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...

[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...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[jimmymidnight]

Sat90 said:

With the type of people who run about in A8s nowadays....finding a grand under the seat is a possibility....

We found little bottles of steroids wedged down the back of the drivers seat in mine...

[jimmymidnight]

R6VED said:

Nice one buddy, good to see you back in a big Merc :-) (Golfstrike on Ed38)

I sold my CLS 500 about a month ago, but have also got a 1981 500 SEL in black named "The Dictator" to play with - I have dropped it 45mm, custom exhaust and just picked up yesterday a set of 8x16 inch Zender wheels with Pirelli tyres, a Momo wooden steering wheels and a heckblende.

I look forward to seeing what you do to this one.

Charlie

Hello mate! Why did you sell the CLS? IT was a lovely example! I do like those old SEL's, proper old school with a nice mean look. It all sounds good so far matey, get some pics up!

[jimmymidnight]

So the barge suffered 2 casualties in a day last week!

First, after being boxed in to a super tight spot during a work site visit, I ended up scratching the rear bumper and cracking a bit of the rear lamp on a slab that was hanging over a wall that the sensors just didn't pick up. It doesn't look too bad but it is very annoying!



And then on the way back from the site visit, after thanking a van driver for letting me into a busy junction, my hazards firstly got stuck "on" and then when I pressed the button again to turn them off, it just fell apart into a million pieces of tiny red plastic. You have no idea how hard it has been trying to find a replacement button without replacing the whole control unit at a stupid cost. I have found the clear cover and now just need to improvise I guess!



On the plus side, my new OEM front cupholders have arrived, so no more grabbing my coffee cup whenever I go round a corner!!!

[jimmymidnight]

jke11y said:

Annoying, but a good excuse to update to the facelifted rear lights (if you prefer them of course, I guess it personal pref).

You're not wrong. It's something I am seriously considering. I'd also like to upgrade all the bumpers to the AMG ones too so it's more reasons to do it!

[jimmymidnight]

KillerHERTZ said:

Im pretty sure its the same size button as fitted to the W203/W209 Facelift dash:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C-Class-W203-HA...

If you want to measure yours and I can measure the trim surround I have spare.

Thanks buddy, i'll measure it up in the morning!

[jimmymidnight]

AmitG said:

Very nice. What's the current mileage?

Thanks buddy. It's a bit of a high miler now with 106k.

[jimmymidnight]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

106k on an S class is barely broken in!

Very true! And the way work is going, that number is only going to go up... quickly!!! (I probably should have bought a diesel Mondeo........)

[jimmymidnight]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

But you arrive at work more refreshed and relaxed after being in an S Class, that was my excuse for a W220 as a interim barge anyway

That is very true, and I tell myself the same thing every day. My other half doesn't really understand until we go for a 5 hour motorway drive to Wales and she's as comfy as she'll ever be. Then she understands why I chose one.

I love the W220's, I wanted to replace my W215 with one but money was tight at the time s settled for a D2 Audi A8 that just wasn't the same.

[jimmymidnight]

This car seems to be falling apart at the moment... clipped a small bird the other night on the way home from work and it knocked the bonnet star so I got out to put it back in the correct place and the centre literally just fell out.

I've ordered a new one which should be here by the end of the week. The list of little bits is getting longer and longer at the moment.

[jimmymidnight]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

A common mod is to replace the start with a flat badge, kind of negates these kind of issues or little toerags stealing them (I couldn't believe people still do that!).

I thought about that, but it loses some of its S class charm when removed.