jplesca

Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forum and I am considering purchasing a 2007 Mercedes S550 with 60,000 km (38000 miles) for $33,000 CAD from the local Mercedes-Benz dealership. Is that a good price for a well maintained S550? Also, I don't really want to purchase the extended warranty but I am hearing that the car is very unreliable. Particularly from the transmission issues that I am hearing quite a bit. My family has had only good experiences with previous Mercedes-Benz products but I am really curious wether or not this is a smart purchase as a reliable car for the most part. Any recommended service too be done? I am aware of the maintenance a car like this requires I really am more curious about the transmission being problematic. Thanks for all the input!

steveb9771

Transmission needs to be serviced at 39,000 miles for this model. If this service has not been performed, I would insist that it be done or be done at no cost at 39,000 miles. This service could cost $400 or a lot more depending on where you live.

Mike5215

There's no such thing as a cheap S Class. Reliability is notoriously bad and parts and labor are astronomical. Without a warranty you could easily put half the purchase price into it again in repairs over the next couple of years.

A good warranty is a must. If you like the car, budget a few grand extra and get it covered. My CPO 2010 with 50k miles just had a B service that found leaking cam seals and a bad blower motor and relay. It's always goofy stuff like that, that you'd just assume would never need attention in a $100,000 car, that gets you. Then the occasional $6,000 transmission or $5,000 AirMatic failure puts the big hurt on you. Pretty soon you've got $30,000 into a car that's worth less than the $22,000 you paid for it.

jplesca

Thanks for the input! I pulled the trigger, and love the car but made sure all maintenance was done and purchased the extended warranty for the next four years.

Mike5215

Smart play. Who underwrites the warranty and how much did the 4/48 cost you?

jplesca

The dealer offered a full coverage from the power train to the interior electrics for $2600.

Mike5215

Interesting. Very low premium for 4 years on an S Class. Did you receive a copy of the warranty policy contract explaining the coverages, terms and exclusions? Sometimes a dealer will want to sell you a warranty from a little brochure or a sheet they print up specifically for your deal. (Platinum coverage, Gold, Silver etc). Then they tell you endless stories about the happy customers who bought the coverage and the car hit a moth and so the warranty bought them a brand new car.

Here's the bottom line: Everything enforceable in a warranty is limited to the four corners of the policy contract document itself. Nothing else. Verbal promises or assertions aren't enforceable. The promises made in the little brochure aren't enforceable.

A "warranty" is actually an insurance policy, and like an insurance policy it will spell out specifically what is and is not covered, and your "DUTIES". If you modify a system with an aftermarket part it's excluded. If you fail to follow the manufacturers service schedule. If you fail to mitigate damages. If it's considered a wear item...it goes on and on.

On top of that is another list (usually at the end of the contract) called "EXCLUSIONS". Nothing on that list is covered, regardless of what anyone at the dealership told you.

If you read that policy contract (the document you signed), reviewed "DUTIES" and "EXCLUSIONS" and it states that all systems and equipment are covered as the dealer promised, $2600 is a great deal. If not, you may want to cancel that, get your premium back and get a different policy from another carrier.

collier1803

I recently purchased an S550 for $29k added a 3 year warranty for $3600 only to find out it did not cover replacing engine mounts. Dealer cost for this seemingly simple job $3080!!
Anyone know if this is a straight forward job or not? The car has 68000 miles on it.

Mike5215

Yikes! Get a phone quote from an independent shop, but I'm guessing they'll be close on price. It's a labor intensive job. Parts aren't bad.

Who underwrites that warranty (so other members can avoid them)?

Benzbias

Mike has nailed it - first of all the good news - MB is selling a 7 year old car - so it must be in exceptional condition - in Toronto they never sell something this old regardless of kms.

The amount for the service contract cannot cover much?

Service B ($1700), transmission service ($360), Tires $1300, ABC pump ($2650), Idler pulley, brake pads, windshield wipers, batteries ($650), xenon headlight ($300 installed), rotors, oil plugs at rear of cylinder head ($375) - etc etc etc

Disgusting events associated with a car of this "quality" and original price

Why ask for the good information and then ignore it?

Caveat emptor - hope we are all incorrect - Good luck


I have owned MB big coupes since 1985 and my next vehicle is a TESLA, the deterioration in quality (materials/service costs) between my last CL55 AMG and current CL550 is for me unacceptable - a deal breaker - it's not a matter of money but rather value.

collier1803

Will do, can't remember who underwrites, but I did some research they are out of Florida and have horrendous feedback, MB dealers service rep assures me that he can get it done under this warranty so I will see what he can do and let the forum know. The parts I found online prices range from $78 to $140 OEM, but $3k in labor does seem excessive.
Thanks

Mike5215

I just had a B Service and it was around $500. Regular maintenance (A and B service), tires, brake pads, wipers, battery, rotors all are wear items and wouldn't be covered under a warranty by MB or a third party. The other stuff should.

I bought a full EasyCare warranty on my previous S430 for $3900. They replaced the motor mounts, tranny mount, rear differential, door soft close mechanisms, and the AirMatic pump and front struts. Worked out okay for me.

Mike5215

Read the contract and look for the termination clause. It'll tell you how many months/miles after you buy it you can still get a 100% refund. Usually you have to send a letter certified mail to a specific address with a notarized letter indicating the car's current mileage. (If they don't end up covering the mounts. If they do cover it and you still cancel they'll deduct any payouts from your refund which in this case would leave no refund)

If you decide to cancel before they pay out, take that $3900 and buy a better warranty from a more reputable company. Or keep the cash, trade the car in and get a CPO car.

nextlevelcoupe

I echo this sentiment exactly, although i have never owned a merc..I've seen many people i know and have read multiple posts about the issues with these cars. I do plan on purchasing a cpo 2010 S550 4matic car with extended warranty (cpo). After that i will trade it in for a Tesla Model S and not look back!

Mike5215

I discovered recently that you can't trade at Tesla. Their stores are all just retail outlets and all they sell are Teslas. They said they partnered with Carmax who will offer to buy your trade for wholesale but Tesla has no involvement. Cool cars though.

Fly by night

^^^^ I would never consider owning an electric golf cart
Looks kinda like the Kia Optima.

Bobbybigbucks

I payed the 33000$ for a 08 S550 4Matic with 62000km fully loaded

Mike5215

This particular electric golf cart will outrun an S550 and keep up with an S63.

Benzbias

Golf cart? Kia Optima?
take one for a drive then share an "informed" opinion.
Faster than the AMG -
fewer things to go wrong - some very innovative features.
$600 per year covers ALL repair and maintenance
No AMG rumble - but like many things in life - a trade off
VROOM VROOM

AZBENZ-CTSV

I have an informed opinion to share:
The MS is faster than what of any newer model AMG cars??? maybe a CLA that's about it.
My neighbor has one P85 (i've driven it) and it's innovative in some ways for sure. I'm not much on the looks however it's subjective. He's had it in the repair shop at least 2-3 times in the last year as it's a quirky car.
The car is too new for really any type of history in terms of the reliability/value factor down the line. I wouldn't buy any fully "electric" car i have to have range anxiety over as a family vehicle. It's a shame FISKER couldn't get it together as that car was a stunner in the looks department.
I do respect what Tesla has done and the innovation it's brought to the auto industry.

Mike5215

I'm going to satisfy my curiosity and drive a Tesla. My guess is I'll write it off as a novelty and not think twice about it again. My wife and I managed to get our middle kid off to college and our youngest off to camp and we're on a spontaneous two week east coast road trip in the S Class. I'll try to schedule a test drive somewhere along the way and report my impressions

Agree on the Karma in theory. It was gorgeous in photos. Then I saw a very honest video review by an actual owner and after that I wasn't surprised it tanked.

WEBSRFR

Ah. you might want to get your eyes examined if you can't tell the difference between a Kia and a Model S. The Model S is wider than a W222 Mercedes S class, weighs about the same and is just a few inches shorter than a long wheelbase S class. I can tell a Model S coming a block away.

We were about to buy the new generation S class but then decided to test drive a Model S P85 on a whim and I subsequently lost all interest in purchasing a S class or any car with a gasoline engine and a transmission. The torque and acceleration you get from a high performance electric engine is surreal. The Model S can actually keep up with a S63 AMG to about 100 mph.

This topic was extensively covered in the W222 forum:

https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...3-amg-bad.html

I wholeheartedly agree with having a warranty for these cars. My E550 that shares components with the 2007 S550 has had over $12K in repairs covered by the warranty including the engine having to be rebuilt, transmission having to be rebuilt, along with leaks, seals, and a bunch of other issues. These cars have many mechanical components to fail as they get older so this is why when the Model S is available with AWD I plan to replace my Mercedes with one. With the Tesla there is so little to maintain even the annual service is optional.

Fly by night

Nope no eye exam needed. I just don't think they look like a 100k car.
If you do enjoy.

WEBSRFR

When you test drive a Tesla, be sure to test drive a P85

Thanks for the great video. It's about the best and most objective video I have seen about the Karma. He's very reasonable and objective with his analysis... He should do more car videos

The whole point with the Karma is that it is a car that was built with style being the number 1 priority. It looks great but it was never built to be the best EV or the best car you can buy. The car offers compromises abound but I heard that the Karma was recently acquired by a Chinese company so perhaps a better car is yet to come from Fiskar.

If it is one thing Tesla showed it is that there is money to be made selling a long range high performance EV. They are presently making about a 28% per unit profit on the cars they sell and that's quite impressive in the automotive world.

By the way here's a quote from the Chinese guy who bought Fiskar. He apparently is serious about reviving Fiskar.

WEBSRFR

For the technology and performance you get I think it is a bargain. I love the exterior look of the Model S but my problem with the design has more to do with the interior as it does not have the same level of refinement as an S class but when you buy a Model S what you are paying for is the high performance EV drivetrain with a 300 mile range that is unmatched by any other car.

I wish they bought the entire interior from Mercedes and designed the rest of the car. The interior design of the S class is no comparison to the Tesla though the 17" control interface of the Model S I used is better than anything I have used by any other car manufacturer. I used to think I needed physical buttons all over the place but no more.