S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600
View Poll Results: Which is the best option?
2010 s63
1
25.00%
2013 s63
0
0%
2014 s550
3
75.00%
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll

Looking to upgrade in the foreseeable future

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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 01:40 AM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Looking to upgrade in the foreseeable future

I currently have a 2010 5.5L N/A s550. In the market to get rid of it soon. I want something faster like the s63 but the interior of the w222 is definitely tempting. Can't decide between these 3 options
2010 s63. 6.2L
2013 s63. 5.5L biturbo
2014 s550 4.6L biturbo
Which of the bunch is most reliable? Cheapest to maintain/repair? Best bang for your buck?
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 02:07 AM
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Obviously you have done some research and concluded that these 3 options all are faster than your current 2010 S550.

I reckon, all the bugs of these 3 options should have ironed out by their previous owners. So, reliability is just about equal, in this sense.

The 1st 2 options are AMG and thus it will be more expensive in regular periodic maintenance and repair as AMG parts are often more expensive than regular S-Class counterparts.

I would not pick the 1st option as its main improvement is the engine. The 2nd and 3rd options, being W222, will bring a nice upgrade/change in the interior and exterior as well.
Choosing between the 2nd and the 3rd, I would think the 3rd one probably fits your concern more. MY 2014 is relatively newer and its being non-AMG should be the cheapest to maintain and repair.
According to some review, 3rd option is about 0.4 sec slower (0-60) than the 2nd.
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 02:27 AM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by bishop64
Obviously you have done some research and concluded that these 3 options all are faster than your current 2010 S550.

I reckon, all the bugs of these 3 options should have ironed out by their previous owners. So, reliability is just about equal, in this sense.

The 1st 2 options are AMG and thus it will be more expensive in regular periodic maintenance and repair as AMG parts are often more expensive than regular S-Class counterparts.

I would not pick the 1st option as its main improvement is the engine. The 2nd and 3rd options, being W222, will bring a nice upgrade/change in the interior and exterior as well.
Choosing between the 2nd and the 3rd, I would think the 3rd one probably fits your concern more. MY 2014 is relatively newer and its being non-AMG should be the cheapest to maintain and repair.
According to some review, 3rd option is about 0.4 sec slower (0-60) than the 2nd.

Sounds about right. I do the maintenance and some of the repairs myself in the garage. Ik the 63's have ABC suspension which is definitely more expensive.
But only mentioned the 63 because it is a N/A option oppose to the other 2 having turbos and extra parts
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 02:10 PM
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W222 AMG S63
Personally, I think that sportiness is more than simply horsepower. It's how sporty the entire car feels. This includes steering feel, suspension, transmission gearing and shift points, seats, etc...

While the biturbo S550s have similar drag times as the S63 (who will miss 0.4s?), the S63 feels entirely different for the reasons mentioned above. I can't name all of the things that make AMGs different from their brethren...but those difference add up to making them feel entirely different.

Personally, I'll take an AMG over a non-AMG anyday.

I own a W221 S63 and I've driven several W222 S550s, and the latter are simply too disconnected from the road for me. The steering is too light and I personally don't like the "riding on a cloud" feel that the suspension and seats provide...even for a full-sized luxury car. Again, this is just preference.

Last edited by CQHall; Mar 14, 2023 at 02:25 PM.
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 02:27 PM
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W222 AMG S63
Also, a poll really isn't a great way to make such a decision. I suggest that you ask questions about the things that make you happy and unhappy with a car and find the one that as as much of the former as possible with as little as the latter.
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 05:34 PM
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Depends on the weather
Honestly, it all depends on the car. I barely spend anything on my V12 and same with the prior one but some V12 owners have all types of issues. Keep in mind, I also don't baby my car when I drive it. I drive it from MD to FL, etc often and have never been let down. Rear tires cost me more than anything else. Tunes available for more hp and tq. I see some people on here spending a lot of money on their S550's due to mechanical problems of all sorts. I've owned an S550 as well and would never go back to one after owning the V12, just a personal preference.

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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 06:19 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
Also, a poll really isn't a great way to make such a decision. I suggest that you ask questions about the things that make you happy and unhappy with a car and find the one that as as much of the former as possible with as little as the latter.
I only put the poll as a quick way to voice an opinion, Incase nobody feels like typing paragraphs of stuff lol. And I'm asking because I can tend to both the more sportiness OR the more luxurious vehicle. As I'm coming from a 750li X-Drive. Speed is great. But a car that mainly requires maintenance, a little bit of repairs and not much design flaws is great. Lol
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 06:23 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
Also, a poll really isn't a great way to make such a decision. I suggest that you ask questions about the things that make you happy and unhappy with a car and find the one that as as much of the former as possible with as little as the latter.
Originally Posted by WHPH28
Honestly, it all depends on the car. I barely spend anything on my V12 and same with the prior one but some V12 owners have all types of issues. Keep in mind, I also don't baby my car when I drive it. I drive it from MD to FL, etc often and have never been let down. Rear tires cost me more than anything else. Tunes available for more hp and tq. I see some people on here spending a lot of money on their S550's due to mechanical problems of all sorts. I've owned an S550 as well and would never go back to one after owning the V12, just a personal preference.
I'm also in FL. I was thinking the same thing. With the s63/s65. Even s600. Technically more expensive cars but at the end of the day they're the cars that have more attention to detail and more strongly built (interior and engine). I.e. 1 moderately expensive repair on the s600 vs 10 cheaper repairs on the s550
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 06:26 PM
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Depends on the weather
Originally Posted by Rringer327
I'm also in FL. I was thinking the same thing. With the s63/s65. Even s600. Technically more expensive cars but at the end of the day they're the cars that have more attention to detail and more strongly built (interior and engine). I.e. 1 moderately expensive repair on the s600 vs 10 cheaper repairs on the s550
Was 12 years old, now 13. I admit I do love the attention this old thing gets everywhere I go. People are always shocked and in disbelief when I say oh this old thing and tell them how old it is lol
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...years-old.html
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 06:30 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by WHPH28
Was 12 years old, now 13. I admit I do love the attention this old thing gets everywhere I go. People are always shocked and in disbelief when I say oh this old thing and tell them how old it is lol
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...years-old.html
THAT is definitely badass. Lol. I prefer the quality over quantity. I wouldn't take the newest base model c-class and call it the best. Give me a slightly older s class with some options.... Then we're talking. 😂
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 07:02 PM
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W222 AMG S63
Originally Posted by Rringer327
I only put the poll as a quick way to voice an opinion, Incase nobody feels like typing paragraphs of stuff lol. And I'm asking because I can tend to both the more sportiness OR the more luxurious vehicle. As I'm coming from a 750li X-Drive. Speed is great. But a car that mainly requires maintenance, a little bit of repairs and not much design flaws is great. Lol
I think your butt will answer a lot of these questions for you during test drives. It’s easy to get worked up over cars from looking at pics and videos on the internet.

I’ve had the wind totally taken out of my sails about a car after a single test drive (…namely a bunch of Porsches, lol).

Knowing what you don’t want is as important as knowing what you do.

My S63 is plenty luxurious.
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 07:36 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
I think your butt will answer a lot of these questions for you during test drives. It’s easy to get worked up over cars from looking at pics and videos on the internet.

I’ve had the wind totally taken out of my sails about a car after a single test drive (…namely a bunch of Porsches, lol).

Knowing what you don’t want is as important as knowing what you do.

My S63 is plenty luxurious.
Definitely an upgrade over the s550.
That's why I'm at this conjunction. With the price range I'm looking at.... It's either a well equipped w221 s63 (6.2 N/A OR 5.5TT). Or the w222 s550.
Ik the w222 s550 would feel like more of an upgrade. But that s63 speed and presence is definitely something serious LOL😂
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 10:29 PM
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W222 AMG S63
I'm conflicted about the W222.

I considered getting a W222 for a while. You know how it is when you are considering a car...you start to see them everywhere. Living in Atlanta, they aren't hard to find in traffic.

The pre-facelift non-AMG variants in black look like airport limos. Like the kind of car that a ride service would send. Fancy, but boring, with a touch of generic mixed in. The grill strikes me as a big teddy bear nose. I don't like it. The AMG body kits look better. The facelift AMG body kits look the best to me...even in black.

I'm not wild about my W221 AMG either. I feel like the butt is too high off of the ground. What's cool about it is the relatively sleek and spartan interior and dash. It's the opposite of the "airplane cockpit" show that a lot of manufacturers (including MB) are doing now to make buyers feel like the cars are more technically sophisticated than others.

The W221 interior is...well...elegant, in sort of an art deco kinda way. That was the first thing I noticed when I sat in one for the first time. "Wow. This is really nice.", I thought to myself. It was unexpected.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 01:14 AM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
I'm conflicted about the W222.

I considered getting a W222 for a while. You know how it is when you are considering a car...you start to see them everywhere. Living in Atlanta, they aren't hard to find in traffic.

The pre-facelift non-AMG variants in black look like airport limos. Like the kind of car that a ride service would send. Fancy, but boring, with a touch of generic mixed in. The grill strikes me as a big teddy bear nose. I don't like it. The AMG body kits look better. The facelift AMG body kits look the best to me...even in black.

I'm not wild about my W221 AMG either. I feel like the butt is too high off of the ground. What's cool about it is the relatively sleek and spartan interior and dash. It's the opposite of the "airplane cockpit" show that a lot of manufacturers (including MB) are doing now to make buyers feel like the cars are more technically sophisticated than others.

The W221 interior is...well...elegant, in sort of an art deco kinda way. That was the first thing I noticed when I sat in one for the first time. "Wow. This is really nice.", I thought to myself. It was unexpected.
Yeah definitely, here in Miami they're everywhere. W222 Base model with standard wheels, almost looks like a cheap knockoff compared of an AMG or facelift version. LOL
And I feel the same way about the w221, the w221 looks more classic -luxurious interior and sporty one of a kind exterior. Meanwhile the w222 is more "futuristic" luxurious interior and a generic exterior that looks like a stretched out C class. 😂
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 05:53 AM
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Depends on the weather
a generic exterior that looks like a stretched out C class. 😂

This exactly. There is no mistaking the W221 but with the W222, it's so similar.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 08:48 PM
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W222 AMG S63
I'd heard about the MB lineup starting to look more similar than different. I didn't think it was that bad until I saw this:




I do appreciate that the W221 looks like no other car in that generation nor does it look like any other S-Class.

Also, I'm really over the "big intakes in the front bumpers" look. It's like someone told them, "That looks kinda cool." a few generations ago and they just went nuts with it. Like telling your mom that you liked her banana pancakes that one time and now that's all she makes for you whenever you visit.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 08:56 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
I'd heard about the MB lineup starting to look more similar than different. I didn't think it was that bad until I saw this:




I do appreciate that the W221 looks like no other car in that generation nor does it look like any other S-Class.

Also, I'm really over the "big intakes in the front bumpers" look. It's like someone told them, "That looks kinda cool." a few generations ago and they just went nuts with it. Like telling your mom that you liked her banana pancakes that one time and now that's all she makes for you whenever you visit.
LOLLLLLLL,😂😂😂. Not to mention they sell "s class style" grilles and body kits for the c/e class
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 09:13 PM
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W222 AMG S63
Originally Posted by Rringer327
LOLLLLLLL,😂😂😂. Not to mention they sell "s class style" grilles and body kits for the c/e class
I haven't confirmed this, but I read that MB is only using the upright star on the S-Class and other top vehicles and doing flat hood badges on mid and low range vehicles. The pic above seems to confirm that.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 09:15 PM
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2010 Mercedes S550
Originally Posted by CQHall
I haven't confirmed this, but I read that MB is only using the upright star on the S-Class and other top vehicles and doing flat hood badges on mid and low range vehicles. The pic above seems to confirm that.
True. But ofc everyone just slaps an ornament on top and call it "top tier". Even if it's not an S
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Old Mar 19, 2023 | 12:15 PM
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Really love my S600. If I replace it, and that is a big if, I would opt for an S65 a few years newer than my 2007. Have recently looked at Coupes in the V12 but they are soooo expensive.
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Old Mar 19, 2023 | 06:01 PM
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Originally Posted by Rringer327
Definitely an upgrade over the s550.
That's why I'm at this conjunction. With the price range I'm looking at.... It's either a well equipped w221 s63 (6.2 N/A OR 5.5TT). Or the w222 s550.
Ik the w222 s550 would feel like more of an upgrade. But that s63 speed and presence is definitely something serious LOL😂
​​​​​
I just went thru the car search after I lost my 2013 S550 in an accident. Took me almost 4 mounts to find a replacement as I did not want to go with cars younger than 2013 model, i.e. THE LAST YEAR MERCEDES MADE THE GOOD LOOKING S-CLASS. The W222 and newer look like space ships and the whole sedan line all looks the same, like others have already posted, which kills the looks of the different class cars. The W221 is one extremely good looking car and it will look as good always when these "space ships" just lose their meaning to exist. I also have a 2010 E550, which represents the best looking E-class MB ever made. I think the 2011 is the same but then they went to the "Face Lift" and ruined the whole thing and from all of it you can see it is done for saving money to build it, not what is best for the consumer...

I went to test drive a 2015 W222 and did not like the drive at all. I could not feel the road as the steering was like way too light in highway speed. And the interior was like "plastiky" by what it looked and felt. I could see in everything that it was built to save money building it...Not for me.

So, I finally found a 75 000 mile driven 2012 S550 with exactly the same options I had in my 2013 model other than this one has better looking triple spoke AMG wheels in 19" size vs. less good looking AMG wheels in 20" that the 2013 model had. I like 19" better as it provider a little bit more protection for the wheels when hitting pot holes.

Last edited by Arrie; Mar 20, 2023 at 02:55 PM.
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