Buying a used 2004 Mercedes-Benz S350 Long
 

I am willing to buy a used 2004 MB S350 Europe (Origin: Germany, Registered: Poland)
I've contacted its owner to ask for VIN, after checking VIN online it says:
Model Year: 2001 !
Delivery Date: 2004
Is there something wrong here?? It should be 2004 Not 2001,
How can I take a full history report?

It definitely doesn't look like an 01 unless they are different in Europe. The 01 headlight lens were not clear. You could always call MB headquarters and ask them to verify the model year. Here is the datacard from STARTEKINFO

It looks like a 2004

Many of the online vin checkers have errors

2001 doesnt have LED mirror turn signals, it also has the old style tail lights. The one with only 2 lines not the multiple lines like on the post facelifted w220's.

I cant tell if the headlights are clear or not from this angle, but if it has lines on it, then its not a 2004 model. The bumper looks like a post facelifted model. But the interior, does it have big vertical rectangular switches on the dash? or the square type. Does it have widescreen command or the small 4:3 square one?

Thanks man :)

I think so too :/ , thanks for your response :)

Also I don't believe s350 was made in 2001, it was a s320'at that time

Hello cybertronicify / Jason, thanks for response, I will check whether it has the widescreen command or the square one

Hey Jason,
I just checked it has the widescreen one and the headlights are pretty clear
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4a66302680.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...87dbf7d0e2.jpg

Okay that is definitely NOT a 2001, its 2003+; 2004+ if you dont have an AUX jack. If you want to look further, just pop the hood and take a look at the date codes.

You can easily eliminate the 2003 by looking in the glove box on the left side. If there is no AUX jack there then it's not a 2003.

Doing some research shows that it a 2001 model year car. The last eight numbers of the vin the 1 at the beginning is the model year ie 2001 so the body and all original equipment is 2001 model year. However, if you look at the Data Card you will see that equipment has been added from the factory to update it to a 2004 model. You have the newer DVD based Comand as well as the newer style By-Xenon headlights. From the pictures you posted, we also see the newer 03' + tail lights. This is a very well equipped car with ABC, Adaptive Cruise, heated rear seats, soft close etc. How or why this car became updated is a question to the factory. It could have been a left over that sat and sat and then got updated by the factory to make it more sellable or on a buyers request.

In the US, this car would be titled as a 2001 regardless of updates because the vin says 2001.

Good Luck,

Bob

Upon further review I have to agree with Bob. Technically the car is a model year 2001 with a lot of bells and whistles. Interesting how the picture shows that it has a reclining rear seat. However, on mine I have a split seat in the rear and they both recline individually.

Here is a photo of my rear seat.

The 3.7 v6 was not available in 2001. This is a 2004s350
They were selling the s320 in 2001 with the smaller v6

is not the 3.5 a bad engine.

Is that a question? :nix: