Hey everyone, I'm new here. I've owned Audi's, BMW's, but looking at my first S-class for my wife. There is a very reasonably priced S500 CPO nearby. Not a lot of fancy options. It has 20" wheels.
What do I need to know? Am I going to hate myself for buying this because it's going to break every day? Are these reasonably reliable? Are there blowout problems with the 20" wheels?
Thoughts?
Thanks all

 

Sure it is great, but most prefer the 580 for the V8 and extra power. You might want to compare them. Less panache and resale on the 500. After I drove the e450 I could not buy a e350. Don't buy if you are looking for reliability. It is about luxury and power, at least for the 580. Do some research there are options that you may wish you had down the road, and that may spoil your experience. Look at the carfax that might give you some comfort about the reliability thus far. The dealer can also share their more detailed records. It is a bit of a crap shoot, that's why pple are willing to spend money on extended warranty. Do not get additional cpo years, there are better alternatives which cover alot more items.

 

I like my S500. In fact I purposely chose it over the V8 hoping for better long term reliability since it’s a newly developed engine. I know BMW’s B58 straight sizes are rock solid so I was hoping Mercedes would develop one with similar magic. It’s plenty powerful enough for me.

 

I had a 2022 S580. They bought it back as it was quite problematic. If you must, I suggest trying for at least a 2023 and preferably a 2024. Best of luck to you.

 

I'd look into 23; at that point most cars came with all the standard features, not so before. They also resolved a number of gremlins by then, most of them were software glitches, so that's not huge, but I'd at least make them agree to fully flash the car. To be honest, it's a good idea to make a flash part of the sale, with any CPO nowadays. It's a lot harder to get it after, and they are often not up to date.

 

Flash the car as in update everything starting with MBUX and then the modules?

 

As others have said, I'd try to at least go with a 23+ MY vehicles as they would have more issues worked out and no parts shortages related omissions in options.
The inline-6 is a newer design with great reviews, so if the I6 noise doesn't bother you then go with it by all means.
For me, I prefer the V8 sound and effortless power build-up. The attribute of heavy, lux sedan goes well with a V8 IMO.

 

I’m the guy you want to talk to. Just purchased a 2022 S500 4Matic CPO from a US dealer six months ago. 33k miles on it at the time. Original Hankook Ventus S1Noble tires on it. 20 inch AMG staggered wheel package. I have owned all of the Germans through the years, and multiple examples of all of them.
I have put 7500 mostly highway miles on it since. It is a wonderful driving car considering that I bought it to be a highway driver.
It has had the following issues:
Brought it home and then put it in the garage as I was going on vacation the next week. When I returned from vacation, it was dead in the garage. Got it started with a jump pack and took it to the dealership, which is a dealership in a medium sized United States city. They gave me a loaner vehicle, and the car sat at the dealership for eight days. Apparently, all that was done during that time was it sat on a battery charger, because it was given back to me after eight days and I was told that it was just a dead battery. The dealership did also tell me that they noted that one of the under panels around the front wheels appeared to have impacted something and offered to look under the panel for $150. I told them no because I hadn’t driven the car yet and that they had just inspected it as a CPO and should have looked at it at that time as part of the CPO inspection.
I took the car back and continued to drive it. The app would continuously give me low-voltage warnings when the car was in my garage at home and I had failed to lock it. It never failed to start for me or stranded me anywhere. I took down the underpanels and found that indeed something had impacted the underside, but that there was no damage to any vital structures underneath. I repaired the fiberglass underpanels myself. I did find that the oil pan and the front universal joint were saturated with oil and road grime from a leak of some sort, but because of the sheer volume of oil and the apparent age of this leak, I was unable to tell from where it was coming. I also could not be sure it wasn’t just from sloppy service procedures in the past. Therefore, I proceeded to clean the entire area, change the oil and filter (as I only believe in 5000 mile oil change intervals) and revisit it in another 2500 miles.

I then took the car in to have PPF applied and window tinting done. I also took the OEM charger with me and instructed the tint shop to leave the charger connected at all times when the doors are open so that the battery did not discharge. They said that they did so, but in the four days that the car sat in that shop I got low-voltage warnings from the app and when I picked it up, there was a check engine light. It went back to the original dealership again. The service advisor tried to tell me that I would be responsible for the diagnosis fee and that any repairs would not be covered by the CPO because it occurred while the car was at the tint shop. Needless to say, I threatened to call corporate and they relented. However, at this point, I was done with this dealership and decided to choose another dealership in another city nearby. I took the car to them where they in one day performed the newly announced brake line recall as well as diagnosed and replaced a shorting out EGR canister module that was causing the CEL. I then drove the car without issue for the next 4k miles. Recently I took down the underpanel again and noticed that the oil leak had accumulated to a smaller degree and appeared to be localized around the front differential shaft/universal joint. That coupled with the bubbles that had formed in the sidewalls of each of the front Hankook tires and the need for service B at 40k led me to make another trip back to the dealership. I first had new Conti Extreme Contact DWS06+ installed all around, and then went back for the following service visit:
Service B
4 wheel alignment
oil leak diagnosis/repair
I was again given a loaner, and again the car was ready in 24 hours. The cost of the service was $1100. However, they told me that the oil leak was not actually a leak but that it was left over engine oil from the factory. They said they just cleaned it off and that it was nothing to worry about. Needless to say, I wanted to scream, because as a car guy, I know this is complete bull****. However, I didn’t want to make a scene in the dealership so I just paid my bill and left. I am debating whether I need to have a conversation with corporate about my experience with now two dealerships on this subject well in advance of my CPO warranty, running out so that I can have these issues resolved.

The message that I wish to convey is that this car is wonderful. It is a wonderful piece of engineering. It is built like a tank. This is the first start/stop system that I have ever driven in any vehicle where I never ever turn it off because it is so damn smooth.The six-cylinder engine is more than enough power for this vehicle. All of the people telling you that you need the V8 for the better power are completely incorrect in my opinion. I routinely achieve between 31 and 33 miles to the gallon in 71 to 73 mph highway driving. You will not get that with the V8. In my state, the highways are complete garbage. This car is the most comfortable, most serene vehicle I’ve ever driven. If you read my post carefully, you will see that just about all of my gripes are with the poor quality of dealership service in my region. I have every intention of keeping this vehicle over the long haul. It is an extremely complex electrified vehicle, and therefore it will have issues. It’s not a normally aspirated Toyota vehicle. I have nothing but positive things to say about its build quality, the materials quality, and the way it drives and rides.

 

You sound like a very patient and forgiving person.

I ordered a loaded 2020 S560 and within the first year, it developed a harsh downshifting transmission. They bought it back.

I then got a loaded 2022 S580 and there were several issues, from annoying to possibly life threatening, the worst when it just 100% DIED on me in the middle of a busy highway. It was towed to the dealer and spent 45 days there. It was returened to me and pronounced "cured," but by then, I had HAD IT with the car. I pressed the issue and they bought that one back.

Needing a car, the dealer had just taken in a 2020 S560 with only 8800 miles on it, so I bought it, CPO. Less than a year later, THAT car developed a harsh downshifting transmission and they bought that one back. THREE IN A ROW! I now drive a new BMW I7.

I don't forgive these car companies. They either do it right, without the B.S., or they are going to get the car back. Fortunately for me, California Lemon Laws are extremely consumer friendly.

Regarding CPO, they did virtually NOTHING to the car I bought after taking it in on trade, other than putting one of their license plate frames on it. They didn't even detail the car, they just ran it through their crummy wash rack and put it on the lot.

After 17 brand new MB's and 4 used ones, I am taking a break from the brand. I currently have no faith in the product or the service. Hopefully one day, that will change.

 

no, I’m not very patient at all. People tell me I should be more patient.

What are you driving instead on your hiatus from MB?

 

As mentioned, a 2024 BMW I7, which is all electric. I was one of those "NEVER AN EV" guys, but after test driving this car, I was absolutely smitten. I do not believe I will ever go back to an ICE.

 

Sorry, I missed that. Looks like a beautiful ride! I can’t wait to go to an EV!

 

I was so turned off driving a Tesla Model S, as it just isn't very luxurious. The MB EQS didn't do it for me either, as it just isn't an S Class. Then, really out of desperation, I drove the I7 and was blown away. Just for fun, go for a test drive. The car is amazing. I have about 8K miles on it now and it has not been back to the dealer for anything. The only bad thing really, is that EV's eat tires. I drive like a little old man and at 8K, I'm close to needing new tires.

 

yes, I agree with you on that but everyone around here is priced at 125K, I’m just not ready to plunk down that kind of change for an EV that will lose 2/3 of its value.

 

Make sure to check the alignment.
Yes, EVs are heavy and the torque makes it easy to go through tires but if you're seeing bald tires at 8k miles then the alignment might be off. Plenty of new cars come with alignments off-spec.
Have it set to minimal toe front and rear within spec.

 

Neither was I. I will not purchase an EV, probably ever. I leased it for 3 years. Who knows how the battery situation will unfold going forward?

 

Roger.

 

Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for. There are a few months left of the original warranty, but then it would be CPO. My concern is the hybrid parts, the plentiful touch buttons. This would be for my wife and I don't want it sitting at the dealer all the time. I had an audi s6 in the past that spent 9 months of the 2 years I owned it in the shop, and I don't want that again.

 

What you will find is there are a couple very loud people that had issues, but most people here are every happy with their cars...they just get drowned out by the noise. Some of these people are so bitter they can't move on even after having chosen replacement cars they are supposedly happy with.

Early W223s had electrical issues, I believe a lot of those issues stemmed from older versions of MBUX depleting the 12v service battery which caused all kinds of issues with the cars. These cars do not like having that battery depleted, I too had issues with that when my car was tinted and PPF'ed and when it was coded. My dealer reset everything after the PPF with no issue at all (terrible customer service at the poster's dealer who tried to charge him for that!). After the coding the coder was able to reset and clear everything.

I think somewhere along the line they got the software to where it isn't causing those drains. I have not had any issues with my 24 even with the keys hung close to it, etc. Once that battery is worn by discharging it a lot it has to be replaced.

I am 12,000 miles into my S580 and its been great. I did have a check engine light that wound up being a simple purge valve in the EVAP system. My only complaint is the interior is prone to developing rattles which is disappointing in a car so expensive. I have been able to deal with most of them, there is one I'm unfortunately going to have to take to the dealer. Honestly tbe only two cars I would see as potential alternatives are the i7, but only the i7 not the gas 7 Series which I don't think drive as well. Perhaps also a Range Rover, but that is a totally different vehicle obviously that I am not certain I would enjoy day to day once the novelty wore off. Is it perfect? No. Nothing is though. I'd get it again for sure though.

Personally I would try to find a 23+, but honestly I think now even the early cars are okay because of software improvements. Note when the car first came out this forum was FULL of issues, now its really not.

 

I agree with what SW20S said.
I'm in the automotive industry and one wouldn't believe how much defects and issues arise during the first couple of years into production, hence the reason some people think they're beta testers.
In some ways, they are.
Not all bugs and design flaws can be worked out during the design phase.
As much as the manufacturers perform DV/PV and endurance/reliability tests there are simply issues that tend to be found during real world scenarios.

The more complex the vehicle, the more issues it'll have. That's just a matter of probability.
A brand-new platform S class will develop more problems in the field than say, a Honda Civic. (Not knocking on the Civic, it's actually a solid car in its own right)

The fact that Streamliner had like 6 buyback experiences may attribute to his bad luck in appointed vehicles and his pursuit for the buyback process,
but I think it has more to do with the fact that the selection of cars he's had were all top-end luxury vehicles loaded with high-tech features for the time it was produced.

I personally avoid the first model year (even the 2nd year if possible) production vehicles like the plague unless it's a refresh, LCI, facelift, etc. whatever the manufacturer calls it.

Modern manufacturing, even with the level of automation and process controls, still cannot eliminate defects.
That's why people like me have a job.

With everything digitized and digitalized nowadays, troubleshooting an issue has become a lot more complex and often times impossible.
I miss the good ole' simplistic, analog days where one could do some wrenching on his beloved car with his son. Enjoying the satisfaction of fixing a problem.

Sorry for being way too sentimental on a Friday morning.

 

Regarding the haptic controls, I suggest that the OP and his wife take an extended test drive in any vehicle they are considering and play with those controls. I and MANY others here find them to be almost ridiculously inoperable. I could say they worked “after a fashion,” but I feel that the last thing you want is to be distracted by trying to deal with cheap, crummy controls, when driving—in what is supposed to be one of the world’s finest luxury sedans. I had so many other, more serious issues with my 2022 S Class, that I tend to forget how absolutely disgusted I was with those haptic controls.

Another “feature” that really bothered me, was the “Gorilla” doors. The doors open SO FAR, that many folks cannot reach to close them, once belted in the driver’s seat. In addition, when trying not to hit the car parked next to you, the “hold” points are so crummy, if you are on even the slightest bit of an incline, the doors will often close on your legs—to the point of causing bruises. Dont take my word for it, ask Crabman about them.

These types of issues are not just me, they have been discussed ad nauseam on these forums. I cannot speak for later model W223’s, but my 2022 had all of these issues in spades.

 

The haptic controls aren’t as good as the physical controls, but they work fine. I have no issues with them. The i7 also has a ton of haptic controls somehow those are no problem?

As for “gorilla doors” my 10 year old kids can close the doors no problem. Also just a non issue.

The bottom line is, when people don’t like a car they find every reason to hate it. What is an issue in a car you don’t like isn’t an issue in a car you like.

 

33000 miles on the original tires on a 5000 lb car and the CPO process didn't identify as excessively worn would have been a heads-up

 

[QUOTE=nearwater4me;9173431]…………The fact that Streamliner had like 6 buyback experiences……………

It was actually ONLY 3–at least with MB……………..

With everything digitized and digitalized nowadays, troubleshooting an issue has become a lot more complex and often times impossible.
I miss the good ole' simplistic, analog days where one could do some wrenching on his beloved car with his son. Enjoying the satisfaction of fixing a problem.

Absolutely! I learned so much and had got so much enjoyment out of working on my own cars.