2001 S430, 82k Miles, £6k Value. Could be mine

[Will]

Or an air conditioning fault, or a gearbox. Hell, even a set of tyres is a good few hundred quid on a W220!

But - you could be lucky and have little trouble over a couple of years - hard to tell and depends upon the current condition/usage/luck.

They're not really a car for people who don't have deep pockets (or don't like to have to spend too much on cars) servicing wise.

Crammy - to be blunt, if your W124 coupe is concerning you servicing/repair wise, perhaps the W220 is going to be quite an experience come repair time.

They're complex cars and when they go wrong they're seldom cheap to repair. That's one of the real reasons why they're so cheap to buy to be honest.

Will

 

[crammy69]

Or an air conditioning fault, or a gearbox. Hell, even a set of tyres is a good few hundred quid on a W220!

But - you could be lucky and have little trouble over a couple of years - hard to tell and depends upon the current condition/usage/luck.

They're not really a car for people who don't have deep pockets (or don't like to have to spend too much on cars) servicing wise.

Crammy - to be blunt, if your W124 coupe is concerning you servicing/repair wise, perhaps the W220 is going to be quite an experience come repair time.

They're complex cars and when they go wrong they're seldom cheap to repair. That's one of the real reasons why they're so cheap to buy to be honest.

Will

Fair point!.

My 124 is looking likely to used in the scrappage scheme for the wifes new shopping trolley (sorry AYGO/Fiat 500). I dont resent proper servicing costs, but as I only do 3-4000 miles a year so I do kinda resent it if I get stung for big bills, but its all luck of the draw.

Im just too used to the low costs I enjoyed with my string of Jap cars!, but I just couldnt really get the enthusiasm for them as I have for Merc!

 

[Will]

Fair point!.

My 124 is looking likely to used in the scrappage scheme for the wifes new shopping trolley (sorry AYGO/Fiat 500). I dont resent proper servicing costs, but as I only do 3-4000 miles a year so I do kinda resent it if I get stung for big bills, but its all luck of the draw.

Im just too used to the low costs I enjoyed with my string of Jap cars!, but I just couldnt really get the enthusiasm for them as I have for Merc!

Well the thing is, realistically many of us wouldn't drive the cars that we do if we didn't have a slight daring streak and were worried about reliability

Covering only 3-4k miles a year I reckon a well-maintained/faultless W220 could be okay for you, but you never know!

If the thought of big repairs is an absolute no-goer, then give the W220 a miss. But as I mentioned earlier, even £1/2k a year in basic servicing/repairs is a drop in the ocean compared to what new cars lose in depreciation. Even more than that would still see you in a smart looking newish MB for what many people lose on a bland hatchback or similar in 12 months.

Well that's been my logic since I've had MBs and I haven't had much to complain over in the last few years

It's one of those decisions we make in life, either with our heads or our hearts!

Will

 

[Smiley]

With everything you have posted (Crammy69) I reckon you should give the w220 and w210 a wide berth. Even low mileage use of one of these cars could in itself bring problems with the a/c or catalytic converters or brake system. And as you are discovering there is just about zippo on these cars (esp the w220) that is a "cheap" repair. If it is a luxo barge you are after then maybe an ageing Lexus is the answer; something with a bit more character how about a lower mileage immaculate w124 coupe?
Even cheaper luxo barge Toyota Camry - very very underated car.

 

[eGuru]

Unfortunatley the W220's do rust, my dad had two new front wings, all 4 doors repaired and I believe a rear wing. His is a 2002 S320

Another common fault is an airmatic failure (yes we had that too!).

Exactly same here. Plus a few minor bits.

 

[wemorgan]

I agree with what Will and the other cautious members are saying.

But the W220 is almost being spoken about as if it's an unreliable poor quality American barge.

I'd hope that it's one of the finest quality executive cars money can buy.

I've never owned a W220 but would love to one day and feel it would be a shame to have never tried.

 

[lynall]

I have had a bit of bother with my 210 and and am still messing with the gearbox but being a mechanic the only cost to me is the bits, if i was paying i would have never bought this car and if if did i would have got rid a long time ago

Non mechs or diys types should look at the the jap cars, few of the blokes at wotk have got toyotas or hondas and no bothers at all.

One has a civic type r and has never had to do more than basic servicing and some brake pads and thats it in four years, wouldnt get than in any merc no matter what the circumstances.



Lynall

 

[eGuru]

I agree with what Will and the other cautious members are saying.

But the W220 is almost being spoken about as if it's an unreliable poor quality American barge.

I'd hope that it's one of the finest quality executive cars money can buy.

I've never owned a W220 but would love to one day and feel it would be a shame to have never tried.

You are right, these are great cars. I bought mine with a view to keeping it for a year or two, over 4 years later I just can't bear to part with it. Despite the few problems I have had.

 

[crammy69]

Well, further reading of the sellers mail, shows that there appears to be a gap between the service 'A' Service in Jan 2002 @ 30k miles and another 'A' Service in Feb 2005 @ 63k miles. Ive mailed to see if there is any paperwork/explanation to cover this gap, but if not, Im gonna walk away. If it did 30k in its first year, theres a not inconsiderable chance it would have do smilar the next, and therfore throw the totla mileage into question ( clock change perhaps?). I'm sure the seller is honest but if a previous one was'nt....

 

[Howard]

AFAIK the mileage isn't just stored in the clock , but in a lot of other places too .

I'm sure a good indy with a STAR could track down the mileage from any of the other sources . I had heard that if all the mileages don't tally up with all the components that store them , the car won't go , but this could just be rumour.

 

[Smiley]

I agree with what Will and the other cautious members are saying.

But the W220 is almost being spoken about as if it's an unreliable poor quality American barge.

I'd hope that it's one of the finest quality executive cars money can buy.

I've never owned a W220 but would love to one day and feel it would be a shame to have never tried.

Well I have never owned a w220 but I used to think it fell into the second of the two categories that you have above; and in 320CDi form would be an ideal car. Then I met someone who had bought an MB approved one a couple of years earlier; ouch. It had cost him an arm and two legs despite a warranty. His experience seems to be not unique. So sad to say that it falls more into the "unreliable poor quality US barge" than the "finest exec cars money can buy". Not that it is a US barge - just that it is CLOSER to that than the other option.

 

[Howard]

You know ,

The more i think about this ( i was negative initially ) , life is about taking chances . I work for the government , on a small wage , and there is no way i could have ever driven a 430 buying new.

However , i could afford one secondhand , and did . If i am honest , if anything major went wrong , i would struggle to sort it. I do comparable mileage to crammy , so i figured i'd take a chance, not many miles means that stuff won't break so quick ( hopefully ) ...

I keep it well looked after , services and little bits i can afford , and this minimises risk.

The pleasure that the car gives me , more than outweighs the thought at the back of my mind , what if an ECU goes ? what if a cat goes ?

I'll cross that bridge if and when i come to it.

Buy the car , take your chance , and i hope you enjoy it mate !

 

[dchester]

AFAIK the mileage isn't just stored in the clock , but in a lot of other places too .

I'm sure a good indy with a STAR could track down the mileage from any of the other sources . I had heard that if all the mileages don't tally up with all the components that store them , the car won't go , but this could just be rumour.

Now that's a clever idea.

 

[wemorgan]

Now that's a clever idea.

Until, for a genuine reason, you have to replace those components, to then find your car wont start.

 

[crammy69]

Just heard from the seller, no paperwork for that 3 year gap!. Thats a big No No in my view. Ive now been outbid, so on balance, given the great advice I have received and the fact that in my heart of hearts, its the W210 shape I want, Im going to let this one go.

So thanks for the help gents, the search is back on for a W210!.

Cheers
Simon

 

[lynall]

Well make sure you get the e55 as offered or similiar as they come with most of the available options plus they shift

430 okay but the 55 has got to be better and sometimes i think th e430 hasnt got the necessary guts, pretty good from a standing start especially against the diesel crowd that always makes me smile.

Parktronic a positive otherwise you end up backing into a steel barrier and wrecking the chrome trim strip not that i have ever done that you understand

Dont forget winters coming so heated seats a must.


Lynall

 

[buccal]

Seems to be a new batch of 55's on trader just now, its like waiting a bus....

I love the shape too Simon but i don't think there is a rust free one to be found for love or money

 

[crammy69]

Seems to be a new batch of 55's on trader just now, its like waiting a bus....

I love the shape too Simon but i don't think there is a rust free one to be found for love or money

Thats the thing, I thought the rust issues were somehwat over-egged on here, but now I realise that if it hasn t got rust its only because its been done!.

However on the plus side, it make me think that those that are preserved will be all the rarer in years to come, and their time in the sun will come!

 

[Will]

Thats the thing, I thought the rust issues were somehwat over-egged on here, but now I realise that if it hasn t got rust its only because its been done!.

However on the plus side, it make me think that those that are preserved will be all the rarer in years to come, and their time in the sun will come!

The thing is, they all rust a bit - some worse than others admittedly (and I guess some people take more pride, hence will have had rectification work done etc). That's why £50/60k E55s are being sold for £5k. 'Back in the day', MB residuals were rock solid. On the plus side, you haven't really got as much to lose anymore.

But that's one of the reasons why they're so cheap, because they rust. You'll never buy one if that puts you off unfortunately.

It sounds to me that you definately want another car. There's shed loads out there, some nicer than others, some cheaper than others etc - choose one and enjoy it - you'll regret not having had one more than the possibilty of a few blisters on wheels arches etc

Will

 

[Howard]

Has it got to be an E or an S ?

How about a V8 CLK , natural successor to your 124 ?

Plenty of go in them ...