- Joined
- Feb 29, 2020
- Messages
- 881
- Location
- Sittingbourne, Kent
- Car
- W221 S350L, R231 SL350 (both sold) & SL400 (current)
This may be of interest to anyone thinking of buying a facelift W221 S350L BlueTec (or for those who are just curious)
I bought my S Class on 1st October 2021 after recently selling a 2013 SL350 and making £7k profit (which is a nice amount to be able to offset against repairs/maintenance for a while on the W221)
Here are details of the car and what I've spent on it in 2 years (to 30th September 2023)
First of all some pics
I purchased this car for £15k on 1st October 2021 from Praters in Leighton Buzzard:
S350 Long Wheelbase Bluetec Diesel, Registered 30th December 2011 (wow, just 2 days short of being a 2012 registered car)
Designo Diamond White with Black Passion Leather interior
42,826 miles (Current Mileage = 60,529)
2 Previous Owners
Full Mercedes Benz Main Dealer Service History
12 Months Warranty
£15k+ in Factory Fitted Extras:
- Reversing Camera
- Front Seat Memory Package
- Front Seats Comfort Ventilated
- Panoramic Glass Roof
- 20” AMG alloys – 5 Twin Spoke Design
- Ambient Lighting
- AMG Sports Package
- Driving Assistance Package (with Distronic Plus)
- Harmon Kardon Front Seat Entertainment Package
- Diamond White Metallic Paint
- Passion Leather
I planned on keeping it for a while and wanted to maintain the FMBSH so I took out a 3 year Service Plan (Services B, A and B) which was really good value as the next service due included Transmission Service
It was in fantastic condition and everything worked as it should. I did originally de-badge the car and changed the radiator grille to a different style but after a while I decided to get the car back to original so I bought a new original grille and replaced all the badges
All the parts I've bought have been MB original (except brake parts which were Brembo - which I believe were fitted when new). The Services were done at Mercedes Benz, Maidstone and the repairs done by Mertec in Rainham, Kent (a Mercedes Specialist). Here's the rundown:
Maintenance/Repair:
Service Plan (3 x Services: B/A/B) £1,800
Main Battery £158
Spring Links x 2 £756
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S x 5 £1,157
Nox Sensors x 2 £0
Adblue Control Unit £559
Lower arm bushes x 2 £205
PCV Valve £215
Thrust Arms x 2 £537
Airmatic Suspension Pump £461
O/S Wheel Speed Sensor £193
Steering Angle Sensor Rod £73
Engine & Gearbox Mounts £552
Brembo Discs & Pads All Round £609
Total £7,275
Cosmetics:
Cover Rails (Sill Plates) £226
Front Radiator Grille £508
Smart repair (Stone Chip) £150
Wheels Powder Coated £300
Consumables (Cleaning etc) £250
Total £1,434
Running Costs:
Diesel £3,018
Tax (2 Years) £515
Insurance (2 Years) £616
Total £4,149
TOTALS
Maintenance/Repair: £7,275
Cosmetics £1,434
Running Costs £4,149
Grand Total £12,858
The Nox sensors were supplied and fitted free of charge by MB Maidstone as the originals failed following the Diesel Software Update they performed. They were going to charge me for them but because the car had been serviced every year since new by a Mercedes Dealer, they eventually agreed to replace them without charge. During the software update it came to light that the AdBlue Control Unit had been removed. An "AdBlue Delete" had obviously been carried out prior to my ownership. The car would now not start until a control unit was refitted (which the dealer supplied and fitted). The "missing" AdBlue Control Unit was not noticed on MOT test or previous services by MB Dealer!
There may have been some other costs which I can't remember, but that's a fairly accurate summary I think (please let me know if you think I may have missed out something)
I'm hoping that the next couple of years aren't going to be as costly as the previous two because many of the parts will not need replacing for many years (fingers crossed!). Therefore this is not a typical "cost of ownership" scenario over a two year period. Future costs could include AdBlue tank, Airmatic Suspension Struts, Distronic Plus Radar Sensors and other electrical parts. Fingers crossed for now though!
Feel free to comment or ask any questions.
Cheers.
I bought my S Class on 1st October 2021 after recently selling a 2013 SL350 and making £7k profit (which is a nice amount to be able to offset against repairs/maintenance for a while on the W221)
Here are details of the car and what I've spent on it in 2 years (to 30th September 2023)
First of all some pics
I purchased this car for £15k on 1st October 2021 from Praters in Leighton Buzzard:
S350 Long Wheelbase Bluetec Diesel, Registered 30th December 2011 (wow, just 2 days short of being a 2012 registered car)
Designo Diamond White with Black Passion Leather interior
42,826 miles (Current Mileage = 60,529)
2 Previous Owners
Full Mercedes Benz Main Dealer Service History
12 Months Warranty
£15k+ in Factory Fitted Extras:
- Reversing Camera
- Front Seat Memory Package
- Front Seats Comfort Ventilated
- Panoramic Glass Roof
- 20” AMG alloys – 5 Twin Spoke Design
- Ambient Lighting
- AMG Sports Package
- Driving Assistance Package (with Distronic Plus)
- Harmon Kardon Front Seat Entertainment Package
- Diamond White Metallic Paint
- Passion Leather
I planned on keeping it for a while and wanted to maintain the FMBSH so I took out a 3 year Service Plan (Services B, A and B) which was really good value as the next service due included Transmission Service
It was in fantastic condition and everything worked as it should. I did originally de-badge the car and changed the radiator grille to a different style but after a while I decided to get the car back to original so I bought a new original grille and replaced all the badges
All the parts I've bought have been MB original (except brake parts which were Brembo - which I believe were fitted when new). The Services were done at Mercedes Benz, Maidstone and the repairs done by Mertec in Rainham, Kent (a Mercedes Specialist). Here's the rundown:
Maintenance/Repair:
Service Plan (3 x Services: B/A/B) £1,800
Main Battery £158
Spring Links x 2 £756
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S x 5 £1,157
Nox Sensors x 2 £0
Adblue Control Unit £559
Lower arm bushes x 2 £205
PCV Valve £215
Thrust Arms x 2 £537
Airmatic Suspension Pump £461
O/S Wheel Speed Sensor £193
Steering Angle Sensor Rod £73
Engine & Gearbox Mounts £552
Brembo Discs & Pads All Round £609
Total £7,275
Cosmetics:
Cover Rails (Sill Plates) £226
Front Radiator Grille £508
Smart repair (Stone Chip) £150
Wheels Powder Coated £300
Consumables (Cleaning etc) £250
Total £1,434
Running Costs:
Diesel £3,018
Tax (2 Years) £515
Insurance (2 Years) £616
Total £4,149
TOTALS
Maintenance/Repair: £7,275
Cosmetics £1,434
Running Costs £4,149
Grand Total £12,858
The Nox sensors were supplied and fitted free of charge by MB Maidstone as the originals failed following the Diesel Software Update they performed. They were going to charge me for them but because the car had been serviced every year since new by a Mercedes Dealer, they eventually agreed to replace them without charge. During the software update it came to light that the AdBlue Control Unit had been removed. An "AdBlue Delete" had obviously been carried out prior to my ownership. The car would now not start until a control unit was refitted (which the dealer supplied and fitted). The "missing" AdBlue Control Unit was not noticed on MOT test or previous services by MB Dealer!
There may have been some other costs which I can't remember, but that's a fairly accurate summary I think (please let me know if you think I may have missed out something)
I'm hoping that the next couple of years aren't going to be as costly as the previous two because many of the parts will not need replacing for many years (fingers crossed!). Therefore this is not a typical "cost of ownership" scenario over a two year period. Future costs could include AdBlue tank, Airmatic Suspension Struts, Distronic Plus Radar Sensors and other electrical parts. Fingers crossed for now though!
Feel free to comment or ask any questions.
Cheers.
), then you get to £4950. Which is more reasonable.
but like you said, now it should be kinder to your wallet 
