mercedesornot

Looking for input.
Considering picking up this car for the wife.
CPO with warranty through 8/22 which can be extended for 2 years for $5k.
Pros/Cons??

https://www.mercedesbenzofokemos.com...UG8FBXHA326338

PatentLawyer

There's lots of discussion on here of the relative merits of the pre- or post-facelift W222. Bottom line is that the W222 is very solid, and is proving to be very reliable. That said, the pre- and post-facelift models have their own advantages and disadvantages, and of course post-facelift models are going to cost more. The post-facelift models have better tech and the new V8....most everyone prefers the new tech, but reasonable people can disagree over which V8 they prefer.....and it's just a fact that the older V8 has a more proven track record. The pre-facelift models have headlight moisture issues and internet issues that annoy some folks.

The car you linked is very nice; that silver wood trim is uncommon and looks nice. If you have generally smooth roads in your area the 19s will probably be fine, but if you live in pothole city consider a car with the base 18" wheels. I have had both, and prefer the car with the 18s, but that's very much a matter of taste/tolerance.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

SW20S

Did you ever replace your runflats Patent?

I haven't had the S Class on both 18s and 19s, but I did have both on my Lexus LS460s. With good tires, there is very little ride difference between the 18s and 19s. The 19s still have a lot of sidewall, and thats really what its about is sidewall cushioning. Now, if you go to 20s youre getting into a very low profile tire and there's definitely a big ride tradeoff. I noticed a difference between runflats and non runflats on my 19s that was more noticable than 18s vs 19s on my Lexus sedans.

To me the big issue with 18s on the S Class is to get them factory you can't get the AMG package which IMO dramatically changes the looks of the car. So, if you want that to go to 18s you're going to have to buy wheels, etc and the cost of that is going to be big.

PatentLawyer

Hi Steve--No, I still have the stock Bridgestone runflats. I am giving them a chance; since they are literally *brand new* tires I am not running out to change them immediately.

I would agree that the difference between the 18s and 19s isn't massive, but I think the 18s do a better job of giving a "magic carpet" type of ride over fairly smooth roads, whereas with the 19s very few roads are smooth enough to give that effect. Not a dealbreaker, of course. And the AMG wheels were sweet.

SW20S

I think you'll find that the 19s on regular tires do that just as well as the 18s on runflats.

IMO the difference is enough to replace brand new run flats. Mine came off at 200 miles.

2012 merc amg

Yep my 2017 with non run flats on 20s rode better over broken up roads than my 2018 on 19s with run flats. On the big bumps the 2018 rides better with the MBC. Magic body control. Rare option.

jumpman726

I've been looking at that same S550 for the past couple of months. They've slowly lowered the price on it. The metallic silver trim on the interior is the main reason I like it, but the deal breaker for me is that it's missing Distronic and the Surround View 360 camera. On such a big car I need the Surround View Camera. After reviewing the Carfax, I noticed that the headlight bulb was replaced twice in only 15,000 miles which likely means it had moisture in the headlamps. The windshield was also replaced. Because of all those reasons I'm passing on it even though I love the color combo.

2012 merc amg

That’s strange all those options and no surround view. That’s a shame. Maybe that’s why Rockville dumped the car to the Auction. Makes ya wonder. Low miles and nice interior too. The 2 year extension on the Warrantee can be had for closer to 4K at the right dealer.

Sumfuncomet

I just bought a 2017 with Warmth and Comfort, 19" staggered split five spokes, NON sport which I definitely wanted, a trunk spoiler, NO DAP which I am just not fond of. I prefer to drive my own car. I had the full Pilot Assist on my Volvo S90, while it worked great It bothered me for one big reason. I have two other cars without drivers assistance and I would always get confused switching back and forth between cars....I kept expecting my Infiniti to brake itself while on cruise control, I almost ran into the back of somebody. For me, no DAP was my choice, BUT the power rear seats were a MUST!!!

haYnBenz

Good move to pass on this one in my opinion. Odd options combo - Premium Package, rear memory/heated seats, and chauffeur package but nothing else. You are right, Distronic Plus and the surround view camera are must haves in my book too. Especially at this price.

MichaelinChicag

I owned a 2017 S550 that was a dealer demo. It was the same selenite gray with the crystal gray/seashell gray interior and the metallized wood. I was a beautiful car and a rare interior that really appealed to me. It was my first S-class and truly spoiled me in many ways. It ran flawlessly for the 2 years I owned it. However, in all that time, I regretted that it did not have the adaptive cruise control option or the 360 surround view camera. I will also say that the nearly white carpeting was a challenge to keep looking clean while living in the midwest climate. I eventually traded it for 2019 S560 with all the options the 2017 was lacking and a few I didn't need, same selenite gray exterior, but black Nappa leather interior, which is WAY easier to keep looking nice, and the flowing lines trim. The interior in this one is also unique in its own way and I really appreciate the options that my 2017 was lacking, but both have been flawless ownership and driving experiences. Good luck with your decision.

MBS63AMG

I guess I'm just lucky but I've now owned 3 cars with RF tires and I have had no problems at all with them.

MBS63AMG

No distronic and surround view is a big NO for me. I didn't know that W222s had a no-distronic option. I thought that was on all of them. Sounds like the car could be negotiated at or below $50K. I guarantee you it wouldn't pull more that $45K on wholesale.

2012 merc amg

On the 2015 I had with no surround view I was constantly scraping the low front end on curbs and costing $$$ to repair. Got to the point where I started backing the car into spots then I started getting tickets lol.

jumpman726

MB has a CPO offer until March 1st on 2017/18/19 S Classes - 1.99% plus first 2 month's payment credit (up to $1,500). That may be why that dealer hasn't dropped the price much, although they were asking around $65K just a month or two ago.

It's a terrible time to buy a car. Why? Because dealers are raising their prices on used cars. I saw two local dealers raise their prices on preowned S Classes. One 2018 S 560 was priced at $69,999 for over a month and they raised it by $7K. A day or two later the car was sold. Another one is a used 2020 S 450 priced at $79,999 and they raised the price by $5K.

Katie22

My Maybach is just a bit more than that price and has ALL the stuff you could ever ask for.

PatentLawyer

I say buy Katie's Maybach so you can sneer at us poor folks in S-classes.

MBNUT1

Mere peasants.

chassis

Improving economy and better weather coming means higher used vehicle prices. I wouldn’t look for prices to soften on average.

MacMP

Thanks to the COVID recession, and the corresponding shortage of pre-owned vehicles, used car prices are close to 20% higher than they were a year ago. As this pandemic comes to an end in the last half of 2021, I predict pre-owned values will plummet as trade-in’s and lease returns flood the market. Now is a terrible time to purchase a used vehicle if you are concerned with how much it will be worth while you own it.

As an example, 13 months ago I purchased my 2016 S550 4Matic at auction for $42,400; with 34,600 miles on it. Mannheim Market Report (MMR was $42,000), otherwise known as wholesale.

It now has 60,000 miles on it with an MMR of $40,300. This is highly unusual.

MMR for a 2016 S550 4Matic with 35,000 miles is now $42,600 and NADA retail is $50,550. A year later, 2016’s are selling for $600.00 more at wholesale than they were a year ago. Supply and demand at work.

chassis

@MacMP I don't see prices softening. Supply hasn't meaningfully caught up from the 2020 shutdowns. Supply chains are not running all that well for carmakers. When the pandemic is over, as you mentioned, the labor market should also be improved from where it is today, enabling more consumers to spend more money. I see vehicle prices, new and used, firm to strengthening for the medium term, at which time we are all entitled to revise our forecasts.

cetialpha5

Help, I'm being repressed.

MacMP

@chassis , I hope you are correct. That will save my financial institution a ton on money.

However, at this point of the recession, bankruptcy filings, repossessions and voluntary turn-ins are beginning to accelerate. Current forecasts put the likelihood of auto loan delinquencies, repos, and charge offs quadrupling from 2020 levels at close to 70%. If these forecasts are correct, or close, the flood of vehicles to auction will drive prices for most car segments down. Pair that event with a significant decline in available jobs (read qualified borrowers) because the new administration wants to create a national minimum wage of $15.00/hr while many privately owned service business cease to exist; and it looks pretty ugly for car prices later this year.

I believe this might hold true even for the S-Class. Why? Because there won’t be enough qualified buyers to take the trade-ins and lease turn-ins. The only wrench I see for that prediction is how unappealing the W223 is and that the other new alternatives like the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 are also pathetic options. This might just make used S-Class versions highly desirable and therein more valuable.

Again, here is to hoping you are correct! CHEERS!

2012 merc amg

Could go either way it's a tough call. All I know is I just won't get a new 2021 and up S class and won't get a new E class either. They have really done a lot of cost cutting with the E class and it's not good. Very happy with my 2019 E450 Wagon with it's V6 and of course my 2018 S560. Both are long term keepers for me no matter what the future holds for used car prices.

SW20S

I wouldn't agree with that, having driven both cars extensively they're both excellent.