1bad540

Hi Guys 1st post, considering a move from my 750i sport over to a s550 looking for white amg and panaroof. anyone else made the move from a 7?? Im preferabley looking for a cpo car, I test drove a friends 07 amg with almost no miles almost bought it but I felt the 07 is a bit old? doesn't seem like this car is good to have outside of warty like the 750. what are your thoughts?? Is cpo the only way to go?

Mike5215

Yes. IMO there's no other way to own these cars without some form of warranty. The Gold Standard is Mercedes CPO by a wide margin. I don't believe an 07 will be eligible for CPO. If not a CPO, then a decent 3rd party warranty, although you can expect to be in the $8k to $12k range for an S on one of those. Ideally you want a CPO car, then you want to add the optional extension. A total of two years coverage is around $2400, and three years is $4495.

2010 is the dividing line as far as "freshness" goes, but the changes were largely cosmetic, and they reconfigured the Premium Packages so that Parktronic, Massage Seats and Rear Camera were standard. In 07-09 you'd need to piece together a couple of option packages to get that stuff.

1bad540

The 07 I looked at was certified but the warty was up. Ideally I think the 2010 is the way to go, I haven't located the exact car I want yet. Benx cpo doesn't seem like much of a selling point at only 12mos? am I incorrect? are you guys mainly doing aftermarket warrty's? Do these cars have some known major issues like the 750's?

kamilclk430

You have a 750 sport? you mean i? not the B7 right? The 750 does not even compare to the S63 or S65 AMG in any way at all. My father had a 745i my sister drove a 750 IL and I have a 07 S550 Sport Pckg which is 100 times better than those two in every way. I have nothing against BMWs but you cannot compare and ask if its a good move, if you were in a B7 that would also be a for sure switch to the AMG not alone the 750i. You will love the Benz if you get the S65 you will be super happy the S63 is amazing as well.
Yes with any BMW or BENZ your first priority is a good warranty, buying the cheapest Mercedes or BMW out there is like buying the most expensive in the long run. 07 is not that old and could save you money you can use towards a good warranty.

Good Luck and hope to see you on the forum with a Benz one day.

1bad540

yes I have the 750i w sport package, my friends car was an 07 w under 20k miles, I can get the car for 40k. was thinking to spend more and get more philosophy and try to get a 2010 in white w the pana roof, I don't think I will get the s65 or 63 was kinda looking for the 550 as this will be a daily driver. I was thinking with the new body out maybe I can pickup a deal and switch it up a bit. I had a 745 sport then to a 750 sport both cpo. Is 50k realistic to pay for one? cpo? or am I outa line?

Mike5215

A CPO car has to meet MB requirements as far as condition, year, mileage, previous damage.Generally you don't want a car that MB refuses to certify. However, you can find a car that's not CPO and have it certified as long as the age and miles are in range.

MB charges the dealer $2,000 for certification. The dealer has to pay that, plus whatever it costs him to recondition the car to CPO standards. If a dealer takes in a very clean car, he may go ahead and certify it before putting it on the lot. If it's less than perfect but still eligible for CPO, they may just put it on the lot with an oil change and a quick detail. You can have them certify that car as well, but plan on adding at least $2000 to the price, plus the cost of extra reconditioning.

I've always felt the smartest money was on the oldest, highest mileage car they're willing to certify. The base CPO gets you 12 months or 100,000 miles. An 08 with 60,000 miles is going to be priced low. You've got 40,000 miles of bumper to bumper coverage. For another $2500, you've got 24 months and 75,000 miles.

I've owned 2 CPO S Class and 1 older S with a third party EasyCare warranty. CPO is vastly preferable if you can get the math to work out.

Jason B

Again, great info by Mike5215!

I just got the combo car you are looking for less than a week ago. Personally, I'd try to find the lowest mileage car you can. 11k, here. If you can go for the 2010+ with low miles and find a deal, do it. LOL, you may have a problem "wanting" to sell this car after you get it, (it's addicting and drives incredible) so lower mileage would mean less to worry about when warranty goes.

Not every dealer cpo's their cars. For ex, a 2010+ white/amg/pano/p2/etc, etc, will be sell darn quick when it hits their lot (found this out quick, by losing 3 others before this one came along). If it's in great shape, and low miles, and no cpo, it's gonna sell on it's own and dealers know this. This color combo sells, and sells quick with those options!

Mike5215

My thinking on higher mileage is that the car is less expensive, leaving you cash to buy the full term CPO. Since MB is covering it whether it has 10,000 miles or 50,000 miles for the same CPO cost. But it's based on the understanding that you'll always sell the car before the warranty expires. Unless you're capable of working on the car yourself, you don't want an S out of warranty ever. But yeah, if you're planning to roll the dice and hang on to it, low mileage would be the way to go. But don't.

And Diamond White/Pano/AMG +1 is IMO the best looking example of a W221

1bad540

Thanks guys for the guidance, I would be looking for something as mint as possible, nothing w over 35k miles. If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for the car with 11k miles? My 750 is under 50k miles I got it with 20.

Mike5215

A 2012 would still have some factory warranty left and low miles. Try the MB Preowned website to search and get a feel for prices:

http://www.mypreownedmercedes.com/

There are currently 97 white W221's in the country for sale by MB dealers under 40,000 miles. Some of those are the non-metallic white (Arctic), some are the AMG S63/65 cars.

I paid $54k for the 2010 with 44k miles (Pano, Nightview, AMG)

1bad540

Great ill check around!! I don't think I would do the 2012 just based on price, seems a 2010 w some warty and cpo is quite a bit cheaper. Im a little worried w the new body out the massive hit these cars will take over the nxt few months,

1bad540

Hmm found a 2011 non cpo car w close to 2 yrs lft on orig warty, seems better and longer than a 2010 cpo as far as warty. Would u do a 2010 cpo or a 2011 non cpo w factory warty? Seems the 11 is covered longer

Brian4lev

Bought a 2010 diamond white 4matic sport pano roof, distronic, 75k miles for 38k. Went w aftermarket warranty and wheel tire warranty

Jason B

I'd need to see both cars and know the mileage on them. Regardless, an extended warranty should be purchased.

wilassasin

Hey guys this is my man right there fellow Bimmerest member. Welcome aboard bro, good luck with your search!

natcahd

Brian Congrats

wilassasin

Hey 1bad, you do know that the 2012-2013 S550's are equipped with a twin turbo 429hp engine, 0-60 in 4.7secs. Otherwise prior to that it would be a 382hp NA engine, 0-60 in 5.4 secs still super quick. Also believe it or not the sclass exhaust has a much more powerful roar than your current car.

If you decide 2010-2011, CPO, it's a 12month/100k warranty whichever comes 1st. So a 2010 would give you warranty until sometime in 2015 depending on when the vehicle took ownership. The most you can add to a CPO is two additional years and up to 135k. , a non CPO you can add 3yrs and 125k so years wise it's works out to be the same a total of 7yrs. Keep in mind that a non CPO car would have to get factory warranty extension prior to 4yrs/50miles, but a CPO car you can extend the warranty anytime prior to the additional year expiring or 100miles whichever comes 1st.

1bad540

Hey bro!!! Thanks! Had no idea the engine change was 2012 that'll make it more interesting. Was shooting for a 10-11. Guess the search continues,,,!!
What's the general consensus on a drop w the new body out? Am I effed in 3 mos once the new body is more common? I usually buy my cars and hold them for 2-3 yrs but I don't want to take a 25k hit in that time. If I buy a 50k 2010 is this a 25k car in 2 yrs?

1bad540

Ps thanks for the guidance guys!!

Me n wil both rolled our 745 s on 21s to 750s on 21s,,, been a few yr's bro


Also can I put staggered wheels on a 4 matic?

Mike5215

Re: depreciation, I think you'll be okay. Even with the all new W222 on lots, left over W221's aren't seeing the kind of discounting I was expecting. The magic number for depreciation on an S seems to be just past the 24 month mark. If you look at MB's lease numbers (which is a reflection of what they expect depreciation to be), the monthly rates are higher on a three year than on a two.

The twin turbo engine is sexy, but I'm not sure the premium for a 2012 vs a 10 or 11 is worth it. Maybe grab a clean 10, drive it for a couple years and then get a 12 or 13 when the depreciation knocks the price down a chunk.

dpayne7571

Good thread. I'm in the market for a 2010 also. Seems low 50's are common with average miles and car being CPO.

1bad540

seems that way. Just most 10's w cpo only have 12mos left on warty, then I assume i'll need another aftermarket warty. Ive been debating another cpo 750 vs cpo s550 and new body 750 vs old body s550.
I also found a really nice 08 but its not that much less than the 10's...

Jason B

Go for a 2010+ if you can. A bunch of cool updates and newer looking. The car drives awesome and the road presence can't be ignored. I love the boxy/squared look of the sport package, which are gone on the new body. It reminds me of a storm trooper.

Mike5215

The CPO warranty would be in addition to any remaining factory warranty, and would take effect after the factory warranty expired. I believe the MB warranty is 4 years/50k miles. Depending on the in-service date, a 10 with low miles might have some time left. An 11 is probably a good bet. I'd expect it's less desirable because it was the last year built without the TT, more like 2010 values.

1bad540

I just meant most 2010's are at the 4yr warty end, so the cpo ads 12mos. Not much warty left for a 50k car.