Thoughts on a '04-'06 S600?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
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Infiniti G37S
Thoughts on a '04-'06 S600?
Hy guys, so I've been thinking about selling my current car, a Infiniti G37S and buying a Toyota Camry, since I work for one of their manufacturing plants and can get a really good deal on one, and use it as a daily driver and pick up a '04-'06 S600 as a fun project car. I've done a little research but I would like to hear from you all on whether you would suggest or not suggest trying to pick one up, or what to be on the lookout for when trying to find one. The only things I would really want to do at this point would be exhaust and rims. Everything else would more than likely stay stock.
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 11
From: Dallas, TX
Range Rover
youll have more sanity if you pick up a 500 with airmatic. they are quite reasonable to maintain for what they offer.
As far as 600 and the ABC suspension. prayers be with you my friend. I decided to take the plunge and get Mercedes with ABC but I dare not go near the v12. When all fails and ABC becomes hopeless I can toss the entire system if that day ever comes. But the V12, no no no no. im good. powers nice, but you pay the price. Maybe not upfront anymore, but def in repair and maintenance.
As far as 600 and the ABC suspension. prayers be with you my friend. I decided to take the plunge and get Mercedes with ABC but I dare not go near the v12. When all fails and ABC becomes hopeless I can toss the entire system if that day ever comes. But the V12, no no no no. im good. powers nice, but you pay the price. Maybe not upfront anymore, but def in repair and maintenance.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
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Infiniti G37S
youll have more sanity if you pick up a 500 with airmatic. they are quite reasonable to maintain for what they offer.
As far as 600 and the ABC suspension. prayers be with you my friend. I decided to take the plunge and get Mercedes with ABC but I dare not go near the v12. When all fails and ABC becomes hopeless I can toss the entire system if that day ever comes. But the V12, no no no no. im good. powers nice, but you pay the price. Maybe not upfront anymore, but def in repair and maintenance.
As far as 600 and the ABC suspension. prayers be with you my friend. I decided to take the plunge and get Mercedes with ABC but I dare not go near the v12. When all fails and ABC becomes hopeless I can toss the entire system if that day ever comes. But the V12, no no no no. im good. powers nice, but you pay the price. Maybe not upfront anymore, but def in repair and maintenance.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 10
From: UK
S55K AMG
I was stuck between wether to get an S600 Bi-Turbo or and S55 Kompressor.
The S600 is definitely more complicated in the engine department and seems to require a lot of maintenance, but the S55 so far has been pretty trouble free. The ABC has given me a few surprises, but in all honesty when me and my friend have stood back and assessed the ABC situation, it really hasnt been to bad at all. I think most of it is scare mongering.
So far on my ABC we have replaced the pulsation dampner, 3 x accumulators, cleaned the rear valve block, flushed the whole ABC system and have currently got the front valve block out to clean as we speak, and while im at it i might replace some of the ABC hose pipes that run accross the engine . . . . . and both of us have never worked on an ABC system before.
Truth is though, i bought the S55 purely on the basis of the AMG exhaust note.
The S600 is definitely more complicated in the engine department and seems to require a lot of maintenance, but the S55 so far has been pretty trouble free. The ABC has given me a few surprises, but in all honesty when me and my friend have stood back and assessed the ABC situation, it really hasnt been to bad at all. I think most of it is scare mongering.
So far on my ABC we have replaced the pulsation dampner, 3 x accumulators, cleaned the rear valve block, flushed the whole ABC system and have currently got the front valve block out to clean as we speak, and while im at it i might replace some of the ABC hose pipes that run accross the engine . . . . . and both of us have never worked on an ABC system before.
Truth is though, i bought the S55 purely on the basis of the AMG exhaust note.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 282
Likes: 66
From: Virginia Beach
2005 S600 2005 SL600
I love my S600. The power is incredible, but that's not what defines this car, it's the wonderful smoothness of the V-12, the upgraded interior and ABC ride and handling. It is a car like no other, and distinct from the V-8 220s. As a project/fun car, I think it would be perfect.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 358
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From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Mercedes SL63 AMG; Mercedes E63 AMG S 4matic; Mercedes C43 AMG; Mercedes S Class, Mercedes GLK
Here is a great thread for you to read
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
From: Bible Belt
124.052 230.374
as a factory trained MB tech i have grown toreally truly appreciate the differences between the S600 and the all the rest lol the upgraded interior mentioned earlier c an only be appreciated un person..honestly how many cars u know to have a suede headliner and a leather hand sewn dash .even the rear seats are i ncredible especially the right rear.. i dont think the airmatic was available on the 600 ive never seen one anyway..like all mercedes these cars will break your bank if most diagnosis and repairs are attempted without having the DAS computer to help...u can get one for 400 now on ebay thats without laptop and they are 100 bucks being a 12cyl means MB uses 2 6cyl enginesystems and even oil changes can be bewildering for most mechanics not familar with this motor... these cars are incrdibly cheap due to owners being tired of untrained mechanics thinking its just like any other MB cuz they are way different the DAS machine must make sure the programing is in order first before any electrical or driveablity problem is addressed and those earler models were claasic coming from germany with incorrect or blank coding in the over 40 modules in the car..almost every one has incorrect coding from factory ..every single one..i was told by instructor at MB school that PDI is supposed to fix before delivery but little did they know that never happened..ithe 600 can be somewhat trouble free if the owner picks the right one and fixes it himself...only trust himself
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 2
From: SF
07 E63 06 CLK55 Cab 03 P-car C4S
whatever you do, MAKE SURE you have extended warranty.
btw, check out mine - i've owned for several years and was CPO.
it still has almost 2 yrs left of Fidelity Platinum, and I can sell this for $23k for MBworld guys directly if not going thru consignment.
all the ABC stuff already replaced and 48 new plugs, and all the related items - all MB dealer.
http://www.cars925.com/vehicle-detai...oor+sedan.html
PL
btw, check out mine - i've owned for several years and was CPO.
it still has almost 2 yrs left of Fidelity Platinum, and I can sell this for $23k for MBworld guys directly if not going thru consignment.
all the ABC stuff already replaced and 48 new plugs, and all the related items - all MB dealer.
http://www.cars925.com/vehicle-detai...oor+sedan.html
PL
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 2
From: SF
07 E63 06 CLK55 Cab 03 P-car C4S
Not sure I understand how S55 looks better than S600 Sport as I think they both have all the same exterior appearance package and wheels/tires. Although some like the V8 kompressor, I think it's a personal preference - for me, the V12TT is quite special and not too many of those made in the world.
Lastly, unless it's a Designo Package for the S55, which costs $10k+ on top of other options, the full leather/wood interior on the S600 definitely looks waaaay more like a $140k car than the $110k S55. Again, personal taste, but I do think they look the same.
PL
Lastly, unless it's a Designo Package for the S55, which costs $10k+ on top of other options, the full leather/wood interior on the S600 definitely looks waaaay more like a $140k car than the $110k S55. Again, personal taste, but I do think they look the same.
PL
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,151
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Mercedes
He was comparing a s55 to standard s600 not a s600 sport. The standard s600 looks like a s430 on the outside . S600 gave more engine issues than a s55, but they both share the problematic abc suspension
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,605
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From: Welwyn, Herts, UK
2006 S600
There's nothing quite like driving an S600. Its like striding through the countryside on enormously long stilts, while everyone else beneath you struggles to keep up, with their tiny, short legs wiggling furiously back and forth. And with a tune - yes, bonkers fast.
Here in the UK at least, all the routine running costs and consumables aren't even THAT expensive for a car that is outwardly designed to consume fuel, tyres and brakes as fast as humanly possible.
However, when it goes wrong - well, there's no two ways about it - fixing it is difficult. The best place to start is Howard's thread in post #7.
Do you need a warranty? Good luck with that, but I disagree with most folks and say no.
Do you need a daily driver? Well, you CAN use an S600 as a daily driver, but don't sell that old banger just yet.
Do you need a DAS system? Most people here would recommend it (though they're time-consuming to get to grips with)
Nick
Here in the UK at least, all the routine running costs and consumables aren't even THAT expensive for a car that is outwardly designed to consume fuel, tyres and brakes as fast as humanly possible.
However, when it goes wrong - well, there's no two ways about it - fixing it is difficult. The best place to start is Howard's thread in post #7.
Do you need a warranty? Good luck with that, but I disagree with most folks and say no.
Do you need a daily driver? Well, you CAN use an S600 as a daily driver, but don't sell that old banger just yet.
Do you need a DAS system? Most people here would recommend it (though they're time-consuming to get to grips with)
Nick
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 4
2003 S600 Designo Graphite
I haven't experienced the S55 yet, but I had a 2004 S600 about a year and a half ago and I currently have a 2003 Designo S600.
I went with the '03 because it was the only year that included an aux connection, otherwise there's really no easy solution to adding aux or bluetooth capabilities. They did update the COMMAND system in '04, so the '03 feels slightly dated, but I definitely prefer to have the aux connection in the glove box. Plug in a bluetooth adapter and bam done.
Anyway, as already mentioned, the S600 is definitely in a class of its own. I've had just under 70 cars in the past several years, everything from 4x4 trucks to Corvettes to Mercedes, and nothing compares to the ease of speed, comfort, and just overall quality of the S600. It accelerates like a bullet train and all while being dead silent, with just a hint of that majestic V12 growl when you get up into the higher revs.
Sure maintenance will be a little rough, but you definitely get what you pay for.
I went with the '03 because it was the only year that included an aux connection, otherwise there's really no easy solution to adding aux or bluetooth capabilities. They did update the COMMAND system in '04, so the '03 feels slightly dated, but I definitely prefer to have the aux connection in the glove box. Plug in a bluetooth adapter and bam done.
Anyway, as already mentioned, the S600 is definitely in a class of its own. I've had just under 70 cars in the past several years, everything from 4x4 trucks to Corvettes to Mercedes, and nothing compares to the ease of speed, comfort, and just overall quality of the S600. It accelerates like a bullet train and all while being dead silent, with just a hint of that majestic V12 growl when you get up into the higher revs.
Sure maintenance will be a little rough, but you definitely get what you pay for.
