My W221 S350L

[jimmymidnight]

So after selling my W215 CL500 just over a year ago, I spent 7 or 8 months budget motoring. Firstly with a R53 Mini Cooper S, then a D2 Audi A8 and then finally a C5 Audi Allroad. As much as I enjoyed relatively cheap driving for a while, I started to miss my big Mercs.

I then cleaned up the Allroad, whacked some new rear brakes on it and put it up for sale. Within about 3 days, I had a buyer.

Now i'm not very good at in depth research when it comes to cars, I tend to find one I like after days of classified trawling and then I buy it, and it was no different with the my latest purchase.

I ended up seeing a lovely, well spec'd S350L for sale near Gatwick and I happened to be in London for my better half's graduation that weekend. So after much grovelling, I managed to slip away for a coupe of hours to go and have a look at what I was sure to be my next car.

It was definitely the one I wanted, metallic silver with the black pano glass roof, a list of extras a long as my arm and all for a very reasonable price. The only thing I was slightly worried about was the engine choice - at the time I didn't want a diesel (i'm not sure what my argument was with myself about them, but oh well) but I also knew that a 500 would cripple me as I spend a lot of time out and about. I did some research and it turned out that the 3.5 V6 petrol returned a slightly lower mpg than the diesel, but with fuel prices being what they are, I considered this negligible. It's also no slouch, which was another concern in a car of this size. 7.0 seconds to 60, standard limited 155mph at the top end, it would certainly keep me happy on my long motorway blasts.

Anyway, here it is, my 2007 S350L in all it's glory:







The main spec is a 3.5 v6 petrol lump, 7g gearbox, heated and air conditioned massaging front seats, heated and reclining rear seats, pano roof and all the other standard S class refinements.

So far, it's done about 4000 miles in 3 or so months and returned an average of about 27mpg, of which have been smooth and comfy. The only real issue I have had is that the control modules for the front dynamic seats need to be replaced, but that can all wait...

[MJK 24]

A chap in my road has a 2012 model. I like them. Lots of presence and a return to quality build compared to the model previous.

Enjoy

[Max M4X WW]

Looks great! Wheels though..

Any interior pics? Was there a thread about the allroad? What engine did that have?

[jimmymidnight]

Max M4X WW said:

Looks great! Wheels though..

Any interior pics? Was there a thread about the allroad? What engine did that have?

Haha, the wheels look tiny on this.. But if you saw my A8, my CL or any of my cars before that, you'll be glad to know that some nice AMG 20's are on the list.

I'll try and take some interior pics at the weekend if I can keep it clean enough.

Here is a link to the Allroad: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=142...

[Max M4X WW]

I know your other cars Had no idea what had happened to the A8!! Not one reply on the allroad, that may be why I missed it! Surprising.

[jimmymidnight]

Max M4X WW said:

I know your other cars Had no idea what had happened to the A8!! Not one reply on the allroad, that may be why I missed it! Surprising.

Yeah it was sad, I liked the A8!

I completely forgot I even started a thread on the allroad until I searched for it earlier today!

[jimmymidnight]

Managed to pop out of the office for 5 minutes today so thought I'd take a couple of quick interior shots from the phone. Not the best quality, and I'll try and get some better, more detailed shots at the weekend if I get a chance.





I'd like to get a couple of little bits done with the interior. I'd like to get the bluetooth sorted and maybe a facelift steering wheel with paddles instead of the current buttons.

[Erudite geezer]

Mr Original Poster Sir, I am imagining this V6 petrol engine in an S class to be the epitome of refinement.

How does the petrol engined car compare to the V6 diesel in terms of refinement, perchance you know?

I am sorely tempted by a W221 but am currently not entertaining a petrol variant.

[jimmymidnight]

Erudite geezer said:

Mr Original Poster Sir, I am imagining this V6 petrol engine in an S class to be the epitome of refinement.

How does the petrol engined car compare to the V6 diesel in terms of refinement, perchance you know?

I am sorely tempted by a W221 but am currently not entertaining a petrol variant.

To be honest, the diesel engine is a fantastic engine, very refined and very smooth, and it will easily return over 30mpg (I had an S320 cdi as a courtesy car back in 2007).

I chose the petrol because, to be honest, I prefer the smoothness and quietness and general response of NA petrol engine over turbo charged diesel engines. This engine is beautifully smooth and refined. It has enough pull to move the car with ease and it's as quiet as it can get really.

If you were looking for a petrol S class, I'd recommend the S500 as it's just such a good lump. I loved the 5.0 V8 in my CL500, and there are times when I really miss that little bit extra I used to get from the 500.

[jke11y]

I've been a big fan of these since they came out. Had a ride in one last month in Singapore (taxi) that had done big miles but it was still silent, smooth and a delight. Have you got the rear blinds in the doors? At current prices I think they are storming vfm - would have bought one had I not regularly had to move stuff.

[jimmymidnight]

jke11y said:

I've been a big fan of these since they came out. Had a ride in one last month in Singapore (taxi) that had done big miles but it was still silent, smooth and a delight. Have you got the rear blinds in the doors? At current prices I think they are storming vfm - would have bought one had I not regularly had to move stuff.

I sometimes forget how quiet and smooth it is until I get in my other half's Ford KA...

Mine doesn't have the rear door blinds, but it does have the rear windscreen blind and roof ones.

I want to get the rear windows tinted at some point but there are other bits I want to get done first.

[-crookedtail-]

Nice choice mate. I love a good old barge!!

[Animal]

Erudite geezer said:

Mr Original Poster Sir, I am imagining this V6 petrol engine in an S class to be the epitome of refinement.

How does the petrol engined car compare to the V6 diesel in terms of refinement, perchance you know?

I am sorely tempted by a W221 but am currently not entertaining a petrol variant.

My boss has an S350 diesel: it's quick enough and very quiet. A lovely place to sit!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

jimmymidnight said:

I spent 7 or 8 months budget motoring. Firstly with a R53 Mini Cooper S, then a D2 Audi A8 and then finally a C5 Audi Allroad.

I'm not sure your definition of budget motoring matches that of the general populous.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Erudite geezer said:

Mr Original Poster Sir, I am imagining this V6 petrol engine in an S class to be the epitome of refinement.

How does the petrol engined car compare to the V6 diesel in terms of refinement, perchance you know?

I am sorely tempted by a W221 but am currently not entertaining a petrol variant.

OH's dad has had new s classes every 3 years for ages now and always goes for the diesel. Honestly even from the outside you can't really tell! Is that quiet! He currently has the latest one which I think actually looks worse than this one. Less chiseled more melty!

[jimmymidnight]

Animal said:

My boss has an S350 diesel: it's quick enough and very quiet. A lovely place to sit!

I couldn't afford the facelift S350 diesels, it would have been a no brainier otherwise. That engine is so economical and pack so much torque. My mum has the E350 coupe and it flies!

[jimmymidnight]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I'm not sure your definition of budget motoring matches that of the general populous.

The A8 and Allroad were both sub£2k and cost less than £500 to get back in satisfactory condition (the A8 only needed some new bulbs and an oil change!)

[jimmymidnight]

-crookedtail- said:

Nice choice mate. I love a good old barge!!

I can't keep away from them, everytime I tell my other half "the next one will be smaller and economical" and then I get drawn in by the sheer amount of bang you get for your buck!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

jimmymidnight said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I'm not sure your definition of budget motoring matches that of the general populous.

The A8 and Allroad were both sub£2k and cost less than £500 to get back in satisfactory condition (the A8 only needed some new bulbs and an oil change!)

Still not my idea of budget motoring. Citroen C1, a Dacia, Suzuki Alto or an old 1.3 hatchback, that's budget motoring. An Audi A8 is hardly budget motoring, even is you get it free and find a grand under the seat.

[jimmymidnight]

Otispunkmeyer said:

OH's dad has had new s classes every 3 years for ages now and always goes for the diesel. Honestly even from the outside you can't really tell! Is that quiet! He currently has the latest one which I think actually looks worse than this one. Less chiseled more melty!

I think the new W222 is stunning, especially the new coupe. Although I think you're right about the chiseled/melty thing - the W221 is a lot more aggressive looking (especially in AMG kitted guise) whereas the new one is "pretty" and not as imposing. I also don't like the current trend that Audi and Mercedes seem to have with making all their cars look the same, just a bit bigger. It's difficult to distinguish between the new S and the new C class at times. Which is great if you're a C class owner, but I can imagine it being a tad annoying if you've forked out over £100k for a full fat S class and someone goes "nice C class mate..." not that it matters I guess.