W220 AMG- Buying advice needed

[HarpreetSingh]

Good afternoon all!!

Im a newbie on the block to the MB world, and looking for some advice on purchasing.

Ive my heart set on a W220 shape S55 AMG since driving both my brother in laws S500 in this shape, and test driving a 55 (pre facelift). Ive sold my VW Golf of which i spent just over £8k on repairs (i know, someone shouldve shot me a long time ago... believe me im not proud of that big spend) and looking for something more sophisticated.

My brother in law has given me the short discourse of spending, running costs, insurance etc and so im well aware of all this. He's advised me to go for a facelift W220 as aposed to a prefacelift. Im aware of the problem with the ABC pump, but what common problems can i expect from a facelift W220 S55?

Any input would be much appreciated

many thanks all.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hello and welcome to you. I feel sure someone will be along shortly to help answer your questions.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using MBClub UK

 

[LTD]

Rust.

Rust.

Airmatic.

Rust.

Rust.






Did I mention rust ?

 

[V12]

Rust on a facelift car? None on mine, not a spot anywhere. Just had it up on the ramp on monday to change a wheel and thought I'd take a good look underneath.

ABC will be the major expense on a facelift 55.

Much more expensive and complex than airmatic.

Everything is expensive on them and forget the £8k you spent on the golf. If you fear expensive running costs then forget the idea right away.

Brakes on the 55 are extortionate, servicing is very expensive...the list is pretty long.

 

[HarpreetSingh]

Hi all and thanks for your responses

I don't fear expensive running costs in the slightest, just good to gauge an idea of how much things will be than jump in not knowing anything, even if it is going to be used as an evening/weekender

I'll look out for the ABC thing and according to my bro in law- electrics.

Thanks folks

 

[V12]

By far the best advice is get a reputable indy to check the car over for you and get the car on STAR.

There are so many things that even an experienced S class owner can't pick up on that an indy can and will.

 

[HarpreetSingh]

By far the best advice is get a reputable indy to check the car over for you and get the car on STAR.

There are so many things that even an experienced S class owner can't pick up on that an indy can and will.

Brilliant!! Thanks for the advice

 

[Alex]

Rust.

Rust.

Airmatic.

Rust.

Rust.

Did I mention rust ?

Rust will probably be only due to age and condition of the car, not specific to W220 chassis. Facelift models have aluminium body so even less chance of having it.

No airmatic in AMG, only ABC.

Rust on a facelift car? None on mine, not a spot anywhere. Just had it up on the ramp on monday to change a wheel and thought I'd take a good look underneath.

ABC will be the major expense on a facelift 55.

Much more expensive and complex than airmatic.

Everything is expensive on them and forget the £8k you spent on the golf. If you fear expensive running costs then forget the idea right away.

Brakes on the 55 are extortionate, servicing is very expensive...the list is pretty long.

Full set of brake disc and pads for my 04 CL55 is about £440 incl. VAT from main dealer (have their quotation on my desk). Pagid discs and pads from EuroCarParts with their current 30% off consumables are £300 something. Both hardly extortionate even if you employ someone to swap them for you (I do brakes myself with a help of £45 Sealey bleeding kit).

Other than hydraulic suspension that is prone to leaks, W220 AMG will not be much different to any other Mercedes car. Just bought and fitted a coolant pump as mine was on its way out - it's the same p/n and price for all supercharged AMG - from E-Class to S. The 55k engine is bomb proof so not much needed there either, just regular service with quality components/consumables.

Just checked an invoice from a main dealer that serviced the CL prior to my collection. £419 incl. some battery as well (probably Aux) and it's a B service with all fluids. Tax disc - half the price of modern cars.

They are expensive cars to buy new, no doubt, but servicing and maintenance is not going to make a hole in your pocket even though it's an 'AMG'.

OP, try and get a low miles model if you can. They are rare but there was a couple on Autotrader when I was looking for a car last month. Do your home work, budget for some immediate repairs, haggle (I've got a main dealer B service FOC this way amongst other discounts) and you will be fine

 

[Conquistador]

Rear shocks are something to be wary of too. And they are packed full of electronics so don't be afraid of pressing every button and trying every feature to ensure everything works.

 

[V12]

Alx, imo, that is very poor advice.

Speedo clocks, heater motor, any switches, relays or ECU are all specific to the S Class and much more expensive than any other MB. That's just a start. The list is extremely long.

£440 for discs and pads all round is leaps and bounds from what a golf driver will have been used to paying!

 

[Jitzz]

I've got a CL55k and genetically very similar to the car you're after. So from my perspective the ABC suspension seems to be one of the costlier areas...which I've just had experience of

But these can now be sourced from the USA at a fraction of the cost, although they are still pricey - not a deal breaker !!

Just check this area carefully - any work done around here is a good thing. Check the usual electrics and ensure a good service history has been maintained....good luck

Jitzz

 

[rk100]

Full set of brake disc and pads for my 04 CL55 is about £440 incl. VAT from main dealer (have their quotation on my desk):

Really only £440+VAT

I know mine is a CL65 (W215) - but the guy who owned it before me put on new brake discs and pads all round and I have the receipt - it was a whooping £4000 and something!! Luckily for me only 1500 miles had been put on the car before I got it so hopefully no brakes/discs for a while.

 

[Alex]

Alx, imo, that is very poor advice.

Speedo clocks, heater motor, any switches, relays or ECU are all specific to the S Class and much more expensive than any other MB. That's just a start. The list is extremely long.

I'm not sure I understand so please elaborate on ECU problems and relays costs (seriously, relays?). Blower motor under the dash in the passenger side - okay but the least you can do is try and repair it. It's not that difficult to take it apart and swap the tiny Bosch motor. In fact, getting to it is the hardest part. There's always ebay or breaker's yard.

Further more, a coolant pump I mentioned in my previous post? I paid £221 to get it from the dealer (needed it there and then). Same pump from Amazon is £174 delivered. You don't have to pay dealer's prices if you do your research. That was my point.

£440 for discs and pads all round is leaps and bounds from what a golf driver will have been used to paying!

Thought we were talking on differences in prices between Mercedes and AMG, not Mercedes and VW. £440 for genuine Mercedes consumables for 55 AMG is a good value. Even better when bought from EPC for £100 less. Or you disagree?

Besides, I've never spent 8 grand on repairs between all Mercedes cars I've had. Spent much more on modding, yes. But never so much on repairs.

 

[Alex]

I've got a CL55k and genetically very similar to the car you're after. So from my perspective the ABC suspension seems to be one of the costlier areas...which I've just had experience of

But these can now be sourced from the USA at a fraction of the cost, although they are still pricey - not a deal breaker !!

Just check this area carefully - any work done around here is a good thing. Check the usual electrics and ensure a good service history has been maintained....good luck

Jitzz

Thanks for your input. A member here bought a pair of reconditioned rear shocks from Germany @ £500 each IIRC for his CL500. Great deal indeed.

Really only £440+VAT

I know mine is a CL65 (W215) - but the guy who owned it before me put on new brake discs and pads all round and I have the receipt - it was a whooping £4000 and something!! Luckily for me only 1500 miles had been put on the car before I got it so hopefully no brakes/discs for a while.

£440 including VAT Estimate from MB of MK attached. Subtract the cost of the coolant pump (£221) and the rest is brake discs and pads.

For your 65 I'd get a complete floating rotor setup. Might be actually cheaper and lighter than OEM. Let me know if you needs the details of a competent shop that could do it for you.

 

[V12]

The guy is selling a Golf to buy this, so the most reasonable thing to do will be to compare costs to what he is used to.

We have run several of these (W220 and W215 / AMG and non AMG). My father also owns one of the biggest merc specialist breakers so I know how much all the parts are worth compared to "normal" mercedes vehicles.

I think you need to just take a step back and realise what you're saying. A member got a pair of rear shocks for £1000?!?! I know this is a heck of a lot cheaper than a dealer, but compare that price to the price of some new rear shocks, for say a C class?

Most cars can be run on a shoestring if needs be, a W220 can't.

 

[V12]

I'm not sure I understand so please elaborate on ECU problems and relays costs (seriously, relays?).

Common examples include :

Door control modules
Central Locking/Closure pump
Door lock Mechanisms
SAM
Headlight control module
Seat control unit

Off the top of my head those are the ones that sell instantly off any vehicle being broken.

Have a read of this.

W220 S-CLASS ENCYCLOPEDIA - START HERE (major update Apr 2013; minor ones frequent) - Mercedes-Benz Forum

I'm not trying to scare people off buying them, just feel that people should choose with their heads and not their hearts.
Despite the high running costs, they are worth every penny.

 

[Alex]

The guy is selling a Golf to buy this, so the most reasonable thing to do will be to compare costs to what he is used to.

We have run several of these (W220 and W215 / AMG and non AMG). My father also owns one of the biggest merc specialist breakers so I know how much all the parts are worth compared to "normal" mercedes vehicles.

I think you need to just take a step back and realise what you're saying. A member got a pair of rear shocks for £1000?!?! I know this is a heck of a lot cheaper than a dealer, but compare that price to the price of some new rear shocks, for say a C class?

Most cars can be run on a shoestring if needs be, a W220 can't.

By the same token the guys has spent £8k on repairing his 'shoestring run' golf...


I don't disagree that in even its simplest form S-Class is a very expensive vehicle. That said, running costs are not that different to any other AMG model - be it E, SL etc. I've heard very little of ECU problems but you might have a different opinion given your father's vast experience in the field. Comparing price of shocks for W220 and a C-Class has never been relevant in this discussion. The OP wants a 55K AMG after all, not a diesel C-Class.

 

[Alex]

Common examples include :

Door control modules
Central Locking/Closure pump
Door lock Mechanisms
SAM
Headlight control module
Seat control unit

Off the top of my head those are the ones that sell instantly off any vehicle being broken.

Have a read of this.

W220 S-CLASS ENCYCLOPEDIA - START HERE (major update Apr 2013; minor ones frequent) - Mercedes-Benz Forum

I'm not trying to scare people off buying them, just feel that people should choose with their heads and not their hearts.
Despite the high running costs, they are worth every penny.

My first Mercedes was an 84k miles 1999 ML320. The 'worst' of all Mercedes cars ever made. American designed and built in Alabama. Lowest reliability according to every car magazine in the world. Endless problems for the owners. Money pit. How many problems I had with it? Close to zero in 4 years of ownership (water pump failed once).

What are the odds of all those parts in your list failing on the same car? I take it you want the guy to prepare for the worst but seriously, a bit of common sense, a little homework, a bit of luck and some DIY skills and it's not that bad after all.

PS. A shock for '99 ML is £330. So £500 for an S-Class ain't bad. They are nice cars, that's true

 

[V12]

I don't know how the ML ended up with such a bad rep. We have run 2 long term, my mum had one from new for 8 or 9 years and it was the most reliable car she's ever had.

I used the c class shock example to give some much needed perspective.

 

[blue gnome123]

Some cars do get bad reputations for unreliability (see the cars in my signature!) that are often early production issues but are revised quickly (MB injectors a few years ago?). The poor reputation is then almost impossible to change unless its a single specific problem.