S600 v S500 (W221): Just how "risky" is the V12 compared to the V8 ?

[Alex]

Forget the V8, M275 V12 is a great and easy engine to live with. Everything around it is expensive.

S600 is a fantastic car, much better packaged than the S65 in my opinion.

(You can change the tubo oil and coolant o-rings in situ, no need to remove the engine.)

 

[oldguy57]

In my head that's a three or four grand, once a decade. Peanuts compared to fuel cost.
Familiar territory for any BMW straight six owner. ("New injectors, sir? That'll be £2k, please")

You're probably right if doing both coil packs and paying full MB prices. There is a YouTube showing someone replacing one coil pack in real time - 45 minutes of a job. I suspect MB dealers will book the job at several hours for both.

 

[Swotty]

I’m constantly stunned by the prices the French pay for kit, from walking boots to bikes, from clothes to Tech and DIY paraphernalia.

The UK has far more competition bringing prices down and offering wider product choice, through Bricks (specialist retail) to Clicks (online: retail, Amazon and EBay)

You're not wrong!

It was much better when we arrived in 2007 as the exchange rate was 1.49 and it's been as low as 1.05 and now up to c. 1.14, so still some 25% less than the level we were hoping for.

When we arrived shops were only permitted 2 sales periods each year, part of January and August. Reductions were not permitted outside those times. It's gradually been eased and folk have found ways round it. Macron declared illegal bogoffs and similar a couple of years ago but folk have just ignored it. Internet shopping has taken off but, yes, there's very little Anglo-Saxon competition as we know it.

Mrs Swotty says the only things cheaper here than the UK are wine and water. She has no interest in garage labour costs!

French healthcare is excellent and far superior to the UK. It's part-insurance but worth it for peace of mind.

The French economy has greater debt-to-GDP than the UK and Macron is under real pressure., so there's a deeper malaise.

Running cars is cheaper than the UK. No road tax is a huge saving; MOTs every 2 years and every 5 for cars over 30 years old. Parts are more expensive but labour costs are lower. Online tyres are very competitive. Fuel prices were cheaper but are around the same now and there are motorway tolls.

But it's the climate and lifestyle which make it worthwhile, plus a higher standard of living than the UK for we retired folk. House prices have not risen anywhere near as much as the UK but value for money is still better.

Sorry, bit of a long reply!

 

[DSM10000]

You're not wrong!

It was much better when we arrived in 2007 as the exchange rate was 1.49 and it's been as low as 1.05 and now up to c. 1.14, so still some 25% less than the level we were hoping for.

When we arrived shops were only permitted 2 sales periods each year, part of January and August. Reductions were not permitted outside those times. It's gradually been eased and folk have found ways round it. Macron declared illegal bogoffs and similar a couple of years ago but folk have just ignored it. Internet shopping has taken off but, yes, there's very little Anglo-Saxon competition as we know it.

Mrs Swotty says the only things cheaper here than the UK are wine and water. She has no interest in garage labour costs!

French healthcare is excellent and far superior to the UK. It's part-insurance but worth it for peace of mind.

The French economy has greater debt-to-GDP than the UK and Macron is under real pressure., so there's a deeper malaise.

Running cars is cheaper than the UK. No road tax is a huge saving; MOTs every 2 years and every 5 for cars over 30 years old. Parts are more expensive but labour costs are lower. Online tyres are very competitive. Fuel prices were cheaper but are around the same now and there are motorway tolls.

But it's the climate and lifestyle which make it worthwhile, plus a higher standard of living than the UK for we retired folk. House prices have not risen anywhere near as much as the UK but value for money is still better.

Sorry, bit of a long reply!

Thank you for an interesting reply

 

[ALFAitalia]

A beautiful country.....only completely ruined by the vast numbers of rude, thieving French people that seem to live there!.....based solely on my own experience obviously!....YMMV! Give me Italy any day....and that's nothing to do with me being half Italian....honestly! Even being a dual nationality/passport holder, I'd still rather live here than Italy!

 

[Sam87]

I owned an S600 w221 for about 4 years and I loved the car. It was one of the best cars to own. There’s something special just knowing there’s a V12 under the bonnet. The engine alone makes the car unique/special for me. I spent about £13k - £15k on the car in the time I had it and the car had only one owner before me and it had been serviced at the dealer all its life. This cars are old now and will need money spending. Just be prepared that some things cost more than a normal s class but it’s still worth it.

I loved the car so much that now I own an S65AMG W221
I would say got for it. We won’t be able to enjoy such cars for much longer.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Thanks for the advice & guidance.

Dodged the V12 bullet. Was looking for a full history low mileage V12 but nothing came to hand.

And then an immaculate 5.5 V8 with more than full MB history popped up and distracted me.

So V12 tin kicked further down the road.

Maybe next year?

 

[Will]

Looks nice, you’ll have to start another thread for that one now

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks for the advice & guidance.

Dodged the V12 bullet. Was looking for a full history low mileage V12 but nothing came to hand.

And then an immaculate 5.5 V8 with more than full MB history popped up and distracted me.

So V12 tin kicked further down the road.

Maybe next year?

View attachment 140362

Congratulations. Looks and sounds great.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

I read that as parts and labour, but I’m sure Woody can clarify

Yes indeed, plus it was a few years ago.
If i remember correctly they are changed every 4 years.