EndsWithBenz

First let me say, I purchased a CPO 2014 E350 back in 2015, and received some fantastic advice from members of this forum in that process. I have been very happy with my purchase and have experienced no problems with the car. That said, my single complaint is that I am a bigger guy and would love a bit more room in the cabin. I'd also love a bigger trunk. I'm definitely a guy who values comfort and luxury over speed.

I have noticed that prices for similarly (actually better) equipped 2012 S550's with about 50-60k miles are priced in the same range as my car. I'm considering the idea of pursuing a trade along those lines.

I would love to have some advice about what I might expect from the S-Class.

Any major tradeoffs from moving from the 2014 E to the 2012 S?

Should I expect that vintage of S-Class to have more or fewer repairs and maintenance? Should I be scared about buying a non-CPO model?

I have the Park Assist and Distronic packages in my current car, and couldn't love them more. I am definitely planning to seek those in the 2012 S-Class. Any experience or insight on whether there were big improvements to those or other features during that 2 year window?

Lastly, I can't find safety tests for the S-Class, what's the story there.

Thank you all in advance for your time and guidance!

Mike5215

Well the S is a different beast in all the best ways. Your E is essentially a stretched W204 era C with a conventional steel suspension. While an S550 isn't especially quick, 2012 and 13 got the new TTV8 currently in the W222 S.

Gotta have a warranty of some type for an S, and be prepared to unload it before it expires. I'd try to hunt down a car with the optional B&O audio system, and the lower the miles the less painful the warranty will be. I wouldn't rule out a 600 either. Big step up.

sakodik

I crashed my 2007 s550 at highway speed into the center divide and went home with no injury immediately and months afterward, insurance took 48k to repair and back on the road within 3 weeks. Is that safe enough for you? Crash itself wasn't horrifying due to the nature of impact. I impacted at an angle and the vehicle skidded instead of flying and rotating or hitting anyone else.

BASICALLY, its an awesome vehicle and with your 2012 you are considering, newer engine, face lift (imo ugly tail lights), its a win win. I have no idea on park assist being standard on 2012 but I know it started in the 2014 E. S > E every day!

superpop

I have a 12 S550 and they are spectacular cars. It's a vault on wheels and with the TTV8 it is as fast as I need it to be for a car that weighs as much as my old Toyota Tundra. I second the note on the warranty. I would not drive one without a warranty as these cars will eat you alive on repair costs over a longer period of time.

llcd

I just got a 2012 S550 4matic a month and a half ago. I got lucky because the previous owner checked all the option on the car except the tv on the back.
If you can get the bang and olufsen the better. The demo DVD-A that came with the car when played on the system was unbelievable. I was hearing things from the music that I wasn't hearing before. I am also very impressed with the ride and the overall luxury this car provides. The 0-60 is rated at 4.9 seconds on this car. It is quite a quick car for its size. I keep wondering why I didn't get this car sooner.

EndsWithBenz

These are very helpful replies. I am observing that no one has suggested I stick with the E-class. You have me very interested in this move.

To those who have replied suggesting I obtain a warranty? What are the best vendors for that? Does anyone know of a thread on MBWorld covering that topic?

Nuru

However, the 2014 E-class may have features that are not available on the 2012/13 W221. Depending on what you can afford, why not step up to a W222 2014? S600, great cars for areas where you do not have to worry about snow or ice. I would be very careful about buying a non-CPO vehicle.

EndsWithBenz

I am aiming to keep my equity position around the same with a trade-in (i.e. trade keys for keys and pay taxes and title). Not sure I can achieve that, even on a 2012 S-Class, but certainly can't on a 2014. I can dream though.

DaveW68

Instead of a 2012 S550, for the same money you can likely get into a 2010 S600 with similar miles. That car is a massive step up from the the car you are considering. Very similar performance numbers (speed wise) to the S65 and all of the poshness of the most loaded and comfortable Benz you can buy....and it is face-lifted. It's won many comparos against Bentley in car mags.

And I'm a huge proponent of a warranty on these cars. My warranty has saved my bank account a net (after warranty cost) of $9k so far in 2.5 years.

sakodik

I never had warranty since my factory for my brand new 2007 S550 (now 100k miles). The only major problem was the intelligent servo module (ISM) which had the car thinking it was in gear when it was actually in park and would not move. That was the most expensive repair. Otherwise, I spend less than $400 a year, excluding tires/brakes. Same with my 2006 S65, major thing was ignition coils (same for s600). That was a bummer repair.

If you can get a warranty, great make sure it covers the big stuff, if not, I wouldn't worry too much based on my experience with a few w221.

Mike5215

Yeah, a facelift (2010+) 600 with the B&O (seems like more 600s were built with the B&O so they're not hard to find) is the way to go. You'd still enjoy a 550 but the 600 is next level stuff.

Donnymac

As to warranty, it matters. My 2012 S550 is at 84k mi. To date, two front struts L&R and a module have been replaced. Credit Unions sell warranties and have vetted the vendors. Bought mine from a local CU and it has worked well. Good luck.

Mike5215

My 2006 S500 had $21,000 in CPO repairs over three years and then ate a $6,000 transmission after the warranty expired. My 2004 S430 had over $9,000. The last visit for my 2010 S500 alone was $6,000 for a flickering gauge cluster, a blown strut and cam magnets. Around $15k in total repairs.

These were cars with impeccable service histories and complete records, in like new condition.

There are guys out there who swear all they pay for are tires and oil changes but that has never been my experience.

DaveW68

I think the experience of 95% or more of owners who drive these cars on a regular basis is high repair costs. These cars have so many over-engineered high cost systems on them, especially as you begin optioning them up. I bet that 95% of the time with most other makes, after-market warranty companies come out ahead with warranty costs vs claims paid. But I bet the exact opposite is true with the S-class Benz, especially starting with the W220.

Jason B

So that allows them to take a loss on the S class claims, since they will make it up on all the other makes

I had a 2017 E class for over a week and no comparison to the S. The tech was great, but the S is like a finely tuned torpedo bomber that never gets off course.

Jason B

Anyone else drive the new E?

The Thomas J

The closest I came was sitting in a new one on the showroom floor while my S was being serviced. The new E class is bigger than the previous generations. I had a w211 and the new E class felt much smaller than my E class. I was unimpressed. But, to be fair I am spoiled by the S class. That car has ruined me for all other cars.

sakodik

Same, the 2018 E300 is nice, comfortable, just enough power, but I had a w220 S55/65, w221 550, and w222 63. The S was just a step ahead in everything for me.

S70Houston

Just recently moving from a W211 E-Class to the W221 S-Class, I have to say that there is no comparison to the S.
Only after a 3 short weeks of owning the S, I think it has ruined me for life, ........ in a very good way.

DaveW68

I've had one as a loaner before. The interior is nice and modern, but the 4 cyl turbo in the E300 felt pretty anemic. It kinda sucks that they only way to get a V8 motor in those any more is to step up to the E63 with the 4.0 bi-turbo. I supposed the E400 would be acceptable to most buyers of the E-class. But it would be hard to imagine going from an S to an E class. That's a pretty major down-grade, even with the updated interior in the E.

lionsfan54

If the OP is worried about a warranty for a S550, the S600 with things like ABC suspension are not a good fit for this buyer.

To the OP... if you have a decent independent shop around you, skip the warranty. By 2012 these cars were quite sorted out and I currently own a 2007 S600 and sleep soundly every night. Just don't take it to the dealer and you'll be fine.

PS, be ready for a SIGNIFICANT upgrade in terms of interior quality and materials.

lionsfan54

to be fair, that was a W220 car and those were not the finest effort by Stuttgart. Anecdotally, the W221+ cars are much more reliable and better built.

Again people... avoid the dealership! A S500 air strut is about $350 rebuilt, for example.

EasyPhil

Yeah, when you go to the dealership you pay the highest labor cost and retail for parts. As a DIYer you can get parts pretty much wholesale online and many dealers have an online component offering these discount prices online but not in the brick and mortar store. If you use an independent you can pay less for labor and supply your own parts.

The Thomas J

That's exactly how I did it. 2008 W211 to a W221 and that's exactly how I feel.

Nuru

Oh, one last input - mpg probably will be quite a bit different, but not for me, I went from a gas W212 to diesel W221, and my mpg went up quite a bit. The dealers in my local area call my car a unicorn