Things to watch for during inspection? Areas of major surprises? Danger zones? thinking about a car around 100K miles for several years of relatively easy, part-time use.
Thanks

Just avoid 1999.

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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

There's a big difference between 1999 and 2000. The '99 is the old style s-class which was launched in '92. The 2000 style runs from '00-'06. Both are great cars, I prefer the '99 styling better, and I think the interior quality is better too. I don't see any reason to stay away from '99 as it is the last year of the w140 s-class and was probably perfected by then. There is probably a pretty big price difference as well.

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2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro

I was going to ask what the problem is with the 1999. Since that was the last year of the 140's, I figured they would have ironed out just about every design or manufacturing problem by then.

What's your objection to the 1999 140's ZCC?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I personally would COMPLETELY AVOID the 2000-2002!

The 1999 S- class (W140, last year of production) is easily one of the best cars ever created by Mercedes-Benz.

THe 2000-2002 S-class (W220, first years of production) is easilly the WORST! Interior quality and mechanical issues were horrible. Things improved a little by facelift time, but never reached the high quality of the W140.

The new W221 (2008 S-class) have reached again real S-class status.

Just avoid the W220!

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

I have had the impression that the quality of MB's has been on the upswing in the last year or so. It seems like buying a model a few years into that model run is better just because they are bound to make improvements to it as that chassis design ages.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Ditto that.

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

I love the looks of the 220 more so than the 140. The most recent iteration of the S class doesn't do much for me. Too bad the quality of the 220's is not so good.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

zcc's in Kuwait, I wonder if '99 was the first year of the 220.

The 220 is a slick looking car. I wouldn't mind one myself!

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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

Lots of typical non-owner-of-W220 comments here. My folks have one, among half a dozen other Benz models, and it so far has given 77000 miles almost trouble-free. Did blow a catalytic converter a month or two ago, and both cats were replaced free by the dealership even out of the car's warranty -- Benz even picked up a $600 towing tab on that. It has been a fine, comfortable, safe car for highway use, and it's sure a lot better looking than the shoebox W140.

(What would you get if Scion made their cars large? W140s, but probably without the AC problems that cost as much as a Scion does in the first place!)

Cheers, John

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'98 E300TD (W210) | Sold 6/09 with 205k and counting
'04 VW Touareg V10TDI

Well, one of my best friends bought a brand new W140 S 320 in 1998 the minute he drove my S 500 L. He just loved the car.

When the W220 came out, he waited a little and then ordered a brand new 2000 S 430. Under my advice he kept the S 320 also.

HE DROVE THE S 430 FOR FOUR MONTHS AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER !

He hated its quality, finishes and worst of all the air suspension and electronics (which gave him constant trouble since day one).

He has been happily driving his 1998 S 320 for nine years and he just placed an order for a pristine black on black S 350 (W221).

So, I guess, this is a reference from someone which had a first hand experience on a W220.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]