Mercedes W220 S-Class Review - Is It Really That Bad?
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
- My new car!
I've owned this 2005 Mercedes-Benz S430 4Matic for the past 3 months and have put over 2000km on it. Here are my first impressions, along with a tour of the vehicle, and why I chose to purchase this of all cars!
Considering purchasing a W220 S-Class? Check out this video by Daniel Kon:
• S430 S500 w220 Mercede...
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Exterior
2:19 - Interior
4:45 - Quirks & Features
8:47 - Annoyances
11:57 - Driving Impressions
19:10 - Why I Bought The W220
26:10 - How Much Did I Spend
31:10 - Final Verdict
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"Is It Really That Bad?" I've never heard that about this car before. The pre-facelift years, 2000-2002 were a bit notorious with rust, but 2003-2006 cars are actually fairly well reviewed. The air suspension can be expensive, but there are affordable aftermarket solutions now. Some people swap it out with a regular suspension but that is sacrilegious to me. If you can't afford to maintain a car, you can't afford it. The air suspension is sublime and one of the main reasons to buy this car, along with the 4Matic, IMO. They are great all-season highway cruisers.
I've got an 02 and I love it no rust here because I live in the desert
I replaced my whole air suspension and completely worth the 1500$ EDIT with OEM air struts
it is indeed sacrilegious to replace airmatic with coil overs
As long as you are happy with your car dude, anyone else’s opinion doesn’t matter. 👍🏻
This is the best car ever made. Being understated is by no means a bad thing. It brings pleasure to those who appreciate the car's finest qualities without being marred by unnecessary design. Most will just see an old Merc, but a few will realise what a landmark vehicle it was, and still is. I'm so glad the design has grown on you.
He
“A nice ashtray if I wanna give myself lung cancer” 😂 that one got me
LOL glad someone noticed hahaha
i know Im asking randomly but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account??
I was dumb forgot the password. I appreciate any help you can offer me!
@Rocky Samir instablaster ;)
I just picked up a 2004 S430 from the original owner 130,000 Miles for 1,000. 4 new tires, new ball joints and a new air strut and it drives like new! I now have $3,500 in to it total and couldn’t be happier.
Sell it to me
W220: I am the most hated S-Class in history!
W223: Hold my screen
LOL. We'll have to see how history treats the W223, but I will say, to call my reaction to it be "disappointed" is a massive understatement
@@bentley_chen it would not have been such big of a disappointment but the W222 is SO NICE in terms of interior design!
@@bentley_chen Why were you disappointed with the W223? I used to own a W220 S500 and loved it's smooth acceleration and ride. I test drove a W222 and wasn't impressed by it despite it's $120k+ price tag. I thought it would be even more smoother and powerful, but it wasn't.
Someone may think I'm high, but to me, this was the prettiest looking S-Class, which was more curvy and sleeker than the W140. Don't get me wrong, it's undeniable the W140 is legendary. But I simply love how the W220 looks.
I just bought an S500 2005 with 130K km and its absolutely perfect, one single previous owner who certainly took great care of it.
@Allen Young I'll never sell it. However expensive it gets to keep it.
i have a 2002 W220 with the 5.8L V12. In love with it so far.
In general its how you treat your car.. if you take care of it and do the maintenance on time then everything will be fine and the car will last and drive smoothly for a long time.
For sure! I've always said, I've seen 20 year old cars with 200,000km in better condition than 5 year old cars with 80,000km simply because the owners treated them right!
Man I really want a W220. Been In love with them since they came out. Just so nervous about the cost of ownership but I do know how to work on my own vehicle...just nervous I guess but I think I'll pull the trigger and get one.
Cost of ownership is no different than with any other car.W220 is quality built car,and easy to fix yourself.Just buy one with service history no rust issue .The early ones(1998-2002) are just as good as the later ones,most important thing is how a car has been taken care of.Good luck.
@@matsujarvinen really appreciate the reply subbed
@@BossTweed1 Hey if you're able to work on your own vehicle, and do your research, I'd say you should have no problem!
I'd recommend a post-facelift model regardless, however. The head and tail lights make the car look much more modern and clean. Not to mention the infotainment system is actually usable for everyday life haha.
@@bentley_chen lol oh yes definitely getting an 03-06 model and yes I do some work on my own vehicles and my wife's. 07 ford expedition 5.4 3V coils plugs, struts, ball joints, throttle body and stereo installation oil changes etc for both the ford and chevy hhr so hopefully I'll be able to deal with the W220.
I also had a 06 lincoln navigator so I'm familiar with the pros and cons of air suspension but form the looks of what I've been researching ( which I've literally been eyeing and researching everything about this car for the past 6 years and that's not a joke) I should be ok.
@@BossTweed1 You definitely sound more than knowledgable and capable enough to own a W220 haha. I got lucky and was able to find one with a full 15-year service history of the car being serviced at the same Mercedes dealership it's whole life. I wish you the best of luck!
Nicely reviewed. This is needed because you don't see many old Mercedes reviews anymore
My dad has one of these in the horizon blue colour, factory AMG kitted with the AMG rims and the car is stunning. For father's Day we bought him an s type jaguar and he said today the s class is mine to keep as he's always known how much I loved and admired the car. I'm so happy to have gotten her and never understood why these were hated, the nicest car I've ever seen imo. Also love the introduction of the Elvis at around the 12 minute mark, no one beats the king 👑. Overall great video on a perfect car, keep it up 👏
Love the video and video editing! coming from a Lexus LS fanboy👍
Appreciate it!
Great condition
Great colour
Great video!
The man who highhandedly convinced me to purchase this car has complimented my video.
I'm starstruck :0
Bentley Chen Haha thank you.
Daniel Kon oi, where my W222 video brother. For mother Russia. But honestly, RESPECT LOL
@@iamryan4130 Broski:
ruclips.net/video/GdAMOYuTysY/видео.html
it's a mini video but still
@@DanielKon15 dudee, make goddamn video :)
Wonderful video with very excellent cinematography!
Great video mate! I bought a 2005 S-430 yesterday and I'm in love already.
Great video man. I just bought an 03 S500 w/the AMG appearance package and I Absolutely adore this car. W220 needs more love. Keep on keepin on man!
Great video, look forward to the next one
Just bumped into this video after owning my 06 s55 amg for a few months. Love the video and greetings from Chicago. Love my w220 it rides smooth abc is working and makes the car feel like a cloud
Awesome video...great car owned one for 5years...still own it
Thanks! Glad to see another happy W220 owner :)
💥 good overall review. I have owned a similar model, a 2006 S350 for past 3 years and it’s my favorite car over many others I have owned, often ones that were much newer (and brand new) and far more expensive. Smooth sleek, safe and great looking. My S350 is a 6 cylinder, (only model that offered a 6 cylinder) it has loads of power and still gets 25 mpg on hwy, 17-18 city. FYI, at min 10:20 you mention some plastic defects on dash. I had same issue and a cloth with rubbing alcohol removed all of it easily in minutes, to new condition. This car sold me on Mercedes!
I'm about to pull the trigger on a very nice S350 2006 model with decent service history. Any thoughts on what to look out for beyond the usual?
@@carsandallaboutcars2939 it’s been about 5 years of daily driving of my S350 and it continues to be a great car. When I got it in 2019 it had 38,000 miles and today in 2024 it is just reaching 100,000. The only repairs were at around 90,000, a new water pump $300 and new rear air shocks $1,000. Both of these repairs are typical at 100k and so I expected them. My wife drives a 2022 MB GLE350 and loves it but I prefer my 18 year old S350 any day. The build quality of the older Benz is far better (and no computers to fail!). My experience with this S350 has made me consider, if I had to replace this one, an even older Benz, like a MB 280 SE. Good luck with yours!
Upgraded myself from a family wagon to a 2000 s320 about 4 months ago and I love her! 83000 miles and a few age related problems but nothing a normal car wouldn't have thankfully and being mechanically inclined it's not the worst thing to deal with!
I must admit I did not like the model when I was younger either but all I can say is drive one and I guarantee when you wake up in the morning you will look at it with loving eyes!
I hope your beautiful big girl serves you well my friend
Haha thanks! Hope your S320 lives a long and prosperous life as well.
Yeah I really didn't like the design as a kid, but ever since I bought it my heart jumps a little every time I step in my garage haha.
@@bentley_chen haha exactly!! You know the feeling my friend! It's that twinkle in the paint with the knowledge that you're about to drive a car that lets face it could put most sedans to shame in comfort and performance even decades into its life!
Side note, that front end will grow on you too! Open that garage up first thing in the morning and let the light hit her, guarantee you will think "damn she's pretty!"
Take care my friend and keep uploading
Perfect review of one of my favourite Mercedes of all times. Subscribed!
Hey man great video! I agree with the lack of presence it has on the outside, but I think the inside is pretty good even with the trim. Been thinking of jumping into a W220 for a while now having owned both a W140, and a W126. Your video has really helped me come to a decision. Keep making vids, you'll do well on RUclips. Subbed :)
Thanks for the support! I love your channel and your presentation style as well!
Also if you plan on daily driving it, I'd recommend checking out some 2003 models, as I think it was the only year they came with an AUX port for music.
Bentley Chen Bummer, 2003 and onwards are still quite pricey here in my country. I’m talking about like C$18,000 hahaha! Probs gotta just get a 99 and stick a headunit somewhere inside the glovebox then :(( Also, glad you enjoyed my channel as well 😁😁
Btw I'm quite curious as to what camera you're using. Can't seem to get mine to be as stable as yours.... Or it could also be the fact that my city just doesn't have a single road remotely as good as Toronto's
@@KyleLiongCars That's unfortunate haha. I've heard cars can be pretty expensive over there due to taxes and registration fees. It's kinda like that in China too.
It's funny you ask because I was a little rushed so I actually filmed the whole video on my iPhone. It was pretty shakey when I was trying to get the driving shots, but I think iPhones come standard with stabilization software, because the videos turned out a lot better than I expected!
The 220 Mercedes was MUCH BETTER than the 221 on the inside ! The 221 didn't feel Luxurious at all inside the car !
I had one, I really loved it. If you’re on a budget I’m sure if that model was your best option. My S class was also my first Mercedes and I was 25 when I bought it
very nice presentation skills, clear and concise explanation, looks like this channel is going places
Appreciate the support!
Very comprehensive with a mix of carwow and doug. Really informative for what I expect on my next purchase. Keep it up, man! Subbed for your next vlog. 👍✨
Thanks man! Matt and Doug are definitely some of the best in the industry right now haha.
Great video man. w220 is so underrated.
Thanks for the feedback!
I have my w220 3 yrs with 120000 miles goes like a dream and I'm keeping it!! Excellent video.
Amazing!! Thanks :)
Great review!
Thanks!
Lol I feel you. I have always been a Toyota guy, and by accident I ended up owning my current car which is the pre-facelift w220. I initially hated the whole concept of the car, but as I started driving it (nobody wanted to buy it so might as well use it to go to work instead of a bus) I started to grow into it. It is a very comfortable and effortless car to drive. There are couple of minor faults but I am planning to fix them when weather gets warmer. Also my fiance is a car painter by profession so I am planning on fixing any rust patches too. I think I will keep on driving with this car until it totally fails... And it seems it might take a very long time
A very clean W220!
Thank you young man. Great review.
Thanks for a interesting video
Thank you for the feedback!
Idk dude, but for me is it the best s class that was made. Every time i driving it in the city everyone is looking. I love this car🖤
11:39 on the left is the s55 on the right the s600
Good catch! I didn't even notice it till now, thanks!
I can not wait for the next video
Fellow Torontonian here. Great review Bentley. Subscribed!
How’s the gas mileage on this car , how fast does it go from full to empty
so what is your average fuel economy? how often are you going to the gas station
Loving this review. In the process of selling my 2008 GS300 Lexus for a W220 Lexus just for the limousine size and Airmatic suspension.
@Bentley Chen You mention the heavy fuel consumption,I just watched a guy in England with a S500,he gets 33MPG (imperial gallon),can you advise what your litres/100km figure works out as? I have a 2005 S320CDI that I bought new,130,000 miles or 209,000KM. I get 39 MPG & the 204 BHP is more than adequate. (I still get 35MPG while towing a trailer full of firewood logs. d:-p
Ok, I am very curious on the 3 years later update. Is the car blown up? Did everything break?
Thanks for the vidéo.
I've got one.
1999 S320 model.
It's really a very good car.
Hugs from Lyon France and wish you an happy New year......only in a Mercedes-Benz of course.
Thanks and Happy New Year to you too! : )
I love your cometary review big time. I am about to buy an S Class 500 myself. 2004 , car looks brand new
I have one of these. Mine is a 01' S320 with almost 160K kilometers. They are, in my opinion the best looking Mercedes-Benz of the early 00's. They were designed and built to be the new S-Class for the new millennium. Elegant, discreet and modern. Are they large executive sedans? Yes, very much so. But massive? I don't think so. And by the way! Yes, the buttons on my steering wheel were also sticky and nasty. I have the 3.2 V6. It's not diesel hatchback, but mine have done high 20's mpg, which is acceptable for a car like this. But what makes it a great engine is it's linear power delivery and the V6 hum at idle. The air-suspension as cush as it is, makes you relax better than the dead. Seriously. I'm not joking. I've done multiple 1.000 mile journeys in it, and when i've arrived (Cause you don't show up somewhere, you arrive) i've felt more refreshed than when i departed. And due to the engine and suspension being so refined and so utterly silky smooth, at 120mph, i could still whisper to the passengers in the rear seats. Keeping in mind that these were designed and built when computers were starting to be a thing, they need have weak points and faults. And like any old Mercedes-Benz they do require maintenance and up-keep in order to be functioning. But my god, is it worth it!
Great cars, and a great video!
I used to drive exactly the same one. It may have some bad sides but as you said I must repeat that it's still worth it. The experience that air suspension gives you is out of this world
You just don't get tired while driving
excellent review
I remember getting chauferred in one of these when I was a kid, and it was the first time I’d been in an S class Mercedes. I had such high expectations, but the centre armrest in the backseat creaked every time you leant on it. This one issue ruins the entire experience of this car. When you’re paying so much, and expect Mercedes solidity, something like a creaky armrest is unacceptable. It is this lack of attention to detail that makes this S class very underwhelming. In saying that, I do love the exterior design.
I just bought a 2005 S500 in April. I love the car so far. Mine is brilliant silver metallic with black interior and 20 inch AMG wheels. Im adding some quad exhaust tips which will definitely enhance its presence. These S class look better on 20 inch rims. I'm also thinking about painting the grille and lower mesh grille the same color as the car or silver/chrome. We'll see. The car definitely turns heads
how has it been so far?
Nice review! I upgraded from a c230k just like you! 😅 these cars are the best for their bargain nowadays
For sure! Crazy ou can pick up a once 6 figure car for only a couple thousand dollars LOL
How was the cost of ownership as a dail as opposed to the c230k?
@@n.rodriguezthemusician1226 To be honest, I've only owned this car for a few months compared to my C230 which I owned for over 2 years, so I can't give a super accurate answer atm.
That being said, I've only had to do basic maintenance so far, but everything on the W220 costs more than on the W202, simply because it is a newer, more complicated, and bigger car. For example, an engine oil change costs more simply because the 4.3L is significantly larger than the 2.3L, thus needing more oil haha
@@n.rodriguezthemusician1226 I just brought yesterday shit is nice and fast lol
Excellent review. Thanks a lot. I am on the process to get one 130.000 km as well. The s280 w220 model. Only 1 owner who is the driver of a respectable lady.
Wonderful video man
Do you still have it?
Wow, nice example, and I love the colour!.👍👍👍
This video is just as spectacular as the w202 c230k one. Great work. I am probably your latest subscriber. Keep making cool videos. Suprised your w202 didn't have airconditioning. How did that happen? Factory specification or fault? And how were you able to live in it, in those reputable Canadian weather conditions?
Thanks again for the support and feedback!
Haha yeah, definitely not a factory setting. Much like with your C230, I bought it off someone who didn't take too good care of it :/ the radiator fan didn't work, and it probably was low on refrigerant and other issues too. Since the car was only $1400 and I was a broke high school kid, I decided to just tough it out and drive with the windows down over the summer. (definitely not an easy time in a black car in traffic LOL)
The car was lots of fun in the winter! Lightweight and RWD made it really easy and fun to drift in the snow. Safety-wise tho it wasn't great. Narrowly avoided a handful of crashes in my experience since the car had very little traction. I kept a bag of sand and 2.5 ton rated jack in my trunk at all times to add some weight to the rear, and always made sure my tank was over half full.
It was one of those cars which was lots of fun in the winter when you wanted it to be, but at total pain if you just needed to run some errands in heavy snow. I wouldn't even let my family members drive it in the snow because I was concerned for their safety.
Welcome to the club.
S class baller
What a nice, great and confortable car.. the best of the best of his time.
Dude, did it again. Subscribing, gonna be showing you to the guys at the shop.
Thanks again for the support!
2:57 mercedes never used fake wood
That's' true! The door panels used a different type though, a veneer that looks and feels a lot cheaper.
just purchased a S430. This video makes me feel better about my decision! Great Vid. (BTW I also live in Markham! haha)
Haha what a coincidence! Hopefully, we both have good, cheap ownership experiences LOL
@@bentley_chen Definitely! Do you have any good mechanic recommendations to service these cars in Markham?
@@johnnyr6391 Hmmm. Honestly I don't know of any Mercedes/german car specialists, but the mechanic I've always gone to is MS Auto on Heritage road. They're in no way the cheapest, but they do good work and are honest people.
I do bought a M Benz S500 W220. The best car I ever bought in my life. No comparison with no car.. Another world.. Like they say: "The best or nothing...
Its a great car. Mine 2002 s430 and hasnt cost me a dime other than tires brakes and the aircomprssor 800 bucks. 90k on it and love it
Mine’s a 1999 S320 in the 🇵🇭 - changed all the shocks once, some electrical issues that were eventually done so l am generally happy with it 😊
love from toronto!
Do you still have the car if so how’s it doing?
Just got a 2001 s600 v12. Absolutely love it. Today i turned off the ESP... now i really love it. Its i sane that a car so heavy can burn rubber the way it does.
You still got the car? any major issues? follow up video haha
amazing video, can you do one for the W211 E Class?
AMAZING, WELL aonce again to benz family, ❤
good review
Well I actually have one in site 02 so this review was great . You kind off disappeared in the back ,but you totally make it up with your great looks ,but I actually like the swb better . I have one of the round light cars sl500 04 and I quite like it . Thanks for a pleasant review .
Thanks!
*I just bought an 04 S430 for $800 on offerup with 4 spare donut rims and tires on it. Thing runs good so I bought 4 and 17" benz rims and new tires for $200 on offerup. Car burns rubber if you stomp the gas from a dead stop, doesn't look terribly bad either. Rides like a cloud too with the airbags so for $800 I feel like I won on this one.*
Congrats on the purchase! I'm jealous of your purchase price haha :)
I have a 2009 w221 and I always wanted to add one of these cars to my garage.
was debating between w140 s600 or w220 s65, wish there was a quicker w140 v12 model than what is available but im glad ill be joining the w220 side though Id really like to own both at some point in the future
Would it be wise of me to get an 05 s class with 190k on it and minor rust on it?
Great video btw.
I have w220 s500 2001 and i love it
this is my second w220. enjoy your ride unless you do all the work your self this is a very expensive car to maintain. i had to be my own mechanic just to afford to enjoy this ride. enjoy and best of luck!
do you still drive this S class?
this car is in brand new condition that is amazing, thats a boss car
8:25 the reason that you can take the key apart is not for convenience, but an emergency feature! So you can still can get inside the vehicle if your car or key battery is dead.
W140, W220, and W222. Those are my favorite S-Classes ever.
Lovely video and beautiful car. Lexus is no comparison to this car. The S is in its own league.
Got a 2000 s500 and it's got alot of power with upgrades.
Same here brought one yesterday shit fast
Purchased 3 yrs ago a 2000 s500, 117k on the odo for 3800.
A 20 year old head turner.
Hi! I love your video! I have this car since 4 years. I hope you will not sell w220 soon, honestly I am waiting for next review after some time. I love this car but you really need to have good mechanics to deal with her. There will be a lot repairs waiting for you in neear future. I am not tooking only about Airmatic, but mostly electronic... lets see when self closing will stop working 😆
Regarding outside look... I think Black color and long version is the best ! 🤔
I wish you long miles with w220! I made already all repairers in this car exept engine & gear.
Any way this car is the best ! 1st Class inside 😉
Thanks for the comment, and I agree! LWB Black is best for any S-Class. Has the VIP look.
I decided to go for a slightly different colour though because I'm young and don't wanna look like I'm driving grandpa's car hahaha
Hahah that's a good point! But the most important is condition of the car. Your one is fantastic ! Good that you changed oil in gear box. When I was changing mine in Mercedes Service mechanic told me that after change oil gear can work better or... will completely damage 🤔😆 Happy that me and you we got this first option !
Serenity😌
Great video! I was actually considering the same cars as you. Ended up going with the Lexus IS250 though. Hoping it will be the better option in the long run.
Thanks! Yeah every now and then I wonder if an IS would have been a better choice. I am only 19 haha; not a lot of people my age enjoy big luxury cars and would prefer something smaller and lighter.
Here's hoping we both have headache-free ownership experiences! : )
There is such thing as “comfort” and “sport” mode in the W220 gearbox. The settings are summer and winter. Summer starts in first gear, winter in second out of standstill.
No, you must have the pre-facelift version. This was true for those cars and the previous generation of Mercedes. My old W202 had the S & W for Standard & Winter/Wet.
If you read the owner's manual for face-lifted W220's though, the settings are for comfort (C) and sport (S).
The 90 degree opening hood is still a feature on many modern Mercedes models. My 2017 GLE has that feature.
Nice example. I have the rwd s430. Its an amazing machine with plenty of power
Honestly, I kinda wish mine was RWD. 4Matic is great in the winter, but a lot less fun haha
Funny, I bought mine about a month ago too. An oddly spec'd one as well. 01' S500 lwb with hydraulic ABC suspension, dynamic front seats, power recline rear seats, but no center rear console. Also has 16" wheels.
Thank is quite a strange spec haha. I'm jealous though, I would've loved power reclining rear seats on mine.
Was it that odd a spec? I know ABC was less common on the non-AMG models but I don't know if there was a 'typical' W220 build. Mine is a 2001, S500 (LWB) with ABC, heated and cooled front and rear seats, power recline rear seats, and massage front seats on 16" wheels. The only thing it didn't have was the champagne fridge and the Distronic because the first owner declined those options (sometimes I do wish he'd gotten the Distronic...).
They're pretty awesome and the car is spacious enough to fit a baby seat and still not feel cramped in the rear and my family love the heated/cooled and reclining rear seats.
Yo Bentley time for a recap it's 2023
Good review mate. Unlike so many other car tubers that shit on the W220 that haven't even driven one, at least you have. I own 3 S-Class from the 70's to the 220 and no doubt the series was let down by cost cutting etc. Still though ask yourself this....would you rather drive a brand new hatch back or an S430 for the same price or less?
I have the 2003 AMG Kompressor version for about 5 years already and still love it, specially went I'm in a light waiting and some punk want to race without know the beast is under the hood😎
You got a very clean one. Lucky you
Honestly i love the S class. It has one of the best looking interiors. I have one with 200K+ miles
Im having a debate between a 2002 S500 class, a 2003 S500 class with peanut butter interior OR a CL500. What do you think bro?
Me personally, if it's the same price and condition, I'd go for the CL because it's more special. That said I'm sure it's not a 1-to-1 comparison between insurance, maintenance, features and etc.
@@bentley_chen the CL500 has 164k miles and the S classes have 126k and one has 112k
I love the vacuum fluorescent display on these which remind me of the older Lexus’s.
My 2004 Seville has similar gauges. It's a great car.
It is cool how you used the iPhone XS Max to film this entire video!
Haha yeah. Crazy how good phone cameras are getting!
Nice video...
Thanks!