Looking to buy 2008 W221 S550 with 188,628 Miles

YouAreMyWorld · 10-05-2016, 07:46 AM

Any Mercedes owners among us?

Hello everyone, as the title suggests, a dealership that I've been loyal to for the past number of years currently has an 08' S550 for sale--the only thing is obviously the rather high mileage. As a BMW guy, I'm no stranger to German Automobiles or their possible expenses.

With that said however, my knowledge on Mercedes in general is rudimentary compared to my knowledge on BMW's. With BMW's, we're used to the engine(s) itself being relatively bulletproof while the surrounding components tend to be less than stellar. Thus I'm doing my due diligence and learning as much as I can about the M273 engine; so here's where things get a little interesting.

The car will obviously get a PPI and I'm able to request most things to be changed at the dealerships' expense, here's my list so far:

Water-pump
Starter
Front Left & Right Strut
Coil-packs & Plugs

So that's the catch! What else can I add to the list of preventative maintenance to ensure this vehicle will last for at least the next 5 years/100,000 miles relatively trouble free?

Information about the S550:
New Transmission

Carfax: https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...NG71X78A221516

VIN: WDDNG71X78A221516

Only two previous owners

In closing, what issues may be specific to this model/year that I should ensure are looked into? What else should I asked to be changed along with the aforementioned? Would YOU buy this vehicle if everything explained here would also apply to you? How confident are you in the M273 engine?

Asking price: $14,000

Thank you guys for your time!

Dackelone · 10-05-2016, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouAreMyWorld

...

So that's the catch! What else can I add to the list of preventative maintenance to ensure this vehicle will last for at least the next 5 years/100,000 miles relatively trouble free?

...

Look around on YT. Here is a great MB channel... (although I think the W221 is too new for him to tinker with). Maybe try contacting him.

Mercedessource
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7K...xoDnqsiuwTn5og

With most MB products.... their air suspension or rear air suspension tend to go on them with miles. Most of the time the rear end sits way UP and is rock hard.

W221 problems...
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+w221+problems

Good Luck,
Dackel

PoorLurker · 10-05-2016, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouAreMyWorld

Would YOU buy this vehicle if everything explained here would also apply to you? How confident are you in the M273 engine?

Asking price: $14,000

Thank you guys for your time!

The only way I would buy this car is if it was a second car. Even then I would never buy it. It doesn't fulfill too many boxes of interest.

I would never want it to be my sole means of transportation.

188k miles on an S-Class? I wouldn't want to buy a Honda with that many miles.

What makes you want this specific car? The price for $14k? The luxury? The looks?

Seems like there are better options out there.

aozer · 10-05-2016, 08:16 PM

Do not spend 14k on a car with 190k miles.

YouAreMyWorld · 10-05-2016, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorLurker

The only way I would buy this car is if it was a second car. Even then I would never buy it. It doesn't fulfill too many boxes of interest.

I would never want it to be my sole means of transportation.

188k miles on an S-Class? I wouldn't want to buy a Honda with that many miles.

What makes you want this specific car? The price for $14k? The luxury? The looks?

Seems like there are better options out there.

Primarily for the highlighted text. It would be a secondary vehicle. As for the price itself, I'm definitely going to negotiate on that depending upon what all I can get replaced at the dealers' expense.

I've owned several high mileage vehicles before, with none being too much of a money pit. Were they S-Class level? No, but they were also Mercedes and BMW's (older models).

From what I've learned about German cars, the engines itself tend to be extremely reliable--it's the surrounding parts that add extreme complexity to a proposition such as this.

Considering the vehicle in question has a new transmission, with the possibility of adding newer parts, I'm interested to see why other people would be "scared" of a decision like this.

PoorLurker · 10-05-2016, 08:39 PM

Would rather have a CL around the same era. A bit more expensive, but you can find one with less miles and personally they look better to me.

Problem with some of these cars is that they start to look quite dated. Looks like something someone like me would drive with a 20% auto loan to try and floss.

UglyBuzzard · 10-06-2016, 12:27 PM

Does this car have the auto sensing air shocks?

I had a GL450 and it was known issue and VERY expensive. Was not an issue for me since we don't keep German cars without warranty. however, buddy said it was well over $10K to fix suspension.

jlstyle · 10-06-2016, 01:57 PM

I never knew S class help up their value this good. I guess they plummet in value to $30k then hold up it from there on like a thin and long noodle.

P1 · 10-07-2016, 02:49 PM

You'd be buying an S-Class with some of the most miles for sale on cars.com right now. Why would you do that? It's an eight/nine year old car that's been showing its age for years now. Why do you need a secondary vehicle? Put that $14K into the bank.

Banana Hammock · 10-07-2016, 03:16 PM

VIN: WDDNG71X78A221516
Year/Make/Model: 2008 Mercedes S550
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Type: 5.5L V8
Manufactured In: Germany
Search Results: 23 records of Total Loss Accidents, Major vehicle repair, neglect, abuse, Monster Attacks, and Inattentive Parenting found in our database

Standard Equipment | Safety Options
CARFAX Safety & Reliability Ratings
CARFAX Xpert
Hi-I'm the CARFAX Xpert™. I'm here to help you better understand the data in this CARFAX Report. Did you know...

* We checked over 5 billion records from thousands of data sources for this vehicle
* This vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee
* The last reported odometer reading was 188,628

CARFAX Vehicle History Report

Vehicle History Summary
A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. Other information about this vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX. Use this report as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.
Tab
Vehicle Ownership History Vehicle Ownership History
The number of owners is estimated by CARFAX Owner One Vehicle History
Year purchased 2008
Type of owner Rental/Stunt Driving
Estimated length of ownership
CARFAX Six Owner Vehicle History
3 yr. 9 mo.
Owned in the following states/provinces California/New York/Wisconsin/Alabama/Puerto Rico/Illinois
Estimated miles driven per year ---
Last reported odometer reading 188,628

Vehicle Title History Vehicle Title History
CARFAX guarantees the information in this section Owner One Vehicle History

Salvage | Junk | Rebuilt Guaranteed
Junk/Salvaged

Fire/Flood | Hail Damage | Buyback/Lemon
Fire/Demolition Derby

Not Actual Mileage | Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed
Not Actual Mileage/Rollback Detected

Monster Attack Report
Cloverfield Incident/Classified

GUARANTEED - None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Other Vehicle History Information Other Vehicle History Information
Not all accidents or other issues are reported to CARFAX Owner One Vehicle History

Total Loss Check
Total loss reported to CARFAX 4 times

Structural / Frame Damage Check
Frame damage reported to CARFAX.

Airbag Deployment Check
Airbag deployment reported to CARFAX.

Odometer Rollback Check
Indication of an odometer rollback.

Accident Check
10 accidents reported to CARFAX.

Manufacturer Recall Check
No recalls still require repair.

Tell us what you know about this vehicle
CARFAX Vehicle History Report

CARFAX Hot Listings - Used cars for sale
Still looking? Find similar cars just listed for sale in your area.

other_evolved · 10-07-2016, 03:45 PM

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/for-th...enz-1787538986

It's almost as if this was written for you

F30lolz · 10-07-2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by other_evolved

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/for-th...enz-1787538986

It's almost as if this was written for you

OP, have the dealership change this for preventative maintenance purposes

dkmesa · 10-07-2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by other_evolved

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/for-th...enz-1787538986

It's almost as if this was written for you

damnit, you beat me to the punch

fcman · 10-07-2016, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by other_evolved

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/for-th...enz-1787538986

It's almost as if this was written for you

Well, he did say

Quote:

The only practical solution? Buy a 2008 S550. Mercedes fixed their mistake with stronger balance shaft teeth, settled a class action lawsuit regarding the matter, and moved on to make other mistakes, like the CLA-Class.

Inspired · 10-08-2016, 08:37 PM

Meh.. How many more miles do you think it will last before something significant might break down? Engine, tranny?

Fanta · 10-08-2016, 11:15 PM

For Mercedes, anything can happen.
Since the car is very heavy and need a nice ride, they use soft brushing.
Brushing go very quickly, such as upper and lower control arm, bar link.
Broken Suspension string.
Oil consumption, new battery, light wire contact which easily corrosion.
New cat....
New HAVC...

10-05-2016, 07:46 AM	#1
YouAreMyWorld ///Project Aura 392 Rep 889 Posts Drives: Mineral White ///M-Sport 335i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Looking to buy 2008 W221 S550 with 188,628 Miles - But There's A Catch! Any Mercedes owners among us? Hello everyone, as the title suggests, a dealership that I've been loyal to for the past number of years currently has an 08' S550 for sale--the only thing is obviously the rather high mileage. As a BMW guy, I'm no stranger to German Automobiles or their possible expenses. With that said however, my knowledge on Mercedes in general is rudimentary compared to my knowledge on BMW's. With BMW's, we're used to the engine(s) itself being relatively bulletproof while the surrounding components tend to be less than stellar. Thus I'm doing my due diligence and learning as much as I can about the M273 engine; so here's where things get a little interesting. The car will obviously get a PPI and I'm able to request most things to be changed at the dealerships' expense, here's my list so far: Water-pump Starter Front Left & Right Strut Coil-packs & Plugs So that's the catch! What else can I add to the list of preventative maintenance to ensure this vehicle will last for at least the next 5 years/100,000 miles relatively trouble free? Information about the S550: New Transmission Carfax: https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistor...NG71X78A221516 VIN: WDDNG71X78A221516 Only two previous owners In closing, what issues may be specific to this model/year that I should ensure are looked into? What else should I asked to be changed along with the aforementioned? Would YOU buy this vehicle if everything explained here would also apply to you? How confident are you in the M273 engine? Asking price: $14,000 Thank you guys for your time!
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10-05-2016, 08:16 PM	#4
aozer Lieutenant 993 Rep 598 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Do not spend 14k on a car with 190k miles.
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10-05-2016, 08:39 PM	#6
PoorLurker Custom User Title 1139 Rep 675 Posts Drives: a bicycle Join Date: May 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Would rather have a CL around the same era. A bit more expensive, but you can find one with less miles and personally they look better to me. Problem with some of these cars is that they start to look quite dated. Looks like something someone like me would drive with a 20% auto loan to try and floss.
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10-06-2016, 12:27 PM	#7
UglyBuzzard Colonel 6344 Rep 2,329 Posts Drives: F90 / M5 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Does this car have the auto sensing air shocks? I had a GL450 and it was known issue and VERY expensive. Was not an issue for me since we don't keep German cars without warranty. however, buddy said it was well over $10K to fix suspension.
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10-06-2016, 01:57 PM	#8
jlstyle Lieutenant Colonel 364 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: Porsche Panamera Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Audi S7 [0.00] 2015 BMW X5 [0.00]	I never knew S class help up their value this good. I guess they plummet in value to $30k then hold up it from there on like a thin and long noodle.
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10-07-2016, 02:49 PM	#9
P1 Lieutenant General 11735 Rep 11,191 Posts Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	You'd be buying an S-Class with some of the most miles for sale on cars.com right now. Why would you do that? It's an eight/nine year old car that's been showing its age for years now. Why do you need a secondary vehicle? Put that $14K into the bank.
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10-07-2016, 03:16 PM	#10
Banana Hammock Beefcake 3738 Rep 711 Posts Drives: R32 GTR Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	VIN: WDDNG71X78A221516 Year/Make/Model: 2008 Mercedes S550 Body Style: Sedan Engine Type: 5.5L V8 Manufactured In: Germany Search Results: 23 records of Total Loss Accidents, Major vehicle repair, neglect, abuse, Monster Attacks, and Inattentive Parenting found in our database Standard Equipment \| Safety Options CARFAX Safety & Reliability Ratings CARFAX Xpert Hi-I'm the CARFAX Xpert™. I'm here to help you better understand the data in this CARFAX Report. Did you know... * We checked over 5 billion records from thousands of data sources for this vehicle * This vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee * The last reported odometer reading was 188,628 CARFAX Vehicle History Report Vehicle History Summary A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. Other information about this vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX. Use this report as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car. Tab Vehicle Ownership History Vehicle Ownership History The number of owners is estimated by CARFAX Owner One Vehicle History Year purchased 2008 Type of owner Rental/Stunt Driving Estimated length of ownership CARFAX Six Owner Vehicle History 3 yr. 9 mo. Owned in the following states/provinces California/New York/Wisconsin/Alabama/Puerto Rico/Illinois Estimated miles driven per year --- Last reported odometer reading 188,628 Vehicle Title History Vehicle Title History CARFAX guarantees the information in this section Owner One Vehicle History Salvage \| Junk \| Rebuilt Guaranteed Junk/Salvaged Fire/Flood \| Hail Damage \| Buyback/Lemon Fire/Demolition Derby Not Actual Mileage \| Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed Not Actual Mileage/Rollback Detected Monster Attack Report Cloverfield Incident/Classified GUARANTEED - None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Other Vehicle History Information Other Vehicle History Information Not all accidents or other issues are reported to CARFAX Owner One Vehicle History Total Loss Check Total loss reported to CARFAX 4 times Structural / Frame Damage Check Frame damage reported to CARFAX. Airbag Deployment Check Airbag deployment reported to CARFAX. Odometer Rollback Check Indication of an odometer rollback. Accident Check 10 accidents reported to CARFAX. Manufacturer Recall Check No recalls still require repair. Tell us what you know about this vehicle CARFAX Vehicle History Report CARFAX Hot Listings - Used cars for sale Still looking? Find similar cars just listed for sale in your area.
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10-07-2016, 03:45 PM	#11
other_evolved Lieutenant Colonel 2072 Rep 1,894 Posts Drives: 2015 Chevrolet SS Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Saint Louis iTrader: (0)	http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/for-th...enz-1787538986 It's almost as if this was written for you __________________ Present 2015 Chevrolet SS 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk V6
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10-08-2016, 08:37 PM	#15
Inspired Colonel 156 Rep 2,368 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California iTrader: (2)	Meh.. How many more miles do you think it will last before something significant might break down? Engine, tranny?
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10-08-2016, 11:15 PM	#16
Fanta C 51 Rep 724 Posts Drives: 740iL, M3, Carrera Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (1)	For Mercedes, anything can happen. Since the car is very heavy and need a nice ride, they use soft brushing. Brushing go very quickly, such as upper and lower control arm, bar link. Broken Suspension string. Oil consumption, new battery, light wire contact which easily corrosion. New cat.... New HAVC...
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