The 2020 E63 AMG with the M177 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is a high-performance monster that unfortunately carries the catastrophic engine bearing failure risk that plagued early M177/M178 engines. While Mercedes extended warranty coverage on some VINs, this is a platform where a $20,000+ engine rebuild can happen without warning.
Catastrophic Connecting Rod Bearing Failure (M177 Engine)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking from engine bay, especially on cold starts, Metal shavings or glitter in oil during changes, Sudden loss of oil pressure followed by engine seizure, Check engine light with low oil pressure codes
Fix: Complete engine teardown required. Best case is rod bearing replacement (12-16 hours), but often finds damaged crank journals requiring full short block or crank regrind. Many shops won't attempt bearing-only repair due to liability—full engine rebuild or replacement is typical. Mercedes issued extended warranty to 10yr/155k mi on affected VINs built before mid-2020.
Estimated cost: $18,000-35,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under vehicle, typically passenger side, Burning smell after highway drives, Transmission temperature warning on dashboard, Pink or red fluid visible near radiator area
Fix: Replace transmission oil cooler and lines. Requires front-end disassembly to access cooler mounted to radiator support. 6-8 hours labor. Must flush transmission system and refill with MB 236.17 fluid—absolutely no substitutes on the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,500
Transmission Mount Failures
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, especially with AC on, Visible movement of drivetrain when blipping throttle in Park, Transmission error messages intermittently
Fix: Replace transmission mount—the hydraulic-filled unit fails internally on high-torque applications. Mount itself is pricey ($800-1,200 for OE). Access requires lifting vehicle and supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor. Aftermarket versions exist but often increase NVH.
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,000
Piston Ring Carbon Buildup and Blow-By
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption—more than 1 qt per 1,000 mi, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or hard acceleration, Rough idle with misfires on multiple cylinders, Carbon fouling of spark plugs requiring frequent replacement
Fix: Direct injection combined with aggressive tune leads to piston ring land coking. Catch-can installation helps prevent but doesn't reverse damage. Repair requires cylinder head removal and piston service—often reveals scored cylinder walls requiring overbore or short block. 18-24 hours labor for proper repair.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle and Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine bay at idle or light throttle, Loss of boost pressure with limp mode activation, P0299 or P0234 turbo underboost/overboost codes, Turbo whistle changes pitch or becomes louder
Fix: Hot-vee turbo configuration makes access brutal. Wastegate actuator arms wear, causing rattle; eventually wastegate sticks open or closed. Single turbo replacement is 10-14 hours due to needing to drop subframe and work between cylinder banks. Most shops quote both turbos if one fails due to labor overlap. OE turbos only—no reliable aftermarket.
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble during hard acceleration, Reduced power at high RPM, Long cranking before engine starts, Fuel pressure codes or lean condition codes
Fix: AMG high-pressure fuel system is sensitive to fuel quality. Filter is in-tank and requires dropping fuel tank. 3-4 hours labor. Mercedes officially calls it 'lifetime' but real-world experience shows replacement needed by 50k with pump-gas use. Use only MB-spec filters to avoid flow restriction.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Owner tips
Install an oil catch can immediately—the direct injection creates significant blow-by that accelerates carbon and bearing wear
Use only Mercedes-approved 0W-40 oil (MB 229.5 spec) and change every 5,000 mi regardless of what the computer says—bearing failures correlate with extended intervals
Monitor oil consumption religiously and send used oil samples to Blackstone Labs every other change to catch bearing wear early
Check your VIN against Mercedes bearing warranty extension TSB—affected engines built before July 2020 may have coverage
Budget $3,000-4,000 annually for maintenance and prepare for the possibility of a $20k+ engine failure even on low-mileage examples
Only buy if you have deep pockets or an extended warranty covering engine internals—the performance is intoxicating but the bearing failure risk makes this a financial grenade for the unprepared.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required for start-stop system; located in trunk
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Every control module on the 2018-2020 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Transmission Control Unit (TCU)2.5 hr R&Rsecurity gateway +1.0 hr▸ programming details
⚠️ Controls dual fuel pumps. Requires fuel system pressure test after replacement.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 E350, E450, E450 Wagon, E63S AMG, 2020 E63S AMG Wagon, and 2020-2021 E53 AMG vehicles. The passenger seat limiter may allow the seat to be positioned too close to the air bag.
Consequence: A seat too close to the air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the frontal passenger air bag.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the passenger seat limiter, free of charge. The recall began April 29, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040002.
SEATS · 20V673000
2020-10-30
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 E350 and E450, 2019-2021 AMG E53 and 2020-2021 AMG E63 vehicles. The front passenger seat may be missing the mechanical seat adjustment range limit stop, allowing the seat to move outside of the acceptable range in relation to the air bag.
Consequence: If the front passenger seat is adjusted beyond the acceptable range in relation to the air bag, there could be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash with air bag deployment.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the mechanical seat adjustment range limitation for the front passenger seat and install it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-368-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020110013.
Performance
Horsepower
603hp
Torque
627lb-ft
0–60 mph
3.3sec
Quarter mile
11.4sec
Top speed
186mph
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,515lb
Wiper blades
W213 generation (2017-2023). Both blades are 26 inches on this E-Class generation.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4.0L Turbo V8 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.