Mercedes S class W221, HONEST BUYERS GUIDE, 8 YEAR RUNNING COSTS! CHEAP LUXURY..WATCH TILL THE END!

I hope this has been informative for everyone and not put off off purchasing one of these legendary cars, they really are pure luxury for a bargain price just set your self aside a safety net ;)
as always thanks for the support and wishing everyone all the best.
Thanks for watching please like and subscribe, follow us on instagram - sprautos

[@sprautos]

Hope you all learnt something today about the 221 s class. Especially that the simplest of fault can cost a furtune to fix 😅 As always all the best to you all.

[@djwarren5081]

Having previously owned a 996 turbo and a Bentley Brooklands I can say that servicing and maintenance bills can add up really quickly. Buyer beware.

[@olliebodman9771]

I love the phrase you’re maintaining £80,000 car not a £6000 car, that phrase alone is enough of a buyers guide

[@douglasgreen437]

That is 18 years old..

[@djwarren5081]

It says a lot about the quality of work at SPR when they are trusted to look after those two beautiful Mercedes-Benz. Great video Sam.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

Yeah, they're nice.

[@AMG855]

This is so bang on, people don't get it. Big original cost, big ongoing cost. My S211 E55 has cost c.£50,000 in maintainance since 2009.

[@samspace81]

Great video. When buying an MB, service records are so important. I spent over $20,000 US in maintenance on my 2012 S63 I bought in November 2023. The car had over 10,000 spent as well in 2022! It can be painful, but I love the car. Pretty well sorted until next year.

[@paulstansfield8693]

I’ve owned my 07 S500L 5.5 loaded, for just over a year, purchased for £6k, spend to date £7228, in 12 months. The one point I would like to make, ABS/ESP are becoming a major issue. Pumps failure, with a £2k price to replace, which I had done at the main dealer last week. I understand I purchased the last pump Mercedes UK had on the shelf, with no delivery date, to replace. Do I regret the purchase, no the car is worth investing in, my main issue is finding a garage to work on it, which understands the car.

[@Pat-Mustard-w7s]

I think you would do well, if you can get this company to look after your car.

[@js-amg]

Great video guys. Thank you… Let’s give ol mate S Class a bit of a chance at redemption. Replacement parts such as radiators, airmatic, heater blower fans, door locks and switches ect. Those parts I would imagine is most likely the original parts fitted to the car. That’s 17 years of wear and tear, with a bit of abuse on the side from previous owners, and there aren’t too many manufacturers out there that can make that claim on the quality of their cars sighting those parts lasted 17+ years. I have a friend who owns a 2017 Nissan Patrol and he’s replaced the radiator 5 times because it keeps splitting and losing its guts all the time, and there genuine parts he’s used. So let’s not throw ol mate S Class on the rubbish heap just yet. Regardless of any car, when you buy and older car it’s to be expected that things go wrong. The only difference is what you’re willing to pay for parts will determine what car you want to buy.

[@Paul-fx4hb]

$17k in maintenance over 8 years for such an amazing car is pretty reasonable but a lot more reasonable if you buy the car now for $5k not 8+ years ago for $20k+

[@grenvillephillips6998]

It's nice to know that someone loves their car much!

[@erniestarkey8856]

I had 2010 S550. Had 4 major problems. Trans conductor plate, front control arms, both sides. 2 airmatic struts and biggest was the amplifier for navigation and radio in the boot.That would have been $5,000 new from Mercedes but was able to get it repaired. Caused from leak right where seals fit along boot lid causing it to drip right onto the amplifier. . Great car otherwise. I own 2019 S560 w222 which is way better. Great video as always.

[@sprautos]

Ahh yes the amp in the boot another common one to fail.

[@ianbroadhurst2880]

Excellent proof of the general advice that buyers of old luxury cars should budget at least £2,000 per year for maintenance!

[@matsujarvinen]

Not always.My w220 is 25 years old and drives like new.Since 2017 I have spent under 1500e on repairs and maintenance.No Airmatic or electronical problems.I do all the work by myself and know the model very well.

[@bigdz5969]

Damn how many miles? I had a 06 S430 and when I bought it , it had re done all new airmatic

[@user-vl5xo8og8s]

More modern vehicles with sculptured sealed beam lights can fail mot but each front light on Audi or BMW can be over £1K whereas on older car a replacement top quality bulb less than £20. Great video thanks.

[@robertthrossell4321]

I sold my 350 sl recently and ur absolutely rite, if you buy em cheap ur not servicing a 7K car it's a 70K car... Gr8 vid guys...

[@newbeginnings8566]

I love the dour Northern tone to the dialogue... Should have been an undertaker..😂 Still if I had a Mercedes then I would be taking it to SPR and spending what they told me to .

[@sprautos]

😂🙏

[@Parknest]

The takeway is that you need deep pockets to run a W221 unless you can do your own repairs. Genuine Mercedes parts are pricey but they're always money well spent. Genuine parts are not always the mot expensive. I had to replace one of the intercooler hoses on my W204 and a genuine part was cheaper than some of the aftermarket ones and my local dealer had one on the shelf.

[@ronniehaywood2725]

Good honest advice thank you.

[@wookiewookster1214]

Another good video, great insight, thanks 🙏

[@steveclement9815]

Well done again Sam. A really informative video, very interesting.

[@G20Details]

A great lesson learnt today, you want luxury be prepared to pay😀. Great video as always, very interesting in what’s needed in an S class as you say it’s more of a maintenance guide which is extensive on a car such as this.

[@jamesjohnson1099]

Brilliant video and I own a s class and now found somewhere to take it cheers

[@ZBYCHU__]

Great content Sam. Greetings from Poland

[@Elvis20101]

The tech failures of older benz cars, will reflect on to other manufacturers as they adopt features 10 to 15 years later. Benz has always been innovators, Thank you.

[@Paul-fx4hb]

You might want to do something about that screw in the rear tyre 😂

[@georgedaville4662]

Really enjoyed this video Sam. I have been a passenger in an S class, and had a few opportunities to have the wheel. Nothing can describe the effortless way the car moves off and the superb suspension ding its job. Now retired I could afford to buy one, but it would be totally impractical for my needs . May see about hiring one occasionally to satiate my cravings. Keep up the great work on the channel.👍😎

[@LH17578]

Really enjoyed the video and a nice s class fully loaded, a lot of motor to take on and would need deep pockets for the maintenance cost for parts and labour if things go wrong. Fortunately, you guys did my om642 common faults with the diesel v6 engine of which I am glad you sorted for me. Keep up the good work you and your team do.

[@Millennial_Manc]

Great video as always Sam. My best friend had a diesel 221 a few years after launch, bought used from a main deal£r. A few months out of warranty and a window spontaneously broke when winding it, someone keyed it, then the engine went wrong and would have cost £5500 to mend, and something else I forget…all in 2 months. I told him the last person to leave an S class in that state was Princess Diana. He got a dodgy guy in Blackpool to clear the warning message and traded for a new E class cabrio at the main dealer that sold it. We both miss his 221 though… beautiful inside with a light nappa interior, felt solid, lovely to drive at motorway speeds, quiet, perfect front seats. I remember him being made up that the designo wood they used was discontinued because it was becoming extinct.

[@xmaxbabilo]

W140 for the win. Last solid merc. Serviced by the best (SPR). Great vid. Looking forward to many more.

[@sprautos]

Agreed w140 was the king s class 👑

[@garyrains5996]

Great video. I have owned my "08 S550 for about a year. Changed the oil and transmission fluid. Replaced the spark plugs (the easiest car ever to change). Arizona car, garage kept, like new. Everything works. So far so good. Timing chain cog was changed by Mercedes for a better one after December of "07, so shouldn't be a problem now.

[@bryanporter3025]

17k on repairs.......if hes selling it give me first dibs .....another great video lad to be honest I was hoping that you would do a buyer's review on a S Class and really enjoyed it 👍

[@johnreynolds2387]

Very interesting as always. Especially the cash side of things. I've owned a 2011 C180 GGI car for just over 11 years. It's a 13 year old car. I recently itemised all expenses in 11 years of ownership excluding MOT, tax and insurance. The total was £2,400. About 63% of this on standard servicing. 23% on tyres - 5 tyres - two of which fresh on in March so really only 3. The balance of total relates to two issues - screenwash pump failed during Covid lockdown and I had the thermostat replaced and coolant.

[@sprautos]

Wow that’s really good going 🙌

[@johnreynolds2387]

@@sprautos thanks. I'm quite chuffed with it. I should have mentioned the mileage which is currently 61k (bought at 17k). I bought it privately 11 years ago at two years old for £14,250. Current value about £4k. I must admit I did run a 3 series BMW concurrently for 8 years - had quite a few issues - nothing major but niggly things. Put me off BMWs big time. I always buy petrol vehicles - not diesel.

[@user-kf8yp3ih3w]

My handsome chap is back 😍❤️

[@tomthepigeon6272]

Well done mate thank you

[@wolfgangezeh2221]

Thanks for the review. This car is in my virtual garage.😅

[@markrushton1516]

Also 17k since 2016 is just over 2k or under 200 a month per year. What would a car like that cost on lease or PCP. Equally a small runabout new is over 200 a month on pcp

[@garycampbell7891]

And still needs maintaining

[@NLDMesa06]

Love these buyer guides. Would you do a W220 next?

[@sprautos]

Maybe at some point

[@sumkunt0r]

That's a first for me, a window issue caused by software. I appreciate your channel you pointed out the issues with W209 CLK models enabling me to buy one with none of those issues.

[@markrushton1516]

See the episode with the folding mirrors

[@sumkunt0r]

@@markrushton1516 Mine work ok on the one i bought. On one of the ones I rejected they folded ok but when you extended them again the passenger side flapped and folded way past the point it should stop.

[@john3892]

Another superb video. But I don’t think you accentuated the positive. If your customer spent £2-3,000 pa over 6/8 years with you keeping the car in good shape, he was running a super-luxury automobile with lower monthly costs than many leased tin boxes would have cost. You’re a gem - hope the business is going well.

[@hooler47pp]

As a huge Mercedes-Benz fanboy, finding this channel has been a dream, always exited to learn more for every model and engine, especially as someone who does not plan to one a car from any other brand. I hope you keep up the hard work and find success. Currently own a humble 1999 W202 C180 M111 , which i love dearly and have been fortunate to find full AMG body kit and the famous 17'' AMG monoblock wheels. But currently the car leaks a huge amount of coolant and a bit of oil. For the coolant we are talking over 2litres for about 1000km. Everyone ive talked with and my internet research seems to suggest that the head-gasket has failed, but the car does not smoke from the exhaust, it doesnt mix coolant and oil, and it does not overheat even in extreme traffic conditions - it goes at most to 95 C. It has a brand new waterpump and that didn't change anything. The coolant loss has been gradually gotten worse the past 30 000km which is how long ive owned the car (3 years). The car runs flawlessly otherwise. No other issues what so ever. I Dont have any history from previous owners and have no idea how it was maintained. If i go with the headgasket changing job, what else should be done as a "while you are in there".

[@sprautos]

welcome, 111 engines were great, while your in there jobs can be as much as you like, if your doing the head might be worth valve stem seams and guides.

[@01menyou]

You always make me love my Kitten.

[@johnmcdonnell81]

Excellent

[@dwightephraim17]

Kudos!! Another very informative video from SPR. A quick question Sam, what's your opinion on putting genuine Mercedes parts on a 20+ year old E500?

[@sprautos]

If it’s worth it price wise then do it, far better quality and 2 year warranty. You will be surprised how competitive they are compared to quality brands these days. And I’m not talking eBay specials

[@victorbox6289]

Great video. I do hope Jack at No 27 here on KZbin does get in touch with you. In his latest Mercedes recent purchase video enough of us have recommended SPR Autos to him, before he launches into fixing his expensive suspension!

[@Millennial_Manc]

Was that a silver CL500 with the failed active body control pump? Watched one the other day but wasn’t a channel I follow and couldn’t get invested in it as I had the w220 S class and think that era isn’t worth saving

[@victorbox6289]

@@Millennial_Manc It was indeed. I think he said the history folder bills with the car came to over £40k!

[@Millennial_Manc]

@@victorbox6289 £17k is nothing for that car since SPR have had it. Then again, when did suspension struts become a consumable?

[@BorisCCRCam]

Wise words. I've had one for the last three years and the costs pretty much align. Gorgeous car but not cheap to maintain. Avoid main dealers unless you want to pay a lot more.

[@NomadJRG]

Just over a couple of grand a year, similar ballpark to what I've been spending on my C204 C63 not too bad really. Definitely want to buy the best example you can though with a pre purchase inspection!

[@ericbaptist7842]

I have an 07, and I still love it. The amount that I have paid since 2013 is the price of another car. It is beautiful and classic. The odometer says 323000.

[@darrenmartin4014]

I haven't got the bottle (or deep pockets) to run one, but kudos to the chap that does. I do love my 190 though and after 3 years and routine servicing has had very little spent on it. (Touch wood it stays that way).

[@sprautos]

190e are great cars

[@jjimmyrjagger]

Brilliant video on what to expect 👍would be top if you could do a walk around on a c-class at some point .

[@alansorbie4038]

Interesting video and nice to understand the costs. Around £2000 per year seems reasonable to maintain a car like that? I have a 2004 Porsche 911 and it has similar maintenance costs, including tyres etc….. best never to add up the bills😂

[@sprautos]

Yea perhaps just leave them on the draw and enjoy the car 😂

[@kerbsidemobilemechanic]

Think the apprentice wants some of the limelight 😂 get him to host one video

[@sprautos]

😂😂 seems that way doesn’t it

[@Pat-Mustard-w7s]

So £17k to have it maintained properly, by an independent specialist. Or about £25k in the main stealers, if you take their hourly rates into account. It’s nice to know there is a better alternative than the dealer, for repairs. I’d go to this guy every time. I’m a mechanic from way back, but I’d never take on some of these jobs. The diagnostic equipment you need these days is just so expensive. And these Mercs need specialist treatment from people who grew up with them, not some old grease monkey like myself. 😅😅😅 Subbed , liked, and waiting for the next one….😊

[@KnowPorcelain1]

Nice motor, but I went for a W126 1000SEC. keep the gadgets old Skool cool for me every time (Except the W204 C63 of course).

[@MuscleBandit]

Can anyone who's owned Lexus LS430's compare these repair bills over a similar time frame - 8 years ?

[@Major774]

Top of the tree!

[@douglasgreen437]

Top brick on the chimney..😂

[@ftffighter]

LOL "What do you expect to spend guide" XD anytime a new SPR vid comes out I instantly have to stop what I am doing to watch! You might've brought an interesting thought experiment to my mind. Personally, I would rather pay 10k for a used S-Class + 17k in maintenance than buy a brand new 2024 POS Kia/Hyundai for 30k. Every 10 years cars seem to get cheaper and cheaper built despite going up in price. Money is losing it's value and I think this S-Class is just a sign of things to come with all of these newer cars having cheap electronics EVERYWHERE. Germany is getting in bed with a lot of Chinese suppliers and manufacturers too, I sincerely hope Mercedes stays away from that trend.

[@sprautos]

And that’s how you have to think to Justify the spending that much on repairs. And that is what allot of my realistic customers say

[@Crazydidge78]

I have a cl from 08 Bloody drainage ducts under bonnet were blocked and basically flooded my drivers footwell and the rear,so please check as I’m in a whole world of hurt at the moment😢

[@scotspie501douglas7]

great video amazing cost that customer has spent loads of money but he cant be a normal joe bloggs must have a business but cars now are a fortune to service and manufacturers dont have the build quality in them unless you buy a car like that

[@jedi-mic]

I might have asked already, I'm trying to get this breather hose for an r170 M111 seems to be impossible to get hold of Mercedes tell me it doesn't exist on my car! clearly they've got it wrong! They tell me it is it's not the right hose??? it goes from the bottom of the oil filter housing to underneath into the head near the Block, where the bracket underneath the head is attached to the Head block as well not just a hose seems a strange fitting, its split and it's leaking oil the only thing i can do is Super Glue it?? Any idea what this part number is supposed to be? mean for this hose? 2.3L supercharge suppose to be but I'm not sure if that's the case either! the engine has been changed they've rubbed off the engine numbers I believe it's not near the bell housing where it should be on the top. So could it be a 2L???

[@lht380]

I have owned a facelifted W221 S350L for 10 yrs. For the longest time, it had a vibration at around 80km/h. It was finally cured when I replaced the entire propshaft which is surprisingly inexpensive at around GBP450 excluding labour. I wonder if this is a common problem for the W221 or was I just unlucky? The problem started when the car was 4 yrs old and I only fixed it at year 7 or 8.

[@sprautos]

ive never had to or heard of one to be replaced before. glad it got sorted though,.

[@markrushton1516]

Latin phrase Caveat Emptor which means 'buyer beware'. Prob apt for ownership of these cars

[@frankirvine316]

As nice as Mercedes are,the maintenance can be horrendous Actually they are not designed to last sadly The newer they are,the worse it gets😂

[@erasmmuss]

On this model I prefer to use as replacements for air shocks the ones made (refurbished) by arnott they are way way superior then the shit that de dealer sells and they are a 10th of the price and 24month warranty instead of that 12 months, as for disks for the w221 I only install textar I don't bother with the "genuine" garbage, i declined jobs on w221 when owners insisted on "genuine" disks and shocks , i will not do it , i feel so bad charging customers the riffoff proces for those SUBPAR parts

[@chrispenn715]

£17k is a lot of money on maintenance, but then again you could easily lose more than that in depreciation if you ran newer run of the mill cars instead....

[@sprautos]

Certainly could, and quicker than 8 years.

[@DrDSCT]

Compared to leasing a new car over the same period or the depreciation on a new car - in particular an EV - it doesn’t look as bad as it seems.

[@PB200559]

Very interesting. I'd look at that and say roughly £2k a year for maintenance and repairs - not too bad for this level of luxury.

[@sprautos]

I agree, what’s a good luxury car on finance / lease £500 a month ?

[@doosanengineer7659]

Our 221 air con has a fairly substantial leak, regas only lasted 1hr. What would be your favourite for leak location? How on earth did it passed the vac test for the garage to proceed and fill?. !!! 😡

[@sprautos]

You need to Have a nitrogen test carried out this can take a few hours btw cover the system Ina puppy water until you locate the leak, might even need to take The bumper off to inspect the condenser which is the usuel culprit or the dryer in the wheel arch , a vac test is not reliable way to determine a leak.

[@alexandruilea6471]

So 2200 GBP a year.. Thant's crazy, but also worth it to drive such a cool car.

[@Millennial_Manc]

If I bought this car and a 1996 A124 today, which do you think would cost more in maintenance over 5 years? Is it a bit of a show stopper if you see an MOT with ‘corrosion - not bad enough to affect rigidity’ etc? I feel compelled to buy an A124 but my head is screaming at me not to. I have visions of you putting it on the ramp and a pile of rusty parts fall on the floor with a biodegradable wiring loom on top.

[@sprautos]

S class will cost more, providing you buy a good 124 to start with

[@Columbo777]

Excellent video...Although the W221 was not the high point for the S Class...

[@sprautos]

I prefer the w140

[@Columbo777]

@@sprautos That's a lovely car. My luxury barge now is an ultra low mileage 1997 LS400

[@Columbo777]

@@sprautos kzbin.info/www/bejne/emXUn59nbsard7csi=_rjJjm2Vshln4yy4

[@bigdz5969]

LS? Hah. No one makes luxury like the Germans. I’d say a 7 series is more luxurious lol

[@robertmccourt131]

Have you done a buyers guide to either the C55 or the SLK55 ?

[@sprautos]

Not yet. I’ve done a Clk 55

[@petrolhead28]

I'd rather keep an old luxe on the road than have a new box or even worse an ev. Cars are a luxury and not free.

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Nice enough car, but are they worth having? All this ageing and complex German stuff (including Bentleys) seems like a good way to burn a lot of £20 notes and for what?

[@sprautos]

depends how you look at it, bills average 2k a year, a modern nice car on lease or finance 7k plus a year and still not driving an s class and depression taking place

[@berwhaletheavenger]

@@sprautos True enough! A friend has a 200,000 mile W222 and it's still good but a ticking bomb at that mileage.

[@bigdz5969]

Huh why do you say that?

[@bigdz5969]

Huh why?

[@Masteranddisaster13]

I own an S600 w221 , it's a great car. I had a few minor issues . Maintenance is the key word here. The harman kardon amplifier likes to die when you're least expecting it. Just had mine refurbished, waiting to arrive tomorrow. It also has the ABC suspension which I just flushed the flyid.with the AGA tool.

[@sprautos]

Ahh yes the amps are a popular one to fail. Forgot to add that into the video.

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

Probably more reliable than the e65? 🐻‍❄️

[@asadzeethree2726]

Even though I'm a merc guy. If you want a reliable high end car with minimal expense. Go for a good well maintained LEXUS LS 430. End of!!!

[@bigdz5969]

Eh. Doesn’t drive like an S class.

[@asadzeethree2726]

@@bigdz5969. The majority of people will agree it drives better! But if someone is a die hard merc enthusiast they'll naturally be biased! Mercedes were top of the tree in the luxury car market. Obviously, Rolls Royce and Bentley are ultra-high luxury. So that's a different ballgame! Mercedes knew they always had it in the bag with the S-CLASS as the best luxury car. However, back in the early 90s, they knew they had to go back to the drawing board and come up with the W140 because they got shook when Lexus dropped the LS 400. That's a fact! Research it online if you believe differently.

[@yolbulucu]

so its like 2000 per year. not that much if you like the car

[@sprautos]

Cheaper than a lease or finance car and driving luxury

[@Columbo777]

There's no such thing as a cheap Mercedes ;)

[@Rugbyman269]

£17000 in maintenance, but you're still driving about in an £80,000 car , that you've only paid £6000 for . Plus someone else has paid a percentage of that £17,000 . Mmm think I'll stick to my piccanto .