I have come across a 2001 S55 with claimed 53k actual miles. I wasn't necessarily looking to buy a car, but as a car guy I guess I'm always kind of looking. Anyway, this thing is gorgeous and super tempting. But, while I used to do all my own work, I'm older now and no longer am able to do it. I remain fastidious about maintenance, though, so my question is.... with a shop doing the work for me... am I going to go broke keeping this car up?

 

Check the function of all the "nice" things inside, like the air adjustments in the seats, the door locks. Does the soft-close work? The ABC suspension is $$$ to repair, although if maintained, shouldn't need any repair. Still, maintenance is more money than a lot of owners think they can justify, especially those owners thinking they got a super duper car for not very much money and don't know anything about the car (basically someone who thinks they're buying flash beyond what they normally could afford.) A simple flush is several hundred dollars just for the fluid (about 10 quarts at 20-25 bucks a quart.) Some ABS components that need periodic replacement are the accumulators, basically pressure reservoirs, those are less then 200 each and should last at least a decade, but when fail they cause major issues with the system, including sagging suspension and even burst hydraulic lines. A burst hydraulic line is ALWAYS caused by a failed accumulator, which if not fixed when the line is fixed, will simply lead to another line failure. Also, many shops will diagnose a failed pump because they see low pressure codes stored, when in fact the pumps generally last forever, unless they've been allowed to run dry. Their lifetime dry is minutes, if not seconds.

Pneumatics for the seats and doors, and the ABC system, are the big maintenance/failure points for these.

Also, don't go in with a big plan to upgrade the radio. The COMAND system in the radio is an essential part of many systems in the car. You won't be able to add Bluetooth inexpensively (if at all,) for example.

All that said, I had a 2003 S55, which was even more powerful than the 2001, being supercharged, and even though it had issues, I loved it. Lost it in a flood, and I miss it.

 

Well, not upgrading the radio is probably a deal killer for me. I had actually already scoped out a radio upgrade. This is the problem with cars of the last 20 years, the infotainment systems get outdated so fast but they are so integrated they are difficult to impossible to upgrade. I don't know that I want to go without my Bluetooth, HD radio, and SiriusXM.

 

@wfooshee is generally correct. Although you could upgrade to Bluetooth with a Mobridge unit. Not cheap or perfect but it works. You'll still be stuck with that CD based Nav, as I haven't wired my Mobridge for true BT phone, Nav and music, which basically entails disassembling the interior to run wires. That'll cost more in labor than the car is worth. If you want an S55, pay more and get one of the last ones made. You get more power, no more maintenance -- cost or incidence, they can be tuned, and most of the systems were updated by MB over the model run as opposed to you having to try to figure out how to do so during your ownership. The last model year 140 cars were great and the last model year 220 cars were great. The ones in between, not so much.

If you don't care about factory level integration, I know people who have upgraded the head unit in these with aftermarket wood dash kits and what not. Works great but lacks any semblance of sonderklasse.

Cheers,

maw

 

The later ones with the MOST fiber-optics in the audio system are better supported in the aftermarket, and you can get a head unit the looks good, but will still be missing some of the Mercedes functionality. My 2003 had the DB1 fiber optics, which has NO aftermarket support.

If you found that S55 and you really really really want one, look for an '05 or '06. Those will be supercharged, as well, and just under 500HP is... handy!

 

Thanks for all the feedback. 500hp would be fun! If I do buy, it will be my daily driver so I think the later models would be better. I need my Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and HD radio as much as I need the comfort and HP!