Pre-purchase walkaround
2013 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (W212)
107,000 miles · asking $13,500
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$21,900
A big, fast AMG sedan/wagon that is genuinely quick and comfortable, but built to no budget and expensive to keep right. The money goes into the AMG-specific driveline, suspension, and (on the M156) known head bolt and camshaft issues, plus the usual German electronics and 7-speed MCT clutch wear.
The roadmap
107k → 167k mi · 12k a yearYear 1The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$3,605
Year 2Brakes and consumables.~$5,164
Yrs 3-5Tires and the ordinary rhythm. · The quiet year.~$13,101
Five years, all in~$21,900
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote
What to look for on this one
Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 107,000 miles.
M156 head bolt corrosion (2010-2011)$550-$2,000 if not done
0typical window 40k-100k · this car: 107k, past it150k mi
Early M156 engines used head bolts prone to stretching and corrosion, a well documented AMG flaw. Failure can crack the block or damage heads. Coolant loss, overheating, or a broken head bolt found during service.
M156 camshaft and lifter wear (2010-2011)$350-$1,250 if not done
0typical window 40k-90k · this car: 107k, past it150k mi
The 6.2L M156 is known for accelerated cam lobe and lifter wear, sometimes requiring cam and lifter replacement. Ticking or tapping from the top end, especially on cold start.
windows from 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA and community service data · · profile researched with cited sources, review pending
0 recalls + 127 service bulletins + 1 investigation →
Federal defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · EA21002 · OPEN
Service bulletins by area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (36) · EQUIPMENT (18) · EXTERIOR LIGHTING (14) · POWER TRAIN (14)
Hand this to your inspector
A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Confirm engine variant (M156 6.2L NA vs M157 5.5L twin-turbo) and check service history accordingly.
02On M156 cars, ask for evidence of head bolt and cam/lifter work; listen for top-end ticking on cold start.
03On M157 cars, inspect the engine valley, turbo lines, and seals for oil leaks with the car on a lift.
04Test drive with hard acceleration to feel for MCT clutch shudder or slip, and check for transmission fluid service records.
Walking into a negotiation?
This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.
$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →