2000 Mercedes-Benz S 500 Full Tour & Review | W220 Buyer's Guide

Many have asked and we're finally delivering! Read our full review on the W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class here: goo.gl/B8RvWZ
TestDrive Spotlight goes in-depth with the W220 Mercedes-Benz S500 and S430 4MATICs, showing you all the features and changes over the facelift redesign, taking the S430 short wheelbase for a drive, and going over what you need to know if you're in the market for the full-size luxury flagship Mercedes S-Class.
Unlike previous episodes of TestDrive Spotlight, we filmed the 2000 Mercedes-Benz S500 in May with the intention of publishing a full tour and review of that car. The owner wasn't available long enough for us to complete the filming, so it sat on our desktop until the end of June when we had the opportunity to film and drive a 2004 Mercedes-Benz S430 4MATIC.
We'll be showing all the features of the S500, what changes were made with the facelift S430, and going for a drive with the short wheelbase version of this generation S-Class.
We're proud to say that all of our videos are uniquely produced in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada.

[@biffalow]

From one big guy to another, keep doing your thing! Loving your content! I'm thinking about starting a channel based off me shopping for cars as a bigger black guy, so I'm definitely watching and learning from this channel. Keep it up!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We always suggest people jump into video making if they're passionate about it. It's certainly not easy to get into, but if you decide to start uploading videos let us know, we'd love to watch!

[@tunahankuzu8700]

The Nigerians tend to be quite large

[@aboriginalmuur1661]

Tunahan Kuzu lmao

[@frankkirkman5994]

Is your name bill or William? I got an uncle we call biff and always wondered where the name biff came from haha.

[@maverick1552]

Power rear seats were only available on the S600. There is a cup holder in the console lid. It flips to the right. Your test car was riding about 2 inches lower than it should. You hit the bump stops many times. The air suspension on that car is faulty.

[@ericgiddio1259]

Really appreciate your video on the W220. I own an S430 which is exactly the same colour as the one featured in your video. I love the part where you open up the throttle. While no where near the exhaust sound of its AMG siblings, the M113 sounds grunty enough.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nice! I love the W220, while the specific examples we had for this episode weren't the best it still gave me a good taste of what they had to offer.

[@rocknrolla7288]

the self roasting and irony in the beginning was gold. and the video was nicely informative, i am currently pondering between e38 and this s class if i find no good e38

[@PRNTestDrive]

All comes down to what you want out of the car, I think a well optioned S-Class in good shape will look and feel more luxurious and comfortable than the E38, but if you want a timeless car that will always appreciate in style, then the E38 is the easy winner.

[@rocknrolla7288]

i generally share your opinion, the e38 definitely wins design-wise. everything, both interior and exterior feels nicer and pretty timeless. another thing that worries me about the s class is the whole air ride thing as well as the horrible rust on mercedes from this period. i find it interesting that the air ride on e38 and e39 is really reliable and not very costly to fix while in the s class it seems to fail pretty often.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The SLS on the E38 at least is only a rear end system and the SEDC shocks aren't really the same as Airmatic or ABC in my understanding. Either can be expensive to replace, S EDC shocks and Airmatic cost around the same. Rust is definitely a key problem for pre2005 models, so if you find an 05 or 06 W220 you should be safe.

[@rocknrolla7288]

that is a good point. it will break anyway and it does not do a lot either. i drove an e38 750 once with that system, did not change much although the system was functional. weird piece of equipment, few of them have it so it can be easily avoided. do all the s models have the airmatic? at the other hand, all the rust in the doors makes them cheap as chips even when they are in top shape mechanically.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Someone might correct me, but I believe all W220s came with Airmatic, and ABC was the option that few selected, unless they got the AMGs or S600 in which case ABC was standard. The SEDC on my E38 does nothing. The 750iL we drove a few weeks ago (video coming August) had the option but the owner installed aftermarket suspension parts so we couldn't test it.

[@johnathanlong9425]

there is a cupholder in the center console behind a wooden panel.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

The big asS-Class?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Felt that way! Just wish we had better examples of these cars to feature.

[@teamsleepnine]

s500 sits too low it seems,leaking struts?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The owner lowered it and retained the Airmatic features. Don't know much about it though.

[@murilosimao1]

You are overweight, but you are handsome, man. Hot! :)

[@PRNTestDrive]

Haha, well thanks for that!

[@treasurehunt2000]

I think you're covering a niche in depreciated german boats that isn't really catered to as much as I would like to see, keep it up man

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We do want to branch out and cover some other german cars, along with other older interesting and unique ones that might not be from Germany.

[@treasurehunt2000]

If you're ever in LA you could review my fathers 2003 cl55 Kompressor, I also have a 1997 198k Mi c140 v12 coupe that is my project car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very cool! The CL55 has been on our list for a while now, we drove an early CL600 years ago when it was new, and recently we've been looking at the 55 as a project for the show.

[@treasurehunt2000]

If you could make it out to LA your search would end, but you'll probably find one in Canada before if ever you came to the west coast of the US. If you ever do come out here I suggest you bring some shopping money as the german flagship market is abundant, well priced and rust free :)

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

gabesfuctwhips It's not as depreciated as your brain though

[@milqn4o]

You should do a video of the W221 . They look good from any angle . If I had the cash to spend on an S class that would be it. They aren't really that expensive here in Bulgaria but most of them are with fake mileage and got like 1 million km on them. Driving a car like that without warranty ...

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's on our list! We're hoping to be able to get that filmed sometime soon.

[@phil-Leotardo.171]

PRN Don't read to much into the fat thing, John Candy didn't give a shit.

[@TheRazvy1990]

PRN first W140 :x:x

[@PRNTestDrive]

General Pepe Rightwinger, That's true, but he also died of heart failure I believe. Being overweight isn't what I want to define me, but it ends up being what people grab onto first. Septimiu Razvan Bot, Definitely on our list! Just depends on who's gone one available. Now that we're in a new province it's going to take a little time for us to get involved with the local enthusiast groups, but we're hoping our growing audience and reach will help with that!

[@MisterCee41510]

Your comment on the S430 vs S500 is spot on. You won't notice much of a power difference b/c the cars are massive. What I do notice (I own an S430) is the mpg is a tad bit better. My buying advice is focus on the packages and service records when purchasing. No need to base your decision solely on the model. I'm certain you will be happy with either engine.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Well said, and we'd do the same! I don't know what options were standard on the S500 but I believe they were all optional for the S430, so it's possible to have a similarly equipped of either.

[@RandJ1996]

Agreed. I have a S430 with AMG Package and the body kit/wheels make a huge difference to the car's looks. I would recommend that when buying W220. We were able to obtain entire car's service history, it was well maintained and is in perfect shape.

[@davidvincent3948]

@@RandJ1996 you are the only other person I have heard of that has the AMG package on a 430. I looked at dozens of Mercedes before I found this one. It was clean and looked new as well as having no accidents and all the service records. It is an AMG but I had no idea what that was not did the seller. For $2800 I have no complaints as wells as the new factor paint I had done it looks and rides like it just rolled off the show room floor

[@combustionberg3303]

good advice but i wont take it since im looking to get an s500 fix it up myself and mod it up to 400 horsepower maybe more

[@MrRidge7]

Don't worry about people calling you fat man. If you're worried about it I recommend intermittent fasting!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We don't let it get to us. At the end of the day we're working hard to produce high quality original content. If people out there need to insult us to make themselves feel better, so be it. I guess it's a sign of mild success!

[@MrEeeaddict]

@@PRNTestDrive People are dumb keep doing what you're doing!

[@azaz911c]

A polish or replacement of the headlight lenses would greatly improve the appearance of this car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed!

[@1995RangeRover]

Pre face-lift cars have foggy headlights from factory. They were cleared as the face-lift models became available.

[@jamesdavid6451]

You should do a review on the performance W220 S55! I'm looking to buy one really soon!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We've had a few people ask the same, we're working to get one featured!

[@hwleitner2009]

Your air suspension appears to be on the way out

[@PRNTestDrive]

On the S500 the owner has swapped suspension components to 'slam' it.

[@GligorovDimce]

W220, one of the best S-Class models

[@PRNTestDrive]

We were very pleased with the ride quality and overall experience. A really under-appreciated car.

[@RandJ1996]

Agreed, my favorite S Class.

[@mightyjack5875]

Many people complain about not-so-high quality in terms of interior, materials and other aspects, specially compared to that which is considered by many as "the last over-engineered Mercedes", the W140. But I do like the 220 quite a lot too, and I'd love to buy one as a project.

[@Rejuvem]

I bought a 2001 S500 that had issues with the airmatic system. I went to a couple of mechanics and most wanted Thousands to fix. ended up replacing just the pump and one strut for less than $300 on Amazon.. did all the work myself after watching some KZbin videos. still going strong after 8,000 miles

[@sadokbarbouche9427]

@@mightyjack5875 i believe the w240 maybach was the last over engineered crazy mercedes

[@heikg]

Great content. Amazing video about an amazing car. It is crazy how cheap they are and how easy it is to maintain it on your own

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks for watching! This is still one of those cars I'd like to own, I've had the chance to try out the AMG W220 and really loved the performance on it.

[@cuttyb]

This car is very comfortable BUT not the most comfortable car I've drove that prize goes to my 98 Ford Thunderbird. Not as fancy but supreme comfort.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hard to beat an older American car for absolute comfort.

[@michaelking4578]

I think you look fabulous my man. Great review!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks!

[@mikeirwin7308]

I own a 2003 S430 and feel your vid is spot on. I bought mine from the estate of the original owner three years ago with 60,000 miles on it. The air suspension is a problem - I replaced all four corners with aftermarket units for about $1,000US, parts and labor. I bought it for a long range cruiser and it can't be beat for the price. Twenty thousand miles later, I've replaced the AC fan and that's it. One piece of advice for a buyer - find a good independent Mercedes shop and you'll save plenty on regular service. Keep up the interesting vids.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks for sharing! The W220 is a really solid car if you get the right one. A few years back we were a pretty small channel and getting cars was tough, but the clean examples out there are the best! We’re glad to hear you’ve had little issue with yours, still incredibly low mileage, should last a while!

[@mustang7603]

Mike Irwin I had a 2002 S500 and the dash lights went out. 2600 for the dealer to put a light bulb in the dash. Got rid of the car after that.

[@InstructorDriving]

He's like the boyfriend on This is us! Bring on the Self Deprecating humor!

[@davidvincent3948]

If you are ever in the Tampa area of Florida I have a S-430 that is a bit different. It was a special order for a corporation in Miami and has been company owned for 17 years. I recently acquired it from someone that bought it from the corporation and did not like it (actually he did not know what he had and I stole it!) It is a 2001 S-430 AMG special edition! It is the only one I have ever seen or for that matter heard of. It is such a perfect car that I have it in the body shop right now doing a ground up "restoration" which amounts to basically a new factory paint job, and that was only done because of my vanity. I found 4 quarter size spots where the clear coat was bad and the cost to fix and blend those 4 spots at Mercedes cost as much as my specialty paint shop I go to to paint the entire car to factory spec. Just so you know there are more cup holders, if you open the small arm rest you will find 2 additional holders there. As far as the slow response when stepping on the throttle that is a new built in trait on most all Mercedes so that you are not thrown back in the seats as the engine revs up. For anyone that has read this far and is wondering what special features the S-430 AMG has here is a short list from my car. 1) AMG body package that has different panels down the bottom side and an air efficient nose cone with smaller air dams. 2) Custom spoke wheels unlike any other standard Mercedes spokes. 3) Low profile tires (not my favorite kind of tire). 4) Over size disks in the front and back with a heaver breaking kit. 5) Standard on AMG air and heating seats. 6) BOSE stereo with extra base speaker in the trunk for a full hall sound. 7) for those of you that want people to ask why? There is the AMG logo on the back of the car. 8) High pressure head lamps. 9) A/C controls for the BACK seats that operate independent of the front seats. And the list goes on and on but you get the idea that it is just a kicked up version of the S-430

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd love to feature your S-Class! If we're ever planning a trip down that way we'll let you know.

[@Agodschild7]

Same here I have an 2006 with black opal paint.

[@qmpel]

4:02 Big ass? Ass-Class xD

[@PRNTestDrive]

Haha! It's is the Ass-Class!

[@dijital.binali]

Is there something wrong with the suspensions? The car looks very low to me.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The S500's owner purposely lowered the suspension.

[@maenala6376]

You deserve more subscribers your videos are really good and helpful and it's just chill

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really appreciate that, thanks! We're hoping that others will find our channel like you have and help grow our subscriber-base.

[@maenala6376]

@@PRNTestDrive also I'm from Ontario I see the license plate haha

[@atos.nympha3451]

True

[@dodge33445]

That S500 seems like the suspension is not riding right.. It sits way too low. So if you rode in one with the proper suspension you would see the TRUE smooth ride.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I agree, and the owner had said that he lowered the suspension. When we first filmed this video it took over a year to find someone with a W220 allowed us to film it. We’ve since driven another W220 S 55 AMG on this show and found the ride to be incredible, like we expect from an S-Class.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

That review would convince me NOT to buy one of those cars! In that regard, it is a good review.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough!

[@sulimanmf5501]

3:24 Thank you . You make me love my W220 S500L 2005 more than before.. and all what did you said are completely true

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We'd love to find a late model S500 LWB in black, would be the perfect addition to our garage.

[@sulimanmf5501]

PRN I've three videos in my channel with my S500.. check them out

[@glo714]

@@PRNTestDrive I just brought one beautiful all black

[@howardrayle1446]

The right hand side of the console folds out and gives 2 so-so cup holders. Hard to reach right handed, not enough arm room.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely was an after-thought.

[@michaelking4578]

I hear the poverty every time I drive my 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Haha! Gotta get the S-Class then, those windows do a good job keeping the sound of being rich inside the cabin.

[@theil6]

Just picked up a 2000 s430 83k miles super clean well maintained example. What a Sled! Love the Ride

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very very nice, enjoy it! Can't go wrong with anything there, low mileage and the V8, awesome buy! I still dream about getting a W220.

[@Kamadev888]

great vids. a note to those thinking of buying this car - don't. unless you've checked the suspension. new struts can cost $5000. also note that you need to check for water flowing into the footwell if the drain mesh was filled with leaves.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good to know! I believe we did mention the suspension on this episode, but we also do recommend having the car inspected and check out the enthusiast forums when looking at cars like this.

[@vincentsolito8234]

Even abc struts don’t cost that much wtf

[@omarrashadyahudah3532]

Don’t pay the haters no mind thank you for the insight on these wonderful vehicles

[@PRNTestDrive]

We try not too, thanks!

[@mohamedmiela7558]

Hallo. Ich habe 2004 ein Problem, einen Mercedes S500 mit Strom oder einen syrischen Kompressor. Ich kenne den Fall nicht. Können Sie mir im Falle eines Problems bitte?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'm not sure how to help, sorry! I'd see if there's a local Mercedes group/forum in your area that you can reach out to. There are some global communities online that might be able to help too.

[@hiphopmusicallday100]

Great car im trying to get one but the air suspension scary me ??

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's definitely an area of concern for these W220s. If the work has been done on it and they have records to prove it, then you should be in good shape. I know a lot of people end up replacing the whole AirMatic system just to go with a regular suspension setup.

[@hiphopmusicallday100]

Yep someone trying to sell me 2002 Mercedes Benz s430 with 150k miles look good but the technology look old and i heard this car is not cheap to repair too . What about the insurance 🤔

[@PRNTestDrive]

Insurance will definitely depend on your region. I pay $230/year for my 2001 BMW 740iL, but was paying $1,600/year before moving to a different part of Canada.

[@hiphopmusicallday100]

@@PRNTestDrivewhat about the gas i heard this burn gas crazyyy ?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Not sure about the W220 unfortunately, we only ever have these cars long enough just to drive it around to film, but I imagine the fuel economy is around the 11L/100km mark, which is what we were getting with our 7 Series as a daily driver.

[@adamburdette9722]

I love mine I too am a big guy . they're " fat boy friendly"

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's a car we'd still love to own if we could!

[@gianperullo515]

The air suspension you mentioned was so inaccurate. When one is down in the back the whole back goes down. In the front each side will go down independently, repairs are easy if you have a brain and each strut is only around 250.

[@jDot2414]

Looking at a 2004’ Mercedes-Benz s430 matic with 84k miles. - $6,900. One owner in florida, how do you feel about the price ?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Price seems solid, all depends on the condition though. Service history is important with these, especially things like the AirMatic components.

[@jDot2414]

@@PRNTestDrive thanks ! Is there anyway to tell by looking or driving the car if the airMatic is in good shape?

[@PRNTestDrive]

@@jDot2414 best thing is to bring it to a trusted mechanic who knows Mercedes. Sometimes the system can just fail without any real warning, other times the overall wear on the parts is obvious enough to a mechanic that they can give you an idea on cost and life expectancy on it.

[@jDot2414]

@@PRNTestDrive thank you! The guy is a prick he say pay him then bring it to a mechanic lol I’ll prob pass on it. Lovely car but scared of a future headache

[@MrBantam3]

Great reviews on luxury cars the average person can now afford. Still deciding between a 540i e39 or a Mercedes. Keep the reviews coming.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! Depending on which Merc, we'd probably go for it. But it all depends on what you want out of a car!

[@poptartgofast]

I bought an s class after ur comparison video between 750 and s class my boss has the 750 I got the w220 so we have them both parked out at work

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! How do you like the S-Class so far?

[@poptartgofast]

PRN it's great everything is superb ride quality is excellent plenty of power with the 4.3 v8. more features than a 2014 camry

[@j0nnY77x]

It was between this or the e38 and I ended up going with the e38.Is this better than the bmw 7 series?

[@PRNTestDrive]

It depends on what you wanted out of the car. The E38 will always be king for sportiness and style, but the W220 is truly an incredible car on the road. It's quiet like the 750iL we just featured yet didn't have that same price-tag when new.

[@HaroldTempoyoink]

Dude I love your videos! You've got the same taste for cars like me.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We started off with what we had and branched out from there.

[@gudalawrence2028]

😂😂😂 Huge Jackman my ass. nice video though

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it!

[@utm4219]

Do the review of the E63/E64 6 series and maybe Gran Coupe as well!?

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd definitely like to! We've driven some of the new 6 Series models (not for TestDrive) but are looking to find some good examples of the older ones to feature here.

[@utm4219]

Sure! Also the original CLS and few rare E60 5 series models. I see you have the access to these cars BMWs & MBs, people should see more of them.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We definitely try to! It took us a while to get enough traction going to get access to these cars. We're hoping to be able to continue that!

[@utm4219]

Good luck! :D

[@SrirachaPete232]

My favorite: “ what do we need to do to get Americans excited about this car?”, “well they got big asses, sooo, let’s make big seats.” lmaoooo The Car IS SUUUPER Quiet, that is for sure. No “Poverty out side”😂

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'm always impressed when I drive one of thee cars, seriously quiet!

[@kevinmcallister7951]

You need to do the Lexus LS430. It will blow the S500 out of the water! Good review!

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's a car on our list to feature!

[@kevinmcallister7951]

Perpetual Radio Networks Hell yeah!

[@mr.terwilliger5728]

Don’t mind these comments. You’re the one getting to drive luxury cars for free and have a KZbin channel with millions of views. You’re the man!

[@PRNTestDrive]

That certainly is a good way to look at things!

[@shucklemaster11teamblue95]

Just got a 2000 s500 and it's very nice

[@PRNTestDrive]

Congrats! We'd love to revisit the W220 again, the most recent one we did on the 2003 S 55 AMG was really fun to film & drive.

[@specialoperator8902]

I know this video is quite aged now, but frankly, anyone who wants to take the time to comment on your weight, obviously is spending way too much time hidden in their moms basement playing fucking Xbox. You put forth a informative review and I appreciate the time and effort. Keep up the great work and let those cheeky little gassers keep hating.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I certainly appreciate that, thank you! Unfortunately the anonymity of the internet allows people to say whatever they want, but we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying comments on any of the content we produce.

[@jonathanray6621]

Stumbled on the E Class vid and all I can say is YES! Your vids are great and very informative!! Thanks for the vids!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We try to produce the best quality content we can based on our budget and production!

[@Forge17]

My favorite modern classic, Been waiting for this. Hope you manage to do a review of that S55! Ps: the rude comments probably come from immensely insecure trolls. Love these videos, keep it up!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We've been keeping the comments on the channel recently just to show how ignorant some people can be. We really do like the design of this S-Class, but it needs to be the right colour. A black facelift looks really great, we posted a photo of one next to our E38 a few weeks ago on our Facebook page.

[@Forge17]

+PRN definitely. The face lifted models came with much better colors, especially the dessert silver metallic. Like a whole different car, especially with the new headlights. Il find ya on Facebook for sure.

[@ruk2023--]

I love this channel. I'm a sucker for older luxo-barges with all the toys and big engines and here in the UK most of them are diesels with loads of toys missing. I'm gonna keep watching the content rather than your weight. Fuck those people. Haters mean you're doing something OK.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We hope that's what it means too. We'd love to have more diesel options over here, but it's definitely true that most of them ended up being configured as bare-bones models. Similar to how most of the 3 Series and C-Class/CLA-Class end up here.

[@teamsleepnine]

anyone considering,please get the one with bose option,standard speaker is shit!!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed on this! The Bose system sounds very nice with this car.

[@BeesonsCars]

teamsleepnine Bose isn't standard? I've never seen one without it or the Nav system. The Bose system does sound great, it has a shallow mount 12" subwoofer in the rear deck and the mids+highs are great. It sounds better than my W221 Harman/Kardon 16 speaker System.

[@teamsleepnine]

yup,my s280 doesn't come with it.great car...but the speaker just shitty man..thank god for the quietness ...

[@lightsoutmedia7370]

Why would ppl point out his weight? Who cares it’s a car review not a weight review

[@PRNTestDrive]

You’d be surprised by the amount of people who feel it’s necessary. A small number try to be constructive, but most of the hundreds I go through a year are just people being assholes.

[@lightsoutmedia7370]

PRN_TestDrive just horrible this world is mad it pisst me off when I heard this being said in a review on a car I’m interested in or any review for that matter

[@PRNTestDrive]

I know how you feel. Things were a lot worse back when I filmed this originally, KZbin at least has gotten better filtering those types of comments. I appreciate what some channels do and turn 'mean comments' into funny videos, but I feel that only encourages more.

[@lightsoutmedia7370]

PRN_TestDrive yeah that fuels the ppl that’s doing negative crap to keep doing negative crap but keep brushing that shit off my brotha and keep doing your thing

[@chrisreed26]

I love this guy! He's a hoot! "I had no idea I was morbidly obese" OMG I'm dying over here!! Who could not love this guy??? I too, am overweight and it's been brought to my attention too many times .. Ignore what others say..We all adore you and enjoy your content! Much love from Tampa,FL!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sometimes I can be a little funny 😂

[@valdrinmehmeti]

The asphalt is worse then in my country!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Wait until you see the videos we've been doing since moving to Quebec, the roads here are way worse.

[@athosndl]

Hey man, i salute you from Romania ! I subscribed imediatly after the good laughf i had about the fact you made a good joke about the fact you are over weight ! I am actually looking to buy this model of s500-s55 . My passion goes for allot of cars, but i got a forth gen Z28 from 1993, and i am so în love with them. Could you make a video about that one ! I whould love that ! GOD BLESS

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'll see what I can do! Glad to have you as a subscriber, thanks!

[@athosndl]

@@PRNTestDrive If you find one i just can't wait !

[@eriks7405]

been thinking about buying a used salvage or 200k mile beast, moslty here in dallas texas, they sell cheap cause of the air hydraulics failing, it scared me at first, but in reality it is the engine and transmission that should matter theres aftermarket parts for it, but man driving an s class like this one gives you a lot of compliments wherever you go

[@PRNTestDrive]

I think a lot of people end up replacing the suspension components with aftermarket parts so you could definitely go that route. The engines seem to be built well, so that shouldn't be too much of a worry.

[@hashimkay140]

You need to get cleaner examples of the W220's mate... jeez

[@PRNTestDrive]

It took us almost 2 years just to get this one, finding willing owners has been incredibly difficult for us.

[@LeoBelmont8]

Im thinking about changing my Cadillac STS 06 luxury for one of these, what you think?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely have it looked over before by a trusted mechanic. We did an episode on a 2003 S 55 AMG a couple years back with better equipment if you're interested to see more on the W220 S-Class, as we go over some of the other things to look out for if you're in the market for one.

[@chrisreed26]

The center console splits and the right side opens up to provide 2 cup holders...at least mine does anyway..

[@PRNTestDrive]

Could have been on this one also, we didn't get nearly as much time with it as we would have liked, but I don't remember seeing it on the 2003 S 55 AMG we featured. Maybe it was there and I didn't check.

[@BeesonsCars]

The cup holders are built into the center console. It's that side compartment.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good to know!

[@RandJ1996]

Also there after you push/fold out the cup holder there is a 2nd one in there as well. My son just discovered this the other day.

[@franciscobiaso7916]

About the comfort, I agree IN REALLY, ABOUT EVERYTHING. I drove one of that yesterday. W220, 1999. Spectacular1111

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nothing beats the comfort of an S-Class, every generation I've driven has been superb.

[@Vivaldi111]

Suspension too low...airmatic $$$$

[@PRNTestDrive]

I believe the owner lowered it on a different suspension setup, though personally I'd keep the AirMatic.

[@gatto560sel]

@@PRNTestDrive Great video..The height is adjustable through a Star or Snap on diagnotics tool.Much love from Australia.

[@srhauck1]

I have a 2002 w220 S430 and I love the way it drives and rides. I only paid $2700 for this $80,000 car. (212k miles) I did have to do quite a bit of maintenance to get it back up to par, New motor mounts, transmission mounts, new conductor plate, new rear tires, Engine oil,,trans service. But doing it all myself I still have an 80,000 car for under $4000 and I really love it. BTW the car has adaptive driving technology. If you drive it slow the transmission shift points adapt to save gas milage. If you normally drive fast the shift points adjust accordingly. That's probably why you thought the response was funny or strange. You can reset your trans by turning the key to on position an holding the throttle down for 30 seconds then turn off the key for 2 minutes without turning anything on. It makes a huge difference if you want a more crisp throttle response

[@PRNTestDrive]

That definitely makes sense, and we've heard that about the transmission computers on a lot of these older full-size luxury cars.

[@hiphopmusicallday100]

I was the gas ?

[@ShakarAhmadi]

Sorry, but did you just say Mercedes Benz "ass class"????😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😜✌😁

[@PRNTestDrive]

At first I saw the notification for this and thought it would be on the A-Class video we did, but perhaps I pronounced my S a little lazy in this one.

[@atos.nympha3451]

I miss my S430 4matic. It was smooth and fast enough not to want the S500. Just watch your face when u pop the trunk

[@PRNTestDrive]

I still dream of owning one of these, I don't see them often on the road out here but I always notice them when I do.

[@atos.nympha3451]

@@PRNTestDrive i see few that are in good condition unfortunately ppl tend to beat them up and will sell for cheap.i believe thier market value are very low. I will stay away from 00-03 . Look for the 2006 last edition.you can also get s430 with s500 options in it but they are rare.Good lucky friend!

[@user-uz2bk1hs4c]

I bought a black s class also. Indeed the best comfort . Slightly better than the cadilac from same period.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Black is definitely the best colour for this, helps to make it look less dated than the silver ones we featured here. We'd like to try out some of the Cadillacs from this era to see how they compare, we've driven a couple recent ones and were pretty impressed, but they're still far from the insane luxuries offered by Mercedes or BMW.

[@luxosuperbarges278]

Inspired me to get a w220 s500, have done a video on it, but has a few issues, cost me $350

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We're going to check out your video in the morning, but looks like a nice W220 from the thumbnail! Is it painted matte grey?

[@ruslanmagerramov7003]

In the prefacelift you have the automatic lights to, but you have to unlock them

[@PRNTestDrive]

Interesting!

[@chasemiller9413]

I just bought a w220 s500 fully loaded for $1000 it just won't start 😭

[@PRNTestDrive]

Oof, I mean the most expensive car is a cheap S Class. There’s a multitude of reasons why it won’t start, but if you have the budget to repair it you’ll be in good shape.

[@alexemark]

Thinking about to buy this model, this video Is cool

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you think so! We've had the chance to feature a couple other W220 S-Classes since doing this one, as this was one of the earlier videos I did on these cars.

[@jeremiahcharleschen8631]

awesome vids..watching this from singapore and cars like these still cost crazy expensive..

[@PRNTestDrive]

Awesome to hear from different parts of the world! I'm sure they are pricey still, I know even in our market in Canada these cars are quite a bit more expensive than in the USA.

[@Rajonas007]

do s class with all options and maybe compare 2017 to 1980 or 2000

[@PRNTestDrive]

We would definitely like to be able to do more videos like that! We did a 7 Series Evolution video in 2016 but feel our new format would benefit a look back at that. We're going to try to make it happen!

[@florianthomas7852]

I personally like the W220 a lot, but unfortunately they have not aged well. Rust is everywhere, the standard spring suspension wears out too early and the ABC supsension has a repair bill that can make a grown man cry.

[@PRNTestDrive]

If they're well maintained they look great. I still think back to the facelift W220 S500 we parked beside a couple months ago, black on black. Looked absolutely stunning next to our E38. I think black is the best colour for this car for it to still feel modern, silver is just too boring.

[@eladioredin2124]

Not necessarily, I own a 2003 restyling S500 and everything works perfectly, suspension included. Of course these cars require some maintenance and it can sometimes be costly but they are worth every cent.

[@RandJ1996]

Go with the late model year (mine is 2006 and has 0 rust)

[@Chrissy212]

Most people that don't drive them every day there is a button you have keep pushing the peddle till you get a click and hold that click if you want all available power now!!!

[@olakunleofficial]

suspension is messed up

[@jesuschrist2287]

Do like C63 AMG or E63 AMG S 2017 review. Pleasee!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We did try our hand at featuring new cars on the channel earlier in the year, but the views we got on those were double and triple digit, wasn't worth the effort. We're going to look at it again later on this year to see if we can make a go with it.

[@billyowusu48]

fraGGEr The older models are more luxurious compared to the new. the e class of 2017 is not really luxurious as the w212 and the w211. The new e class is now like a big c class.

[@jesuschrist2287]

I really want to see 1 video not about luxury cars, but POWER!!! Thats what I mean about C63 or E63S.

[@WolfLPer]

no cupholder ?! This car has to have the most overengineered cupholder ever

[@PRNTestDrive]

I believe the S 55 AMG we filmed had it, they added them as an afterthought to the passenger side seat trim.

[@ashvinraina5116]

Watching in 2022......

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hopefully others are too, we’ve had the pleasure of featuring a newer S 55 AMG W220 since filming this.

[@Chrissy212]

And i disagree the s500 is worth losing a couple features your already going to have more standard features than what you know what to do with

[@TheKasperlkopf]

beautiful video, thank you for your effort

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks!

[@rafalpiotrnowak]

Just wanted ask you aside question: Can you please provide more info about cup holder?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Wish we could, it's been a while since we've featured this car, are you asking about the one attached to the bottom of the passenger seat?

[@rafalpiotrnowak]

@@PRNTestDrive right, attacht to the bottom of passanger.

[@KK-px4hh]

How would you compare it with BMW e65 7 series?

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's a great question, they really did compete. I didn't have a chance to drive the two E65s we've featured on this show, but the S-class I have several times. You get a smoother, more refined driving experience with the Mercedes, but a sportier stiffer feel with the E65 7 Series. Interiors are pretty similar in terms of quality, the S-Class kept things conservative whereas BMW got creative with that generation. In terms of reliability both are likely going to cost some hard-earned money on maintenance, the reality is either the S-Class or 7 Series will have seen hard miles in the resale market, and often aren't well maintained by this point.

[@snelmau5]

Honestly, I think you do pretty ok reviews but when the car is a total wreck is not that enjoyable

[@PRNTestDrive]

As much as we'd like to feature pristine show-room cars, we take what we can get. Finding a W220 took us almost 2 years. We hope as our channel grows so will our reach, and we'll be able to be more selective.

[@eladioredin2124]

At least you cpuld do a bit of cleaning before shooting the videos, remove the dust, vaccum clean the carpets and the car will look much better.

[@UnusSedLeo-w5l]

For me, it is the S-class we could all miss.. Purely based upon the exterior, btw. Love the cynical comments re obese. "Ass Class".

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree, in this colour which ends up being the most common, the car looks dated. Find a black W220 with a fresh detail and it looks like a completely different car. We've seen a few of those around, can't take our eyes off!

[@onemanarmyEST]

The car would look much fresher after polishing the headlights.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's definitely true too! So would our E38, we had a 2000 750iL last week and the headlight lenses were brand new, made a huge difference.

[@onemanarmyEST]

Also the xenon low beam reflectors are usually burnt, got mine replaced and it makes a great difference, before the low beams were especially weak in the wet conditions, now they're better than many cars' high beams!

[@colmfarrel4742]

loved the video and your sarcasm screw the haters. i completely agree with you alot of people don't understand that brilliant silver makes the car look a bit more dated. Black, obsidian, designo purple or violane are the best colours for an s class and they will completely transform any w220.

[@fawzi9656]

the arm rest has 2 cup holders .. see the thin thing on the right of the arm rest ? put your finger underneath it and pull

[@sugathanvaliyavilayil2612]

The only thing that would be a black mark for burno ..

[@PRNTestDrive]

RIP Bruno.

[@traduly1997]

2000 year cars is not too old

[@PRNTestDrive]

We don't think it's too old either, but some people do!

[@traduly1997]

every cars are getting older slowly of new years coming

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's very true, we still forget that some of the 90s cars we've owned are 25+ years old instead of 15.

[@amitmangat6226]

Great video as always !

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it! We think we've come a long way since filming this episode.

[@SrirachaPete232]

Great review. Honest, Not for speed but Lux-U-Ry

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it! This was a pretty early episode of TestDrive, we had the chance to drive a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG a couple years back that we think showcases this car very well if you're interested in this generation S-Class!

[@SrirachaPete232]

I just Bought a 2000 S500 in Black I do enjoy it, and enjoyed the features you explained that will help me to familiarize myself with it

[@SrirachaPete232]

Not to bash Doug Demuro, but your speaking is Sssoooooooo much easier to listen to than his HIGH-Pitched squeaking and exaggerative explanations no matter how informative he can be

[@nizarbakir9959]

Thinks from Algeria for this videos

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks for checking us out!

[@miguelitoooo232]

you look so happy driving a merc why did u choose bmw ? WHY *sadface*

[@PRNTestDrive]

Haha! Truthfully I went with the BMW at the time because the 7 Series felt more special, and I also had a few friends with BMWs so we'd be able to go to meets and what not. I love the E38, but my next car will likely be a Merc, however we are thinking of an E46 vert manual so I can get some driving time behind those to start reviewing 3 pedals properly.

[@GligorovDimce]

Mihai why not have best of both worlda

[@TheRazvy1990]

Mihai3099 i have bmw e38 728i.....next year....W220.....maybe w140 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Our W140 S 600 video is online now! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX-boXWqZ6qXf9E

[@bjc_9975]

You're vids should have way more views

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks, we appreciate that! Our hope is to continue to produce original content and have the views/subscribers grow because of it.

[@schwabenwurttemberg5916]

Leider ist der Ofen hässlich

[@bidents]

So if I want this car bc I want a somewhat fast sedan, I shouldn’t get it?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Can always get something like the 2005 S 55 AMG we featured a few years ago.

[@bidents]

@@PRNTestDrive can’t find abt in my area trust me ik abt the s55 amg i want one lol

[@bidents]

Any*

[@PRNTestDrive]

Same here, few come up for sale and everyone wants $20k+ for them. I'd love to own one, it reminded me how much I enjoy driving these early 2000s vehicles last month when we did the SL roadsters.

[@Chrissy212]

Before the video even starts that air suspension is f*_#ed

[@PRNTestDrive]

We were lucky at the time to find a willing owner to let us film one of these. We've since had the chance to feature a W220 in significantly better condition, that was the 2003 S 55 AMG we did a couple years ago.

[@Chrissy212]

@@PRNTestDrive I will have to look through and see that one

[@sonyhk3824]

Keep it up very interesting. Thanks

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you think so, thanks!

[@Mechanical_Insanity]

i really like your videos but why you always have either a ugly pimped mercedes or a mercedes with rust

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's because most of them have rust! Especially with daily drivers like we review, they tend to show their age over those that are garage kept. The reality is with a lot of these early 2000s Mercs are their rust issues.

[@Mechanical_Insanity]

PRN i know about the rust issue but why not review a rust free example

[@Mohdr121]

super gizmo why are you so bothered by a small rust bubble or two on a car thats over 15 years old?

[@Mechanical_Insanity]

Biggie Moe because there still.enough of those with no rust

[@Mohdr121]

super gizmo here in canada it is inevitable that there will be rust on cars because they use salt to clear the roads in winter. unless cars are never driven in winter, but most people have no choice since winter here is like 8 months out of the year