2001 S500 or 2001 S430 ?
 

I had been in the market for a 92-99 S-Class, but then I hear alot of people trying to talk me out of one, especially a 92-95 S-Class. So.... I started looking for a 2000-02 S-Class and will probably hear even worse. lol.
I dont know, it seems though that the 00-02 S-Class is easier to find around here than a 92-99 S-Class and about the same price even... maybe its because they are super complex and super $ to service?

Anyway, I found two local S-Class sedans that are two of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen. Both are 2001 models and both are black. One is an S500, black interior with 159K and the other is an S430 with 118K miles, tan interior. I can get either of these for around $8000. Both have up to date service with no issues (at least none disclosed), except for one on the S430 and that is that he says the SRS light remains on, but the car has not been crashed.

There is a local dealer with a 1997 S500 for $5000 thats pretty nice, but it has 179K miles.

Wondering if I WERE to get one of these, which one may be the better car. Does the 01 S500 have a more complex suspension than the 01 S430? That alone may be more reason to pass on the S500 and get the S430, I imagine the only other difference would be the engine size.

OR I can get a like brand new, 1-owner, 61K actual mile 1993 Buick Park Avenue Ultra supercharged sedan for $2500 from my cousins uncle's car lot. :) I had a 92 Park Avenue back in 2003-04 and loved it and it had 200K. lol.

Thanks in advance.

Also wondering if these cars require critical replacement of timing chains, guides, rails, etc like the V8 W126 cars do? Or any other routine maintenance that is critical at certain mileage intervals?

Thanks!

M113 engines are very reliable, with none of the weaknesses you mention. Of course, going into 160k +miles leaves the door open for anything. Absolutely get an inspection before buying, especially with the stuck SRS light. Mercedes and S class are favorites for being sold with hidden problems.

I had a 5.0L engine in my '06 CLK, and it was a great car. IMO, you should search for either an older or newer car versus '00-'01, especially as the S-Class first arrived here for MY '00 and that Mercedes designed it with extremely complicated electrical systems that were state of the art at the time. I would be afraid of problems creeping up with the air suspension that both the S430 and S500 share and other 10+ year old electronic components and their associated costs to fix.

I owned a '02 Mercedes that was a CPO car but had serious reliability issues that should not be expected from a car that had 30K miles when purchased. It had problems with its paint, transmission, A/C, electronic dash vents, seats, various oil leaks, numerous suspension components, etc. Did not give me confidence that it would last 300K miles like the older ones. As I recall, Mercedes cost cutting on its parts and over complication of their electronic components and the resulting quality problems in the early part of last decade were well documented at the time. Not that all Mercedes of this era had dismal reliability (heard some good things about the '00-'02 E-Class and my friend had a '01 CLK that was bought new and had decent reliability) but many of them appeared more problem prone. I also note that both of these models had been out for a few years already by the early '00's, so there was time to work out the reliability kinks.

My '06 seemed to be much better put together for some reason.

Thanks... well it seems like both have the darkness over them... the one with 160K dont have any warning lights on (S500), but S430 has much lower miles (118K), is the one with the warning lamp on. lol.

Thanks Brian... well I learned a few new things; I didnt know tha the S430 also had air suspension. I have always heard that the 00-02 S-Class models were not as reliable or well built as the other ones, but I never knew for sure. I know a lady at work that had 2000 S500 that she bought new... I remember her complaining about alot of issues before the car was even a year old and I think she said there were alot of recalls.

Sounds like I may be better off getting a later model W140, or one of the American tanks I mentioned. lol.

Thanks again!

No question for me, I would go with the Buick. It WILL be cheaper to drive and maintain in the long run.