Originally Posted by dreamline

I absolutely love this car - and the V12 is a large part of the attraction.
It has the incredible, smooth power of a small displacement / 12 cylinder engine that's just unlike any V8 experience. It has great low end torque, but that's just the beginning - it winds from 3200 to 6000 rpm in a split second.
It's scarcely slower than my 71 Corvette with 502 ci Merlin big block, AND it's everyday driveable, has every creature comfort and has that MB feeling (Je ne sais quoi).
As a car enthusiast, I will make certain concesions for driving a car that totally turns me on. Does this car require more maintenance and repairs than a Lexus or even a Chevrolet, certainly. Did I know that it would cost more to maintain? Definately, but it was a concious decision. It's still better than English or Italian cars. I don't think it's a poorly designed engine and it hasn't had any real issues until now. My S600 has actually been a little better than most S Class cars I've read about on these forums.
It's got some issues, but when you're in love, the good times outweigh the bad, and you go on.
Just my $.02.