Thanks for the recommendation. I have heard that the W140 S500 is the way to go a number of times. However, I really hear that S600 calling me. And I know it will take me to the bank.

I wouldn't mind buying a nice low mileage, one owner '97-'99 S600 for 20 to 25 grand and putting 10 grand into it if I had to. What other car of its caliber could be had for 30 to 35 thousand dollars? Just to put it into perspective: What does a new Hyundai Sonata cost?

If I were going for a W140 I would search out and purchase a well cared for 1999 "Grand Edition", the last year W140 S500 one of 700 of them.

The W140 "Grand" was a limited edition, which was, as with the W124 1995 "Special Edition" - a last year of production farewell and exclusive tribute to the outgoing body style of the marque, offered in the the 1990's by Mercedes Benz.


All of them were 040 gloss black, had special light maplewood trim, floor mats, AMG wheels and other things that made them unique and exclusive and as they were they last year, of this series, most problems were eliminated, and it has been my preference to buy the latest and last year of a series, noted in my purchase of a 1991 W126 coupe and and a 1995 W124 sedan, (both of which I still own and campaign today.)

Also, the 500 engine is the best one for a W140. It is the best balanced and best compromomise, as the 12 cylinder is too heavy and complex and expensive to maintain, and the 6 cylinder and diesel variants are simply too underpowered and slow for this redoubtable behemoth.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

333k miles

Obviously you can rack the miles up on em.

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Jim

They are great cars, ignore all the negative nonsense you read on here from people who have never owned one.

If you like the S320 you will love the S600, its so much more!

I personally really like the SWB 1997-99 S320's, you get the 722.6 which is a really nice transmission. Fairly straight forward and bullet proof cars, no worse than a W126 to keep up.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hatterasguy . . . how many V12 Mercedes have you owned?

.............that would be the same number as the S-320 that have been owned.............I like the "bulletproof" reference.............

lol

I told my dad if parts were not so expensive I'd be driving one. Personally I like the economy of the 95 E300 in fuel, parts and labor.

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Jim

I hired a private car to drive me from my hotel in Manhattan to La Guardia, and it was a W140 S500, black with black leather, and it was in like new, pristine condition.

I asked the driver / owner how many miles he had on it, thinking it was new, and it had over 500,000 miles on it.

He explained that he had all of the maintenance and repairs performed at the dealer.

The biggest repair item had been the a/c repair due to having the dashboard removed.

Also the tranny had been rebuilt.

It was on the original engine.

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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".

Don't need to have enough experiance with my friends cars, I know whats, what with W140's.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Some of the parts on the 140 can be found in a W210. The A/C blower motor that went out on the 97 E. She was driving home on a hot summer day and it went out. Of course being in Florida you NEED A/C. Replaced it with a 140 one. Since there is not a differance the shop said. So if you get a 140 and that happens and you see a crazy price on the part look for the same part for a 210 Little tricks like this can save you.

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2015 ML350 4Matic. Wifes DD
2015 GLK350 4Matic. My winter DD
2012 E350 4Matic. Road Trip car
2009 CLK350 Coupe Designo.Kleemann Tune For nice days/DD
2006 CL600. V12.Eurocharged Tune. Enough said
2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe.Kleemann Tune. For the sound and style
2004 CLK320 Cabriolet. 2005+ Interior swap. For the sunny Florida days & beach days

That was just great. Thanks for the laugh.

If YOU of all people, proclaim ANYTHING to be "Bullet proof" then I am ABSOLUTELY sure it *IS * !!!! <--------

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

And what do you guys think of the W140 S coupe and CL?

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

So cute.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200