oK guys I need your help again,well basically advice. I just checked out a 92 400se and it didnt work out ( price what he wanted for the car wasnt worth it) so Im going to check out a 92 s 600 tomorrow.

Quick overview, 140,000 miles, 1 owner, says its in excellent condition.
No carfax problems.

Now Im wondering what parts/services will cost more since the car is a
v-12 instead of a v-8? I know a tune up will cost more, but wont general parts be the same price?

Maybe smarten me up on the problems, or what I should know about having a s 600 instead of a s500 ?/ Thanks guys.

You are just looking to give away your retirement fund or child's college fund.V12,specially the early ones are just unfinished cars,140k means probably 30 thousand $ in maintenance till now...ebay is full of nice S320's,short wheel,no hydraulics,or S420's,bellow 10000$,very hard to sell this time of year,nobody buys a luxury car before Christmas except if its a bargain...take advantage and forget about those early W140 high miles,those are basically a good looking parts car,no sale/resale value what so ever.

I had a feeling someone was going to tell me that.

Maybe I can tell you a little about what im looking for and you can guide me somewhere or give me some advice.

Heres what Im looking for.


* s-500 or s 600 ( nothing under that) I either want the big v-8 or the
v-12
* has to be between the years of 1992-1995
* has to be under 150,000 miles or so.
* and I have about $10,000 and under to spend on something that fits this criteria.


What would you suggest?

The question is not how much you have to buy it but how much you have to keep it running. I think I've posted this already but for the benefit of the archives, the electronic throttle actuators are $2500-3000 each and there are two of them. It's not a bad car, it's an expensive car.

I would not have an early 600 as my only car unless my mechanic has a loaner program.

Sixto
93 300SD

Ebay item #320053009771,looks very nice,relisted...original sticker too.
Ebay item #140051382020,completed auction,guy did not get how much he wanted,emailed him,he might reconsider...look for completed items,those are unsold cars and owners usually lowered their expectations.

Yea I do that( check unsold auctions and try to pick something up) my area really lacks what im looking for in my price range. Its really hard to find a GOOD, QUALITY, non auction, crap cars.

I understand the whole idea of these cars costing an arm and a leg to fix and work on. Im stubborn sometimes and probably being stubborn here. Where I shouldnt even buy a mercedes at all, but Im very determined to get a s 500 or s 600. Im not trying to be a jerk but this is something I defintely am going to get ( not this particular per say) but an s 500 or s 600.

So knowing how stubborn and dumb this might be or whatever. What would you suggest if im going to get 92-95 s 500 or s 600 how should I go about it, what should I look for, test, not buy, should know?

I had a 95 S420 that was dead reliable even if there was a stream of little problems. It would have required a visit to the shop almost monthly at a cost of $500-1000 per visit if I weren't a DIYer with time to spare.

Question to you - are you a DIYer with time on your hands? Do you have a relationship with a good independent MB shop or will you take it to the dealer each time the check engine light comes on?

Start talking to knowledgable technicians in your area so you know where to take the car for a pre-purchase inspection. That $150-200 buys a lot of peace of mind. It either helps you negotiate a final price or avoid a money trap.

I give the edge to an S500 because of the M119's robustness compared to the M120. The M119 seems more forgiving and less temperamental. Chances are any service on the S500 can be completed in a day rather having to wait for parts.

Or maybe I read you wrong and you've had good experience with an XJ-S and 750iL.

Sixto
93 300SD

I knew nothing about mercedes about 3 months ago until I got interested in these 3/4 years of them and the s class big body styles. And basically thats all I been doing is researching trying to find out everything.


Im praying that when I buy one of these s500/600's I can just well maintain the car as best as i can and pray for no major problems.

It sounds like some people have really good luck and some people have really bad luck. I would love to get away with doing, oil changes, coolant flushes, trany services(not replacements) tune ups and everything but it sounds like some people have problems with these cars. That most cars dont have.


I have asked so many questions and took so much time to research so I dont run into a money pit and everything.

When you test the car, have the owner's manual with you and go through it page-by-page checking that everything works.

Drive the car in slow traffic long enough to see where the engine temp settles. It's the wrong time of year to check this, really, but it's common for the temp gauge to go beyond 100*C. It's not normal for the temp gauge to spend a lot of time beyond 110*C.

If road and safety conditions allow, check that ABS, ASR, ASD and other traction control features function as expected (all in the manual). Check the manual to see which warning lights come on to tell you the system is working and which tell you something's not working. I believe it's normal for the triangle in the speedo to illuminate when the car is sorting out its attitude. I believe it's not normal for the SRS and ABS lights to come even as you drive off a cliff.

AC that doesn't cool rarely just needs a recharge, especially in a W140.

Wheel shimmy at speed rarely just needs a balance.

Steering that pulls rarely just needs an alignment.

Rear windows that bind or sound springy rarely just need lubrication.

A battery that won't start the car rarely just needs a jump start.

A windshield does not cost $150 to replace as with most other cars.

There shouldn't be any suspension creaks or moans. A select few bushings are cheap and easy to replace. The rest...

The driver side wiper should extend to clean close to the upper left corner of the windshield.

Check JimF's website (http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_S500.html) for how to check for engine faults on a pre OBD-II car. You need special equipment (hence the PPI) to read the rest of the systems.

Rust should not be an issue. My SD spent a few winters in WI and IL and there's more rust on the a spare engine I got from TX than on the underside of my car.

Sixto
93 300SD

It just so happens the 600's you're looking at are the earliest and most expensive vehicles MB ever made, unfortunately. I am a DIYer, and MIGHT feel risky enough to buy one in your year rage, if it was priced right... But even then...

I am personally saving money for a V8 MB of my own. I am considering 420s, 430s, and 500s (maybe even older ones, like 420SEL and 560SELs). Something perhaps like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-Mercedez-Benz-S420-GOOD-CONDITION-MUST-SEE_W0QQitemZ230056090484QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6336QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Correct me if im wrong but I was told here that 95 and up mercedes s class were less inferior and not put together as well as the pre 95's?

Am I right on saying this? I heard so many people agreeing with this? If so then that would negate even looking at 95 and newer over a 95 and under right??

Why don't you consider purchasing this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320053009771&rd=1&rd=1

Herb Phillips has been selling Mercedes on ebay for quite a while, and his cars are usually the cleanest you'll ever find.

It's also got a buy it now under $10K.

He's also a poster here on the Shopforum.

__________________
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".

I like it, thats defintely my style. The only problem ITS IN TENNESSE I believe??? Im all the way out here in california. IMpossible to get that car. Cant even test drive it or anything.

As with any model of any car the best ones tend to be the last/later years because the problems have been found and worked out. I have been considering a W140, but I am leery of the cost of repairs as my 1999 E300 has robbed me plenty, itself. My thoughts on a W140 are to look for a later year and simpler overall (i.e. fewer gadgets). So I am looking for a S320 or possibly S420 of 1995 or newer. To be the idea of a 600 sounds cool, but then am I willing to feed it money. I want the ride and drive and for that I do not need something to close the door for me.

I definitely understand what people are saying and everything.
And its you guys (maybe not litteraly the guys in this post exactly) but on this board that told me 95-98's are inferior and "bascially just buying the name" and everything so that pretty much eliminated 95 and older for me.


Then the next issue is that 91 and under bodystyles I dont like at all, and 99 and up bodystyles I dont like and cant afford either.


So im stuck in the situation of buying a 92-95 s class( which I love though) at $10,000 and under. So now I got to make the best decision out of that.

NOw I 100% understand that I could buy a s class and have to end up dumping a bunch of money into getting it fixed every week or month, but I also heard good stories, where people have only done maintance and NEVER had a major problem with the s class in my year range.

And then theres the middle area where major things might happen and minor things might happen once in a while.( which is something I would much rather have) then something happening monthly.


But basically im going to buy a 92-95 s class. I hope I make the right decision and end up having a memorable experience. Because I do know that if i end up having nothing but problems it will stop me from getting a mercedes ever again, but maybe if I fall in love with it I will be a mercedes guy for life.