Tell me why I don't want an S600!

[jlee]

It's an older car so it's not that bad.

It's more than both of my trucks combined.

 

[Ferzerp]

I want to complain about the suspension cost, but I know my car is just as bad if I have to replace a shock.

 

[rommelrommel]

If you could find an old fart driven mercedes maintained one I'd be tempted... hell I've been thinking about it for a toy. They are SOOO cheap for what you get. A lot of the forums suggest that you're better off to spend the extra coin for a S65 if you intend on hooning the car. Also, having the coil packs done recently is a big positive, they were revised and the new ones are less prone to dying.

You just have to budget for some major repairs at some point... eventually you're going to lose a coil pack or have a ABC problem and it's going to cost several thousand dollars to fix.

 

[jlee]

If you could find an old fart driven mercedes maintained one I'd be tempted... hell I've been thinking about it for a toy. They are SOOO cheap for what you get. A lot of the forums suggest that you're better off to spend the extra coin for a S65 if you intend on hooning the car. Also, having the coil packs done recently is a big positive, they were revised and the new ones are less prone to dying.

You just have to budget for some major repairs at some point... eventually you're going to lose a coil pack or have a ABC problem and it's going to cost several thousand dollars to fix.

Yeah, it looks like it'd run about $2500 to replace all four corners re: suspension. Lifetime warranty, though, so at least it'd only be once.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If you could find an old fart driven mercedes maintained one I'd be tempted... hell I've been thinking about it for a toy. They are SOOO cheap for what you get. A lot of the forums suggest that you're better off to spend the extra coin for a S65 if you intend on hooning the car. Also, having the coil packs done recently is a big positive, they were revised and the new ones are less prone to dying.
You just have to budget for some major repairs at some point... eventually you're going to lose a coil pack or have a ABC problem and it's going to cost several thousand dollars to fix.

Who do you think buys a $100k Mercedes?

 

[rommelrommel]

Who do you think buys a $100k Mercedes?

First owners who trade em in every 3-5 years

Unfortunately after that it's pretty mixed. You end up with a lot of owners that thought they would buy a 150k car for 40k rather than a new ES350 and let the maintainence pile up when they find out how damn expensive it is.

 

[jlee]

First owners who trade em in every 3-5 years

Unfortunately after that it's pretty mixed. You end up with a lot of owners that thought they would buy a 150k car for 40k rather than a new ES350 and let the maintainence pile up when they find out how damn expensive it is.

Yeah, I checked a few carfax's on Autotrader and they had 4-5 owners. Kinda scary over 10-12 years.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

My mom has the same generation S430. TBH it is a nice car but you can definitely see its age. She had some issues with the shocks/hydraulics, oil leakage, etc and it has cost her a few thousand dollars each time. The car is at about 200,000 miles now so its about time to give it up (well I'm trying to get her to give it up but she doesn't have payments on it so shes meh)

 

[Jimzz]

Yeah, I checked a few carfax's on Autotrader and they had 4-5 owners. Kinda scary over 10-12 years.

That's because it only take a year or 2 before they realize their horrible mistake.

My wife HAD to have a German luxury car. Found a E350 Mercedes with a pile of options, no leather though I mean it was only a 60k car, in great shape and clean record. After 1 year she sold it. I warned her but she had to have it and learned the hard way.

 

[Insomniator]

I'd imagine you'd have be some wizard to properly main a gigantic v12 benz, loaded with technology from 10 years ago. Plus they are all automatics

Would sound nice I'm sure though!

 

[rommelrommel]

I'd imagine you'd have be some wizard to properly main a gigantic v12 benz, loaded with technology from 10 years ago. Plus they are all automatics

Would sound nice I'm sure though!

The only spell you need is one that gives a healthy supply of hundred dollar bills.

A decent mechanic with STARscan or whatever it is can do it, even the labour isn't too terrible on most of the common problems... it's the parts. My GF and her mom both have 2009 diesel ML's... both are low mile and not driven too much, but they are good for 300-500 a month in repairs on average.

 

[JulesMaximus]

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/the-180-mph-cheaper-sleeper-the-story-of-my-mercedes-s-1534030903

Example

I bought my '04 CTS-V and drove it for two years, and then sold it for a little more than I paid. If I can find another screaming deal, I'm tempted to try an S600. I'm not afraid to do any work required on it, but I'm not sure how much might fail that requires proprietary dealer-only computer stuff to diagnose/repair, or how often expensive stuff fails.

Anybody here have experience with one?

Nice car. Not crazy about the chrome wheels though. Would look nice with some later model AMG wheels.

Like these.

 

[Zargon]

yeah that would be sex.

 

[jlee]

Nice car. Not crazy about the chrome wheels though. Would look nice with some later model AMG wheels.

Like these.

Looking at S65 AMG's as well - almost $200k in 2006, $30k now.

So..I looked at RennTech.

Yeah, NO.

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/628

$4,980 for 15hp.

LOL.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Looking at S65 AMG's as well - almost $200k in 2006, $30k now.

I'd definitely get the 2006 AMG models. Those are more recent and look amazing (Although not in comparison to this generation's)

Oh my. http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/611080149/overview/

 

[Midwayman]

Nice car. Not crazy about the chrome wheels though. Would look nice with some later model AMG wheels.

http://www.powerwheelspro.com/shop/index.php?cPath=23

Exact replicas on the cheap.

 

[drbrock]

I looked into buying a CL600 a while back. Insane maintenance costs. If the things did not break down every two seconds I would def be buying one. It could be a great weekend car. If you put any mileage on these you will get eaten alive. 30k for a second car is not in the cards for me though.

 

[BUTCH1]

Sure.

http://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/132373-s600-renntech-dyno-ed-742rwtq.html

Lots of people are doing it. Some stuff is a lot stronger than you'd think - stock MR2 Turbo transmissions can take over 800whp. Stock is ~170.

So it is doable but like I said, pray the rest of the drive-line is over-engineered or you could wind up with a 700HP car needing a $6K tranny, maybe if you drove it somewhat sanely and avoided burnout's that Bruce Springsteen writes songs about you might be OK..

 

[jlee]

So it is doable but like I said, pray the rest of the drive-line is over-engineered or you could wind up with a 700HP car needing a $6K tranny, maybe if you drove it somewhat sanely and avoided burnout's that Bruce Springsteen writes songs about you might be OK..

Burnouts are less load on the transmission than actually getting grip.

Anyway, this won't happen for a while. New project.

 

[rommelrommel]

So it is doable but like I said, pray the rest of the drive-line is over-engineered or you could wind up with a 700HP car needing a $6K tranny, maybe if you drove it somewhat sanely and avoided burnout's that Bruce Springsteen writes songs about you might be OK..

There are guys pushing more HP (they usually build AMG 65's tho which may have stouter parts in places) and driveline hasn't been an issue. They seem to be quite over engineered in that respect.

 

[Fenixgoon]

A lot, but initial cost of entry is double or more. At the rate prices are decreasing, I'll probably be looking for an 09+V mid-late 2015, but we'll see.

Kinda tempted to try an S600 for a couple years before a V, but I'm concerned about the Mercedes maintenance.

why not wait it out then? another year and you get a massive upgrade with far less chance of maintenance headaches

 

[rommelrommel]

why not wait it out then? another year and you get a massive upgrade with far less chance of maintenance headaches

Because owning a v12 merc is pretty damn cool.

Also the merc probably has more potential, they can push huge power without cracking the engine open.

 

[jlee]

So, I still want one.

Research says the drivetrain is pretty damn solid, with the exception of the coil packs (2x $850). The biggest headache is the Active Body Control suspension...while apparently quite incredible, it likes to leak. If you maintain it well, flush the fluid regularly, etc, it's supposed to be decent. BUT...how many people flush their suspension fluid every 20k miles? I'm guessing not many.

They're so cheap!

 

[Fenixgoon]

it's ok. i still want an S8 V10 <3

if you can do all the maintenance yourself (and it seems like you're the handy type given how much you do on your MR2), then it might be worth getting a veritable spaceship. otherwise, i'd probably pass.

 

[JulesMaximus]

it's ok. i still want an S8 V10 <3

if you can do all the maintenance yourself (and it seems like you're the handy type given how much you do on your MR2), then it might be worth getting a veritable spaceship. otherwise, i'd probably pass.

How much would he drive it is the question. A few thousand miles a year and it will probably be pretty good if it has been well maintained.

I would try to find one with relatively low mileage and complete maintenance history and only keep it for a few years. Be prepared for some hefty maintenance bills though if anything goes wrong.