Mercedes E63S thread

[kevm14]

Updates and coding was done. Well, in addition to the ILS+ he gave me a couple weeks ago.

For software updates, I have attached the before and after software list. I have not reviewed but from what I understand the following modules were updated:
- Gateway
- Parktronic
- Engine
- Both headlamps (yes each one is a module)

He said he needs to look up a vehicle build code thing to make sure he does the transmission right so that was not done today. I have no clue what any of the updates will do, good or bad. The only thing I really know is that I think the headlamp update fixes the fans running too long issue that I noticed pretty much right away, because it's a noticeable whirring sound.

I have not driven the car yet but his system allows him to back up the software before he flashed it so if I notice any undesirable behavior I can basically have him flash back to original and we can go from there. I am not sure this is something I would be able to do myself. The dealer does not allow this as far as I know.

To get the software he had to somehow contact someone in Germany. So it seems like I would not be able to update software on this car without his assistance. I guess that's OK. He said the S550 is old enough so he doesn't have to phone home to get updates. Look forward to that I guess.

In addition to the software updates, he coded the following additional features:
- Transmission mode and eco mode stay how I left them last time I drove the car. Factory settings are it defaults to comfort and eco mode on (which is also stop/start). Of course it is little bother to click the wheel from C to S but now I won't have to.
- Removed COMAND system interactivity lockouts when moving. Certain features are locked out over 5 kph and now I can do those things when moving. The text message one is something I'd actually use because it should be safer to read it through the COMAND system than from my phone.
- Max A/C mod. The car has a Max Cool button and I guess I never used it stock. What he modified it to do is basically go full blast for unlimited time. Factory operation was something less than this.

I do not have the hardware for reading street signs (meh). Only other thing I might want is to disable that annoying take your key bing/bong on the cluster when I shut the car off and open the door. I will probably just leave it though.

[kevm14]

Aside from the oil pump thing (see thread in Powertrain), the other big news on this car is I got the bright idea to decrease tire pressure by 3 psi front and rear. And now it rides a hell of a lot better.

This seems obvious until you realize what the range of recommended pressures are on these cars AND that some say that the tires don't wear properly unless you run toward the top of that range. Well, I'm here to say I really don't give a shit about tire wear if it turns the ride into a Conestoga wagon.

I think my 3 psi decrease ends up around 44 front and 41 rear. By any conventional standard still very high. But I assure you, 47/44 rides way worse. I may continue to play but I am already so much happier with the car overall between this and the oil pump thing that I am just enjoying my very delayed honeymoon phase.

This car has finally entered E55 status. It just took a while.

[kevm14]

FSM stuff intended for MB forum.

[kevm14]

I moved from the S550 over to this to both see how the battery charger handles ignition on stuff (seems good, about the same as the S550), and check some more parameters in Xentry. I did not start the engine and it hasn't run since late Dec.

Injector trims. Unfortunately this is a hex value but I'd like to see if I can decode these to show if any injectors are out of bounds. Either that or these are just the original trims (BMW does something similar on their direct injection). If these are new injector trims then I could not find the learned trims, which I was looking for, to determine the health of them (carbon build-up, et al).

Cam adjuster correction factor. Three of these look decent and the left intake is slightly concerning. It has been like this since I bought the car but I hadn't documented it then (I do remember seeing this, though). I want to say when it gets up toward 5 or 6 things start to get sketchy in terms of a CEL and necessity of replacing....parts. For now it's just noted.

All ECU coding. Lots of stuff in here.

- Item 28, extended throttle change damping. Well, what does this do? Sounds interesting.
- Item 37. I seem to recall this from the other discussion and I guess I will need to look into it.
- Items 45 and 46, limitation of engine torque. This also sounds interesting.
- Item 50, low fuel grade. My attempt at German suggests this is NOT active, unlike in the S550. Also unlike the S550, this is not tuned (as far as I know).
- Item 72, throttle characteristic. KLD 1 I think is the same as the S550.

[kevm14]

Injector trims. Unfortunately this is a hex value but I'd like to see if I can decode these to show if any injectors are out of bounds. Either that or these are just the original trims (BMW does something similar on their direct injection). If these are new injector trims then I could not find the learned trims, which I was looking for, to determine the health of them (carbon build-up, et al).

It's just initial coding for them, as new. I still don't know if I can find the adaptations for indvidual injectors.

[kevm14]

Regarding timing chain stuff.

The summary is, I MAY need the updated tensioners if they have not already been done. My engine VIN is in the range of needing just the tensioners. It already has the updated check valves.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/858 ... -help.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/ml63-amg-w16 ... l-cap.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x16 ... -cost.html

[kevm14]

Been over 3 months. Time to drive again.

[kevm14]

Going to be due for an oil change soon. I will do Blackstone but I haven't decided if I am just going to run the MolyGen 5W-40 again or if I might make a bold move and switch to Motul 8100 5W-50 which seems to be formulated to meet Ford's spec for their GT and stuff like the Voodoo.

Surprisingly the A/C charge is not totally dead. It feels about what it was doing last season so I guess the leak slowed down significantly? It probably could use a can though. I'll do that at some point. Some vents are colder than others.

As far as the car overall, there are still some things that would improve it, though at pretty high cost (generally):

- I would love to upgrade to the forged factory wheels (also a 19"). This is going to run me around $3000 not including what I might get if I sell mine. I am pretty serious about this. The forged wheels are stronger and lighter. Plus they are that classic AMG twin 5-spoke that I'm a sucker for. But aside from aesthetics, the car should actually drive better with them. If I combine with getting rid of these Continental runflats, I will save 11 lbs per front and 13 lbs per rear. The tires alone are 5 lbs of that per corner (compared to Michelin PSS anyway). That is insane in the car performance world because it isn't just unsprung weight, it's also rotating inertia. I am happy to spend money on this upgrade. Just need to figure out how to acquire these (they will be used or refinished - through the dealer pricing is totally out of the question). I am also hoping this solves a pesky vibration issue I feel starting at like 50 mph and getting pretty bad at 80 and up.

- Specifically on the tires, the fronts are pretty new and the rears are pretty spanked. It oversteers pretty significantly which has lead to a couple of interesting situations. I think my choices are all Michelin unless someone convinces me otherwise. Could do the AS4 like I had on the E55 and have on the S550. But I feel more compelled to do summer tires, so PSS or PS4S. I think I was actually leaning more toward the PSS even though it is an old design. Should continue to research this I suppose. Either way, no runflats.
All options: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSear ... rmance=ALL

Most likely will pull from Max Performance Summer list.

Set of 4 Michelin PSS runs $1,453.56 right at this moment. Plus mounting and balancing.

- Still considering the 390mm front rotor upgrade when it's time for front brakes. I would need to buy the rotors and the Porsche caliper bolts. I have the spacers. The 390mm rotors are only 1 lb heavier than my 360mm ones and that weight is also in a much smaller radius than wheels/tires. The rotors are in the 5-8" radius range while the wheels/tires are in the 9.5-13" radius range.
About $370/ea on Rockauto at the moment: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... abPSfh32M9
Porsche caliper bolts, $5/ea, a bargain: https://www.sunsetporscheparts.com/oem- ... a700758500

$750 for front rotors, and still would need pads.

EDIT: Actually, the 390 mm rotors don't seem more expensive than the 360 mm rotors that I have. I already bought the spacers so it would just be the $10 for the Porsche caliper bolts. Pads are still compatible. Wow this seems like a no-brainer now.

- Timing chain tensioners. There was a bulletin and while I have an updated check valve from the factory by engine serial, I do not have the updated tensioners. They are behind a cam/adjuster access cover which requires disassembly of some stuff on the front of the engine (mainly the boost pipes but probably also the oil filter housing and cooler). This is going to be a lot of labor I think. For engine longevity though, this is recommended. Believe it or not but a weak tensioner can actually cause all manner of havoc on these. EDIT: Well, the TSB says the tensioner thing is only a rattle and an annoyance. I guess it's a question of, do I believe that?
Some threads: https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/736 ... are-2.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/w212-amg/858 ... -help.html

newest TSB for 278 157 timing system.pdf

(1.3 MiB) Downloaded 1 time

Two tensioners, bolts and sealant at FCP is $442.21.
They sell a kit that includes the check valves (which I should already have installed): https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merced ... des-278050

- Front struts and mounts. The front seems under damped to me. It just feels lame, which checks out since I am dealing with 103k on original shocks (made by Monroe for some totally inexplicable reason). This is going to be another tremendous expense though I think buying new is worth it unlike at the rear. New mounts would also solve a crunching sound when turning the wheel in colder temps (I believe).

Left front @ $707: https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... OC1nYXM%3D

Right front @ $992: https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... OC1nYXM%3D

So that's $1700...

Strut mount bearings x2 @ $26.45/ea: https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... wtdjgtZ2Fz

And another $53. So call it $1750 for front struts (does not include new springs).

- I probably should throw a transmission mount at it like I did on my S550. They might actually be the identical part number which is a little surprising. Should be easy on this one as it was on the S550.
$93.60 and in fact has a 221 P/N: https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... OC1nYXM%3D

- I have new plugs and coils in a box so it would be nice to install those at some point.

- I haven't figured out a way to monitor injector health/balance but based on what I've read, injectors can also contribute to the cylinder scoring issue (mainly by running a cylinder lean which makes it hot). The injectors are expensive and a little involved to replace so I'm not sure exactly what would push me over the edge to replace them. But in theory, replacing them would be a good idea to achieve the best running and eliminate one more cause of issues down the road.

$311/ea with a $36 core: https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... wtdjgtZ2Fz

Might need this O-ring kit? https://www.mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/o ... wtdjgtZ2Fz

$2500 for injector stuff from dealer. This is reman so maybe there is a more cost effective source.

Here's a Bosch for $173 which is definitely more reasonable: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merced ... 2560700187

That would "only" be $1384.

Made in China option for $142/ea: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/merced ... 30-11-1006

Down to $1136 but I wouldn't do this one...

Rockauto has the Bosch for $142 (new, no core): https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 24&jsn=470

This is what I'd do. $1384.

Interestingly, these do NOT appear to be an AMG-specific injector. I guess there is a lot of dynamic range with the high pressure fuel system. Actually, looking at the Rockauto application guide, it seems like the first use was the 2011 model year M157 (CL and S-class got it first). Then everything else just used them. So through some clever planning, maybe they just originally designed the injector with the full AMG line in mind, and then used it on all applications. Kinda neat.

So that's a lot but over half of this is just wheels and tires. It does make me wonder if I was able to spend $8k more on one with forged wheels and fewer miles, would that have been money well spent? Could I have gotten a 2016 for an extra $8k? Things to ponder.

Ok I looked. Try $20k. I feel better now.