Ok, in my little berg in FL where there's usually nothing interesting to buy automotively, I found an 02 designo espresso s600, 60k on the clock. Asking 20k obo, and going in with eyes wide open, what are the foibles on the 600? I know there are no parts on it under $2900 but just wondering what are the bad bits to worry about(aside from it all) and how reliable are they at the core? Thanks for all the experienced replies.

 

Don't get it Run!

20k seems like the market in 2008 are you kidding me.

There have been similar 03+ for 20k on these forums.

 

If you are prepared to spend at least $6,000 per year on repairs, go ahead.. Look up oil cooler failures for these cars.

 

Run away, $20k is for a twinturbo s600.the nonturbo ones are garbage and very problematic

Abc suspension and oil leaks the main issues

This car can't be sold for $5000 to a dealer , $8-13k is private party price

 

ROFLMAO @ the replies

awesome

you summed it up with "aside from it all"

they're fantastic cars, for stretches of a few minutes between coil pack failures and literally everything else

run Forrest RUN!!!

8-)

 

So the stories are true! Another thing around here, and I have a theory, race-ology if you will, is that in smaller towns, prices are higher and in areas with low Mediterranean derived populations (do the math), and negotiability is like you're insulting their religion. I lived in Orlando and that applied. I lived in NY & S FL and $ talked. I bet this one will sit for weeks until an eager unsuspecting beaver comes along or it sells for 13k.

Thanks for the input-back to E500 waggin searches...

 

run for the hills my good man

 

Advice - RUN!

 

LOL so much negativity for the 00-02 S600. I'm just used to failure threads all over bodyshops and these forums on that model.

I wonder if a well maintained one doesn't have these issues and is it one time fix all solution for the issues.

Are literally all of them plagued? It' cant be.

 

20k is a rip of. That car is worth 12k max and I would stay away from a 02 s600 its nothing worth buying, much rather buy a s500 for half. Now if it was a 03+ then a s600 is worth it cuz they are turbo motors.

 

As others have siad "Run forest Run"

Even IF you got her for 12K, I would bet you would need another 5-6 to make her right.

Get an 03-04 bi-turbo for 20K and enjoy the ride.

 

FIFY. This is good advice as edited...

 

kbb shows around 15k, so 20 is a little high. you have a link for this vehicle?

 

I don't know a thing about the 2002. I just bought a 2003 S 600 V 12 Twin Turbo. 69,000 miles. Here's what I did... I had a service adviser at the local MB dealer look up the VIN. I got lucky, as the dealer I went to sold the car new. I reviewed all the warranty and non warranty service. It had regular service at the dealer it's whole life. I talked to a good friend (MB Tech in Germany) and his advice was that there are certain things that you just have to have the specialized (PC) equipment to accomplish, but most things I could do in my own shop. For instance, the book time on changing plugs is 5.7 hours. He promised me it would take me at least 8. NGK Iridium plugs are about $18 each. Times 24. But one doesn't jump into a S 600 expecting cheap thrills.

I put it in the air and changed the Oil and filter. Have to get used to no dipstick for engine or trans oil. I didn't like the way the torque converter felt - seemed too much RPM at normal launch, and a vibration. I took it to the dealer and asked for a trans oil change and trans evaluation. Trans oil was low and they found a bad transmission mount. Total bill: $575. Stupid, yes, but they also went thru the car looking for other things that they could rape me on, and didn't find any. From here on out, most items will done in my shop. If you aren't mechanically capable and don't have a shop, then buy one of these if you are prepared to spend at least $5K per year at the dealer.

All that said... this is one amazing car. AMAZING. My GTO is probably straight line faster, but not by much. MY SRT 10 is more visceral and in your face fast, NASCAR style, but this S 600 is so damn refined - impossible not to appreciate if you happen to be a car guy.

 

Interesting you said that

Did the trans oil change / top-up make any difference?

Cheers, Nick (with similar issue)

 

They dropped the pan, changed the filter, and used a circulation system to drain and flush the torque converter. Trans /converter operation is now normal. The vibration was solved with the replaced Trans mount.

 

Advice - RUN!.

 

as an owner of an 01 S600, unless you are ready to sink a lot of money into it and have it sit in the garage broken for stretches at a time, then run away. otherwise buy cheap so you can afford the things that are going to happen, not if, but when they happen, ie coil pack, ABC, trans mount, motor mounts, vacuum pump for doors, trunk, SAM, dashboard switches............ do i need to continue?

 

Seems like no-one has much good to say about 2000-2002 N/A S600's. I've owned two, and they were the best cars I'd owned.

I had to repair the C/L vacuum pump on the first, which is common, and no big deal. The second needed a new front lower arm, and I think the ABC pump was beginning to get slightly noisy. Otherwise it was difficult to find fault with them. I love the V12's over the V8's, and I see ABC as an advantage rather than aliability.

I've also owned a very rare Toyota Soarer with active suspension for several years. Its a real blast to drive, and I always wished other manufacturers had the courage and commitment to put proper active suspension into serious, volume production. Rather than a curious, niche, option. Its a hell of a difficult thing to make at all, let alone make it fit for high volume and long life.

Besides the no-roll cornering, the Soarer has an extraordinary ability to change direction like it weighed nothing. You can do that with active suspension, but its not a talent that Mercedes have learned. However, Mercedes have succeeded in other areas, like ride comfort, power consumption and cost of implementation. Its not a cheap option, but its nothing like as expensive as on the Toyota, which is truly scary, in case it ever goes seriously wrong.

I think Merc have done an amazing job bringing active suspension to the market, and the likelihood of paying 1500-odd for a new pump after 100,000 miles (which both my cars did) doesn't seem so unreasonable considering the cost, complexity and relative immaturity of the system.

I have a V12TT now, which is a wonderful car of course, but it does fell worryingly fragile in comparison.

Nick

 

want mine?