The Lemon Index
Mercedes-AMG's 6.2 L naturally aspirated 90° V8, DOHC in the CLK63, CLS63 AMG, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), ML63, R63, CL63 AMG, S63 AMG, C63 and SL63 AMG, model years 2007–2015. YouTube likes the 2012 best.
Less liked than most on YouTube: YouTube owner tone 43/100, #126 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); no engine-related recall on record, 4 known issues listed below.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mercedes-AMG C6320082009201020112012201320142015
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-AMG E6320072008200920102011
- Mercedes-Benz M/GLE Mercedes-AMG ML6320072008200920102011
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
Why the car page shows more: the C63 page counts 18 complaints and 0 recall campaigns for 2008–2015, everything NHTSA files as "Amg C63", other engines included. This page counts only the 80 complaints and 0 recalls we can tie to the Mercedes-AMG M156 6.2 V8 by model name or the owner's own words.
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2012 (44) and least about the 2007 (40); neighboring years share many of the same videos, so small gaps mean little.
How we count: owner complaints only where the car's name and year leave no doubt; YouTube tone from videos that name this engine or its cars. How we count
Owner complaints (NHTSA) are filed by model and year, not engine. We count one for this engine only when the model name and year had no other engine (e.g. "488 GTB", "GT-R"), or when the owner's own words name a version that had only this engine that year (Z06, ZR1, Hellcat, GT500 ...). They cover the whole car (wheels, air bags, electrics ...), not only the engine, and none of them is a failure rate. We chart them only for engines with 30 or more, over 3 or more years. YouTube tone = how positive the videos are, 0–100, from titles and transcripts (praise vs trouble words, the title counts 3 times), weighted by views; a year needs at least 3 videos' worth. A video counts for this engine when its title names the engine or a car that only had this engine in the years it names; a video whose title names no model year counts toward every year of that car, so neighboring years share most of their videos.
All the numbers, year by year
| Year | Cars | Owner complaints | YouTube says | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | CLK63, CLS63 AMG, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), ML63, R63 | 31 | 40 (122 videos) | 0 |
| 2008 | CL63 AMG, S63 AMG, CLK63, CLS63 AMG, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), ML63, C63 | 21 | 43 (172 videos) | 0 |
| 2009 | CLS63 AMG, S63 AMG, C63, CL63 AMG, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), ML63 | 4 | 43 (173 videos) | 0 |
| 2010 | S63 AMG, CL63 AMG, ML63, C63, CLS63 AMG, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon) | 7 | 43 (172 videos) | 0 |
| 2011 | SL63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, C63, E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), ML63 | 6 | 43 (171 videos) | 0 |
| 2012 | SL63 AMG, C63 | 5 | 44 (172 videos) | 0 |
| 2013 | C63 | 5 | 42 (171 videos) | 0 |
| 2014 | C63 | 1 | 44 (172 videos) | 0 |
| 2015 | C63 | 0 | not enough videos yet | 0 |
Recalls on cars with this engine
No NHTSA recalls we can tie to this engine's cars.
Engine problems Mercedes-AMG told dealers about
Mercedes-AMG sent dealers 43 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- Fault code U41600 logged in 'ES' (electric steering) control unit after software update or steering gear…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- C63/GTx 177/178 Check Engine Light on with Misfire DTC's
NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins), matched by model name and year like the complaints, engine-related ones only. A repair note is not a recall: ask a seller whether it was done.
Known issues on record
- Cylinder head bolts (Maker bulletin). Head bolts can stretch and snap on engines up to serial 060658 (built to about mid-2010), letting coolant into the cylinders. Mercedes covered it in an April 2011 bulletin. Fix: Replace all head bolts and the hydraulic lifters; many owners fit studs.
- Camshaft and lifter wear (Maker bulletin). Intake cam lobes can wear into the lifters, often near 100,000 miles, with clatter at cold start. Mercedes acknowledged the wear in a 2009 bulletin; a U.S. class action over it did not proceed. Fix: Replace worn camshafts and lifters, and change the oil often.
- Intake manifold (Parts seller). The center plate of the magnesium intake manifold, which holds the throttle bodies, deteriorates and causes rough running at idle. Fix: Replace the manifold or fit a center-plate repair kit.
- Crankcase breather valve (Parts seller). The breather valve diaphragm or its hose cracks, raising oil burning and setting a P0170 fuel trim code. Fix: Replace the breather valve; the intake manifold has to come off.
Sources: Australian Car Reviews: Mercedes W204 C 63 AMG recalls and service bulletins, FCP Euro: Mercedes-Benz AMG M156 engine common issues (2021). The same list as on the C63 page.
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-AMG CLK63 CLK63 AMG, CLK63 AMG (Cabriolet) | 2007–08 |
| Mercedes-AMG CLS63 CLS63 AMG | 2007–11 |
| Mercedes-AMG E63 E63 AMG, E63 AMG (wagon) · Mercedes-Benz E-Class, every year | 2007–11 |
| Mercedes-AMG ML63 ML63 AMG · Mercedes-Benz M/GLE, every year | 2007–11 |
| Mercedes-AMG R63 R63 AMG | 2007 |
| Mercedes-AMG CL63 CL63 AMG | 2008–10 |
| Mercedes-AMG S63 S63 AMG | 2008–10 |
| Mercedes-AMG C63 C63 AMG, C63 AMG Black Series Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe · Mercedes-Benz C-Class, every year | 2008–15 |
| Mercedes-AMG SL63 SL63 AMG | 2011–12 |
Engine code: M156 ("6.3"). Power: 451–518 hp, factory figures. Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: Mercedes-Benz M156 engine.
Quick answers
What cars have the Mercedes-AMG M156 6.2 V8 engine?
In the US: the Mercedes-AMG CLK63, Mercedes-AMG CLS63 AMG, Mercedes-AMG E63 AMG / E63 AMG (wagon), Mercedes-AMG ML63, Mercedes-AMG R63, Mercedes-AMG CL63 AMG, Mercedes-AMG S63 AMG, Mercedes-AMG C63, Mercedes-AMG SL63 AMG, model years 2007–2015. See the version table for each one.
Is the Mercedes-AMG M156 6.2 V8 reliable?
Not one of the safer bets on our data. YouTube owner tone 43/100, #126 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); no engine-related recall on record, 4 known issues listed below. Owners filed 80 complaints we can tie to it, about any part of the car. Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the Mercedes-AMG M156 6.2 V8 make?
451–518 hp in factory figures, depending on the car.