation took over. But a few remain, and they seem to do well. Don’t think I could do it though, my method would pretty much be “don’t want to buy it? fine, have a nice day”.

That S would be one to buy in 6 years when it is 35 K - going to be collecting dust at that price and spec. Someone laying down nearly 150K wants some toys.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/24/2020 at 13:35

There is an 18" sport wheel option. Which is what I would go for on an E.

Fuck sales in general.

Still an S coupe though. What use is it? Gorgeous, and beautiful to drive. But what do I need out of it? Nothing. And that goes for most people. Yeah, it'll be a tough sell.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 15:27

Locally, it seems every sport trim E gets the 19" “AMG” split spoke. The few lux trim cars often have 18s - mine actually has 19s, but not a real low profile, and they are unique enough to where I like them. Also, on the car already, so I had little choice. All of my 212s had base wheels, which I was fine with - again, not a sports car, no need for what amounts to AMG cosplay.

I imagine the person who ordered the coupe was a traditionalist maybe put off by the latest tech. For the MSRP on that S coupe (admittedly, one could probably knock 20% off and get it), I’d add 10K and get the new G-Wagen I’d want instead.

Here it is from the dealer - it’s more red in person, I think these wheels are turning up on a lot of final run C217:

Kinja'd!!!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/24/2020 at 16:30

Sometimes you can get dealers to wheel swap with another car when you're buying new. So you might have more choice than you think.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 17:14

Before I got the wagon, I was looking at a demo E43 in Tacoma, and thought about the wheel swap, as one car I liked had split spoke (not a fan), while the other had multispoke. Never happened though, as when I tried to talk about the money factor of the lease, they ghosted me. I’ll say this, for the negative rep Autonation has gained, my local dealer is as competitive as any in the area, and is 2 miles away.

Here’s my car - no false pretenses, for a modern car, a very simple and smooth design:

Kinja'd!!!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/24/2020 at 18:01

Your car looks fantastic. I really like those wheels. And I forgot how good the lux from looks on an S213. I hate the lux grills on facelifted 212, wagon or not.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 19:56

I think it works for the wagon anyway - which is maybe the most traditional of MB models (and now kind of going away with USDM 2021s all being lifted cladded things). The rear bumper is still a little busy with its fake exhaust ports, and the front bumper a little aggressive, but overall, it works.

IIRC those wheels are only for lux trim cars, although I have seen it in smaller diameter on CLA, and in Europe there’s a variant with more spokes. Not something seen every day.

The grille can be a bit prominent at some angles, but it always has been. Speaking of the facelift, I found this for sale, and it would tempt me if I was coming off lease and MB wouldn’t come to a fair price on my car - appears to be optioned very nicely (but I’d want to pay about 7-8K less) :

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=558825094&zip=98004&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D98004%26city%3DBellevue%26startYear%3D2014%26vehicleStyleCodes%3DWAGON%26incremental%3Dall%26endYear%3D2016%26makeCodeList%3DMB%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26location%3D%255Bobject%2BObject%255D%26state%3DWA%26firstRecord%3D25%26marketExtension%3Dinclude%26searchRadius%3D0%26isNewSearch%3Dfalse&startYear=2014&numRecords=25&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&firstRecord=25&endYear=2016&makeCodeList=MB&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=MB&modelCode1=E350&clickType=listing

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > fintail
08/24/2020 at 21:28

Holy crap that's low mileage

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/24/2020 at 22:25

Might be a d eal for someone at around 25K, lots of car for the money and still has some new car feel.