Kar don

I was thinking seriously about getting an 00 S430. Is there any reason why you guys think i should or should not get one? Is there anything I should look for? I really like this vehicle and would like to get one but don't want to inherit someone elses problems

MBfiend

Al,

Pay the extra money and get a 2001. I love my 2000, but my Mom's 2001 is a better car, hands down.

IMHO, it drives nicer, smoother steering, Comand is more refined and you can upgrade to or install a digital phone.

mbtech208

So far, the S430 has been pretty trouble-free, as compared to the older S-Classes. If it's still under warranty, you shouldn't have much to worry about, aside from brake pads and rotors which are expensive. The most common problems are electrical, such as warning lights coming on, and trim items like the seat side panels. The Airmatic pump and relay were known for failing, causing the car to collapse completely. I've seen a handful of cooling fans wear out and wobble against the shroud. But all in all, it's a great car. I'd buy one.

Kar don

thanks everyone . Now I am just waiting to find the right car with color combo and mileage.

MercManiac

Al, don't buy an 00. The glass does not have proper reflective coating and AC was underpowered.......big design problem. Plus a lot of electronic modules were buggy.

MBfiend

I had the Airmatic pump go on me and had to be replaced. 3 months later, and out of warranty, I had the same symptom, car was on the ground. Turned out now it was the 4 airmatic shocks, which they replaced. The cost of the shocks was $5800 not including labor. Luckily my dealer got it under warranty. I would not have been a happy camper. Probably would have left it there and put a deposit on a new one with that money.

As far as the A/C. There is a bulletin out on it. The car had to be a really early production, I think up to Dec 1999. I also had that done late last summer. Improved it somewhat. I have the rear A/C system, so on really hot days, I kick that in.

If you can get a Starmark with the extended warranty, I would say it's OK to buy it. I still think '01 or better is the way to go.

mbtech208

The A/C problem only applied to early production 2000 models, and most of them have been fixed. The problem was there was a kink in the metal tube attached to the evaporator. This kink acted as a second expansion valve and hampered the cooling ability on hot days. The fix was to replace the evaporator with an updated version without the kink. Also replaced were the receiver-drier, the expansion valve, and the pushbutton unit with updated software.

Kar don

well all i can really afford is an 00 model. So I should look for a later production model car?

mbtech208

Have the service advisor print out a VMI on the car you're interested in. It will say if the evaporator has already been replaced. I would not avoid a 2000 model just because of this issue.

MercManiac

Don't forget to add a $1,500 to have a V-Kool (or something like it.....dark tinting won't help problem) coating put on every window since there was a design error by MB engineers on the 00 model and MB won't do anything about it for 00 models.

Crankin

Merc, what is V Cool, and why won't dark tint work?
I own one of these early 00 cars, and ac is not bad yet, but summer's not her yet and I'm in FL!
I hope it works fine, as I don't want my dash disassembled creating additional squeaks and rattles.

MercManiac

http://www.v-kool-usa.com/

Check out the site. Dark tinting doesn't keep out infra-red radiation spectrum (which is what causes 95% of the heat in your car).....it actually attracts heat. Also, with improper Infra-red and UV protection....your interior will age much quicker. With the 00 model they didn't coat the glass to spec given the surface area of the glass in the new S...they changed it with the 01.