^ that seems to be directed to him not me, though.

No it's not about me, it's not about my preference, I'm telling you the way I see it and the way the world outside of this forum works - from my point of view: an S class depreciate so much faster than more sensible Mercs like E and C class... yet they have a lot of things that are about to go wrong at this time. Taking that into account by the time 2400 is dropped into the sink the S will break somewhere else.

At public auction you can see A LOT of S classes, 7 series and Jaguar XJs because these over-the-top creations are good for .... well you guessed it the first 5 years. People who are rich enough to want one won't want one used, those who have a new one has no intention to maintain the car they are going to sell to the used car lot 5 years down the road. Sounds tragic but that's how the richer people think - shame that the S class won't get the care they'd give to a Maserati Quattroporte. You will be much harder pressed to find a well maintained S than a well maintained E or C. The fact that your aunt has driven the car overheated (assuming so) until it wouldn't move I don't think I'm exaggerating one bit.

Besides, think of it this way, if you have the engine broken open, by you or by a MB mech (I hope not), a lot of parts will inevitably need replaced -

valve cover gasket
cam seal
valve seal
head gasket
sparkplugs

then as a MB nut (or general car nut) you'd want to:

deck out the block and the head for perfect adhesion of HG
adjust the valves
change valve seals

it all adds up. If you are talking about Mercedes dealer doing your engine I would bet on Schumi coming back out for F1 for 2007 than to bet your engine actually come back out of the dealer anywhere near 2400+ tax.

you don't have to agree on me. But it'd be bad if anyone suggested he go for it, paid like 5000 bux for the hg job, and then a year later the piston rings bite the dust....or the transmission just leave this guy sitting in the middle of the intersection.

2400 on a 14000 car.....I have tried that too many times. Don't do it.