aclement

Hey everyone,

Looking into getting a used 00-03 S430
Ive been seeing them around the 75-90k mile range, $11-15k price
They appear very nice, clean and in working order.
But I am concerned about what maybe lurking underneath.

What are some key items I should look for, and any particular maint. items
that will most likely need to be taken care of.

I have never owned a MB and excited about getting one, but "Im scared!"
Any suggestions or tips from any of you would be great. I bow to all of you
because you know more than I at this point.

Quadcammer

yes, look for a good extended warranty



for real

search for airmatic, cluster, DCM, and front suspension

Corsa9000

You will be a lot happier with the S500 engine.

tusabes

find one under 80k original miles and you can get the factoryplans.com

chrysler warranty which adds 5 years and 70k miles of coverage.

Trust me you will save more than the warranty cost in repairs and if you sell the car you can get much more if its under a transferable warranty.

common failure items are the airmatic or ABC suspension, crank sensor, accelerator pedal, transmission shifter, and if you live in a harsh climate, rust issues.

CarboyS

I've got both the S430 and S500 and it's worth going for the 500. PERIOD.