Tusc

Greetings. I'm new to the forum and the car, and reading a TON of info now to get up to speed.

I'm going through the "start here" thread and grabbing links. (Some no longer work)

I just took delivery on a 2003 S600 blk/blk aero. I think the only option it doesn't have is distronic cruise. I have yet to verify (haven't looked) salesman's claim that it has the 979 code for Guard or not, but it wasn't a key selling point for me. I'm not looking to build the car or even abuse it heavily. This is just going to be a fun daily and I'm not looking to do much with the car other than keep it well maintained. I've got much better power-to-weight available for the weekends.

Overall, the car seems like a solid purchase. 60k miles, no accidents, fair service history, no leaks, and all systems save for TPMS on the car function 100%.

If anyone is familiar with the car, I'd enjoy connecting with prior owner for general info. It came from Los Angeles and still has the plate 5CRW488 on it. I figure it's a shot across the bow against the Ferrari 488 Italia, but it could also be a loose reference to Gen 1 or 2 Vipers and their 488 V10s.

Here are some key points I'm researching. If anyone has extra links or info to offer, I appreciate being helped in the right direction.

TPMS - the car came with new Hankooks. It also came with a message on the driver info center that the TPMS needs to be reset. I'll figure that out and hope I don't need to replace anything. Edit: yet when flipping through pages on the driver info center it has shown all 4 tire pressures at 37 to 39psi.

Wheels - are aftermarket OEM replacements of good quality? Where should I look for these? Are there other MB OEM styles in the same dimensions and backspacing as the Aero package wheels? I ask because it came in with some curb rash and once I know the car is solid I'd like to replace them with good ones.

Alcantara - does anyone know the correct shade name of alcantara (or closest shade) for a charcoal interior? There is some rub and wear on the driver pillar and I'd like to patch it. I already have a good vendor, just need color guidance.

BlueTooth - I really have no need for Nav, SOS, or the hands-free. Modern phones trump all that. BUT.... I do eagerly want to run my own music in the car. How can I connect to the factory unit for BT use? Note: I would replace the head unit with the same double din Alpine touchscreen I have in my other car, but I'm guessing there is a lot of dependent electronics in this car and I don't want to mess with that hornet's nest.

for the BT integration, I'd love to find a way to replace or splice into the CD feed line. I'll never use that medium, so why not sacrifice it?

Glove Box - I believe the prior owner kept a carry piece in the glove box. I'm not sure what, other than the metal frame of a 1911, would chew up the glove box interior like this one has been. Glocks are more forgiving! lol But the lock and the button to open the glove box show some wear. I'd like to remove and repaint them. What is the best approximation of color?

I'd refinish the steering wheel buttons, too, but I believe I'll just be wearing on them again.

For everything I've listed above, I think the best thing for me to be learning involves those two magic words: PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.

Where can I begin with this? My main interest is in the ABC system, but I am all ears on anything else considered pertinent.

Thanks for the help, guys.
-Brett

Edit: I almost forgot. I also want to learn how to adjust the rear trunk lid. When this one closes, the passenger side seems to be up in the air and not resting flush with the quarter panels. When I looked, the bump stops on the body and on the trunk are both deeper/taller on that side. It seems as though a set of plyers applied to either bump stop would get it done, but before I do I thought I'd see if there are finer points I don't want to miss or mess with since the door is also automated.

AlexMercedes

Did you happen to purchase this from a dealership named Cars911? The description of your car sounds very familiar, and if I remember correctly, it was an extremely clean example. Not sure about the prior owner, but I do remember it was from Beverly Hills and was serviced at Mercedes of Beverly Hills throughout its life. Congratulations on the purchase!

I would be the first to recommend to NOT TOUCH THE SOUND SYSTEM. My own 2003 S600 has an upgraded double din, and it is by far the worst part about the car. You simply do not touch Mercedes sound systems, it removes a lot of functionality and the stock system is already great on its own. If you want iPod/iPhone connectivity, there is an AUX jack in the glovebox. On your stock head unit, press the SVC button and go into system settings. From there, there is an "Auxiliary input" option and boom, you have your iPod/iPhone integration.

For the rest, see the W220 sticky and it should answer many of your questions.

Tusc

Excellent! I'm only 155 pages into a 400 page .pdf owner's manual right now. Thanks for the tip on the aux cable. That solves everything. And yes, that's the car. I had begun looking in the Fall and missed a 2005 with 52k miles in mint one-owner garaged condition for very low price and kicked myself. I almost pulled the trigger on a local '04 in desert silver/tan which looked really classy in that color, but while it was mechanically pristine, the paint had been abused. I happened to catch this one the instant it hit the web and worked a very fair deal on it. There's one ding on the whole car which I'll see if I can work out. Buddy of mine is an elite level auto body specialist in Ridgefield (NY suburb) who I'll ask about it. His dad is likewise a mechanic for a not-publicized private collector. Think Buehler... Small world.

tusabes

Welcome Tusc!! I'm a new owner of a 2003 s600 as well but I have owned numerous s class and cl class cars , so have quite a bit of experience with them

one item you'll want to keep in your glovebox is a spare crank position sensor , in case it ever goes out while you're on the road

check the abc fluid color and power steering fluid color , they are in two separate reservoirs . Color should be light green or light tan. If they are dark Brown flush the fluid with pentosin chf11s and put new filters in each reservoir .

the 2003 was the only year with a radio aux input in the glove box . They sell
an aux to Bluetooth adapter for like $5 on Amazon and eBay , you can plug it into the glovebox jack for wireless Bluetooth if you don't want to connect via cable

tusabes

See these handy how to videos
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/608957-w220-how-repair-videos.html

two things I would get done now as part of preventive maintenance are a transmission fluid and filter change. As well as changing the electrical connector which often fails and let's fluid damage the electronics There's a video how to change the connector

the sticky steering wheel buttons can be cleaned with vigorous rubbing using Goo Gone for several minutes.

you would definitely know if you had the Guard model - only the drivers window would work and there wouldn't be window switches for the other doors . The glass in the door would be almost an inch thick .

The lid on the power trunk sticking up in the corner is a common problem. It's not the bump stops
https://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl-class/2005/long-term-road-test/2005-mercedes-benz-cl65-amg-misaligned-trunk-lid.html

It's usually the gas struts getting weak, but even with new struts there can be lifting in that corner . I've found I need to manually press down on the trunk corner with lots of body pressure to get it flush

Be careful that the trunk doesn't get wet inside , mine did due to trunk not fully closing and caused over $6000 damage to all the trunk electronics . Be sure to keep comprehensive coverage on your insurance because the w220 are known to suffer water damage both from the trunk , to underbody car wash Danage , to the most common issue of water entering the reed valve under the passenger side windshield and damaging the SAM

Tusc

When the snow melts I'll check the RPO codes. There really isn't any sufficient online info to be found specifying the Guard package. All I know is that the Euro version is the full, actual armored card with the inch thick glass for rifle / grenade, etc. The Ami version was to have been much like what police crown victorias come with: kevlar sheeting in the doors and different windows specific to handgun resistance only. I took the whole story with a grain of salt about the car being armored. It has been a non sales point for me. Blending in and not looking like a target is the first defense - not driving around in a 12cyl bomber. I'll report back in a day or two when I get the chance to verify. (Speaking of which.... RPO codes... I presume are on the door?)

tusabes

This car had the USA guard package


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/5967195205.html

notice the lack of rear window controls and thickness of drivers door glass . The USA guard cars had only a working drivers window , the rest are inoperable . If all your windows work and they are not as thick as these you do not have the guard package

Tusc

Pretty cool S500. If that is representative of the Guard package, then my car definitely does not have it. I was never big on the armor aspect before, so why am I bummed now? LOL

Welwynnick

Thanks for the comments. What's wrong with the double DIN? What sort did you get? Was it integration, or sound quality, or loudness or what?

Many thanks,

Nick

AlexMercedes

I bought the car with the double din installed, it is a pioneer touchscreen head unit. The radio reception is absolutely horrible, you cannot listen to radio with it, I only end up using bluetooth. The map is slow and laggy. The instrument cluster takes a HUGE hit, 75% of the functions disappear. I'm 99% sure my car came with TPMS from the factory, but it is nowhere to be seen now in my cluster because it may have something to do with the stock head unit. All the radio/nav/phone/voice control functions are gone, the clock next to the current gear selected/sport/comfort mode indicator is gone.

There is a constant white noise being played through the speakers and it is very noticeable when just trying to drive relaxed without any music playing. The sound quality is horrible, there is a large presence of highs but absolutely zero bass, resulting in ear bleed. The stock bose subwoofer is not connected and cannot be used, so I have to go out and buy an aftermarket subwoofer and drastically reduce my trunk space just so my ears wont bleed when listening to music. Overall, it's pretty horrible.

I hope I convinced someone to not "upgrade" their stock head unit.

Welwynnick

I think they're expensive as well.


Thanks.

tusabes

So far the best radio upgrade are the Chinese android plug n play units that work specifically for the w220

Icarus747

Noted...thnx for that!

TenZero

My '04 S600 came with a pioneer 7100 head unit already installled. At first I was all excited about touchscreen/bluetooth yada yada, but now, I notice the dash vehicle info menus are barren. No TPMS, None of the other info I read about (expect). Basically, I get current MPG for this trip, and that's it. I don't even get regular tripmeters, TPMS, total mileage, or anything else in the dash display. I did get the car for silly money, so I'm totally willing to live with it, but? Any chance of getting all this stuff back?

Icarus747

I am curious what you paid? I just pu a 2004 S600 100k on it for $8200. other than needing front pads and rotors and decent tires...it's flawless. Seemed anything with low miles was very rare.

TenZero

I bought my 04 S600 with 72k miles a month ago. Mine was sitting in the dealers back lot on failed ABC and wasn't drivable, but it did start and run. Dealer estimated $3k to repair the ABC. The owner was just beaten by enormous dealer repair bills over his year and a half of ownership. I took a risk on it and made my offer accordingly. I paid $2700 for the broken hulk, plus $60 to have it towed to my house. When I got it all apart under the hood, it looked like it had last been worked on by orangutans. I am not impressed by the level of workmanship from dealer techs. My daughter and I have about 30 hours of work in it now, and nearly everything works. It is nice but not flawless outside, but it has low miles, no rust anywhere underneath, and the interior is perfect. It came on a brand new set of AMG wheels and tires. We just did a 200 mile road trip, and it ran like a top. All the CELs, warnings, and codes were solved by meticulous unfarking everything under the hood. It is on a strutmaster ABC conversion, which I do NOT recommend for the 600. I will be switching to Yellowspeed coilovers ASAP. So far I have $3900 in it including the SM conversion, plus lots of work. Been a great project so far.

Icarus747

Isn't it just a kick in the pants to drive? Sounds like you've learned a lot in a short time. Here's my story.

Friend at work had a 2011 C class I rode maybe 300 feet in it and was impressed...so started helping son find his new car he'd been saving for....he had $4000 saved up. so I kicked in $4000 and we found a 2003 E320 4Matic that had ALL records and was maintained its WHOLE life at a Benz dealer. So we p/u the car for $7000 plus title,plates state tax for $7700. It was nicer than anything I had ever owned. So a couple weeks later I am sitting at a light in podunk Wisconsin when I hear this rumbling noise...lo and behold..I look over and see not one but two of these AMG V12 beasts...and was like...never gonna happen...started researching..and it did...happen. So after 3 months of looking I jump on a plane to Houston and drive it back just last week. I am still just in awe.

So there it is...my question is...what size tires and rims are on that car of yours please??? This car while VERY nice needs rims at least on pax side but would just like to do all 4 in chrome as well get AMG sizes on it. So any info you could provide would be appreciated.Whoever had this car (dealer I think, as it's only had 2 owners besides me) put Wal-Mart Accelera front tires on it..Y rated no less...and the rears are toast no names too. Looking at Eurocharged ECU upgrade sometime down the road. Found cross drilled rotors on closeout for front from RockAuto.com for $22/ea as well precut tint online for the windows for $75 dlvd.

Icarus747

Oh...also bought a Mighty Vac MV7201 on Amazon for $96 dlvd. Figure it will be easier to change oil, Tranny fluid, differential, ABC fluids etc.without a hassle and mess. Friend has one and he did the research before he bought it...he loves it. He changes his oil topside vs. from bottom.

tusabes

If you get 18 inch Amg rims you'll want 245 45 18 tires. In front

and 275 40 18 rear

DrDoe

I went with Nick suggestion 265/40/18 for all wheels on both S600/S430.

Welwynnick

I'm really glad to hear that. How did you get on?

Nick

TenZero

Mine came to me on brand new 20s. I have seen these exact wheels (AMG replicas) on ebay for $1000 a set. The tires are also new, so I won't be swapping them out right away. These are 275/30/20 rear, and 245/45/20 front. Speedo is right on the money.

Welwynnick

Do you mean 245/35/20 front?


Nick

DrDoe

I went with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric and the shop put them on. They checked the fitting for me and they didn't raise any issues. It sits much better looking than the stock settings.
We had a record snow season here last winter and my S600 didn't get stuck.
The 265/40/18 all around set gives much better handling and comfort for the S600 so I just did the same for the S430. It's a major ride improvement for both cars. I'm very happy with this 265/40/18 all around configuration. Thank you.

sakodik

Really? This was not the case with my 2006 S65. I had a double din installed and nothing changed, except I now have a rear camera, bt and audio, navi. Temporarily lost volume control on steering wheel but got an adapter to fix that. No white noise cause I changed the speakers out with knowledge that it DOES exist if you do aftermarket + stock speakers.

My 2003 was different, the only thing I lost that I would normally use is the clock on the instrument cluster. But now that the clock was relocated within the navi unit, other people in the car can glance (or look at their phone...) and look at the time as well instead of the passenger leaning towards your personal space to look at the time. The ability to change screen on the IC was normal, couldn't change the volume but no big deal.

Had an Alpine unit in both, kenwood was the more disruptive one between the two.