Samosali, it is very interesting to read what you noted
My situation is different, i always had japanise vehicles, and still do. s500 was the first and probably the last german car i will ever have
My BMW lease experience really turned me away.
Yes i like w140 in spite of may things, but in spite, not because
w140 is special though and belongs to different era. I forgive may things to it because it is seriously old too, 22y is a lot for many materials.
Friend of mine is a Lexus guy and i did a lot of things with him on his cars (as fun or help). Do not want to be too boring, but all we ever did were brakes, water pump (preventive) and fluids of all sorts and kinds. We would fix something else... but there were none. Some cars were over 10 years old.
460 specifically, has the followig weakneses: high quality fluids (nothing special but high end of the widely available product lines), possible steering rack issue (either new rack for ~750 or new plastic or copper insert to the right side of the rack ~$10-20 if you are or to open one end of the rack), air rubber elements if it is equipped with air suspension (they come both ways with/without air, each shock is ~$750 for air ones. Air is very reliable, but rubber springs need cleaning and lubrication twice a year, noone does it
) water pump needs change ~80k may be some hoses. AT fluid every 50k. You may have problem with bushings (front and rear arms) 8 bushings $30 per pc.
I could not find ANY other issues ever reported on it
MAWA i'm with you big time!!!! I'd LOVE to have reliable luxury wagon!!!! But there is virtualy none
There is e class, volvo and subaru outback (i'm purpusly skipping cadillac, i'm not old enough to dive one
, not to mention reliability).
I had outback, perfect car with 1 exception, sound insulation is so-so (noisy on the hwy), and it is slow on my taste. It is in the same proximity with s500, ~7 sec 0-60. Bulletproof with 3.6 h6
Volvos are nice but even less reliable the MB, very expensive parts (more then MB), constant issues with AC and evaporators (f-ing BEHR again), not may shops available. Very few mechanics who ever did them in Ohio. Several computers running everything... diagnostics is frequenty needed at the dealer.
And we are back to e- class again... is there such a thing as reliable e- class 4 matic, v8?