Momma wants a new car....what do folks know of the S55s reliability?

Anyone have one and can honestly comment on having one as a daily driver for 3 seasons? A regular S430 4 matic is another 4 season option albeit 'boring'.

TIA

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

That car is Great! The only issue as far as I'm concerned, is the ABC system.

Make sure to replace the ABC reservoir filter every 30K!

ALSO you should follow the NEW service schedule started in 2008, the drive train will last MUCH longer.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Thanks ! It is encouraging to hear the positive feedback.

I'm cannot believe how such a car can depreciate so fast (not that I'm complaining).

What is the normal lifespan of that drivetrain?

__________________
Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

With regular fluid changes the trans can last 300K+

AMG engines have the fewest recorded warranty repairs....

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

It's the same basic engine as the other supercharged AMG cars. There are no real problem areas, but make sure the engine has not been modified. People like to hop these up through larger supercharger drive pulleys and custom ECU software. An additional 100HP is easily available, but then sometimes the motor does go boom! As well, the ECU tunes remove the torque limiting during gearchanges, and then the transmission does blow up.

There are more minor things to break on the engine. The supercharger clutch sometimes fails. Replacement is easy, but factory parts cost is $1K. The pulley bearings for the serpentine belts (two - one for accessories, one for supercharger) seem to wear out inside of 50K miles. A couple hundred bucks, depending on which one fails. The belts themselves tend to squeek. I replaced mine at 35K miles. I think the underhood heat did them in. The intercooler pump has been known to die an early death. Again, not too much money - but leaves you without boost until it's fixed.

Be aware the Kompressor drivetrain is somewhat less refined than a non-AMG car. The engine occasionally misses at idle until it's fully warmed up. There can be a quite sharp lurch when the compressor clutch engages. And fuel economy is abysmal - it bet it's tough to get 20MPG highway in an S55.

Be sure to check other cost areas of owning an AMG. In particular, the brake rotors on some AMG models run ~$900 each - a brake job can run $3K or more. Not sure about the S55, but this is true of the E63.

And of course, tires will be more expensive and shorter lived.

Unless mom is quite the enthusiast, I would guess she'd prefer a 'boring' S-class.

Here's my view on ALL S-class, and it especially applies to AMGs:

If you can't afford to buy a new one, you can't afford to own a used one either.

The S-class is Mercedes' technology leader and is not particularly refrigerator reliable as a result. Just add to this if an AMG.

This explains the steep depreciation, i.e. it's a toy and folks quickly lose interest. PLUS the service costs will be sky high.

Service anywhere but a Mercedes dealer is a crapshoot, too. That is, unless you can find an independent that has recently gone into business having just left a Mercedes dealership with all the latest training.

You've been warned.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Thanx guys...good discussion.

Me wife IS an enthusiast actually (big reason I married her)...the 911 cab is hers, her allroad has been modded to 360+ hp and she steals my 500+ hp Rs6 whenever I'm not looking. I don't think she'll go quietly into something less of what she's already has been driving. Besides, what better yatch to haul around 2 young kids in?

Luckily I have some trump cards from being good friends with an euro-indy shop owner and a neighbor who's a parts manager for an MB dealer. And having a 97' SL600 Sport and an 02' CL600 previously puts me in the position to be ready for all that is nasty that comes with these car types.

I realize the AMG motors are pretty trustworthy...its the rest of the electronic technology junk that I wish to get feedback on.

__________________
Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad