S Class - Dad Tank II
Discussion
bolidemichael said:
Which E500 estate was that then, Ben?
Meh; E300 
Fat fingers...It was similar to this; in Congleton, so not far for me, but it went within a few days. Had around 60k on it IIRC for £12k: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154713320059?hash=item2...
Still have this in my AT watchlist; it was/is very tempting
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...
It was this E500 estate that got me looking into them though; but they rarely crop up:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by d_a_n1979 on Tuesday 4th January 10:23
Edited by d_a_n1979 on Tuesday 4th January 10:25
The saloon is really handsome to my eyes, though I like the exhaust-tip-free rear of the estate. That estate thread was something that prompted me to buy mine too. I believe that it stayed within the PH community for at least the subsequent purchaser, Scotland comes to mind for some reason. Very rare too, with the M273. There is someone trying to sell his M273 engined E500 estate on AT which has been advertised for over a year and the price hasn't budged. He purchased an MB community S212 E500 in Periclase Green to replace it!
Well, I took the S for it's first good long run since last year. I've kept it charged and warmed it up intermittently but waited until the nicer weather.
So it decided to have a tantrum on me. Engine management light on to start, read the codes and mentioned something about the DPF. I suspected it was gagging for a regen and hadn't had the chance. Cleared the error and all seemed well until I got stuck on the M25 for an hour due to a junction closure.
Cue, the engine management light and limp mode. Thankfully I had my code reader so after it cleared, I pulled off the road and cleared the codes. Then gave it an Italian tune up, 200+ miles of motorway driving and it's now behaving itself. Clearly got the hump I hadn't driven it!
Today was clean up time so attacked the interior. Chemical Dr Leather spray on the seats and Chemical Guys Inner Clean on everything else.
Engine usually stays pretty clean.
And outside.
So it decided to have a tantrum on me. Engine management light on to start, read the codes and mentioned something about the DPF. I suspected it was gagging for a regen and hadn't had the chance. Cleared the error and all seemed well until I got stuck on the M25 for an hour due to a junction closure.
Cue, the engine management light and limp mode. Thankfully I had my code reader so after it cleared, I pulled off the road and cleared the codes. Then gave it an Italian tune up, 200+ miles of motorway driving and it's now behaving itself. Clearly got the hump I hadn't driven it!
Today was clean up time so attacked the interior. Chemical Dr Leather spray on the seats and Chemical Guys Inner Clean on everything else.
Engine usually stays pretty clean.
And outside.
Well, the S Class is up for sale. With the proposal of the ULEZ expansion and this being compliant, I have decided to sell up and already have it's replacement.
To be fair to it, I've had a few niggles, all common issues on these. Thankfully mostly sorted under warranty but actually no huge bills. These cars like being driven and they cover miles like nothing I've ever been in. Quiet to the point of it still feeling quite unusual. Most comfortable and adjustable seats I've sat on and just designed to make everything easy for the driver. I would say that my only criticism is that that it's not a car you take for a drive but it's perfect for long distance and that makes it a joy to drive.
Typically a few weeks before I was putting it up for sale, I got a 'Brake Wear' message pop up on the dash. I couldn't sell the car with that showing so I booked it in with my local specialist. It turned out the discs and pads are fine, plenty of life in them but the wear sensor had died. £70 later and we're all good.
Last clean up and newly made original number plate put on.
It's hidden away down the back of my house (ignore the weeds!). On charge as well, with the W221 you can't afford for it to get a flat battery on the Ctek for the time being.
It'll make a great car for someone. I've spent a lot on cosmetic bits and pieces so looks better than when I bought it, plus all the typical issues are sorted. Wish me luck with the sale! haha
To be fair to it, I've had a few niggles, all common issues on these. Thankfully mostly sorted under warranty but actually no huge bills. These cars like being driven and they cover miles like nothing I've ever been in. Quiet to the point of it still feeling quite unusual. Most comfortable and adjustable seats I've sat on and just designed to make everything easy for the driver. I would say that my only criticism is that that it's not a car you take for a drive but it's perfect for long distance and that makes it a joy to drive.
Typically a few weeks before I was putting it up for sale, I got a 'Brake Wear' message pop up on the dash. I couldn't sell the car with that showing so I booked it in with my local specialist. It turned out the discs and pads are fine, plenty of life in them but the wear sensor had died. £70 later and we're all good.
Last clean up and newly made original number plate put on.
It's hidden away down the back of my house (ignore the weeds!). On charge as well, with the W221 you can't afford for it to get a flat battery on the Ctek for the time being.
It'll make a great car for someone. I've spent a lot on cosmetic bits and pieces so looks better than when I bought it, plus all the typical issues are sorted. Wish me luck with the sale! haha
Mezzanine said:
Shame to see it go, you’ve really made it look great and it’s a hell of a package.
Good luck with the sale - someone will get a beauty.
I will be sad to see it go, I've loved the car and like you say I've spent a fair bit of time getting it to look as good and new as possible. It should see someone for a lot more miles yet as well and with many of the common faults sorted it should make a good buy. Good luck with the sale - someone will get a beauty.
V6Nelo said:
Expect it quite tough finding a replacement to something which designed to be the most comfortable and toys galore car you can get.
Don't think I'd want leather seats without being cooled now and it's not something I ever dreamt about before.
That's where the CL has ticked all the boxes. As comfortable, as cheapest model was the 500 they had more goodies even before a few boxes got ticked. It's got air cooled seats too. A bonus as I'm not too worried about them but it's a nice touch. Don't think I'd want leather seats without being cooled now and it's not something I ever dreamt about before.
I can still remember being a kid in the 80s, where shorts were short and the vinyl seats in my mum's Mini were incredibly hot! haha
Essarell said:
I just wanted to say thanks for the recommending the Mequiars Ceramic Wax, amazing product.
Also shame the S Class is going, I’ve really enjoyed your updates, it’s my favourite car and a personal ambition to own one.
Glad to hear that. It's a great product and makes applying a protective coat super easy. I'm intrigued as to what the Ceramic Wash & Wax shampoo is like as if you get similar beading from just washing, I'm all up for that! Also shame the S Class is going, I’ve really enjoyed your updates, it’s my favourite car and a personal ambition to own one.
Glad you liked the thread mate, I can't recommend one enough. They're not cheap to run as they like to keep you on your toes with the odd thing here and there but if you know a good specialist it's a massive help. Day to day the V6 diesel is actually not too bad, the torque after it's mapped is really something too!
Well that was quicker than expected. I put the car up on Autotrader, had no idea how long the car would sit around for so paid for the top end ad. Meaning it was advertised until it sold, one week later it's sold haha
Two chaps (brothers) turned up to view the car this afternoon, seemed genuinely surprised by the condition as they commented multiple times on how clean it was. We agreed a price which we were happy with, money transferred and off they went. Quickest sale I've ever had I reckon!
Sad to see it go though I must admit. I loved the car and it was something special to drive. When I do the maths, I lost ~£700 a year in depreciation. Which I think is pretty good considering I sold privately and bought it from a trader which covered a fair old amount of warranty work when I first got it. I wouldn't say it's been dirt cheap to run but it's not been eye watering either and, well it's an S Class!!
Two chaps (brothers) turned up to view the car this afternoon, seemed genuinely surprised by the condition as they commented multiple times on how clean it was. We agreed a price which we were happy with, money transferred and off they went. Quickest sale I've ever had I reckon!
Sad to see it go though I must admit. I loved the car and it was something special to drive. When I do the maths, I lost ~£700 a year in depreciation. Which I think is pretty good considering I sold privately and bought it from a trader which covered a fair old amount of warranty work when I first got it. I wouldn't say it's been dirt cheap to run but it's not been eye watering either and, well it's an S Class!!
J4CKO said:
Bet they couldn’t believe their luck !
You might be right there, it was a solid example. I was reading some of the other ads for these to see where this fitted in. One was another private sale, on the ad it had the typical fluff but said, 'interior is like new'. It definitely wasn't! It looked twice the age the actually was. I think mine was probably sold by decent pics and it backed it up in the metal. Alex_225 said:
bolidemichael said:
Well, to paraphrase Tony the Tiger, the wheels look GGG-reat! Which company did you use?
Your comments on the lacquer are interesting. My summer set of alloys are diamond cut and the lacquer has tarnished at the aperture for the bolt-holes. As a consequence, the metal underneath has reacted and caused some milky spots to appear, which isn't ideal. I'll have to get them done again, but will probe 'Spit n' Polish' before I do so.
Thanks mate, I'm ridiculously pleased with them. Your comments on the lacquer are interesting. My summer set of alloys are diamond cut and the lacquer has tarnished at the aperture for the bolt-holes. As a consequence, the metal underneath has reacted and caused some milky spots to appear, which isn't ideal. I'll have to get them done again, but will probe 'Spit n' Polish' before I do so.
I'm intrigued how well the lacquer lasts. I'm completely aware of how the finish on normal diamond cut wheels lasts, as in it just doesn't seem to. One chip and the moisture gets in and it starts to lift.
Speaking with one of the main chaps at the place I used, he actually took me through to show me some of the process. He referred to 'wet lacquer' which is standard lacquer to go on paint. He said (as we know) that it just doesn't adhere properly to bare metal, it will look nice for a while but eventually tarnish and isn't suitable. What they use is 'dry lacquer' which is acrylic lacquer that goes on as powder and is then baked. Apparently as strong as normal powder coating and should last. Time will tell of course but I'm hoping that with looking after them and cleaning them properly they should last me.
Trustmeimadoctor said:
im glad you got it under warranty 
try and get every other common issue triggered and fixed. Still a lovely looking car
That was kind of my views on it as well. The issues I've had are all relatively common faults and on a car that's low mileage for it's year these will inevitably raise their heads. try and get every other common issue triggered and fixed. Still a lovely looking carGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff