You asked questions that have less to do with the year of the car than with the condition of the car you are considering. The cars are 11-14 years old. How has the car been maintained. Get the maintenance records on the car. Review them with care. It is critical to have a pre-purchase inspection done by a knowledgeable Mercedes mechanic (preferably one very familiar with W140 cars). Have that mechanic run a Star diagnostic to determine of there are any unresolved codes. Though less significant, mileage is a consideration. Sit in the car and operate all the options to determine if any are not working. Especially, check to make sure that the A/C is blowing ice cold. This car is famous for pricey A/C repairs.

Now to your questions:

1)I believe so.

2)Again reliability for these 11-14 year old cars has more to do with condition than year. I suppose that it can be said that possible incremental improvements were made between 96-97 and 98-99 (bearing in mind that the 99s were actually built in 98)

3) The Grand Edition is an S500 with the additional options. Upgraded napa leather seats, different wood, wood steering wheel with leather, wood shift with leather, electric rear and manual side sunscreens, black Obsidian metallic paint, custom floor mats and AMG 18" wheels. Everything else being equal, I would, of course get a Grand Edition.

4) A search of this forum will reveal that there is a lot of discussion on this Forum concerning the difference between S420s and S500s. Much of that is subjective. What is the difference between 275 HP and 315 HP. You will have to decide if that is meaningful to you. It was to me but I am not you.

Good luck in your search.

Telechronos

1999 S500 Grand Edition
1984 380 SL
1955 MG TF1500
1969 Factory Stick, Factory Tri-Power Pontiac Grand Prix SJ

 

The Grand Edition is an S500 with the additional options. Upgraded napa leather seats, different wood, wood steering wheel with leather, wood shift with leather, electric rear and manual side sunscreens, black Obsidian metallic paint, custom floor mats and AMG 18" wheels. Everything else being equal, I would, of course get a Grand Edition.

If I am not mistaken your door sills are illuminated too right? Why cant we have that in our W140 s:crybaby2:

 

Telechronos is right, see the conditions of the car first because the difference between the 97 and 98 are extremely small. See the chart below. You get an updated armrest on the 98 WOhooo"

Mercedes-Benz S-Class US/Canadian Spec W140/C140 changes
1992 ¡V 1999 W140/C140

1992
W140 released in Fall 1991 as 1992 model in North America

Models:
300SE - SWB
300SD - SWB
400SE - SWB
500SEL - LWB
600SEL - LWB

Major Options:
Glass Sunroof (No Charge on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Mobile Phone (Non-Portable)
Activated Charcoal Filter (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Heated Front Seats (STD on all Canadian Models. STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Heated Rear Seats (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Power Rear Sunshade
Power Rear Seatback (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL, Heated Rear Seats included)
4-Zone Climate Control (STD on 600SEL)
4-Place-Seating Package (All Models)
CD-Changer
Multicontour Front Seats
ASR (300SE & 400SE, STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
ASD (300SD)
ADS (300SE, 400SE, 500SEL, STD on 600SEL)

1993
400SE replaced by 400SEL
New Front Center Armrest
S-Class Coupe introduced in North America in Spring 1993

Model:
300SE - SWB
300SD - SWB
400SEL - LWB
500SEL - LWB
500SEC - Coupe
600SEL - LWB
600SEC - Coupe

Major Options:
Glass Sunroof (No Charge on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Mobile Phone (Non-Portable)
Activated Charcoal Filter (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Heated Front Seats (STD on all Canadian Models. STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Heated Rear Seats (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
Power Rear Sunshade (STD on 500SEL, 500SEC, 600SEL & 600SEC)
Power Rear Seatback (STD on 500SEL & 600SEL, Heated Rear Seats included)
4-Zone Climate Control (STD on 600SEL)
4-Place-Seating Package (LWB Only)
CD-Changer (STD on 500SEL, 500SEC, 600SEL & 600SEC)
Multicontour Front Seats
ASR (300SE & 400SE, STD on 500SEL & 600SEL)
ASD (300SD)
ADS (300SE, 400SE, 500SEL, STD on 600SEL)

1994
New Style Stereo Deck
Refined rear parking rod (longer rod)
Model Designation Change

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S350 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
S500C
S600C


1995
1st Facelift: New front/rear bumpers, side claddings, headlight/taillights, clear front sidemarkers, larger interior door armrests, newly designed interior door panels, digital odometer/trip meter display, S600 gets full-leather-interior.
Body-colored antenna base
Electric Trunk Lid Release button added to center console.
Power Lock/Unlock button relocated to center console
S600 gets unique grill treatment
Headlight Wipers become optional on S320 SWB
Canadian-Spec S500 & S600 gains FULL NAPPA LEATHER INTERIOR and Dual-Tone C140 style seats
Last Year for S350 Turbodiesel

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S350 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
S500C
S600C



1996
5-Speed electronic automatic replaced older, 4-Speed hydraulic unit on ALL V8 & V12 models
Rear parking rod no longer on Sedans
Keyless Remote uses both Radio Frequency and Infrared
Rear lock/unlock indicator is no more
Newly designed A/C controls (Single DIN)
Interior Rear Mirror no longer power operated
Burl Walnut Wood in ALL models (Replaced Zebrano Wood in S320/S420)
Newly design gear shift knob
Turbodiesel W140 dropped from line-up
S500 no longer has Power Rear Seatback STD

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
S500C
S600C

1997
2nd Facelift, new alloy rims (6-spokes), monotone exterior paintjob (Coupe & Sedan), Xenon headlights available (STD on S500C & S600C). Newly designed taillights (white/clear turn signal lenses instead of orange, sedan & coupe)
Parktronic (STD on S600, S500C & S600C, optional on other models)
Front Side-Airbag STD on all models
Integrated Garage Door Opener added
Activated Charcoal Filter STD on all models
Calyptus Wood in S320, Burl Walnut Wood in all other models
Auto-Dim Driver-Side Mirror added to all models
Canadian-Spec S500 no longer has 2-tone full leather interior(w/C140 Style seats). Switched back to regular interior as S320/S420

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
S500C
S600C


1998
S-Class Coupe designation change to CL-Class
Baby-Smart added to all models
New Front Center Armrest

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
CL500
CL600


1999
Last Year Production for W140/C140
Introduction of US-Exclusive S500 Grand Edition with unique features only found on S500 GE¡¨, approx 600 units were produced

Model:
S320 (SWB)
S420 (LWB)
S500 (LWB)
S500 Grand Edition (LWB)
S600 (LWB)
CL500
CL600

Major Options:
ESP (STD on S600 & CL600)
Automatic Rear Leveling (STD on S500, CL500, S600 & CL600)
Parktronic (STD on CL500, CL600 & S600)
Xenon Headlight (STD on CL500 & CL600)
Heated Rear Seats (STD on S500 & S600)
Power Rear Sunshade (STD on S600 & CL600)
Power Rear Seatback (STD S600, Heated Rear Seats included, N/A on CL500 & CL600)
4-Zone Climate Control (STD on S600, N/A on CL500 & CL600)
4-Place-Seating Package (S500 & S600 Only, N/A on S320 & S420)
CD-Changer (STD on CL500, S600 & CL600)
Multicontour Front Seats (STD on S600 & CL600, can only be ordered individually)
Integrated Mobile Phone
Portable Mobile Phone

NOTE: It seems that US-Spec S600 Sedan has Xenon STD, but Parktronic Optional. Yet, Canadian-Spec has Parktronic STD and Xenon Optional. ALL Canadian-Spec W140/C140 has Heated Front Seats STD. ALL S500 and S600 has Rear Heated Seat STD. Also, it seems Canadian-Spec LWB W140 never had Rear Auto-Leveling as option. Only US-Spec has this option available.

(courtesy of Akri)

 

I am currently looking for a second MB. Considering 1993 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 300SE. Assuming all maintenance has been done, what are the areas of concern. This car currently has 164K in miles.