You're doing a good job of talking yourself into this car and it's pure emotion -- no sensibility. I love it!

This ain't no '02 Accord!! It's an S class!! That's the way to buy a car you can't get out of your head, a car that you've lusted after since you first saw it in a brochure or on the showroom floor. And FINALLY, the admission price has become afforable. BUT! Seriously consider what'll cost you to keep it running right. If money isn't that big of a deal, then go for it!!

It sounds like the happy medium would be a M119 powered W140-- and what Sixto wrote is good advice, ditto with the Paul's suggestion to consider the Phillp's S500. Can't go wrong with his his cars.

S600? Sure, if you can drop a few grand every year to keep it well maintained. There might be a year or so where you won't not need to spend much on maintenance, but with a 10+ year old, over-engineered car, something expensive always happens.

If you cannot afford to purchase an S-class in TOP condition then you cannot afford to purchase an S-class at all.

Read this over and over.

When one is speaking of a W140 S-class, this bears repeating. These were complicated cars when new and they are still complicated cars. When things break, they are expensive to fix.

When one is speaking of an S600, repeat the statement at the top of this note over and over. An S-class is one thing. A W140 is another. An S600 is quite another altogether.

You have posted the same questions over and over and I get the feeling that you continue to ask in hopes that you will get the answer you want to hear.

Good luck with your purchase but I would be VERY CAREFUL. I would never, ever buy a W140 in anything less than pristine condition and I have enough money to fix them. What I lack is TIME for the car to be down. These are NOT cars like my trusty W123 on which most things can be fixed in a day or a weekend of DIY wrenching.

Now that's a makes a great picture in my mind!

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Paul's (suginami) recommendation shows, on the surface, a well cared for MB. That's what you are seeking . . . . however, that doesn't mean that you won't have to spend some bucks to keep it that way.

Well, here it is . . . from me: my C140 continues to be the best MB that I ever owned. . . . and it continues to be the cheapest for cost of repairs.

I do a lot of the repairs myself but I've not had to do an excessive amount in either 'quantity' or 'dollar-amount'.

BTW, sixto's advice is right on.

Now you've heard it and good luck in your purchase.

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

I'd be leary of this one, as it has the WRONG instrument cluster/speedometer/odometer in it. It's NOT the original non digital odometer for one (albeit common for these to be replaced, so thats not the real issue here), but more importanly, its NOT from a S500, so the miles are suspect to say the least for obvious reasons. That being said, the fact its the wrong cluster, you can be pretty sure it was not a properly documented replacement from Mercedes, but rather a junkyard cluster used to replace a broken one, and now the miles are True Miles Unknown aka: TMU. Doubt it's being sold that way.

__________________
Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel

That's some good eyes. What gives away the cluster? My borther-in-law's 94 S500 came with a digital odometer.

Sixto
93 300SD

I believe some of the clusters have failed, and I think the only replacement is a digital one.

Furthermore, I'd give Herb Phillips the benefit of the doubt. He's been doing this for many, many years on ebay and is not some fly-by-night operaton. Plus, why would someone replace the cluster with one that has almost 130,000 miles? Also, the carfax checks out. Click on the VIN in the item description, and it links you to the car fax. Mileage is documented.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

A VMI might clear things up.

The easy way for this NOT to be an issue would be for the seller to disclose it in the advertisement.



Then again, that would be far too easy.

If this guy is so incredibly honest and forthright why does his ad not mention the replaced cluster??

He may not know the cluster has been changed.

Guys, Herb Phillips is a licensed dealer in the state of Tennessee. It would be foolish of him to sell a car (knowingly) with incorrect mileage. He could loose his dealer's license if he did so.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

The mere fact that he is a dealer doesn't mean that he's necessarily trustworthy.

I'm not trying to kill the guy. Just giving a basic "may the buyer beware" whilst purchasing ANY used car, particularly one as complex and wonderful as a W140.

The analog version, as you know, uses the old 'wheel' style counters for mileage.

. . . and my '94 S500 cpe came with the digital speedo.

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Thanks, Jim.

How is that not an S500 speedo or cluster?

What does the window above the speedo pointer hub display, in the speedos with analog odometer? Where is this display in the speedo with digital odometer?

Sixto
93 300SD

Our 1994 S500 has an analog cluster.

__________________
1998 S500
2006 E320 CDI
1963 220S
1994 S500
1995 S500
2005 BMW 545i sport
2007 GL320 CDI
2007 ML320 CDI
1991 Toyota Previa White over Blue
2000 Lexus RX300 White over Beige
2008 Audi Q7 Black Opal over Grey
1993 Toyota T-100 Silver over Grey
2002 Chevy 2500 Express White over Grey

Maybe the speedometer changed from analog to digital as a running production change.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".