Hi,

Wondering whether anyone on this forum has any experience of the W220 S. I'm toying with the idea of getting one for a 45-50 minute commute that I could be facing daily for a few years to come. While I know the CLK would make light work of this regardless, I have been fancying the idea of a luxo-barge for a while. Prior to my second CLK, I had almost ended up with an X350 Jaguar XJ.

It'd be a facelift/later year, to ensure galvanisation. I am cautious due to the extra complexities, but the engine and gearbox are very solid as I know, it's just all the little extras, soft close door systems etc, in addition to the airmatic. It's always said that this era was a bad time for Mercedes, but I'd have thought that wouldn't filter up to the £70000 range topper...

So whilst I know they're quite different cars, how do they compare to our CLKs to drive, run, and maintain? Baring in mind my two CLKs are the only two proper cars I have driven, so they're all I have to compare against


Tia, Ben

 

My only experience in one was as a passenger. If you really are a sailor then you will be right at home as it has boat like body control imo!!!.....I found the body roll and over soft ride quite nauseating ....might have been different as a driver though.

 

Haha I race racing boats, so they're pretty sharp and responsive hahaha. Was that with the ride stiffened do you know? I'm aware that you can firm it up with two further settings on the dash, wouldn't know how much of a difference that made in real life...

I'm a terrible passenger for anything longer than 15 mins lmao, I just can't cope.

My commute would mostly be motorway, once I've gotten out of one city until I reach the other.
I'd be looking at the 3.2L I6 diesel most likely, it can supposedly attain 40-45, which isn't half bad for the size of it.

 

The W220 is a very nice car. It handles remarkably well for such a large vehicle. My biggest problem with it is a lack of headroom. Yes, MBZ's flagship sedan is tight on headroom! I'm 6'3" (190cm) and I could never get comfortable. The seats are also less sporty than most other MBZ's - more Buick-like in their shape.

As you already have realized, it's a much more complex machine than the CLK which means more things that can need some attention. Unless you can verify they have already been repaired, I would definitely avoid the M272/M273 engines since they WILL be in the range for potential balance shaft failure (W220 production ended MY2006 and the balance shaft problem wasn't corrected until MY2007). Also, the W220 was one of the first models to get the 722.9 transmission. The earlier 7GTRONICs have many more problems - conductor plate faiilure, torque converter failure, fluid pump failure, bad bearings, etc. If I were going to buy one, I'd look for the M112 V6 or M113 V8 engine with the 722.6 5-speed transmission.

 

Is it really that soft though? My first CLK didn't have the sport suspension and that was pretty good. My sports now is more firm, but I can't see myself with the desire to chuck around a land yacht haha

 

The suspension is not soft - it's the seats. They are very flat with little side bolstering and overstuffed. Oh, and I forgot, you are in the UK, so there are two other things you might consider that we did not have int he USA - a diesel engine and the short (standard) wheelbase version. I don't believe there is any difference in maintenance for the long vs. standard wheelbase, but there is some weight savings.

 

Thanks Rodney, I'm only 5'9", so that's not usually an issue for me. I appreciate your info on the engines, I'm aware of those issues elsewhere, but for economy reasons and the price of fuel in the uk, I'd go with the 3.2 CDI or the 3.0 CDI. I have read that the older 3.2 is more economical, with plenty of grunt, however with potential for glow plug problems...

 

I've driven and helped work on those w220s. Nice cars, very very grown up. Soft ride. Issues are mostly with the airmatic's sensitivity to potholes (an issue with all air-based suspensions). post 2008+ should mean a more reliable engine + transmission. Though i have no idea about diesels.

 

Thanks Dan, unfortunately I can't afford a 2008+ as a student as they're the W221 series which I really do like.

Could you expand on what you mean by the pothole thing? Are large pot holes/sudden compression malificent to the airmatic?

 

apologizes i've messed up my model designations. i've worked and driven on w220 s600 and a s500. Both also amazing vehicles. Yes the airmatic suspension is sensitive to potholes, not as much as the ABC system. I woulnd't worry about it, almost any highend car in that class (from other brands) will have an airmatic suspension. They just are more sensitive then normal shocks, its just something that needs to be stated if your buying one. I still would totally recommend them.

 

The way I approach commuting.


32 miles each way in New York. Winters are what you would expect here: cold, wet, snowy, slush and tons of salt to melt the snow and cars.


I commute in a ricer. I buy "new" with about 100k miles (Altima - suck, Kia - POS, etc.). The point is I buy a commuter for ~$4-5K and I drive it into the ground. After that I crush it and donate to the Girl Scouts. It works out to less than $0.05/mile. They have so little value I never insure for collision.


I really enjoy my CLK and would rather not punish it twice a day on our lousy NY roads (except on weekends).


I owned an S. Land barge, very safe. I enjoyed mine. But if you put many miles/year on the car it is going to pay you back in higher maintenance costs to preserve that MB feel. Prestige is a separate emotion. In the KIA I employ the audio mechanic and turn up the radio to cancel car noises.


Thanks,
Zill.

 

 

That would be a perfectly understandable approach, however not at my age, or in the UK. I have to be insured in the UK, and at my age, it is costing me near £2000 at 20y/o. Last year £2500, and it is hardly any saving to only be insured third party v. fully comprehensive.

So regardless of the car I drive, say I bought a crappy car to commute in, I'd still be paying 1500-2000 in insurance, and I'd rather waste/throw away that money on something I enjoy than something I don't. And I just cannot let my cars be anything but as perfect as is possible, it's just not in my character to allow things to fall break up, and I need the reliability too. I get the point that an S is going to cost more *potentially* to maintain than jap crap with somewhat cheaper parts, but with the cost of the W220 over here, they're not exactly expensive to purchase in the first place. And I'd want to actually be able to enjoy the drive hahaha

I understand your approach, and financially it does make sense, but I couldn't resign myself to it.

 

Off you go SailorBen. Good luck. Cars and insurance - work of the devil.

 

Don't get me started on insurance! I spent half the day on the phone with my agent. We dropped the C240 off our policy (I "sold" it to our granddaughter who finally moved out on her own) and the premium went UP! Some B.S. about 2 drivers and 3 cars being less expensive than 2 and 2. So I started shopping rates, and I found that many insurance companies treat the SL as an "exotic" and either won't insure it, or charge double the rates I am paying now. So, I guess I'll stay withe my current company, but I'm not happy that I'm now paying more for fewer cars!

 

Have you looked into the E class instead of the S? Just a thought.

 

Yep I have, the W211. I had thought about getting one of them instead of getting my second CLK. But the E isn't much different to my CLK. Better for rear seat passengers, that's for sure. But not necessarily for me as the driver. They're a pretty car, especially the facelift in black. I would have one. However I've a lust for a barge; only an S could satisfy .

Ben

 

Lol ok understood. Yes the S class is definitely on a different level.

 

the w220 is beautiful but get ready for major headaches . If your a student and don't have the money for the upkeep stay away . I had a friend but that car 2 years ago and after 2 month he had to replace the front air shocks and control module . the cost was around $3200 . S class are amazing when new but fixing them is a headache . If your a student I am guessing your in your late teen to mid 20' why would you want such a huge car ?

 

The S class is in a class of its own (pun intended), though it's also in a class of its own to fix.

They can be had cheap all day long, but the potential fix cost will be much higher.

The shifter, for instance, is tied to immobilizer security system. Spill a drink on it, and you're looking at $800 job. It's a TRP and only dealer can do it. Yes some Indy have the ability to reprogram a used shifter, but that's still expensive.

Then there is the potential of EIS/key failure, which happens more frequently because of the frequency that those cars change hands. Then there is the air suspension as mentioned. Then there is all the tiny niggles that may break down....like the cup holder.

I've worked on more than 100+ w220 and I've seen only a handful with working cup holders, and they were all S55 or S600, or company limo.

 

But in comparison to W208, W210, W211, it's much more comfortable. It also isolates you from the road, you don't hear the outside noise much. There was a memorable experience when I was driving a W220 for a customer, and I drove to the harbour (we are close to a port) and I was surrounded by 18 wheelers. In a normal car, the sound of diesel idling would've filled the cabin. In that car, the loudest noise was the a.c.fan whirring. Very novel.