Mike

MercManiac
Member

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 95
Don't buy it. The A/C can't keep the car cool....a combination of too weak a compressor and improper UV sheilding of glass. Also, problems with steering control arms and software of command systems.

Look at Consumer Reports recent car issue......they DO NOT reccomend you buy the 2000 model S as a used car. They have it on their avoid list...that's a first for Merc!!! Also, surveys in Europe studying 2000 Merc's wound up giving Mercedes a quality rating last on the list of all makes sold in Europe....even behind GM Opel which has always been a joke to Europeans. Problems with the S 2000 and other models where what caused such problems in European surveys.

The S is a great car....I own a S600 2001.....lot's of problems with it and it's been in the shop for 47 days during 1.5 years of ownership. But, I love Merc's....so I'll put up with it's "bugginess".

Look for a used 2001.....steer way clear of the 2000!!!!!



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05-10-2002 04:19 AM



Sean
Member

Registered: Mar 2002
Location:
Posts: 76
2000 S 500
I know that with any car's first year in production there will always be glitches that have to be worked out. We are truly the ginuea pigs for the car manufacturers...no matter how much testing they do, once its on the road owned by different owners, a true story of how the car performs surfaces; and usually it involves 1 or 2 major problems.

My advice: get the 2001 or newer.

Sean



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05-10-2002 05:29 AM



mbtech208
Moderator

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: The People's Republic of California, USA
Posts: 1009
Re: Buying a S500

quote:
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Originally posted by nuttertmf
Hopefully I will be joining some of you soon in owning a S500. I am looking into a 2000 S500, but I am nervous about reliability. Are these cars pretty reliable, especially since 2000 is the first year out. Since I am looking at all kinds of sedans I found myself at a Lexus dealership looking at the new LS 430. The dealer told me that the perforated air-conditioned seats in the LS were better then the S classes. He said the S class has had a couple of seats catch on fire due to faulty mechanisms. Is there ANY truth in that statement? Anyway any info on reliability or what to look for when I am checking out an S class is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Buy the Lexus, you won't regret it. This is coming from a dealer technician that works on 2000 and newer S-classes every day.


__________________

Manaray

See what proper marketing can do? Even with all the problems (47 days in 1.5 years?!), they STILL buy...BRAND IDENTITY is a very power tool...

RON430

manaray - I can be a victim of advertising as much as the next guy but the LS430 must be special. I have been waiting for someone to make note of the big luxo sedan comparos. If I remember correctly, when the new S came out, all the magazines ran the usual comparo and the old bimmer 7 won. Now with the new 7 out, they have rerun the comparos and the S is now the winner (albeit in S600 form for the comparo I have in mind) but the LS430 is second and the "new" bimmer 7 is third. Bimmer must be doing a light simmer over that. Also shows that the new LS (nondescript but handsome styling aside) is a heck of a car. Gotten my wife and I talking seriously about getting a new LS. Marketing and marque aside, we have been very pleased with the GS. Five new bimmers over twelve years or so and not one of them went two weeks without being DOA and having to be towed to the dealership. One year on a GS, nothing other than routine service and a new seat track.

RON430

Addendum - Nice to see the Germans haven't changed. On a hot day her in California with the various bimmers you would just be breaking a sweat. Most times the decision was rather to keep sweating or chuck it in and turn the AC off and roll the windows down. Some things don't seem to change. Not trying to start Euro bashing flame wars just a matter of fact. With apologies to Toyota, Toyota and GM have had AC units that could generally frost your mustache if required. Not nice to have a 100K car and be sweating bullets...