s600
 

i have an opportunity to purchase a 2001 s600, 83,000 miles. question is I do a lot of driving, over 100 miles per day. I know the comfort is there what about the longevity, repairs, maintenance?

IMHO, this is the best one they make. Have a professional do a PPI. Parts, repairs and gas consumption will be high compared with say an E320. Insurance will also be higher. Check with your ins. co.

Assuming it is in good condition and you can afford repairs and maintenance, it will last as long as you want and the driving experience will be unmatched.

BTW, I think most would opt for the S500 or S320 as a more budget friendly choice. But, as they say, you only go around once.:) Good luck.

You must have very deep pockets to be able to afford using a Mercedes V12 car as a daily driver. Think about the serpentine timing chain. On the V8 cars it needs changing at around 100k and is really expensive. Weigh this along with the general tendency for the V8 and V12 parts and maintenance to just be much more hateful than the sixers. A PPI from a really good Mercedes man would be worth the expenditure.
Otherwise those V12s are awesome! Really smooth and swift. Don't expect much economy. Just jack the price of everything up to twice what an inline six car would cost and you would be in the ballpark. Harder to DIY as well, you'll be more dependent on your indy so make sure he's a good one. I applaud your effort to even investigate owning such a beast.

I guess you could be 35k+ miles a year on an S600, and I'm sure people do it. But its going to cost you a bundle. I'd go with the V8.

The chain only needs to be changed on the old motors. Your thinking of the old M116 and M117 from the 80's. A W220 would have the M113 which is bullit proof.

I get 19MPG in my CL65 and just about 21MPG in my SL600

its really not that bad if you think about it.

Does the s600 from this time period also have the cylinder deactivation; where it uses only 6 cylinders when not necessary? Or was that a cl600 thing only?

I dont think the 5.8 ever did that

this is an odd thread.

i was visiting with old friends who work for a m-b dealership. and our conversation drifted into the m-b v12's.

their exhortation - DON'T OWN ONE. parts prices are exorbitant.

one of the oddest aspects of those V12's that they mentioned was the extra weight on the front tires. tires so soft that the weight of the v12 "flatted" them.

i think that they would recommend that you do a parts price survey. see what a camshaft costs for a v12, for instance. versus the v8 engine.

i think after you survey that evidence, unless you are independently wealthy, you will renounce your interest in a m-b v12.

if you want a v12, go buy a ferrari.

Random electronic failure cannot be predicted by a PPI, and some of the prices I've seen on modules for those engines is pretty mind-boggling by my standards. It's probably a great engine - until something goes wrong.

2001-2002 V12's ONLY had the deactivation feature here in the US.

I have three V12's, so I am biased in my praise a bit. When running and driving as they should (like most s-class Mercedes) there is nothing like them, but when there is an issue, it's usually not an easy and/or inexpensive fix.

I don't think anyone ever claims them to be a bargain to own and/or operate, and if they do, they are probably trying to sell you theirs <grin>.

make sure the load rating is over 91, you are fine.
the 500 and 600 use the same tires in 16 and 18" form.

also, the price of a timing chain service and the price of an oil change between the 500 and 600 is hardly different. these engines are otherwise bullitproof.

if you want a MB V12, make sure it has been serviced, but dont listen to the haters. they are very reliable, get decent fuel econ, and ARENT expensive to fix.

used parts and non dealership parts departments are your friends :)