RE: Shed of the Week: Mercedes-Benz S500
Discussion
TimmyTankTop said:
Let the buyer beware!
Back in 2003-ish, a full service for one these started at around £1000. Even now, using an independent I'll bet it is going to be serious cash for servicing.
I bought a low mileage 2 and a half year old Y plate E320 Avantgarde estate and it was the most unreliable pile of **** I've ever owned. It cost me a fortune to keep on the road with constant repairs being required and out of warranty One thing after another went wrong, or broke and made worse by the two main dealers I had the misfortune to use, who acted as if they were doing you a favour. The final straw came when I was cleaning it and discovered rust bubbles on the bottom of one of the doors. The car was now just over 3 years old! Took it to the main dealer and was given an independent paintshop address in Coventry, authorised by M-B. He took me around the car and showed me where it was rusting - all four wheel arches, tailgate, roof (not covered under the 6 year paint warranty!) and peeling back the door rubbers showed rust so bad that the inner-frame was crumbling. He said that it was common and he'd seen worse then showed me an SLK and a C-class in for similar work. More to the point regarding this S-Class was that he said the corrosion issues were across the whole range. Got the corrosion rectified and traded it in. That was the last M-B I've ever bought.
A sad but all too familiar tale with Mercedes cars. The "best or nothing" line is just marketing pish. They're crap. Back in 2003-ish, a full service for one these started at around £1000. Even now, using an independent I'll bet it is going to be serious cash for servicing.
I bought a low mileage 2 and a half year old Y plate E320 Avantgarde estate and it was the most unreliable pile of **** I've ever owned. It cost me a fortune to keep on the road with constant repairs being required and out of warranty One thing after another went wrong, or broke and made worse by the two main dealers I had the misfortune to use, who acted as if they were doing you a favour. The final straw came when I was cleaning it and discovered rust bubbles on the bottom of one of the doors. The car was now just over 3 years old! Took it to the main dealer and was given an independent paintshop address in Coventry, authorised by M-B. He took me around the car and showed me where it was rusting - all four wheel arches, tailgate, roof (not covered under the 6 year paint warranty!) and peeling back the door rubbers showed rust so bad that the inner-frame was crumbling. He said that it was common and he'd seen worse then showed me an SLK and a C-class in for similar work. More to the point regarding this S-Class was that he said the corrosion issues were across the whole range. Got the corrosion rectified and traded it in. That was the last M-B I've ever bought.
I love these to look at and I'd love to say "go for it" but you need to be fairly brave (if only for the MPG!)
Forget people talking about servicing costs - only a rampant idiot would go near a dealer for one of these now or, indeed, anytime since the warranty expired and perhaps not even then!
This is the start of the MB dark ages tho - quality was not there - I saw this with my own eyes on Friday
My 02 406 'dogvan' was parked next to am 02 320CLK which was the same colour, had done half the miles and which looked like s
t in comparison.
There's a bit of rust on the 406 - bonnet edge (the bonnet is actually from a Y plate!) and talgate (also non-original but before my ownership) but it's otherwise fairly rust-free (thanks to the diesel leak perhaps!) while the MB had rot in every panel, the arches had been painted and re-rotted at least once and the sills were on the way out.
It reminded me of cars like Cortinas back-in-the-day - where doors were flapping by the time they were 8 years old (this lasted little longer by the looks of it)
We also had a 3 series on an 03 which had - if anything - MORE rot than the MB
I'm sure an S is a little better but underneath - who knows...
Forget people talking about servicing costs - only a rampant idiot would go near a dealer for one of these now or, indeed, anytime since the warranty expired and perhaps not even then!
This is the start of the MB dark ages tho - quality was not there - I saw this with my own eyes on Friday
My 02 406 'dogvan' was parked next to am 02 320CLK which was the same colour, had done half the miles and which looked like s
t in comparison.There's a bit of rust on the 406 - bonnet edge (the bonnet is actually from a Y plate!) and talgate (also non-original but before my ownership) but it's otherwise fairly rust-free (thanks to the diesel leak perhaps!) while the MB had rot in every panel, the arches had been painted and re-rotted at least once and the sills were on the way out.
It reminded me of cars like Cortinas back-in-the-day - where doors were flapping by the time they were 8 years old (this lasted little longer by the looks of it)
We also had a 3 series on an 03 which had - if anything - MORE rot than the MB
I'm sure an S is a little better but underneath - who knows...
406dogvan said:
I love these to look at and I'd love to say "go for it" but you need to be fairly brave (if only for the MPG!)
Forget people talking about servicing costs - only a rampant idiot would go near a dealer for one of these now or, indeed, anytime since the warranty expired and perhaps not even then!
This is the start of the MB dark ages tho - quality was not there - I saw this with my own eyes on Friday
My 02 406 'dogvan' was parked next to am 02 320CLK which was the same colour, had done half the miles and which looked like st in comparison.
There's a bit of rust on the 406 - bonnet edge (the bonnet is actually from a Y plate!) and talgate (also non-original but before my ownership) but it's otherwise fairly rust-free (thanks to the diesel leak perhaps!) while the MB had rot in every panel, the arches had been painted and re-rotted at least once and the sills were on the way out.
It reminded me of cars like Cortinas back-in-the-day - where doors were flapping by the time they were 8 years old (this lasted little longer by the looks of it)
We also had a 3 series on an 03 which had - if anything - MORE rot than the MB
I'm sure an S is a little better but underneath - who knows...
German build quality innit. The dash feelers say they are great quality but the reality is far from thisForget people talking about servicing costs - only a rampant idiot would go near a dealer for one of these now or, indeed, anytime since the warranty expired and perhaps not even then!
This is the start of the MB dark ages tho - quality was not there - I saw this with my own eyes on Friday
My 02 406 'dogvan' was parked next to am 02 320CLK which was the same colour, had done half the miles and which looked like s
t in comparison.There's a bit of rust on the 406 - bonnet edge (the bonnet is actually from a Y plate!) and talgate (also non-original but before my ownership) but it's otherwise fairly rust-free (thanks to the diesel leak perhaps!) while the MB had rot in every panel, the arches had been painted and re-rotted at least once and the sills were on the way out.
It reminded me of cars like Cortinas back-in-the-day - where doors were flapping by the time they were 8 years old (this lasted little longer by the looks of it)
We also had a 3 series on an 03 which had - if anything - MORE rot than the MB
I'm sure an S is a little better but underneath - who knows...
TimmyTankTop said:
Let the buyer beware!
Back in 2003-ish, a full service for one these started at around £1000. Even now, using an independent I'll bet it is going to be serious cash for servicing.
I bought a low mileage 2 and a half year old Y plate E320 Avantgarde estate and it was the most unreliable pile of **** I've ever owned. It cost me a fortune to keep on the road with constant repairs being required and out of warranty One thing after another went wrong, or broke and made worse by the two main dealers I had the misfortune to use, who acted as if they were doing you a favour. The final straw came when I was cleaning it and discovered rust bubbles on the bottom of one of the doors. The car was now just over 3 years old! Took it to the main dealer and was given an independent paintshop address in Coventry, authorised by M-B. He took me around the car and showed me where it was rusting - all four wheel arches, tailgate, roof (not covered under the 6 year paint warranty!) and peeling back the door rubbers showed rust so bad that the inner-frame was crumbling. He said that it was common and he'd seen worse then showed me an SLK and a C-class in for similar work. More to the point regarding this S-Class was that he said the corrosion issues were across the whole range. Got the corrosion rectified and traded it in. That was the last M-B I've ever bought.
Thanks for the post, but this is kind of the point of this article, hence "SHED of the week".Back in 2003-ish, a full service for one these started at around £1000. Even now, using an independent I'll bet it is going to be serious cash for servicing.
I bought a low mileage 2 and a half year old Y plate E320 Avantgarde estate and it was the most unreliable pile of **** I've ever owned. It cost me a fortune to keep on the road with constant repairs being required and out of warranty One thing after another went wrong, or broke and made worse by the two main dealers I had the misfortune to use, who acted as if they were doing you a favour. The final straw came when I was cleaning it and discovered rust bubbles on the bottom of one of the doors. The car was now just over 3 years old! Took it to the main dealer and was given an independent paintshop address in Coventry, authorised by M-B. He took me around the car and showed me where it was rusting - all four wheel arches, tailgate, roof (not covered under the 6 year paint warranty!) and peeling back the door rubbers showed rust so bad that the inner-frame was crumbling. He said that it was common and he'd seen worse then showed me an SLK and a C-class in for similar work. More to the point regarding this S-Class was that he said the corrosion issues were across the whole range. Got the corrosion rectified and traded it in. That was the last M-B I've ever bought.
st4 said:
A sad but all too familiar tale with Mercedes cars. The "best or nothing" line is just marketing pish. They're crap.
They went through a very bad period of quality, to the point even the execs admitted as much in around 2007. Obviously this car dates from that era.monthefish said:
They went through a very bad period of quality, to the point even the execs admitted as much in around 2007. Obviously this car dates from that era.
They did - and let me tell you the post 2007 cars are better but not perfect. My 2009 C class had quite a few heavily corroded pipes. My 2010 E class was totally corrosion free but certainly realised it’s full BORK potential and my 2011 S class had rust, and did the full BORK act.Undeniably well styled cars, inside and out but quality just isn’t there. My ford era Volvo S80 was much better out together. The v8 one would make a great SoW but price wise they hold their money quite well.
Still - for £1500 this is quite a car.
st4 said:
monthefish said:
They went through a very bad period of quality, to the point even the execs admitted as much in around 2007. Obviously this car dates from that era.
They did - and let me tell you the post 2007 cars are better but not perfect. My 2009 C class had quite a few heavily corroded pipes. My 2010 E class was totally corrosion free but certainly realised it’s full BORK potential and my 2011 S class had rust, and did the full BORK act.Undeniably well styled cars, inside and out but quality just isn’t there. My ford era Volvo S80 was much better out together. The v8 one would make a great SoW but price wise they hold their money quite well.
Still - for £1500 this is quite a car.
I have a post face lift W220 and it is rust free despite being silver, some colours seem to resist it better than others.
I think this car represents a bargain at the stated price they are really nice cars to drive and provided rust has not set in not too much to go wrong. Mine is a 600 twin turbo which I keep meaning to sell then drive it to take some photos for the advert then decide not to sell.......
I think this car represents a bargain at the stated price they are really nice cars to drive and provided rust has not set in not too much to go wrong. Mine is a 600 twin turbo which I keep meaning to sell then drive it to take some photos for the advert then decide not to sell.......
aaron_2000 said:
Bladedancer said:
This isn't really material for the shed series but for the "brave pill" series.
Seriously, this is easily the worst modern Merc, 18 years on.
ML? The C Class Coupe thing? B Class? The MK1 A Class? It's not exactly the worst modern Merc. Seriously, this is easily the worst modern Merc, 18 years on.
I would still put it in no 1 due to sheer complexity or the car, number of toys that can (and will) go wrong, rampant rust even when almost new and prohibitive cost of putting issues right.
Parts for A and B class will be expensive, but not as expensive as S class.
It's the sort of £1,500 car I'd take a punt on if I was shopping with, say a £10,000 budget in mind.
An optimist spending their entire £1,500 budget on this could find in 6 months time they are are not only having to get the bus to work, but they also have a very expensive new front garden ornament.
The purchase price is likely just the 'green fee' to unlock an exciting pay-to-play experience with your local garage!!
An optimist spending their entire £1,500 budget on this could find in 6 months time they are are not only having to get the bus to work, but they also have a very expensive new front garden ornament.
The purchase price is likely just the 'green fee' to unlock an exciting pay-to-play experience with your local garage!!
Had a CL55 for all of 1 month 3 years back or so, it was fantastic while it lasted but a full on health check by PCS revealed a whole heap of issues i would not expect on a car that had, ahem a clean MOT. The seller took it back (full refund plus the extra service money i spent on it) and I got a Subaru Legacy, If only MB made the electrics and body as good as Engines and drivetrain - these cars can look good on the outside but can mask a wallet busting interior
ericmcn said:
Had a CL55 for all of 1 month 3 years back or so, it was fantastic while it lasted but a full on health check by PCS revealed a whole heap of issues i would not expect on a car that had, ahem a clean MOT. The seller took it back (full refund plus the extra service money i spent on it) and I got a Subaru Legacy, If only MB made the electrics and body as good as Engines and drivetrain - these cars can look good on the outside but can mask a wallet busting interior
You made the right choice, bet your Legacy would ruin the CL55. I’ve had lots of Merc’s and driven loads through my work
I’ve just acquired a W220 s430
Who would want an ugly vile SUV
When if your careful when buying
You can have a car with a bomb proof engine
M113 that drives better than most of the new cars on the rd ,the only thing that’s gives a better ride is the original XJ6
These Merc’s are great value and will send you to sleep so be careful
But buy the petrol V8 or V6 oil burners are dead
Super smooth
Enjoy...
I’ve just acquired a W220 s430
Who would want an ugly vile SUV
When if your careful when buying
You can have a car with a bomb proof engine
M113 that drives better than most of the new cars on the rd ,the only thing that’s gives a better ride is the original XJ6
These Merc’s are great value and will send you to sleep so be careful
But buy the petrol V8 or V6 oil burners are dead
Super smooth
Enjoy...
Hello! I've not been around on this site for a very long time. I used to mostly be found on Retro Rides or Autoste but my interest in priceless classics waned after an illness a few years ago. However...
I am pleased to announce that I will be travelling to the metropolis next week to purchase this very shed. It will be the 2nd vehicle I have owned that has been SoTW - the last one was in December 2009 -the legendary 1975 Mk 1 Leyland Sherpa Autosleeper https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-s... which I owned fro about 2010-2012 and which I enjoyed several weekends trips to the Highlands, what fun it was steaming up the Rest and Be Thankful at 40mph, 4 miles of irate road users behind on a Bank Holiday Monday! Almost as much fun as driving the tractor up and down the A69 during rush hour! A vehicle as uncomfortable to sleep in as it was terrifying to drive - the top heavy weight of the auto sleeper plywood pop up roof combined with the worn cart springs of the early sherpa vans made the beast handle like a ship in a storm.
Anyway, no danger of such queues in this baby. I am very much looking forward to owning it, it will be the 2nd largest engine I have owned - the last one being in a magnificent XJ40 Daimler Double Six which had the rather spiffy walnut champagne tables in the rear.
I've owned and driven everything from a Daf 44 to a Westfield Sei and from Citroen CX's to Mk 1 Morris Minors - last count was about 54 vehicles. Over the last 6 years or so this slowed down considerably due to the advent of children (miserable scrounging bar stewards) but having a job that requires some long distance driving, being self employed and approaching 50, I'm to old/fat/knackered to be driving around in hard suspension sports cars and need a mobile sofa.
She Who Must Be Obeyed kiboshed my original 'another Jag' plan (a rather nice mid miles 'differ spec' XJ8) - she had a sense of humour failure with the 1985 XJ6 I was using as the main family car in 2013/14 after a record breaking drive between Edinburgh and Corbridge on the A68 where both kids, the wife and the dog all vomited!) - I have owned around 6 Jags over the years and always had a soft spot for the old XJ40 although the Mk3 XJ is probably my favourite. So I threatened to buy a Rover 75 and she let me go for this instead. (Actually, the 75 in question was rather nice - low miles, FSH, KV6 Connie SE with all the toys etc and immaculate anthracite leather)
However, how could one possibly pass on a car which cools the zone of the car getting the most sunlight by detecting the angle and position of the sun and automatically adjusting the specific climate zone?? I mean, how could I possibly ever have got through 33 years of driving without such a feature?
The only downside of this piece of Stuttgartian genius is that it doesn't have the electric rear seats with the tiny fans designed for wafting cool air on the erse crack of your average fat plutocrat!
Anyway, one of the very few main brand cars I have never owned is a Mercedes Benz. I came very close to buying an S500 W140 Coupe about 10 years ago but Vek talked me into buying a Jag instead. TBH I was looking for another W140 as they are the ultimate far bar steward's car but needs must and the price on this baby was just too good to ignore.
I've already ordered my Star Diagnostic Systems 3 kit! A snip at £400! I can't wait to spend my weekends learning how to diagnose the faults that will no doubt ramp up in my ownership.
Obviously I got very excited to find a video on YouTube discussing a wonderful hack where you can shut down 2 of the cylinders and therefore save lots of fuel by entering a code into the COMAND system..... until I noticed the date of the video 1st April 2018
Meanwhile I am spending every waking minute checking all the sofas and nooks and crannies in the house to find money to put petrol in the beast.
Anyway, I will start a vehicle thread once the beast is collected.
te but my interest in priceless classics waned after an illness a few years ago. However...I am pleased to announce that I will be travelling to the metropolis next week to purchase this very shed. It will be the 2nd vehicle I have owned that has been SoTW - the last one was in December 2009 -the legendary 1975 Mk 1 Leyland Sherpa Autosleeper https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-features-s... which I owned fro about 2010-2012 and which I enjoyed several weekends trips to the Highlands, what fun it was steaming up the Rest and Be Thankful at 40mph, 4 miles of irate road users behind on a Bank Holiday Monday! Almost as much fun as driving the tractor up and down the A69 during rush hour! A vehicle as uncomfortable to sleep in as it was terrifying to drive - the top heavy weight of the auto sleeper plywood pop up roof combined with the worn cart springs of the early sherpa vans made the beast handle like a ship in a storm.
Anyway, no danger of such queues in this baby. I am very much looking forward to owning it, it will be the 2nd largest engine I have owned - the last one being in a magnificent XJ40 Daimler Double Six which had the rather spiffy walnut champagne tables in the rear.
I've owned and driven everything from a Daf 44 to a Westfield Sei and from Citroen CX's to Mk 1 Morris Minors - last count was about 54 vehicles. Over the last 6 years or so this slowed down considerably due to the advent of children (miserable scrounging bar stewards) but having a job that requires some long distance driving, being self employed and approaching 50, I'm to old/fat/knackered to be driving around in hard suspension sports cars and need a mobile sofa.
She Who Must Be Obeyed kiboshed my original 'another Jag' plan (a rather nice mid miles 'differ spec' XJ8) - she had a sense of humour failure with the 1985 XJ6 I was using as the main family car in 2013/14 after a record breaking drive between Edinburgh and Corbridge on the A68 where both kids, the wife and the dog all vomited!) - I have owned around 6 Jags over the years and always had a soft spot for the old XJ40 although the Mk3 XJ is probably my favourite. So I threatened to buy a Rover 75 and she let me go for this instead. (Actually, the 75 in question was rather nice - low miles, FSH, KV6 Connie SE with all the toys etc and immaculate anthracite leather)
However, how could one possibly pass on a car which cools the zone of the car getting the most sunlight by detecting the angle and position of the sun and automatically adjusting the specific climate zone?? I mean, how could I possibly ever have got through 33 years of driving without such a feature?
The only downside of this piece of Stuttgartian genius is that it doesn't have the electric rear seats with the tiny fans designed for wafting cool air on the erse crack of your average fat plutocrat!
Anyway, one of the very few main brand cars I have never owned is a Mercedes Benz. I came very close to buying an S500 W140 Coupe about 10 years ago but Vek talked me into buying a Jag instead. TBH I was looking for another W140 as they are the ultimate far bar steward's car but needs must and the price on this baby was just too good to ignore.
I've already ordered my Star Diagnostic Systems 3 kit! A snip at £400! I can't wait to spend my weekends learning how to diagnose the faults that will no doubt ramp up in my ownership.
Obviously I got very excited to find a video on YouTube discussing a wonderful hack where you can shut down 2 of the cylinders and therefore save lots of fuel by entering a code into the COMAND system..... until I noticed the date of the video 1st April 2018
Meanwhile I am spending every waking minute checking all the sofas and nooks and crannies in the house to find money to put petrol in the beast.
Anyway, I will start a vehicle thread once the beast is collected.
Edited by Uncle Dicky on Friday 29th March 17:25
Uncle Dicky said:
I've already ordered my Star Diagnostic Systems 3 kit! A snip at £400! I can't wait to spend my weekends learning how to diagnose the faults that will no doubt ramp up in my ownership.
Totally and utterly the best £400 you will ever spend if you are going to own a car like this. Mine has paid for itself so many times with my W220 and previous R230 and various other Mercs.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff