S600 vs S550 -- for the long term, best choice?

[mercedes loyalist]

Any comments from those who switched from a 500/550 S class to a 600?
In the long run they depreciate so much that there is little spread between them and the resale value sucks.
Plus after the ext. warranty expires are you looking at a nightmare in repairs?
Thanks!

 

[GTA45E]

I think the line is too thin to compare the S600 with the S500.

Both cars are equal with different engines. It`s almost like comparing a man to a woman.

The S600 might have a little more muscle and feature, thats about it.

 

[GBOY]

Yeah, they are already fairly close in features and price ... the 600 will remain about 10K or so more than the 550 after 2-3 years and continue down to about 5K after 6 or so years.
The cost to repair after warranty runs out will be the same for both cars.

If you want to talk about real depreciation don't tough the AMGs, my dealer had a 2006 CL65 (10k miles) for the same price as the 07/08 S550 ... now that's a 60K drop.

Of course, majority of typical AMG buyers can afford a brand new one ... the rest of the buyers will only pay a small premium for an AMG... for example; someone budgeted to buy a CLS550 may agree to dish out only maybe 10K more than 'budget' for a pre-owned CLS 63.
IMO

 

[PC Valkyrie]

I have a colleague from work who was considering the S600 or the S550. He was told by the service advisor that MB bi-turbo V12 engines are much more exclusive and more likely to breakdown and harder/more expensive to repair. The 5.5L V8 from MB (like the previous 5.0L V8) is built like a rock and shouldn't have as many problems, as it is a high volume seller and should be easy/less expensive to fix, if any problems arise.

My colleague ended up getting a S550 4-matic, and he absolutely loves it.

 

[Mr. M]

The S550 is by far the more sensible choice. For the long term, it's cheaper, more reliable, less fussy and overall a lesser pain on the back.

 

[ree]

I would also consider the S 550!! It's a powerful car and like Mr. M (great to have you back Mirage) said, the most reliable and cheaper car!!

 

[Gullwing]

Go with the 550, V12 has more parts, more expensive parts and labor is more. So repairs dealing with anything under the hood are a lot more.

 

[Pagani]

Soon they are bound to release the S600 with the new 7 speed, or even DSG-type trans. Also a new V12 may be around the corner. Other than this, I see no other arguments against the V12.

 

[GTA45E]

Go with the 550, V12 has more parts, more expensive parts and labor is more. So repairs dealing with anything under the hood are a lot more.

The labor rate for any new Mercedes is the same with all models. It can range from 98- $100 an hr to work on them. The part are also very expensive for all the new models.

 

[MBZFAN]

Although the new generation S-Class (W221) seems to be vastly improved over the prior (W220) version, it's nonetheless a plethora of computers, sensors and other electronic components. If this were 25 years ago and the same question about "long term" involved a 6.3 or a 6.9 vs a 4.5, I would be comfortable recommending the more "exotic" variations of the W116 and W126. Today, the repairs aren't about shocks and wheel bearings but more about air suspension systems that cost thousands of dollars to fix.

The S600 is a great car, but in this scenario, it's just not the winner in the "long term" contest. Owning one "out of warranty" could be a very hairy experience.

 

[Gullwing]

The labor rate for any new Mercedes is the same with all models. It can range from 98- $100 an hr to work on them. The part are also very expensive for all the new models.

Labor rate is the same, but it may take 3 hours to replace the water pump on a V8, and 6 hours on a V12...

 

[GTA45E]

Today, the repairs aren't about shocks and wheel bearings but more about air suspension systems that cost thousands of dollars to fix.

The S600 is a great car, but in this scenario, it's just not the winner in the "long term" contest. Owning one "out of warranty" could be a very hairy experience.

The electronics for the suspension systems have improved a great deal over the W220 S as you noted! Not only do thay offer 25 to 95% faster reaction times to body roll over the previous systems, the relibility is said to be outstanding. The S600 uses ABC while the S550 uses AIRmatic.

 

[GTA45E]

Labor rate is the same, but it may take 3 hours to replace the water pump on a V8, and 6 hours on a V12...

lOl, the water pump usually sits in front of the engine in most rear drive cars,
in the same location. The V12 engine layout isn`t any more complex than the V8. The parts might be a little more expensive to begin with and might (as you indicated) take a little more time.

Actually it doesn`t take more time, The dealers charge more hrs. because it`s a V8 or V12. I used to own a 420SEL and I have seen this happen. The dealers go by "book hours" not actual work hours.

 

[trumpet1]

Of course a 550 is more economical than a V12 but so is a 4 cylinder in comparison to a V8. What I can't understand is why so many people exaggerate how much more trouble a V12 is compared to a V8? I understand that it will be 50% more costly in terms of parts but it's only the cost of the extra 4 pistons/valves. Yes, it will take more time but it's not like these extra pistons/valves are made of gold and can only be handled by some special tech only. Are the extra 4 pistons buried somewhere deeper inside the block than the pistons of a V8? No!
I don't see where the difference between a V8 and a V12 would be any different than a 4 cylinder and a V8. We don't here people saying ,"Oh don't get a V8 because it is so much more expensive to repair than a 4 or 6 cylinder car". I think it is just that V12s are rare and they scare people because they haven't owned one to understand that they are really not any different than an 4,6, or 8 cylinder other than just being more of the same.

 

[cawimmer430]

I wouldn't touch the S550 or S600. I'd go for the S320 CDI.

Between the S550 and S600 though, the S550 is the more realistic choice. It's fast enough and gets better fuel economy, it offers virtually the same comfort and the S600 comes with a few more features that most sensible people would feel are not needed. Of course, if you're sensible you wouldn't buy an S600, much less an S550.

 

[M.Toni]

I wouldn't touch the S550 or S600. I'd go for the S320 CDI.

Between the S550 and S600 though, the S550 is the more realistic choice. It's fast enough and gets better fuel economy, it offers virtually the same comfort and the S600 comes with a few more features that most sensible people would feel are not needed. Of course, if you're sensible you wouldn't buy an S600, much less an S550.

I agree, diesel for me, beats any gas option there is. Except in an S - Class I would take the 420 CDI although the 320 CDI is a great and spectacular V6 engine it's just not enough for the 2000+ kg monster. 320 PS and a V8 diesel = win win win.

 

[Merc1]

Of course a 550 is more economical than a V12 but so is a 4 cylinder in comparison to a V8. What I can't understand is why so many people exaggerate how much more trouble a V12 is compared to a V8? I understand that it will be 50% more costly in terms of parts but it's only the cost of the extra 4 pistons/valves. Yes, it will take more time but it's not like these extra pistons/valves are made of gold and can only be handled by some special tech only. Are the extra 4 pistons buried somewhere deeper inside the block than the pistons of a V8? No!
I don't see where the difference between a V8 and a V12 would be any different than a 4 cylinder and a V8. We don't here people saying ,"Oh don't get a V8 because it is so much more expensive to repair than a 4 or 6 cylinder car". I think it is just that V12s are rare and they scare people because they haven't owned one to understand that they are really not any different than an 4,6, or 8 cylinder other than just being more of the same.

Interesting because everytime I've asked anyone at either the dealer or just an owner on the street or a person in the service bay with a V12 MB they've always said the very things you mentioned. I would think there has to be some extra cost in dealing with a V12 just like a regular tune up or any type of service. There is more oil, more plugs, etc. surely this is some of the slant most people give on owning a V12 compared to a V8? People don't say that about a V8 vs a 4-cylinder because of the V6 in the middle IMO. I have neard these very things said about a V6 vs a V8, i.e. the V8 cost more blah, blah, blah. I personally don't care because to me a real car is V8 and RWD, my first taste of this has me sold. Love it.

M

 

[Gullwing]

Open the hood of an S500, you and fit a hand around the engine, pretty easy, now try that with a S600, you have a lot less room.
Anything you do to a 600 will be more expensive then a 500. Most people fear a V12 because the early ones were two inline six cylinders bolted together so you have two of everything, control modules, mas air flow sensors, throttle valves... one side of the engine does not talk to the other. Much harder to diagnos.
The car I was fired over was a V12, effing V12s
but then that had more to do with other things then me working on that car.

 

[cawimmer430]

Interesting because everytime I've asked anyone at either the dealer or just an owner on the street or a person in the service bay with a V12 MB they've always said the very things you mentioned. I would think there has to be some extra cost in dealing with a V12 just like a regular tune up or any type of service. There is more oil, more plugs, etc. surely this is some of the slant most people give on owning a V12 compared to a V8? People don't say that about a V8 vs a 4-cylinder because of the V6 in the middle IMO. I have neard these very things said about a V6 vs a V8, i.e. the V8 cost more blah, blah, blah. I personally don't care because to me a real car is V8 and RWD, my first taste of this has me sold. Love it.

M

Keep in mind that the S600 uses two spark plugs per cylinder for a total of 24.

 

[vabboud]

there is always extra cost involved in moving to a higher class, of course the benefits are more. on an ideal assumption, but so are the costs as i said
a first class ticket costs a lot more than economy class, both will take you from london to new york, one will give you a more comfortable "sofa" and champagne, the other will cram you in a "chair" and give you coke in a plastic glass
having a V12 involves beside the higher fuel consumption which is a given also a plethora of added maintenance costs
before thinking of anything "unusual" just consider the added cost of extra spark plugs, extra oil, extra bearings, extra injection, extra extra extra....
fact is you DO have more serviceable parts in a V12 without thinking about anything going wrong, i.e. you are still on the regular maintenance field
now let us assume something goes wrong, by simple probability having more of anything, means that there is a higher probability of any singe part going wrong, i.e having having say 48 valves ups the probabilty of one breaking for some reason over havinf 32, 24 or any other number, notwithstanding the extra torsional forces and vibrations that spill out such a massive engine and the loads they incur on the crankshaft, and on the chassis itself

and we are still talking about the engine itself, when you factor in the tighter engine bay space, which results in a higher heating of the whole contraotion inside, when you factor in the added work time to replace any simple component, the picture doesn't look so good (if you remember the continetal GT W12 is so tightly packed you need to remove the engine to change the oil)

on paper the bigger the engine the more of a pain in the ass it becomes, but the real issue here is not about the pros and the cons of an engine, its about the buyer, given enough money, and given proper interest in having a car with such a massive engine all the above fade to nought, of course assuming the car is bought new
what this practically means is that on the long run and as a second hand proposition a V12 is not such a good idea unless you collection cars or something
better buy anything first hand than go and buy the most complex car ever second hand because of the prestige associated with it, i might gather a couple of looks more driving a secondhand S600 or 760 ir whatever, but it WILL take a huge toll on my pocket

my 0.02 cents