S-Class -- what a car

[SimonsMerc]

So this week I returned temporarily to Mercedes...because a friend lent me their W220 S320. It's on a private plate so I'm not sure exactly what year it is, 80000 miles on the dial and the car is simply superb.

Almost everything works exactly as it should. Only two minor faults - the SRS light is permanently lit, and the drivers side mirror glass wobbles a bit. It has a pretty high specification, COMAND of course, very accurate parktronic with four separate indicators, etc etc. It also has Distronic, which I've never had on a car before. Having driven it up to Nottingham on the motorway, I have to say that the next car I buy will definitely have distronic. It makes motorway driving so relaxing, and I love how it keeps a much better safe distance from the car in front than I ever would! It's pretty accurate, always keeping me about 2 seconds behind the car in front, and I love how well it copes with things like cars cutting in front (it just drops back and gives them space) and traffic congestion (slows down, goes at traffic speed, then speeds up again when it gets back to normal).

The car is a joy to drive on the motorway, and very light in parking in town - even though it's a big car, I could park it anywhere. Ok, so it's not a sports-car and probably wouldn't be the best thing to throw around the twisties, but that's what a motorbike is for . It's so well insulated inside that motorway noise is almost non-existent. I've loved driving it, and I'm going to miss it when I give it back on Friday!

The only real issue with it is the fuel consumption - it's pretty bad, especially around town! But then it's a 3.2 litre six cylinder engine pulling over two tonnes of metal, so that's to be expected. Hrm, I wonder how it would do on LPG...

Totally love the W220 S Class, and will seriously consider one for my next car!

-simon

 

[Benzowner]

Yes, around town they are heavy on fuel, my old S320 I managed to get as low as 8mpg driving to work, but on motorways, what a joy to drive and 34mpg to boot.

 

[Clivefa]

I love mine too. Smooth, relaxing, effortless.
I had the ecu fuelling remapped to give another 50% torque and another 40bhp - yet still get 34mpg this time of year on the motorway. In the summer it returned 39mpg, but it don't half pick its toes up when given the berries.
Very comfortable method of transport.
Clive

 

[horatio]

What are they like to own?

Engine is just a M112 so no worries there but the combination of nasa electrics and dodgy era MB quality doesn't sound promising

 

[LTD]

What are they like to own?

IMO the benefits outweigh the risks.

:bannana::bannana::bannana:

 

[Spin_bowler]

What are they like to own?

:

I ran an S320, I bought it at six years old with 77K miles up and did 30K in it over two years before it met an untimely end when I stuffed it under a Sainsbury's lorry on the M25 one Friday afternoon!

I chose it as an alternative to running a new A4/C-Class/3 series when I was driving about 25k miles per year and my business was helping towards running costs. I only paid £12K for it in the first place and got £6.5K from the insurance company which was spot on the bottom Glass's guide valuation at the time. I accepted the offer gratefully as it was riddled with tin-worm and its resale value would have been virtually non-existant.

I think that I was lucky with running costs, apart from servicing and consumables I had one big repair when the airmatic pump let me down. It was very good on tyres (I had squashy high-profile tyres on sensible 16 inch rims) but ate brakes for fun. Had I done 30K miles in a new compact exec I think that the depreciation would have been more savage and it would have been a lot less comfortable, the W220 really is a relaxing place to be. However, luck plays a big part in this I was also lucky I got an insurance pay out as I don't think I could have sold it without undertaking expensive bodywork to repair the rust. I have also read about problematic electrics causing their downfall.

I don't think that anyone should get into a W220 now who is risk averse or afraid of a gamble (the newest is more than 7 years old now) and I think that an '05 plate at big money would be a foolish purchase but I would love to take a punt on one that had a decent history at the "almost disposable" £2K level to see if I could get another year of low-cost luxury motoring out of it...

 

[tali]

8mpg is 99.9% likely what i would probably get , as for 39mpg -that's diesel figures.
Official Fuel consumption (extra urban) is 28.2 mpg -remember this is the exaggerated ,unachievable figure!!! -even just getting close to it is extraordinary achievement - never mind surpassing it

 

[Spin_bowler]

8mpg is 99.9% likely what i would probably get , as for 39mpg -that's diesel figures.
Official Fuel consumption (extra urban) is 28.2 mpg -remember this is the exaggerated ,unachievable figure!!! -even just getting close to it is extraordinary achievement - never mind surpassing it

Yep, I did a mix of mileage but majority was motorway and I used to see about 25mpg. I only got over 30 on very long steady motorway runs.

 

[V12]

IMO the benefits outweigh the risks.

:bannana::bannana::bannana:

Totally agree.

Even my wife is dreading the day we get rid of it.

The diesel will comfortably get 45mpg on a run. I've seen an indicated 58mpg on a long run up the M3 and round the south M25 with no traffic...and my OBC is pretty close to tank to tank calculations.

You can see my tank to tank average below. My wife and I probably do a 50/50 split of driving and most tanks are just around town with a little run up the motorway to family. Should be an indicator of what is easily achievable.

Mine is an 04, with excellent history and not a spec of rust (yet)

So far i've had the front thrust arms replaced and had a B service + ATF at PCS.

This is my 3rd W220 and by far the best. The 2 previous were pre facelift and both had rust issues and petrol was thirsty!

Never had any electrical gremlins. Worst problem so far has been 1 lazy airmatic pump and the crank shaft pulley disintegrating. Both on the 500.
The 500 was on LPG and was pretty equal ppm to a 320cdi until the cost of lpg shot up.

Right, better go touch some wood...

 

[Borys]

I just got my first diesel in 220 and got mixed feelings.Avarage mpg since reset around 26, my S500 with 7g tronic was showing 24.7
Only on the run it is rediculous saw 50 mpg steady 70 with cruize control.
It's loud from start kle kle kle diesel sound then on a cruize is fine you don't feel it is a diesel.Brought it only to balance fuel with my Dodge Ram-got diesel for free
Defo I miss V8 as compering to s320cdi it is not that horribly worse on petrol and s500 was equipped far more better then diesel.
Will finish my truck convert to lpg and diesel will go and V8 will be back for sure

 

[redbaron]

I just got my first diesel in 220 and got mixed feelings.Avarage mpg since reset around 26, my S500 with 7g tronic was showing 24.7
Only on the run it is rediculous saw 50 mpg steady 70 with cruize control.
It's loud from start kle kle kle diesel sound then on a cruize is fine you don't feel it is a diesel.Brought it only to balance fuel with my Dodge Ram-got diesel for free
Defo I miss V8 as compering to s320cdi it is not that horribly worse on petrol and s500 was equipped far more better then diesel.
Will finish my truck convert to lpg and diesel will go and V8 will be back for sure

an S320cdi that only does 26 is broken... my 221 with the v6 (which is less economical than an i6 220 only once dropped that low after a day in central london... any sort of long run should be well in to late thirtys

 

[Borys]

Nothing wrong with it,just had it serviced,doesn't smoke,runs sweat,cannot find a fault with it.Need to mention that I live 4.6 miles from work so my runs are not long once,motor is not even properly warm.As long as I drive more in a town getting 32 on from start comp
Cheers