Driving a w220 / S600 last night

[tonkovich]

Due to the unpredictable and absurd (?) nature of my life, I found myself driving around my successful music friend (and a few of his buddies) last night, being a good, sober designated driver. In his 2005 S600. Long ago, i owned a previous S class sedan (84 w126/ 500 sel), so it brought back pleasant memories.

Anyway, briefly:

1) very heavy, solid car, and - as i told my friend - smaller on the outside, bigger on the inside, than my 126.
2) perhaps too many bells and whistles - though i am sure i would get used to them with continued familiarity. and the comfort level of the seats, as well as all the other comforts, including the stereo - 12 (?) speakers? - climate control, does mean that most of the gadgets are actually purposeful, as opposed to just add ons to impress.
3) amazing power. (duh! )
4) excellent handling, very nimble, for a 4500 lb.(?) car, that's probably 19 feet long
5) did i mention the power?

anyway, it was a blast, and i think only the folks here would understand? and appreciate?

( the owner has mentioned that maintenance costs are, well, considerable. and the gas mileage is, well, anemic. )

[The Swede]

I had an '03 S600. Fun car, fast as ****. Expensive to fix. Rust bubbles by 2007.

[tonkovich]

Originally Posted by The Swede

I had an '03 S600. Fun car, fast as ****. Expensive to fix. Rust bubbles by 2007.

well, no rust bubbles. ( but we are in cali)

what was amazing was the handling; much improved from the s class of mid '80's. really grips the road.

but yes, the maintenance costs are prohibitive - except for my friend, who's a millionaire.

p.s. and yes, the power, even just for around town. it was fun, for a night.

[C280 Sport]

Originally Posted by The Swede

I had an '03 S600. Fun car, fast as ****. Expensive to fix. Rust bubbles by 2007.

Sorry to hear you had rust on your 220. Early 215/220's had them but I can see living in the snow belt how it can happen early in the cars life.

[C280 Sport]

Originally Posted by tonkovich

well, no rust bubbles. ( but we are in cali)

what was amazing was the handling; much improved from the s class of mid '80's. really grips the road.

but yes, the maintenance costs are prohibitive - except for my friend, who's a millionaire.

p.s. and yes, the power, even just for around town. it was fun, for a night.

The upkeep on any V12 will be high due to the amount of moving parts and it can be labor intensive due to how tight in the engine bay everything is. Knock on wood no issues.

[super SEC]

The engine was the most reliable thing with the 2003+ 600 engine. The coil packs are expensive but nothing compared to the ABC suspension repairs.

[C280 Sport]

Originally Posted by super SEC

The engine was the most reliable thing with the 2003+ 600 engine. The coil packs are expensive but nothing compared to the ABC suspension repairs.

The engine is very reliable and the ABC is fine when well maintained. Just had a B service to my girlfriends 600. The ABC can be very finicky but no issues with ours ever...yet

[super SEC]

Originally Posted by C280 Sport

The engine is very reliable and the ABC is fine when well maintained. Just had a B service to my girlfriends 600. The ABC can be very finicky but no issues with ours ever...yet

Wait until you have owned or personally driven it for 100,000 miles. I guarantee you will not think it is dependable. Time and mileage is the achillies heel of the hydrulic components. Blow a hose or get contamination in the system and it is all down hill from there.

Concerning the ABC, what exactly do you mean when well maintained? There is no set "maintenance" perscribed by MB on the ABC system.

See page 56 & 57 for the ABC maintenance schedule on the 2006 CL600. Nothing, nada, zip....
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/pdfmb/maintenancebooklets/2006_cclass_clkclass_sclass_clclass_slclass.pdf

Some change the fluid but I have no statistical evidence that it helps the ABC hoses and pump. It certainly shouldn't hurt but it is not in the manual or on any set schedule that I could find.

The ABC suspension is the only thing holding me back from getting a CL65 or SL65. Been there done that. Loved the engine. Hated the repairs on the ABC. Most long term owners who drove these cars daily share the same experiences as myself.

[The Swede]

Originally Posted by super SEC

Wait until you have owned or personally driven it for 100,000 miles. I guarantee you will not think it is dependable. Time and mileage is the achillies heel of the hydrulic components. Blow a hose or get contamination in the system and it is all down hill from there.

Concerning the ABC, what exactly do you mean when well maintained? There is no set "maintenance" perscribed by MB on the ABC system.

See page 56 & 57 for the ABC maintenance schedule on the 2006 CL600. Nothing, nada, zip....
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/pdfmb/maintenancebooklets/2006_cclass_clkclass_sclass_clclass_slclass.pdf

Some change the fluid but I have no statistical evidence that it helps the ABC hoses and pump. It certainly shouldn't hurt but it is not in the manual or on any set schedule that I could find.

The ABC suspension is the only thing holding me back from getting a CL65 or SL65. Been there done that. Loved the engine. Hated the repairs on the ABC. Most long term owners who drove these cars daily share the same experiences as myself.

65k miles was the magic number for me. Then it was seeee-yah!!

[super SEC]

Originally Posted by The Swede

65k miles was the magic number for me. Then it was seeee-yah!!

For me it was around 68K, 75K, 80K, 82k, ETC., ETC. ABC was the gift that kept giving................ to the dealership.

[ah-kay]

S600 and high maintenance costs should not be spoken with the same breath. You reap what you sow.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by The Swede

65k miles was the magic number for me. Then it was seeee-yah!!

I'm convinced this is the best way to own an S600.

Buy new or CPO right off lease with a lot of warranty left, say 20k-40k miles. Than drive it until the warranty runs out around 80k, trade in, rinse and repeat.

When I start buying Mercedes again that's how I'm going to do it. I'm sure they break, but its the dealers problem, and I get a bunch of interesting rental cars while they sort it out.

[C280 Sport]

Originally Posted by super SEC

Wait until you have owned or personally driven it for 100,000 miles. I guarantee you will not think it is dependable. Time and mileage is the achillies heel of the hydrulic components. Blow a hose or get contamination in the system and it is all down hill from there.

Concerning the ABC, what exactly do you mean when well maintained? There is no set "maintenance" perscribed by MB on the ABC system.

See page 56 & 57 for the ABC maintenance schedule on the 2006 CL600. Nothing, nada, zip....
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/pdfmb/maintenancebooklets/2006_cclass_clkclass_sclass_clclass_slclass.pdf

Some change the fluid but I have no statistical evidence that it helps the ABC hoses and pump. It certainly shouldn't hurt but it is not in the manual or on any set schedule that I could find.

The ABC suspension is the only thing holding me back from getting a CL65 or SL65. Been there done that. Loved the engine. Hated the repairs on the ABC. Most long term owners who drove these cars daily share the same experiences as myself.

Many 600,65 owners not on this site of course due to mostly older and vintage MB but over on MBworld with higher miles on their v12's. One guy has a s65 with well over 100k and no real issues. My friend with his first Maybach went 100k miles until something went wrong. I have faith in them due to other input and experience so I am not too too worried. Unfortunately there is no ABC delete kit yet however there is a company working on one I hear.