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TH-cam/Google is selling your data. With 1M subscribers, some of your subs have been hacked. You want to be a youtuber, this is the price you pay. You didn't think this channel was free?
Lol, make that money. But that "service" is a joke. They look for your info on these scammy dangerous dark web places. Then puts in a nice request that they stop their bad behavior, and then they do............. Cause they are such good people and do it cause they asked nicely. more like aura is another scam
As an MB mechanic my tech brain immediately goes into a list of common issues seeing this W221😂 it’s in good hands with this guy. Very informative and smart as heck
Sooooo lets check your math..... If you paid $100K and keep paying $10K a visit to a shop ... or ... If you bought it for $10K...... Catch my drift. Also, if you had it for $10K you prolly will be fine overlooking air suspension leaking overnight. That all said. The mere existence of this car with its torx bolts/nuts galore and inaccessibility of almost any item screams "This was not designed to be fixed". German engineering at its best. S550. "S" stands for "Serious". "550" stands for "550 problems".
Exactly true, another thing if your not mechanical do not buy these, these are either for the ultra rich, or for somebody who doesn’t have an issue doing their own repairs which will save you thousands.
I call Car Wizard “The Dream Crusher”, because he brings our dream cars on his channel and crushes our dreams of ownership with the reality of expensive repairs. 😅😂
He is such a clown and a drama queen. I own a w221 s600 so I know. Why would you do genuine mercedes parts on a 15 year old car? There are plenty of perfect OEM parts available. Also some of this stuff is pure maintenance i.e. brakes, spring, etc . Also why would he leave out the car mileage?? Kind of a important fact here. Clearly the guy drives it hard if he's hitting paint cans on the highway! Pure dramaqueen. We have a mechanic that charges a 10th of what this "wizard" charges. Never forget the Hoovie Merc that Wizard screwed up!! Go watch that video.
@@lovequeen7080 I live in Europe - in Poland. I have several cars - including W221 5.5 2010. currently 320 thousand km (200 thousand miles). a very durable machine, but if you buy it used, it must be from a good source. If you buy a butchered piece of garbage, everything will break down - it doesn't matter if it's a Merc or a Lexus. both will have huge costs. I agree that these films are intended to create drama - otherwise there would be no viewership.
I recently took a 4,200 road trip in my 2009 Crown Vic. I did a inspection before the trip, needed nothing. All it needed when I got back was oil + filter change.
The W221 is one of very few Mercedes that are actually nice enough to deal with their maintenance/repair costs. They're spectacular cars to drive and insanely comfortable.
Next week Tyler Hoovie drives in with a S550. "Weezard look what I bought, an S550 that the owner said it was maintained by you" Can you take a look? 😂😂
If that's true (and I can't dispute that)....a very dangerous game they're playing (unless they have another reliable primary vehicle that's paid for.). Even then...
6 หลายเดือนก่อน +15
And you still have the old rich guy who still owns them and says do whatever at the dealership
@@martinsvensson6884 Yes. When an unexpected $4000 to $6000 car repair bill doesn't faze someone. That is the kind of owner to buy from. They don't do half ass, stop gap repairs.
I have 2 w221s . Only buy 4matic if you need it. The rwd has far fewer issues , maintenance, and timely service are the key to these . The m273 is a solid v8 engine and can last forever.
I was driving my Dad's S320 and the alternator went out. Dealer cost? $625 Got the alternator rebuilt for $215. Still expensive, but not horrible. Installed myself so no labor, but I had to disconnect the sway bar to get the alternator out then in, adding more labor if you're paying for it. If you're driving a German luxury car, be prepared to pay German luxury car prices to fix or maintain them.
@@marcodalpoz864LS460 has a lot of problems also. Steering racks, multiple control arms that don’t last too long, engine leaks, and more. Another large, heavy and complex vehicle.
That’s the exact reason I chose the BMW 750i xdrive over those 2 and mane she scoot like no other and user friendly if needs to be worked on. Maserati use to be my favorite car until Stellantis brought them out🤦🏾♂️
I don't know who is hating who :-) I'm living in Europe. Driveshaft, 372 euro. Radiatorhose 20 euro, balljoint 26 euro, brakes, rotors and pads 160 euro. Carterventialtion 21 euro, the shokabsorber 314 euro. That's under thousend euro (around 1100 US dollar). Discaimer, these are OE parts. Why not, it's not a brand new car. Sorry for my bad Englisch, it's not my native language.
Yeah even in the US there are cheaper parts options than quoted…the major problem here is extreme labor cost. That said even $8K USD is far cheaper than a new car.
High dollar repair techs. I would never go to these guys. I use a German German tech. Parts are no where near their prices, and besides, these guys ate very negative about Mercedes.
Yes, exactly. Very good point. It’s about VALUE proposition. Use OE parts to keep it on the road and enjoy an extremely nice car without having to buy new.
Ah, for the days of the 1970's Mercedes. Remember when they were super reliable and easy to work on? Our neighbors had a diesel, D 240 maybe. As a motorhead, half a million was a lot in my mind. I remember him telling my Dad he just hit 500,000 miles. He was impressed. So was I!
70s-late 80s MB diesels are the best cars ever built. I think the record for them is the 240D MB from 1976 with 2.8 million miles. That was before the bean counters took over.
Yep still have my R107 and runs like a champ. Anything after 1990 isn't better when Mercedes decided to go global and build everything for everybody. Now they have the same problems as GM.
Exactly why I've ALWAYS kept a Sacco Bruno designed 90's era Benz in the driveway for the past 20+ years. I just added this W221 to my W124, but the W124 goes NOWHERE.
For the past 9 years I have owned a 2010 S550. The 2010 was facelifted. It is a better build than the 2007-2009s. It was a one-owner car that I bought off trade from the MB dealer. It was immaculate, and I have maintained it similarly. Judging by what the Wizard said the owner of this car has maintained this car pretty well. This car is worth fixing. You can not buy them anymore. The motor and 4matic Transmission on these cars is bulletproof. The build quality is fantastic. They have almost 400 HP, stop on a dime and have enough technology to keep a person happy without feeling over welmed. The wheel bearings on these cars only last about 50,000 miles. The car is so heavy and roads in NYC are so bad that get eaten up. The motor mounts was a poor design by Mercedes. They incorporated gel into the mounts to cut back on vibration. It's MB over-engineering at it's finest but, they rupture due to changes in the atmosphere. The new design is much better and should last the life of the car. That driveshaft is something special. I'm not sure how long MB used that design for. Hoses, and gaskets are wear ite,s. It wouldn't surprise me if they were all original items. Worth fixing. It will be good for years to come.
As a Benz tech, I disagree with your assessment. First, the 2010 is the same as the 2007 as far as body style; it was in 2012 that the 221 chassis got a facelift. Second, these cars are everywhere in used car lots, it is not difficult to find at all. Third, the M273 engine is NOT bulletproof, the M113 that came before it was. Fourth, motor mounts of any design will fail over time, complaining that the more advanced components in your $100,000 car are more sensitive is cringe as hell.
I bought my 07 S550 in late 2021 with 79k on it for $12,000 from an estate situation. The owner was asking $16,000 and it was very well kept. So I got a good deal and it's been a GREAT car. Best daily driver I've ever had, hands down. 101k on it now and while i have done a few preemptive things they have all been cheap and easy. It did need a front inner axle boot but again that was cheap and pretty easy. I would absolutely buy another one. My first Mercedes was actually an 04 E55 that I bought in mid-2020 from a guy who also had an 09 S550. When I was about to buy my S550 I called him (it had been a year and a half) and asked about his ownership experience with his S550. He had nothing but good things to say and said he would absolutely buy another one. I am full DIY so that does help. I don't find these cars scary at all. I understand some can be troublesome but on the whole I assess that these are good cars.
Same here. Bought an 03 w 46k miles for only 5k from the original owner. Up to 98k now just wear items and maint. Original owner never missdled an oil change . Always hit service A & B on time. So far so good.
This just screams deferred maintenance tbh, people have passed this on having bought it heavily depreciated and not bothered taking the big bill hit on the maintenance they should’ve done. Seals, CV shafts, coolant hoses and suspension components are all among wear components on any car regardless of make.
2011 E550 here. It has a lot of the same gadgets and gizmos. i purchased the vehicle with 23K on the odometer in 2018. It's now sitting at 66k on the odometer in 2024. I have every record of service in that time. I take it to a local specialist twice a year for service. Including the wear items like fluids, brakes, tires, air filters, spark plugs, diagnostic costs ect. All major repairs in that time were a new rear air strut, oil filter housing leak, upper radiator hose leak, F32 fuse box and air compressor replacement. Total service and repair costs in that time was $7,329.00 or a little over ($1,200) just in repairs a year to keep it on the road. So yeah, it's expensive to own. Hell of a car though. The list price on mine was $75K in 2011
My father in law has a 2008 ML550 parked in an underground parking about 1000 miles away near his second business location. Everytime we travel, I take it for a spin, and every single time something has failed and needs fixing. He did use it first 2-3 years as a daily and then parked near his second location, as it was too unreliable. It got about 170k km, or about 105k miles, and most were done in the first few years, probably only 10k miles in the last 13 years. The only thing I like about the car - is the sound, sounds amazing, always floor a bit in the underground parking and brings me smiles.
GRIMES!1!! Thanks Guys. You continue to reinforce my automotive philosophy that, "Simple, Boring and Reliable is GOOD." (Even when much older IF properly serviced/maintained.) I see/hear these necessary repair numbers for European imports and I'm reminded of my station in life. And I'm okay with that. Thanks very much again.
I have an 08 S550 and LOVE IT!!! I do all my own work and get parts from FCP Euro and Rock Auto. I bought new engine mounts and keep putting off doing them but now the wizard is making want to check my driveshaft and just replace it at the same time just because.
Solid, as in these engines will last forever as long as you keep up with costly maintenance. As opposed to the cadillac northstar v8. Maintenance or no maintenance, northstars will brick eventually between 125 and 200k
I'd much rather find out about things like these before a long roadtrip, than after. I've had some very...entertaining long drives in old cars that decided the long trips were a good time to act up.
Owning an older S550 comes down to this- Do you want to polish an old diamond or just buy a cubic zirconia. These cars are very well built and in my opinion even when they need repairs are 100 times better than newer cars on the road today.
$1200 for just one strut? Dont know where he gets these prices from but i just did all 4 struts, compressor, and valve block on my 2013 s550 for just $3k. Had one leaking strut so i figured id do all four .
There is an identical 4matic/Airmatic car parked around the corner from me. Well, not exactly parked, more like squatting... 😖 Someone on the internet had the nerve to state: "The air ride suspension in a Mercedes Benz can last up to 10 years before needing replacement. This is due to the high-quality components used in these cars." Wow, 10 whole years! 👏
2010 S550 .....I had a Wheel Speed sensor go out (right front) when driving down the interstate; The only indication on the instrument panel was that the Distronic CC system along with the ABS braking system were non-functional and got the car should go to the workshop ASAP message.....Got home threw the Autel analyzer on the car and discovered in additional to the wheel speed sensor being kaput, there were 27 other DTCs that were generated by the speed sensor failure.....everything that deciphered some input from the turning of the wheel threw a fault code. The car couldn't figure where it was on the planet from the GPS system, had a hard time figuring out what speed it was going when it did move and ABS, ...No way!! ....Plus a bunch of other DTCs that were just bewildering. I got a good lesson on how intolerant the car became from missing just one input ! The good news is that after replacing the wheel speed sensor, I just reset all the other faults and none of them showed up again. It has been 2 years and 15K miles later and still going good. These cars are like bad drugs...once you get hooked, there ain't no going back!
I own a 2017 C43 AMG that now has 65k miles, bought it nearly two years ago now at 35k miles. Figured I had plenty of life left before the big expenses turned up. I've had to replace the washer fluid pump, parking brake on one side, engine mounts, three separate oil leaks, a front diff leak, two valve cover gaskets, and all my parking sensors. If I didn't buy an extended warranty with the car I would have had to pay over $25k in parts and labor to fix these issues. Meanwhile my brother has the exact same make, model and year with 20k more miles on it and has had no issues. Sometimes you just buy a bad car.
What do you think about say, a 2019 glc 43? My spidey sense says to ditch it as it nears the end of warranty…you agree by chance?? Thank you in advance 🙏
I've admired these cars for the longest time.... but I would not be able to take care of the long-term cost of maintenance... glad you had this one on here!
Indirectly related to this specific car, but here’s how to guarantee expensive power train issues in Mercedes, BMW, and Audi: change the oil every 10,000 miles per the maintenance schedule. That will ensure short engine life. Oil is cheaper than a blown engine; get it changed every 5,000 miles. (A Nissan Z-car engineer went even further and recommended high-performance cars get full oil and filter changes every 6,000 miles and dump-and-fill oil replacement at 3,000 miles in between.)
Have owned two E class diesels and a C class (2011). The 2007 E lunched its trans at 202k miles regardless of the every 50k fluid replacement - I’m told that year was first for the 7 speed trans, issues crept in. The 2011 C300 has had no issues in 150k miles, one set of rear brake pads and one battery. The 2015 E250 had the MB provided recall repairs to the DEF and sensors, plus I received a check for $3700 from MB as a result of a class action suit. Car has never even had brakes replaced in 154 k miles, one battery, and has averaged over 43 mpg since purchase used CPO in 2018 - I’ve put 120 k on it since that time. If you do the PM it’s a fine vehicle. It’s easier to change oil and filter in a Benz than it is in a Camry.
Heh. We had the same problem with used Range Rovers at the dealership I used to work for. Yes, you can buy a luxury car or SUV for less than a used Camry, but when something inevitably breaks, it's going to cost a hell of a lot more to fix.
IF the car is well taken care of, it's still very good value to fix a $10 grand luxury car for $20 grand as you can't get any equivalent new car for that total price! A new expensive car is simply expensive to own no matter how old it is and will be even more expensive if it's been neglected and/or have cheeped out maintenance!
Front drive shaft on my f10 5 series failed without warning, no additional damage thankfully but the replacement shaft is $1500. 2 ft long and 2 small universal joints (non serviceable of course...). Great car but the bmw parts tax is real.
As Scotty says "A money pit". I got rid of my 2014 ML350 BlueTec Diesel SUV last year. She was starting to cost me money for maintenance at around 85,000 miles. I spent over $5,000 in 2022 and I had enough. Traded her in April 2023 for a 2023 Lexus ES300h Ultra Luxury and have not regretted it. The Mercedes was great and I had her since October 2015, so I got my money's worth, she just had to go.
This seems overdramatic to me. Its a 2009 with an owner that counts on a shop to diagnose, and after time these issues catch up with any vehicle. A lot of viewers keep tighter track of maintenance themselves and either proactively address things (like hoses), or check items like the oil separator (pcv), rear cam plugs, brakes etc. Repairs on these items will yield a much better vehicle than the throwaway junk sold today.
Agree. Most of he people that buy these cars once they are circa 4-years old - ie. around the time of the original owners 'end of lease' agreement - they consider maintenance to be optional only.
Yeah..I agree there is some dramatization that an oil change with high mileage motor oil might solve and rotors normally last me 100k miles so ....the 4 matic stuff is all because it is a 4 matic...I don't do 4 matics...Don't see a need for a 4x4 car.
right? These things were $100k cars when new, so you're still maintaining a $100k car all these years later. Add to that the MB parts costs and you're out a lot of $ quickly
I remember my uncle had Mercedes 1987 and he bought the same s class, but it didn't last long and he sold because he preferred the Mercedes 1987 instead.
My old 2004 Volvo S80 that I bought for $800 over a year ago would make the trip from Kansas to Texas. I admit the transmission is wonky, but it runs and drives.
@@shanet7511 In what way? Sound level? Some feature? If you have AC, cruise, power everything, 8+ way seats, backup camera, and bluetooth, what else do you need to justify the Merc's repair costs?
I have a 2014 S 550 bi-turbo with almost 200,000 km. on it . Other that regular mantainance it never gave me trouble . My mechanic installed new rotors and pads on occation and just recently the coils over the spark plugs . It runs so smooth you have to look at the teach to know it's running . Wonderful car . I had an S 300 inline 6 , with 678,000 km. On it and a W221 before this one with 375,000 km. The W221 was the least reliable and it's well known to be the worst model in the S class . The one I have now is a dream car !
Most of he people that buy these cars once they are circa 4-years old - ie. around the time of the original owners 'end of lease' agreement - they consider maintenance to be optional only.
@@georgebettiol8338 yep, I had a co worker buy a used high trim Benz and he was floored by the repair costs. I tried to warn him but he didn't listen. Rather than fix it he.... Traded it for a new Land Rover 😂
Car Wizard every time I watch your channel I go out and kiss my 94 Ford Ranger. I say I'll drive it till the wheels fall off but it just keeps on going.
I had a 2001 S600 and drove it for 200,000 miles and then donated it. I now have a 2011 S600 with 145,000 miles on it as my daily driver. I do all the work on it. Yes, always some coolant and oil leaks, but you’re never going to stop all the leaks. Just drive and enjoy them. Of course fix any coolant leak or an oil leak that could start a fire, but they are always going to leak like an old Harley. Flush the ABC system every 30,000 miles, change the oil and drive them often.
I watched a person bring one to My mechanic and got pissed off at the estimate he gave him to something similar to his car. And I defended his work since he was a new customer and didn't know about his work and he didn't like the estimate we both told him to take it to the Mercedes Benz dealership 🤷♂️ 16:33 anything My mechanic has ever fixed on any of my cars I have never had to bring it back for the same issues.
And this is why I have a Toyota Camry as my daily. I have a European car also but only as the weekend car. The Toyota I've put that thing to work. I've driven the Camry to Vegas and back in triple digit heat with ac blasting with no issues and the car is at nearly 200k miles. As for the Mercedes owner just get a Lexus at this point.
No Lexus is as nice as the W221, more reliable? Sure. But not as nice. The only setp up from a modern S class is to something like a Rolls-Royce and those are at a whole different expense category.
The W221 is a classy car after all it's a Mercedes but that goes away when the maintenance bills comes in. If you have the money go for it but for those that wanna a little piece of mind either Acura or Lexus are good alternatives won't be as nice as the Europeans but you won't have to worry whenever something breaks down.
@wesleyjones1169 I understand what you're saying about the reliability, but they didn't say anything in the video about the owner being a broke ass, and my point still stands that nothing Lexus builds comes toe to toe with a W221, not even the same gen LS460. I say this as someone who owns a Lexus (because I drive too much to spend mercedes money) and doesn't like 90% of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
@@shanet7511For once I never disagreed with your statement and this is not a debate. If the owner has the money go for it. And I don't even care about Mercedes or Lexus.
Interesting video. However, the price of new front shaft for a Mercedes s550 on Rock Auto is less than $200. Not that expensive as implied in the video. What I take from this video is that the s550 is indeed a very well constructed car, with a very reliable power train as stated by your great mechanic. Thanks Car wizard!😎
shame these are a nightmare to service, they drive amazing when they are working right. Explains why these cars that sold new deep into the 6 figures can now be had for under 20 grand.
Good video. Reminds me why I do not buy expensive German cars. As to his trip, renting a car might be his best option. Far less than 10 grand(unless it is a very long trip) and if the rental car breaks down, he gets another.
i'd fix the coolant leak, then put a $5K price tag on it and put it on craigslist. Go shopping tomorrow for a new car and put 5K down, problem solved! Cancel the vacation too. haha
There's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes. Pay some extra and get a sorted out example and it'll be cheaper in the long run. These are among the best sedans ever to drive.
@@nerdbikes3841 I had a 2005 XJ8 and it wasn't expensive at all (to maintain). When you maintain the Jags properly, they're pretty solid. 2001-2009(ish) Jag was owned by Ford and they weren't that bad. I think many of these bad condition luxury cars have been leased previously and completely negleted.
@@nerdbikes3841 Speaking as a 27yr (now retired) Audi, Porsche, & VW line mechanic, let me warn you. ANYTHING made in Germany will be a money pit!! Deal with it.
Great video. I have an 08 S550 with 96K miles. Such a great car and easy to work on. Spark plug change is amazingly simple. I do most of the maintenance myself. FYI, I'm changing the transmission fluid in a couple of weeks and Mercedes offers a deeper pan and upgraded filter for quite cheap! Then on to the motor mounts.
Unless the gasket has been coated on one side with permatex grey...and on the other side with grease... grease doesn't dry up and means the gasket comes off in one piece when needed.
2:35 It's true, I googled myself and it had info that it really shouldn't of known. Like even my relatives that live in other countries. Shocking stuff
All of the things mentioned in the video are not catastrophical and the car will probably run fine with them for some time, as it has been doing up until now. Y’all are overreacting over some engine mounts and a coolant leak
It's still not a bad deal: buy a $100k S-Class for $10k, put another $10k into it, drive around in your $20k car that's on a different level from everything else on the road.
A friend ran a chauffer service with an S-class diesel. It was in the shop and he was driving a replacement more than his own car. When the lease was up he had had enough of MB. My 2006 760Li was well and truly run into the ground by the third owner who got real value from it having bought at 70,000 miles for £30,000 and taking it to 215,000 miles. The 760 is still a very comfortable car with lots of leather but very little works and it's days are numbered. I've replaced RL strut 3 times (Chinese copy and two S/H oem), brakes and new copper lines. Engine leaks and smokes. The next bill to keep it on the road could seal its fate. I won't miss it.
This video shows the value in buying a car new so you know exactly how it's maintained. I purchased a 2019 VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line new and immediately began keeping a binder with all documents from purchase to service. I take it with me when I visit the dealer in case of discrepancies. I'm lucky in that 2019 was the last year VW offered 6 yr / 75K mile warranty so I'm good to go for another 18 months. Great video Grimes and Wizard!
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Stop data brokers from exposing your personal information. Go to my sponsor
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TH-cam/Google is selling your data. With 1M subscribers, some of your subs have been hacked. You want to be a youtuber, this is the price you pay. You didn't think this channel was free?
Why do you need a sponsor? Charging $10K to repair one car. Clown.
Lol, make that money. But that "service" is a joke. They look for your info on these scammy dangerous dark web places. Then puts in a nice request that they stop their bad behavior, and then they do............. Cause they are such good people and do it cause they asked nicely. more like aura is another scam
As an MB mechanic my tech brain immediately goes into a list of common issues seeing this W221😂 it’s in good hands with this guy. Very informative and smart as heck
Da wiz needs some fuel coming up for boating. Season???
One of my favorite S-classes . With a om642 is epic
@Oh-That-Guy-Again he got rid of it??? One camper bus he sold and the other needed tons of work...must investigate....get HOOOOVIE ON THE JOB..
The best S-class is the 2014 and up…
@@5hunnidCG79-99 too
Grimes is a bit of a car wizard in his own right.
He has serious game, and Wizard knows it.
@@NVRAMboi The car detective
The vehicle sorcerer
Yes he is. Grimes is a junior grade car wizard. The Car Mage if you will.
The car gremlin !
When you drive a $100000 car (initial cost), don't expect the maintenance cost to fade away at the same rate as the residual value.
You're very correct.
Yep
If you can't afford it new, you can't afford it used - the saying goes.
Beautifully stated.
Sooooo lets check your math..... If you paid $100K and keep paying $10K a visit to a shop ... or ... If you bought it for $10K...... Catch my drift. Also, if you had it for $10K you prolly will be fine overlooking air suspension leaking overnight.
That all said. The mere existence of this car with its torx bolts/nuts galore and inaccessibility of almost any item screams "This was not designed to be fixed". German engineering at its best. S550. "S" stands for "Serious". "550" stands for "550 problems".
If I bought a car like that for $10k and it took another $12k to get it sorted, I would have nothing to cry about. They are mightty fine automobiles.
Exactly true, another thing if your not mechanical do not buy these, these are either for the ultra rich, or for somebody who doesn’t have an issue doing their own repairs which will save you thousands.
That’s what I prefer every time. The alternative is to pay 20-30k for a car that they CLAIM is all in good shape.
I call Car Wizard “The Dream Crusher”, because he brings our dream cars on his channel and crushes our dreams of ownership with the reality of expensive repairs. 😅😂
The car was broken before the Car Wizard even saw it, so why is HE the Dream Crusher?
@@houseofno Because there is IRON in his painful words of truth.
He is such a clown and a drama queen. I own a w221 s600 so I know. Why would you do genuine mercedes parts on a 15 year old car? There are plenty of perfect OEM parts available. Also some of this stuff is pure maintenance i.e. brakes, spring, etc . Also why would he leave out the car mileage?? Kind of a important fact here. Clearly the guy drives it hard if he's hitting paint cans on the highway! Pure dramaqueen. We have a mechanic that charges a 10th of what this "wizard" charges. Never forget the Hoovie Merc that Wizard screwed up!! Go watch that video.
I remember the song, "Dream Crusher" (Gary Wright, 1975). 🙂
@@lovequeen7080 I live in Europe - in Poland. I have several cars - including W221 5.5 2010. currently 320 thousand km (200 thousand miles). a very durable machine, but if you buy it used, it must be from a good source. If you buy a butchered piece of garbage, everything will break down - it doesn't matter if it's a Merc or a Lexus. both will have huge costs. I agree that these films are intended to create drama - otherwise there would be no viewership.
Love how the Wizard gives Grimes his space to talk and explain everything in detail rather than cutting them off like a few other car repair channels.
Which one
My 08 S550 4matic has 281k miles. Still runs like a champ! But is properly maintained.
Take it to omega and they will find problems on multiple thousands dollars
Facts th-cam.com/video/PEmtTZ88YT4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2gCJctq-w0Qhf5b9
HOW MUCH have you spent on maintenance?? ANY car can be kept running with enough $$.
@@ThomasKuhar Well duh that's the point. German cars require maintenance to help keep them last long, as do any car.
I recently took a 4,200 road trip in my 2009 Crown Vic. I did a inspection before the trip, needed nothing. All it needed when I got back was oil + filter change.
The W221 is one of very few Mercedes that are actually nice enough to deal with their maintenance/repair costs. They're spectacular cars to drive and insanely comfortable.
Same goes with W220,very good car and totally DIY.
mogged by Lexus LS 430 lmao
@@3jake5mee the ls430 is a good car but uts not nearly as nice
@@shanet7511 very true just doing a little benz trolling 😂😂
th-cam.com/video/PEmtTZ88YT4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2gCJctq-w0Qhf5b9
Next week Tyler Hoovie drives in with a S550. "Weezard look what I bought, an S550 that the owner said it was maintained by you" Can you take a look? 😂😂
Yes - and the YT algorithm ensures that Hoovie gets the opportunity to place more money in his bank account.
Most of these around today are owned by people who bought them for $10-$20K. No maintenance other than oil changes. Used till something breaks.
If that's true (and I can't dispute that)....a very dangerous game they're playing (unless they have another reliable primary vehicle that's paid for.). Even then...
And you still have the old rich guy who still owns them and says do whatever at the dealership
And that's the one you should buy used.
@@martinsvensson6884 Yes. When an unexpected $4000 to $6000 car repair bill doesn't faze someone. That is the kind of owner to buy from. They don't do half ass, stop gap repairs.
@@Rhaspun That's the repair bills you avoid by doing that. The vehicle having been serviced correctly instead.
I have 2 w221s . Only buy 4matic if you need it. The rwd has far fewer issues , maintenance, and timely service are the key to these . The m273 is a solid v8 engine and can last forever.
“Land-Lord Beige”, lol.
Classic!
Very accurate 👍🏽
He ain't wrong.
As a landlord, I felt that. Sherwin Williams Sand Dollar 😉
I was driving my Dad's S320 and the alternator went out. Dealer cost? $625 Got the alternator rebuilt for $215. Still expensive, but not horrible. Installed myself so no labor, but I had to disconnect the sway bar to get the alternator out then in, adding more labor if you're paying for it.
If you're driving a German luxury car, be prepared to pay German luxury car prices to fix or maintain them.
yes I have miele products, everything is 5x what a normal part cost to get that German engineering , or maybe a German bend over
Alternator problem wouldn't happen in a Lexus LS460
@@marcodalpoz864alternators dont go bad on Toyotas 🧐
@@marcodalpoz864LS460 has a lot of problems also. Steering racks, multiple control arms that don’t last too long, engine leaks, and more. Another large, heavy and complex vehicle.
@@dariodjakovic1600 Didnt you know? Toyota collects Pixie Dust and spreads it in their factories, so nothing ever breaks!
How many times has someone at work shown up with a S600 all happy and proud, but within a month you never see it again 😂
Yeap and don’t forget the Maseratis also 😂
Yes! And the Audi S8
That’s the exact reason I chose the BMW 750i xdrive over those 2 and mane she scoot like no other and user friendly if needs to be worked on. Maserati use to be my favorite car until Stellantis brought them out🤦🏾♂️
I work with a bunch of laid back hippies. We make great money but we all drive 15-20 year old beater cars 😂
I had a coworker who bought an S class and had to get rid of it within a year due to the repair cost 😂 it was nice to ride in though
I don't know who is hating who :-) I'm living in Europe. Driveshaft, 372 euro. Radiatorhose 20 euro, balljoint 26 euro, brakes, rotors and pads 160 euro. Carterventialtion 21 euro, the shokabsorber 314 euro. That's under thousend euro (around 1100 US dollar). Discaimer, these are OE parts. Why not, it's not a brand new car. Sorry for my bad Englisch, it's not my native language.
Yeah even in the US there are cheaper parts options than quoted…the major problem here is extreme labor cost. That said even $8K USD is far cheaper than a new car.
Where are you ?
@@britton6062 Dallas Ft. Worth area
High dollar repair techs. I would never go to these guys. I use a German German tech. Parts are no where near their prices, and besides, these guys ate very negative about Mercedes.
Yes, exactly. Very good point. It’s about VALUE proposition. Use OE parts to keep it on the road and enjoy an extremely nice car without having to buy new.
Ah, for the days of the 1970's Mercedes. Remember when they were super reliable and easy to work on? Our neighbors had a diesel, D 240 maybe. As a motorhead, half a million was a lot in my mind. I remember him telling my Dad he just hit 500,000 miles. He was impressed. So was I!
70s-late 80s MB diesels are the best cars ever built. I think the record for them is the 240D MB from 1976 with 2.8 million miles. That was before the bean counters took over.
@@8MunchenBayern8 But how many engine rebuilds?
Yep still have my R107 and runs like a champ. Anything after 1990 isn't better when Mercedes decided to go global and build everything for everybody. Now they have the same problems as GM.
Exactly why I've ALWAYS kept a Sacco Bruno designed 90's era Benz in the driveway for the past 20+ years. I just added this W221 to my W124, but the W124 goes NOWHERE.
The wizard needs a laser pointer….
For the past 9 years I have owned a 2010 S550. The 2010 was facelifted. It is a better build than the 2007-2009s. It was a one-owner car that I bought off trade from the MB dealer. It was immaculate, and I have maintained it similarly. Judging by what the Wizard said the owner of this car has maintained this car pretty well. This car is worth fixing. You can not buy them anymore. The motor and 4matic Transmission on these cars is bulletproof. The build quality is fantastic. They have almost 400 HP, stop on a dime and have enough technology to keep a person happy without feeling over welmed.
The wheel bearings on these cars only last about 50,000 miles. The car is so heavy and roads in NYC are so bad that get eaten up.
The motor mounts was a poor design by Mercedes. They incorporated gel into the mounts to cut back on vibration. It's MB over-engineering at it's finest but, they rupture due to changes in the atmosphere. The new design is much better and should last the life of the car.
That driveshaft is something special. I'm not sure how long MB used that design for.
Hoses, and gaskets are wear ite,s. It wouldn't surprise me if they were all original items.
Worth fixing. It will be good for years to come.
I love those mercs as well, and New Orleans streets are no better. We have craters
As a Benz tech, I disagree with your assessment. First, the 2010 is the same as the 2007 as far as body style; it was in 2012 that the 221 chassis got a facelift. Second, these cars are everywhere in used car lots, it is not difficult to find at all. Third, the M273 engine is NOT bulletproof, the M113 that came before it was. Fourth, motor mounts of any design will fail over time, complaining that the more advanced components in your $100,000 car are more sensitive is cringe as hell.
@@somedude4805 I seen a mint hybrid for $2500, only needs that $15,000 battery to start it
@@cardboardboxification OK....
@@somedude4805 m113
I bought my 07 S550 in late 2021 with 79k on it for $12,000 from an estate situation. The owner was asking $16,000 and it was very well kept. So I got a good deal and it's been a GREAT car. Best daily driver I've ever had, hands down. 101k on it now and while i have done a few preemptive things they have all been cheap and easy. It did need a front inner axle boot but again that was cheap and pretty easy. I would absolutely buy another one. My first Mercedes was actually an 04 E55 that I bought in mid-2020 from a guy who also had an 09 S550. When I was about to buy my S550 I called him (it had been a year and a half) and asked about his ownership experience with his S550. He had nothing but good things to say and said he would absolutely buy another one. I am full DIY so that does help. I don't find these cars scary at all. I understand some can be troublesome but on the whole I assess that these are good cars.
Same here. Bought an 03 w 46k miles for only 5k from the original owner. Up to 98k now just wear items and maint. Original owner never missdled an oil change . Always hit service A & B on time. So far so good.
What about one with 160k miles🤔
This just screams deferred maintenance tbh, people have passed this on having bought it heavily depreciated and not bothered taking the big bill hit on the maintenance they should’ve done. Seals, CV shafts, coolant hoses and suspension components are all among wear components on any car regardless of make.
Really? My 2002 Hyundai Accent went 200,000 miles with only plugs, brake pads and fluid changes!
Exactly! People want the luxury without wanting to maintain. I've had 6 benz's now and I learned the hard way 😢
Sounds like a dream car for a DIYer like myself!
2011 E550 here. It has a lot of the same gadgets and gizmos. i purchased the vehicle with 23K on the odometer in 2018.
It's now sitting at 66k on the odometer in 2024. I have every record of service in that time.
I take it to a local specialist twice a year for service. Including the wear items like fluids, brakes, tires, air filters, spark plugs, diagnostic costs ect. All major repairs in that time were a new rear air strut, oil filter housing leak, upper radiator hose leak, F32 fuse box and air compressor replacement. Total service and repair costs in that time was $7,329.00 or a little over ($1,200) just in repairs a year to keep it on the road. So yeah, it's expensive to own. Hell of a car though. The list price on mine was $75K in 2011
Exactly. Budget $1k-2k for maintenance annually and drive a real prestige car.
Not bad at all for such car.
I'd never buy a car on air suspension. It's so expensive to fix.
1.2K a year for a luxury car is not bad. And you have a W212 which is probably their most solid car in the modern era.
149 for those struts, amazon..ebay...even if you only get a year or two out of them..well worth it instead of 1200!
My father in law has a 2008 ML550 parked in an underground parking about 1000 miles away near his second business location. Everytime we travel, I take it for a spin, and every single time something has failed and needs fixing. He did use it first 2-3 years as a daily and then parked near his second location, as it was too unreliable. It got about 170k km, or about 105k miles, and most were done in the first few years, probably only 10k miles in the last 13 years.
The only thing I like about the car - is the sound, sounds amazing, always floor a bit in the underground parking and brings me smiles.
GRIMES!1!! Thanks Guys. You continue to reinforce my automotive philosophy that, "Simple, Boring and Reliable is GOOD." (Even when much older IF properly serviced/maintained.)
I see/hear these necessary repair numbers for European imports and I'm reminded of my station in life. And I'm okay with that. Thanks very much again.
I have an 08 S550 and LOVE IT!!! I do all my own work and get parts from FCP Euro and Rock Auto. I bought new engine mounts and keep putting off doing them but now the wizard is making want to check my driveshaft and just replace it at the same time just because.
“These are solid”.
“Yeah, another common leak”.
Solid, as in these engines will last forever as long as you keep up with costly maintenance. As opposed to the cadillac northstar v8. Maintenance or no maintenance, northstars will brick eventually between 125 and 200k
I'd much rather find out about things like these before a long roadtrip, than after. I've had some very...entertaining long drives in old cars that decided the long trips were a good time to act up.
Regarding Mercedes, a Master Tech. at a Major MB dealership said : " Too much engineering, too much money, too many failures...." 😢
Too much time and labor to repair as well.
Owning an older S550 comes down to this- Do you want to polish an old diamond or just buy a cubic zirconia. These cars are very well built and in my opinion even when they need repairs are 100 times better than newer cars on the road today.
$1200 for just one strut? Dont know where he gets these prices from but i just did all 4 struts, compressor, and valve block on my 2013 s550 for just $3k. Had one leaking strut so i figured id do all four .
Just googled it. Walmart has a front strut set for $2,500. Maybe it's not the non-oem garbage you put on your own car.
There is an identical 4matic/Airmatic car parked around the corner from me. Well, not exactly parked, more like squatting... 😖
Someone on the internet had the nerve to state: "The air ride suspension in a Mercedes Benz can last up to 10 years before needing replacement. This is due to the high-quality components used in these cars." Wow, 10 whole years! 👏
My original 2004 VW Phaeton still has the original air suspension and it works just fine.
I had a W203 Stationwagon. Great car imo. Had only minor issues. The engine is very reliable.
2010 S550 .....I had a Wheel Speed sensor go out (right front) when driving down the interstate; The only indication on the instrument panel was that the Distronic CC system along with the ABS braking system were non-functional and got the car should go to the workshop ASAP message.....Got home threw the Autel analyzer on the car and discovered in additional to the wheel speed sensor being kaput, there were 27 other DTCs that were generated by the speed sensor failure.....everything that deciphered some input from the turning of the wheel threw a fault code. The car couldn't figure where it was on the planet from the GPS system, had a hard time figuring out what speed it was going when it did move and ABS, ...No way!! ....Plus a bunch of other DTCs that were just bewildering. I got a good lesson on how intolerant the car became from missing just one input ! The good news is that after replacing the wheel speed sensor, I just reset all the other faults and none of them showed up again. It has been 2 years and 15K miles later and still going good. These cars are like bad drugs...once you get hooked, there ain't no going back!
I own a 2017 C43 AMG that now has 65k miles, bought it nearly two years ago now at 35k miles. Figured I had plenty of life left before the big expenses turned up. I've had to replace the washer fluid pump, parking brake on one side, engine mounts, three separate oil leaks, a front diff leak, two valve cover gaskets, and all my parking sensors. If I didn't buy an extended warranty with the car I would have had to pay over $25k in parts and labor to fix these issues. Meanwhile my brother has the exact same make, model and year with 20k more miles on it and has had no issues. Sometimes you just buy a bad car.
Wild I bough a used 12’ corolla drove 30k In 2 years only done a few oil changes
He has no issues, yet.
Landlord Beige! Love it. I always called it Mobile Home tan. So many houses I rented...
I love the myth of Mercedes unreliability because it means I can buy them cheap. Keep up the good work guys. 😎
You can have them. ALL these luxury/exotic cars need to be owned UNDER WARRANTY only, unless you ARE a mechanic.
I’m a Mercedes mechanic and I always recommend RWD variants of the S class and E class. This bill would have been 1/4 as much if it was a RWD S550.
yep, I always try to stick with RWD vehicles so you have less that can go wrong and less parts you have to take off to get to other parts.
What do you think about say, a 2019 glc 43? My spidey sense says to ditch it as it nears the end of warranty…you agree by chance??
Thank you in advance 🙏
You all are making me feel 10X better I bought a RWD!
I'm glad to have an old Chevy Xtreme for THAT bill... Bulletproof 4.3L Vortec.
I've admired these cars for the longest time.... but I would not be able to take care of the long-term cost of maintenance... glad you had this one on here!
Best admired from a distance?
@@markiangooley Just like a beautiful woman. Yep.
I love watching the CarWizard channel whenever I want to feel hopelessness and misery as a car owner.
Buy a high dollar expensive car, get high dollar expensive problems! Insert tiny violins here!!
I have a 2010. Love it. Minor issues. But, I’m comfortable working on my own stuff. I have an MB star, and FCP Euro for parts. 👍
Indirectly related to this specific car, but here’s how to guarantee expensive power train issues in Mercedes, BMW, and Audi: change the oil every 10,000 miles per the maintenance schedule. That will ensure short engine life. Oil is cheaper than a blown engine; get it changed every 5,000 miles. (A Nissan Z-car engineer went even further and recommended high-performance cars get full oil and filter changes every 6,000 miles and dump-and-fill oil replacement at 3,000 miles in between.)
My FAVORITE GRIMES!!! Love to listen to him speak!
Have owned two E class diesels and a C class (2011). The 2007 E lunched its trans at 202k miles regardless of the every 50k fluid replacement - I’m told that year was first for the 7 speed trans, issues crept in. The 2011 C300 has had no issues in 150k miles, one set of rear brake pads and one battery. The 2015 E250 had the MB provided recall repairs to the DEF and sensors, plus I received a check for $3700 from MB as a result of a class action suit. Car has never even had brakes replaced in 154 k miles, one battery, and has averaged over 43 mpg since purchase used CPO in 2018 - I’ve put 120 k on it since that time. If you do the PM it’s a fine vehicle. It’s easier to change oil and filter in a Benz than it is in a Camry.
This is why I lease. Two years,give it back, and get a new one. No unscheduled maintenance,no surprises.
Heh. We had the same problem with used Range Rovers at the dealership I used to work for. Yes, you can buy a luxury car or SUV for less than a used Camry, but when something inevitably breaks, it's going to cost a hell of a lot more to fix.
IF the car is well taken care of, it's still very good value to fix a $10 grand luxury car for $20 grand as you can't get any equivalent new car for that total price! A new expensive car is simply expensive to own no matter how old it is and will be even more expensive if it's been neglected and/or have cheeped out maintenance!
Front drive shaft on my f10 5 series failed without warning, no additional damage thankfully but the replacement shaft is $1500. 2 ft long and 2 small universal joints (non serviceable of course...). Great car but the bmw parts tax is real.
In Europe there are companies that change those u joints, they have special crimping tools.
GRIMES IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, HE NEEDS HIS OWN TH-cam CHANNEL, TALK TO HIM WIZARD ❤
Wizard mentioned he had a channel previously I think. Even before he came to work at Omega.
@@jsun3117I’ve got TikTok for now, but no channel
Grimes is at 100PercentJake on occasions
As Scotty says "A money pit". I got rid of my 2014 ML350 BlueTec Diesel SUV last year. She was starting to cost me money for maintenance at around 85,000 miles. I spent over $5,000 in 2022 and I had enough. Traded her in April 2023 for a 2023 Lexus ES300h Ultra Luxury and have not regretted it. The Mercedes was great and I had her since October 2015, so I got my money's worth, she just had to go.
This seems overdramatic to me.
Its a 2009 with an owner that counts on a shop to diagnose, and after time these issues catch up with any vehicle.
A lot of viewers keep tighter track of maintenance themselves and either proactively address things (like hoses), or check items like the oil separator (pcv), rear cam plugs, brakes etc.
Repairs on these items will yield a much better vehicle than the throwaway junk sold today.
Agree. Most of he people that buy these cars once they are circa 4-years old - ie. around the time of the original owners 'end of lease' agreement - they consider maintenance to be optional only.
Yeah..I agree there is some dramatization that an oil change with high mileage motor oil might solve and rotors normally last me 100k miles so ....the 4 matic stuff is all because it is a 4 matic...I don't do 4 matics...Don't see a need for a 4x4 car.
If you cannot buy a new one, don't buy a used one-
Great video!
right? These things were $100k cars when new, so you're still maintaining a $100k car all these years later.
Add to that the MB parts costs and you're out a lot of $ quickly
what a stupid take , by your logic most people should never own a car
@@xTurtleOW Usually homosexuals who don't work on their own car repeat things they heard.
It is nice owning a European car, but yes if buying second hand buy less than 100k miles and a few years old. Or if you are a diy mechanic go for it
@Flies2FLL:"One does not simply walk into Mordor."
I remember my uncle had Mercedes 1987 and he bought the same s class, but it didn't last long and he sold because he preferred the Mercedes 1987 instead.
Love my daily W221 S600. But I service it regularly; something that seems not been the case here.
The best remedy for an inexpensive used German luxury car is an old Toyota Camry or or Buick LeSabre 3800.
Or Honda Accord or Civic...
@@melissathompson7229 civics aren't very comfortable
Not safe and crappy to drive…if you have it there’s nothing wrong with spending money for nicer things.
Or a bus ticket.
@@bck0001 Bucks and toyotas are not safe to drive? LMAO
My old 2004 Volvo S80 that I bought for $800 over a year ago would make the trip from Kansas to Texas. I admit the transmission is wonky, but it runs and drives.
So a proper repair is to bring the car to a Toyota dealer and trade it towards a Camry.
He bought this car because he wanted a luxurious ride in a nice car. If we wanted an appliance, he would have bought a Camry in the first place.
@@heiner71 A Lexus would have provided him that luxury and perhaps a longer use before needing $10k for repairs and maint.
There isn't a Lexus kn existence that's as nice as the W221. I say this as a Lexus owner and someone who doesn't like 95% of Mercedes vehicles.
@@shanet7511 In what way? Sound level? Some feature? If you have AC, cruise, power everything, 8+ way seats, backup camera, and bluetooth, what else do you need to justify the Merc's repair costs?
Yeah, people that have this car want the best driving/riding/luxurious car. They're not downgrading to a Camry unless they are having $ problems.
I have a 2014 S 550 bi-turbo with almost 200,000 km. on it .
Other that regular mantainance it never gave me trouble .
My mechanic installed new rotors and pads on occation and just recently the coils over the spark plugs .
It runs so smooth you have to look at the teach to know it's running .
Wonderful car .
I had an S 300 inline 6 , with 678,000 km. On it and a W221 before this one with 375,000 km.
The W221 was the least reliable and it's well known to be the worst model in the S class .
The one I have now is a dream car !
The W221 the LEAST reliable S-Class?!? That statement is totally contrary to 99.9% of every other review currently on these world wide webs!
Why don't people understand this: a 95,000 dollar car that is bought for about $15,000, will still have 95,000 dollar car priced parts
There are OEM parts available, but he won't tell you that
Most of he people that buy these cars once they are circa 4-years old - ie. around the time of the original owners 'end of lease' agreement - they consider maintenance to be optional only.
@@georgebettiol8338 yep, I had a co worker buy a used high trim Benz and he was floored by the repair costs. I tried to warn him but he didn't listen.
Rather than fix it he.... Traded it for a new Land Rover 😂
Car Wizard every time I watch your channel I go out and kiss my 94 Ford Ranger. I say I'll drive it till the wheels fall off but it just keeps on going.
I wouldn’t even be able to afford the sales tax on the total bill!
I had a 2001 S600 and drove it for 200,000 miles and then donated it. I now have a 2011 S600 with 145,000 miles on it as my daily driver. I do all the work on it. Yes, always some coolant and oil leaks, but you’re never going to stop all the leaks. Just drive and enjoy them. Of course fix any coolant leak or an oil leak that could start a fire, but they are always going to leak like an old Harley. Flush the ABC system every 30,000 miles, change the oil and drive them often.
You may be one of the few people that properly maintains the ABC. This will prevent the common failures
I watched a person bring one to My mechanic and got pissed off at the estimate he gave him to something similar to his car. And I defended his work since he was a new customer and didn't know about his work and he didn't like the estimate we both told him to take it to the Mercedes Benz dealership 🤷♂️ 16:33 anything My mechanic has ever fixed on any of my cars I have never had to bring it back for the same issues.
Solid advise - job well done! Definitely sticking with a Lexus product for much better reliability.
And this is why I have a Toyota Camry as my daily. I have a European car also but only as the weekend car. The Toyota I've put that thing to work. I've driven the Camry to Vegas and back in triple digit heat with ac blasting with no issues and the car is at nearly 200k miles. As for the Mercedes owner just get a Lexus at this point.
No Lexus is as nice as the W221, more reliable? Sure. But not as nice. The only setp up from a modern S class is to something like a Rolls-Royce and those are at a whole different expense category.
The W221 is a classy car after all it's a Mercedes but that goes away when the maintenance bills comes in. If you have the money go for it but for those that wanna a little piece of mind either Acura or Lexus are good alternatives won't be as nice as the Europeans but you won't have to worry whenever something breaks down.
@wesleyjones1169 I understand what you're saying about the reliability, but they didn't say anything in the video about the owner being a broke ass, and my point still stands that nothing Lexus builds comes toe to toe with a W221, not even the same gen LS460. I say this as someone who owns a Lexus (because I drive too much to spend mercedes money) and doesn't like 90% of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
@@shanet7511For once I never disagreed with your statement and this is not a debate. If the owner has the money go for it. And I don't even care about Mercedes or Lexus.
Interesting video.
However, the price of new front shaft for a Mercedes s550 on Rock Auto is less than $200.
Not that expensive as implied in the video.
What I take from this video is that the s550 is indeed a very well constructed car, with a very reliable power train as stated by your great mechanic.
Thanks Car wizard!😎
Rockauto reman/aftermarket will not hold up near as well as OE, and with catastrophic failure on the line id take the safer bet.
Run don't jump.. run fast
Thats EXACTLY what my last car did. I had everything packed & booked to go on a road trip & it didnt start
"There is nothing cheap about a cheap Mercedes." Kent Burgsma
There is nothing cheap about his overpriced "cures" too
Ok@@MrCarGuy
You saved our azz!!! Took 2 for an inspection and Mercedes quoted 9k in repairs on one 12 k on another in needed repairs!!!
shame these are a nightmare to service, they drive amazing when they are working right. Explains why these cars that sold new deep into the 6 figures can now be had for under 20 grand.
Yep. And you know Mercedes (and these other mfrs) know and see it as well. I do wonder if they're proud or ashamed of that fact.
This isn't all that terrible to service>>>there is just a lot to do that adds up. Most is age related.
@@hotpuppy1 Funny, none of this garbage has failed on my 91 Ford. Almost like bearings and seals shouldnt fail in 10 years.....
I just dumped 16k into my SL550. Best hated car I own. I have an older Mercedes addiction, and I'm proud of it .
TH-cam won't be the same when the Wizard retires
Or wins the lottery.
He's not allowed to retire; too many people depend on him. Hope he got that memo.
He will pass it on to his heirs like Grimes and others. (Maybe)
Well... There's always Uncle Tony's Garage with his long rambling videos. That's a fan favorite.
@@azmike3572 He is too young to retire. Perish the thought.
Good video. Reminds me why I do not buy expensive German cars. As to his trip, renting a car might be his best option. Far less than 10 grand(unless it is a very long trip) and if the rental car breaks down, he gets another.
People not doing pre-pruchase inspections works in the Wizards favor
i'd fix the coolant leak, then put a $5K price tag on it and put it on craigslist. Go shopping tomorrow for a new car and put 5K down, problem solved! Cancel the vacation too. haha
That car has been beaten on. Dont let wizard scare you. They are not all like this.
Love Grimes, a natural on camera.
There's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes. Pay some extra and get a sorted out example and it'll be cheaper in the long run. These are among the best sedans ever to drive.
2 things even more expensive - a cheap Range Rover and a cheap Jaguar
@@nerdbikes3841 I had a 2005 XJ8 and it wasn't expensive at all (to maintain). When you maintain the Jags properly, they're pretty solid. 2001-2009(ish) Jag was owned by Ford and they weren't that bad. I think many of these bad condition luxury cars have been leased previously and completely negleted.
@@nerdbikes3841 Speaking as a 27yr (now retired) Audi, Porsche, & VW line mechanic, let me warn you. ANYTHING made in Germany will be a money pit!! Deal with it.
@@nerdbikes3841
Any of the Aston Martins tops the list. Wizard was adamant along with Daniel San about those.
@@jsun3117 Agree - although the Bentley Continental (another VW/AUDI product) would be a close tie with the Aston.
It's a good thing Ole Grimy was careful around all those electrics...last time Frank Grimes touched high voltage cables didn't go too well...
As the wonderful and wise Wizard says, you want reliability, buy a Toyota.
Or a Tesla.
@@Michael-yi4mc LoL built-in convenience of obsolescence. It's not a car, it is a riding gadget.
@@TurboPonies "On a quiet night, you can hear all of the Teslas depreciating."
Great video. I have an 08 S550 with 96K miles. Such a great car and easy to work on. Spark plug change is amazingly simple. I do most of the maintenance myself. FYI, I'm changing the transmission fluid in a couple of weeks and Mercedes offers a deeper pan and upgraded filter for quite cheap! Then on to the motor mounts.
All cars eventually leak oil after the gasket dries up.
Unless the gasket has been coated on one side with permatex grey...and on the other side with grease...
grease doesn't dry up and means the gasket comes off in one piece when needed.
Looks like this customer will be driving a different rig to TX.......but that's what he needed to know about his car. Thanks Wizard!
Not to mention imagine if it was a AMG package it'd be more 🤑💰
Not only that, but you get to play the "waiting for special AMG parts to be shipped from Germany" game. Ask me how I know.
Hate it when you’re looking forward to a big trip and then the last minute you can’t go
This is why I would never take my car to the shop before a road trip.
Big question though is do you get to your destination?
LoL you must like camping by the side of the road.
"Riding my thumb and driving my Hushpuppies."
That is why God created AAA.
@@fumanpoo4725 And if you're on a major highway - they won't.
2:35
It's true, I googled myself and it had info that it really shouldn't of known. Like even my relatives that live in other countries. Shocking stuff
Crossing this model off my used car shopping list
Just don't buy the bottom of the barrel version of it. $100k cars for $10k are that cheap for a reason. Deferred maintenance for years.
All of the things mentioned in the video are not catastrophical and the car will probably run fine with them for some time, as it has been doing up until now.
Y’all are overreacting over some engine mounts and a coolant leak
It's still not a bad deal: buy a $100k S-Class for $10k, put another $10k into it, drive around in your $20k car that's on a different level from everything else on the road.
Why does it cost so much?? The parts and labor duh
A friend ran a chauffer service with an S-class diesel. It was in the shop and he was driving a replacement more than his own car. When the lease was up he had had enough of MB.
My 2006 760Li was well and truly run into the ground by the third owner who got real value from it having bought at 70,000 miles for £30,000 and taking it to 215,000 miles.
The 760 is still a very comfortable car with lots of leather but very little works and it's days are numbered. I've replaced RL strut 3 times (Chinese copy and two S/H oem), brakes and new copper lines. Engine leaks and smokes. The next bill to keep it on the road could seal its fate. I won't miss it.
Your repair estimate is very high; you can buy a replacement front drive shaft for $59.99 w/warranty. Cool channel but c'mon man.
Did you factor in labor? What about shop mark up? What about sales tax?
TH-cam revenue is not enough lol
especially funny when he is talking about other dealers that scam people with super expensive unnecessary repairs
@@CarWizardnot if he installs it himself. The key to these cars is being able to repair them yourself and not differ maintenance
This video shows the value in buying a car new so you know exactly how it's maintained. I purchased a 2019 VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line new and immediately began keeping a binder with all documents from purchase to service. I take it with me when I visit the dealer in case of discrepancies. I'm lucky in that 2019 was the last year VW offered 6 yr / 75K mile warranty so I'm good to go for another 18 months. Great video Grimes and Wizard!
Time to trade it in on a new Lexus.
Sounds like you need to prioritize the repairs into ‘need’ to have and ‘nice’ to have. The need might be $1,200. Not bad.
My mechanics did that for me on my very first S-Class, and I've rocked with them after that for 20+ years.