gypsyjoe11

I'm saving up to buy a W222 and I saw a high mileage club thread on another forum. It had a lot of useful info on what repairs had been done.

I know the cars aren't that old yet but there have got to be some close to or above 75k.

When I searched this forum for reliability the reports were just based of experiences with very low mileage.

I currently have a 2011 Toyota Avalon and I'm not expecting reliability of that sort. Replaced my front pads a few weeks ago at 80k and that's been it besides oil changes and a set of tires. Not even a headlight bulb has gone out.

I used to have an Audi 4000s and had to replace everything twice except the frame of the car over 3 years! So before I go German again I'm trying to get some idea of what it'll be like.

Thanks ahead of time!

PeterUbers

Keep in mind the w222 has over 100 electric motors in it ... these will be expensive to repair

get a warranty and enjoy the pre owned car

you may want to keep the Avalon around for a spare car when the 222 is down

Socalsteve

I imagine a great deal of how reliable a vehicle will be over the long term is how it is driven, treated and maintained. Things do break, of course. But they will break much less if treated well and well maintained.

hyperion667

That's banana's! No?

Wolfman

The car is too young for high mileage examples. The V8 will easily outlast most Toyotas IMO. That said, high mileage to me is 200k miles, not 80k.

Landers

I won't disagree with this, but my feeling is that the problems you have will not be related to the engine. The 3 worst cars I have ever owned from a reliability standpoint (only) are the GL450, S550, and CLK430 convertible. The list includes BMW 5 series, Lexus GS, Infiniti QX, Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey, Infiniti G35, Jaguar XJ, BMW 3 series, Cadillac Escalade, and a Range Rover. Worst service received is also from MB. It is why I am moving on from MB.

Socalsteve

What have been some of the issues you have had with your S 550? What year is it and what mileage?

Thank you!

Wolfman

Interesting. Was this a W221 or W222 S550? I am not having issues. Our ML350 had zero issues since new other than a nail in the tire.

That said, complex cars with lots of sensors, hydraulics and electric motors will see more issues, no matter the brand. Even Lexus deals with that.

And issues are just that, no matter how small they are.

For anyone buying used, they could face high repair bills since this is a $100K+ car. At the same time, measured on reliability, the depreciation of these cars is higher than it should be. So one could argue that a lower initial purchased price will more than offset the costs for an extended warranty and some repairs.

Landers

It is a 2013 and the issues have not been major ones. Some seal leaking, loose leather in various parts, rattles, key not working, brake issues, etc. As far as other manufacturers it has not been my experience. Miles are as of now at 30,000

Infiniti - 0 issues in 3 years
Honda - 1 in 3 years
Lexus - 0 in 3 years
Range Rover - 0 in 2 years
BMW - 0 in 3 years
Jaguar - 0 in 3 years
Cadillac - 0 in 3 years
CLK - 2 in 2 years
GL450 - 7 in 4 years
S550 - 5 in 3 years

Socalsteve

So, if you buy the car new you will not face high repair bills? or, am I reading it not in its entirety. See below:

And yes, my used 2015 21k mile CPO was $50k off sticker. I'm sure that will cover lots of repairs. Btw, the used car I bought ( which was a 23 month lease return ) looked, drove and smelled like a brand new vehicle off the lot. Whoever owned it took immaculate care of the vehicle.

I have also owned 3 Porsche 911's all bought CPO. Nary an issue with any of them.

Socalsteve

You are saying that all that of all those other cars you owned, nary a rattle in any of them? Find that hard to believe.

Landers

You can believe what you want. I am merely pointing out our experiences. What I will say is a rattle loud enough to take it in. Rattle in S550 was passenger headrest which as you can imagine drove the passenger nuts since it was right next to their ear.

Socalsteve

Rattles are easy to fix, yes? Same time as an oil change. No inconvenience. This is an issue?

I totally can see why you would be angry about the key situation. But, MBZUSA was willing to meet you more than half way AND ( this is a BIG and ) it's a key that gets tossed around a lot. Rattles around in pockets and purses. I can totally see why MBZ didn't cave 100%.

Anyway, good luck with whatever cars you choose to buy in the future. May all of them be rattle free and have keys made of kryponite.

Landers

It was in my wife's purse in its own pocket thus it moves around little to none. I have only had two keys that have failed. MB GL450 and MB S550. None anywhere else at anytime. I certainly am not the type where every single rattle needs to be fixed as you are correct that every car probably has some rattles, but only the S550 had one that was so bad it needed to be looked at and fixed. GL450 had none or they were non issues. With about 10 cars to use as comparison I would have expected random situations with all of them somewhat spread out with more issues for cheaper cars. That was not the case. Furthermore none were major issues so I can say that every car we have owned has never had major transmission or engine issues. Finally MB certainly has 100% right to not cave and try to make $200 from me. It only cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Certainly within their rights, but short sighted IMO. As we move to a different manufacturer if our experience is flawed or we have issues with whatever car we have i'll point out what happened. I have no bias or loyalty to any car company.

gypsyjoe11

I wasn't expecting any to have 200k on them. All the reliability posts I've read talk about how people have had no issues at 7,000 or 9,000 miles. When I see that I think that there has got to be ones with more miles than that to talk about.

Socalsteve

22k miles on mine. No issues.

Wolfman

Understood. Our last BMW had lots of issues, much of them common ones for that model.

Personally I found that I am more fond of certain cars, no matter the issues while the the ones that just worked ended up boring me...

When making comparisons though, the brand itself doesn't mean very much. Perhaps is does with dealership experience.
More details helps, which models and which generation of that model, high-end or base models.

A fully loaded high-end, high-tech car of any brand will typically have more issues, partially because of complexity (more to go wrong) and partially because of people can't figure out how to use certain options or simply because of unrealistic expectations.

Wolfman

Not getting into the whole buy vs. lease discussion but most new S-Class sales are leased, not purchased. The ones that purchase will likely add extended warranty when the time comes, so yes, new car buyers will not face high repair bills...

Socalsteve

My CPO has the option of an extended warranty. I drive so little, not sure it will be worth it for me. I have awhile until I have to decide. But, it's used and can have an extended warranty...

Landers

Very good points and by no means were the MB bad cars. They were just the least reliable for the cars we have had. I really did enjoy the S550 (still do for a while longer) and may eventually end up in a MB again. I am just so disenchanted with the way they would treat someone with something so minor and easily fixable that I want to move on from the brand. Over time who knows I may end up in a MB again

gypsyjoe11

Thanks for all the input

Wolfman

That makes sense. Personally I just wouldn't give any dealer the ability to diminish the enjoyment of the car I like to drive. Plenty of dealers around.

Good luck on your replacement!

Landers

Had MB USA made it right I would have. They couldn't care less about my business either. Message received.