Differences of '02 vs. '03 S600
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
Differences of '02 vs. '03 S600
Now, there are the obvious differences between the two, I know. Like HP/TQ, Lights, things like that...
But how about the smaller more unnoticeable differences are the ones I'm asking about...
Also, what change was done to the engine in 03+ to get the nearly 500HP. What would it take to get the number of the 03 in the 02 S600? Would it be worth the work and money?
But again, I'd like to know if it's just an engine dif between the two or is it more, and what?
I'm just weighing all my options.
Thanks!
But how about the smaller more unnoticeable differences are the ones I'm asking about...
Also, what change was done to the engine in 03+ to get the nearly 500HP. What would it take to get the number of the 03 in the 02 S600? Would it be worth the work and money?
But again, I'd like to know if it's just an engine dif between the two or is it more, and what?
I'm just weighing all my options.
Thanks!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,414
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
Pre-'02 S600s used the N/A M137 V12. Post-'03 S600s used the biturbo M275 V12.
MY03+ are facelift models so there are a number of changes. Pretty hard to come up of a list of the littlest upgrades/changes.
MY03+ are facelift models so there are a number of changes. Pretty hard to come up of a list of the littlest upgrades/changes.
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From: Alabama gulf coast, formerly Charlottesville, Virginia
2004 W220 (S430), 2001 R129 (SL500 Sport)
The simple answer to your question is you can't do what you ask. Different motors, different electronics. Period.
If you want 500 hp, buy an S600 TT that already has 500 hp.
If you want 500 hp, buy an S600 TT that already has 500 hp.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
^screw that idea then 
I just found out insurance will go up $400 every 6 months for an '03 S600. Then I got to get a warranty...Damn! It's not keeping me down yet
I just found out insurance will go up $400 every 6 months for an '03 S600. Then I got to get a warranty...Damn! It's not keeping me down yet
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,342
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From: PA
S600, GL450, GLC 43
Save your money and buy a 04-06 my friend. I did
Oh yeah the 06 comes with EVERYTHING, AKA NO Options. In 04-05 keyless go, heated steering wheel, distronicic, parktronic were all options. I just found that out the hardway. Luckily mine had them all, minus the heated steering wheel since it had the designor interior, aka wood steering wheel.
As far as insurance, mine was the same from a C32 to an S600
See yeah
Oh yeah the 06 comes with EVERYTHING, AKA NO Options. In 04-05 keyless go, heated steering wheel, distronicic, parktronic were all options. I just found that out the hardway. Luckily mine had them all, minus the heated steering wheel since it had the designor interior, aka wood steering wheel.
As far as insurance, mine was the same from a C32 to an S600
See yeah
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From: Long Island, NY & SE England
A Mercedes obviously!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
BTW, 2004 got significant improvements. That was the year the fiber bus was updated from D2B to MOST, which enabled the vastly improved COMAND. It's the first year of DVD navigation (2003 is the last year for CDs) and the system has more features and works faster. 2004 through 2006 are essentially identical, except for some phone integration details, but 2003 has quite a few differences. The DVD COMAND alone is worth looking for a 2004.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 314
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German vehicles stink, will never buy again. Moved on to Toyota and BYD.
Save your money and buy a 04-06 my friend. I did
Oh yeah the 06 comes with EVERYTHING, AKA NO Options. In 04-05 keyless go, heated steering wheel, distronicic, parktronic were all options. I just found that out the hardway. Luckily mine had them all, minus the heated steering wheel since it had the designor interior, aka wood steering wheel.
As far as insurance, mine was the same from a C32 to an S600
See yeah
Oh yeah the 06 comes with EVERYTHING, AKA NO Options. In 04-05 keyless go, heated steering wheel, distronicic, parktronic were all options. I just found that out the hardway. Luckily mine had them all, minus the heated steering wheel since it had the designor interior, aka wood steering wheel.
As far as insurance, mine was the same from a C32 to an S600
See yeah
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,455
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
Who told you that?
Here are a bunch of MY06 S600s with none of the "optional" options:
No Distronic, No Dynamic Seats
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_14134wt_1258
Here is another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_21000wt_1448
Here are a bunch of MY06 S600s with none of the "optional" options:
No Distronic, No Dynamic Seats
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_14134wt_1258
Here is another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_21000wt_1448
Thread Starter
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
BTW, 2004 got significant improvements. That was the year the fiber bus was updated from D2B to MOST, which enabled the vastly improved COMAND. It's the first year of DVD navigation (2003 is the last year for CDs) and the system has more features and works faster. 2004 through 2006 are essentially identical, except for some phone integration details, but 2003 has quite a few differences. The DVD COMAND alone is worth looking for a 2004.
Also what where you talking about when you mention the fiber bus being updated from D2B to MOST?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
) and the 2004-2006 W220s use a DVD disk for navigation. The 2000-2003 W220 uses CDs, which hold a limited amount of data and require you to swap them out when you go on long journeys (very long).The COMAND unit provides Navigation, CD, MP3-CD, MP3-DVD, Radio, Satellite Radio (if optioned).
You can also upgrade to the European model of the COMAND unit and you will be able to watch DVDs while driving... It's about $999 on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCE...ht_1699wt_1517
Otherwise the US version of COMAND was stripped of the hardware decoder for DVDs so you only hear sound but see nothing.
Unlike "other" cars, the S-Class uses a fiber optic ring that goes around the car through all the multimedia components - this assures that there is no interference ingested into the system, providing you with crystal clear, noise/static free sound at all times. The older cars have D2B audio systems in them, the newer have MOST.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
The fiber bus is the optical network that connects COMAND, CD, amplifier, phone, tele-aid, etc. MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) is an industry standard protocol that MB went to in 2004. Before that they used a proprietary protocol (D2B).
MOST suports a faster network (> 10 Mb/s) and is why the later COMAND is more feature-rich. As an example, my first W220 (2001 S55) and current (2006 S65) both had the factory phone and voice integration, but the voice operation was very limited in the D2B system. The current one allows setting GPS destinations by voice, and will recognize most city names when spoken. The POI list is, of course, much more complete on the DVD than it was on the CD, and the nav calculates directions much more quickly. It's especially faster when you take an alternate route. Rather than complain if you don't follow the directed route, it instantly figures out what you're doing and recomputes.
The user interface is much better. The DVD COMAND has "soft buttons" that allow many more options in every mode. There's really no comparing the older CD-based nav to the DVD model.
A nice bonus is that it will play audio from DVDs (although it will not display video). You can burn mp3s to a DVD and use it as a cheap ipod alternative. You can carry a ton of music on a couple of DVDs.
MOST suports a faster network (> 10 Mb/s) and is why the later COMAND is more feature-rich. As an example, my first W220 (2001 S55) and current (2006 S65) both had the factory phone and voice integration, but the voice operation was very limited in the D2B system. The current one allows setting GPS destinations by voice, and will recognize most city names when spoken. The POI list is, of course, much more complete on the DVD than it was on the CD, and the nav calculates directions much more quickly. It's especially faster when you take an alternate route. Rather than complain if you don't follow the directed route, it instantly figures out what you're doing and recomputes.
The user interface is much better. The DVD COMAND has "soft buttons" that allow many more options in every mode. There's really no comparing the older CD-based nav to the DVD model.
A nice bonus is that it will play audio from DVDs (although it will not display video). You can burn mp3s to a DVD and use it as a cheap ipod alternative. You can carry a ton of music on a couple of DVDs.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,021
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
^Awesome, great info you two. Thanks!! You are all making it easier to figure out which one to get. Pretty soon, when I'm ready, I'll have to start looking.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 11
From: PA
S600, GL450, GLC 43
Who told you that?
Here are a bunch of MY06 S600s with none of the "optional" options:
No Distronic, No Dynamic Seats
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_14134wt_1258
Here are a bunch of MY06 S600s with none of the "optional" options:
No Distronic, No Dynamic Seats
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_14134wt_1258
Go figure, NEVER trust a dealer/salesmen. Oh well live and learn, thanks for the update.
See yeah
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 314
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German vehicles stink, will never buy again. Moved on to Toyota and BYD.
All dealers say that kind of stuff.... when I was buying mine they said the same thing but it was missing sport option and the Distronic (along with the Satellite Radio). I am sure there are other little options that I am not aware of.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
German vehicles stink, will never buy again. Moved on to Toyota and BYD.
I don't think you can really add some of these features... the distronic feature was something I never really cared for to begin with. Parktronic is really nice (I thought all 600s came with them). I paid $500 for the bluetooth option and the Satellite Radio is going to cost me $1200 to put in (although I'm debating since XM/Sirrius are close to filing bankruptcy).
If the 600 comes with the Sport option it increases the speed limiter to 155 mph (which is much nicer than the normal 130).
If the 600 comes with the Sport option it increases the speed limiter to 155 mph (which is much nicer than the normal 130).
