What years were W140 S500 Coupes and S600 Coupes imported to US?

I am considering beginning a search for one ... looking for something "different" and unusual ...

What does everyone think of them? Reliability, handling, rarity, most common failures, fuel mileage?

Would be maintaining myself.

Thanks!

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

at your newstand the january or february issue of Mercedes Enthusiast had an article on both these cars. may still be on the shelves.
probably get more relevant information from the search engine on this site.

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/overview/index.jsp

love the look and style, difficult to work on , especially for a DIYer.
Many electronics, many malfunctions, be prepared to shell out $
Look for later year, starmarked ect
All that said I would LOVE to have one

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Ron
2015 Porsche Cayman - Elizabeth
2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond
Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING !
99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD
62 220b - Dolly - Finally my Finny! Sadly SOLD
72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR
19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels
14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green
84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD
71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD
73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace
81 380 SL - Rest in Peace

for some details on the electronic systems you'll find in the car. Personally, my C140 has been the most reliable and cheapest MB that I have ever owned. Of course, some would say that it was the most expensive.

Do a search and you find a number of threads on the 140 car.

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Regards . . . . JimF
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'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

"What does everyone think of them? Reliability, handling, rarity, most common failures, fuel mileage?"


The 600 is all of the above, but just not reliable. By V12 standards they are not bad to own... If you are cross shoping one with an older Ferrari or Lambo.

But if it isn't your only car and more of a toy car I would go with the 12, it is one sweet motor.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I just bought a 1996 S600 coupe today. A very interesting car indeed!

Mine is a german version that was imported/federalized. It still has all of the German options-

Onboard computer
Webasto Gas heater with computer
Wine/Champagne refrigerator in rear seats (with burlwood door)
Ortho seats
Adjustable height headlamps
eighteen inch factory alloys
MB exquist radio with rds and german traffic system and siemens NAV

Color is pearl black #199 / Charcoal black interior (not two tone like the US)

Soon to be listed on Ebay.

I also have a 1999 CL500 Coupe , #040 Black with grey, near mint

and I am expecting a 1996 S500 coupe , #040 Black with saddle.

So I have a few of these rare cars lying around right now...

I love my 95 S500 coupe.
Look for a S600 as we speak.

I paid 17k cash for the starmark S500 coupe what should I be looking to pay for the S600

Mint sub 70k mile S600's in my area go for $20k-$25k, these are 94-96's though. The newers ones will fetch a higher price of course.

Their was a very nice looking black on black 1995 S600 with 54k on the clock. They were asking $21,500.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I own one of these and you MUST have money to throw away to maintain this vehicle! Otherwise, it will go to hell and someone else who could afford it missed out on a great car! I love it, just expensive to maintain!

WOW, after checking out the comments by fellow users and myself on this eight year old post, I must update this issue, more so after reading this phrase on one of my posts:

"But as the W140 age, it will not age gracefully. Electronics, unlike wine, do not mature well."

The W140 (both the sedan and the coupe) are still expensive to main properly, cheap parts are not as widely available as for other older M.B. models, but the electronics are not as horrible as I thought they would be. At least they are not such a nightmare as the electronics you have to deal with on a W220 or a W215.

If a computer on a W140 breaks down, it would render inoperative the system it manages, period. W220 or W215 computer faillures usually render the whole vehicle inoperative, regardless if its an engine system or just the radio. Also, from many independents I have talk with, they say the W220 and the W215 electronics are more sensitive to humidity, heavy usage and/or neglect than the W140 electronics.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

I agree with that 'modified' statement. However, not ever having a W220, I can't actually verify your statement. Since the car's ECUs communicate on a more complicated and inter-related bus, I believe that you are correct.

As many know, my '94 S500 cpe has been a model of reliability. Nothing major has failed in the last 6+ years in the car's "electronics". And as I've written, this has been the cheapest Mercedes I've had to maintain.

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Regards . . . . JimF
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'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

I agree with you Jim, actually the W140, along with the W124, are one of the cheapest Mercedes to mantain, EXCEPT for the dreaded Vacuum Assistance Pump for the self-closing doors and trunks!!!

My S 500 L is on its SIXTH pump and my coupe on its third!!!

I have had all the lines and locks checked on both cars and everything is perfect, is just the pumps that fail constantly (and they are expensive to replace, even the OEM spec).

My tech tells that he believes they are extremely sensity to the tropic huminidity here in Costa Rica. Who knows? But my humble opinion is that the system is really to complicated and that M.B. really did not do a good job dialing realibility into the pump design.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

I will have to agree with Jim F on the C140. I've had mine only since the first of this year. The previous owner let the maintenance go so I spent money on maintenance items. Replaced a few oil tubes and the MAF (he used silicone sealant on the valve covers)
I have a problem with the soft close system but may not fool with it as everyone who gets in the car slams the damn door. Other than that it is a dream to drive. Just finished a 4300 mile trip without a hiccup. If there is a downside to this car CL500 it is the gas mileage. I averaged 22mpg on the trip but around town it is pretty grim. However I do drive it daily.
Anziani
'95 E420 132K
'97 CL500 142K