Considering W220 S-class - some questions

[pint6x]

I'm looking at possibly getting an S class W220 series and I have some questions.

1) What sort of MPG might I get from the diesel 320?
2) Did any of the rust issues from the E class appear on the S class
3) During the lifetime of the W220 where there any facelifts? how would I tell?
4) Were there any particular periods during the car's production when problems
were more prevalent? what problems were there?
5) What is COMMAND?
6) How can I tell if a car has COMMAND?
7) Does anyone know what emissions the S320 diesel are (for car tax)
8) Did they make any which weren't silver?

I thank you !

 

[W210 Fan]

1) Not sure mines petrol, I have the 4.3 and I get around 27 on a fairly mixed cycle,
2) Yes, check the wheel arches and the bottom of the doors as a start, or anywhere were the metal is stretched,
3) Yes there was a face lift, the headlamps are clear is a good indicator and the internal switches are silver not black,
4) not sure, although I hear the suspension problems were ironed out later in the production run, the relay that switches the air pump sometimes sticks burning the pump out, you go out in the morning and find the car sat on the road and the tyres buried up inside the bodywork, owners of older cars like me just replace the relay anually to get round this,
5) COMAND is an integrated satnav, stereo and phone system,
6) There is a big screen in the middle of the dash, cars without it just have a standard DIN radio, widescreen on the facelift models, standard ratio on the pre face lifts,
7) Not sure, sorry I love big V8`s,
8) Yes!!!! there are a lot of silver ones but black suits the car and the Almandine (purple) looks good to, there are some old man champagne colours, dark blue and a light blue too,

hope this helps, they are a fabulous vehicle, very very comfortable but beware, it would be difficult afterwards to go back to anything that doesnt have air suspension and seats that don`t massage,

 

[C43AMG]

3, Face lift Oct 2002
4, Gear lever gets stuck Park. Yes Suspension is a problem as mentioned by
W210.
I suffered from the above two.
2, never a problem with mine