jahummer

Hopefully there are some high milers out there

I have a 2000 s430 with 70,000 miles on it. Based on past experience, as mileage increases, so do repair bills. Fortunately I bought the additional starmark 100K mile warranty and it certainly has come in handy lately.

I have been told that my car is worth $28K by the dealer It is mint inside and out, not a paint flaw, even smells new! This car has been pampered! I even have it at the dealer on a regular basis for maintance. I'd like to drive it at least untill the warranty is up, but based on what it is worth today, I can't imagine that it will be worth much at all in another two years. So why not keep it?

Anyone have experience with this car at over 100K miles? Would it be worth keeping for 130k miles or more?

I recently had the following dealer work done to it: new transmission, new instrument cluster, new airmatic and other Suspension components, alignment, pads & rotors, new head lights, new tailights, all new window regulators X 4, various control modules and a lot more most under warrranty. Is there much else to go wrong in the next 50k miles.

Sorry for being so long and thanks in advance for any advice.

zam2000

Woow, you almost replaced your whole car already (except the engine ??). Granted, the V8 4.3 is a very reliable engine (same as one used in the E430, which tend to run forever) How can so many thing go wrong at only 70K mile ???

In Southern California, a 70K mile S430, in good condition, run about 35-40K. Cars with StarMark run few thousands more.

If the new parts prove to be more reliable than the replaced one (MBZ work out the bugs ), especially the air-matic and the instrument cluster & sensors, then I would keep the car. Otherwise, dump it right before the warranty ends.

mbtech208

I'd be hard-pressed to keep any S-Class out of it's warranty period, unless you have a lot of disposable income set aside for repairs.

jahummer

mbtech208...

thanks for your reply, but what do you call a lot of disposable income? I have never kept a car out of warranty, however in light of recent repairs and what the car will be worth in a couple of years (about when the warranty runs out) would it even be worth selling? What sort of repairs would I be looking at?

If I could get mid $40s for it now, I would sell it in a heartbeat.

Thanks.

mbtech208

The S-Class is packed with a lot of pricey components, not all of which are exactly built to last. In your initial post, you ask "Is there much else to go wrong in the next 50k miles?" There is always something that will go wrong, it's Murphy's Law. No matter how much money you invest into the car, something you never thought of will fail. Being that your car is the first model-year for the W220 doesn't help much. If you want to keep a Mercedes past the warranty, I'd recommend the W210 or W202.

ARISTO

MB, other than the airmatic, what are the other common issues with the W220 Sclass? I have read threads from owners, but I would like to poll a MB Tech that can more accurately relay the frequency of these issues. I really love these cars and have been thinking about picking one up in another couple years to replace my GS400.

I dont care about the new Sclass, (upcoming) these are hands down the best looking large sedan in their class.

Perhaps I will be looking at the 02 MY, but seriously, are they really THAT BAD?

jahummer

Any particular components you can think of that fail the most often and how does being a MY00 not help? Considering that some of the major compoents have been replaced in the past 6 months with newer updated versions, would those bugs be eliminated?

GDawgC220

2000 was when the w220 was first introduced...a lot of problems in MY00. Airmatic, tranny, A/C, suspension, etc, etc. In '01 and up, they fixed A LOT of the problems, if not all. Once in a while, a airmatic problem arises in an '01, but not too common.

jahummer

So then, since those things have been recently replaced by the dealer under warranty with MY03/04 updated parts (according to the tech at the dealer who works on my car) then I should have no more problems, right? Besides the things you mentioned, anything else you can think of that was problematic for MY00?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

ARISTO

Thanks alot for sharing, I know my grandad is on his second 220, the first being a 02 500 and the latest a 04 500 sport. The only issue i remember him having is with the brake system

Do any of you guys have a aftermarket warranty? Or are you all Starmarked?

GDawgC220

we just have the regular factory warranty...not up till July '05 / 20k more.

I guess you can say we've had pretty good luck with our vehicles...our ML has given minimal problems (knock on wood) so far and it's been out of warranty for almost a year now.

But yeah, very little common problems on the '01 w220's and up...seems to be more of isolated cases of airmatic problems.

jahummer

What sort of airmatic problems have you heard of? I have had a control module and pump replaced. Any tell tale signs I could look out for?

GDawgC220

I think the most common issue on the airmatic is that the pump/servo fails and just leaves the car un-drivable. When it fails, the car will just sit on the ground, like you dropped it too much :p

Usually there isn't any warning to that before it happens. You can be getting ready for work and going out to the car and find it sitting on the ground or coming out of a store/restaurant and having it on the ground/one side on the ground. Not really any tell-tale signs

jahummer

Yeah I have read about that here before. So does it literally do a belly flop?

GDawgC220

pretty much

Though when you see it if it happens to your own car, it'll hurt you when they tow it to the dealer, those scratching noises aren't pretty at all

ARISTO

Thanks alot man, thats great news. Guess I'll be seeing you fellas in a couple years!

Coupled with the introduction of the next S, and normal depreciation I know I'll be able to find a decent deal on a pre-owned one. When my grandad got his 02, I knew right then and there, that was my new DREAM-CAR LOL

Happy Holiday Gents

Guest0001

Thats all?

99bmw740il

mid 40's will get you an 01 s500 here...

i dont mean to flame but if your car has that many problems i hope you dont plan on getting another benz

vraa

Just not a first year Benz. Almost every car manufacturer has problems for the first year cars. Some keep on having it like the new 7-Series.

zam2000

Obvious not Toyota and Honda (and their luxury brands). Their cars are as good & reliable on first year as on any following year.