Thread: G55 AMG as DD
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Old 03-01-2011, 12:01 PM   #6 (permalink)
oro
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I used to work at a Mercedes specialty performance shop, Mercedes brakes on the AMG's are super soft for performance and smoothness, pretty much your pads and rotors will run out around the same time every time so don't expect for your rotors to last much longer than your pads.

The 55 engine is expensive to maintain but it is bullet proof, your oil change intervals will be around 6k and will require a specialized filter from Mercedes, which they will check if there is ever a warranty issue so remember to stay with the Mercedes recommended filter. Your oil changes with full synthetic and filter will run you around $130-$150 every 6k.

Most of your money will be spent on service, after working at the shop for 2.5 years the only AMG we ever had in for actual engine problems was because it ingested water when the freeway flooded. The engines are extremely solid, predictable and require very little maintenance aside from the scheduled (though expensive) maintenance.

You will have parts that wear out over time of course, flex disks on the drive shaft etc. But for the most part, budget your maintenance for your Daily Driven per year mileage, and add in a possible 2k for brakes for every two years depending on how aggressive you drive.

M4 is right on as well when it comes to the Merc diagnostics, just like BMW they rid themselves of dipsticks and they check oil level for example on the same DAS powered computers. Also actuation of a lot of systems can only be done through Merc. Merc does license their software to private repair shops though, which is what we did and will save you some money, while BMW keeps theirs strictly to their own dealerships.

Budget in everything above and see if it is for you. All that being said, they are extremely comfortable and for a big brick they haul some serious bootay especially with come Kleeman upgrades.
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