I am smitten with a 1998 S500! I can have her for appx $7000 from a trusted source. She's got about 177k and is in very good exterior and mint interior condition. Drives perfect! What an awesome ride!

Problem: either my 2001 CLK430 (rarely driven) or my beloved 85 300SD must go! The CLK has only 67k, and I don't drive it much. Fun car though.

Anyone got first hand knowledge of these w140 S500s. Please scare me away!

That's pretty high mileage for a W140...and the price actually seems slightly too high. Unless it's in absolutely perfect condition...which I kinda doubt at 177k miles. It will definitely cost a lot more to keep going than the 300SD.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

This Illness will subside to a manageable quirk soon.

'Can't think of a more COSTLY and frustrating "Project" than keeping an aged
W140 "Up and Running".
[Imagine a whole family of rats living in the SD and gobbling the Electricals]

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Think of the 10 expensive ignition coil packs, all the expensive W140 electronics, the worn out g@sser engine and the much lower fuel economy.

The only way that it drives perfect with 177K on the clock is if the PO spent at least $15K on repairs. If he's got it documented, then consider it.

It's a very costly and complicated vehicle to maintain and it gets miserable fuel economy.

I had considered the W-140........but decided on the BMW for three reasons:
1) low mileage (only 60K)
2) better looks
3) considerably better fuel economy. 22-23.

I still had to spend about $2K to get all the "issues" fully resolved. I can only imagine the issues on a vehicle with three times this mileage.

W140's make the W124 evap replacement seem like childs play......
Uh, plus all of the above.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

keep both, and buy the third.



i would take both of the current cars over the s500, there are nicer cars i think

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Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

Have you guys driven an S500?

I have to say the ride/handling/quietness/smoothness (it seems to have very thick window glass!) was better than ANY car I've ever driven. It is one helluva a car.

A third car is just too many for me, so maybe I'll just wait for itch to subside. Thanks for the info/opinions.

It's a beautiful vehicle. Nobody who has actually driven one will argue that point.

The problem is the maintenance. If you've got an extra $3K per year to spend on it, then by all means, buy the vehicle. If you're the typical member on here who wants to keep that budget below $500. (nothing gets fixed or replaced until it breaks)...........then it's not for you.

Ive driven one and one nice ride but the maintenance bill is gonna be much higher than you are use to.

Plus the parts are gonna be much more expensive too.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Brian,

Have you done the Upper Reseal on your E38? (valve covers, intake gaskets, OSV/OSV gaskets, TB gasket etc?

I just finished one on a 98 E38 with the M62. Not near as bad as I thought it was gonna be.

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91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Had to do all of the things you mentioned but the "TB gasket". What is that? I also replaced the radiator with the Zionsville all aluminum rad and integrated reserve. Do you know about www.bimmerboard.com? Great help on DIY jobs and arcane info.

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87 300D 265Kmi
Factory rebuilt crate 603.96x engine at 200K

Yep, had the mechanic do it all. Unfortunately, although he should have known to do it...........he did not replace the backplate. Therefore, the ongoing fuel codes and rough cold idle remained.

After bringing it to another more qualified mechanic, he could easily see that the backplate was shot.

I haven't really had the time or the desire to get into the E-38.

TB=Throttle Body Gasket. E38.org is a great place too.

I've been contemplating an E38 to replace the SDL when (if) it dies. Replacing the OSV/Gasket is MUCH easier once the intake is removed. Doing it when its on the Car is a Royal PITA.

Believe it or not the E38 is actually fairly easy to work on. I was pleasantly surprised. Why are you not interested in knowing the E38 more?

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91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Is the OSV what I'm calling the "backplate"?

Yes, he replaced the gasket to the backplate when the intake was removed. When it didn't cure the issue, he had to replace the entire backplate and gasket while the intake was installed.

I haven't had the time and was a bit gun-shy of it. I've got the Bentley book..........maybe I'll try to get some interest.