Thinking about buying an S Class.
01-09-2007, 09:56 PM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
Thinking about buying an S Class.
Hey everybody...
Im considering picking up a 2004 or 2005 S class... We saw one with a Lorinser kit on it, and Im wondering if anybody has any experience with them or where to look to get the real thing?
Any guidance is welcomed.
Im considering picking up a 2004 or 2005 S class... We saw one with a Lorinser kit on it, and Im wondering if anybody has any experience with them or where to look to get the real thing?
Any guidance is welcomed.
01-09-2007, 11:25 PM
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2000 S500
Per my lesson (hard, about to be even more expensive).
DO NOT BUY ANY S CLASS WITHOUT "DETAILED/EXTENDED WARRANTY", one that covers everything, down to the trim panels. If you do get an S class cheap (oh, say like me), once the repair bills add up, you'll be kicking yourself in the *** (as is my current situation). Hard hard hard lesson learned. Great car, I love it.
DO NOT BUY ANY S CLASS WITHOUT "DETAILED/EXTENDED WARRANTY", one that covers everything, down to the trim panels. If you do get an S class cheap (oh, say like me), once the repair bills add up, you'll be kicking yourself in the *** (as is my current situation). Hard hard hard lesson learned. Great car, I love it.
01-09-2007, 11:41 PM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
Thats our thought... Were looking at the Certified Pre ownes at our local dealer... Wed consider a 2007, but it looks like they changed the body style, and Im not a fan of it...
01-10-2007, 12:42 AM
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LX470
01-10-2007, 02:04 AM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
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01-10-2007, 09:52 AM
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LX470
Engine is absolute perfection, and have never had a problem with it, but it's always one thing or another with this car. Airmatic problems, transmission leaks, TONS of electric problems.
I'm not saying not to buy one, but for as many that have had great luck with the S, there are just as many that have had terrible luck with these vehicles.
I'm not saying not to buy one, but for as many that have had great luck with the S, there are just as many that have had terrible luck with these vehicles.
01-10-2007, 03:46 PM
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
My opinions on the S-Class are at https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/124317-comparison-00-05-w220.html - the writeup is for a 4-Matic, but covers a lot of '05 and later S500 features. Personally, I love the car. Very few problems.
01-10-2007, 05:25 PM
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
I couldn't agree more. Most of the complaints today are coming from 2000-2001 owners. the 2004's an up don't seem to be sharing the same issues as found on many of these threads. I'd say go for it. There are many many S-class cars out there, I'm sure you will find a lot more happy owners with newer vehicles than with the older ones.
01-10-2007, 11:34 PM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
I couldn't agree more. Most of the complaints today are coming from 2000-2001 owners. the 2004's an up don't seem to be sharing the same issues as found on many of these threads. I'd say go for it. There are many many S-class cars out there, I'm sure you will find a lot more happy owners with newer vehicles than with the older ones.
SkyLaw- That is a fabulous write-up- Really appreciate it...
I take it "4matic" is the MB TM for 4 wheel drive?
Last edited by RomansDad; 01-10-2007 at 11:38 PM.
01-11-2007, 12:30 AM
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W220 S65 AMG
Welcome to the W220 group...
4MATIC was Mercedes' way of putting 4 wheel drive on a lot of their models... I think I actually have a cool little diagram of it:
But hey listen, take it from me. I really wanted an S-Class for a long time and when time came around I bought my in New Jersey from Benzl-Busch. Pre-Owned with a warrantee.. I bought it in April 2006, It's now January 2007 and I put 12,500 miles on it. So far, two things went wrong, one was not the car's fault though. I locked the key in the trunk, MB could not unlock with TeleAid, so the guy had to break in and pry the door open and **** like that, nothing pretty. Anyways, in doing so he set off the alarm which automatically immobilizez the car because it's one smart hunk of metal blah blah so the guy had to take apart the rear seats and he botched something up and basically shorted some SAM module that controlled like seventy five percent of the car. Next bad thing that happened that required a tow was when I was out in 'da hamptonz yo' the car would not come out of Park. Had it towed, 10 days later they had to put in a new ESM because the old one was jammed and there is NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION UNLOCK!
But listen, other than that the car's a champ... I love it I just put a set of AMG rims on it...
Anyways you should totally get one. If you're like me you'll never regret it.
01-11-2007, 12:02 PM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
Those were good times...Is there anyplace on-line where I can get some ideas of how much a Lorinser conversion entails/costs? etc.
01-11-2007, 12:35 PM
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'03 S600
Yes, I see that people lie about what own once in a while. It's always a Ferrari or Lambo. There's another MB forum I frequent and guy there claims he owned a Modena and constantly makes references to it. Never once seen a pic or any details. Easy to lie on the internet.
01-11-2007, 01:34 PM
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http://www.gmpperformance.com/index....ail&PID=137279
01-14-2007, 07:33 PM
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E220cdi Estate Avantgarde March 2008
Let no one put you off the S class. Sure, some early ones had some problems but after the facelift (in 2002 I think) matters have greatly improved. And from 2004 onwards matters have improved yeta gain -by all accounts both in the US and in UK/Europe. I have a 2005 S320cdi and have just completed 20,000 trouble free miles in her. A truly great car.
01-14-2007, 08:27 PM
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CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
Let no one put you off the S class. Sure, some early ones had some problems but after the facelift (in 2002 I think) matters have greatly improved. And from 2004 onwards matters have improved yeta gain -by all accounts both in the US and in UK/Europe. I have a 2005 S320cdi and have just completed 20,000 trouble free miles in her. A truly great car.
02-19-2007, 11:48 PM
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Lamborghini Countach, BMW M3, ML 500 x2, S500 Lorinser
Thought I would revive this....
I am now the proud owner of a 2004 S500... Starmark CPO... Full Warrenty til mid 2009...
Getting a full Lorinser kit added as soon as the parts come in...
What else should I get for it???
Its prewired for a phone, but doesnt have one,.... Is there an easy way to integrate a RAZR? What about the Satelite radio or teleaid?
Any recalls I need to know about?
Thanks for everybodies help- Really appreciated it...
I am now the proud owner of a 2004 S500... Starmark CPO... Full Warrenty til mid 2009...
Getting a full Lorinser kit added as soon as the parts come in...
What else should I get for it???
Its prewired for a phone, but doesnt have one,.... Is there an easy way to integrate a RAZR? What about the Satelite radio or teleaid?
Any recalls I need to know about?
Thanks for everybodies help- Really appreciated it...
Last edited by RomansDad; 02-19-2007 at 11:50 PM.
02-20-2007, 11:27 AM
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
RomansDad
I believe your car already has a PSE (Portable Support Electronics) module' the '04 S Class and E-Class had the cell phone and tele-aid equipment combined into one unit. If I understand the setup properly, you need to add a V60 cradle (for your console) for Model Year 2004 - it has a FAKRA connector that is different from the connector on the cradle for earlier years. Then, you can purchase the V60 Bluetooth puck from AWS (http://www.wireless4mb.com/).
One problem with Bluetooth in the Benz is that the car uses metallic tint in its window glass for infrared protection. This cuts down the cellular signal between the phone and the cell tower considerably. The MHI setup used in the U.S. relies on the phone's antenna, not the car's. This is a particular problem with a RAZR, which suffers from weak reception in the first place.
To get around the problem, SmoothTalker (http://www.smoothtalker.com/) markets a cradle for the V3 and other phones that allows phone charging and direct connection to the car's external antenna. Everything else is Bluetooth. The only advantage over the V60 plug-in phone is that you can more easily use more modern phones. See the V3 cradle at http://www.smoothtalker.com/products/kits_index_mot.php
You will also want to ensure that your phone's firmware is compatible; check that with AWS (a lengthy discussion of related compatibility issues is at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/show...6#post2222126).
To activate Tele-Aid service, request a form from your dealer and contact Tele-Aid. However, the bad news is that I believe your car's Tele-Aid system is analog based, and all analog based phone service (including analog tele-aid) is being discontinued by February '08. I queried Tele-Aid recenly, and that was the response I got. I was also disturbed to see that their contract allows Tele-Aid to terminate service at any time without refunding the annual charge. Tele-Aid did not respond directly to my question as to whether it would continue for digiotally-based systems (from '05 and on) after February '08.
Satellite radio integration has been addressed on the forum, but I don't have it bookmarked or any direct knowledge - though interest may pick up if Sirius and XM merge, as they proposed yesterday.
I believe your car already has a PSE (Portable Support Electronics) module' the '04 S Class and E-Class had the cell phone and tele-aid equipment combined into one unit. If I understand the setup properly, you need to add a V60 cradle (for your console) for Model Year 2004 - it has a FAKRA connector that is different from the connector on the cradle for earlier years. Then, you can purchase the V60 Bluetooth puck from AWS (http://www.wireless4mb.com/).
One problem with Bluetooth in the Benz is that the car uses metallic tint in its window glass for infrared protection. This cuts down the cellular signal between the phone and the cell tower considerably. The MHI setup used in the U.S. relies on the phone's antenna, not the car's. This is a particular problem with a RAZR, which suffers from weak reception in the first place.
To get around the problem, SmoothTalker (http://www.smoothtalker.com/) markets a cradle for the V3 and other phones that allows phone charging and direct connection to the car's external antenna. Everything else is Bluetooth. The only advantage over the V60 plug-in phone is that you can more easily use more modern phones. See the V3 cradle at http://www.smoothtalker.com/products/kits_index_mot.php
You will also want to ensure that your phone's firmware is compatible; check that with AWS (a lengthy discussion of related compatibility issues is at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/show...6#post2222126).
To activate Tele-Aid service, request a form from your dealer and contact Tele-Aid. However, the bad news is that I believe your car's Tele-Aid system is analog based, and all analog based phone service (including analog tele-aid) is being discontinued by February '08. I queried Tele-Aid recenly, and that was the response I got. I was also disturbed to see that their contract allows Tele-Aid to terminate service at any time without refunding the annual charge. Tele-Aid did not respond directly to my question as to whether it would continue for digiotally-based systems (from '05 and on) after February '08.
Satellite radio integration has been addressed on the forum, but I don't have it bookmarked or any direct knowledge - though interest may pick up if Sirius and XM merge, as they proposed yesterday.
