S Class purchase?

[E31Shrew]

Hi

While falling asleep in front of 5th Gear a couple of evenings ago, an article came on about the previous shape S class. Jist was that a good 50-60k mileage example could be had for around £6k.

Have just got rid of the family car and drive currently an 840 BMW which is a bit of a squeeze for us all! Point is...Are there any major potential problems that I should be looking for? Probably petrol 320.

Many thanks

[Egbert Nobacon]

Rust ! Wings, doors, bootlids, bonnets.

[Meeja]

E31Shrew said:

Hi

While falling asleep in front of 5th Gear a couple of evenings ago, an article came on about the previous shape S class. Jist was that a good 50-60k mileage example could be had for around £6k.

Have just got rid of the family car and drive currently an 840 BMW which is a bit of a squeeze for us all! Point is...Are there any major potential problems that I should be looking for? Probably petrol 320.

Many thanks

I suspect fuel consumption will hurt, although you need the 320 as a minumum. I suspect the 280 would feel underpowered.

320 CDi perhaps?

[steve_amv8]

Damaged cats, corrosion around the wheel arches and any problems with the ABC!

[E31Shrew]

Thanks a bunch. No real electronic issues to concern myself with then besides ABC [ whatever that is!!!]

[r129sl]

Do the saloons have ABC (active body control)? I thought it was standard on the CL coupes and the S600 only. It is not the same as the air suspension which is standard on the saloons.

[steve_amv8]

r129sl said:

Do the saloons have ABC (active body control)? I thought it was standard on the CL coupes and the S600 only. It is not the same as the air suspension which is standard on the saloons.

Not entirely sure to be honest (I meant to put "ABC if it has it!") although the US recall notices for ABC related items certainly listed S, CL and SL ....

[steve_amv8]

steve_amv8 said:

r129sl said:

Do the saloons have ABC (active body control)? I thought it was standard on the CL coupes and the S600 only. It is not the same as the air suspension which is standard on the saloons.

Not entirely sure to be honest (I meant to put "ABC if it has it!") although the US recall notices for ABC related items certainly listed S, CL and SL ....

Further investigation suggests ABC introduced in 1999 on top-of-line S-class and appeared as standard on CL, SL and some US-spec S-classes.

I suppose the simple answer is that if a car you look at has an "ABC" switch above the COMAND unit, it has ABC

[E31Shrew]

Thanks chaps...Thats it then...The search starts now!

if you know any one flogging a nice one let me know...Will be selling the 8 series also. Pic on my profile

[welwynnick]

Active Body Control was standard on the S600, and an expensive option for the other models. If it went wrong, I expect it would be very expensive to fix. ABC reduces body movement, but I thought it degraded ride comfort significantly. Airmatic models always seemed more comfortable to me, and while not sporty, they handled in a "fluent" manner. I had an S600, and I think I'd advise an S320CDI or S500 over any other model. The smaller petrol engines don't have much advantage in fuel consumption, and recent market movements have compressed the value gap between large and small-engined models. I'm disappointed by the number of rusty examples around though. I thought the odd case might be a result of poor accident repairs, but it seems more widespread than that.

Nick

[HRG]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Rust ! Wings, doors, bootlids, bonnets.

Visible or hidden?

I've been hankering after an S320 since that programme too

What's the reality of ownership like?