Tell me why I don't want an S600!

[Subyman]

As I recall, Car and Driver did a short article several years ago about "best value in used cars". They used a guy's S600 as one example. It was a younger guy, he had just bought it and immediately had to put a couple grand in to it for something, but they commented that even if you had to put a thousand or two into it yearly, you were getting a car that was 10x the price just a few years ago and was an amazing value.

If your goal is something like with your CTS, I say go for it. At worst, you might lose a relatively small amount of money but it's already eaten all its depreciation. At best, you're a freakin' baller for a couple of years and it's only cost you a lot of gas money.

I remember reading that article as well. Amazing cars and a few grand a year into a sports/hobby car is nothing IMO. Obviously this couldn't be a daily driver or you'd be hurting haha.

 

[jlee]

Looks like there's info to DIY an ABC block repair...I could handle coil replacement (guessing with warranty I wouldn't have to do it more than once, so allow that in the budget). ABC pumps (same pump used for power steering, I believe) is about $750. Not cheap, but even if I had to rebuild both ABC blocks, get a new pump, and replace both coils I'm under $3k.....hmmmmmmm.

 

[skyking]

don't lose any $900 window regulators and you're golden

 

[halik]

Looks like there's info to DIY an ABC block repair...I could handle coil replacement (guessing with warranty I wouldn't have to do it more than once, so allow that in the budget). ABC pumps (same pump used for power steering, I believe) is about $750. Not cheap, but even if I had to rebuild both ABC blocks, get a new pump, and replace both coils I'm under $3k.....hmmmmmmm.

What's stopping you from swapping in coilvers or the stock non-abc suspension?

 

[jlee]

You can do a coilover conversion, but the ride quality suffers greatly.

 

[jagec]

I'm going to need something with 4 doors in the near future, and while I was looking at the Mazda 6, I've also been considering the used luxury car route. Gotta say, I like the look of the Jaguar XJ8s a lot, and they are dirt cheap on the used market. With all the same caveats as the Merc, of course.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I'm going to need something with 4 doors in the near future, and while I was looking at the Mazda 6, I've also been considering the used luxury car route. Gotta say, I like the look of the Jaguar XJ8s a lot, and they are dirt cheap on the used market. With all the same caveats as the Merc, of course.

x 10. Jags have proviso's on their caveats

 

[halik]

Ha, good coincidence in this thread - had a first unexpected breakdown on the S8. Cookies for the first person that can spot the issue:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/yofsj5gg3j6z19e/AABW4Zgl76d5pfitafNpjRtSa

 

[jlee]

I see a tired (coolant?) hose...starting to weep a bit?

 

[skyking]

I see a tired (coolant?) hose...starting to weep a bit?

Looks like it is split back behind whatever that other thing is.

 

[halik]

Looks like it is split back behind whatever that other thing is.

Ding; not coolant, but rather power steering. Lost 40 bucks in pentosin in about 5 minutes.

 

[Zargon]

Looks like there's info to DIY an ABC block repair...I could handle coil replacement (guessing with warranty I wouldn't have to do it more than once, so allow that in the budget). ABC pumps (same pump used for power steering, I believe) is about $750. Not cheap, but even if I had to rebuild both ABC blocks, get a new pump, and replace both coils I'm under $3k.....hmmmmmmm.

coils can be swapped to individual packs apparantly

 

[jlee]

coils can be swapped to individual packs apparantly

Have a link?

 

[Zargon]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ignition-Ca...edes-Benz-SL600-CL600-V12-b2919-/351101606796

I guess its just replacing them

some have hot knifed the pack open and resoldered wires to get coils back, I guess the internal connections are flimsy

 

[Ns1]

thanks to this thread I discovered you can get an E55 for < 15k O_O

 

[halik]

Have a link?

I think one of the Jalopnik articles mentioned that

 

[drbrock]

Would an sl550 be a reasonably reliable car? Love the design and the speed is well within what I would want. I am not expecting lexus reliability but it would be nice to have at least Ford reliability. Don't want a 4k repair to come out of nowhere often.

 

[rommelrommel]

ABC system is the major painful repair in a SL550.