Hello all, last year I purchased a 2005 ML320 and used to own a 1988 SEL so I have been a Mercedes fan for a while now. Currently I am heavily interested in purchasing a S class W220 model.

Now I'm looking at 2001-2002 year and either S430 or S500 and this is where I can use some advice from fellow benz fans

I'm more than willing to pay the extra few thousand for S500 if it's worth it and I'm just curious if it is. I read that the S500 has an engine that turns to 4 cylinder at a certain speed, which seems like an excellent benefit as well as taking only 1 litre more per 100 kilometers (I believe the rate is 14L/100k S430 and 15L/100k S500, yes I'm Canadian :P)

Also I figured that S500 owners perhaps have a higher chance of taking better car of the vehicle seeing as it is a more expensive vehicle so I see that as a plus as well. I just ask, is putting an extra $5k for a S500 worth it? Maybe there's more benefits out of it? Any help is appreciated

 

I think you're confusing the S500 with the early S600s that switched from 12 to 6 cylinders under light load. I don't think any Mercedes V8 has done this. (A Cadillac V8 that did was a disaster.) That said, the S500 is typically better equipped than an S430 and the extra power is very noticeable. But if thrifty operation is important to you, the S430 may be a good fit.

 

S500

Xenon> HALOGEN

Nappa Leather> Other Crap

302 hp> 275 HP

Get the Sport Edition its worth the extra few K also

 

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mercede...20-ar1848.html

"The newly developed automatic cylinder shut-off turned the eight-cylinder S 500 temporarily into a four-cylinder - a feature which had a dramatic impact on fuel consumption without compromising on smoothness, torque or quietness"

This is the source where I got this idea heh, but thanks for clearing it up
Thanks for the reponses so far I'm leaning towards a S500

 

Yes, that was 1998. It never made it into production for the V8 and got yanked after two years for the 12.

You won't regret the S500. 302 HP is good. Of course 604 HP is twice as good .

 

Eh, thats not true. The V8 had the option "ZAS" from MY99 to 02.

Rgs, Frank.

 

You are mislead also......

Bi-zenons are options also on the S430 cars Mine is equipped with them.... In fact the Nappa on the S500 is only on the seating surfaces which is the inserts.. the rest of the seat and doors is the "other crap"..Premium leather..

Of course there is 27Hp difference in the engines...

What needs to be pointed out is that although the search for a 2000-2002 S500 would normally yield an overall nicer equipped car than the 430, there were a lot of nicely equipped 430's out there also..

But ALL of these cars in those years were problem children!!!

I would try to hold out and spend the few extra bucks on a 2004. They REALLY stepped up their game on all versions of the S class.Its almost safe to say that there is just no comparing the last generation with the earlier Electronically and mechanically.. they are much nicer cars than the older models.. I'd take a newer S430 over and older ANYTHING anyday.

Here are the interior options list for the 2004-2006 year.

 

when I was looking for mine I was seriously considering a 500 but when I came across this 430 for the miles,condition and price I could not pass it up.
There some 430s out there that are the same as optioned as a 500 and the mpg is better.

 

Ya I can see how condition and miles will affect the decision, and thanks for info on the 04, I'll be looking closely at those, I got alot to think about tomorrow heh. Thanks everyone so far

 

if you live here in nor cal theres a few good deals out there on CL

 

I agree.. I have a dealer buddy of mine who saw my car for the first time and thought it was an s500 because of all the goodies it had....

 

how much stuff do you have??? lol

 

I should have said "for our cars." It was never available on production North American V8s, only V12s. It was an option in Europe.

 

If you could, go for 2003-later W220, they're much better built. Upgrade of both outside/inside worth the extra money. Some of the early problems (weak A/C, airmatic, IC) were also addressed. The inside of the 2003-later is much more pleasant to be in, due to significant improvement in material & redesign center console.

New, the S500 cost around $10K more than comparable optioned S430, while they cost pretty much the same used, or at most $1-2K difference (here in SoCal). So you can conclude that either the S430 hold much better on value, or the S500 depreciation is much worse.

When I was shopping for the S class last year, I tried out several S500 and S430. I couldn't tell much difference in power output between the 5.0 and 4.3 litter engine. I'm quite a car nut here, and don't think 27hp make much difference in these heavy car. I did test drive one 2003 S55, and the power output of that car is insane (500hp !!!).

Also, I noticed that the (synthetic ??) leather of the S430 seat seem to hold up much better than the napa leather in the S500. As the matter of fact, all the S430 I tried have seat that look & feel very much like new, still soft & no crack, while quite a few S500 show hardern leather & crack on them. I have no doubt that the Napa leather look & feel better when new, but we're judging the car at 3-4 years old here. I guess the S430 use the same type of leather that you see on older mercedes, though not true leather, seem to last forever, even with little or no care. FWIW, all the cars I tried were in 40-60K mile range.

At the end, I went with the 2003 S430, with AMG package, loaded (bixenon, CD changer...), 54K mile, for $29.5K. I've put 30K mile so far on the car, and couldn't be any happier. Beside 3 oil changes, brake job, and replacement of EIS couple weeks ago, car run & feel like new. I avg around 20 mpg, SoCal commute, w/ lot of stop and go on freeway.

Still, it's worth it to try both, pick the one you like the most. You will probably end up paying the same whether it's the S430 or S500, so test drive & exam the car is the key here. If possible, spend $100-200 to have the car exam by Mercedes mechanic prior to purchasing, could be the best $100-200 you ever spend on this car.

Btw, if you want to talk about the power gain, my brother has a W221 S550, and that car really has LOOOOT of power.

 

Thank you for the great response good sir. From what I thought, 27 hp on a 4 ton would make little different heh. and interesting comment on S430 holding value, I never really thought of it. From what you tell me about the 2003-later W220 and the comparison of S430 and S500, I'm leaning for a 2003 S430 and most likely will go for it because some work buddies have stated similar things like you have. As for the S55, hmm might be a bit too much for me to afford right now (I'm 20) and when it comes to paying a Mercedes mechanic to exam the car sounds like a great idea and I'm willing to spend that money since it's 'the best $200 I can spend on this car' Also another plus in my car search is that my father has been working on cars for 30 years so he'll be helping me as well. Seeing as it's still winter cold up here in Toronto Canada, I'll be looking heavily come March. Once again thanks for this useful info sir, and thanks to everyone else

P.S. Nice rides people

 

I think he meant S430 vs. S500 in terms of standard features/options.

As for power, look at the torque, not horsepower. 295 lb-ft. vs. 339 lb-ft.

 

Thats because you have 2004, thats why you got bixenons but on the 2000-2002 he is talking about they are on Halogen.

 

Bi-xenons were optional on S430s pre-facelift as well.

 

bi-xenon did not actually become available until 2003+
until the facelift, if the car did have xenon, it was lowbeam only. high beam was halogen

S430 00-06 was xenon/bi-xenon optional only

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...des_benz_s430/

S500 155 limiter? I dont think so

then again I hit max 125 so i wouldnt know

 

ME too..I Hit my limit it is around 130..

The article also mentioned brakes...

I forgot to mention that in after the facelift those are also the same between
the 430 and 500 whch are 4 piston Brembo brakes with drilled rotors.
Only the S600 and the AMG has different brakes.

Also the facelifted S had slight improvements in 0-60 which posted as
6.9 secs. for the 430 and 6.1 secs for the 500. Versus pre-facelift figures of 7.2 secs for the 430 and 6.5 secs. for the 500