Welp, took one for the "Am I crazy team"...picked up a used S600

[kn51]

It's a 2007 (W221) with low mileage.

I see a lot of "am I crazy" posts in regards to these cars so thought I'd share. We all have our particular "wants" for whatever reason. In my case, I guess as I rolled over 40 years a twin turbo V12 sounded nice. No, not a midlife crisis...I had that a year back.

1) It really is more complicated than the space shuttle. The owners manual is 650 pages. The fiber optic CANBUS runs through the headlight switch for cripes sake. Some things are outdated (Nav, uses PCMCIA for external storage, etc.)

2) Either/and have an avenue for obtaining an exclusionary type warranty and/or have deep pockets. Plug change is around $800 (24 plugs on this engine). Coil pack failure ain't cheap. Heat from the turbos don't make them happy and they aren't easily replaceable individually. In other words for those versed in COP land, the entire bank needs to be replaced as a unit which includes 12 COPs due to dual spark. I won't even talk about the suspension.

3) I'm assuming it will burn through tires on a bi-annual basis due to the staggered setup. Fronts are around $500 installed. Backs I don't want to think about and thankfully have a lot of tread. These are for 18" rim size.

4) And yeah, it does toss 2.5 tons from 0-60 in less than 4.5 seconds. Rolling start on an on-ramp from 20-70 and hearing the turbos sing when you let off is pure bliss. Makes the previous 3 items a distant memory.

So in short, for less than then a price of a new Honda Accord you can get a very good model. But she won't be cheap in the end.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Rad! Sounds like you were aware of the risks going ahead with this so have lots of fun!

I'll trade you joy-rides(Viper).

 

[NutBucket]

Life is all about risks. Enjoy it!

 

[shabby]

The fiber optic CANBUS runs through the headlight switch for cripes sake.

Dont spill any blinker fluid on it!

 

[JulesMaximus]

No pics?

 

[jlee]

I think the coil packs are about $800/ea (maybe a little less, obviously aftermarket and not through Mercedes directly). I wasn't aware that plug changes were that high, though!

Also, pics!

 

[JulesMaximus]

A woman I work with has a 2006 S600, white with tan interior. She only drives it to and from work which is about 5 miles one way. She has a little over 30,000 miles on her car and it hasn't given her any trouble... not sure if she bought it new or not but I suspect not. She has had it for at least 5 years though.

It is a really nice looking car.

 

[LTC8K6]

You don't need a gas guzzler like that...

You only need a Honda Accord or the like...

Stop buying vehicles you don't need that use more fuel than necessary...

 

[Fenixgoon]

this thread only makes me want an S8 more....

grats on the car! would love to see some pics and video

 

[kn51]

Thanks all.

Funny thing...

I originally looked into an S5 with the V10. But that thing was basically a pig.

As for looks, it is nice. I can take pics but stock photos of a black 2007 S600 are basically the same. It is lengthy, but when you look at it head on it looks somewhat trim. Hard to explain.

In the end, it is just a car.

 

[RichUK]

Life is all about risks. Enjoy it!

Calculated, managed risks.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You don't need a gas guzzler like that...

You only need a Honda Accord or the like...

Stop buying vehicles you don't need that use more fuel than necessary...

Channeling your inner 'President of the Anti-SUV Brigade' are we? :sneaky:

 

[SearchMaster]

You're only "crazy" if you're expecting the reliability and inexpensive maintenance of that Honda Accord. If you have the means to afford the maintenance and repairs, then you got a $75,000 car for a third of the price. It won't have all the technology and gadgets of a new Accord, but it is more than made up for when you slam the gas pedal into the floor

Twin turbo V12...amazing.

 

[jlee]

You're only "crazy" if you're expecting the reliability and inexpensive maintenance of that Honda Accord. If you have the means to afford the maintenance and repairs, then you got a $75,000 car for a third of the price. It won't have all the technology and gadgets of a new Accord, but it is more than made up for when you slam the gas pedal into the floor

Twin turbo V12...amazing.

IIRC the S600's were $120-145k.

 

[LTC8K6]

Channeling your inner 'President of the Anti-SUV Brigade' are we? :sneaky:

If by that you mean yourself, then yes.

I knew you couldn't resist the bait.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If by that you mean yourself, then yes.

I knew you couldn't resist the bait.

:sneaky:

 

[JulesMaximus]

IIRC the S600's were $120-145k.

The new ones are almost $170k.

 

[Ns1]

Plug change is around $800 (24 plugs on this engine)

omg. Guess I'll stop looking at those E55's now too.

 

[nk215]

When you get to around 100k miles, the crankshaft sensor will need to be replaced. Other than that S600 should give you trouble free until around 150k miles or so.

At least that what's my friend who work on cars for a living told me. He won't touch high mileage bmw with a 10 foot pole but recommends the S series MB w/o hesitation.

 

[kn51]

Yes, I have the original sticker. If I recall it was listed $135K originally. The gas guzzler tax alone would cover the price of a new Nissan Versa. I think that was a 12K or so line item.

There is no way I would feel the car is worth that much new no matter how much money I had to throw at it.

Motor mounts are also an issue. Coverage with State Farm wasn't bad.

I filled up yesterday, so I'll probably get a good idea on gas mileage in a week. I'm betting 12MPG. Fortunately I have a short commute.

It's just a bad time to enjoy a car like this. It has been wet, cold, and of course holiday shopping traffic (my commute/work is centered in the busiest damn roads/shopping areas in town) combined with short daylight hours is not conducive to flex around 612 lb feet of torque.

And I'm a big DIY type guy. About the only thing I'm missing is a two post lift in my garage. Things like brakes are just typical. Spark plug change...eh can't be much worse than a 5.4 triton.

However, and I'll expand on my thoughts as how I'm going to tackle the ownership phase of this vehicle things can get complicated real quick in regards to documentation but I'm probably boring you all to tears and this post was long enough.

 

[mafia]

I think that if you can afford to and are willing to pay for the real expensive maintenance on these things, they are a real bargain. Especially if you find a well maintained one. Even with those old age running costs, it is still WAAAAAAAAAAY cheaper than a brand new one.

 

[kn51]

I think that if you can afford to and are willing to pay for the real expensive maintenance on these things, they are a real bargain. Especially if you find a well maintained one. Even with those old age running costs, it is still WAAAAAAAAAAY cheaper than a brand new one.

Yeah, mechanically (besides the suspension) they are somewhat sound.

Germans have an interesting way of engineering things. I've read something on here that they will spend $20 to cool a 10 cent plastic clip so it doesn't fail. Or they could have made the clip metal for 50 cents and not have to worry about it. That is damn accurate.

Another problem with ownership of something like this is the lack of general knowledge in regards for DIY repairs. I mean, say I have a F-150 and get a OBD code for a lean condition. There are hundreds of people who had that issue. With this baby you need more serious tools.

 

[jlee]

Yeah, mechanically (besides the suspension) they are somewhat sound.

Germans have an interesting way of engineering things. I've read something on here that they will spend $20 to cool a 10 cent plastic clip so it doesn't fail. Or they could have made the clip metal for 50 cents and not have to worry about it. That is damn accurate.

Another problem with ownership of something like this is the lack of general knowledge in regards for DIY repairs. I mean, say I have a F-150 and get a OBD code for a lean condition. There are hundreds of people who had that issue. With this baby you need more serious tools.

I found a surprising quantity of information on the S600 mechanicals when I was looking a few months ago - I'm sure there's nowhere near as much as there is on vehicles that are much more common, but the amount of information (and quality) is not bad at all.

 

[evident]

congrats, post pics!

 

[kn51]

I found a surprising quantity of information on the S600 mechanicals when I was looking a few months ago - I'm sure there's nowhere near as much as there is on vehicles that are much more common, but the amount of information (and quality) is not bad at all.

Yeah, it's not bad. What were you looking at? Most common failures are well documented. I'm more worried about CANBUS stuff going out and chasing gremlins. Basically everything is a giant fiber optic bus.

I promise to get some some pics. It's a little dirty.

Read an old review of my car in Car and Driver. One of the more remarkable stats is when braking from 70-0 it does it 17ft longer than an RX-8.

Oddball stuff #1...it has 2 batteries. One that sits in the engine bay and is used for only starting (not sure on the group size for this yet, but the one I have is actually MB branded). Another in back to run everything else. Has around 5 different fuse boxes.

Oddball stuff #2...has two cooling circuits. One for the engine, other for the intercoolers. Apparently bleeding intercooler circuit is a real bitch. Strange thing to see a standard radiator cap (think 1972 Oldsmobile) at the rear of the engine.

Oddball stuff #3...Engine takes over 9qts of oil. Getting into diesel territory.

Sorry if I'm boring ya all with this minor stuff, just relaying my findings for those thinking of taking the plunge.