2002-2004 MB S500 Insurance costs, repairs cost and gas?

[rong_feng]

Hi everyone, i want to ask you guys if any of you have or know someone who owns a S500, how good is the insurance rates, gas mileage and the repair costs?

Even though i know its a pricey car to purchase brand new, its a 4 door saloon packed with safety features, and often the older crowd drives it so it should be a relatively cheaper car to drive than say a M3 or 911 correct?

with a 5L v8, i think its a decent sized engine for the car, and im sure it can get you around pretty quickly but it sounds pretty thirsty.

Currently im looking for cars similar like this because i want it to be a very comfy place to be in,very quiet (sound proof from outside) and packed with all the gadgets.

In addition, i heard the S500 sometimes has a feature called a smart key, which is standard on the s600 where u dont need to even push the keyless entry to unlock the door and you can just walk up to it and it unlocks itself. I believe its called keyless go. This is the kinda stuff im looking for! thanks!

[chickenbones]

You can get Keyless go in a Nissan...

I say there's a reason old Benz's cheap. The more gadgets it has the more will go wrong and more expensive to fix.

[mr_raider]

Maybe look into getting a used Lexus LS. They are very similar, but more reliable.

[Desolatax]

I say there's a reason old Benz's cheap. The more gadgets it has the more will go wrong and more expensive to fix.

Precisely. If anything important goes wrong in the higher end Mercedes, your rear-end will be mighty tender after you get it fixed.

As for fuel mileage, 14/20 C/H is probably what you would be getting if you didn't drive it hard, also depends on if you are going with the 4matic.

As for other vehicles, the 7 series BMW would be in the same class, lots of gadgets, lots of power, good looking, similar maintenance costs (might be a bit cheaper), or the Audi A8.
I'd definitely recommend, if you do end up buying such a car, get one that is still in warranty.

[Neb]

Maybe look into getting a used Lexus LS. They are very similar, but more reliable.

I think the OP is set on the S500 now...

Based on this other thread he has started not too long ago...

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542795

[hightech]

Maybe look into getting a used Lexus LS. They are very similar, but more reliable.

Agreed. The S Class Benz is a status car, that has a very poor reliability record. The LS Lexus is far more reliable and quieter.

[VivienM]

As for other vehicles, the 7 series BMW would be in the same class, lots of gadgets, lots of power, good looking, similar maintenance costs (might be a bit cheaper), or the Audi A8.

Good looking?!?!? Not after Chris Bangle bangled it up...

Sadly, MB has followed suit by copying just about every ******** BMW "innovation", including the HIDEOUS rear styling, in the latest S class.

That leaves the Audi A8 as the one good looking big German car with a sane interior...

[Desolatax]

Good looking?!?!? Not after Chris Bangle bangled it up...

Sadly, MB has followed suit by copying just about every ******** BMW "innovation", including the HIDEOUS rear styling, in the latest S class.

That leaves the Audi A8 as the one good looking big German car with a sane interior...

I happen to like the look of the newer 7 series, very nice executive car and stands out from the other BMW's with its bigger, meaner look. I think the rear end looks fine.
I also think Porsche has the LAZIEST design team on earth. None of their vehicles look any good IMO, Cayenne looks ok for their attempt at an SUV, but I probably would never consider buying a Porsche unless I could get an insane deal on one.
But Aston Martin definitely has the best. design team. ever.

But to each his own.

[ar_ken]

My family just got a 04 S500 4matic so I can shed some light on this.

1) Yes, definitely get one with extended warranty (buy from a M-B dealer and you get it). I'm not sure how "unreliable" these cars can get in the future, but as of right now all is good... but it only has 50k mileage on it though...

2) I'm averaging around 14.5L/100km in mostly city driving (prolly around 85/15 city/highway). consider the power and the engine size, I don't think it's that bad. on a highway trip I'm using around 10L/100km. Not too far off from its official figures.

Yes, these cars drop in value like there's no tomorrow (gives me no reason to buy new). I bought mine at a M-B dealer for around 40% of its original price.. the car is only 3.5 years old! However, if you look closely, almost all of the flagship sedans suffers from the same fate (Lexus LS included)....

I'm not going to get into the whole Lexus vs. M-B debate on here because it's pointless... but one of the reason my family got the M-B was because of the 4matic... come to think of it, the only ones in that class that has AWD is the S-Class and the A8...

[frogger]

Dunno what the previous gen Lexus LS drove like but I hope nothing like the mid to late 90's vintage ones. I swear I hadn't felt steering that soft since the 80's.

[malaco0219]

Electronics is a major problem I can tell you for sure. Our family has one and the major problem we have is electronics.

[InterestingDeals]

Electronics will be 90% of maintenance. My '91 S class has better reliability than any MB that's year 1999+.


Purely a status symbol, but if you have the money to buy an S500 in the first place, you have the money to support it's life.