Britrover

I’m in the market for a used car and am trying to decide on a 97-99 S320/S430 or the BMW 540i /&40iL. I currently own a 99 E 320 4 Matic and love the car, previously owned a 95 C 220 and it was one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned.

Some of my specific questions are:

1)Is the 97-99 S 320/430 a reliable model? What were some of the problems/bugs that I need to have checked. The cars I’m finding have about 90-112K miles and considering I’ve owned high mile Mercedes in the past and currently won one it doesn’t bother me with that said is the 97-99 S class built to last like the older Merc’s.

2)I know this is a MB forum but would you rate the BMW 540i/740iL a better buy over the 97-99 S class. I’m looking at 99-00 740il/540i. Are the BMW’s reliable or will they cost me a fortune to maintain.

I appreciate any feedback that will help me make the right decision.

Trey

This may give you some insight... I traded my 98 740iL for a 98 S500 earlier this year. The BMW had 50,000 miles when I purchased it in 2001. I traded it with 122,000 miles 6 years later and $17,000 lighter in the wallet on repairs.

The "new" S500 has 50,000 miles - no repairs so far, but who knows. From what I've read on both MB and BMW forums, the MB should be somewhat more reliable than the BMW.

trey

ghost

Hello:

I am have owned all these cars, from s320, s500, to s600.
As well as 528i, 540i and 740il.


The questions you have to answer, is not which is more reliable (given everything being equal, they are about they are almost the same when it comes to reliability).

You have to answer this: what are you looking for in a car (the Bmw or Mercedes). Mercedes is more of a cruiser, more of classic style. The s class are presidential, meant more to be driven in, in a sense. Dont get me wrong, they are still enjoyable cars, but they drive like a big car. In my opinion, they have more powerful presence then a bmw. You put a bmw even a 740, infront of s class (w140), the s class seems bigger and more intimidating. But, the 740 is more sporty.

The 540 or 740il, are a drivers cars. They engage you. Even the big 740il drives like smaller then it looks. Once again more sporty, and more enjoyable to drive then an S class.

The s320, might be good on gas, but you have to understand its a big heavy car with a v6. Your comparing it with a smaller, less heavier car in the 540i or the 740il, with a V8 !! The s320, will feel slower on acceleration because of its weight and the v6 (that doesnt mean its slow, but the bmw will feel more nimple). A more fair comparison, would be s420 or s500 versus the 540 or 740iL, since both have a v8.

Now, once you answered the question of what kind you want, a more of cruiser, classic, presence (the s class), or a more involving, sporty sedan(the bmw).

Here is how i put it to my wife. I used to be a w140, addict, and thus why i had the s320, s500, s600 etc...i love their powerful presense. I wish they had a car with the s class (w140) look , and the interior and driving feel of the bmw 5 or 7 series.

So once you have narrowed it down from a classic big crusier, or a sporty luxury sedan (bmw), then you can go on to your next part.

Do you want the extra room. I love big body mercedes and big body bmw. I love big body cars in general. The s320 was made in a short wheel base, which i dont like. The rest s420 s500, s600 where larger wheel base, which i like. ( i am not sure how the configuration in England is, usually its called s500L, or saloon).

If you have a family, i would definitely go for the longer wheel base on both. Whether a w140 or go for the 740il.

Now that you answered the question. You go on maintenance. In my experience, the bmw will have slightly less maintenance then an s class. S class can be costly to maintain. For example, AC work can sometimes run you in the thousands. Beside the s320, the remaining ones say s500 and s600 had hydrophumatic rear suspension. Each one can cost you about a $1000 a piece. They usually go around a 100k miles. There are other issues, like window regulator ( couple of hundred dollars), to soft closing..etc... Bmw does not have some of these options (soft closing doors), but they do have their own share of problems. But in my opinion, not as costly as the w140.

A big thing regarding maintenance, also depends on the car your buying. Some cars are better kept then others. So have a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic (of course you will get some items that needs addressing, or might need attention, as long as there is no big ticket items that are wrong, such as motor leaking, transmission slipping, major AC work, bad suspension...etc...)

You are on the right track concerning the years. The best years for an s class is 97-99. (previous models are more likely to have problems, typical first years...plus in the earlier ones, you had to deal with wiring harness problems, a very expensive thing , which is not a big deal in the 97-99).

Of course same goes for the bmw 99-2001, also best years.

So decide what you want:

A cruiser that is good on gas, but not so nimple, and had presence ( s320 long wheel base).
A classic clasy cruiser with some power ( s420, and the always populas500), in 97 the s500 and s600 has options that others dont i.e xenon lights...i think it was an option on s420 for 97-99.

Do you want more of a luxury sporty sedan
save on gas ( get the 528i) and still nimple and fun.
a sporty fun driving powerful sedan 540i ( 5 series hold their value more than 7 series, because most people are looking for an average sedan rather then a big sedan...and even though the 7 series was 20,000 dollar more than a 5 series when it was new, you find them in similar prices range used, at least here in the states.)
a sporty sedan drivers car, with alot more room (740il)....

As i mentioned above, i bought the w140, more for its looks, its intimidating presence, not for its driving or maintenance. I got them out of my system, and now i am driving a bently turbo R, (again for presence...even though the s class is a cruiser, and not a sporty as the bmw, i think it drives much better then a bentley turbo r, and involves the driver more).

In conclusion, if your worried about maintenance, i would suggest going with the bmw (even though in some cases you can get an s class that might cost you less to keep then a bmw), but in most cases, the bmw will cost less to maintain. Of course , given the fact you have the cars looked at, before you buy just any car. If you want to save on gas, and dont have a family (specially little kids with baby chairs), then the 5 series is great overall. Even though the 528i is a v6, its still fast and nimple, and the 540 is slightly faster, but not by much.
If you want the room and a big car (which i like)..get the the 740il (long wheel base), dont buy the 740i, there is no point, might as well get the 5 series, basically same size. The reason to get the 7 series, is for the L extra room ( and trust me its, HUGE in the back seat, very nice), plus your not only getting a big car, but your also getting a more engaging fun luxurycar to drive.

Its a long response, but i hope it helped.

NZ_Benz

The S320 is an inline 6 not a V6 not that it really matters, I have to agree with the above poster with regards to the feel of the car though, the BMW is alot sportier, I looked at an early E38 but went for a W140. The E38's boot is massive compared the to the W140 as the W140's fuel tank is between the back seats and the boot. I also think the E38's interior is more modern than the W140. Interesting I've looked up the hp for the E38 relative to the W140's the W140 has more hp relative to size of engine but I think it does have more weight.

A good place to find info and even paste a copy of what you wrote there and see what they think of the W140 v the E38 would be www.bimmerforums I think it's .com but just google it and you'll find it.