W216 500 & W221 500 buying advice!
Discussion
Hi everyone! Im finally moving back to the UK after living many years in South America. I will need to buy a daily driver and now that im over 30 I want it to be interesting. Im a big Mercedes fan and so far I have owned a 1990 CE300-24 (I bought this in 2004 when I was 19 and I loved the thing, it was actually pretty quick). Then later on I had a C220 diesel that was a great reliable car. Both cars never broke down and only needed general servicing and replacement of standard wear and tear parts like springs, breaks and tires.
I would have 15k to spend so im looking at 60,000 mile W216's and W221's with the 500 V8. I like them both equally but for different reasons so my choice between the two would come down to the condition of the cars I look at.
Are there any known issues or faults that I need to be aware of? Is the reliability generally as good as ive experienced in the past? Also I am not too concerned about this but what is the mpg you are achieving?
Also is a 600 variant really much more complicated or expensive to keep?
I would have 15k to spend so im looking at 60,000 mile W216's and W221's with the 500 V8. I like them both equally but for different reasons so my choice between the two would come down to the condition of the cars I look at.
Are there any known issues or faults that I need to be aware of? Is the reliability generally as good as ive experienced in the past? Also I am not too concerned about this but what is the mpg you are achieving?
Also is a 600 variant really much more complicated or expensive to keep?
I'm only a month into ownership (C215 CL600 biturbo), but fuel economy is c.19mpg on regular petrol. Booked in for an oil change only with a local indy on Monday and that's £90. As I understand it, a (major) B service with an Indy will be £c.400 depending on whether or not any issues are found.
Mine's been amazing so far, but I've noticed that some of the (frameless) door seals are starting to perish and will need replacing soon. The flexible hose covering the door writing has come loose too (apparently a common peril), so that'll need fixing back.
Mine's been amazing so far, but I've noticed that some of the (frameless) door seals are starting to perish and will need replacing soon. The flexible hose covering the door writing has come loose too (apparently a common peril), so that'll need fixing back.
Animal said:
I'm only a month into ownership (C215 CL600 biturbo), but fuel economy is c.19mpg on regular petrol. Booked in for an oil change only with a local indy on Monday and that's £90. As I understand it, a (major) B service with an Indy will be £c.400 depending on whether or not any issues are found.
Mine's been amazing so far, but I've noticed that some of the (frameless) door seals are starting to perish and will need replacing soon. The flexible hose covering the door writing has come loose too (apparently a common peril), so that'll need fixing back.
Whats really swaying me towards MB again and not other options is that I will also have an excellent cheap specialist near my house. Ive used them in the past and they are excellent. Even the main dealers outsourse work to them when they are having problems.Mine's been amazing so far, but I've noticed that some of the (frameless) door seals are starting to perish and will need replacing soon. The flexible hose covering the door writing has come loose too (apparently a common peril), so that'll need fixing back.
That mpg on a V12 is really not too bad!
Are there any specs or options that are essential or must be avoided?
I believe the W221 and C216 were both improved in reliability terms over their predecessor models (not exactly difficult, to be honest...) but out of the two I'd go for the CL. You'll hear lots of horror stories about ABC but provided you check the struts carefully and the condition of the oil before you buy, there aren't too many things that can go wrong (if they're damp and dark respectively, walk away).
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