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My S580 mostly tortured me! I was an early adopter and my car lacked features.and had many glitches, if not issues. The dealership took it back after 3 weeks. Couldn’t stay away…I followed this forum and felt things had settled down…so…I decided to give it another go….this time with the S500. I made certain NOT to have the HUD because the cameras on the driver never allowed me to position the driver’s seat and steering wheel as I wanted. There was no override (maybe that’s been corrected). I had non stop door handle issues….and my car lacked the massage feature. So far..the S500 is a gemstone..does everything as it’s supposed to…and the ride, with the standard Bridgestone 19s, is very satisfying to me. Maybe it’s the lighter weight…or better front/rear balance… the ride and the agility seems improved when I compare it to my previous S580. Glad to be back!
Mostly freeway driving…but here’s my mpg read out today:
My S580 mostly tortured me! I was an early adopter and my car lacked features.and had many glitches, if not issues. The dealership took it back after 3 weeks. Couldn’t stay away…I followed this forum and felt things had settled down…so…I decided to give it another go….this time with the S500. I made certain NOT to have the HUD because the cameras on the driver never allowed me to position the driver’s seat and steering wheel as I wanted. There was no override (maybe that’s been corrected). I had non stop door handle issues….and my car lacked the massage feature. So far..the S500 is a gemstone..does everything as it’s supposed to…and the ride, with the standard Bridgestone 19s, is very satisfying to me. Maybe it’s the lighter weight…or better front/rear balance… the ride and the agility seems improved when I compare it to my previous S580. Glad to be back!
Mostly freeway driving…but here’s my mpg read out today:
I agree I really enjoy my S 500. Congrats. Please post a few pics
I saw the tennis ball thing, liked the idea, and implemented it. Turned out the cats liked the idea even more: Once discovered they derived great joy from doing burnouts on our hoods trying to bat them around.
Yes! Enjoy your S500 Large Turbo Straight Six E-Supercharged Torque Monster with Variable Valve Lift & ISG Boost. Gets even better as the engine breaks in.
What a shear joy to drive in AMG dress set to S+ mode with rear steering on the factory staggered 20"s. Thank you Mercedes for bringing back the Inline 6
Terrific video….puts into words why I’m loving the S500 so much. The response is so linear, so torque rich throughout the entire range. I had read that the 48 V mild hybrid in the 500 covered the AC compressor…unlike the 580. It was mentioned in the order guide. Probably substantially accounts for its efficiency. Thanks for sharing the video.
This shows the difference between the capability of the 6 cylinder (500) mild hybrid with “electric auxiliary compressor” and the 8 cylinder (580) mild hybrid (no mention of “electric auxiliary compressor). This distinction is evidenced in the order guide as well.
Last edited by Nonformulaic; Oct 8, 2022 at 12:33 AM.
Yeah, lol, neither one has an accessory drive, belt, etc. The both run off the electric for the accessories; it's one of the main benefits of the mild hybrid system.
Edit... I see where you went wrong there, you said the AC compressor was convered by the mild hybrid on the 500 versus the 580 which isn't correct; it's electric on both which is what I was pointing out. The aux drive is an air compressor which helps the turbo to spool sooner. Not sure if you were mixing up your hardware or confused about what is doing what. In any event that aux compressor is particular to the 6, the 8 doesn't need it because the car can rely on piston surface to provide low end. I liked the 500 myself but it lacks the complete effortlessness that the 580 has so I went that way. To be honest if there were no V8 580 I would have been fine with the V6, I'm not in it for the performance here which is woefully lacking either way compared to my previous car. This one is all about the comfort factor.
[QUOTE=crabman;8647850]Yeah, lol, neither one has an accessory drive, belt, etc. The both run off the electric for the accessories; it's one of the main benefits of the mild hybrid system.
Edit... I see where you went wrong there, you said the AC compressor was convered by the mild hybrid on the 500 versus the 580 which isn't correct; it's electric on both which is what I was pointing out. The aux drive is an air compressor which helps the turbo to spool sooner. Not sure if you were mixing up your hardware or confused about what is doing what. In any event that aux compressor is particular to the 6, the 8 doesn't need it because the car can rely on piston surface to provide low end. I liked the 500 myself but it lacks the complete effortlessness that the 580 has so I went that way. To be honest if there were no V8 580 I would have been fine with the V6, I'm not in it for the performance here which is woefully lacking either way compared to my previous car. This one is all about the comfort factor.[/QUOTCrab the 500 has a straight 6 not a v6 if that matters. I know my car is plenty fast and comfortable and a real treat to drive especially on the highway.
@Nonformulaic glad to hear you like you S500!! I have a 2023 waiting at the VPC and I was starting to get nervous I might be seeing a lot of issues once I received my car. I've read about so many problems posted in the forums, especially the handle problem. I'm hoping I have the same luck as you.
Last edited by EBRANGER; Oct 11, 2022 at 06:02 PM.
@Nonformulaic How else is the S500 different from the S580? I never test drove a S580. Are you satisfied with the inline 6 and does it provide enough power for you? I've always been a huge fan of inline 6's since I've own a 1992 W124 and the engine is sweet. I also owned a 2019 BMW 540i with an inline 6, and that was a marvelous motor.
EBRANGER….Congrats on your new acquisition. Yes…mine is year 2022. May, 2022 production to be precise. Having had both 500 and 580 versions, I personally prefer the inline 6. I’m not a power hungry guy….and the 0-60 of 4.9 seconds more than suffices….speaking for myself. And this is coming from an old guy whose owned a few 911s with manual, not to mention a few 7s as well. I prefer the S500 to the S580 because of the more than 400 lb weight savings along with that certain “straight inline 6” feeling. It is silky smooth at all drivable rpm levels…and the “gurgle” sound of the V8 is absent. Perhaps many like that sound? Separately, the standard 19s with the $200 upgraded alloys look good….and drive without a hint of being the dreaded RFTs (which they are). I see no reason to go larger. If I want a tighter ride, I can set the suspension on “sport” in the “individual” custom mode.
This time around, I intentionally avoided the HUD. The S class version of HUD mixes in a few cameras on the driver’s eyes. As such, it was always telling me how smart the car was by correcting my seat and steering wheel position. I had non stop full size messages on the instrument cluster. If I positioned myself as the cameras decided for me, I was uncomfortable, if not resentful!
I love my S500….but that is not to say that it’s free of a few glitches, none which cannot be rectified by a simple reboot of the screen at rest or while driving. It’s a rare occurrence and it’s something I can live with. The car is just that wonderful.
Obviously, it’s a matter of taste and choice. If efficiency enters into the equation, there’s less to think about. I know I sound rather definitive…but…I’ve lived with both versions!
Last edited by Nonformulaic; Oct 11, 2022 at 07:04 PM.
The aero wheels are nice for sure, especially with black paint since you get the matching detailing. Subjective, of course; puts it in good company with a lot or even most of the stuff we discuss around here. I didn't like the 20s in pictures but thought they looked better in the metal. The default wheel look like1990s era Chrysler, strong dislike for those. In any event I stayed with the 19s (Aero wheels) looking for better ride quality. Mine is also sitting at the VPC gathering dust. Moss. Environmental pollutants. Rats nests. Maybe getting rattle-canned by a couple of young hooligans. The mind does wander...
The aero wheels are nice for sure, especially with black paint since you get the matching detailing. Subjective, of course; puts it in good company with a lot or even most of the stuff we discuss around here. I didn't like the 20s in pictures but thought they looked better in the metal. The default wheel look like1990s era Chrysler, strong dislike for those. In any event I stayed with the 19s (Aero wheels) looking for better ride quality. Mine is also sitting at the VPC gathering dust. Moss. Environmental pollutants. Rats nests. Maybe getting rattle-canned by a couple of young hooligans. The mind does wander...
@crabman Great post! I needed that!!! LMAO! Like you, my mind is wandering too as to what the state my car is in. Maybe home to a few dozen possums or other creatures. They might have even set up some music profiles for themselves :-). I ordered the Aero wheels too! I think they look great on a black car, and like @Nonformulaic I was trying to avoid the dreaded RFT road noise. Hopefully our rides will be on the road soon.
EBRANGER….Congrats on your new acquisition. Yes…mine is year 2022. May, 2022 production to be precise. Having had both 500 and 580 versions, I personally prefer the inline 6. I’m not a power hungry guy….and the 0-60 of 4.9 seconds more than suffices….speaking for myself. And this is coming from an old guy whose owned a few 911s with manual, not to mention a few 7s as well. I prefer the S500 to the S580 because of the more than 400 lb weight savings along with that certain “straight inline 6” feeling. It is silky smooth at all drivable rpm levels…and the “gurgle” sound of the V8 is absent. Perhaps many like that sound? Separately, the standard 19s with the $200 upgraded alloys look good….and drive without a hint of being the dreaded RFTs (which they are). I see no reason to go larger. If I want a tighter ride, I can set the suspension on “sport” in the “individual” custom mode.
This time around, I intentionally avoided the HUD. The S class version of HUD mixes in a few cameras on the driver’s eyes. As such, it was always telling me how smart the car was by correcting my seat and steering wheel position. I had non stop full size messages on the instrument cluster. If I positioned myself as the cameras decided for me, I was uncomfortable, if not resentful!
I love my S500….but that is not to say that it’s free of a few glitches, none which cannot be rectified by a simple reboot of the screen at rest or while driving. It’s a rare occurrence and it’s something I can live with. The car is just that wonderful.
Obviously, it’s a matter of taste and choice. If efficiency enters into the equation, there’s less to think about. I know I sound rather definitive…but…I’ve lived with both versions!
@Nonformulaic thanks so much for your reply. It was REALLY helpful to me! I guess I'm an old guy now too now that I qualify for Medicare :-).
It sounds like I am following your lead with my order. I purposely did not order the HUD, but questioned my decision multiple times. I had no clue that my seat position would be impacted, so I am really glad I passed on the HUD. Your info was great to know! For my last car (BMW 540i) I only used the HUD for speed limit info since I only drive my car around town.
I also went with the 19" Aero wheels since I wanted as much rubber as possible and avoid the dreaded RFT road noise. I also think they look great on a black car.
It was also great to hear that the S580 had the "gurgle" sound, which would have drove me nuts, as I love a really quiet motor, like that of an inline 6.
I figured there may be some glitches, but it sounds like they are just few now and do not impact the drivability of the car. I work in IT, so reboots are something I've been dealing with for 40+ years :-).
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
