RayLewis52

Hi everyone,

so here's the deal .... I currently own a 1998 BMW 740iL. The head gasket just went out on me (confirmed) and the transmission is on it's last legs, will need a fairly pricey rebuild soon. In all, repairs are going to cost me around $4k.

Truth is, I really like the 7 -- to me, it is well worth fixing it back up. And that was the plan, until I saw a 2000 S500 at a car lot in town. Asking price is $8200, with 120k miles on the odo. I have to admit, the S500 was love at first sight. Beautiful car, strong motor, and much less common than BMWs ... And for $8200, the price is very attractive for such a great car.

The lot also has an Audi A4 1.8T for $5100, and a 1999 CLK 430 but not sure of asking price.

All three of those cars will suit my needs pretty well, so it's a matter of value and 'want'.

I'd love to hear opinions on these cars -- the S500 in particular. How do these cars compare to each other?
Also, as I mentioned; the repairs for my 7 series total $4k...is the S500 worth spending the extra $4200 on?

Thanks!

rondocap

I think the S500 is the best car out of that group - the most modern design, and comfortable.

Now, much like the BMW it isn't necessarily a cheap car to maintain. I would check that S500's record, and make sure that it has been properly maintained, and see if there are any issues with it. My S55 is at 157,000 miles so these cars can go a long time, but remember one important point:

The car's price is cheap, but the maintenance over time still is not. You probably know that from the BMW - but oil changes are more than a regular car, parts are often more, etc. So just make sure you also have some money set aside for repairs/maintenance as it may be, especially since it is an early W220 and some things may need replacing.

Skylaw

You can read more on the S500 in the W220 S-Class Encyclopedia at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...tart-here.html. Don't let the Encyclopedia scare you; the car has been around for 12 years now, and there has been a lot of knowledge and expertise developed on it. See the bottom section of the Encyclopedia for buying advice and information.

Note also that the Airmatic system, which gives the S-Class its superior ride and handling, can also be problematic; but Arnott Industries has come out with both new and remanufactured struts having a much better seal and air bag design that has made repairs affordable - if you need them - and the system more reliable.

I owned an A4 1.8T, and I have driven the CLK. Despite being good cars, there is no comparison between them and an S-Class. They just aren't in the same league as Mercedes' flagship sedan.