S600 common problem?? Please help
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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S600 common problem?? Please help
guys,
i am almost about to pull the trigger on a S600 in Asia. The car looks pretty good, but i have yet to test drive it. What are the known problems with this car? especially the more expensive ones?
i am almost about to pull the trigger on a S600 in Asia. The car looks pretty good, but i have yet to test drive it. What are the known problems with this car? especially the more expensive ones?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 63
Likes: 1
From: Chicago, IL
1995 S600 Sedan
Wiring harnesses, Electronic Throttle Actuators, ADS suspension problems, Door close assist, radio / CD changer, AC evaporator (this alone can run $4,000), Climate Control system, Rear Struts, Accumulators, etc etc etc. Be prepared to continuously shell out big money for repairs and maintenance. See my webpage for some of the repairs I had to do.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 750
Likes: 14
From: Sydney (and sometimes Shanghai)
a car that confirms all your prejudices
In case that sounded a bit abrupt... It can make a difference as to what you should watch for.
If it's in Hong Kong, and if it's a four-door (mine's a coupe), it was almost certainly used for cross-border transport by someone who owned a factory in Mainland China. That means it's spent a lot of time on very bad roads, so the suspension will have had a hard time. It might also have holes in the bodywork from where the secondary Chinese licence plate was attached.
If it's in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka or Macau, it'll be right-hand drive. If it's anywhere else (that I can think of off the top of my head) it'll be left-hand drive
If it's from the tropics (Hong Kong and all points South), the humidity gets to the glue on the interior trim. And the aircon can be a bit dodgy.
If it's from Taiwan, it will have been crashed repeatedly.
If it's from Hong Kong and hasn't been used for cross-border traffic, don't be put off by what seems like an unrealistically low mileage - Hong Kong is very small, and you can't go very far.
If it's from Japan and it's black, with blacked-out windows, there may be a dead body in the back. Check all the storage spaces for fingers too.
If it's from Mainland China, it will have spent its life on very challenging roads, but I wouldn't think it would be much of a bargain if it were in China.
If it's in Hong Kong, and you're not, then if there's anything wrong with it, you should probably get any necessary work done here before you send it away - every second car here is a Merc, so there are a lot of cheap mechanics with a lot of relevant experience and access to high quality new and used parts.
If it's in Hong Kong, and if it's a four-door (mine's a coupe), it was almost certainly used for cross-border transport by someone who owned a factory in Mainland China. That means it's spent a lot of time on very bad roads, so the suspension will have had a hard time. It might also have holes in the bodywork from where the secondary Chinese licence plate was attached.
If it's in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka or Macau, it'll be right-hand drive. If it's anywhere else (that I can think of off the top of my head) it'll be left-hand drive
If it's from the tropics (Hong Kong and all points South), the humidity gets to the glue on the interior trim. And the aircon can be a bit dodgy.
If it's from Taiwan, it will have been crashed repeatedly.
If it's from Hong Kong and hasn't been used for cross-border traffic, don't be put off by what seems like an unrealistically low mileage - Hong Kong is very small, and you can't go very far.
If it's from Japan and it's black, with blacked-out windows, there may be a dead body in the back. Check all the storage spaces for fingers too.
If it's from Mainland China, it will have spent its life on very challenging roads, but I wouldn't think it would be much of a bargain if it were in China.
If it's in Hong Kong, and you're not, then if there's anything wrong with it, you should probably get any necessary work done here before you send it away - every second car here is a Merc, so there are a lot of cheap mechanics with a lot of relevant experience and access to high quality new and used parts.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 1
From: New Zealand
1993 300SEL/S320
In case that sounded a bit abrupt... It can make a difference as to what you should watch for.
If it's in Hong Kong, and if it's a four-door (mine's a coupe), it was almost certainly used for cross-border transport by someone who owned a factory in Mainland China. That means it's spent a lot of time on very bad roads, so the suspension will have had a hard time. It might also have holes in the bodywork from where the secondary Chinese licence plate was attached.
If it's in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka or Macau, it'll be right-hand drive. If it's anywhere else (that I can think of off the top of my head) it'll be left-hand drive
If it's from the tropics (Hong Kong and all points South), the humidity gets to the glue on the interior trim. And the aircon can be a bit dodgy.
If it's from Taiwan, it will have been crashed repeatedly.
If it's from Hong Kong and hasn't been used for cross-border traffic, don't be put off by what seems like an unrealistically low mileage - Hong Kong is very small, and you can't go very far.
If it's from Japan and it's black, with blacked-out windows, there may be a dead body in the back. Check all the storage spaces for fingers too.
If it's from Mainland China, it will have spent its life on very challenging roads, but I wouldn't think it would be much of a bargain if it were in China.
If it's in Hong Kong, and you're not, then if there's anything wrong with it, you should probably get any necessary work done here before you send it away - every second car here is a Merc, so there are a lot of cheap mechanics with a lot of relevant experience and access to high quality new and used parts.
If it's in Hong Kong, and if it's a four-door (mine's a coupe), it was almost certainly used for cross-border transport by someone who owned a factory in Mainland China. That means it's spent a lot of time on very bad roads, so the suspension will have had a hard time. It might also have holes in the bodywork from where the secondary Chinese licence plate was attached.
If it's in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka or Macau, it'll be right-hand drive. If it's anywhere else (that I can think of off the top of my head) it'll be left-hand drive
If it's from the tropics (Hong Kong and all points South), the humidity gets to the glue on the interior trim. And the aircon can be a bit dodgy.
If it's from Taiwan, it will have been crashed repeatedly.
If it's from Hong Kong and hasn't been used for cross-border traffic, don't be put off by what seems like an unrealistically low mileage - Hong Kong is very small, and you can't go very far.
If it's from Japan and it's black, with blacked-out windows, there may be a dead body in the back. Check all the storage spaces for fingers too.
If it's from Mainland China, it will have spent its life on very challenging roads, but I wouldn't think it would be much of a bargain if it were in China.
If it's in Hong Kong, and you're not, then if there's anything wrong with it, you should probably get any necessary work done here before you send it away - every second car here is a Merc, so there are a lot of cheap mechanics with a lot of relevant experience and access to high quality new and used parts.
My car turned up here from Singapore with a new paint job, the code under the bonnet is different, riiiiiiight......
