Hello,

I currently own a W204 that I plan on selling early next year and I was thinking about getting myself a W221(2009+ facelift) because it's within my budget and also I think it's the best looking Mercedes/S Class ever. Also it provides plenty of comfort and loads of options to make the driving experience a pleasure.

The thing is, it's nearly impossible to find relevant, in-depth guides(written or preferably vlogs) about the W221 model. I was thinking about getting either a S350 diesel or petrol(preferably petrol) or a S400 hybrid.

So here are my questions:
-Is the petrol worth it? The thinking behind that decision is that it provides me with slightly more power and can also be driven inside a city(which is where I drive most of the time) without ruining it. Diesels are mostly for extra urban driving experiences and can be damaged if driven primarily in urban environments. But I am also thinking that because it loses loads of torque(350NM vs 620NM), it might actually be less powerful or at least worse at driving on bad terrains / during winter.
-Is the S400 worth it? I live in Romania so you can probably guess that our mechanics are pretty crap. I think that a hybrid engine might be too difficult for them to handle(I have no idea about hybrid engines), so should I avoid it?

Also, can I get a good W221 on a budget between 20k to 25k(€)? I spent hours on mobile.de and other websites and I saw plenty going for even less.

From what I read about it, the keyless entry function is bound to break, but what would it cost to repair? Is it even worth repairing?

What are the maintenance costs of a W221? I read that 500-1000 euro yearly + another 1k for new tires, is that accurate?

I also read that I should aim to buy one that doesn't have 4 zone climate control because it will have less glovebox storage space. Is that accurate? Because I would much rather get a car that is full option as I might also be driven around from time to time and would like to enjoy my time in the back.

All in all, is the W221 worth it? Is everything I read about it accurate? Is there more to add to it? I am mainly interested in issues with it rather than pros because I am set on buying it and need people to change my mind(if it needs to be changed).

Thank you for your time!

EDIT: Forgot to ask. On my W204(pre-facelift), bluetooth only allows you to make phone calls. Does the W221 COMMAND allow you to also play music through bluetooth?
EDIT2: Because I realize this is an USA-dominant forum, I'd like to justify why a S550/S600(which seem your guys' favorite options) are just a **** poor decision for me. The yearly tax in Romania for a S550 is 1600$, whilst for the S600 you have to pay 1900$. Whereas for a S350 you pay 500$ and for a S400 hybrid you pay freakin' 90$.

 

Just my impression, as a relatively new S-class owner...

I can't help you with the engine choice, mine is a V-12. Having seen petrol prices and availability in Europe as well as how things are taxed, I can understand preferring Diesel.

I don't really keep a lot of crap in the center console (storage box), so I don't miss that space. If it were there it would just collect junk. The 4-zone climate control is nice, especially for impressing friends and family when they ride with you. Besides, it'a an S-class Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan. Go big or go home, as we say.

I don't know when M-B modernized Bluetooth. My 2007 has it for phone calls only. There are cheap BT receivers for the iPod interface, which mine does not have. There are even cheaper BT interfaces that plug into the AUX input that I'm thinking about adding adding.

Just make sure you get whatever you're thinking of buying thoroughly inspected, by someone who knows what they are doing. You might get lucky but will probably pay the price if you don't. Trust me, I know.

 

Do NOT take S400 - lots of issues. If you can find S350 diesel in good condition that's the way to go if you live in europe. There should be plenty of cars with same engine so it should not be difficult to find parts for your vehicle. Make sure it will have all packages you want - distronic, massage seats etc...

 

Stay away from the S400 Hybrid. It was a huge issue trying to fix the batteries and the Hybrid system is complex. Get the S550, S600 or AMG.

 

I just explained we in Romania are not as fortunate as you USA people. Besides expensive gas prices all around Europe, I don't feel the need to pay an extra 1600-1900$/yearly just to OWN an S550/S600/AMG. Therefore S350 is the way to go(500$ yearly).
I mean, if I were to pay 1900$ for the S600, 1000$ for its yearly service, keep at least 1000$ for "emergency fixes" and drop another 1000$ on new tires, that's 4900$ yearly just to OWN that S class. Driving it for 25.000 km(which is my average - 15.5k miles) would cost a minimum of 3500 extra bucks. So 8500$ yearly MINIMUM to own and drive an "American" S Class.

I just want to know if the W221 (S350) is worth it in 2020(which is when I plan to buy it) and if it can hold its own for the next 3 years at least. (technology wise, comfort wise and driving experience wise). Also I need to know about its more frequent issues, because like I said, google doesn't help that much.

Thank you all for the info on S400 - I will avoid it completely!

 

Yeah, generally speaking you don't want to own a large displacement gasoline engine vehicle in Europe (or many parts of the world) unless you've got a pretty good pile of cash to support it. Mid octane gasoline cost upward of $6 per gallon in Germany the last time I was there, and that was close to 10 years ago.

 

Yeah, it's like 5.30$ average for 1 gallon of diesel(hope I translated it right, googled what 1 gallon is in liters and it came out as 3.78 something) in Romania and it's generally the same everywhere across Europe. That's why I want info specifically about S350 petrol/diesel, anything above that is just too expensive in Romania to justify buying(for me at least).

 

Andrei,
Unless you have the extra money (in a country where the average salary is around $600 monthly) for insurance, gas, maintenance, repairs, if I would be you, I would go a different route, keep in mind also the level of expertise your "technicians" have and also the roads you're driving on, hopefully you're not in Bucharest, and don't ask my why I'm trying to give you this advice because you probably already know the answer, again, it is just a friendly advice.
Anyway, good luck !

 

I have the money for insurance, gas, maintenance and repairs. I was just explaining why we in Romania cannot pick up S550/S600 as easily as USA based drivers.

 

AVOID s400 like the Plague.

 

The only common issues I’ve had are the radio amplifier going out and the panoramic sunshade gojng out . Both have cheap fixes available on eBay

get the diesel

 

Agree on the S400.