@@imaner76 i own one. 265k on the clock and only major work was a new automatic clutch at just shy of 200k which cost me £600 odd. no turbo to worry about, no expensive 4wd system.. just a quiet and refined japanese barge. way better than any german crap.. Next!
@@HandHaben that's awesome! Glad nothing pricy has gone sideways! I have a 2012 A6 Avant with 190K on it and it's more or less the same story now. That said a lorry shed it's load and I ended up replacing all the undertrays. They did not cost £600! 🤔
If you compare a new Kia to an old S-Class then the noise insulation will obviously be far better in the old Mercedes. Compare like for like and the newer car will be a lot quieter. Refinement has come a long way.
@@JScot92 You'd expect the tech to trickle down a bit over the last 20 years. A new Merc A-Class is nowhere near as refined as a 20 year old S-Class, but the tech in every other sense is miles and miles better. Just feels like something that could be done much better than it is.
Wow, just wow. Definitely keep that car, Matt. Such a unique find. Never seen a 20 year old car in this good interior condition. Techwise not bad either. Give it the bodywork it needs (MB as it is) and you got yourself the dream weekend luxury car.
Hi Matt, very interesting video as I have done a similar thing. Was offered an S430 Yr 2000 ridiculously cheap, as I thought at the time. It needed a serious valeting and had the usual rust, but had a full MoT and low mileage, so I took the plunge. Nearly 2 years later, and a few thousand pounds later, I still don't regret my decision, as it is the quietest and most comfortable car I have ever owned. It has needed 4 new doors, rear wings, welding to the jacking points, plus work on the air con, but in the meantime I have driven it regularly and it is a real pleasure to ride in. The only pity is that it will not make me a profit, but that is now irrelevant as I don't plan to sell it!
Hi matt, back in 2016 i retired as coach driver mainly in europe particularly Italy. I bought a 2005 s class and took my wife on a 3 week tour of Italy to show her where "i used to work" visiting the italian lakes and the Amalfi coast and Tuscany. 3000 miles in total and the car never flickered. Perfect.
This car was mind blowing in 1998, when it was revealed. Radar guided cruise control, massage seats, seat ventilation, keyless go. They were alien UFO technologies in 1998 😂
I had this merc around 18 months ago and sold it with different set of alloys, bodywork had no rust that time. Enjoy not sticky buttons as I spent 3 hours cleaning them😃
I also love to see cars like this where someone has just specified exactly what they want with no regard to what anyone else thinks or the effect on resale value! I love the combination on this one, so much better than the usual silver or grey with black leather.
Ideal car for your place in Spain? Low rust risk and mileage not an issue for your use there. All that cooling and massage in the seats might be appropriate. With full service history, just might be a keeper?
He mentioned in the video he did recently in Spain that he didn't want a diesel over there due to the low milage/town driving and DPF issues. Now that I say that, I'm not sure if DPFs were mandated in '03.
I bought one two years ago at an estate sale for $3,500.00 US. Mine has lower mileage, only 80,000, and significantly less rust. It has a 4.3L V8. Everything works well and I use it as a dog taxi. My dogs are German Shepherds imported from Germany and deserve to be driven around in a vehicle from das Vaterland!
Fantastic find, Matt. How are you not tempted to make that your new daily driver? Fantastically maintained, filled to the brim with luxuries, and it gets 47mpg? I'd use the road trip as the trial run to see how it is to live with, and decide afterwards.
@SugaFoot90 I have said the thing in my comment before reading any comments, so image writing a comment (as I have done) and coming across/finding someone else who agrees with you 😮😮😮😮. I think the car would look at home in Spain and I also said about getting the rust treated once there whats your thoughts on the rust???? The milage Matt says that car gets wow for its size I am jealous of that, my car does get close and mine is smaller, not the same car btw my is a Nissan Micra 😅😅 yeah what the car achieves MPG I am speechless I wouldn't have thought that at all given its size, make etc would you?? Yeah she classy so I really do think she wouldn't look out of place in Spain and also Matt would not only drive in class, beauty and comfort over there Lisa UK xxxx
Lovely car Matt. Great suggestion with the "lets brim it with diesel and see how far we can go"!! Love the interior and the seat colour works so well against the bodywork. What a luxurious car from back in the day. This journey will be interesting. Your audience awaits. Regards.
I used to work for mercedes valeting these from new. Back in the day very luxury cars. Amazed how much they are now. The V12 was amazing. Still a lot of car for the money. Excellent video as always 👍
Brooklands for the MB experience, then to Stuttgart to the factory, take a photo outside Schloss Solitude, it'll look like a contemporary press shot. Round the ring once then steak at the Pistenklaus, back through the Blackforest to Champagne and pop a couple of cases in the boot. I'll pack now.
Great value Matt. People are too quick to write these old 'Prestige cars' off'. You could be unlucky, but given the service history, this car could have years of life in it yet. The paint would bug me....I would have to get it done.
@WetLettuce-kc2qm I don't 'believe it'. I know it. Over the last 20 years I have had two Mercedes-Benz bought secondhand which were bargains. The previous one covering over 250,000 miles as everyday transport. Both have required only regular maintenance, and cost less than £500 a year to maintain, passing all MOT's with no advisories. If you buy the right car in the first place, the car will usually do you well.
Isn't it odd that we rarely (ever?) see Matt meeting people - or engaging with society on screen? If this was a film, I'd say that the whole thing (the job, the company, the car buys etc) was all in his head or a dream!
I think you should have fixed the rust. Otherwise what is your purpose? Oh yeah I remember - suck all the free value out of things and put a deceptive surface polish on what's left.
give over man!@@X-boomer Matt is up front about what he has done. He's in business to make money not pander to the whims of the far left. The only thing that would be deceptive would be to affect a "cover up" repair on the paint and then sell it. This car is honest and as reliable as a 1500 quid S class will ever be. Grow up.
13:30 that's an engine preheater. Usually you have a fob, where you can control it remotely, so it will preheat the oil and cabin on cold winter morning.
I HATE ads especially RUclipsr ones but this is how you do an ad. It just blends seamlessly into the video and you have no idea it’s coming or actually there until he says “use my code” or seeing that yellow line down there
The local chauffeur company used by my work have one of these. It’s a ‘99 S320 petrol but is still used for airport runs all over the country. I’m always happy to be driven in the S Class.
Who else is in love with this era of luxury barge? I mean, I'm all for the Lexus LS, but I still have a soft-spot for the S-Class.. and especially the 7-Series from BMW. My favourite aspect is the elegant design of it all. Everything now is digitalized and very angular. This era is like high quality antique furniture
That rust is nothing compared to the 2002 S class i see at work from time to time. Every single panel has major rust. The door skins have split apart at the bottom on all 4 doors. It’s actually quite impressive.
I’ve have a 221 S550 Designo as my current daily driver, and it’s amazing how reliable these older S-Klasses are with proper servicing and care. You got yourself a beauty, Matt! Excited to see the road trip you take in this one 👍
Roadtrip to Munich? A bit of high terrain. I would keep as your winter daily and sell it in the spring. See what the economy gives us then and maybe do the paintwork.
Every rich dad in Hollywood movies from back in the early 2000s had one of these and I don't blame them... these are the epitome of luxury plus I have a thing for S-class NGL from the earlier 80s and 90s w126 SEC's and SEL's to the present, I love them all.
My friend bought a 1yr old S500 in 2004, it originally belonged to Jim Bowen from Bullseye. It was an incredible machine, their next car was a new S350. Hid brother at bought an Alpina 7 series at the same time and decided that he wasn't willing to loose so much money , so he bought an AMG E53 lol. Both now Have Range Rovers lol. Great video!
Hi Matt, hope you're well. I'd park it in the car park, and when I wanted/needed some quiet time, I'd sit in the back and have lunch delivered. Bon appetit. Then have a nap. 😂 Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work.
Six months ago I sold mine for £2000 and have regretted it ever since, I owned it for 5 years bought from a friend who like you owned a garage and car sales. Magnificent beasts but you need patience and a realisation they aren't cheap to run, I bought it for £3000, immediately spent £3000 on it, then had lots of repairs and it averaged out (for all costs) at just less than £2000 per annum of ownership, which isn't bad at all really. Pre 2004 facelift models had rust problems with the water based paint but mine was rust free. Mine was the 3.2 straight six diesel which would run forever, no DPF's, no EGR's etc just an old fashioned diesel you would fit in a boat. I sold it for the most ridiculous reason I've ever sold a car, but that's another story, mine was in better nick than yours but no one wants big diesels any more.
I have an 04 e class amg with the 3.2 straight 6 engine. There is nothing else like it on the road. The FOXMOBILE has had a remap too.....giving it 270 hp. They are magnificent indeed and I love it!!................
Seen a 03 plate light blue s320 in offerton still in daily use, owner said he does 7-9k miles a year!! Nice to see a s class used well, car was clean which was unbelievable
That’s the sort of car someone could buy,love and enjoy for years to come. So many luxury gadgets to keep a person (me) happy! And if you wanted to spend money making it spot on you could. What a find 👍🏻
I love the brown leather interior I have it on my Škoda Superb MK2 Laurin & Klemen, I will say the sound of the plastics on the W220 is like nails on a chalkboard, Ouch! You'll do right by it. I'd like to see you restore a W140 600SEL pre face at some point.
Great video Matt as normal and certainly a great lump , and Lands End ……. John O ‘Groats all A roads , few greasy spoon stops on the way 😂😂. Wonder what the MPG would be ?? And Classic FM on there and back Another smashing Video 🫡🫡😃😃
I love how you interrupt the commentary by pointing out interesting cars on the road ..Quite the bargain you have there, would love to see the road trip to Germany 👍👍👍👍👍
“What a bargain!”, I said before you opened the door and I saw! Now I’m speechless, my butler is typing this! Also, May I point out that this was cheaper to buy than the annual depreciation of most used family cars that are being bought in pursuit of comfort, reliability and low costs. People pay thousands more to save £2-300 a year in road tax! Madness!
Worked in a merc garage when these were new, they had no problems, unlike e class which rusted every where, boot wings inner scuttles, had lots of warranty issues with the e class, the 120 model s class just worked !
You've got to really know what you've doing (as you do) to take these projects on. An amazing car, in many ways. Eric did you proud there cos it's a nice example.
His mechanics did all the work. Or do you mean he really needs to have good connections to take these projects on? Regardless, he does know his cars, even if he doesn't work on them himself.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH typical comment from a "stand with Ukraine" sheep. Matt does a great job of extending the service life of cars, thereby helping the environment. As he says, he never tries to rip people off, but give them a fair price for their cars. What do YOU do for a living..?
@@derekandme- I stand with Equatorial Guinea and identify as a teapot - struggling to find the relevance in your asinine comment....did it make your feel good and clever mentioning his support....?...asking for a friend......
Hi Matt how are we doing. Those Mercedes are just absolute pure class. I've owned several of those old Mercedes just so good.My daughter has a c180 2 door absolute mint condition in dark blue its a 2005 plate. No rust whatsoever with only 87000 miles. It's like new😊 that Mercedes you have got there in gorgeous, a good service, a bit of a tidy up outside a couple of private plates a vallet looks like 10k . Keep these old cars on the videos they are really interesting. 😊😊😊
Great purchase! I think the facelift w220s are seriously good cars for the money. The w140 was a great car but in terms of driving experience the w220 is miles better. Although it feels flimsier it is also about 100 - 200 kg lighter than the equivalent w140 and that does make it much better to drive than w140. If only it didn’t rust…
Love the W220 Matt ❤ I'm onto my 4th W220. The W220 is so often ignored due to quality issues etc but I just love the shape. I still think they look very contemporary. I learnt a long time ago to invest in a high end scan tool that reads the multiple on-board systems. Also through blood, sweat & tears I've learnt to do the majority of work on my cars myself. Sourcing parts/spares can be done at a decent price. Your particular one has some high end options. I think in the past you've said that no two W220 S Classes are the same ... so true. Love to see you hang onto this one Matt as a nice long range daily to Spain. I'd bite the bullet and look at getting the body sorted ... but I'm also a glutten for W220 punishment ... 😢
This is what we would call old gems as long as it’s very well maintained. Most of the parts still work that’s surprising for a 20 year old car the new ones break down when still new. I would have loved to have this and keep it maybe redo the paint. They don’t make them like this anymore. I bet you could also fix and android auto and car play head unit to bring it to the future. Great car.
Love your videos, from being in Canada its little different here, but overall your process of buying, showing what you do and the cost to the finished product is probably one of the best on the net, and shows the ups and downs and risks involved good and bad....
@@HighPeakAutoslus the fact that you just wrap every car in one video, instead of making it a series of vids (unless it's an extended project or a keeper). Makes the whole format so appealing
You could drive the width of great britain from aberstwyth in wales, to great yarmouth on the very far east of england, and have some fish & chips, as a celebration, if the mercedes did it on a full tank.
I like this era of S-Class, and went to look at one three years ago. Looked OK on the surface, but the rear wings were porous on the inside. Bought a SAAB 9-3 Aero instead (whose rear wings, coincidentally, are now also porous). Anyway. Road trip gets my vote. Brim the tank, Sellotape the filler cap, and try "G to G" - Garstang to Geneva in one hit.
Great car; love the colour combo actually. I did notice that the car was a bit low on its suspension when you picked it up, compared to the end of the video when you presented the ‘after’ results. Hope it is not a leaky air suspension… as for the road trip: Stuttgart of course! Great destination for a Mercedes road trip!
Hi Matt , carn't help but notice none of your incoming cars are now parked on bay 13 🤔 Ain't down to me since i picked up on it some months ago and reached out to you I hope lol ? £1000.00 quid Merc that matt me thinks in its current condition.................... I,d keep the old girl as a Sunday personally 👍 the mileage is sensible so decades of trouble free motoring ahead Budd. Love these old barges mate just bought a 2008 3.0 CLS 107k miles in obsidian black for £1600 👍👍
I would buy a car like this to tour the UK with in absolute luxury then resell it on the last day before leaving. Would probably work out cheaper than hiring a car for the holiday
Keep the Benz, it's a great weekend car! Long journeys are a breeze, and you'll enjoy old school luxury feel. I bought a 2005 CL500 (W215) and it's the best car I've ever owned! Am planning on doing a European road trip in it soon...can't wait!
A great addition to the summary would be a brief description of who bought it and what they were using it for (if they were happy for you to say of course). This is becoming my favourite channel
I still remember sitting in one of these at a mercedes showroom in 2004...admiring the quality..still can remember the smell of leather. Straight 6 diesel is amazing..they brought it back from 2018 s class
This time you were blessed and the tires and brakes don’t require blowing the budget, so fix all the cosmetics and make it spectacular. Love the channel, I catch it from the US every chance I get;-)
Another great video Matt, this is a super cool car, I remember my next door neighbour who was an accountant, buying an S class new in 2003, not the limousine style but it looked amazing in black. As for the road trip, I would like to see this car taken to Berlin, there is a huge Mercedes building there with a massive three point star atop it, also most of the taxis are Mercedes so this car would be at home there. I love Berlin, I have been multiple times, and visit whenever I have the time😊.
People that know these cars , know that this is worth £1500 all day long no matter what may be wrong with it. You would get your money back in parts. I own a chauffeur company and had many W220 including the S55L AMG (2001 and 2003). I would love to buy one again that has been looked after
My Dad has a 32000 mile S430 V8 that he's had for a year now. It drives and rides beautifully. MPG not great but he only does 5-6000 miles a year. He absolutely loves it.
I was and still am a Toyota fanboy and recently acquired an ‘06 S500 and I’m totally smitten. Came with full service history and the ease of which it is to tinker with is spot on. If you can find yourself a good deal on one, nab it!
The first thing I noticed in the very first shot of the Merc, when you arrive, is the huge shut-line between the near-side door and wing, closely followed by the unmatched colouration on the other side. I'm only 3:27 in, so I may update this comment.
Great video Matt. Id say considering the cost of servicing and the condition, the paintwork would be worth the cost. Underseal good idea too. How about motorways and autobahns on a tank of fuel for a roadtrip/challenge? Thanks for the video. 👍
I remember these having the best transmission of all time. Silky smooth. They used to start off in 2nd gear for smoothness ... True luxury! These were kings cars back in the days, especially the S600L
I worked at mercedes in the early 2000s and this generation of s class has always been a favourite of mine. Ive been so close over the years to pulling trigger and buying one but bottled ot at the last minute. I hope one day to be brave enough as i always liked how these drove.
What a result Matt 👍 A beautiful car at the moment without doubt but…at that age there’s possibly too much go wrong. Ideally I’d buy it from you, enjoy it for one year and then move it on. It’d be a superb drive that’s for sure and looks pretty timeless 😁
What if you kept it alongside a cheap reliable car and kept driving this one, and if it broke you could drive the other car while you repair this one or save up the funds to? That might be a nice way to have the big luxury experience but a backup plan!
The car´s been fine for twenty years,and it will be if well taken care of.It´s the short-time-owners who neglect cars and they end up being expensive to sort out.
Nice old bus for £1500. I had a 2011 S350 bluetec couple off yrs bk as a upgrade to my xf BUT i didn't like it at all so bought an xj now 😂 build quality on the s is very good but i just prefer the jags.
i would buy it in a heartbeat! Love the W220 and especially that Designo interior! Wish it was pearl white or black! Great b uy and video as always Matt! :D
wow. what a find and fun to listen to while working, popping back to the video now and again, esp for the interior review. Never knew the S class was such a posh coach!
Hi Matt. I'm not suggesting it's the case with your Mercedes but I've noticed when there's a few years of missing mot history it can indicate that the cars previously been used as a taxi The reason for that is the local licensing council put taxis through their own mot check which doesn't appear on the mot history.
... Taxis and private hire vehicles that are licensed by certain authorities do not need to have an MOT certificate. This applies only where the authorities are certified by the Secretary of State as empowered to issue their own exemption certificates. Taken straight from government website. I know I am right because I have purchased ex taxi cars that haven't had conventional mot's for the previous 5 or 6 years, which in turn has made them more likely to have been mileage tampered especially where there is no service history.
Purchasing a vintage S-Class diesel from an elderly neighbor, I got a bit anal about the details, paint, and interior. Luckily, there was a newly wrecked S-Class exactly like my car at the pullers where someone had invested a lot of money in the trim before wrecking it. I replaced everything worn and drove it for three years before selling it to a neighbor. It's still cruising the streets, and it still looks great.
is it just me or does this engine look massive? - might be the cover. I loved this video. I took a trip in one of these after I got married and we were going to the reception. I would be too scared of the repair and service bills to buy one of these but its on my bucket list to own an S class at some point in my life!
That headrest button has unlocked a memory of my Dad's 03 plate C class which had the same button. It hardly ever managed to pop all the head rests down successfully even from brand new.
I am not sure why Mercedes decided to swap from straight 6 to V6(2006) but from 2017 they again gone back to straight 6. In my opinion both are great engines it is a shame that due to emissions great cars as such are pushed away from the roads nevertheless there is still plenty of life in them. I would drive that 20 years old car over any electric.
You know a car was the absolute peak of luxury in it's day when even 20 years later it could still be legitimately called "well equipped"!
wait until you hear about the lexus ls400/430s of this era lol
@@HandHaben wait until you see the service and repair costs. You'll be cast back in a time. Really quickly. 😂
@@imaner76 i own one. 265k on the clock and only major work was a new automatic clutch at just shy of 200k which cost me £600 odd. no turbo to worry about, no expensive 4wd system.. just a quiet and refined japanese barge. way better than any german crap.. Next!
@@HandHaben that's awesome! Glad nothing pricy has gone sideways! I have a 2012 A6 Avant with 190K on it and it's more or less the same story now. That said a lorry shed it's load and I ended up replacing all the undertrays. They did not cost £600! 🤔
Well equipped ? Yes, But the Lexus 430 leaves it in the shade in EVERY way ….
another banger of a video Matt 🔥
Thanks!
Hai RUclips
Wsg nigga
Surely it’s a “frankfurter” of a video?
Wow RUclips even watches your videos. Crazy!
The silence when driving is blissful. It's crazy how bad many modern cars are when it comes to noise insulation.
Really?
My MK7 golf is really good when it comes to noise insulation
Well the expensive ones like this was back in the day are better than ever..
If you compare a new Kia to an old S-Class then the noise insulation will obviously be far better in the old Mercedes. Compare like for like and the newer car will be a lot quieter. Refinement has come a long way.
@@JScot92 You'd expect the tech to trickle down a bit over the last 20 years. A new Merc A-Class is nowhere near as refined as a 20 year old S-Class, but the tech in every other sense is miles and miles better. Just feels like something that could be done much better than it is.
Wow, just wow. Definitely keep that car, Matt. Such a unique find. Never seen a 20 year old car in this good interior condition. Techwise not bad either. Give it the bodywork it needs (MB as it is) and you got yourself the dream weekend luxury car.
Hi Matt, very interesting video as I have done a similar thing. Was offered an S430 Yr 2000 ridiculously cheap, as I thought at the time. It needed a serious valeting and had the usual rust, but had a full MoT and low mileage, so I took the plunge.
Nearly 2 years later, and a few thousand pounds later, I still don't regret my decision, as it is the quietest and most comfortable car I have ever owned. It has needed 4 new doors, rear wings, welding to the jacking points, plus work on the air con, but in the meantime I have driven it regularly and it is a real pleasure to ride in. The only pity is that it will not make me a profit, but that is now irrelevant as I don't plan to sell it!
With that kind of mpg, better use it as a daily.
Hi matt, back in 2016 i retired as coach driver mainly in europe particularly Italy. I bought a 2005 s class and took my wife on a 3 week tour of Italy to show her where "i used to work" visiting the italian lakes and the Amalfi coast and Tuscany. 3000 miles in total and the car never flickered. Perfect.
A busman's holiday 😎
Bravo 🎉
I used to be a National Express coach driver 😊🚍🚍🚍🚌🚌
That would have made a great RUclips video.
Brilliant,good on you mate,what a lovley thing to do for you and your wife.
This car was mind blowing in 1998, when it was revealed. Radar guided cruise control, massage seats, seat ventilation, keyless go. They were alien UFO technologies in 1998 😂
yesand total shit compared to previous model. these were liek 500kilo lighter, no double glazing and just didnt do the same job....
@@philldownes8685 yes, double glazing IS there, but cheaper than on the W140.
I had this merc around 18 months ago and sold it with different set of alloys, bodywork had no rust that time. Enjoy not sticky buttons as I spent 3 hours cleaning them😃
Did you do the paintwork as well?
I also love to see cars like this where someone has just specified exactly what they want with no regard to what anyone else thinks or the effect on resale value! I love the combination on this one, so much better than the usual silver or grey with black leather.
Nice for him
Ideal car for your place in Spain? Low rust risk and mileage not an issue for your use there. All that cooling and massage in the seats might be appropriate. With full service history, just might be a keeper?
Ooo didn’t think of that defo
He mentioned in the video he did recently in Spain that he didn't want a diesel over there due to the low milage/town driving and DPF issues. Now that I say that, I'm not sure if DPFs were mandated in '03.
I think Spain taxes you into the ground if you try and import anything more than a 1.0 Corsa
@@unicyclingistheshitprobably not
@@unicyclingistheshit no DPF then budd 2003 🤔🤔
Just been sent this - much appreciated. Shared all round.
I bought one two years ago at an estate sale for $3,500.00 US.
Mine has lower mileage, only 80,000, and significantly less rust.
It has a 4.3L V8.
Everything works well and I use it as a dog taxi.
My dogs are German Shepherds imported from Germany and deserve to be driven around in a vehicle from das Vaterland!
Ah very nice
DA Vaterland!
@@themanwhobeateinsteinDAS
Lo😂 brilliant,dog luxury
@@themanwhobeateinstein Wrong
£1500!!!! What a bargain and absolute find. Amazing
Fantastic find, Matt.
How are you not tempted to make that your new daily driver? Fantastically maintained, filled to the brim with luxuries, and it gets 47mpg? I'd use the road trip as the trial run to see how it is to live with, and decide afterwards.
Yeah, this is an ideal daily if you continue to look after it.
@SugaFoot90
I have said the thing in my comment before reading any comments, so image writing a comment (as I have done) and coming across/finding someone else who agrees with you 😮😮😮😮.
I think the car would look at home in Spain and I also said about getting the rust treated once there whats your thoughts on the rust????
The milage Matt says that car gets wow for its size I am jealous of that, my car does get close and mine is smaller, not the same car btw my is a Nissan Micra 😅😅 yeah what the car achieves MPG I am speechless I wouldn't have thought that at all given its size, make etc would you??
Yeah she classy so I really do think she wouldn't look out of place in Spain and also Matt would not only drive in class, beauty and comfort over there
Lisa UK xxxx
Town mpg 23mpg - I have this model - 40 on a long run
Lovely car Matt. Great suggestion with the "lets brim it with diesel and see how far we can go"!! Love the interior and the seat colour works so well against the bodywork. What a luxurious car from back in the day.
This journey will be interesting.
Your audience awaits.
Regards.
I used to work for mercedes valeting these from new. Back in the day very luxury cars. Amazed how much they are now. The V12 was amazing. Still a lot of car for the money.
Excellent video as always 👍
Brooklands for the MB experience, then to Stuttgart to the factory, take a photo outside Schloss Solitude, it'll look like a contemporary press shot. Round the ring once then steak at the Pistenklaus, back through the Blackforest to Champagne and pop a couple of cases in the boot. I'll pack now.
Great value Matt.
People are too quick to write these old 'Prestige cars' off'.
You could be unlucky, but given the service history, this car could have years of life in it yet.
The paint would bug me....I would have to get it done.
@WetLettuce-kc2qm Only if you use main dealers for service, in my experience
@WetLettuce-kc2qm I don't 'believe it'. I know it.
Over the last 20 years I have had two Mercedes-Benz bought secondhand which were bargains. The previous one covering over 250,000 miles as everyday transport.
Both have required only regular maintenance, and cost less than £500 a year to maintain, passing all MOT's with no advisories.
If you buy the right car in the first place, the car will usually do you well.
@WetLettuce-kc2qm I have/am.
Thanks for the advice.
A 1500 pound s class will become a moneypit. Its just a question of WHEN?
Isn't it odd that we rarely (ever?) see Matt meeting people - or engaging with society on screen? If this was a film, I'd say that the whole thing (the job, the company, the car buys etc) was all in his head or a dream!
I think you should have fixed the rust. Otherwise what is your purpose? Oh yeah I remember - suck all the free value out of things and put a deceptive surface polish on what's left.
give over man!@@X-boomer Matt is up front about what he has done. He's in business to make money not pander to the whims of the far left. The only thing that would be deceptive would be to affect a "cover up" repair on the paint and then sell it. This car is honest and as reliable as a 1500 quid S class will ever be. Grow up.
@@DrummerboyUK1 THE FAR LEFT?!? 🤣🤣🤣
13:30 that's an engine preheater. Usually you have a fob, where you can control it remotely, so it will preheat the oil and cabin on cold winter morning.
Neat!
I HATE ads especially RUclipsr ones but this is how you do an ad. It just blends seamlessly into the video and you have no idea it’s coming or actually there until he says “use my code” or seeing that yellow line down there
The local chauffeur company used by my work have one of these. It’s a ‘99 S320 petrol but is still used for airport runs all over the country. I’m always happy to be driven in the S Class.
Who else is in love with this era of luxury barge? I mean, I'm all for the Lexus LS, but I still have a soft-spot for the S-Class.. and especially the 7-Series from BMW. My favourite aspect is the elegant design of it all. Everything now is digitalized and very angular. This era is like high quality antique furniture
A long road trip would be good. Drive to the factory in Stuttgart. Have them sponsor you!
Great idea plus add a trip through the Black Forest on route 500 then back up the unrestricted autobahn from the Swiss border at Basel.
this car isn't allowed to drive in stuttgart anymore because you need a green environmental badge which this car doesn't get.
Gorgeous!! Thanx for showing us such a forgotten beauty with that rare engine.
That rust is nothing compared to the 2002 S class i see at work from time to time.
Every single panel has major rust.
The door skins have split apart at the bottom on all 4 doors.
It’s actually quite impressive.
I’ve have a 221 S550 Designo as my current daily driver, and it’s amazing how reliable these older S-Klasses are with proper servicing and care. You got yourself a beauty, Matt! Excited to see the road trip you take in this one 👍
Roadtrip to Munich? A bit of high terrain.
I would keep as your winter daily and sell it in the spring.
See what the economy gives us then and maybe do the paintwork.
Every rich dad in Hollywood movies from back in the early 2000s had one of these and I don't blame them... these are the epitome of luxury plus I have a thing for S-class NGL from the earlier 80s and 90s w126 SEC's and SEL's to the present, I love them all.
Haha yes they did
My friend bought a 1yr old S500 in 2004, it originally belonged to Jim Bowen from Bullseye. It was an incredible machine, their next car was a new S350. Hid brother at bought an Alpina 7 series at the same time and decided that he wasn't willing to loose so much money , so he bought an AMG E53 lol. Both now Have Range Rovers lol. Great video!
Hi Matt, hope you're well. I'd park it in the car park, and when I wanted/needed some quiet time, I'd sit in the back and have lunch delivered. Bon appetit. Then have a nap. 😂 Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work.
What the heck. ! Paint those fenders and go for a almost perfect Benz.
The road trip is a GREAT idea.
Six months ago I sold mine for £2000 and have regretted it ever since, I owned it for 5 years bought from a friend who like you owned a garage and car sales. Magnificent beasts but you need patience and a realisation they aren't cheap to run, I bought it for £3000, immediately spent £3000 on it, then had lots of repairs and it averaged out (for all costs) at just less than £2000 per annum of ownership, which isn't bad at all really. Pre 2004 facelift models had rust problems with the water based paint but mine was rust free. Mine was the 3.2 straight six diesel which would run forever, no DPF's, no EGR's etc just an old fashioned diesel you would fit in a boat. I sold it for the most ridiculous reason I've ever sold a car, but that's another story, mine was in better nick than yours but no one wants big diesels any more.
I do 👍👍👍👍👍
I have an 04 e class amg with the 3.2 straight 6 engine. There is nothing else like it on the road. The FOXMOBILE has had a remap too.....giving it 270 hp. They are magnificent indeed and I love it!!................
I love big old diesels!
Seen a 03 plate light blue s320 in offerton still in daily use, owner said he does 7-9k miles a year!! Nice to see a s class used well, car was clean which was unbelievable
That’s the sort of car someone could buy,love and enjoy for years to come. So many luxury gadgets to keep a person (me) happy! And if you wanted to spend money making it spot on you could. What a find 👍🏻
Shared all over the world. This is phenomenal. The world needs to see this.
I love the brown leather interior I have it on my Škoda Superb MK2 Laurin & Klemen, I will say the sound of the plastics on the W220 is like nails on a chalkboard, Ouch! You'll do right by it. I'd like to see you restore a W140 600SEL pre face at some point.
used to be a chauffer and used these 22 yars ago loved driving them beautiful cars, great memories.
matt: i’m not heavy handed
also matt: rips handle off boot floor
but full tank challenge sounds like a great idea
😂
Rumour has it he's a very considerate lover
that was hilarious 😂
@@G4RY1159hahaha
Great video Matt as normal and certainly a great lump , and Lands End ……. John O ‘Groats all A roads , few greasy spoon stops on the way 😂😂. Wonder what the MPG would be ?? And Classic FM on there and back Another smashing Video 🫡🫡😃😃
I love the how word subscribe flashes along with the merc’s starter motor 🤣🤣 Very clever!
I love how you interrupt the commentary by pointing out interesting cars on the road ..Quite the bargain you have there, would love to see the road trip to Germany 👍👍👍👍👍
“What a bargain!”, I said before you opened the door and I saw! Now I’m speechless, my butler is typing this!
Also, May I point out that this was cheaper to buy than the annual depreciation of most used family cars that are being bought in pursuit of comfort, reliability and low costs. People pay thousands more to save £2-300 a year in road tax! Madness!
Worked in a merc garage when these were new, they had no problems, unlike e class which rusted every where, boot wings inner scuttles, had lots of warranty issues with the e class, the 120 model s class just worked !
How about go to the capital of luxury....Road trip to Monaco..park up in Casino Square......that would be a cool video.
You've got to really know what you've doing (as you do) to take these projects on. An amazing car, in many ways. Eric did you proud there cos it's a nice example.
His mechanics did all the work. Or do you mean he really needs to have good connections to take these projects on? Regardless, he does know his cars, even if he doesn't work on them himself.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH typical comment from a "stand with Ukraine" sheep. Matt does a great job of extending the service life of cars, thereby helping the environment. As he says, he never tries to rip people off, but give them a fair price for their cars. What do YOU do for a living..?
@@derekandme What a needlessly spiteful comment. Presumably you are a self-employed irritating git.
He has mechanics he can trust, that is his advantage.
@@derekandme- I stand with Equatorial Guinea and identify as a teapot - struggling to find the relevance in your asinine comment....did it make your feel good and clever mentioning his support....?...asking for a friend......
Hi Matt how are we doing. Those Mercedes are just absolute pure class. I've owned several of those old Mercedes just so good.My daughter has a c180 2 door absolute mint condition in dark blue its a 2005 plate. No rust whatsoever with only 87000 miles. It's like new😊 that Mercedes you have got there in gorgeous, a good service, a bit of a tidy up outside a couple of private plates a vallet looks like 10k . Keep these old cars on the videos they are really interesting. 😊😊😊
Hello Again. Matt what a steal, £1500 for a high spec S-Class with 130K, briliant value, lovely, lovely car. Regards, RichardA.
Great purchase! I think the facelift w220s are seriously good cars for the money. The w140 was a great car but in terms of driving experience the w220 is miles better. Although it feels flimsier it is also about 100 - 200 kg lighter than the equivalent w140 and that does make it much better to drive than w140. If only it didn’t rust…
The bit where Matt is playing with the headrests with the classical from radio 3 in the background 😂😂 Comady gold
Love the W220 Matt ❤
I'm onto my 4th W220. The W220 is so often ignored due to quality issues etc but I just love the shape. I still think they look very contemporary.
I learnt a long time ago to invest in a high end scan tool that reads the multiple on-board systems.
Also through blood, sweat & tears I've learnt to do the majority of work on my cars myself.
Sourcing parts/spares can be done at a decent price.
Your particular one has some high end options. I think in the past you've said that no two W220 S Classes are the same ... so true.
Love to see you hang onto this one Matt as a nice long range daily to Spain. I'd bite the bullet and look at getting the body sorted ... but I'm also a glutten for W220 punishment ... 😢
What a bargain, got to be a keeper Matt. The dash etc, is still better than a lot of cars today. Must be your new daily run-around.
A lot of car for the money and the design is timeless. ULEZ saw our 2005 S320 CDI off.
This is what we would call old gems as long as it’s very well maintained. Most of the parts still work that’s surprising for a 20 year old car the new ones break down when still new. I would have loved to have this and keep it maybe redo the paint. They don’t make them like this anymore. I bet you could also fix and android auto and car play head unit to bring it to the future. Great car.
Drive down to Mercedes benz Factory pls Matt. Then on to empty the tank. 😊.... please make it mint... she deserves it.
Love your videos, from being in Canada its little different here, but overall your process of buying, showing what you do and the cost to the finished product is probably one of the best on the net, and shows the ups and downs and risks involved good and bad....
Thanks for watching! Very kind
@@HighPeakAutoslus the fact that you just wrap every car in one video, instead of making it a series of vids (unless it's an extended project or a keeper). Makes the whole format so appealing
@@alexandreb.1101 thanks. It takes a bit more organising but it works better
You could drive the width of great britain from aberstwyth in wales, to great yarmouth on the very far east of england, and have some fish & chips, as a celebration, if the mercedes did it on a full tank.
I like this era of S-Class, and went to look at one three years ago. Looked OK on the surface, but the rear wings were porous on the inside. Bought a SAAB 9-3 Aero instead (whose rear wings, coincidentally, are now also porous). Anyway. Road trip gets my vote. Brim the tank, Sellotape the filler cap, and try "G to G" - Garstang to Geneva in one hit.
Go down and swap it with your panda in Spain!! Pricey door stop but a beautiful holiday ride whenever you get out there
Great car; love the colour combo actually. I did notice that the car was a bit low on its suspension when you picked it up, compared to the end of the video when you presented the ‘after’ results. Hope it is not a leaky air suspension… as for the road trip: Stuttgart of course! Great destination for a Mercedes road trip!
Hi Matt , carn't help but notice none of your incoming cars are now parked on bay 13 🤔
Ain't down to me since i picked up on it some months ago and reached out to you I hope lol ?
£1000.00 quid Merc that matt me thinks in its current condition....................
I,d keep the old girl as a Sunday personally 👍 the mileage is sensible so decades of trouble free motoring ahead Budd.
Love these old barges mate just bought a 2008 3.0 CLS 107k miles in obsidian black for £1600 👍👍
I would buy a car like this to tour the UK with in absolute luxury then resell it on the last day before leaving. Would probably work out cheaper than hiring a car for the holiday
Assuming it doesn't break down
Assuming you can get a buyer on your last day before leaving.
sheer class, all accompanied by Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G
I think you should keep it. It’s quite rare to find an S class of this era in such an immaculate condition 👏🏼
Keep the Benz, it's a great weekend car! Long journeys are a breeze, and you'll enjoy old school luxury feel. I bought a 2005 CL500 (W215) and it's the best car I've ever owned! Am planning on doing a European road trip in it soon...can't wait!
I laughed out loud when the spare cover handle came off😂 love the car. Just the sort of thing I would like. Pleased that most things seem to work.
"lets brim it with diesel and see how far we can go" is about the best suggestion you've made !
and for 47mpg, why would you let that thing go ?!?!?!?
I love these type of videos Matt. Great motor. 👌😉nice cruiser for £1,500 and a few hundred quid
A great addition to the summary would be a brief description of who bought it and what they were using it for (if they were happy for you to say of course).
This is becoming my favourite channel
A trip to Stuttgart seems nice. Nice car and video.
I still remember sitting in one of these at a mercedes showroom in 2004...admiring the quality..still can remember the smell of leather. Straight 6 diesel is amazing..they brought it back from 2018 s class
Pulls alright, pulls like a train - every car Matt drives ❤
This time you were blessed and the tires and brakes don’t require blowing the budget, so fix all the cosmetics and make it spectacular. Love the channel, I catch it from the US every chance I get;-)
Another great video Matt, this is a super cool car, I remember my next door neighbour who was an accountant, buying an S class new in 2003, not the limousine style but it looked amazing in black.
As for the road trip, I would like to see this car taken to Berlin, there is a huge Mercedes building there with a massive three point star atop it, also most of the taxis are Mercedes so this car would be at home there.
I love Berlin, I have been multiple times, and visit whenever I have the time😊.
People that know these cars , know that this is worth £1500 all day long no matter what may be wrong with it. You would get your money back in parts. I own a chauffeur company and had many W220 including the S55L AMG (2001 and 2003). I would love to buy one again that has been looked after
im an ex chauffer im 60 no tattoes in manchester ,
Take it on a Lands End to John O'Groats road trip, that would be epic 😀
My Dad has a 32000 mile S430 V8 that he's had for a year now. It drives and rides beautifully. MPG not great but he only does 5-6000 miles a year. He absolutely loves it.
Very cool car. The interior alone must be worth £1,500 in parts
What a lovely spec, and its nice to see one delivered without air suspension failure!
Now that is one of the nicest cars I've seen you acquire Matt. If I was to stop being a Toyota fanboy, it would be for something like that
I was and still am a Toyota fanboy and recently acquired an ‘06 S500 and I’m totally smitten. Came with full service history and the ease of which it is to tinker with is spot on. If you can find yourself a good deal on one, nab it!
Another brilliant video. Thats a lot of car for 1500 !
Once of a time I'd have thought that colour combo was awful. Yet now, in my mid-late 30s, I'm thinking it looks very pleasant indeed!
Yup…..your taste gets worse as you get old….
Or you just give up…😀😀
The first thing I noticed in the very first shot of the Merc, when you arrive, is the huge shut-line between the near-side door and wing, closely followed by the unmatched colouration on the other side. I'm only 3:27 in, so I may update this comment.
Great video Matt. Id say considering the cost of servicing and the condition, the paintwork would be worth the cost. Underseal good idea too.
How about motorways and autobahns on a tank of fuel for a roadtrip/challenge?
Thanks for the video. 👍
I remember these having the best transmission of all time. Silky smooth. They used to start off in 2nd gear for smoothness ... True luxury! These were kings cars back in the days, especially the S600L
I worked at mercedes in the early 2000s and this generation of s class has always been a favourite of mine. Ive been so close over the years to pulling trigger and buying one but bottled ot at the last minute. I hope one day to be brave enough as i always liked how these drove.
What a result Matt 👍
A beautiful car at the moment without doubt but…at that age there’s possibly too much go wrong. Ideally I’d buy it from you, enjoy it for one year and then move it on. It’d be a superb drive that’s for sure and looks pretty timeless 😁
What if you kept it alongside a cheap reliable car and kept driving this one, and if it broke you could drive the other car while you repair this one or save up the funds to? That might be a nice way to have the big luxury experience but a backup plan!
The car´s been fine for twenty years,and it will be if well taken care of.It´s the short-time-owners who neglect cars and they end up being expensive to sort out.
Nice old bus for £1500. I had a 2011 S350 bluetec couple off yrs bk as a upgrade to my xf BUT i didn't like it at all so bought an xj now 😂 build quality on the s is very good but i just prefer the jags.
i would buy it in a heartbeat!
Love the W220 and especially that Designo interior!
Wish it was pearl white or black!
Great b uy and video as always Matt! :D
wow. what a find and fun to listen to while working, popping back to the video now and again, esp for the interior review. Never knew the S class was such a posh coach!
Hi Matt. I'm not suggesting it's the case with your Mercedes but I've noticed when there's a few years of missing mot history it can indicate that the cars previously been used as a taxi
The reason for that is the local licensing council put taxis through their own mot check which doesn't appear on the mot history.
Would have been an old taxi at that stage wouldn’t it? And the mileage would have soared 😉
This isn’t correct, whilst some councils require 6 monthly MOT’s they will still show on the cars history.
... Taxis and private hire vehicles that are licensed by certain authorities do not need to have an MOT certificate. This applies only where the authorities are certified by the Secretary of State as empowered to issue their own exemption certificates.
Taken straight from government website. I know I am right because I have purchased ex taxi cars that haven't had conventional mot's for the previous 5 or 6 years, which in turn has made them more likely to have been mileage tampered especially where there is no service history.
@@khuliqqI wonder if this Mercedes was used to shuffle around diplomats or whoever else needs a big fancy car.
Purchasing a vintage S-Class diesel from an elderly neighbor, I got a bit anal about the details, paint, and interior. Luckily, there was a newly wrecked S-Class exactly like my car at the pullers where someone had invested a lot of money in the trim before wrecking it. I replaced everything worn and drove it for three years before selling it to a neighbor. It's still cruising the streets, and it still looks great.
I’d be tempted to sort that wing out, other than that good value Matt 😊
i thought.....looks behind the drivers rear wheel had a new dent or a strange mud pattern !!
Is that what you saw ??
@@vespasuper150 might be a mud patch
Every time I watch your vids Matt it never stops blowing my mind how cheep the used car market is over there vs here in the US
is it just me or does this engine look massive? - might be the cover. I loved this video. I took a trip in one of these after I got married and we were going to the reception. I would be too scared of the repair and service bills to buy one of these but its on my bucket list to own an S class at some point in my life!
Yes it's a physically large engine, but you should see the Jaguar 4.0 AJ6 straight six, it's even bigger.
That headrest button has unlocked a memory of my Dad's 03 plate C class which had the same button. It hardly ever managed to pop all the head rests down successfully even from brand new.
I am not sure why Mercedes decided to swap from straight 6 to V6(2006) but from 2017 they again gone back to straight 6. In my opinion both are great engines it is a shame that due to emissions great cars as such are pushed away from the roads nevertheless there is still plenty of life in them. I would drive that 20 years old car over any electric.
What beautiful car has more equipment on than most modern cars. Great find brilliant video can’t wait to see where you take it x
Take it to Stuttgart and get Mercedes to do a walk round with you, in a Matt way. See what they come up with.
They're both called Mat though
just had a same idea 😁
How about a Scottish road trip, through Oban, over to Mull and Tobermory. Alternatively the Isle of Man.
(Nearly) first! Love the videos, Matt.
Same but I'm first
Lol
Thanks
Great video again:) really enjoy the way you look after these older cars and bring them back to life. Enjoy the car
Thank you