dannythewonder

Hi guys, I'm looking to purchase my second Mercedes Benz this upcoming winter and I would like to find out more about an 2011 S550 since I can't really find any feedback regarding the vehicle. I'm also debating if I should go with a 2013 GL450.

-What is the common mechanical/issue problems with the car?
-Anything I should look before buying the car?
-Should I buy an extended warranty since it's still under factory warranty? If so, typically how much does it cost?

Information about the S550 that I'm looking to purchase soon.
2011 Mercedes Benz S550

• Exterior Color: Diamond White
• Interior Color: Cashmere
• Vin: WDDNG7BB8BA386257
• Mileage: 30154
• Trim: S550 AMG SPORT Package Panoramic
• Comment from the dealers:
  Diamond White/Cashmere, AMG Sport Package, *Panoramic Moonroof*, Factory Warranty until 05/12/15, Appearance Package , Sport Package , Keyless Go , Parking Guidance , Parktronic , Rear View Monitor , Panorama , Multi Contour Seats, 1 Owner, Clean Carfax, Immaculate Condition, Books & Records.
  

Thank You ahead of time.

Mike5215

I'd be looking for a 2012. First year with the new twin turbo V8. The rest of those specs are garden variety S550 and should be easy to find. Pano roof is common. Keyless Go, Parking Guidance, Partktronic, Multi Contour Seats w/ massage, Rear View Cam, are all standard in 2010 and up S Class. The only extra option I wish I'd held out for is the Bang & Olfsen audio upgrade. (The door speaker grilles will be silver on a B&O car,) but they're rare.

I'd also be looking for a CPO car, which would add a year to the remaining factory warranty, and depending on how you spread out the financing, add the extra two years of CPO. Retail on the extended CPO is $4500 however some guys here have contacts that can do better.

If you really want that '11 and it's at a MB store, ask them how much they'd want to CPO it. It usually costs the dealer a couple grand, most of which goes to MB for underwriting the warranty. If they won't CPO it, there's a problem in the history that excludes it from qualifying, at which point I'd be looking for a big discount or moving on to another car.

As far as bad stuff, if you drive a W220 S55 AMG you know everything you need to know about repair and maintenance costs. The 221 seems to be more reliable, but they're not bullet-proof by any means. Good luck!

dannythewonder

Thank you for the reply. It's actually a private dealer and the price seems to be the cheapest around SoCal. It's asking price is $47,995. I can't seem to find any 2011 CPO and 2012 is definitely out of my range. Good to hear that it's more reliable. I just don't want to buy another Benz that has bunch of problems and it seems like there's not people complaining about W221 on the forums.

http://www.majormotorcars.com/used/M...c8c3462079.htm

DP2014

The below features are not all standard they are included if you purchase the Premium 1 package and Drivers Assistance Package.
Keyless Go, Parking Guidance, Partktronic, Multi Contour Seats w/ massage, Rear View Cam,

Mike5215

Right. You'll find virtually all 2010+ will come with a Premium One package. Unless someone special-ordered a car without it from the factory, which I've never seen but could hypothetically exist. For his purposes any 2010+ S Class with an AMG package will get him the stuff he wants.

I believe the Driver Assistance Package adds Distronic, lane departure warning, and active parking assistance.

Mike5215

They're not complaining much yet. Two years from now the 221 forum will look like the 220 forum does now. The high mileage 07 and 08's are just starting to see their second round of owners. I've owned two high mileage 220s and I don't think the 221 is going to be a vast improvement in terms of reliability and repair costs.

My CPO 2010 so far had a bad AC controller and blower motor replaced, cam plug seals replaced, and a bad cam position sensor replaced in its first year. I'm not suggesting that's bad. In fact I'm really happy with the car and those were minor issues, but I'm glad I wasn't paying for any of it. Plus I got a free loaner to play with and complimentary coffee and danish.

I would advise against paying $48k for an 11 when the 10's are easily $10k less and the exact same car. My 2010 AMG back in August of 2013 with 44k miles on it was $54k, and at the time that was a decent deal. A year later it was worth about $35k. First, the 2012 killed it with a better engine, or at least a more desirable engine. Resale wise, you can lump the 2010 and 2011 together. Both facelifted cars without the twin turbo.



MBUSA.com has a searchable index of every active CPO S Class for sale in the country. It's a great way to shop. You should plan to travel a bit to find one that really gives you everything you want.

Nuru

+1

Nuru

Mike, I have been kinda watching the high mileage thread on another forum and I am kinda positive about the W221. I think it may show less issues than the W220. However, my car does not have the rocket-like acceleration that an S550 has, but it also does not experience the same g-force stress that the S550 does - hence the issues with motor mounts, ...etc LOL! So I am thinking that my S350 will be more reliable than the S550s! Now this statement is from someone whose car has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks, and the alarm codes just keep happening and I am getting additional warranty fixes and the car is just kinda sitting there and telling on itself LOL!

Aceman1120

I just purchased a 2011 4matic for 42k with 36k miles...so I think 47k is a bit high in price. I think about 44k is a proper price

dannythewonder

Thanks for the feedback. It's actually kinda hard finding a white S550 with beige interior around me. I used their search engine to find myself a white S550 white one and the cheapest I found for a 2010 is $45k which is in the same range of the 2011 mileage. Also, I believe 2011 is a NA, which is what I want. Turbo will just give me bunch of issue down the road. So basically there's nothing different in 2010 and 2011 for exterior wise?

dannythewonder

That's actually great to hear!!!

dannythewonder

Oh wow! That's actually a great price!! I'm actually not in any rush, I might actually wait it out until I find a killer deal. It has to be in the 30k miles range though.

How you like it so far?

Larry1979

Exterior wise the 2010 and 2011 are no different. The major upgrades from 2010 to 2011 were technological such as Driver's Assistance Package. If you like the NA engine and don't care about the technology then a 2010 will be just as good as a 2011 but at a lower price point. In my opinion the NA engine is not adequate for the size of the S550. The car feels slow and sluggish. Once it gets going it's decent but I would go with the twin turbo version. A 2012 won't be too much more expensive than a 2011 with low mileage and a good warranty.

Mike5215

^+1. The 11 is a dead zone...not a 12 but overpriced versus a 10. As fas as NA vs TT, if you're buyng CPO and plan to enjoy a $100,000+ car for $50k worry free for three or four years as a CPO car and then unload it before the warranty ends, get the 12. MB is picking up the tab for any repairs, turbos or not, and it's a lot more engine. The NA 5.5 in isolation doesn't feel sluggish to me, but if you drive the TT it probably will.

On the flip side, I wouldn't hold a 221 (or a BMW 7, or an Audi 8, or a Porsche anything) outside of warranty either.

Mike5215

True. But that's kind of like saying Miley Cyrus may turn out to be less of a train wreck than Amanda Bynes.

Besides, wanting less acceleration because it's easier on your motor mounts is like wanting a smaller dick because it's easier to buy underwear.

Mike5215

True. But that's kind of like saying Miley Cyrus may turn out to be less of a train wreck than Amanda Bynes.

Besides, wanting less acceleration because it's easier on your motor mounts is like wanting a smaller dick because it's easier to buy underwear.

Nuru

Actually Mike, I did not say I wanted less acceleration, I was saying that since I have less acceleration/less G's that my car is probably a lot easier on things like motor mounts, and other stress points than the S550.

BTW, Miley Cyrus will turn out to be way less of a train wreck than Amanda Bynes. Miley is not suffering from any illness at this point and is actually having fun with her image shift. Now I dunno where she is going, but the W221 is looking pretty good in the high mileage thread on the other forum.

Aceman1120

I did a few little Mods since I bought it about a month ago..lol

Akt S550

Very nice wheels. I just picked up a 2011 S550 as well. Where can I get similar wheels? Is there a way to enable Bluetooth audio streaming?

Thanks

Mike5215

Those look like Vertini Monaco staggered 20". Also the Rohana RC8 has a similar concave split 5 spoke. The Vertinis run aroung 2k a set, the Rohanas are around $1600 and are sold by a site sponsor, need4speed

There are a ton of aftermarket wheels, replica wheels and refurbed OEM wheels out there as well.





Rohanna





Vertini

Nuru

Hmm, Mike; I do not think Multi-contour seats with massage are standard on a 2012 S550 and up. I have seen a ton of them without it, when I was looking for an S before I bought mine. I was kinda looking for that option but did not really need it, so I bought a car without it. That feature is quite common though.

Jason B

Interesting. I did find it a little uncommon for Mercedes to be giving so many things away.

mnje350

I just purchased a 2011 S550 equipped about the way you described but with a few more miles at about 43k. The diamond white with the Savannah interior is awesome and feels like you are sitting in a catchers mitt. I did get a CPO with the extra year warranty and bought two more years at the same price that Mike... indicated at about 4500 bucks. MB threw in free maintenance for two years and 1 large off of financing if I financed through MB. I did that figuring I'd pay off the car after MB paid the first payment. All told, it was about a 45 grand purchase.

I love the car, hope that it is not a maintenance nightmare, we will see as time plays out. It seems that the 2010/2011 MY may have a slightly lower incidence of repair. I hope so, but I don't put many miles on cars these days so I may not be a good judge of reliablity. I have a 2010 E350 I bought new and it probably has not spent more that a week in the repair garage, including standard mainttenance.

Good luck with your purchase decision. What ever you do, I would buy as much warranty as you can afford. It is an expensive car to repair with LOTS of systems.

mnje350

Oh. . . I forgot to add.

The car is a completely awesome machine to drive.