Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
M
I would purchase an aftermarket warranty for these cars, as they can be surprisingly expensive if something breaks. I think AC systems can be troublesome, and on earlier cars front end shimmy can be an issue.
I would buy the newest model you can afford. I would also buy a V8, and as long as you are at it get the 500 if it fits your budget. I can't think of a compelling argument to avoid the 420 or 500.
M
The S320-420 is a real tank, not much can touch you in there safety wise, which is something I consider when hauling kiddos. They are less engaging to drive and feel a bit ponderous by comparison. The S, IMO, is a bit more reliable than the 740, though both can curl your hair with repair costs.
My suggestion is to go through a dealer, on either car, and get one with the MB Starmark warranty or BMWs CPO warranty. Both of my BMWs had this coverage and it has been a lifesaver.
Do Not buy a '95 740 BMW. They had problems with the engine blocks, it is not worth the chance, that you will get an unrepaired one, and have to pay for it yourself.
See the above post on 320 vs 420, I would really get the V8, remeber that this is a VERY heavy car. Either the MB or BMW is going to be a superb highway cruiser. I think the BMW leans towards the sporty side and the S a bit more towards solid and stoic.
There is a pretty good discussion underway, and there are links to pictures and such in the messages there.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
M
We're also looking for people who recently switched one way or the other and what they like/dislike about what they're driving now.
If you are interested in participating, please provide your city/state of residence and your daytime phone number to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than March 20, 2002.
Thanks as always,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
benznut- An S600 with 550hp. Incredible! I would love to see the face of a Ferrari 360 owner when he is smoked!
M
Thanks
Thanks
But one thing more I'm concerned about is gradual scratching of the tint material itself. My M-B dealer says that the tolerances on the S Class window seals are so tight that there's no point in tinting the windows. The tinting film will quickly end up scratched from the mere act of raising and lowering the windows.
But it seems to me that there is no shortage of S Class owners whose cars have tinted windows here in Manhattan, let alone in warmer climates. So, does the dealer know something they don't?
Anyone with any first hand experience in this matter?
Thanks.
I have the AMG sports package with the 18 inch rims on my car.
The difference in ride quality and harshness is significant if you live in a typical big city with rough road surfaces like New York. But if you drive mostly on better maintained suburban roads and highways, then the harshness added by the 18 inch wheels and low profile tires (it's the tires that are really the culprit) is minor and well, well worth the trade off.
A partial solution if your driving consists of lots of pock-marked inner city thoroughfares, is to take down the low profile rear tire pressures by 4 to 6 pounds. This will significantly improve ride quality at the expenses of a bit more tire wear, and a little less precision in the handling -- though I doubt the average driver would ever notice. No need to reduce the fronts as it's the rears that contribute most to our perceptions of the car's ride quality.
The factory recommendations are simply a good compromise and I've read more than one article suggesting that taking down the pressures in the rears is a good option. You'll save wear and tear on the suspension components, too.
BUT please note that if you intend to go for a top speed run somewhere, or you often attain speeds exceeding 100 MPH on your daily commute, stick to the factory recomendatons, or go even a bit higher. And whatever you do, keep a watchful eye on those pressures (or get the usefull optional dashboard tire pressure monitoring system, as I did). You obviously have less margin for error with reduced pressures. You probably won't roll the thing (it's not an SUV, after all). But you may be in for quite a surprise when you agressively hit that on ramp if for some reason the pressure in one of the rear tires has dropped. The tail of the car may step out on you quite forcefully and you'll have to be quick to catch it (or hopefully the ESP will do the work for you).
The window tinting should be just fine, unless you are in the habit of openeing and closing windows all of the time. My 7 series BMW has had tinted windows for over a year with no scratches, haven't done the MB yet. One concern is that, if you choose a tint that is metallic, you may disrupt the AM radio reception. The SoCal dealer I bought the S from told me many customers have tinted the windows with no adverse effects.
I have now bought it to the dealer 5 times for the same thing....noisy brakes...each time they spray something on them and even put a Band-Aid (brake silencer) on them....but after about 4K miles...they are making noise again....the final straw was the navigation was not working so I bought it in and they had to replace the entire unit $6400 (thank goodness for the 4yr/50K). Then they tried to charge me $300 to again make the brakes stop making noise. I have over half the pad left!! Sorry just venting.....next time....I will strongly consider BMW or Lexus
Regarding Hyundai and Kia, do they offer a braking system capable of stopping a 4500 lb sedan from 70 mph in under 170 feet? Your car was designed with tons of reserve braking power. The dealer should be able to address this better. Threaten to contact MBUSA if they can not satisfy your needs. Buying BMW will not alleviate this, they are engineered in a similar fashion. The Lexus will be quiet, but ugly.
My advice is that this is an omen of things to come....ask the dealer that you would like to try to change cars (not sure if they will go for this)...but if they do...trust that the wait will be worth it!!
I was wondering if any of you veterans would be kind enough to offer advice on my planned MBZ purchase. It's a '99 S500 with 63k miles for $38,500. I have a chance to buy it from a guy before he trades it in to the dealer.
My concerns are:
-How reliable is this car? Any common problems to watch out for?
-What do you think of 63k mi? I drive about 30K/yr...so when I sell it in 2-3 years, it will be even more high mileage. Will this thing be hard to resell?
I love this car, but I'm concerned repairs and maintenance will eat me up. What is your opinion?
Cheers!!
www.mbspy.com/notw221.htm. It says that it is not the new s-class, though. i don't think that those pictures are reliable, though. its too soon to completely redesign.
The same article states the 2003 CL will only have bumper changes and the S will have an all new interior. Also a british auto mag said the 2003 S class will have new wheel designs and slightly new bumpers but the major change is the interior. Both look like available supercharged engines are coming as well.
http://mbspy.bacosys.be/w220fl.htm
M
http://mbspy.bacosys.be/visiongst.htm
M
The pull to one side MAY be related to the high performance tires on 18" wheels. Have you tried it on different roads? Does it pull right in the right lane and left in the left lane? That would just be the crown in the road acting on the hp tires. Though my '01 S600 on 20" 35 series tires tracks very straight.
Now an S600 twin turbo is what I call the ultimate four door rocket.
Also there are talks of the first 6 speed MB transmission making it into this car.
Then a brand new generation normally aspirated V8 for 2004-2005 in 4.5 and 5.3 displacements, with 330hp and 375hp respectively?? Man are they guys working overtime or what? Is new 2003 S supposed to debut at Paris this fall? I would have better though for the new generation engines to appear in the new E, S and CLK all at the same time.
M
I can only explain this with the fact that they are trying to stay ahead of the game that has started in the automotive industry, where automakers are coming up with more and more horsepower. I bet MB does not feel safe with BMW coming up with a 500+ hp V10 or with an M7. Plus they probably want to get their money worth with the newly developed Maybach V12.
Anyway, I can see this twinturbo V12 making its way into the S, CL, and maybe even the new SL, as it was once discussed but dropped because it would hurt sales for the SLR.
One thing for sure is that MB engineers are working way overtime, and God bless them for that. Have you seen the new E500? Even the new CLK appears to be a real looker, despite my scepticism at the first official photos. Now I can see the current CLK as aged a little, after seeing the new car. And hey, they are keeping two versions of the 5,5l AMG engine, the 476hp supercharged and the normally aspirated 367hp in the CLK (I thought they would utilize the blown 3.2L V6 on that). Why would they not think of keeping two different V12s, the normal and the turbo? A 500hp S class would make a heck of a flagship car. Make mine a Mocha designo with four-place seating, and chrome AMG wheels.:-)
The only new MB model I'm a little leary of is the new CLK, to me the current car looks better, especially the 430 and 55 models with their body add-ons. For me the jury is still out on the new CLK, but the E and the oh-my-gawd SL are are off the chart. Now I guess new SLK and facelifted S-Class will be shown at Paris. Then for 2004 a new ML and then for 2005 the GST comes along, then it'll be time for a C-Class facelift...and so on. The GST should be a runaway hit even outdoing the ML's initial success back in 1998. I personally have been biased towards the S55 every since a MB event I attended last summer. I can't image what a 469hp S55 will be like.
M
My questions are;
What is your opinion on this car ?
Will it hold it value better than most American cars ?
I drove the car a number of times, the engine is quit but I can feel the trans shifting a bit a low speeds ? Is this normal for a German Automobile ?
I really like this car so please help ! Otherwise, my wife would rather see me get a Ford Exccursion !!
Please email comments to jngizzi@optonline.net
The car is black on black ....
Thanks for your help !!
Joe