S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

$6000 Repair Ticket Today!

Old Dec 22, 2015 | 05:37 PM
  #1  
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$6000 Repair Ticket Today!

My cost, $240 for an A service. CPO picked up the rest. Heavy labor $ on the cam magnet thing, plus a new cluster, and a new strut. Still not done, bad dimmer control on displays is coming from Germany. Probably another $500 or so there. At 84k with 11 months/120000 miles of coverage remaining.

So far they've paid for an AC controller, a starter, a cam position sensor, a leaking engine seal, the $6k today, and two tows, plus around 20 days in loaner cars.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:03 PM
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The CPO warranty turned out to be a bargain. And since you've had all of these items repaired, the next owner should be looking at a more reliable vehicle.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:15 PM
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You'd think. That was my rational for keeping the 220 after warranty.., they'd already gone through everything that was likely to fail. Nope. The S Class bag of repair horrors is very, very deep,

Glad for the CPO coverage though. $6k at Christmas time sucks whether or not you can afford it.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:17 PM
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The 221 is a different animal than the 220. Even though there is a lot more tech in the 221, they seem to have a better repair history. I'm sure you can attest to that.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:24 PM
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Was it related to this ( it includes M273 cam magnets )?
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen....30-08i-2-.pdf

Whatever the case, it's a better user experience to have the CPO coverage, rather than be financially responsible for complex system failures in an aging $100,000 vehicle. There is still another year left and plenty of potentially expensive things to replace.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveW68
The 221 is a different animal than the 220. Even though there is a lot more tech in the 221, they seem to have a better repair history. I'm sure you can attest to that.
In my case, I'm enjoying a nice honeymoon period. I may get lucky, but the tendency is to get lulled into a false sense of security and then bail out after a major repair or two.
Just from reading the posts, the W221 seems better in terms of repair frequency but still tragic from the mode, frequency, scope and cost of failures.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:46 PM
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Sounds like you'll be looking for a new ride soon.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by MrRat
In my case, I'm enjoying a nice honeymoon period. I may get lucky, but the tendency is to get lulled into a false sense of security and then bail out after a major repair or two.
Just from reading the posts, the W221 seems better in terms of repair frequency but still tragic from the mode, frequency, scope and cost of failures.
Not sure if there's a ton of daylight between the 220, especially the late 04-06 cars and the 221 in terms of reliability. By 100,000 miles the 220 had $13k in CPO repairs. I'll have to see how the 221 fairs. It will likely need three more struts before it's over.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike5215
Not sure if there's a ton of daylight between the 220, especially the late 04-06 cars and the 221 in terms of reliability. By 100,000 miles the 220 had $13k in CPO repairs. I'll have to see how the 221 fairs. It will likely need three more struts before it's over.
You mean they only replaced one strut and not the opposite strut as well? Don't they recommend replacing both if one side goes out?
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 09:15 PM
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Not unless the other strut had failed either mechanically (leaking fluid) or pneumatically, like the opposite side. They don't replace preemptively. The car drives normally on the new and old strut.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 09:59 PM
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Almost time for your 2012 CPO S63 with B&O audio or the short & plump but fun loving C450 AMG.
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Old Dec 22, 2015 | 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by MrRat
Almost time for your 2012 CPO S63 with B&O audio or the short & plump but fun loving C450 AMG.
I think I may have one up on the B&O audio with the Focal & Audison upgrade. I don't want another 221 really, especially with MB making all these interesting new cars. I have a feeling I'm going to really like the new E. If the chassis is anything like the C (and I think the E is on the same modular chassis as the C) it's my #1 contender.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 02:14 PM
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You could buy a Rolex GMT MASTER II BLNR for that money but great to see you don't pay for these bills .

You don't recommend potential owners to buy CPO for nothing given these repairs your recommendations are worth On the other hand, I still find W221s reliable , any part in such a high end class cars can go wrong regardless of how old they are . The point is frequency of the repairs ,this is what I inspect .
Mercedes-Benz models topped the stats according to TUV records but none of them were S Class though
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike5215
I think I may have one up on the B&O audio with the Focal & Audison upgrade. I don't want another 221 really, especially with MB making all these interesting new cars. I have a feeling I'm going to really like the new E. If the chassis is anything like the C (and I think the E is on the same modular chassis as the C) it's my #1 contender.
The new E is also in my wheel house of consideration, the new features are the key. But those features also come on the W222's too.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Nuru
The new E is also in my wheel house of consideration, the new features are the key. But those features also come on the W222's too.
Being later in its development cycle the new E got some stuff the 222 didn't get (yet...maybe with the mid cycle face lift). More ambient light modes, first ever swipeable pads on the steering wheel, three different dash/infotainment "skins" for the displays, extra hot stone massage modes in the seats. It also gets a new middle tier of interior trim choices between Standard and Designo, featuring new materials and colors that the 222 currently doesn't have.

If it handles anything like the W205 C Class, especially in the steering, and looks more like a 222 than the 205 does it would be my first choice. Pricing is supposed to start around $42k, lower than the current E and just a tick above the $38k base C300. Looking forward to January 11th.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 05:00 PM
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Yep, thought it seems the W222 will get those newer features before the next facelift, so so I have been told? LOL!
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 05:08 PM
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My 2012 E-class was a good car, but my current car is a great car. However, the upcoming E-class is attractive to me because of the features and the lower cost. It also comes in a diesel too. Add a Pano roof, folding rear seats, and all those features at a lower price and that could make me jump back to a W21x series. But the wife wants a GL before I make a move on another car.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike5215
Being later in its development cycle the new E got some stuff the 222 didn't get (yet...maybe with the mid cycle face lift). More ambient light modes, first ever swipeable pads on the steering wheel, three different dash/infotainment "skins" for the displays, extra hot stone massage modes in the seats. It also gets a new middle tier of interior trim choices between Standard and Designo, featuring new materials and colors that the 222 currently doesn't have.

If it handles anything like the W205 C Class, especially in the steering, and looks more like a 222 than the 205 does it would be my first choice. Pricing is supposed to start around $42k, lower than the current E and just a tick above the $38k base C300. Looking forward to January 11th.
The C class can be optioned with Airmatic. I've heard it rides incredible with it. So, that means you'd want an E with Airmatic.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 06:26 PM
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Probably. I need the wiggle room to run larger wheels without stiffening the ride too much.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 09:11 PM
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Sounds good I guess, but even though I have warranty and extended warranty I hope to never have to use either.

Last edited by wilassasin; Dec 24, 2015 at 08:51 AM.
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Old Dec 23, 2015 | 09:39 PM
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Well this is interesting. I was thinking C300 Sport only because I could add AirMatic, but the C450 has three stage electronically variable struts. I need to take a C450 out.
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Old Dec 24, 2015 | 02:24 PM
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Back in the shop. Another "Check Engine" light. Drove a C450. Uh oh...

Last edited by Mike5215; Dec 24, 2015 at 03:11 PM.
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Old Dec 24, 2015 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike5215
B
If it handles anything like the W205 C Class, especially in the steering, and looks more like a 222 than the 205 does it would be my first choice. Pricing is supposed to start around $42k, lower than the current E and just a tick above the $38k base C300. Looking forward to January 11th.
Where did you get the pricing info?
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Old Dec 24, 2015 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by MBNUT1
Where did you get the pricing info?
Not sure. I've read a ton of stuff but I believe it was one of the major auto mags online.
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Old Dec 26, 2015 | 03:28 PM
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I think you may have misread this article:

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mercede...-ar163629.html

"Our favorite of this class is the Audi A6. Prices start from an even lower $42,200"

Would like to be wrong on this.
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