ImInPA

Well, most of you know that I love my E350 Bluetec. I have said many times that it has been the best car I have ever owned. If I could change one thing on my E it would have been to have 4Matic. I have been looking forward to CPO S350 Bluetecs to become available and/or the availability of 4Matic on the face-lifted E. I let my sales rep know some months back of my interest in a CPO S bluetec, should one become available. With the S350s being new for 2012, he was not optimistic that one would be available any time soon. Today I got the call. A 2012 S350 Bluetec, P2, Premium Package, 6 months old and 8200 miles. List price: 102K Taxed and tagged: 75K, 38K for my E, and, an unexpected bonus...I get a full refund of my Extended Warranty on the E, as I was still below 50K miles (49K on the odo). My S350r is fully CPO and only 6 months into the original factory warranty. It is under factory warranty until July 2017. It seemed like a great deal. The car is absolutely pristine. It is Diamond White with Cashmere interior. I am not one to mod anything, so, great pics are available at MBUSA lol. The car is a real tank and rides amazingly well. I know the 221 S has been somewhat polarizing, but, I love the look. True to the Bluetecs that I love, I saw 38 mpg on my ride home from the dealership.

I am still going to hang out here if that is ok with everyone, because there are not many other S class owners that have a pulse. This could be the beginning of the end for me too.

RSIKR

Sounds like a good deal money and car wise. I have spent some time driving late model S class sedans and they are a lot of car.

I can see a diesel something in my future. I spent three weeks in Austria, Germany and France last fall. A lot of diesels. Here we punish you on the price per gallon.

Is the economy primarily in highway MPG? Any great difference in city driving?

BM2BZ

congrats and you are more than welcome to stay ! time to change your "drives:" and sig......and we all still want pics .

Arrie

So, if I understand the numbers correctly You paid $37000 between the cars. Lots of money to pay for a trade almost two years old.

But, you wanted the car and if you waited for the best deal, which may not ever come, you might never drive one.

I envy you as I have driven many S-class Mercedes's as rental cars in Germany and I can tell there is a HUGE difference compared to E-class. The first to notice is how quiet the car is. Then in some internal features.

I hope I could one day switch to the S-class.

Enjoy it!!!

martinlarose

Congrats. Enjoy the ride. Both are fine automobiles and the 4 matic with the power of that engine seems like the best of all worlds.

martinlarose

There is a good review of the s350 bluetec on the Motor Trend app if you have it. The site compares the bluetec with the s hybrid FYI

BenzV12

Congrats, this seems a good deal and I am happy because you made it turn into a profitable position refunded funds, extended warranty etc
W221s are the best designed S Class ever made namely facelift models.
Happy driving

threeMBs

Congrats. Its a one hell of a financial deal - you got the very top $$$ for your trade-in (considering its a P1 with high mileage) plus a great deal on W221.

Nuru

Congrats and stay with us. But just don't laugh too hard out loud when we are squirm about the features we would like to have.

Sounds like you got a good deal, and without waiting until April!

hyperion667

Congratulations brother!
now where are the fookin' pictures??

sounds like anice deal too

BenzE350

Congrats! Major step up from the E. Come back and post your comparo after you get more seat time. Would welcome your thoughts

Dude - don't be lazy. Pics or it didn't happen.

mikemargolis

Congrats brother.

My wife has been bugging me that the E is too small unless I'm by myself (which I am most of the time I'm in the E). When the kids are with us, there's a Honda Odyssey and a Ford Excursion.

I actually saw a CPO S350 at Benzel Busch a few months ago, but didn't drive it, as the money wasn't right for me at that time.

I met a guy at the car wash who has an E350 and an S550, he said that he likes the E better, the S is a big boat.

I'll be very curious to hear what you feel about the E vs S.

By the way, I'm in CT and have never felt I needed 4Matic on the E, but I do have four Blizzaks on there for the winter.

ImInPA

I never had a problem with my RWD E in the snow either (4 Micheline X-Ice for the winter), however, AWD does help with the hills. I will post some comparisons once I have more time in the S. So far, I will say that the S seems to be quieter than my E Bluetec and the rear seat leg room is limousine-like. I miss my folding rear seats in the E, and, the phone buttons are not as convenient in the center arm rest wrist rest. The power closing doors and trunk are neat, but, more novelty than adding any real functionality. The 240hp 455 ft-lbs of torque seems to be truly up to the task and cruising between 75-80 mph it is barely turning 2K on the tach. The E bluets do not have the Direct Steer system that is on the E gas models, but, the S has it, and it is a great steering system. The S does not have as tight a turning radius as the E, and, it feels like a large car. It is the largest car I have ever owned. Thanks for all of the kind comments, and, I will post some pics when I can. We have had two days of crappy weather and the car is filthy.

rufmb

Congrats on the new car.
I can't believe the seats won't fold down, but I guess if they're powered in anyway there may be some engineering issues. MB probably expects anyone buying an S class to have a second automobile for transporting larger goods. Would be a deal breaker for me though, remember taking an Acura off the shopping list for the same reason years ago.
Great deal on the car though, looks beautiful on the road, happy driving and of course, pictures...

golfster

Congratulations, IIP! Enjoy the new car!

Arrie

I think this S may have electronically controlled seat back on the rear seats. Of course, it has limited movement compared to the front seats but in some cars it is electronic, like my brothers W220, which is 10 years old. This system probably prohibits making it fold down like in the E-class.

And I don't think very many S-class owners need the folding back seats anyway...

ImInPA

Arrie, mine does not have the rear seat package, so, just regular stationary back seats, although they are pretty plush. The rear seat folding down is just a feature that is nice to have, and, I think S class owners deserve the option every bit as much as the E owners. About your observation above, it was about $37K between the two cars, but, where you look at it as a lot to pay for a car that is almost two years old, I look at it as $37K between the two for a 6 month old car that listed for more than $100k. It has 40k fewer miles than the E I traded, and almost 5 years/100k miles left on the warranty. Also, the current S, with its Maybach-like lines and interesting fender bulges, is and has been one of my favorite MB designs.

MBNUT1

My favorite Mercedes to see approaching in my review mirror is by far the W221 S Class. It still retains the classic Mercedes look.

Arrie

Believe me, if I could I would do what you did. The S is the car in every bit of it.

It also is a very big car and for me it just would be too much to have but if I was swimming in money I would get one.

You lucky dog...

listerone

I'm jealous of your move to the S Bluetec...a very nice vehicle for sure.Of course I'd have to win the lottery to afford one but...life's not always fair!
The one diesel of that class that I'd actually rob banks to afford is a Panamera diesel but it appears that I'll be long in my grave before one arrives on these shores so the banks in my neck of the woods are safe,for the time being at least.

ImInPA

I agree with you about the Panamera. This ws a good deal for me. It gave me a chance to actually own a car like this. Apparently, the vehicle was originally purchased last July by a local Doctor for his wife as a replacement for a V8 gas S. She apparently did not think the diesel was fast enough, and missed the V8. They traded it after 6 months of ownership. According to my service rep, it has never een in for anything, except state inspection.

Arrie, yes it is a very big car. It does not feel much biggger than the E once underway. I have a really good dealrship. I spoke to my sales rep some months back, telling him that if they were to get an S30 in I would be interested in looking at it. He actually followed up with me, and, the deal was really great.

Mbenz260e

Congrats man sounds like a great car! Seems like a good deal too on both ends. I saw a diamond white down here in MD months back I think the orginal sticker was around $103k, few thousand miles on it and they were asking $90k...

Definitely a car I'd like to CPO as well down the line once the kids as older...

I hope you stick around the forum and post pics!

ImInPA

I'm not going anywhere. The day I bought it, it snowed. Thre roads are still very wet and the car is just filthy. Once I get a chance to get it cleaned up a bit I will post some pics. Its funny, I have read so many posts of folks who are not happy with the AirMatic suspension on the E 550s. On the S, the Airmatic is simply amazing to me. It seems to be significantly more compliant over bumps than my Luxury E, but, at the sam time, it feels much firmer. I haven't spent any time in the Sport mode setting. I do love the Drive Dynamic Multi-Contour seats.

Mbenz260e

Love the dynamic seat on my E, assuming the S is even nicer. Only experienced Air suspension on the GL which I do enjoy alot.

I have been driving the E BTC in light snow with the stock tires. No problems so far but will be nice when 4Matic BTC is available in the E...

ImInPA

I put a set of Micheline X-Ice tires on my E350 Bluetec, and never had any issues with the RWD. They were my first non-Blizzac snow tires, and, I have to say that I think they are every bit as good if not better than the Blizzacs.