Buying a used Mercedes S-class W220 - 1998-2006, Full Review with Common Issues

I have problems with the keyless entry

Thanks I do love your reviews....I found a beautiful but bargain w220 on Saturday......hmmm I'll keep my old Saab!

Thanks man, you are a legend

I buy my S600 (2000) IN 2012 at 100 000 miles...ALL BIG REPAIRING WAS EFFECTUED...now 6 years and 40 000 miles later ALL RIGHT except alternator and accus NO PROBLEM

Nice

what are your thoughts on the 2001 S430 with right hand drive?

I cracked when asimo fell off hahahahahahahahaha

what do you think about a 2002 S55 AMG, without Kompressor?

Cars are as reliable as you know how to maintain them as well as how much you can afford to maintain them.

Awesome review

Which is the best used luxury car one can buy in your opinion

van olyan diesel V8-as motor ami jó konstrukció és megbízható? (nem feltétlenül mercedes, akár melyik márka)

anyone do you know how to lower the rear head rest manually?? my switch to lower them stopped working after i pulled them up manually. thanks

that is not a review

i own a s600 with a renntech tune and fully built under, i have new billet turbos, installed new pistons and rods, new injectors and full new amg exhaust, also has 2 step. I have huge 315 volk wheels, with michellin tires, im pushing about 800 to the wheels, with a new lsd diff and a full titanium driveshaft, Its the most amazing build i have seen, and it shreds the tires like its on ice

What is problem with 400 cdi?

I Wish One Of These That I Could Find A Super Clean Very Maintained Black On Black 2005-06 S500 With The AMG Sport Package But Every Time I Find One The Prices Are Similar To A 2007-08 S550 With The AMG Sport Package Although I Really Like The 2005-2006 W220 I Wouldn't Buy It Over A W221 I Guess I Have To Keep Searching Until I Find One For The Right Price

Not sure why people keep saying the w140 is much better than the w220. I had both, a 1998 s500 and a 2006 s430 4matic. I can tell you the w220 is a much better car...better handling, improved fuel economy, interior is much quieter at any speed, seats are way better in terms of comfort than those in the w140. The w140 looks dated now too, and not in a good way like a w126...its just a big bloated hunk of metal. The 220 is not perfect by any means, its weak point is the airmatic suspension which has given me several problems, along with a few minor electrical problems. Just get a low mileage late model w220 and you'll be very pleased with it.

I don’t think you know what your talking about ...

If you get a 2001 s class in good condition with all the problems you said change and in good condition do you think it is worth buying and are the parts expensive for it?

I own an S class W140 300SE 1993, 3.2 M104 ,5 speed 722.5 , with 126.000 miles (205.000 km) and I´m planning to change it for a W220 S430. I´ve had many problems with the W140 but fixed them all. I use the car with great care . The problems have been with some electronic modules. The mechanics of the car are very good: engine, transmission, differential, suspension, steering , brakes, etc. The accesories work perfect, including soft close doors and trunk, A/C, electric seats with orthopedic system, sun roof , etc etc, everything. The car is in absolute original condition.


I have studied much about the W 220 and i think it is a very good car. All S class cars are very luxurious and must be treated like what they are: with care and not like an old pair of shoes , with abuse.
They say the best engines are M112 and M113, and not M272 - M273.
The best transmission , the 722.6 (5G Tronic) and not the 722.7 (7G Tronic)
The ABC system is not good. It is an hydro-pneumatic system very complicated and expensive, that can fail.
It is an addition to the Air Matic system. The Air Matic system works very well.
The ABC is for great speed cornerings and ultimate stability. In other words for speeding and abusing the car. For the first owner excellent, but afterwards, great problems.
The rest of the car is very good, using it as it should be done and giving the car the corresponding maintenance .
Here in Chile, I´ve never seen a W220 with rust.


Very good video, thank you.

I have this car. The issue with it is that it can stop anywhere (having its complicated buttons) without starting. It’s quite unpredictable in this case. We called several engineers but none have been able to solve the problem. What could it be?

I want to replace the petrol V8 engine of my W220 S430L(1999 made) with a Deisel engine. Is it possible and if so, what Deisel engine will be compatible?

If only Lexus had the Mercedes styling it would have been an outright winner for the period 1999 to 2004. Lexus LS430 - Bit "old man ish" If Lexus had matched those lines, having a far more reliable electrical reputation, Mercedes would have been gone! I note that the high Miler has a tubular ring breakdown in the Cluster. Something you don't mention. Cluster failure is quite common? Liked the W140 but mine rusted in peace, sadly.

Oh mate you need to shut up..... my 2005 w220 works like a treat.... and has a few kms on it.

You polish talk some rubbish sometimes

This was a great advice bro. I want to by one, in the near future. But, in reality, I do not think that this car is better than a W126.

you are awesome i bought a s class 350 which was 65000 kms from 2004 model.

I had no problems with this car the main thing full service every 6 months must be you not looking after it. I have a S600 V12 year 2000 it's the best of the best I hope u learning mate full service every 6 months ok

W220..... s320 or s600 maintnance cost is 1 to 5 ratio

My dad had one when his mom’s lease was up and he took over the payments. It was a 2002. Back model w/ no 4wd. It rusted out and by 90k miles he had to unload it. It was stuck in 1st gear or something. I hav a jaguar XJ8 but going back and forth w/ an 04-06 W220 or the next generation. Such price difference as u can imagine . I hav a jag so I’m not scared to take on one of these but if I do a 04-06 ..I want it to be a one owner and hav no miles on it....so hard to come by ..if one pops up , someone let me know. Needs to be 4wd and only considering red, white, or silver.

Thank you your comments was very useful

I´m thinking about a 2001 , didn´t they some more then than 1998 when they made the first one ?? What about the S350 2005 ???? What do you think about that ÞÞ Thank you !!!

I drive a 2002 S600 Designo with 145K miles (233K kilometers) and it drives like a dream. Smoothest Mercedes I've owned and it accelerates like a ROCKET. Far superior than my previous W140 600S.

Yes I use to have one one good car but the w221 is way better .

the facelift was not 2001 or 2002. It was 2003/4.

The W 140 S klasse is the best car ever made the W220 is the worse S klasse ever made....

check the internet before you buy a Mercedes new or used. Big problems with gas fumes and engines pistons breaking. Then you need a new engine, you can't rebuild the one that broke. Class action law suits in place and starting up. Mercedes does not stand behind these problems at all. So you will have a worthless car. Most are breaking below 100k miles. Beware

That music is killing me ... the fuck ???

Every quality control problem you speak of is the same as the w126

With an S Class, go big, or go home! S600 or nothing.

I was owner for 2 years of a clean S 320 CDI with only 65.000km from 2002. Was good to drive and range like 1350km with full diesel tank was perfect to drive from Monaco to Köln City by Italy and Switzerland.

No issues with Airmatic suspensions system, work very great
No issues with electronics parts


Soft-Close stop to work by surprise one year after i had the car, never find why lol
Main issue was the inter-cooler ; passenger side plastic part was dead all the time.
Before to sell the car with 121.000km, i already installed the fourth inter-cooler.

M137

I love these reviews!

Why don't you recommend the S 400 CDI?????

The way its started: this car sucks
The way it ended: so yeah basically you can do 1,000,000km in this thing easy

I have a 2006 S55. It is a beautiful automobile. I would not trade it for a brand new Mercedes.

Thank goodness I have a 2002 S500