V12
MB Enthusiast
Inspired by a thread on Pistonheads where the owner of a T124 reveals the true cost of running one, I thought i'd share some of my experience of living with a W220 and what it really costs.
Buying
First off, let it be known that i'm in the motor trade and generations before me have also been in the trade. Little scares me when it comes to buying vehicles and I have been known to take risks with buying.
This vehicle was found on Autotrader for a price that was too good to be true. It had an aftermarket grille and terrible pictures but I could make out that the spec was very very impressive for a S320 CDI. Just what I was looking for.
A quick trip up the A3 on Christmas eve and I managed to negotiate a further 20% off the asking price. The vehicle had been between family members almost since new and he had replaced the car with a brand new S Class...always a good sign.
Buying it so cheaply I was well prepared to do lots of work to it.
Somehow I had managed to bag myself a December 2003 LWB high spec S320cdi for almost half what I had originally budgeted.
Initial Assessment
The car was due a service and I was working crazy hours so I booked the car in with PCS.
I asked them to thoroughly look the car over and to do an ATF flush on the gearbox.
Their verdict was that the car was in fine fettle and only thing they picked up on that would need doing soon was the front right suspension thrust arm.
Cost was approx £600
I clocked up plenty of miles over the next couple of months and fitted a pair of thrust arms in about 20 minutes on my driveway.
£150
Modification
I am inflicted with that irrational desire to modify my car. Always discreetly but enough to make it mine. First I had to get rid of the non genuine grille.
An original one was picked up from ebay for £25. The non genuine one was sold back on for £40.
I started with the sound system and improved the quality and power of the system without compromising on original looks or functionality.
(excluding this cost as it will be removed and transferred to the next vehicle when it comes sale time)
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/138659-w220-s-class-sound-system-upgrades.html
Next on the agenda were the alloy wheels.
The originals were 17" and SKINNY! I tried 19" and 20" and decided that 18" was the best compromise.
Sourced a set of 18" alloys from a W221 S500 for £350. New continental rubber was £500 was some excellent trade discount.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/wheels-tyres-brakes-suspension/137910-w221-wheels-w220.html
Issues
1. The glovebox wouldn't open. 1 hours work to remedy that
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/interior/123830-how-open-stuck-glovebox-adjust-w220.html
2. Sat Nav on the comand stopped working. I bought an updated disc for £50 but the issue was with the antenna. Replaced with a generic antenna which sits under the parcel shelf and works flawlessly.
£5ish from ebay. 1 hours work.
3. Key issues.
About a year after I bought the car the key started having some niggling issues. 1 time out of 10 it wouldn't work in the ignition and this slowly got worse. As the car had the keyless go system I utilised this function for a little while until I had the chance to get it on star. Turns out both my EIS and the Key had different issues.
I bought a key anyway first of all to ensure the diagnoses was correct. £200. The starting was better but still occasionally odd.
The car was still reliable and if the key wasn't accepted in the ignition it would always work on the keyless go system anyway.
I did eventually get the £500 EIS. Installed and coded by myself.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/143961-thank-goodness-keyless-go.html
4. Knocking from front suspension.
A very slight knocking was starting to develop so one afternoon I jacked the car up and had a go with a lever, everything seemed as I would expect and no rattles or play could be located.
I got it up on the 2 post ramp at work and simulated load on off the wheels very quickly whilst using a stethoscope. This identified the ball joint that connects the anti roll bar link to the lower arm. This ball joint is separately replaceable but I figured if this one is tired I may as well just change the complete arm as the others wouldn't be too far behind. I made use of a eurocarparts deal but had to spend over £100 to make the most of the offer. I bought the arm for the other side as well seeing as they were working out at £75 each for quality lemforder items.
£150. 3 hours work to change both arms.
I have heard horror stories about changing these. I didn't find them too difficult, plenty of penetrating fluid. Used an impact allen bit on a 3/8 snap on impact gun and the notorious grub screws came out without too much hassle.
5. Parking Sensor fault.
Rear right sensor started playing up and eventually stopped completely. 10 minutes to change it. Still need to get it painted.
6. Since the intial PCS service I have carried out another 2 services myself.
What's next
The car needs some paint work in a couple of areas.
-Someone reversed into it, cracking the front number plate and leaving a little dent in the front bumper.
-Blemishes on boot lid annoy me
- Various door dings.
Prop shaft doughnuts will be done. I am splitting hairs here.
Button on the Keyless go handle on the drivers door has stopped working.
AC re-gas is on the cards shortly.
I'll be changing the wheels for 18" difda soon as they are 2kg lighter on each corner. My rear continentals are just wearing close to the markers so it's the ideal opportunity.
Driving Pleasure
Having owned the car for 3 1/2 years I would have expected the costs to be so much higher to keep her in tip top condition. She's now at 140,000 miles and feels excellent in every respect.
Most of my mileage is low speed town stuff. It is such a great place to spend time stuck in traffic or on the open road soaking up mile after mile.
Since I started logging my fuel fill ups, I have averaged 32.4 mpg.
On a good run I can crack 55mpg and have even seen 56mpg a couple of times. Usually stick the cruise control on at 70mph.
The ride quality is exceptional, the hushed interior and amount of space has to be experienced to be appreciated.
The handling is not great, it has been much improved by going from 7.5J wheels on the back to 9.5J wheels. There is still a huge amount of body roll when trying to hustle it through tight corners.
The engine is well isolated from the cabin and has all the power I need in the real world.
Summary
The internet is full of horror stories for most cars, but rumours of economy crippling W220s are rife on many forums. My experience of running a 10 year old + one has been quite the opposite. It is one of the cheaper cars i've run. Value for money is incredible. The items that have gone wrong are common across all models, key, eis, ball joints etc. It is a very cheap way to experience a brilliantly refined car.
I have toyed with changing to a W221 many times and have driven more than a few now.
I might be tempting fate by singing the praises of my current W220 but fingers crossed for another 3+ years of trouble free motoring.
Buying
First off, let it be known that i'm in the motor trade and generations before me have also been in the trade. Little scares me when it comes to buying vehicles and I have been known to take risks with buying.
This vehicle was found on Autotrader for a price that was too good to be true. It had an aftermarket grille and terrible pictures but I could make out that the spec was very very impressive for a S320 CDI. Just what I was looking for.
A quick trip up the A3 on Christmas eve and I managed to negotiate a further 20% off the asking price. The vehicle had been between family members almost since new and he had replaced the car with a brand new S Class...always a good sign.
Buying it so cheaply I was well prepared to do lots of work to it.
Somehow I had managed to bag myself a December 2003 LWB high spec S320cdi for almost half what I had originally budgeted.
Initial Assessment
The car was due a service and I was working crazy hours so I booked the car in with PCS.
I asked them to thoroughly look the car over and to do an ATF flush on the gearbox.
Their verdict was that the car was in fine fettle and only thing they picked up on that would need doing soon was the front right suspension thrust arm.
Cost was approx £600
I clocked up plenty of miles over the next couple of months and fitted a pair of thrust arms in about 20 minutes on my driveway.
£150
Modification
I am inflicted with that irrational desire to modify my car. Always discreetly but enough to make it mine. First I had to get rid of the non genuine grille.
An original one was picked up from ebay for £25. The non genuine one was sold back on for £40.
I started with the sound system and improved the quality and power of the system without compromising on original looks or functionality.
(excluding this cost as it will be removed and transferred to the next vehicle when it comes sale time)
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/138659-w220-s-class-sound-system-upgrades.html
Next on the agenda were the alloy wheels.
The originals were 17" and SKINNY! I tried 19" and 20" and decided that 18" was the best compromise.
Sourced a set of 18" alloys from a W221 S500 for £350. New continental rubber was £500 was some excellent trade discount.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/wheels-tyres-brakes-suspension/137910-w221-wheels-w220.html
Issues
1. The glovebox wouldn't open. 1 hours work to remedy that
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/interior/123830-how-open-stuck-glovebox-adjust-w220.html
2. Sat Nav on the comand stopped working. I bought an updated disc for £50 but the issue was with the antenna. Replaced with a generic antenna which sits under the parcel shelf and works flawlessly.
£5ish from ebay. 1 hours work.
3. Key issues.
About a year after I bought the car the key started having some niggling issues. 1 time out of 10 it wouldn't work in the ignition and this slowly got worse. As the car had the keyless go system I utilised this function for a little while until I had the chance to get it on star. Turns out both my EIS and the Key had different issues.
I bought a key anyway first of all to ensure the diagnoses was correct. £200. The starting was better but still occasionally odd.
The car was still reliable and if the key wasn't accepted in the ignition it would always work on the keyless go system anyway.
I did eventually get the £500 EIS. Installed and coded by myself.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/143961-thank-goodness-keyless-go.html
4. Knocking from front suspension.
A very slight knocking was starting to develop so one afternoon I jacked the car up and had a go with a lever, everything seemed as I would expect and no rattles or play could be located.
I got it up on the 2 post ramp at work and simulated load on off the wheels very quickly whilst using a stethoscope. This identified the ball joint that connects the anti roll bar link to the lower arm. This ball joint is separately replaceable but I figured if this one is tired I may as well just change the complete arm as the others wouldn't be too far behind. I made use of a eurocarparts deal but had to spend over £100 to make the most of the offer. I bought the arm for the other side as well seeing as they were working out at £75 each for quality lemforder items.
£150. 3 hours work to change both arms.
I have heard horror stories about changing these. I didn't find them too difficult, plenty of penetrating fluid. Used an impact allen bit on a 3/8 snap on impact gun and the notorious grub screws came out without too much hassle.
5. Parking Sensor fault.
Rear right sensor started playing up and eventually stopped completely. 10 minutes to change it. Still need to get it painted.
6. Since the intial PCS service I have carried out another 2 services myself.
What's next
The car needs some paint work in a couple of areas.
-Someone reversed into it, cracking the front number plate and leaving a little dent in the front bumper.
-Blemishes on boot lid annoy me
- Various door dings.
Prop shaft doughnuts will be done. I am splitting hairs here.
Button on the Keyless go handle on the drivers door has stopped working.
AC re-gas is on the cards shortly.
I'll be changing the wheels for 18" difda soon as they are 2kg lighter on each corner. My rear continentals are just wearing close to the markers so it's the ideal opportunity.
Driving Pleasure
Having owned the car for 3 1/2 years I would have expected the costs to be so much higher to keep her in tip top condition. She's now at 140,000 miles and feels excellent in every respect.
Most of my mileage is low speed town stuff. It is such a great place to spend time stuck in traffic or on the open road soaking up mile after mile.
Since I started logging my fuel fill ups, I have averaged 32.4 mpg.
On a good run I can crack 55mpg and have even seen 56mpg a couple of times. Usually stick the cruise control on at 70mph.
The ride quality is exceptional, the hushed interior and amount of space has to be experienced to be appreciated.
The handling is not great, it has been much improved by going from 7.5J wheels on the back to 9.5J wheels. There is still a huge amount of body roll when trying to hustle it through tight corners.
The engine is well isolated from the cabin and has all the power I need in the real world.
Summary
The internet is full of horror stories for most cars, but rumours of economy crippling W220s are rife on many forums. My experience of running a 10 year old + one has been quite the opposite. It is one of the cheaper cars i've run. Value for money is incredible. The items that have gone wrong are common across all models, key, eis, ball joints etc. It is a very cheap way to experience a brilliantly refined car.
I have toyed with changing to a W221 many times and have driven more than a few now.
I might be tempting fate by singing the praises of my current W220 but fingers crossed for another 3+ years of trouble free motoring.
Last edited:
a pleasure to look at 
