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#1
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1996 S-600 - thinking about buying
What is overall opinion on these cars? I have owned many V-8s, but never the 12. Do they have any known problems? What is experience?
They are asking $16,500 with 78,000 miles. Car appears to be in great shape....going to see in person this afternoon. Please advise if I am getting into BEEG problems! Thanks |
#2
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personally i would avoid it, but they are prone to the typical wiring harness failures and actuator problems. have also seen catalytic coneverter issues. all can be quite costly.
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1967 250 S 1967 280SE 1968 250S 1971 280 SE 1973 220 1974 280 S 1975 450 SEL 1976 220 D 1979 300SD 1983 300 SD 1985 230 TE euro 1986 280SL 1986 500 SEL euro 1986 190E 2.3 1990 300 SE 2003 C230 K 2004 C230 K 1987 560SEL 1987 300SDL now in canada 2005 C230 1998 C43 AMG Sold to DON 1993 190E 2.6 300TD Former daily driver Totaled current: R320 CDI Ram 2500 Cummins |
#3
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Great cars, go for it! Just have a PPI done by someone who knows what they are looking at.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#4
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Don't know too much about the 600 but my MB specialist says half the cylinders go out, a bit rare but you never know, and yes the electrical problems are big, costly, and irritating. Have a specialist check the car out before you purchase.
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#5
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As said before many times: owening a 600 is the equivalent running costs of owening two 320s with the added hassle that almost any engine part is three to four times more difficult to acces than on a 320 due to space limitations ( = double or triple the hourly rate to change a part).
S 600s are rare and very nice, but you will be really hard pressed to notice the difference of driving an S 500. The M119 engines on 500s are tank proof and will last forever (they just have a few little things to look for, unlike the V12, which has many issues to be careful about).
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A. Rosich CL 500, 1998 S 500 L, 1998 E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ] |
#6
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I owned many 560's and ask people what do they think of the 600SEL 1992. They all advised against buying it. I bought the car and it cost me about 2000$ for miscellaneous repair and I expect additional 1500$. I believe that S600 from 1996~1999 W140 that has 12 coils (unlike early 600's) I believe that they are the best MB engines ever made. If you see 12 coils (NOT ONLY 2) go for it. It will cost you a couple of thousand dollars to fix some issues but then, hopefully you will have a lifetime car.
The M120 engines are mills not only powerful engines. Don't forget to ask about the air mass wireing harness work and the general wireing harness work. The wireing harness work is too costly. You will notice a big difference on driving between 500 and 600. All the best...
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Master Computer Engineer, A+, Network+, MCP/MCSA/MCSE 4/2k/2k3 - Messaging, MCTS, MCITP, MCT, Brainbench, ICDL and starting Ph.D 380SE 1984 <------- Totaled by flipping accident 300SE 1988 <------- Sold Volvo S70 2000 <---- 4 family Opel Omega 2002 <-- 4 family 560SEC 1989 <------ Sold 560SEL 1990 <------ Sold 560SEL 1991 <------ 4 my mother 560SEL 1989 <------ Sold 600SEL 1992 <------ Current http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkhazenzcc |
#7
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Every man should have at least one V12 in their life. That being said, prepare to spend money. W140's have lots of issues regardless of engine size, and the 600's have extra things that can and usually do need attention. If you can't do the diagnosing or the work yourself, it will be even more costly.
The link below takes you to some of the work I did on my old 600. This list is by no means comprehensive. I decided to start documenting the work after I had already done a lot. http://v12uberalles.com/articles_and_info.projects_page.htm 1996 and later years are the best ones to look for.
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1995 S600, 1 of 618 (sold) "Speed is just a question of money...how fast you wanna go?" LONG LIVE THE W140! Visit my Web Page at www.v12uberalles.com |
#8
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I have a '97 S420, '99 ML320, and an '01 S600 (bought them all new). The S600 has had only one issue. The #1 fuel injector went bad at 48,500 miles. I put a new one on (after my shop diagnosed bad coil packs, which I replaced to no avail) and the car is back to perfect. Other than that, there have been no problems. The MB dealer loves to see them come into their shop because they believe anybody with one undrestands that the repairs will be big $$$ Not true if you are a decent mechanic with proper tools. I say go for it, and set aside $100 a month for maintenance reserves.
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#9
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$100 a month seem just enough for oil and spark plug changes within a year .
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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011 --------------------------------------------------------- 1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007 Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE |
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