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I wanted to start a thread to outline my experiences with W222 ownership. Some day I'll write about my 10 year adventure with my W220 S600, but that'll have to wait for another day.
I've owned this beautiful, rebuilt title 2015 S600 for about a month. When I went to test drive this car, it had a coolant hose dragging on the ground, and was missing the lower engine covers. The car is well optioned, only missing the 3D sound system and the rear cooler. This was the lowest priced W222 S600 at the time, by about $20,000 USD, so I decided to make the purchase anyway. But the car wasn't really drivable.
I pulled the part number from the diverter valve that had been broken, A0005003040. Of course, that part was not available from MB, and neither were any of the parts it had been superseded by. I got frustrated, and purchased an "OEM" diverter valve for about $90 on eBay. I installed the diverter valve, topped up the coolant in the expansion reservoir (good job M277 engineers for adding this). I drove the car about 20 miles to work, and on my return home, noticed the car was dripping coolant. This time it was from the low temperature cooling circuit drain plug. The plug had been cracked when the previous owner/thief/whoever had broken the diverter valve. On this drive, I also learned none of the multi-contour pneumatic seat functions were working. Oh, and the car started running rough and threw a misfire code for cylinder 8. On my first drive! I thought the M277 had a better ignition system than my comparatively ancient M275.
I ordered a new drain plug, and associated hose, since it also could have hidden damage. I also ordered a C4 multiplexer, since my C3 won't communicate with the car, so I can't figure out what's going on with the seats. 24 spark plugs and an ignition coil were also in the mail.
Fast forward 2 weeks, and I've installed a few new underbody panels, transmission cooler hose assembly with drain plug, spark plugs, and #8 ignition coil. I installed a 2017 version of Xentry, and got the new C4 multiplexer working after learning I needed to assign an IP address to my virtual machine to establish communication. I check the faults, and the seat pump has been deactivated because of a leak. I clear the fault, check the pump and purge valve. Both are working normally. I check the powertrain control module, and it has a fault for the coolant circulation pump. I turn the pump on via the actuation menu, and it runs! But the fault persists.
The next day, I decided the low temperature circuit must be full of air from the previous accident/hose replacement. I pull a slight vacuum on the system with my transmission oil drain/fill system, and push nearly 2 quarts of fluid into the system. I bleed the intercoolers, and the pump is now clearly circulating fluid. Now there's no longer a coolant pump fault either. Victorious, I then think to myself about how the transmission cooler likely had no coolant flow, and I probably toasted my transmission fluid on my commute to work. But that's a problem for future me.
Last edited by Turboaction; Apr 17, 2025 at 12:44 AM.
Other problems for future me: Fix the left rear sunshade, find remotes for the rear screens, and think about replacing the right rear screen. Or remove it. It's scratched. Also, Android auto would be a nice upgrade, but then I need to learn how to remove the tray tables. Oh, the tray tables also were missing one of the rubber latches that holds the tray table closed when stored. You can't purchase just the latch, so I printed a blue one out of TPU with my 3D printer. Some day I'll get black TPU, but this will have to do.
Two Suspensia lower front control arm links are sitting in a box. These will go on soon to try to resolve my high speed vibration. Or it could be the Mucho Macho tires. And of course my 18" Monoblock AMG wheels don't fit. Why would they?
Nice example, hopefully you get it all sorted. Looks like the previous owner went crazy on Ebay with purchases including the knock off wheels, badges and grill. I would swap the wheels over to a nice forged set up as any cast aluminum wheel like the ones on it now will bend the first time you hit a pothole. That car is way to heavy for cheap cast aluminum wheels. Throw up some more pics when you get a chance.
Welcome to the fun and exciting world of Mercedes V12's. Most people who purchase a used version of these cars think they are getting an outstanding deal because they've depreciated so much to make them seem affordable. But these older V12's can crush anyone's spirits in a hurry. And the fact that you purchased one with a rebuilt title that had clearly been abused is even more baffling. That $20k you saved by buying a super cheap one will be gone quickly and you could end up spending double that or more to get the car sorted and somewhat reliable. Although things will keep breaking throughout your ownership of it.
I had a 2007 one owner S600 that I purchased with less than 24k miles in 2014. It was a perfect car that was serviced meticulously from day one. Thankfully I was able to purchase an outstanding warranty on it. In just 3 years and 23k miles, that warranty paid out around $24k in claims before I threw up my hands and said "no more" as it was in all the time for service work. I loved that car and all of the features it had, the way it drove and handled, and the imposing body of the W221. But reliability was definitely not its forte as even a never-abused low mileage Benz V12 can be a bank breaker.
When I purchased my current S550 almost 5 years ago, I had actually considered a 40k mile 2015 S600 because from reading this forum I was told that many of the issues with the Benz V12, although 98% the same as the one I had were sorted out. But I found out that NOBODY offered a warranty on a Benz V12 any more, so I stayed far away from it. And I'm extremely thankful that I did.
Good luck in your adventures with your car. But don't be afraid to throw in the towel at any time.
I owned a 2001 S600 V12, previously owned by an NBA player. It had around 40K and was 4 years old when I bought it...without a warranty, ouch! Just like @DaveW68 's experience, it was an amazxing car to drive but a true money pit. It was so bad that that after selling it I went away from MB for more than a decade. In the list of things I'd NEVER buy, a non-driving rebuilt title S600 is right near the top of the list. Not sure what the OP actually paid for it, but that $20K in savings is not nearly enough justification for most people. Sounds like OP knows his way around these cars really well so he has the "courage" to deal with the multitude of problems.
Welcome to the fun and exciting world of Mercedes V12's. Most people who purchase a used version of these cars think they are getting an outstanding deal because they've depreciated so much to make them seem affordable. But these older V12's can crush anyone's spirits in a hurry. And the fact that you purchased one with a rebuilt title that had clearly been abused is even more baffling. That $20k you saved by buying a super cheap one will be gone quickly and you could end up spending double that or more to get the car sorted and somewhat reliable. Although things will keep breaking throughout your ownership of it.
I had a 2007 one owner S600 that I purchased with less than 24k miles in 2014. It was a perfect car that was serviced meticulously from day one. Thankfully I was able to purchase an outstanding warranty on it. In just 3 years and 23k miles, that warranty paid out around $24k in claims before I threw up my hands and said "no more" as it was in all the time for service work. I loved that car and all of the features it had, the way it drove and handled, and the imposing body of the W221. But reliability was definitely not its forte as even a never-abused low mileage Benz V12 can be a bank breaker.
When I purchased my current S550 almost 5 years ago, I had actually considered a 40k mile 2015 S600 because from reading this forum I was told that many of the issues with the Benz V12, although 98% the same as the one I had were sorted out. But I found out that NOBODY offered a warranty on a Benz V12 any more, so I stayed far away from it. And I'm extremely thankful that I did.
Good luck in your adventures with your car. But don't be afraid to throw in the towel at any time.
Dave, Remember the Russian guy that bought the wrecked W221 in Oregon? That was good fun watching him mess with that. Wasn't one of the first things he bought was like a rear seat refrigerator for it?
Dave, Remember the Russian guy that bought the wrecked W221 in Oregon? That was good fun watching him mess with that. Wasn't one of the first things he bought was like a rear seat refrigerator for it?
Yes!! We even had a screen play going on in the forum about his adventures.
I agree on the wheels , those must go away . V12 engines run smoother than V8 if everything works perfectly . At least . it's what I was told by mechanics
Happy Driving
Which wheels did you choose, brand and style?? Any pics?
Fikse wheels in the Pro-Fil S05 configuration (simple 5 spoke design: no longer available/advertised.)
I ordered 1 month before COVID hit,
they quoted 11 weeks
It took closer to 22 weeks with all the supply train disruption.
While on the search for wheels, preferably 19", I noticed a few sets of AMG GT sedan wheels. These are quite a bit wider than the stock W222 wheels, so I have no idea how well they'd fit. However, I did fit 295 width front tires from my Viper on the rear of my W220 without any trouble. Has anyone attempted something like this? I need to convince the nice lady at the soup kitchen to let me test fit her wheels :-)
On Thursday the dealer sent a "transporter" to haul my car back to their location for a state inspection, because the title was rebuilt in Indiana and Illinois won't issue a clean title without it getting inspected in-state. I kindly asked that the transporter on the return trip utilize a trailer with fenders, and legal equipment. As far as I can tell, this car was never wrecked. All of the bumpers and other parts still have the original manufacture date. It's amazing that it has a branded title from a theft recovery, but such is life. The way I own cars, I'll probably have this one until it's fully depreciated, and it'll be worth more in parts regardless of the title status anyway.
Last edited by Turboaction; Apr 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM.
While on the search for wheels, preferably 19", I noticed a few sets of AMG GT sedan wheels. These are quite a bit wider than the stock W222 wheels, so I have no idea how well they'd fit. However, I did fit 295 width front tires from my Viper on the rear of my W220 without any trouble. Has anyone attempted something like this? I need to convince the nice lady at the soup kitchen to let me test fit her wheels :-)
On Thursday the dealer sent a "transporter" to haul my car back to their location for a state inspection, because the title was rebuilt in Indiana and Illinois won't issue a clean title without it getting inspected in-state. I kindly asked that the transporter on the return trip utilize a trailer with fenders, and legal equipment. As far as I can tell, this car was never wrecked. All of the bumpers and other parts still have the original manufacture date. It's amazing that it has a branded title from a theft recovery, but such is life. The way I own cars, I'll probably have this one until it's fully depreciated, and it'll be worth more in parts regardless of the title status anyway.
I'm thankful to the OP for sharing his experience with this car.
My honest but hmble prediction is this will be an unmitigated disaster! When it was first posted I thought this was a terrible idea. But after this last post I'm even more convinced this will turn out terribly, and I didn't think that was possible. This seems like a joke. The "dealer" sent a transporter...you call that a transporter??? That's not a flatbed, it's a ford Expedition with a old rusty trailer with bald tires. Are you kidding me? And I'm even more astonished that the car was bought from a dealer. No wonder it was only $20K less other cars available, it should have been $50K less, which is what the dealer paid for it. All this and not to mention they put "cosmo" tires and cheap replica wheels on the car. Google the VIN and see if it showed up on coparts or vinlocator. I want to see how this turns out because EVERY indicator says this isn't going to end well. Or maybe I'm missing something....
I'm thankful to the OP for sharing his experience with this car.
My honest but hmble prediction is this will be an unmitigated disaster! When it was first posted I thought this was a terrible idea. But after this last post I'm even more convinced this will turn out terribly, and I didn't think that was possible. This seems like a joke. The "dealer" sent a transporter...you call that a transporter??? That's not a flatbed, it's a ford Expedition with a old rusty trailer with bald tires. Are you kidding me? And I'm even more astonished that the car was bought from a dealer. No wonder it was only $20K less other cars available, it should have been $50K less, which is what the dealer paid for it. All this and not to mention they put "cosmo" tires and cheap replica wheels on the car. Google the VIN and see if it showed up on coparts or vinlocator. I want to see how this turns out because EVERY indicator says this isn't going to end well. Or maybe I'm missing something....
Oh trust me, I've looked at the history of this car, as well as the history of MANY other S63 and CLS63 models. This was a one owner until early 2024, and after he sold it, the history has been... depreciating. The 2nd owner had the car for only a few months before it was stolen, but then it was recovered shortly afterwards. It was issued a rebuilt title, likely due to an insurance payout (probably fraud?). It looks like when the insurance company recovered the car, they took it to a Mercedes dealer to be detailed, then the dealer listed it for sale after buying it at a local auction. I guess I should have specified the type of transport required in order to complete the inspection in the contract that I signed. I knew this type of underground car transport industry exists, as I have a Russian acquaintance in the area who also transports cars for a living. It must be the go-to career for some of our Eastern European friends.
The whole used Mercedes market is an interesting one. Within 100 miles of where I live, there are 2 or 3 dealers that are buying every E63/CLS63/S63 Mercedes they can find in the $20-$60K range. They detail the car, reset the check engine light, put the cheapest tires/wheels imaginable on the car and list it for sale. One of the dealers is buying all the wrecked ones and piecing the cars together. They sell almost exclusively to online buyers, many who likely never realize the history of the car. The dealer my car came from was in the Southeast side of Chicago, so you can imagine the market they cater to.
The way I look at it, the dealers can renew their license, scour online auctions, make acquisitions, detail the cars, and then list the cars and sit on inventory in order to make a few thousand dollars. Multiply that by enough cars, and I guess you can pay a few salaries in the used car business.
Now, if I can only get Autohaus Parts Delivered to cancel or actually submit my order for some screws, clips, and an underbody panel. They have been sitting on my order since April 4th and won't answer calls or emails. They're local, but I'm not sure they're doing OK. The parent dealership is in a lawsuit for shady business practices, so that may be affecting their operations.
I don't think I've ever claimed that Mercedes ownership was drama free. But it's worth every second. What reasonably reliable car could possibly be more enjoyable to drive in cold weather than a W222 S600?
Last edited by Turboaction; Apr 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM.
Reason: clarity
Oh trust me, I've looked at the history of this car, as well as the history of MANY other S63 and CLS63 models. This was a one owner until early 2024, and after he sold it, the history has been... depreciating. The 2nd owner had the car for only a few months before it was stolen, but then it was recovered shortly afterwards. It was issued a rebuilt title, likely due to an insurance payout (probably fraud?). It looks like when the insurance company recovered the car, they took it to a Mercedes dealer to be detailed, then the dealer listed it for sale after buying it at a local auction. I guess I should have specified the type of transport required in order to complete the inspection in the contract that I signed. I knew this type of underground car transport industry exists, as I have a Russian acquaintance in the area who also transports cars for a living. It must be the go-to career for some of our Eastern European friends.
The whole used Mercedes market is an interesting one. Within 100 miles of where I live, there are 2 or 3 dealers that are buying every E63/CLS63/S63 Mercedes they can find in the $20-$60K range. They detail the car, reset the check engine light, put the cheapest tires/wheels imaginable on the car and list it for sale. One of the dealers is buying all the wrecked ones and piecing the cars together. They sell almost exclusively to online buyers, many who likely never realize the history of the car. The dealer my car came from was in the Southeast side of Chicago, so you can imagine the market they cater to.
The way I look at it, the dealers can renew their license, scour online auctions, make acquisitions, detail the cars, and then list the cars and sit on inventory in order to make a few thousand dollars. Multiply that by enough cars, and I guess you can pay a few salaries in the used car business.
Now, if I can only get Autohaus Parts Delivered to cancel or actually submit my order for some screws, clips, and an underbody panel. They have been sitting on my order since April 4th and won't answer calls or emails. They're local, but I'm not sure they're doing OK. The parent dealership is in a lawsuit for shady business practices, so that may be affecting their operations.
I don't think I've ever claimed that Mercedes ownership was drama free. But it's worth every second. What reasonably reliable car could possibly be more enjoyable to drive in cold weather than a W222 S600?
I'm wondering...why woiuld you buy from a company with a 1.7 star online ranking??? If i had to guess; the company isn't legitimate at all. They bought some fake positive reviews and have scammed everybody ever since. But, maybe I'm wrong.
OP, I'd love to research your VIN, care to post it or send me a PM?
I'm wondering...why woiuld you buy from a company with a 1.7 star online ranking??? If i had to guess; the company isn't legitimate at all. They bought some fake positive reviews and have scammed everybody ever since. But, maybe I'm wrong.
OP, I'd love to research your VIN, care to post it or send me a PM?
Honestly, I think I can sort the car out as long as a title is issued. The main reasons I wanted to upgrade from my W220 were to have functional cruise control, native bluetooth audio, and better parts availability. My expectations were pretty low. Sadly, the liability insurance on this car is almost double what is was for the W220, so this will be some expensive cruise control!
Is the electric power steering experience better than the W220 hydraulic steering? No. Do I need huge front brakes that require 19" wheels? Nope. Will this car provide comfortable transportation in the cold weather months? You bet it will!
Honestly, I think I can sort the car out as long as a title is issued. The main reasons I wanted to upgrade from my W220 were to have functional cruise control, native bluetooth audio, and better parts availability. My expectations were pretty low. Sadly, the liability insurance on this car is almost double what is was for the W220, so this will be some expensive cruise control!
Is the electric power steering experience better than the W220 hydraulic steering? No. Do I need huge front brakes that require 19" wheels? Nope. Will this car provide comfortable transportation in the cold weather months? You bet it will!
Nice car, really nice!! Once I saw the "real" number you paid for it, I realize why it was so attractive. Still, you have your work cut out for you, but it sounds like you're ready for the surprises. Just be sure to choose reputable parts sellers in the future. There are more scams than ever so reputation is everything. And given what you paid for the car, you're way ahead of the game, so now it's time to spend for quality.
She's home safe and sound. For whatever reason, they decided to raise (or attempt to) the rear sun shades in the doors during the inspection. To be honest, I don't know how to roll down the rear windows from the front. I'm guessing the state inspectors didn't either. The car passed inspection, and I should have plates and a title soon (fingers crossed).
Next on the list is to clean the instrument panel screens, and possibly apply a screen protector (one of my panels has some smudges and I'm already preparing for the worst). I may also order a functional window shade while I'm at it. Most importantly, I plan on driving the big girl, and applying a wax/ceramic coating (Project Farm approved). Before winter, I'll spray sheep extract in the doors and in the rear wheel arches to help protect the critical areas from corrosion.
And yes, I know I need to install the drywall above my garage door. The bricks on the front of the house were sagging, so I had to support them, reinforce the beam across the garage span, and then get the garage door and spring back together before the wife got upset. Then, priorities...
2nd update for this week: I was able to wear the front wheels/tires from my friend's S550 to see if it resolved my vibration issues in the 55-70 mph range. It appears my suspicions were correct, so now I have some Pirelli WeatherActive tires on the way (this is my winter car after all). The funniest thing is, these summer compound Mucho Macho tires have a M+S rating. These tires are so sticky at 60 degrees they lift rocks from the road. I imagine they're hard plastic in cold weather, but the one person on the internet that admit to using these last winter said they were OK. Maybe these tires have magic unicorn kitty paws molded within?
One question for fellow V12 owners: Does the car seem to be torque managed in the first 2 gears? The car seems to be running fine, but it doesn't flash the orange triangle quite as much in the lower gears vs my W220. Maybe the traction control just manages the toque a bit better for the available traction. I haven't looked to see if there's a way to turn off traction control yet. In the past when I took the W220 to an auto-x event, the car performed the best with ESP disabled. Dyno mode was notably worse, as it disabled the ever-so-awesome torque vectoring in the corners.
Torque is limited in first for sure. More power applied in higher ratios. My car has no issues getting the car to blink lights and smack me on the back of my hand repeatedly in the wet. Here in Phoenix with fresh tires it will happily dig from a stop with good traction. Is great fun surprising the noisy Mopars, Camaros and Mustangs. Until ambient gets over 90. Then boost is pulled. Needs Water/Methanol injection. That and a limited slip are on my to-do list.
I think this car will need at least 1, 1/4 mile pass to see if it can beat the W220 S600. That old girl ran a 12.4 @ 115 mph! For reference, my Viper GTS's best run is an 11.98 @ 118 mph.
Today I nearly eliminated all of the vibration that peaked at 65 mph by applying aluminum tape to the inside pilot of the Chinese wheels to help them hub-center. I should be able to keep these knock-off wheels around as a winter set after all! Next on the list is to change the transmission fluid and filter. Since the low temp circuit was open, there's a good chance the transmission fluid may have reduced life. The fluid is 10 years old and has almost 95K miles on it, so it should be changed anyway!
I drove some coworkers to lunch this week. One is a fellow W222 owner, and another was in the market for a Chevy Blazer. After riding in the back, and front of the S600, he's now considering a BMW X5, but really wants something with Mercedes level massaging seats. It's a slippery slope...
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