Mercedes AMG service: what twin-turbo V8s need
Mercedes-AMG V8s are hand-built in Affalterbach on the ‘one man, one engine’ principle: a single engine builder assembles the unit and signs the plaque fixed to it. A Mercedes AMG service follows the manufacturer’s programme, with an oil approved by Mercedes-Benz for that specific engine (the MB 229 specifications) and the prescribed filters, spark plugs and fluids.
On a twin-turbo V8, a service does not stop at the oil change. We check the boost hoses and couplings, any oil around the turbochargers, the condition of the cooling system and the fault codes stored by the control units. Thorough diagnostics come before any fault-finding: they avoid replacing parts on a guess.
AMG SPEEDSHIFT gearboxes and large brakes
The AMG SPEEDSHIFT name covers several gearboxes depending on the model: torque-converter automatics, MCT units with a wet multi-plate launch clutch, and dual-clutch boxes on the SLS and some AMG GTs. Each has its own oil and its own procedures. The fluid is changed according to the manufacturer’s programme, with the specified oil, followed by the checks and adaptations the gearbox in question requires.
AMGs brake hard and wear accordingly. Discs, pads, callipers and hoses are measured and inspected at every visit; on cars fitted with ceramic composite brakes, optional on some AMGs, disc condition is assessed against the manufacturer’s criteria rather than by eye. The work involved is described on our brakes page.
R230 and R231 SL: ABC suspension and the folding roof
Many R230 and R231 SLs are fitted with Active Body Control (ABC), an actively controlled hydraulic suspension that counters roll and pitch. On cars that have it, it deserves regular attention: level and condition of the dedicated hydraulic fluid, filter, sealing of the struts and hoses, pump and pressure accumulators. A car that sinks when parked or a warning on the dashboard should not be left unattended.
The folding hard top is hydraulic too: rams, hoses and end-position sensors are worth checking before a leak reaches the cabin. On early R230s, the SBC electro-hydraulic braking system also calls for diagnosis with suitable equipment. The R129 SL that preceded them has a hydraulically operated hood, with comparable points to check.
Mercedes G-Class service: axles, locking differentials and corrosion
The G-Class is a genuine off-roader: separate chassis, transfer case and three locking differentials, front, centre and rear, on the W463. The rear axle is rigid, as was the front axle until the generation launched in 2018. A G-Class service therefore includes, according to the manufacturer’s programme, the axle and transfer case oils, and an inspection of the propshafts, joints and bushes.
A lock that is never used can seize: we engage each one during the service to check that it engages and that its warning light comes on. On the W460 and early W463, corrosion is watched on the chassis, the door bottoms and the windscreen frame. Recent G 63s add the care of a twin-turbo AMG V8 to all this. The model is described on our G-Class W460 and W463 page.
Classic Mercedes: Bosch mechanical injection and carburettors
Many Mercedes of the 1950s and 1960s, from the 220 SE to the Pagoda, use Bosch mechanical fuel injection with a plunger pump. Such a pump rarely goes out of adjustment on its own: before touching it, we check the ignition, filters, fuel supply and any air leaks. On the 220 SEb Cabriolet restored in our workshop, the six-cylinder engine and its Bosch mechanical injection were completely rebuilt.
Other models run on carburettors, such as the 190 SL with its twin Solex, or on K-Jetronic injection, widely used on Mercedes of the 1970s and 1980s. On these cars, servicing also includes greasing the running gear where the model requires it, and checking hoses, brake pipes and wiring. When a service is no longer enough, a Mercedes-Benz restoration takes over.
ASSYST, warranty and itemised invoice
On recent Mercedes, the ASSYST maintenance indicator, later ASSYST PLUS, announces a Service A or a Service B, sometimes followed by a number or letter that adds tasks to the programme. We carry out the service shown, reset the indicator and tell you what the inspection has revealed before any further work.
European law allows a car still under warranty to be serviced outside the manufacturer’s network, provided its programme is followed with parts of equivalent quality. Every visit produces an itemised invoice, task by task, with the origin of each part: it adds to the car’s history. For the principles shared by every marque, see our servicing page.