[Devante Wright]

Really looking for my next car to be a Mercedes.. looking at a W211 E Class as well, more recently I have seen a bunch of early 2000 S classes, a 2001 S430 w/142k , and a 2001 S500 w/127k.. Would you not recommend either of these cars, or one over the other? I'm young so if you could have any insight into that if you think they'd be money pits please let me know. Along with reliability, common problems, what to look for etc. Thank you!

 

[eagle9]

Really looking for my next car to be a Mercedes.. looking at a W211 E Class as well, more recently I have seen a bunch of early 2000 S classes, a 2001 S430 w/142k , and a 2001 S500 w/127k.. Would you not recommend either of these cars, or one over the other? I'm young so if you could have any insight into that if you think they'd be money pits please let me know. Along with reliability, common problems, what to look for etc. Thank you!

Great cars, but if you dont know how or learn how to work on it yourself, its costly. Ill list the things i like first:

1. You can get a nice luxury car for cheap. ( all the w220 models).
2. Interior leather is nice.
3. Build quality is very good. ( fit and finish,most of the materials are good)
4. Smooth ride.
5. Looks great with the right wheels and tires.

What i dont like:

1. Hard to convert to a aftermarket radio, speakers, etc. because of the fiber optic system. Your factory head unit WILL go out eventually.
2. Over engineered electronics. Too much going on and overly complicated.
3. Expensive to repair.
4. Air suspension system. Can be a very costly repair.
5. Fake wood trim on the doors.
6. These are some of the reasons you can get one for cheap.

 

[tusabes]

The wood in the doors is real . Pull one off and look at the back

 

[Pokseva]

You can buy W211 in several configurations (with and without airmatic, with and without MOST based COMAND).

In my opinion W211 looks as great as W220. However, W220 has more luxurious inside and ride feeling.

If you don't care much about luxurious comfort, then go with W211 - will be much cheaper to repair and if you chose MOST-based COMAND you will have the same multimedia options as in W220.

 

[eagle9]

The wood in the doors is real . Pull one off and look at the back

been there and done that because the clips holding the " wood" are broken on both my back doors, so i took them off and you can tell its laminate layered over plastic, to look like real wood. i could be wrong, but it does not look or feel like real wood at all. while we at it, im suspicious of the "wood" going across the dash also....

like i said, the materials overall, regardless of whether the wood is real or not, is top notch. the problems are mechanical and electrical.........

 

[Skylaw]

Regarding the S-Class options, check the buying comments at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w22...s-encyclopedia-start-here-2.html#post10079489 and the audio and telematics forum at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/aud...o-system-replacement-upgrade-enhancement.html

The 2001 S500 will have more standard equipment and better finishes than a 2001 S430. Both are good cars; but in the earlier years there was more differentiation between them. In the later models, much of the equipment on the S500 was also available as an option on the S430.

Also, tusabes is correct. The wood trim is real. It is a veneer of real wood laminated to a plastic substrate that gives the veneer its form. Neither the fact that it is a veneer nor that it is laminated to something else makes it fake. The veneering process has been used for centuries on the finest furniture.

 

[G.AMG]

Most important of all, please check for the notorious rust around the whole car. Check lower portions of doors, sunroof surround, fenders etc. the earlier 00-01 models are more prone to rusting, I think it got better after 02.

 

[haroldwca]

If at all possible, pull up the rear seat cushion (or the right rear, if they are divided) and see if you can determine whether there is any moisture on the floor of the car in this area. Especially if there are any "door/trunk open" messages, along with any malfunctions from the rear of the car, such as inoperative fuel gauge or tail lamps, you may be looking at rear SAM replacement. This is do-able if you are handy around a car, but if you are not, I would recommend passing on any such vehicle, unless the price is incredibly favorable.

 

[eagle9]

I hope you didnt purchase one. I cant wait to get rid of my 2000 s430. its been trouble from day one........... i appreciate all the help ive received on these forums, but i will NEVER purchase another mercedes product.

 

[LWB250]

I hope you didnt purchase one. I cant wait to get rid of my 2000 s430. its been trouble from day one........... i appreciate all the help ive received on these forums, but i will NEVER purchase another mercedes product.

You just purchased possibly the worst example there ever was when it comes to Mercedes, that's all. And in fairness to Mercedes, this was one of the first "Chrysler/Daimler" cars, which was a disaster waiting to happen. And it did.

Buy something older, like a W140 or even better yet, a W123 chassis car. They're almost indestructible and simple to maintain.

Dan

 

[eagle9]

You just purchased possibly the worst example there ever was when it comes to Mercedes, that's all. And in fairness to Mercedes, this was one of the first "Chrysler/Daimler" cars, which was a disaster waiting to happen. And it did.

Buy something older, like a W140 or even better yet, a W123 chassis car. They're almost indestructible and simple to maintain.

Dan

thanx for the information. I LEARNED something with your post. Again, i appreciate ALL the help i received, but i NEVER really enjoyed my car. Its ALWAYS something going wrong with it from day one. If i knew of the problems of the w220 going in, i wouldnt have done it.

 

[LWB250]

thanx for the information. I LEARNED something with your post. Again, i appreciate ALL the help i received, but i NEVER really enjoyed my car. Its ALWAYS something going wrong with it from day one. If i knew of the problems of the w220 going in, i wouldnt have done it.

I understand. We've all been there at one time or another. That being said, whether it's a Mercedes or any other marque, it's the buyer's responsibility to do their due diligence. If people buy these cars on a whim, they're going to be disappointed (I'm not suggesting you did.) What I am saying is that no matter what it is, whether it's a car or a dishwasher, you really have to do the research up front to understand what you're buying.

Sadly, as long as I've been involved with Mercedes' I've heard horror stories about the later models. When I was driving W123 and W114 cars it was the W126s, then the W124s. When I was driving W124s it was W140s.

That being said, none of these older models has anywhere near the complexity of a W220. I wouldn't suggest anyone buy one unless they were willing to invest in a DAS/Xentry system for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Dan

 

[eagle9]

I understand. We've all been there at one time or another. That being said, whether it's a Mercedes or any other marque, it's the buyer's responsibility to do their due diligence. If people buy these cars on a whim, they're going to be disappointed (I'm not suggesting you did.) What I am saying is that no matter what it is, whether it's a car or a dishwasher, you really have to do the research up front to understand what you're buying.

Sadly, as long as I've been involved with Mercedes' I've heard horror stories about the later models. When I was driving W123 and W114 cars it was the W126s, then the W124s. When I was driving W124s it was W140s.

That being said, none of these older models has anywhere near the complexity of a W220. I wouldn't suggest anyone buy one unless they were willing to invest in a DAS/Xentry system for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Dan

and therein is the problem. im riding around now lowriding like the car below, on all four wheels because the suspension went out. i dont even care anymore. im purposely letting the tires get ripped, the body work get stripped, i just dont care. not putting another dime into maintenance. just gas it up and go. gonna get something simple to maintain this time around..........my car looking like this:

 

[tusabes]

That actually looks awesome at that stance


Did you figure out what component of your airmatic is bad ?

 

[EasyPhil]

If the pump is working it must be the valve. If the pump isn't working and the original one is in there it's time for a new one and it's a real easy fix too.

 

[MercedesMT]

Check out the rebuilt system components over at RMT. Rebuild Master Tech Air Suspension, Engine Parts & More...

I work for the sister company and saw that they are running a crazy special for parts...

Hope this helps!