XUserX04

Hello everyone,

Im looking to buy a 2008 S550 with a little over 50k miles on it and was wondering if S550 owners are having a lot of problems with these cars. If i get one i will be driving it a lot and thats my main concern. Currently i drive a 2004 Lexus LS430 with 270k miles on it and up until a few months ago i didnt even know what a check engine light looked like on my car. I would be happy if i could get at least 200k out of a Benz with regular oil/trans fluid changes?

Quadcammer

meh, in general, yes. You may get a good one that has no issues for the next 100k miles, or a needy one that breaks a lot. Luck of the draw there.

That said, most will probably need things repaired. Suspension components tend have a shorter life due to the weight of the car, and you may need a new airmatic strut/abc repairs at some point.

The LS series from lexus is renowned for their reliability. If thats more important that the better style, more gadgets, nicer materials, etc in the 221, you should probably stick with the lexus.

jwxspoon

I would buy the S550 if you have a good warranty with it. If you don't, I would NOT buy the car. That simple.

It's a wonderful car. If and when something goes wrong, it is shockingly expensive to get worked on. Get the warranty and enjoy your Mercedes.

jw

XUserX04

Are there any alternatives to the complex mercedes suspension? Any aftermarket shocks that can be installed when the suspension goes? Are all W221s come with airsuspension standard? Lexus went with two different packages. One has the good old fashine shocks the other has unreliable air suspension. im hoping its the same case with mercedes.

And as for warranty i will look into it but i have a feeling that warranty might not cover it as i will be using the car for livery service.

w4sim

Im not too sure about the W221's, but for the W220 with airmatic, Arnott Industries offers a replacement suspension system that runs on normal shocks and springs.

I would love that as an option should mine ever go bang, but unfortunately mine is ABC.

Quadcammer

arnott offers products for both 221 airmatic cars and 220 abc cars

https://www.arnottindustries.com/par...18_pid143.html

https://www.arnottindustries.com/par...18_pid169.html

C280 Sport

Amazing information and another very informative from Oliverk Hell of a cost savings too!

w4sim

Yeah i know, but he asked for an alternative, which seems to be only available for the W220 Airmatic, but not the ABC. So if one of my shockers goes bang then its another ABC shocker. I cant replace the whole lot with shocks and springs.

XUserX04

That is one sick looking ride in your sig there W4SIM.

w4sim

Thank you very much sir.

The whole point of it was to keep it as simple as possible. Bigger wheels, lowered, simple as that.

marthyh

Depending what you understand as reliability , if you mean: will stuff break or wear: yes it will .
Then costs : driving an S-Klasse will cost you money ,because if stuff wearz or breaks its a bit more then for a simple car.
If you mean: will it let me down; I think no, its designed to circle the globe some ten times and a bit in great comfort and joy , for that any S- Class is renown and will do an outstanding job.No I don't work for MB just a fan ,thats looking at track records.
Get one if you can ,else don' t moan and were here to help (also to save some money )if we can.
I think because many of us on here that have an S, does not mean we want to throw unneccessairy money at it ,only money well spent.:-)

percykwong

I had a 2010, traded up to a 2013, because it was in one word; reliable. During the entire time I had it, I had one parking sensor die (and it was covered under warranty), two brake jobs, and one set of tires that needed replacing (that's when I decided to upgrade.. it didn't make sense to pay for tires when I could just get a new one). If anyone's in the market for a trade up, let me know.. I'll introduce you to my buddy that will get you pretty damn close to triple-net (I do it as a courtesy for all my clients)..

Cheers.