Mercedes-AMG S63 AMG: Common Problems & Reliability Guide (South Africa)
These are issues documented for the Mercedes-AMG S63 AMG in general - things to check for, not a diagnosis of any particular car. Whether a specific car has one depends on its age, mileage, service history and how it was used.
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Check This Vehicle Free →M156 Camshaft Adjuster (Phaser) Backplate Wear
Symptoms to watch for
- A metallic knocking or rattling noise lasting several seconds immediately after a cold start ('cam adjuster rattle', 'cold-start rattle')
- Noise most commonly reported from the intake camshaft adjusters specifically
- Noise typically subsides once oil pressure builds and the adjuster re-locks - making this an easy symptom to miss on a short test drive unless the engine is started from genuinely cold
Rough Repair Cost
Independent workshops typically charge R36 000-R82 000 for this, depending on exactly what's needed. The full independent-vs-dealer breakdown is in a full AutoLytiQs report.
What To Check
Only reliably caught with a genuinely COLD start - a test drive that starts from a warm engine (very common when a seller has the car running before a buyer arrives) will not reproduce the symptom. Insist on being present for, or personally performing, the very first start of the day.
Check a specific real listing for this vehicle and see the evidence behind every documented issue - one report, only R69, once:
- Repair-cost estimate for 1 of 1 documented issue
- 1 verified manufacturer TSB/recall reference you can check yourself
- A recommended fix or negotiation point for that issue
- A downloadable PDF report
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This guide summarises documented, sourced findings for the Mercedes-AMG S63 AMG generally. It is not an assessment of any specific vehicle - mileage, service history and condition vary by example. A full AutoLytiQs™ report checks a specific listing for sale against this data plus a live South African market valuation, to tell you whether that exact vehicle is a good buy.