Used 2006 S430 AWD
12-22-2016, 11:44 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central Virginia
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2015 GLK350, 2021 Cadillac XT5
Used 2006 S430 AWD
While driving into DC, I passed a large car lot and a 2006 S430 AWD caught my eye. I stopped to look and took it for a drive. It drives well, all accessories work and no out of the ordinary noises or sounds. It is gray with 131,000 miles. The car facts show no collision repairs, nor major repairs. It is listed for around $8000 but I've been driving by it for a month now, so I think it can be bought for much less, as little as $5500 I'm thinking.
My question is what should I be looking for in the way of hidden defects or things I might look forward to failing on this within a short time. I want to give this to my son-in-law to replace his 2002 Monte Carlo. I would expect normal maintenance items for this many miles, but I'm looking at what the overall reliability of this model is.
Any input is appreciated.
Gary
My question is what should I be looking for in the way of hidden defects or things I might look forward to failing on this within a short time. I want to give this to my son-in-law to replace his 2002 Monte Carlo. I would expect normal maintenance items for this many miles, but I'm looking at what the overall reliability of this model is.
Any input is appreciated.
Gary
12-22-2016, 12:11 PM
#2
Senior Member
The suspension will need to replace any time soon if the car still have stock shocks for the mileage ! You should change all the fluids if you plan to keep the car for a while, also spark plug and all the belts and relative parts. The car may cost you $5.5k, but the maintains will cost you about $1-3K depends what do you do.
12-22-2016, 07:26 PM
#3
Super Member
While driving into DC, I passed a large car lot and a 2006 S430 AWD caught my eye. I stopped to look and took it for a drive. It drives well, all accessories work and no out of the ordinary noises or sounds. It is gray with 131,000 miles. The car facts show no collision repairs, nor major repairs. It is listed for around $8000 but I've been driving by it for a month now, so I think it can be bought for much less, as little as $5500 I'm thinking.
My question is what should I be looking for in the way of hidden defects or things I might look forward to failing on this within a short time. I want to give this to my son-in-law to replace his 2002 Monte Carlo. I would expect normal maintenance items for this many miles, but I'm looking at what the overall reliability of this model is.
Any input is appreciated.
Gary
My question is what should I be looking for in the way of hidden defects or things I might look forward to failing on this within a short time. I want to give this to my son-in-law to replace his 2002 Monte Carlo. I would expect normal maintenance items for this many miles, but I'm looking at what the overall reliability of this model is.
Any input is appreciated.
Gary
Just replace the air suspension parts as they start to fail. It wont leave you stranded as long as you see the symptoms before hand which usually shows sings for quite some time before failure. Shocks are now less than $200 a wheel. Around a 160K you will prob need to replace the radiator and upper hose coolant. Both can be found for less than $100 each. . Other than that, should bring many years of enjoyment. I have a newer Mercedes and I still enjoy driving my old S a lot more.
12-22-2016, 09:18 PM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
The problem with a $6,000 S Class is that I can off the top of my head think of several common repairs that will double that number all by themselves. I've owned two 220's, both CPO. My 2005 had $21,000 in repairs in 3 years, including $6,000 for a reman tranny at 103k miles. My 2004 was a little better at a little over $10,000. Both had AirMatic failures, blown motor mounts, collapsed transmission mounts, and the usual assortment of electronic failures. They were generally reliable (although the 04 stranded my wife three hours away) but when they needed repairs, they were expensive. The car was $90k new and parts for it are priced accordingly still.
So you pick up the car for $6k, which is all it'll ever be worth, and a few months in it needs $3k in repairs. Now you're stuck. Scrap the car and take the loss, or put $9k into a $6k car. You put the $3k into repairs, convinced that the car will now require only oil changes and tires. Nope. It's an endless torrent of four figure repairs. A year in and you've got $10k into a car worth less than $6k. Now you're really stuck.
Some guys will tell you to make sure the car has been perfectly maintained and you'll avoid these problems. Not really. There's no scheduled maintenance for the AirMatic system, or the motor mounts, or rear main. My 05 had a perfect maintenance history, with scheduled full transmission services at 40k and 80k, and an extra one at 100k. It still blew up.
Some will tell you to find an indie to save on labor. You can save a little, but a Mercedes tech is still getting a high hourly rate no matter where he works. Parts are highly specialized. There's not much at Pep Boys for your S Class, aside from pine tree air fresheners.
MB builds the S Class to be plush as hell and last as long as the factory warranty, for customers who can afford to buy or lease a $100,000 car for two or three years and then get something else.
They're great driving cars when they're sorted out but they are notoriously unreliable and very expensive to keep on the road.
So you pick up the car for $6k, which is all it'll ever be worth, and a few months in it needs $3k in repairs. Now you're stuck. Scrap the car and take the loss, or put $9k into a $6k car. You put the $3k into repairs, convinced that the car will now require only oil changes and tires. Nope. It's an endless torrent of four figure repairs. A year in and you've got $10k into a car worth less than $6k. Now you're really stuck.
Some guys will tell you to make sure the car has been perfectly maintained and you'll avoid these problems. Not really. There's no scheduled maintenance for the AirMatic system, or the motor mounts, or rear main. My 05 had a perfect maintenance history, with scheduled full transmission services at 40k and 80k, and an extra one at 100k. It still blew up.
Some will tell you to find an indie to save on labor. You can save a little, but a Mercedes tech is still getting a high hourly rate no matter where he works. Parts are highly specialized. There's not much at Pep Boys for your S Class, aside from pine tree air fresheners.
MB builds the S Class to be plush as hell and last as long as the factory warranty, for customers who can afford to buy or lease a $100,000 car for two or three years and then get something else.
They're great driving cars when they're sorted out but they are notoriously unreliable and very expensive to keep on the road.
12-23-2016, 09:26 AM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Every used car is a gamble - sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
If your son-in-law (or someone else in the family) is able and willing to do his own maintenance and repairs, it might be a good deal. If he will depend upon a dealer, or even an independent shop, not so much.
I have a 2003 S430 with 233k miles. I have had normal and expected maintenance and repairs over the last few years, and am very happy with it. I do not consider it a money pit. Same deal with a friend and his 2002 S430.
If your son-in-law (or someone else in the family) is able and willing to do his own maintenance and repairs, it might be a good deal. If he will depend upon a dealer, or even an independent shop, not so much.
I have a 2003 S430 with 233k miles. I have had normal and expected maintenance and repairs over the last few years, and am very happy with it. I do not consider it a money pit. Same deal with a friend and his 2002 S430.
