Illinois man buys broken $136,000 Mercedes GLS63 AMG for 'dirt cheap' and fixes its two big issues for just $18
Published on Jan 18, 2026 at 12:14 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 14, 2026 at 9:49 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
A man from Illinois bought a broken Mercedes GLS63 AMG for ‘dirt cheap’ and said he was able to fix the powerful SUV for just $18.
YouTuber LegitStreetCars bought the 2018 Mercedes for just $21,000, with the original sticker price for the car over $136,000.
However, the main reason he was able to get the car so cheaply was due to a major problem, which was evident early on in a video about the car.
However, with a fix costing less than $20, this Mercedes could be the bargain of the year so far, even if we are less than a month into 2026.
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What is wrong with this broken Mercedes GLS63 AMG?
A tell-tale sign of one of its problems was evident almost straight away.
As the YouTuber showed, there was a spot of oil underneath the car where it had been unloaded off its trailer.
This was a clear sign that the Mercedes SUV had a worrying oil leak somewhere in the system.
Another problem was that there was a check engine light showing on the dashboard.
The SUV also seemed to have a turbo boost pressure issue.
But despite this, the YouTuber still felt it was a bargain.
Even if the fix had been expensive, it still would have been a steal.
After a short drive to the video, LegitStreetCars got to work on its new purchase.
Fixing the AMG thankfully did not cost too much
It was remarkable that fixing the SUV cost so little.
Initial tests confirmed that the car was down on power, and there were turbo-related issues found with the SUV.
After a smoke test, it turned out there was a loose turbo hose.
Fixing that restored the proper boost to the Mercedes, and it once again drove as it should.
Fixing the oil leak was another pressing matter, but that is where the cheap fix came in.
The problem was traced to a failed oil thermostat plug O-ring.
A replacement was found for just $18, fixing the leak straight away.
That allowed other issues to be looked at, including the collapsed engine mounts.
These were a nightmare to replace, but they didn’t add to the cost.
With all that done, this bargain of a luxury SUV was back on the road once again.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
