MrMischief

I'm in the market for a late model S550, but have so many questions I would like to challenge you all to provide some help.

1. Interested in an affordable S class 2008 to possibly a 2012?

2. The best place to find a quality car but not over pay.

3. I hear stories of many mechanical problems, scares me a bit.

4. Any particular year worse than another or do they get better by newer years?

5. What are the numbers listed for the S550, (W221, W222, W2--) and so on mean? Does 4V stand for the AWD?

6. At what point in accumulated miles is considered "high" and therefore mechanical issues are expected to be close at hand? As an example you can have a Honda with 150,000 miles on the odometer and yet it's of no real concern.

7. Can someone with good mechanical skills perform the annual maintenance repairs I hear are very expensive ($1500 dealer charges)?

8. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to pricing S550s. I assume P1 is the best option package, P2 is the 2nd and so on? Do certain color cars cost more?
Thank you for your answers
Rich

Mike5215

How much money do you have to spend?

xpl0sive

if you've got the money, go for 2010+. Nice to have the facelift

MrMischief

Please don't laugh but I'd like to spend about $20,000 on the car plus tax and purchase a warranty on top of that. Am I unrealistic? I see some on eBay but I don't trust those sellers.

xpl0sive

you're probably looking at a 2008 S550 for that kind of money.

Mike5215

No reputable warranty company is going to write coverage for any S that's worth $20k, period. To hit that price point it's going to have too many miles, too many years or both as far as a warranty is concerned. You'd probably need to double that budget to get what you're looking for. It sounds like at this point you may be priced out of the market, but let me ask you a couple of questions:

Do you own a rubber mallet?

Are your math skills questionable?

Do you frequently solicit and then ignore advice?

If so, might I suggest buying your used S Class from a salvage yard, as another of our members who similarly lacked the funds to buy an S Class, has done?

just1time

LMFAO

MrRat

A quick poke around Craigslist shows nothing low mileage, original, possibly well maintained and reasonably priced in your area.
There's this
https://newyork.craigslist.org/fct/cto/5508175930.html
2008 S550 4matic 73k with some recent maintenance. $25k
If your not technically competent and mechanically inclined or prepared to spend a few thousand dollars or more in any given year you should avoid this purchase.

My experience in almost a year of ownership has been fine on a 2007 with mileage in the mid 60's when purchased. I've had the oil changed, replaced a serpentine belt, and had the embrace reprovisioned.
I do expect to replace something either expensive or reasonably expensive within the next 2 or so years though. You should too.

MrMischief

So Mercedes with all their cutting edge technology can't produce a car that can hit 100,000 miles without $20,000 or more in repairs?
If spend $40,000 what's it going to be worth in 3 years after $10,000 is spent on repairs?
An S550 is looking like boat ownership.

My figures Of low $20,000 (up to $24,000) for a 2007 or 8 were derived from some cars seen on eBay listings. Cars with 90,000 to 121,000 miles. One of my questions was "What is high miles for an S550?" As I figure not all makes have the same measure. A Duramax Diesel with 100,000 miles is barely broken in, we have an 06 Prius with over 200,000 miles and never needed anything other than one of its single battery cells replaced.
I restored a couple dozen classics and can do most anything but machine work. Some repairs I hate doing but can do it non the less. As long as there is instructions somewhere or someone explains a repair procedure for a MB, the repairs don't scare me. I have a Mohawk 2 post, 10,000 lb lift at home for making repairs less agonizing.
My big problem at hand is my ignorance right now, so I'm hopping I won't have to ask my same questions too many times.

Thank you,
Rich

MrMischief

oops! Link lost

Mike5215

They are neither reliable nor affordable. They also drive and perform unlike any car you've ever owned, but you have to be able to pay to play. There's no such thing as a cheap S Class.

wilassasin

Go with the 2012 if you have the money, get the best bang for your buck!

kn51

Pretty much. A boat is cheaper to own and its value sinks slower.

Along with the lift, you need to look into a Xentry/DAS knock-off system. You can get by for around $500-$600 or so.

As for the 20K figure to reach 100K. Probably not out reach. Mine is sitting at 32K and will undergo 4.5K in repairs.

Now, if adventurous...my issues I've had could be tackled by a DIY. Main problems are suspension and CANBUS components. This is where the STAR system helps. But then you might to have worry about SCN coding modules which is another can of worms.

Make sure you have a rubber mallet.

superpop

I took the approach of spending more on the car and purchased a 2012 4matic with 26K miles for around 44K. Spent another 3200 on a 3 year extended MB warranty. I will drive it for 3 years and then probably sell it and get a W222. I am hoping to sell it for around 28K but who knows. I will take a depreciation hit of around 16K plus tires and brakes. I just did the brakes for 250 bucks and the tires are new as well. I get to enjoy the car with no stress about repairs and it is a fun car to drive. These cars are not intended to be an investment but no newer car is. I suppose I could drive it for several more years but I do not like surprise repairs and this is my daily driver. If you want cheap reliable long term transportation go buy a toyota or honda.

DaveW68

Read this:

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ms-thread.html

Granted, it is an S600, but it will give you some insight as to how expensive it can be to own one of these luxury land yachts. Also, keep in mind that mine has never seen a bit of abuse in it's entire history, has never missed a scheduled service, and only has what could be considered 3 years of average miles on it.

IMO, it's insane to own one of these cars without warranty coverage. Over a 3-5 year period, buying a lower mileage 2012 for mid $40k's and getting the extended CPO warranty for 3 years will cost you less in the long run than buying a 73k mile 2008 model for low $20k's. Unless you have deep pockets, don't consider a higher mileage older model. It will eat you alive.

xpl0sive

well my car has 130k miles on it and is still going strong. Transmission is strong, has been serviced on schedule. I changed the spark plugs, all fluids (engine oil, power steering fluid, coolant) and put new control arms in. The car now runs and drives like it's got 50k on it.

xpl0sive

this car looks nice. rear seat package is a fairly rare option in a 550. If it's close to you, you should have a look at it and try to get it for closer to $20k.

MrRat

There's just little inventory in PA..
http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/cto/5543221546.html
This ones 43k miles for about 20k, original owner.

MrRat

If you are mechanically inclined as the OP mentioned, you should do fine with ownership. Just from ads from used, super high mileage, high use, car service cars have noted transmission failed at 260k, engine rebuilt in the mid 300k.
Still if you hit an unusual repair or grenade a torque converter you will pay.

MrMischief

Great information, exactly along the line of my concerns guys. Truthfully awhile back l was thinking of a brand new or a one or two year old perhaps off-lease Caddy, but when my friend inherited a 2004 S550 with 15,000 miles I knew I had to have one!
I don't have $40,000 plus cash available so I'll have to adjust my thinking or catch one at Mecum or Barrett/Jackson auctions. High end luxury cars usually 25% of list in 6 years and older non-collector cars.
I see a lot of these reconstructed titles out there, somebody must be buying them.