For those interested in the lift that I used in this video it’s a Quick Jack BL-6000XLT. Here’s an older review that I did when I got it: th-cam.com/video/XWx9NAXzS8w/w-d-xo.html
I enjoyed your video, especially your professional opinion and also your experience with Toyota. Is there a way I can get in touch with you, for some particular issues I have with my Toyota camry 2005 LE? I will appreciate any means to be in touch with you, either email and/or telephone. Just to let you know, I'm Michael, live on Africa continent and in a country called Ghana. Thanks
I'd love one of these for home, but can't see me getting it past my wife :-D Totally respect your views on using OEM parts - except for brake rotors - they are literally lumps of steel, as long as you buy them from a reputable distributor and they meet manufacturers specs there really isn't much that can go wrong - only ever had one problem and that was where the distributor had the wrong part in their database so I sent them back and they sent me the right one no problems.
@@Beer_Dad1975 I’ve toured many factories. Factories making compatible parts at best have designed their own parts to spec, while some blatantly copy through 3D scanning while others make do with rough equivalence. Patented designs can be outright illegal counterfeit copies (like Gucci handbags). Generally speaking an OEM or original part will always fit, work or last better. The cost difference is part profit (to keep the manufacturer afloat and recoup R&D), part marketing and OEM company overhead and part the extra cost of running a subsidiary in a lower volume or remote market. VW parts are relatively affordable in the USA for example but twice the price in Australia (unfortunately). I usually try to stick to genuine parts for all but the basics (like spark plugs, filters and fluids) provided they are themselves reputable brands of a known quantity and specification.
@@davidorama6690 Yeah I wouldn't go fitting a chinese manufactured water pump or air con compressor or something like that... asking for trouble for sure...
The key battery last much longer if your doors have the door handle sensor. I've probably pressed the button on the key fob 4x over the past 6mo. Yours looks like my E-Class so pretty sure the same. I also use the push start.
As a former technician for Audi, I know well the love of German vehicles, but the dread of owning them as an average Joe, blue collar guy. To my friends who ask about buying them, I put it simply. A German vehicle is like a trophy wife. Spend whatever it takes to give her what she wants, and they will be the best ride of you life. The second you get cheap, she will leave you on the side of the road.
As a German living in Germany, I must admit that you are right and that your analogy is spot on. When I was living in Canada, I only drove USA products. Better parts availability and greater likelihood of finding mechanics who can perform tune ups, as well as troubleshoot these cars for reasonable costs. Living in Europe, the same applies for European brands/cars and European mechanics working on European cars. Although I like Cadillacs for example, the running costs of owning one in Europe are exorbitant (taxes, parts etc.), even if you find a competent mechanic. Sticking to brands and models that are endemic to your specific global region makes financial sense. Some specific European models can be an exeption (as depicted in this video) for your market. In the end, if you like a certain car and are prepared to invest in it, do it. Then it is a passion, which can be explained through the greatest logic of all: Man-Mathematics 😉
Wow. One thing I have to say.. I would buy this guy's used cars in a heart beat, without question, no pre purchase inspection.. I mean, he is meticulous in his method!
Gives me joy to realise there are mechanics like you in the world! And that you get to drive the car you like. Mechanic in an S Class - that’s a statement. God bless you!
I owned a Toyota Camry before and I now own a Mercedes C class. I can totally relate to your comment on the German cars. During the ownership of Camry, it never gave me any headache and it always gets the job done: bring me to point A to point B. The car was reliable but extremely boring at the same time. I'm no millionaire by any chance and I work hard for my money. And now that I own a Benz, when I get off work from a stressful day and hop on my car, it always put a smile on my face. The car is so enjoyable to ride.
you must have a different C to the one that I hired. It was an unpleasant driving experience..noisey .harsh suuspention and hard on the back side and back ...I was glad to give it back and return to my GM vehicle!!
yao forgot to mention that he is a mechanic, gets off work from a stressful day and hops into mercedes c class, to sit at shop until the next day. stress free
I like the laid back attitude of this guy. Easy explanations of maintenance and he actually finds joy in life behind his Mercedes. I can relate to that as I drive one and it’s a joy.
I like how you actually teach and have an open mind to different types of cars instead of screaming at us and calling all of us who drive European cars idiots. Very refreshing.
He kinda did. Lmao he pulled up Scotty for reference but he acknowledged that he’s very fortunate to be able to afford what he will get out of the car. Hence the part costs and warranty. But once all that is up he doesn’t plan on keeping that money pit like ehm. Most broke ppl do when they drive around these cars and don’t even do research on what engine they’re dealing with or diaphragm of the engine layout because like he mentioned they have no intention on making these cars a diy at home work. They have leman where all this labor dollar goes into
Scotty Kilmer is for me, with Jeremy Clarkson, the two only highest moral authorithies in the automotive world. Drive euro cars is a nice experience. Be an euro citizen and to have the chance to drive US cars, i love them and i find them cool. I stop driving euro cars, and now, thanks God, i drive a japanese car Made. Grettings from Swiss.
I live in Nigeria and I'm a car buff. I watch every of your videos that I can afford to watch and one thing I've always loved and respected about them is your honesty. I fix cars too and have learnt immeasurably from you. Thank you for all you do, and from the bottom of my heart, I say a big God bless you. Home to meet you sometime soon
Hello Andy, what a beautiful message! I wish you good luck in life in general, keep fixing the cars to the best of your ability. I’m sure your must have happy clients too 😁. Take care, I greet you from Amsterdam. - Y -
This happens quite often with luxury cars in general. I have seen plenty of people put cheap parts on Lexuses because the OEM part was too expensive and then the car runs like poop.
@@AgonxOC A lot of Lexus OEM Parts are just rebadged Toyota parts being as the original ones were just built directly from the same parts Their water Pumps are the same as a Toyota Yaris, Auris or Prius ...once you have the Lexus part number then you're good to go looking for same as a Toyota or getting the OEM Part Number it can be cross referenced other car models...Buy cheap parts and you pay at least Twice...
@@malachy1847 it depends on the Lexus platform. Not all Lexus share parts with Toyota. A FWD based Lexus (ES, RX, etc) is basically an Avalon platform (stretched Camry) so a lot of part are in fact interchangeable. I have saved a lot of money that way. Lexus rips you off a lot of the time. Now if you have a RWD platform; there is no escaping it as some part are not interchangeable. The 3.5 V6 2GR-FE (Great engine for the most part) has a dirty little secret that will leave you stranded and possibly requiring a new engine. It all happens when the oil cooler rubber hoses, with time and miles, get cocked by the front bank cat in the down pipe. Toyota knew about it, but won’t do the TSB unless the hoses break and if you have more than 120K miles, your are hosed. The updated part is all metal. Lexus wanted 800 bucks to do it. Toyota 250. The parts was included in the cost too. Toyota sold it for just 60 bucks. Lexus over 200. Insanity! That same Lexus (Now has over 200K) , an RX350, needed a new transmission at 66K. That was a huge fight with Lexus. The input shaft bearing was going bad. That was a noise I had been very familiar with and it took like three trips for them to recognize it. That left a poor taste and the typical joke of the 90s was, if you buy a Japanese V6, make sure you get the manual, as the autos with V6s didn’t hold too well. There lot of stories of RX needing new gearboxes.
You remind me of when I work on my cars, I can tell you're a Toyota mechanic. I always check all the little details, clean things, unclog drainage holes and such. Very nice work, good job!
I own an e550a convertible. Though it will accelerate with M BMWs and Camaros, it is best on an empty quiet coastal mountain roads under 50 mph. I often pull over to be passed by more harried drivers.
It's not about the cost or the complexities of what can go wrong or not, it's about the feel of the car I totally get it. I respect his honesty and understand his passion.
AMD is a meticulous Master Automotive Technician who loves his job. What a shining example of a PROUD AMERICAN THAT WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. KUDOS TO YOU YOUNG MAN AND THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEOS.
I’ve owned a 2008 S550. 4-MATIC. My philosophy and yours are the same. It was wonderful seeing how you did a very professional job on the “car of your dreams.” Great job, my friend. Dave in Phoenix Arizona.
I'm a DYI guy and owed a few MBs. On one hand, I was impressed with their engineering and yet sometimes found myself frustrated by it. Driving them was always a really nice experience.
Great point! People should know what to expect when getting a used Mercedes. Driving an depreciated Mercedes would not automatically make Mercedes service/repair cost depreciated too.
One of the best intimate video i have ever watched on TH-cam. I was planning to buy a Toyota and i was watching your videos, while we own an MB for another family car. I was so suprised when i saw this video from a Toyota expert. The last moments of the video had just reflected my passion of owning a Merc. Even I cannot explain better my passion to it. Thank you for a delightful video again.
My 1985 300D has "features" like an electric "aux water pump" to flow more hot water to the heater core at idle. It can jam to block coolant flow or leak coolant out the shaft to overheat the engine, but worst is that a motor stall draws high current which has caused cabin fires (no fuse in dash control box). To think that U.S. and Japanese cars have never needed one, oh the inhumanity. Another is a temperature sensor to disable the cabin fan until the coolant temperature is sufficiently hot, to prevent blowing cold air on rich owners. Downside is it confuses the heck out of newbies (blower broken?) and another part to fail. Finally, if the "OverVoltage Protection relay" which was kludged in to prevent damage to the EGR control box fails, the dash tachometer stops working and the AC compressor won't engage. The OVP commonly fails and replacements "not avail", so must bypass that claptrap to get the tach and AC working again.
@@andyb8005 No warranties on any of our cars though get unsolicited phone calls every day for warranty scams. Our newest is a 2002 Chrysler. I do my own repairs, incl. auto transmissions. Indeed, have one apart currently for rebuild at 270K miles, awaiting a few parts.
I like your sense of humor :) and the way you explain things clearly. You work very clean and your attention to details is great. By the way, only professional mechanics like you can afford to buy high maintenance (900 dollars annually on average :) MB S550. I hope that I can find a good mechanic like you.
This guy is my favourite pro mechanic.... Only found him last week (Camry 2017 PCV valve) ...no bull and admits to his short-cuts and mistakes..That is the sign of a true pro. My ACE dentist admitted to dropping something down a patient's throat... Only someone who is comfortable and confident in the rest of his work would admit to that...
Funny that I had to leave a Toyota dealership to a Mercedes dealer awhile back so i could learn more other areas of the vehicle to repair. Lol Toyota dealers are one of those places where if you don’t want to do too much, its the place to be. Just routine maintenance over 75% of the time. Lol every now and then we had our lemons but it’s a different story when it comes European vehicles. It’s nonstop every day for us with The serous mechanical side repairing
I don't know if it's still true about the recent models, but about a decade ago, the germans called the VW Passat "Der ewige patient" (the eternal patient). One of my collegues husband has a Passat from that generation, and it had the engine replaced a couple of years ago. I think VW wanted about $13,000 for a new engine. Same with another collegues husband, but this time with a BMW 5-series (about the same age), but at en even higher price.
@@HepauDK Our 2012 Passat B7 2.0 TDI EU model has been faultless for over 250 000 km. US VW models are nowhere near the quality of their original EU models.
@@kamata93 I was actually talking about the EU models. The US models must really be sh*t then, when the germans themselves comes up with nicknames for the EU models. And the 2.0 TDI is one of the engines that has seen some major problems. Unlike like the old bulletproof 1.9. Although a collegue had an Audi A4 (B6 Avant S-line) with that engine, that started going into limp mode ever so often, only 2 weeks after he bought it (used). It took Audi 2 months do find the fault, which turned out to be faulty engine management hardware. He always bragged about Audi quality, so I used every possible opportunity after that to remind him about it. :)
@@HepauDK did a engine job in a 550ix and was $17,000 (would've been $26,000 at dealer) and would have been over $40,000 if BMW didn't. Cover 90% of the long block new, N63 was on a program coverage, sweet ride.
A lot of owners leave the routine maintenance and trade them up or sell them needing a tonne of work. However there's some dreadful Euros out there. Recent models - it's all the emission stuff that make the engine management complex. The basic mechanical stuff is normally reliable. It's getting to be mechanics don't work on mechanical stuff theyre computer technicians.
Keep an eye on the cam sensors. They love to leak into the harness and the oil makes it all the way to the ME (ECU). Engine harness replacement is and engine out procedure. Unplug the connectors at the cam sensor once a month or so and look for oil. If you see any, replace the sensors right away. Btw, I’m talking about the cam position sensors on top front of the engine and not the cam magnets in front of the engine (although those leak too). Also, keep an eye on the cooling circuit from the front mid engine area going into the turbos. If you see any, order all the lines as well as the thermostat housing - they all will break. Other than that, the 278 is not that bad of an engine. Once in awhile a turbo may go out or an injector (needs to be coded upon replacement. Lastly, when you’re doing plugs, you need to properly torque them (23nm) to ensure proper orientation. 15y MB master tech.
Here in Germany there are some companies selling so called "Ölstoppkabel" wich translates to "Oil stopping cables". These can give you peace of mind with this very known issue of the sensors leaking for a few bucks. I know of one Mercedes expert in particular that is known for good quality cables that stop the oil before it can get into the wiring harness. The name is "Motoren Zimmer". Once these cables are installed, you don't have to worry about the sensors anymore. The plugs and cables are made so that it won't be possible for oil to creep up through the wires. I'm pretty sure you will be able to get these in North America as well. No need to replace any more sensors. ; )
My 2012 S550 is so nice. The S class seats are perfect. Twin turbos are fast! I bought a Florida car with 60 k miles for 15K USD. I can afford to pay for repairs with all the money I saved. I do my own oil, brakes, filters. Remember to change trans fluid and filter.
I noticed in the garage you are working in has what appears to be Toyota Service Uniform colors as a your garage wall paint scheme. If so , that’s a cool touch to your dedication to Toyota.
So awesome my brother! May the Lord bless you and keep you as well! I wish we were neighbors. I am a retired auto tech, though at 70 still do most of the work on my Toyotas. Thank you for the video and all you do!
@@trdrav4 Now I Do Enjoy His Reviews! He’s Very Good But, Scotty Is The G.O.A.T.! Lol He Calls Toyota Out On Their BS Too. He’s just Honest but, I do believe The Part Of Being A Real Enthusiast Is To Drive What You Love Not Based On Just Reliability👌🏽
The sensors in the air filter housings are air temp sensors. The notice in the brake pad box about SBC brakes does not apply to this car. Some of the older cars used the same pads and did have SBC brakes, and that brake system can injure you if not disabled before removing.
Sometimes you just love your car. People give me crap about spending money on and continuing to drive my old 94 Camry SE, but I just like the thing. I'm glad to see you feel the same way about your dream car.
Was good to see you closer, it felt like doing the maintenance with you, and off course honest and humble as always. Great video!!! God keep blessing you.
He also said mechanics prefer not to have endless money pits because the last thing they want after working on cars for a week, is to spend their days off working on their cars.
As a Mercedes technician that came from a background starting off as a John Deere technician working on heavy AG equipment, I have found these cars to be easy to work on if you’re not afraid to tear things apart. I love the engineering that goes into Mercedes’ products, BMW and Audi on the other hand are a whole different animal. With that being said don’t know if you eventually caught this but Mercedes’ wipers have a small sticker covering the replacement indicator that you need to remove.
@@borghorsa1902 with the push for Electric vehicles, at this point I don’t see the prices going down anytime soon if ever anymore, people keep paying these absurd prices so they keep incentivizing companies to keep the increases
You have one advantage others don't - you're a mechanic and you can practically fix it yourself without having to go to the dealership and break the bank. Good for you.
@Go tigers nah, most people will avoid trying to work on their own stuff. Be it detailers, mechanics, electricians, etc. Yeah if they HAVE to do it they will. I would guess most mechanics would just work on their car at the shop when it's closed for like any fluid change/simple diy. No mechanic is driving around a s class because one they don't make that much, two, most mechanics like grandma cars (see car wizard channel). Also, working on a project car (which every mechanic has) isn't really the same thing as your daily driver. Lastly, if we are talking about people who actually have money for a s-class (or let's just generalize and say $200k+ car), they usually make more money in the time it would take for them to learn, get tools, and DIY then they would pay for the service. I personally think most people making that much money all have the ability to learn and do the DIY car stuff, it's just whether they are open to learning it. I work on my own car right now (not electrical) and I hate have anyone else work on it. I understand when I get older it won't make sense for me to work on it (especially with stuff like Porsche where you need work to be done at a shop to stay within warranty). Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should learn to work on their car so they know when something doesn't feel right.
@@DylanL69 The reason you pull the oil filter first, is all the residual oil drains back into the pan, the can change the filter then pull the drain plug. He had already installed the drain plug when he pulled the filter, old oil goes right inside the sealed pan.
The last 5 mins of this video is priceless. Best car advice in the world. Buy an extended wrrnty. Adjust your expectations, and remember even if its a 10yr old car. It was still 100k$ and parts and service are going to be pricey.
I love your attitude. I bought a 2018 Volvo new and now has 70k and not the first problem. The dealership made me mad so now I do all the maintenance using OE/OEM parts. I buy the special tools as needed and look forward to working on it. I to love the solid, secure,safe ride.
On a Mercedes you're actually supposed to suck the oil through the dipstick tube with a special tool, much easier if you have the equipment, and since they're designed for that there's no oil left in the pan. I also love that the filter can be replaced from under the hood, you never need to jack up the car for an oil change. Also, if you want great aftermarket wipers, Bosch is excellent and comes with adapter clips for any car.
You're supposed to fill half of the oil through the fill hole and half of it through the oil filter hole, then wait for 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure 99,9% of mechanics won't follow the correct procedure and run the engine half dry on startup.
@@dingdong2103 If this is true, it is min my mind stupid design, but in the real world it would not really do any damage filling all in one of the places. There is still a oil film on every part in the engine, and the oil pump starts up as soon the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts. .
@@dingdong2103 I have never said anything other... The point is exactly that, that there is some oil left in the engine, even in all the cavities there i still oil film that will lubricate the engine the few seconds it takes for the oil pressure to build.
You have a new fan from Tanzania... I am in love with Toyotas as they are brilliant over here.... makes our days goes by. It was awesome to learn stuffs for Mercedes... watched from begining to the end.... Nice flow..
It is easier for you to own it, you can repair most of the issues yourself and at least you cannot be fooled by the Mercedes service. Me here in Germany, for peace of mind I prefer to drive a Honda or Toyota :D
@Prime Artemis my experience as well. I've known my neighbors and my friends who drive Hondas and Toyotas and they break more often than my 5 series. People really just like bitching about European cars which is good i guess...it drives down the price even more on the new (used) cars the moment they drive off the dealership...easier to pick it up for people like me (or us) ..lol..cause we get more for our money.
This is a great video and it says a lot about which car each individual chooses. No car is perfect. No car has everything. There are obvious “pros and cons” with each decision. RS. Canada
I loved watching you work on this machine throughout the video. It's clear you enjoy your hobby, appreciating its over-engineered benefits to its flaws with aristocratic price tag for maintenance and repairs. It reminds me of old Triumph motorcycle lovers. The machines would continuously leak oil and vibrate parts to the point of falling off, but the owners were completely enthralled with the aesthetic lines of the machine and how they felt when they rode them. I was one of those folks at one time too. So I get it for what you're saying. I still appreciate our Toyotas for their dependability, solid ride, even if they aren't as perfect as the over-engineered brand. At least I can afford to get the rotors turned for a brake job.
10:40 I think drilled rotors become directional only when they are slotted, so the slots can spin off the dust in the same direction the wheel is rotating. That's why most aftermarket "drilled and slotted" rotors are sold in pairs and marked R & L. when rotors are drilled and slotted the holes will follow the design angle of the slots only for decorative reasons.
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It's the internal cooling fins that are kinda rotating in the wrong direction I'm worried about here. But if that's the way they are supposed to go on the car, I guess someone has thought of that and it's ok.
@ Yes I agree. I also think it looks like the rotor had curved vanes and was sitting on the wrong side...Usually non rotation-directional rotors have straight vanes...
Really enjoyed this. Appreciate the honestly you show in all your videos and the fact your approach to cars is a lot like mine. Nothing wrong with buying a fun car that may not always be as reliable as a Toyota but understand there are compromises that are worth it sometimes. I own a Toyota and a Mercedes among a few others. My favorite mechanic TH-cam page.
I maintain the wifes 2008 W221 S class which is chipped rather than remapped, cruise at 70mph on the motorway returns 40mpg (they are called 'race chip' in the UK). I virtually never buy mercedes parts which are a fraction of the cost. She has had it now for 5 years and still loves it more than me...
I really liked seeing what it is like working on a MB versus Toyota. Counting the cars we have for our two sons, I have 3 Toyotas and a Lexus and do all the maintenance on them. I’m thankful that Toyota tends to find a design that works and keep using it for many years. Congrats on the success of your TH-cam channel. I’m so glad I found your channel.
@Jake Dank You just crying because you bought garbage and you try justifying it by attacking Toyota And to that I say enjoy seeing your mechanic every week you fucking moron
2 kinds of people own Mercedes for the long run. The person who can fix it themselves and the person who can afford to pay someone else to fix it. Bought a 2000 MB new and the key battery lasted 18 years.
I do basic maintenance myself such as he just did and I find Mercedes to be so much easier to work on than Toyota. Never understood why the dealer charged so much. Of course anything beyond brakes and oil is beyond me so off the dealer it goes.
Those older key fobs last forever. My 96 Thunderbird's keyfob still works despite the battery never being replaced in 20 years (possibly 25 years). My Jag, however, has a fancy smart key fob and the battery just went bad. I don't know how old it is, but possibly 12 years old. It was at least 4 years old.
Seining you clean everything made me feel normal lol. I thought I was a little out there . I do exactly the same every single time. Thank you for sharing.
I'm in Norway where we'll change over to winter tyres. In order to find a car nut you'll literally see if the air valve is perpendicular to the car logo. Two times a year for the four of them. Car nuts.
You work exactly how I did when I was a full time tech and how I still work on my own vehicles to this day. Just found your channel and love it brother!!!
I have a 2010 Mercedes S600, and all I can say is ' be ready'. Because depends on whoever used to own the vehicle before you, you are in for some surprises, very expensive surprises... By the way I love the Jack, I'm trying to get one myself.
Two things: 1) Using all genuine replacement parts, don't scrimp, no buyers remorse. And 2) That you can get into this vehicle, at the end of a very loud and busy day, drive home and be relaxed by the time you get there. By the way, the main ECU is exposed to dissipate heat, brilliant design. Thanks Mr. CCN~!
Yes about the ECU. I cannot imagine why someone thought it would be a good idea to put delicate electronics right in the centre of the engine where it generates the most heat. Heat rises to the top, so yeah, go figure...
I never used genuine Mercedes parts if I could find an after mkt. parts and never had a problem. I saved many thousands of dollars and never had one failure. The things that constantly broke were Mercedes OEM parts
@Mike S Pretty hot. With a big V8 engine AND 2 turbos it can be very toasty in there. It is a well known fact that having the ECU where it is was a stupid mistake and there are many instances where the ECU has had to be replaced because of this stupid design flaw. Watch a channel called "Diagnosis Dan". There's a video in there on th very subject.
Depending on vehicle ford and GM OEM brake parts wear rather quickly compared to aftermarket and then of course you have varying degrees of aftermarket quality. So it's a roll of the dice either way.
Pads were similar on my 2014 C300, they went in like an Atari cartridge, really easy to do a brake job compared to my Ford Escape. Congrats on your S550, that is a nice car.
I personally learned a valuable lesson on a small engine that may or may nor apply to this or other engines, and it was as simple as an oil change. Before replacing the drain plug on the oil pan, get the filter off. It was a cartridge filter, but I will always adhere to this practice from now on, canister, cartridge, whatever
Sigh...... I spent 19 years supervising the maintenance/repairs on these cars. 1976 to 1995. You have nailed the essence of enjoying the ownership of a brand which has stayed with the original company motto, "Das Beste oder Nichts." It is so nice to hear someone who "gets it" and can verbalize what it all means. Back then, you had what seemed to me a broader product offering which catered to a broader spectrum of consumers. When I began, the MSRP for a 4-speed manual 240-D was $9995. This was a bomb proof diesel with no sunroof and crank-up windows! If you bought one early in life and faithfully did the maintenance you could still be driving it today, with easily over half a million miles. There was no automatic climate control, no auto dimming lights, nothing. In Germany they were everywhere as taxicabs. On the other end of the spectrum, there was the '77-'79 6.9. A beast, and still serves as the fastest I've ever driven a car. Hard, high speed Michelin XWX tires so no fear. The speedometer was falling through 145 when I began to catch other cars at a rapid clip and had to stifle the fun. Business moguls, lawyers, famous athletes, musical stars, all were customers. But, things changed with the190 series. A blind person could pick out their service files from the cabinet by merely lifting the heaviest folders, not having to read the model number! A sad down hill slide in as Lexus quality stole the hearts of many a former M-B customer. Mine included...... I LOVE my RX. It irks my wife that I don't use the county Bookmobile to bring books to a spot 1/2 mile from our home, rather preferring to drive ten miles downtown instead. Any excuse will do to drive my sweet ride......
My 1979 240D with manual crank windows and 4 speed manual transmission stickered for $16,000. Part of that is the collapse of the dollar to Mark exchange rate but also that the car was built like a tank. Yes I still have it. It is the only US W123 I’ve ever seen with factory rear headrests.
@@bobbbobb4663 Indeed. Between the last of the W115 240d's (1976) and your car, the exchange rate was killing us. Congratulations on a job well done. How many miles now? And, tell me. Did the plastic trim around your window frames curl up and die? I owned a couple of cars that happened to!
@@thomasroberts8024 Thanks. I bought the car in 1993 and am the second owner. Little over 300,000 miles on her. Haha...yes the plastic trim has shrunk around a few of the doors. Also had a few rust spots to tackle especially around the weather stripping in the trunk. She is currently getting suspension components replaced but should be back in the road soon. Truly the last era of a car that Pierre Hedary calls an analog car that does not require any microprocessor to run.
When I bought my W221, the maintenance was so expensive, I paid for mechanics courses at the local community college. Everything was great, until I needed to change a headlight bulb. Traded it in for a Lexus. But I do miss the driving experience.
@@andersonrodriguez8258 I bought a pair for 30 bucks. Here is the description, Lumenon HID Xenon Conversion Headlight Replacement Bulbs 1 Pair (D1 D1S D1R D1C, 8000k Crystal Blue). Very challenging job with the heated headlight wash system.
Got an ML55 and it is just so enjoyable in the same way as you explain here. Makes it so much easier to spend the money and time to keep it in perfect condition!
I am really impressed with your work ethic ~ particularly how you clean the INSIDE of the wheels! (I thought I was the only one that bothered to do this).
I agree that German cars are fun to drive. I really enjoyed my 1998 BMW 2.8 Z3 Roadster manual trans. I was impressed with the power and torque available at any speed and the handling. I sold it with 211,000 miles. It still looked new and ran great.
You are 100% right. Money is not a everything. I love Mercedes, I done my apprenticeship Mercedes Training School in Sri Lanka1999. After that I joined to Cummins. Hopefully, One day my dream car will be S class AMG.
Great video. You make me laugh about driving like a normal human being. I try to drive slow but many times, I hit the gas also. You have a great way of maintaining your car. I've watched many of your Toyota hybrid videos. You are a master in my opinion. I'll keep watching.
Don't have anything quite as fancy as an S-Class - we have a nearly 6yr-old GLC 300. Our first M-B and something I've noticed is the attention to detail in design. Nearly everything operates differently from every other vehicle I've ever owned, but you get used to it and it's always better! I understand completely why you like the S.
38:05 Excellent point. When my brother was a service manager at a British Car dealership, I worked with him for a month right out of high school, during a summer month. Think Mercedes motor cars are nicer looking, etc., but I did get a chance to move a couple of Jaguar’s around, one was the classic XJ-12. Very temperamental automobile. Once you get it started, (manual dashboard choke), reminded me of the years ago Rolls Royce piston aircraft engine sound. Smooth as can be above idle. Thanks for sharing your car, really enjoyed the ride-along. All the best to you.
Nice to see you enjoy your dream car & tell us to make proper expectations for what you get. I’m DYI mechanic also & with cars being more computerized it is get harder to DYI unless you get tools to do diagnostics on them.
Great choice AMD. ABSOLUTELY beautiful car. They do drive amazing. Can't wait for a couple years update review on this white beauty. That model years of the S class is by far my favorite. Congrats on buying your dream car. Love your videos. 👍
Terrific video. Love your attention to detail and doing it right! A clean car is a car you can be proud of. I keep mine clean inside and out. And you're right about needing an extended warranty with a German car!
Mercedes does have some nice engineering features. My C230 had one wiper that extended and contracted while it swung side to side. The cruise control was extremely easy, a simple lever that moved in four directions (up, down, forward, back).
You are so much like me as I own a 1981 Mercedes 380SL and it has been a huge learning curve for me as everything is over engineered. However it usually has a good purpose for this. I like your thoroughness and OCDs of how you do things. As I am the same way. Your presentation was absolutely awesome and thank you.
Beautiful car. I'm guessing the kids aren't allowed to eat or drink in it? lol Thanks for mixing things up. I love Toyotas but it's cool to see maintenance on other cars being done.
The S550 is a beautiful car. It is my second S-Class (a 2009 after the previous gen 2005 S500 which I lost to a flash flood). It is also my 3rd S-Class...a 2013. The 2009 is naturally aspirated but the 2013 is, like yours, turbo. Both are wonderful drives. Smooth and quiet and comfortable and, when you want it to be, powerful and sporty. You make an excellent point at the end about why so many consider these "nightmares". This is EXACTLY what I've been telling everyone for many years. These vehicles are $100k+ when new. They might depreciate over time but maintenance, parts, and labor do NOT depreciate over time. If anything, they continue to get more expensive (inflation). If a person can't afford the vehicle new, then they should be careful getting into one of these used. If they are ready to have repair/maintenance bills of a $100k vehicle, then no problem...otherwise, yes, nightmare time. All my cars were bought new and I've had virtually no problems with them. The problem many have is when they buy used/out of warranty and start cutting corners with aftermarket parts.
That’s too crazy of a coincidence. I was fortunate enough to own a barely used (only 54k mi when I got it) 2008 Toyota Solara XLE since 2012 and after just letting it go to a new home this past year (I had over 243,000 miles on it) it has served me very well and will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish Toyota still made them! I was able to find a nice used 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with only 97,050 miles at a local dealer and I also love it very much. I’ve only had it for 7 months and somebody just recently hit me who wasn’t paying attention. Thankfully it was not totaled but I completely understand, I’m sorry you didn’t get to keep yours. It’s still in the shop right now I can’t wait to get it back. Hopefully they can make it good as new again. I hate to see a perfectly good Toyota sitting in the scrapyard. My old one is still on the road and I hope the new owner will enjoy it as much as I had. I still get nostalgic every time I see somebody else driving their Solaras around town.
I have done a couple brake jobs on the E550 with the same brakes as your car. It has a great braking system. I also has the same concern about the direction of the rotors but you're right. Both front rotors are in fact "left" rotors. As a piece of advice. Check the coolant level on the intercooler. It has a separate reservoir as it is a water-to-air intercooler. Both of the ones I have worked on were low.
Being a mercedes tech i can say take anything you think you know about cars and throw it out the window they arent 2 left rotors they are actually non directional. And it confuses many people with the way they are drilled.
I'm glad you found your dream car and you're happy with it, but you have the advantage of being a professional mechanic, even if you're not a Mercedes mechanic. That gives you a "big" leg up on the rest of us when it comes to being able to afford that car. You mentioned those that strongly caution against buying a Mercedes that's that old and even pointed out one of them by briefly flashing his picture on the screen. That's ok. You implied that he and others might not have even driven one of these cars and that may be true. Then again, it might not. Still, what I found kind of funny was that your subsequent comments could easily be used as confirmation of what SK and others have been trying to tell us with regards to buying an older Mercedes, at least for us mere mortals. ;-) It's a great looking car though, a very nice example and obviously well maintained. Enjoy!
Scotty test drives the cars he works on. His comment about diagnosing intermittent faults in today's video: "That's the bane of being a mechanic - you spend a lot of time just driving other people's cars around, hoping that the stupid things act up." (He was using his ThinkCar "fancy scan tool" to record live data). He also tests his own workmanship.
For those interested in the lift that I used in this video it’s a Quick Jack BL-6000XLT. Here’s an older review that I did when I got it:
th-cam.com/video/XWx9NAXzS8w/w-d-xo.html
I enjoyed your video, especially your professional opinion and also your experience with Toyota. Is there a way I can get in touch with you, for some particular issues I have with my Toyota camry 2005 LE? I will appreciate any means to be in touch with you, either email and/or telephone. Just to let you know, I'm Michael, live on Africa continent and in a country called Ghana. Thanks
I'd love one of these for home, but can't see me getting it past my wife :-D Totally respect your views on using OEM parts - except for brake rotors - they are literally lumps of steel, as long as you buy them from a reputable distributor and they meet manufacturers specs there really isn't much that can go wrong - only ever had one problem and that was where the distributor had the wrong part in their database so I sent them back and they sent me the right one no problems.
@@Beer_Dad1975 I’ve toured many factories. Factories making compatible parts at best have designed their own parts to spec, while some blatantly copy through 3D scanning while others make do with rough equivalence. Patented designs can be outright illegal counterfeit copies (like Gucci handbags). Generally speaking an OEM or original part will always fit, work or last better. The cost difference is part profit (to keep the manufacturer afloat and recoup R&D), part marketing and OEM company overhead and part the extra cost of running a subsidiary in a lower volume or remote market. VW parts are relatively affordable in the USA for example but twice the price in Australia (unfortunately). I usually try to stick to genuine parts for all but the basics (like spark plugs, filters and fluids) provided they are themselves reputable brands of a known quantity and specification.
@@davidorama6690 Yeah I wouldn't go fitting a chinese manufactured water pump or air con compressor or something like that... asking for trouble for sure...
The key battery last much longer if your doors have the door handle sensor. I've probably pressed the button on the key fob 4x over the past 6mo. Yours looks like my E-Class so pretty sure the same. I also use the push start.
As a former technician for Audi, I know well the love of German vehicles, but the dread of owning them as an average Joe, blue collar guy. To my friends who ask about buying them, I put it simply. A German vehicle is like a trophy wife. Spend whatever it takes to give her what she wants, and they will be the best ride of you life. The second you get cheap, she will leave you on the side of the road.
Great analogy!
🤣
That's a good one.
That is absolutely a great way of putting it
As a German living in Germany, I must admit that you are right and that your analogy is spot on.
When I was living in Canada, I only drove USA products.
Better parts availability and greater likelihood of finding mechanics who can perform tune ups, as well as troubleshoot these cars for reasonable costs.
Living in Europe, the same applies for European brands/cars and European mechanics working on European cars.
Although I like Cadillacs for example, the running costs of owning one in Europe are exorbitant (taxes, parts etc.), even if you find a competent mechanic.
Sticking to brands and models that are endemic to your specific global region makes financial sense.
Some specific European models can be an exeption (as depicted in this video) for your market.
In the end, if you like a certain car and are prepared to invest in it, do it. Then it is a passion, which can be explained through the greatest logic of all: Man-Mathematics 😉
Wow. One thing I have to say.. I would buy this guy's used cars in a heart beat, without question, no pre purchase inspection.. I mean, he is meticulous in his method!
Yeah but mechanics never look after their own cars!
I Concur, spot on!
@@richarddobreny6664 true! Mechanics treat their cars like shit but this guy, he’s not a mechanic he’s a car care nut.😂
@@richarddobreny6664 not in this case
@@CarQuizzical I will give him that!
Gives me joy to realise there are mechanics like you in the world! And that you get to drive the car you like. Mechanic in an S Class - that’s a statement. God bless you!
This entire job torque specs was easy to remember . Guten Tight
😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂🤪
*Gut und Tight
In Blighty it’s FT.
I owned a Toyota Camry before and I now own a Mercedes C class. I can totally relate to your comment on the German cars. During the ownership of Camry, it never gave me any headache and it always gets the job done: bring me to point A to point B. The car was reliable but extremely boring at the same time. I'm no millionaire by any chance and I work hard for my money. And now that I own a Benz, when I get off work from a stressful day and hop on my car, it always put a smile on my face. The car is so enjoyable to ride.
you must have a different C to the one that I hired. It was an unpleasant driving experience..noisey .harsh suuspention and hard on the back side and back ...I was glad to give it back and return to my GM vehicle!!
I agree with you. It's exciting and you get the respect, its just fun.
@@miraclelove991 respect!? LMAO 🤣
C class stands for Cheap. Cheap pile of plastic crap.
yao forgot to mention that he is a mechanic, gets off work from a stressful day and hops into mercedes c class, to sit at shop until the next day. stress free
I like the laid back attitude of this guy. Easy explanations of maintenance and he actually finds joy in life behind his Mercedes. I can relate to that as I drive one and it’s a joy.
i can easily watch this guy talking and fixing cars for hours. such a humble gentle soul. God bless you my friend
I like how you actually teach and have an open mind to different types of cars instead of screaming at us and calling all of us who drive European cars idiots. Very refreshing.
He kinda did. Lmao he pulled up Scotty for reference but he acknowledged that he’s very fortunate to be able to afford what he will get out of the car. Hence the part costs and warranty. But once all that is up he doesn’t plan on keeping that money pit like ehm. Most broke ppl do when they drive around these cars and don’t even do research on what engine they’re dealing with or diaphragm of the engine layout because like he mentioned they have no intention on making these cars a diy at home work. They have leman where all this labor dollar goes into
@@bourboncat9229 but I love Scotty due to heavy honesty & not being afraid to tell the truth. Actually, I love many more things about him.
@@Blakecryderman7244 that dude is annoying as fuck I can’t stand assholes yelling
Scotty Kilmer is for me, with Jeremy Clarkson, the two only highest moral authorithies in the automotive world.
Drive euro cars is a nice experience. Be an euro citizen and to have the chance to drive US cars, i love them and i find them cool.
I stop driving euro cars, and now, thanks God, i drive a japanese car Made.
Grettings from Swiss.
Scott Kilmer is the Andrew Tate of cars.
I live in Nigeria and I'm a car buff. I watch every of your videos that I can afford to watch and one thing I've always loved and respected about them is your honesty. I fix cars too and have learnt immeasurably from you. Thank you for all you do, and from the bottom of my heart, I say a big God bless you. Home to meet you sometime soon
Hello Andy, what a beautiful message! I wish you good luck in life in general, keep fixing the cars to the best of your ability. I’m sure your must have happy clients too 😁. Take care, I greet you from Amsterdam.
- Y -
"When you start putting in cheap aftermarket parts, that's when it starts to fall apart."
Couldn't agree more.
This happens quite often with luxury cars in general. I have seen plenty of people put cheap parts on Lexuses because the OEM part was too expensive and then the car runs like poop.
U can buy proper repleacement part which is better and cheaper. Doesnt apply to some fluids like transmision as it is often compay secret xD lol
@@MoodSwingZX True. There are good replacement parts, besides sometime they are even made on the same line, just different QA inspection.
@@AgonxOC A lot of Lexus OEM Parts are just rebadged Toyota parts being as the original ones were just built directly from the same parts Their water Pumps are the same as a Toyota Yaris, Auris or Prius ...once you have the Lexus part number then you're good to go looking for same as a Toyota or getting the OEM Part Number it can be cross referenced other car models...Buy cheap parts and you pay at least Twice...
@@malachy1847 it depends on the Lexus platform. Not all Lexus share parts with Toyota. A FWD based Lexus (ES, RX, etc) is basically an Avalon platform (stretched Camry) so a lot of part are in fact interchangeable. I have saved a lot of money that way. Lexus rips you off a lot of the time. Now if you have a RWD platform; there is no escaping it as some part are not interchangeable.
The 3.5 V6 2GR-FE (Great engine for the most part) has a dirty little secret that will leave you stranded and possibly requiring a new engine. It all happens when the oil cooler rubber hoses, with time and miles, get cocked by the front bank cat in the down pipe. Toyota knew about it, but won’t do the TSB unless the hoses break and if you have more than 120K miles, your are hosed. The updated part is all metal. Lexus wanted 800 bucks to do it. Toyota 250. The parts was included in the cost too. Toyota sold it for just 60 bucks. Lexus over 200. Insanity!
That same Lexus (Now has over 200K) , an RX350, needed a new transmission at 66K. That was a huge fight with Lexus. The input shaft bearing was going bad. That was a noise I had been very familiar with and it took like three trips for them to recognize it. That left a poor taste and the typical joke of the 90s was, if you buy a Japanese V6, make sure you get the manual, as the autos with V6s didn’t hold too well. There lot of stories of RX needing new gearboxes.
You remind me of when I work on my cars, I can tell you're a Toyota mechanic. I always check all the little details, clean things, unclog drainage holes and such. Very nice work, good job!
We don’t do anything other then what’s on the repair order!!
@@dannyr3346 Exact reason why going to a mechanic sucks.
I own an e550a convertible. Though it will accelerate with M BMWs and Camaros, it is best on an empty quiet coastal mountain roads under 50 mph. I often pull over to be passed by more harried drivers.
It's not about the cost or the complexities of what can go wrong or not, it's about the feel of the car I totally get it. I respect his honesty and understand his passion.
AMD is a meticulous Master Automotive Technician who loves his job. What a shining example of a PROUD AMERICAN THAT WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. KUDOS TO YOU YOUNG MAN AND THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEOS.
AMD = Advanced Micro Devices ;)
You American's really do have a thing about showing you're proud for your country, huh 😆
I don't know why but this is so relaxing to watch
I’ve owned a 2008 S550. 4-MATIC. My philosophy and yours are the same. It was wonderful seeing how you did a very professional job on the “car of your dreams.” Great job, my friend. Dave in Phoenix Arizona.
This guy is a Saint. Teaches you to view things on a different angles
I'm a DYI guy and owed a few MBs. On one hand, I was impressed with their engineering and yet sometimes found myself frustrated by it. Driving them was always a really nice experience.
Great point! People should know what to expect when getting a used Mercedes. Driving an depreciated Mercedes would not automatically make Mercedes service/repair cost depreciated too.
as a professional mb technician I can say I respect your dedication and respect for the 221 chassis, they are not for the faint of heart
One of the best intimate video i have ever watched on TH-cam. I was planning to buy a Toyota and i was watching your videos, while we own an MB for another family car. I was so suprised when i saw this video from a Toyota expert. The last moments of the video had just reflected my passion of owning a Merc. Even I cannot explain better my passion to it. Thank you for a delightful video again.
Some interesting German tech - some is logical and makes good sense while other tech is just adding complexity for the sake of being exclusive.
Exactly
My 1985 300D has "features" like an electric "aux water pump" to flow more hot water to the heater core at idle. It can jam to block coolant flow or leak coolant out the shaft to overheat the engine, but worst is that a motor stall draws high current which has caused cabin fires (no fuse in dash control box). To think that U.S. and Japanese cars have never needed one, oh the inhumanity. Another is a temperature sensor to disable the cabin fan until the coolant temperature is sufficiently hot, to prevent blowing cold air on rich owners. Downside is it confuses the heck out of newbies (blower broken?) and another part to fail. Finally, if the "OverVoltage Protection relay" which was kludged in to prevent damage to the EGR control box fails, the dash tachometer stops working and the AC compressor won't engage. The OVP commonly fails and replacements "not avail", so must bypass that claptrap to get the tach and AC working again.
@@williamgrissom9022 WOW - amazing tech. Bet you are glad to have a warranty!
@@andyb8005
No warranties on any of our cars though get unsolicited phone calls every day for warranty scams. Our newest is a 2002 Chrysler. I do my own repairs, incl. auto transmissions. Indeed, have one apart currently for rebuild at 270K miles, awaiting a few parts.
Or just the wow factor to reel people in
I like your sense of humor :) and the way you explain things clearly. You work very clean and your attention to details is great. By the way, only professional mechanics like you can afford to buy high maintenance (900 dollars annually on average :) MB S550. I hope that I can find a good mechanic like you.
Omid Niazi , where do you get that $900 annually figure from?
@@gavnonadoroge3092 My reference point is just a routine annual oil service on MB S550
@@omidniazi4103 ok
I don't know... I have a Merc GLE class, M5, and Z4 M40i and I don't spend 900 annually on maintenance for any of them
@@omidniazi4103 i own gle400 2016 i pay 125 us dollars for oil change at dealer.
I almost feel like buying this car after your ride demo. It's stunning..... Live long and enjoy. You deserve it.
This guy is my favourite pro mechanic.... Only found him last week (Camry 2017 PCV valve) ...no bull and admits to his short-cuts and mistakes..That is the sign of a true pro. My ACE dentist admitted to dropping something down a patient's throat... Only someone who is comfortable and confident in the rest of his work would admit to that...
Funny that I had to leave a Toyota dealership to a Mercedes dealer awhile back so i could learn more other areas of the vehicle to repair. Lol Toyota dealers are one of those places where if you don’t want to do too much, its the place to be. Just routine maintenance over 75% of the time. Lol every now and then we had our lemons but it’s a different story when it comes European vehicles. It’s nonstop every day for us with The serous mechanical side repairing
I don't know if it's still true about the recent models, but about a decade ago, the germans called the VW Passat "Der ewige patient" (the eternal patient).
One of my collegues husband has a Passat from that generation, and it had the engine replaced a couple of years ago. I think VW wanted about $13,000 for a new engine. Same with another collegues husband, but this time with a BMW 5-series (about the same age), but at en even higher price.
@@HepauDK Our 2012 Passat B7 2.0 TDI EU model has been faultless for over 250 000 km. US VW models are nowhere near the quality of their original EU models.
@@kamata93 I was actually talking about the EU models. The US models must really be sh*t then, when the germans themselves comes up with nicknames for the EU models.
And the 2.0 TDI is one of the engines that has seen some major problems. Unlike like the old bulletproof 1.9. Although a collegue had an Audi A4 (B6 Avant S-line) with that engine, that started going into limp mode ever so often, only 2 weeks after he bought it (used). It took Audi 2 months do find the fault, which turned out to be faulty engine management hardware. He always bragged about Audi quality, so I used every possible opportunity after that to remind him about it. :)
@@HepauDK did a engine job in a 550ix and was $17,000 (would've been $26,000 at dealer) and would have been over $40,000 if BMW didn't. Cover 90% of the long block new, N63 was on a program coverage, sweet ride.
A lot of owners leave the routine maintenance and trade them up or sell them needing a tonne of work.
However there's some dreadful Euros out there.
Recent models - it's all the emission stuff that make the engine management complex. The basic mechanical stuff is normally reliable.
It's getting to be mechanics don't work on mechanical stuff theyre computer technicians.
Keep an eye on the cam sensors. They love to leak into the harness and the oil makes it all the way to the ME (ECU). Engine harness replacement is and engine out procedure. Unplug the connectors at the cam sensor once a month or so and look for oil. If you see any, replace the sensors right away. Btw, I’m talking about the cam position sensors on top front of the engine and not the cam magnets in front of the engine (although those leak too). Also, keep an eye on the cooling circuit from the front mid engine area going into the turbos. If you see any, order all the lines as well as the thermostat housing - they all will break. Other than that, the 278 is not that bad of an engine. Once in awhile a turbo may go out or an injector (needs to be coded upon replacement. Lastly, when you’re doing plugs, you need to properly torque them (23nm) to ensure proper orientation. 15y MB master tech.
Here in Germany there are some companies selling so called "Ölstoppkabel" wich translates to "Oil stopping cables". These can give you peace of mind with this very known issue of the sensors leaking for a few bucks.
I know of one Mercedes expert in particular that is known for good quality cables that stop the oil before it can get into the wiring harness. The name is "Motoren Zimmer".
Once these cables are installed, you don't have to worry about the sensors anymore. The plugs and cables are made so that it won't be possible for oil to creep up through the wires.
I'm pretty sure you will be able to get these in North America as well. No need to replace any more sensors. ; )
Thanks for the tip. I see small leak near the position sensors on my GL450.
My 2012 S550 is so nice. The S class seats are perfect. Twin turbos are fast! I bought a Florida car with 60 k miles for 15K USD. I can afford to pay for repairs with all the money I saved. I do my own oil, brakes, filters. Remember to change trans fluid and filter.
I noticed in the garage you are working in has what appears to be Toyota Service Uniform colors as a your garage wall paint scheme. If so , that’s a cool touch to your dedication to Toyota.
It is! They’re actually really good colors for a garage
I really like it!
So awesome my brother! May the Lord bless you and keep you as well!
I wish we were neighbors. I am a retired auto tech, though at 70 still do most of the work on my Toyotas. Thank you for the video and all you do!
You are a car person! Yeah you know it's not as reliable as a Toyota , but you like it.
This is what I like about AMD, way more than that guy that owns a 94 Celica
Cool video. Love your meticulous way of doing things. A+. I watch you AND the "other mechanic gentleman" whom also loves Toyotas. 🙏☝✌
@@trdrav4 Now I Do Enjoy His Reviews! He’s Very Good But, Scotty Is The G.O.A.T.! Lol He Calls Toyota Out On Their BS Too. He’s just Honest but, I do believe The Part Of Being A Real Enthusiast Is To Drive What You Love Not Based On Just Reliability👌🏽
Depends on what model Mercedes you get. Every mercedes i’ve owned has lasted at least 300k miles. Mile CLS550 is at 193k. Still drives like new 🤷🏽♂️
The sensors in the air filter housings are air temp sensors. The notice in the brake pad box about SBC brakes does not apply to this car. Some of the older cars used the same pads and did have SBC brakes, and that brake system can injure you if not disabled before removing.
I still drive a Mercedes S420 I bought new in 1986 when I had more money the sense lol....its still my favorite car till this day that I own.
Sometimes you just love your car. People give me crap about spending money on and continuing to drive my old 94 Camry SE, but I just like the thing. I'm glad to see you feel the same way about your dream car.
Was good to see you closer, it felt like doing the maintenance with you, and off course honest and humble as always. Great video!!! God keep blessing you.
Such a positive and dare I say "right" attitude towards the enjoyment of one's hobbies, as fruit of one's labours. I applaud your philosphy.
[flailing arms about madly] "It's a money pit!" Sorry, I've been watching a lot of Scotty.
He also said mechanics prefer not to have endless money pits because the last thing they want after working on cars for a week, is to spend their days off working on their cars.
@@jesusaguilar4585 Car Wizard as well. Iirc he recommended a Buick 3.8L.
Be careful - mental health problems are a known outcome of watching that dufus.
My thoughts exactly (money pit). Why not get a much better made Lexus GS or LS with a V8?
The oil last a lot more... if it's the original Mercebes.... Formula on that one if I remember... it's about 30.000 miles.... or 5 years
As a Mercedes technician that came from a background starting off as a John Deere technician working on heavy AG equipment, I have found these cars to be easy to work on if you’re not afraid to tear things apart. I love the engineering that goes into Mercedes’ products, BMW and Audi on the other hand are a whole different animal. With that being said don’t know if you eventually caught this but Mercedes’ wipers have a small sticker covering the replacement indicator that you need to remove.
What's your opinion on current BMWs and Mercs ? Any thoughts on what's going on with lease/finance spikes? Will they go down?
@@borghorsa1902 with the push for Electric vehicles, at this point I don’t see the prices going down anytime soon if ever anymore, people keep paying these absurd prices so they keep incentivizing companies to keep the increases
I was definitely intimidated when i started working on OM642 sprinters but now im used to them.
What are your thoughts on the W124 single wiper blade?
There he goes......... AMD was hoping when you'd show up 😆
I always feel so happy driving my E Class, when life is troublesome, it always makes me feel better.
You have one advantage others don't - you're a mechanic and you can practically fix it yourself without having to go to the dealership and break the bank. Good for you.
Not really an advantage... Most people don't go home after work to do what they do at work. I imagine people get tired of it.
@@jkxss
Regardless, its still an advantage.
@@MrNanah38 fair I guess. You knowing how to basic troubleshoot by working as a mechanic is gonna put you ahead of like 99.9% of the population
@Go tigers nah, most people will avoid trying to work on their own stuff. Be it detailers, mechanics, electricians, etc. Yeah if they HAVE to do it they will. I would guess most mechanics would just work on their car at the shop when it's closed for like any fluid change/simple diy. No mechanic is driving around a s class because one they don't make that much, two, most mechanics like grandma cars (see car wizard channel).
Also, working on a project car (which every mechanic has) isn't really the same thing as your daily driver.
Lastly, if we are talking about people who actually have money for a s-class (or let's just generalize and say $200k+ car), they usually make more money in the time it would take for them to learn, get tools, and DIY then they would pay for the service.
I personally think most people making that much money all have the ability to learn and do the DIY car stuff, it's just whether they are open to learning it.
I work on my own car right now (not electrical) and I hate have anyone else work on it. I understand when I get older it won't make sense for me to work on it (especially with stuff like Porsche where you need work to be done at a shop to stay within warranty). Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should learn to work on their car so they know when something doesn't feel right.
One piece of advice, pull the oil filter first, then the drain plug. you’ll drain all that old oil back into the pan. Very good video by the way!
I think he waited with the oil filter hoping it would drip less.
@@perwestermark8920 😂
Wtf that makes no sense you can clog up the pick up tube or the drain hole
@@DylanL69 The reason you pull the oil filter first, is all the residual oil drains back into the pan, the can change the filter then pull the drain plug. He had already installed the drain plug when he pulled the filter, old oil goes right inside the sealed pan.
@@tischlerbmw21 you should never do that because you don't what debris is in the engine like metal shavings for example
The last 5 mins of this video is priceless. Best car advice in the world. Buy an extended wrrnty. Adjust your expectations, and remember even if its a 10yr old car. It was still 100k$ and parts and service are going to be pricey.
I love your attitude. I bought a 2018 Volvo new and now has 70k and not the first problem. The dealership made me mad so now I do all the maintenance using OE/OEM parts. I buy the special tools as needed and look forward to working on it. I to love the solid, secure,safe ride.
On a Mercedes you're actually supposed to suck the oil through the dipstick tube with a special tool, much easier if you have the equipment, and since they're designed for that there's no oil left in the pan.
I also love that the filter can be replaced from under the hood, you never need to jack up the car for an oil change.
Also, if you want great aftermarket wipers, Bosch is excellent and comes with adapter clips for any car.
You're supposed to fill half of the oil through the fill hole and half of it through the oil filter hole, then wait for 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure 99,9% of mechanics won't follow the correct procedure and run the engine half dry on startup.
@@dingdong2103 If this is true, it is min my mind stupid design, but in the real world it would not really do any damage filling all in one of the places. There is still a oil film on every part in the engine, and the oil pump starts up as soon the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts. .
@@mbc1994 The engine has many cavities and even a small amount of time running without lubrication is damaging in a high performance engine.
@@dingdong2103 I have never said anything other... The point is exactly that, that there is some oil left in the engine, even in all the cavities there i still oil film that will lubricate the engine the few seconds it takes for the oil pressure to build.
@@mbc1994 I guess you know better than the techs who designed the engines then. You should start an oil change business.
You have passion and pride in yourself and your work. You teach others! Can't say enough!
You have a new fan from Tanzania... I am in love with Toyotas as they are brilliant over here.... makes our days goes by.
It was awesome to learn stuffs for Mercedes... watched from begining to the end.... Nice flow..
It’s nice to hear an honest opinion from someone who understands mechanics. They are beautiful, but be prepared to PAY!
Nice descent bloke , good & honest . rare these days.
It is easier for you to own it, you can repair most of the issues yourself and at least you cannot be fooled by the Mercedes service. Me here in Germany, for peace of mind I prefer to drive a Honda or Toyota :D
wow really! is audi / bmw reliable?
Smart man
Are they often cheated on the service In Germany?
@Prime Artemis my experience as well. I've known my neighbors and my friends who drive Hondas and Toyotas and they break more often than my 5 series. People really just like bitching about European cars which is good i guess...it drives down the price even more on the new (used) cars the moment they drive off the dealership...easier to pick it up for people like me (or us) ..lol..cause we get more for our money.
Smart
I’m not a mechanic, nor do I have a Mercedes. But I enjoyed watching this video
This is a great video and it says a lot about which car each individual chooses. No car is perfect. No car has everything. There are obvious “pros and cons” with each decision. RS. Canada
I loved watching you work on this machine throughout the video. It's clear you enjoy your hobby, appreciating its over-engineered benefits to its flaws with aristocratic price tag for maintenance and repairs. It reminds me of old Triumph motorcycle lovers. The machines would continuously leak oil and vibrate parts to the point of falling off, but the owners were completely enthralled with the aesthetic lines of the machine and how they felt when they rode them. I was one of those folks at one time too.
So I get it for what you're saying. I still appreciate our Toyotas for their dependability, solid ride, even if they aren't as perfect as the over-engineered brand. At least I can afford to get the rotors turned for a brake job.
Owned a Mercedes. Fun to drive but glad I own an Avalon now. 😊
I'm still one of those folks.....
10:40 I think drilled rotors become directional only when they are slotted, so the slots can spin off the dust in the same direction the wheel is rotating. That's why most aftermarket "drilled and slotted" rotors are sold in pairs and marked R & L. when rotors are drilled and slotted the holes will follow the design angle of the slots only for decorative reasons.
It's the internal cooling fins that are kinda rotating in the wrong direction I'm worried about here. But if that's the way they are supposed to go on the car, I guess someone has thought of that and it's ok.
@ Yes I agree. I also think it looks like the rotor had curved vanes and was sitting on the wrong side...Usually non rotation-directional rotors have straight vanes...
You probably added an extra mile or 2 per gallon after this servicing. This guy has a really awesome likable attitude. I appreciated this video.
Liked the video because of unbiased, logical and truthful comments at the end.
as a mercedes technician this is interesting to watch. keep up the good work
17:12 "Driving like a human being...which i dont". Man, you are pure gold
I love how neat you work. You are a man after my own heart. Keep up the great work.
Really enjoyed this. Appreciate the honestly you show in all your videos and the fact your approach to cars is a lot like mine. Nothing wrong with buying a fun car that may not always be as reliable as a Toyota but understand there are compromises that are worth it sometimes. I own a Toyota and a Mercedes among a few others. My favorite mechanic TH-cam page.
I maintain the wifes 2008 W221 S class which is chipped rather than remapped, cruise at 70mph on the motorway returns 40mpg (they are called 'race chip' in the UK). I virtually never buy mercedes parts which are a fraction of the cost. She has had it now for 5 years and still loves it more than me...
My wife's E63 AMG has that engine and I love it! 550HP. Putting that power through to the road is so refined and effortless, it's scary.
Enjoyed the video AMD. Totally understand about unwinding on the way home. Thanks for sharing your dream car.
I worked on my dad's Mercedes back in 1974. Very intelligent engineering and easy to understand.
I really liked seeing what it is like working on a MB versus Toyota. Counting the cars we have for our two sons, I have 3 Toyotas and a Lexus and do all the maintenance on them. I’m thankful that Toyota tends to find a design that works and keep using it for many years. Congrats on the success of your TH-cam channel. I’m so glad I found your channel.
What does Scotty kilmer butthole and Toyota cars have in common. They both leak tranny fluid.
@Jake Dank
You just crying because you bought garbage and you try justifying it by attacking Toyota
And to that I say enjoy seeing your mechanic every week you fucking moron
@@jakedank2746 lmao
2 kinds of people own Mercedes for the long run. The person who can fix it themselves and the person who can afford to pay someone else to fix it. Bought a 2000 MB new and the key battery lasted 18 years.
Hahahaha key battery lol
I do basic maintenance myself such as he just did and I find Mercedes to be so much easier to work on than Toyota. Never understood why the dealer charged so much. Of course anything beyond brakes and oil is beyond me so off the dealer it goes.
The starter battery in my parents' 5 series BMW lasted 16 years, until they sold it and how knows how much longer after that.
Trying to share that if you don't beat the absolute hell out of things and give them SOME attention, they will last a long time!!!!!!
Those older key fobs last forever. My 96 Thunderbird's keyfob still works despite the battery never being replaced in 20 years (possibly 25 years). My Jag, however, has a fancy smart key fob and the battery just went bad. I don't know how old it is, but possibly 12 years old. It was at least 4 years old.
I just bought a GLS 550 with the same motor. Amazing how powerful it is and pure pleasure to drive the Benz.. Best SUV I've ever driven
You deserve to be millionaire. Very humble and funny human being! Best wishes!
Seining you clean everything made me feel normal lol. I thought I was a little out there . I do exactly the same every single time. Thank you for sharing.
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Yea you are out there, but only because maintenance is a bad word. Keep it up!
I'm in Norway where we'll change over to winter tyres. In order to find a car nut you'll literally see if the air valve is perpendicular to the car logo. Two times a year for the four of them. Car nuts.
You work exactly how I did when I was a full time tech and how I still work on my own vehicles to this day. Just found your channel and love it brother!!!
I have a 2010 Mercedes S600, and all I can say is ' be ready'. Because depends on whoever used to own the vehicle before you, you are in for some surprises, very expensive surprises... By the way I love the Jack, I'm trying to get one myself.
Two things: 1) Using all genuine replacement parts, don't scrimp, no buyers remorse. And 2) That you can get into this vehicle, at the end of a very loud and busy day, drive home and be relaxed by the time you get there. By the way, the main ECU is exposed to dissipate heat, brilliant design. Thanks Mr. CCN~!
Yes about the ECU. I cannot imagine why someone thought it would be a good idea to put delicate electronics right in the centre of the engine where it generates the most heat. Heat rises to the top, so yeah, go figure...
I never used genuine Mercedes parts if I could find an after mkt. parts and never had a problem. I saved many thousands of dollars and never had one failure. The things that constantly broke were Mercedes OEM parts
@@jimhamilton3544 Even the genuine "Mercedes' Key Fob battery? :-)
@Mike S Pretty hot. With a big V8 engine AND 2 turbos it can be very toasty in there. It is a well known fact that having the ECU where it is was a stupid mistake and there are many instances where the ECU has had to be replaced because of this stupid design flaw. Watch a channel called "Diagnosis Dan". There's a video in there on th very subject.
Depending on vehicle ford and GM OEM brake parts wear rather quickly compared to aftermarket and then of course you have varying degrees of aftermarket quality. So it's a roll of the dice either way.
Pads were similar on my 2014 C300, they went in like an Atari cartridge, really easy to do a brake job compared to my Ford Escape. Congrats on your S550, that is a nice car.
I personally learned a valuable lesson on a small engine that may or may nor apply to this or other engines, and it was as simple as an oil change. Before replacing the drain plug on the oil pan, get the filter off. It was a cartridge filter, but I will always adhere to this practice from now on, canister, cartridge, whatever
Sigh...... I spent 19 years supervising the maintenance/repairs on these cars. 1976 to 1995.
You have nailed the essence of enjoying the ownership of a brand which has stayed with the original
company motto, "Das Beste oder Nichts." It is so nice to hear someone who "gets it" and can verbalize what it all means. Back then, you had what seemed to me a broader product offering which catered to a broader spectrum of consumers. When I began, the MSRP for a 4-speed manual 240-D was $9995. This was a bomb proof diesel with no sunroof and crank-up windows! If you bought one early in life and faithfully did the maintenance you could still be driving it today, with easily over half a million miles. There was no automatic climate control, no auto dimming lights, nothing. In Germany they were everywhere as taxicabs. On the other end of the spectrum, there was the '77-'79 6.9. A beast, and still serves as the fastest I've ever driven a car. Hard, high speed Michelin XWX tires so no fear. The speedometer was falling through 145 when I began to catch other cars at a rapid clip and had to stifle the fun. Business moguls, lawyers, famous athletes, musical stars, all were customers. But, things changed with the190 series. A blind person could pick out their service files from the cabinet by merely lifting the heaviest folders, not having to read the model number! A sad down hill slide in as Lexus quality stole the hearts of many a former M-B customer. Mine included...... I LOVE my RX. It irks my wife that I don't use the county Bookmobile to bring books to a spot 1/2 mile from our home, rather preferring to drive ten miles downtown instead. Any excuse will do to drive my sweet ride......
My 1979 240D with manual crank windows and 4 speed manual transmission stickered for $16,000. Part of that is the collapse of the dollar to Mark exchange rate but also that the car was built like a tank. Yes I still have it. It is the only US W123 I’ve ever seen with factory rear headrests.
@@bobbbobb4663 Indeed. Between the last of the W115 240d's (1976) and your car, the exchange rate was killing us. Congratulations on a job well done. How many miles now? And, tell me. Did the plastic trim around your window frames curl up and die? I owned a couple of cars that happened to!
@@thomasroberts8024 Thanks. I bought the car in 1993 and am the second owner. Little over 300,000 miles on her. Haha...yes the plastic trim has shrunk around a few of the doors. Also had a few rust spots to tackle especially around the weather stripping in the trunk. She is currently getting suspension components replaced but should be back in the road soon. Truly the last era of a car that Pierre Hedary calls an analog car that does not require any microprocessor to run.
When I bought my W221, the maintenance was so expensive, I paid for mechanics courses at the local community college. Everything was great, until I needed to change a headlight bulb. Traded it in for a Lexus. But I do miss the driving experience.
I’m waiting for the bulbs to go. One of them is slowly turning pink so it’s going
How much are the headlight bulbs?
@@andersonrodriguez8258 I bought a pair for 30 bucks. Here is the description, Lumenon HID Xenon Conversion Headlight Replacement Bulbs 1 Pair (D1 D1S D1R D1C, 8000k Crystal Blue). Very challenging job with the heated headlight wash system.
@Prime Artemis Nah, but I think the lexus lights are more reliable.
Got an ML55 and it is just so enjoyable in the same way as you explain here.
Makes it so much easier to spend the money and time to keep it in perfect condition!
I am really impressed with your work ethic ~ particularly how you clean the INSIDE of the wheels! (I thought I was the only one that bothered to do this).
I agree that German cars are fun to drive. I really enjoyed my 1998 BMW 2.8 Z3 Roadster manual trans. I was impressed with the power and torque available at any speed and the handling. I sold it with 211,000 miles. It still looked new and ran great.
Very nice to see a fellow OCD person.
Why not clean the air filter compartment and arrange the oil fill cap properly.
Great job.
Stay safe and well
You are 100% right. Money is not a everything.
I love Mercedes, I done my apprenticeship Mercedes Training School in Sri Lanka1999. After that I joined to Cummins. Hopefully,
One day my dream car will be S class AMG.
Great video. You make me laugh about driving like a normal human being. I try to drive slow but many times, I hit the gas also. You have a great way of maintaining your car. I've watched many of your Toyota hybrid videos. You are a master in my opinion. I'll keep watching.
“When you drive like a human being….and I don’t.” 🤣🤣🤣 I enjoy your honesty!
I love your attitude about enjoying your car
Don't have anything quite as fancy as an S-Class - we have a nearly 6yr-old GLC 300. Our first M-B and something I've noticed is the attention to detail in design. Nearly everything operates differently from every other vehicle I've ever owned, but you get used to it and it's always better! I understand completely why you like the S.
38:05 Excellent point. When my brother was a service manager at a British Car dealership, I worked with him for a month right out of high school, during a summer month. Think Mercedes motor cars are nicer looking, etc., but I did get a chance to move a couple of Jaguar’s around, one was the classic XJ-12. Very temperamental automobile. Once you get it started, (manual dashboard choke), reminded me of the years ago Rolls Royce piston aircraft engine sound. Smooth as can be above idle. Thanks for sharing your car, really enjoyed the ride-along. All the best to you.
I'm not that much into cars but watching you is just a pleasure. Thanks!
Nice to see you enjoy your dream car & tell us to make proper expectations for what you get.
I’m DYI mechanic also & with cars being more computerized it is get harder to DYI unless you get tools to do diagnostics on them.
Great choice AMD. ABSOLUTELY beautiful car. They do drive amazing. Can't wait for a couple years update review on this white beauty. That model years of the S class is by far my favorite. Congrats on buying your dream car. Love your videos. 👍
Love this man. Honest and simple.
Terrific video. Love your attention to detail and doing it right! A clean car is a car you can be proud of. I keep mine clean inside and out. And you're right about needing an extended warranty with a German car!
Mercedes does have some nice engineering features. My C230 had one wiper that extended and contracted while it swung side to side. The cruise control was extremely easy, a simple lever that moved in four directions (up, down, forward, back).
You are so much like me as I own a 1981 Mercedes 380SL and it has been a huge learning curve for me as everything is over engineered.
However it usually has a good purpose for this. I like your thoroughness and OCDs of how you do things.
As I am the same way. Your presentation was absolutely awesome and thank you.
The fact that you have the abilty to talk in front of the camera without editing a single word blew my mind. also very good video! Subscribed!
Beautiful car. I'm guessing the kids aren't allowed to eat or drink in it? lol Thanks for mixing things up. I love Toyotas but it's cool to see maintenance on other cars being done.
No food or drinks in this car! That’s how cars usually loose their “new car” smell.
@@TheCarCareNut Not when it has that crayon smell 😂
@Mike S Who knows. Makes me hungry though. 🖍️
The S550 is a beautiful car. It is my second S-Class (a 2009 after the previous gen 2005 S500 which I lost to a flash flood).
It is also my 3rd S-Class...a 2013.
The 2009 is naturally aspirated but the 2013 is, like yours, turbo. Both are wonderful drives. Smooth and quiet and comfortable and, when you want it to be, powerful and sporty.
You make an excellent point at the end about why so many consider these "nightmares". This is EXACTLY what I've been telling everyone for many years.
These vehicles are $100k+ when new. They might depreciate over time but maintenance, parts, and labor do NOT depreciate over time. If anything, they continue to get more expensive (inflation).
If a person can't afford the vehicle new, then they should be careful getting into one of these used. If they are ready to have repair/maintenance bills of a $100k vehicle, then no problem...otherwise, yes, nightmare time.
All my cars were bought new and I've had virtually no problems with them. The problem many have is when they buy used/out of warranty and start cutting corners with aftermarket parts.
I’ve always wanted the late 90’s S500 or SL500 the best. Considering buying it be but parts are hard to find
That’s too crazy of a coincidence. I was fortunate enough to own a barely used (only 54k mi when I got it) 2008 Toyota Solara XLE since 2012 and after just letting it go to a new home this past year (I had over 243,000 miles on it) it has served me very well and will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish Toyota still made them! I was able to find a nice used 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with only 97,050 miles at a local dealer and I also love it very much. I’ve only had it for 7 months and somebody just recently hit me who wasn’t paying attention. Thankfully it was not totaled but I completely understand, I’m sorry you didn’t get to keep yours. It’s still in the shop right now I can’t wait to get it back. Hopefully they can make it good as new again. I hate to see a perfectly good Toyota sitting in the scrapyard. My old one is still on the road and I hope the new owner will enjoy it as much as I had. I still get nostalgic every time I see somebody else driving their Solaras around town.
we was gonna go cruisin, we was gonna cruisin in his solara mann! we was gonna go cruisin
I have done a couple brake jobs on the E550 with the same brakes as your car. It has a great braking system. I also has the same concern about the direction of the rotors but you're right. Both front rotors are in fact "left" rotors.
As a piece of advice. Check the coolant level on the intercooler. It has a separate reservoir as it is a water-to-air intercooler. Both of the ones I have worked on were low.
Being a mercedes tech i can say take anything you think you know about cars and throw it out the window they arent 2 left rotors they are actually non directional. And it confuses many people with the way they are drilled.
@@richardlovasi9593 lmaooo thats so german i love it
Awesome video, it's not rocket science when your a diy guy, German technology is awesome 👏, I own a 99 S500 and love it 😀
Oh man those were ugly
I'm glad you found your dream car and you're happy with it, but you have the advantage of being a professional mechanic, even if you're not a Mercedes mechanic. That gives you a "big" leg up on the rest of us when it comes to being able to afford that car. You mentioned those that strongly caution against buying a Mercedes that's that old and even pointed out one of them by briefly flashing his picture on the screen. That's ok. You implied that he and others might not have even driven one of these cars and that may be true. Then again, it might not. Still, what I found kind of funny was that your subsequent comments could easily be used as confirmation of what SK and others have been trying to tell us with regards to buying an older Mercedes, at least for us mere mortals. ;-) It's a great looking car though, a very nice example and obviously well maintained. Enjoy!
Scotty test drives the cars he works on. His comment about diagnosing intermittent faults in today's video: "That's the bane of being a mechanic - you spend a lot of time just driving other people's cars around, hoping that the stupid things act up." (He was using his ThinkCar "fancy scan tool" to record live data). He also tests his own workmanship.
@@brianvogt8125 yup, he does test drive the cars he works on. You have do, he says if you don’t, the job isn’t done right. Correct.