Cheap S class - pitfalls and things to look out for..
Discussion
Looking for an X reg~ish S class for my daily driving.
Happy for a good, clean high miler and see there are a few under £3k.
BUT, are these things cheap because if something goes wrong they cost ££££ to fix?
I get the feeling that though some may have double glazing, and clever suspension etc - if you have an electrical fault you need to sell a kidney to get it sorted.
Not looking for an AMG stealth beast with 500lb-ft of torque (as you can see from my proposed budget) - happy with anything that does 25+ mpg and will be bullet proof reliable.
So, what do I look out for, avoid etc?
Happy for a good, clean high miler and see there are a few under £3k.
BUT, are these things cheap because if something goes wrong they cost ££££ to fix?
I get the feeling that though some may have double glazing, and clever suspension etc - if you have an electrical fault you need to sell a kidney to get it sorted.
Not looking for an AMG stealth beast with 500lb-ft of torque (as you can see from my proposed budget) - happy with anything that does 25+ mpg and will be bullet proof reliable.
So, what do I look out for, avoid etc?
Don't think for a second that the purchase price is the last of your expenditure.
I drive an old merc as a daily driver, and if things go wrong, I weigh up the cost of fixing it versus the utility of that item.
i.e. If the heated seats go, who cares, if the auto box goes (which it did), that's another story.
They are still $60k+ cars, and will require expensive parts once in a while.
I am all for getting older luxury cars, so yes, for me it's a thumbs up.
Think about the 320 and 500 petrol over the 320CDI, esp at those prices. The turbos are a costly fix.
MPG is not everything, especially at this end of the price spectrum.
Enjoy.
I drive an old merc as a daily driver, and if things go wrong, I weigh up the cost of fixing it versus the utility of that item.
i.e. If the heated seats go, who cares, if the auto box goes (which it did), that's another story.
They are still $60k+ cars, and will require expensive parts once in a while.
I am all for getting older luxury cars, so yes, for me it's a thumbs up.
Think about the 320 and 500 petrol over the 320CDI, esp at those prices. The turbos are a costly fix.
MPG is not everything, especially at this end of the price spectrum.
Enjoy.
320 petrol is a good shout.
Am I right in thinking that these are comfortable, quiet cars?
I had a 1984 280CE and loved the relaxed mood it put me in - just never drove fast in it.
Looking for something pleasant and cheap-ish to run (relative to, say , a v8 M5 or AMG monster).
Don't need stealth performance. Want simple, but pleasant motoring.
Am I right in thinking that these are comfortable, quiet cars?
I had a 1984 280CE and loved the relaxed mood it put me in - just never drove fast in it.
Looking for something pleasant and cheap-ish to run (relative to, say , a v8 M5 or AMG monster).
Don't need stealth performance. Want simple, but pleasant motoring.
johnfm said:
320 petrol is a good shout.
Am I right in thinking that these are comfortable, quiet cars?
I had a 1984 280CE and loved the relaxed mood it put me in - just never drove fast in it.
Looking for something pleasant and cheap-ish to run (relative to, say , a v8 M5 or AMG monster).
Don't need stealth performance. Want simple, but pleasant motoring.
My old fella has an S reg 320 and has owned it since it was a year old. Ok it doesn't have the power or sound of the 500 V8 but picks up surprisingly well especially once on the move and wafts along very nicely indeed. Its soaks up bumps beautifully and is very very quiet at motorway speed apart from a little tyre noise.Am I right in thinking that these are comfortable, quiet cars?
I had a 1984 280CE and loved the relaxed mood it put me in - just never drove fast in it.
Looking for something pleasant and cheap-ish to run (relative to, say , a v8 M5 or AMG monster).
Don't need stealth performance. Want simple, but pleasant motoring.
he'll get the odd largish bill every few years but i can honestly say that i bet it has cost him less than 500 quid a year in maintinence but not really been stung for anything really big mechanically so far.
It also does 30mpg on a run as well if you take it easy.
Whilst it is very composed when pushed remember it is still a heavy old beasty and its built for wafting so accept it for what it is then it is a great car for the money.
My old fella keeps looking at cars to replace it with but to be honest he loves it, its reliable and would a new car be 20 times better than the value of his current steed, The answer is no so it stays.
If you're looking at the W220 (last shape), then definitely rust! My 2000 registered car had it on the wheel arches, boot lid and doors. The air suspension also gave some headaches but not that expensive to fix (300 for compressor and relay). My aircon was also not the coldest....
On the plus side the 320 petrol was a great engine, the ride was superb and it was more comfortable, for me, than the later car. I ran it for 70k and miss the combination of ride, comfort, radio that would old a station all the way back from work and the fact it cost buttons to buy! Strangely I took that car almost every day - after a brief hop into lexus I bought a later s class but it feels bigger, diesely and a bit less comfortable so I do end up leaving it in the garage several days a week.....
Charlie
On the plus side the 320 petrol was a great engine, the ride was superb and it was more comfortable, for me, than the later car. I ran it for 70k and miss the combination of ride, comfort, radio that would old a station all the way back from work and the fact it cost buttons to buy! Strangely I took that car almost every day - after a brief hop into lexus I bought a later s class but it feels bigger, diesely and a bit less comfortable so I do end up leaving it in the garage several days a week.....
Charlie
Things like the gearbox are the same as on any Mercedes - any Merc from that era from the A140 up to the S600 all use the same 722.6 5-speed gearbox. Similarly, the engine and possible faults on something like the S320 are the same as a C320, SLK320, E320 etc.
The bits which really cost are the unique parts to the S-Class so you tend to be talking electrical systems, dashboards, air suspension etc.
Late W140's rust and early W220's rust - sometimes very badly. Nearly all of the ones with no rust were fixed under warranty.
The Lexus equivalent to a late W140 is a Mk 4 LS400 and they are very close, with the Lexus ahead in quite a few areas. Against an X-Reg W220 you'd be looking at a LS430 but, in fact, the LS430 holds its price better than an early W220 which perhaps says it all.
The bits which really cost are the unique parts to the S-Class so you tend to be talking electrical systems, dashboards, air suspension etc.
Late W140's rust and early W220's rust - sometimes very badly. Nearly all of the ones with no rust were fixed under warranty.
The Lexus equivalent to a late W140 is a Mk 4 LS400 and they are very close, with the Lexus ahead in quite a few areas. Against an X-Reg W220 you'd be looking at a LS430 but, in fact, the LS430 holds its price better than an early W220 which perhaps says it all.
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