I have been pondering on this question and welcome comments from owners of the following vehicles...
Which is the better car a W140, W220 or W221?
Having never owned a W140, and only recently purchased a W220 S350 and wondering if one day I should upgrade to a W221 I would appreciate comments from owners as to the merits of each series and which model you would recommend.
Many thanks,
Les
Which is the better car and why
- Les Orth
- S Class
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 11:01 am
- Model you own: w220
- Location: Tamborine Mountain Queensland
Which is the better car and why
1962 220SE
1969 280SE
1968 300SEL
1965 250SE
1983 380SEL
1994 E220 - owned at same time as 300SEL (much preferred the S class) sold
1990 300SEL - Interior - mushroom (265) Paint 512 almandine red - 170000 klms when sold
2004 S350 - Current Car - Interior light grey - paint chalcedony blue 120,000 klms bought Dec 2016
1969 280SE
1968 300SEL
1965 250SE
1983 380SEL
1994 E220 - owned at same time as 300SEL (much preferred the S class) sold
1990 300SEL - Interior - mushroom (265) Paint 512 almandine red - 170000 klms when sold
2004 S350 - Current Car - Interior light grey - paint chalcedony blue 120,000 klms bought Dec 2016
-
- Mercedes Demigod
- Posts: 6305
- Joined: Sat 12 May, 2007 2:21 pm
- Model you own: I own multiple different models
- Region: Victoria
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Which is the better car and why
Difficult question.
The great unloved W140 - yet D.B. managed to sell half a million of them.
The early ones were beset with electronic issues not helped at all by the eco wiring catastrophe.
Self closing door issues, ASB issues etc. etc.
Can't get around the fact that they are a great highway cruiser. Long wheel bases are ponderous around town - however surprisingly easy to park.
Really need at least a S500 motor for effortless motoring
Solid as a billet of iron, paintwork high quality - enamel and not water based like on other post '97 models.
IMHO DB should have installed the M112/M113 plus 722.6 in 1997 to update these cars.
If you get one with a good body, the eco wiring has been changed (early cars) and you can look after it yourself - great to own.
Caveat - I once owned a W140
Maybachs were based on the W140 chassis.
W220's
First of them - electrical nightmare - you really need to keep on top of any electrical anomaly
SBC brake system - one of Benz's silly ideas - seemed like a good idea at the time.
Build quality suffered as engineering quality was constrained by the bean counter and marketing ,men of the Daimler Chrysler era.
Having said that many owners get hundreds of thousands of trouble free motoring out of these cars - with careful maintenance.
W221's
Iphone on wheels.
The great unloved W140 - yet D.B. managed to sell half a million of them.
The early ones were beset with electronic issues not helped at all by the eco wiring catastrophe.
Self closing door issues, ASB issues etc. etc.
Can't get around the fact that they are a great highway cruiser. Long wheel bases are ponderous around town - however surprisingly easy to park.
Really need at least a S500 motor for effortless motoring
Solid as a billet of iron, paintwork high quality - enamel and not water based like on other post '97 models.
IMHO DB should have installed the M112/M113 plus 722.6 in 1997 to update these cars.
If you get one with a good body, the eco wiring has been changed (early cars) and you can look after it yourself - great to own.
Caveat - I once owned a W140
Maybachs were based on the W140 chassis.
W220's
First of them - electrical nightmare - you really need to keep on top of any electrical anomaly
SBC brake system - one of Benz's silly ideas - seemed like a good idea at the time.
Build quality suffered as engineering quality was constrained by the bean counter and marketing ,men of the Daimler Chrysler era.
Having said that many owners get hundreds of thousands of trouble free motoring out of these cars - with careful maintenance.
W221's
Iphone on wheels.
Current
S212 - E350 Wagon
W213 - E220d
Departed
W211 - E240
W204 - C280
W202 - C200, C180, C180
W126 - 380SE , 380SE (Ex SA Import), 560SEL
W124 - 300e, 260e (ex Japan)
W111 220s (Indonesia) 4 speed manual column shift
W123 230
W116 450SEL
W140 420SEL
W210 E240, E240
W209 CLK 240
W201 190e 2.6 (ex U.K.)
S212 - E350 Wagon
W213 - E220d
Departed
W211 - E240
W204 - C280
W202 - C200, C180, C180
W126 - 380SE , 380SE (Ex SA Import), 560SEL
W124 - 300e, 260e (ex Japan)
W111 220s (Indonesia) 4 speed manual column shift
W123 230
W116 450SEL
W140 420SEL
W210 E240, E240
W209 CLK 240
W201 190e 2.6 (ex U.K.)
- Les Orth
- S Class
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 11:01 am
- Model you own: w220
- Location: Tamborine Mountain Queensland
Re: Which is the better car and why
Great comments Ivanerrol.....I nearly bought a W140 but held back because of the potential maintenance costs. My current car is a 2004 S350 and having owned it for three months and done 3000 Klms I can honestly say it in by far the best Mercedes I have owned. You can see below the ones I have owned. This one is near the end of the series and so seems to have been trouble free over its life according to the service records. My only disappointment is the outdated technology being, no Bluetooth, old GPS, no modern audio inputs. Having said that the sound system is very good. I plan to upgrade those things to modern technology and then the car will be perfect for me. The ride is superb and road noise very suppressed. Will I ever upgrade to a W221.....don't know..
Les
Les
1962 220SE
1969 280SE
1968 300SEL
1965 250SE
1983 380SEL
1994 E220 - owned at same time as 300SEL (much preferred the S class) sold
1990 300SEL - Interior - mushroom (265) Paint 512 almandine red - 170000 klms when sold
2004 S350 - Current Car - Interior light grey - paint chalcedony blue 120,000 klms bought Dec 2016
1969 280SE
1968 300SEL
1965 250SE
1983 380SEL
1994 E220 - owned at same time as 300SEL (much preferred the S class) sold
1990 300SEL - Interior - mushroom (265) Paint 512 almandine red - 170000 klms when sold
2004 S350 - Current Car - Interior light grey - paint chalcedony blue 120,000 klms bought Dec 2016
- ngruzevs
- M-100
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Fri 30 Oct, 2009 12:53 pm
- Model you own: w126
- Location: Melbourne
- Contact:
Re: Which is the better car and why
I've been tempted on the odd occasion to invest in a used W220 (S350 or S500), but always been worried about maintenance costs and resale values. Seems to be a large difference in used values between private and dealers.
I note Lorbeck have an S430 and S350 L, but they are pricey, all over $25K. Were the last or later W220's any good?
What are the main errors to look at, apart from air-matic suspension?
I'm so tempted, but will likely stick with my 420SE as my daily, found it reliable and cheap to maintain, petrol is the only issue.
I note Lorbeck have an S430 and S350 L, but they are pricey, all over $25K. Were the last or later W220's any good?
What are the main errors to look at, apart from air-matic suspension?
I'm so tempted, but will likely stick with my 420SE as my daily, found it reliable and cheap to maintain, petrol is the only issue.
Current Garage
1971 Jensen Interceptor: Jeremy (Turns petrol into noise)
1977 Triumph Stag (manual): Scarlett
1979 W116 450SE: Claudia
2005 C209 CLK320: Michelle
2007 Lexus LS460: Larry
2018 Hyundai i30N (manual): Penelope
1971 Jensen Interceptor: Jeremy (Turns petrol into noise)
1977 Triumph Stag (manual): Scarlett
1979 W116 450SE: Claudia
2005 C209 CLK320: Michelle
2007 Lexus LS460: Larry
2018 Hyundai i30N (manual): Penelope
- T-Modell
- die Nützlichkeit Meister
- Posts: 4159
- Joined: Mon 10 Apr, 2006 12:47 am
- Model you own: w107
- Region: EU- Western
- Location: Weinheim Germany
- Contact:
Re: Which is the better car and why
I wouldn't do that. If you change to a W220 you still have an old, outdated car. And 25K? Far too expensive, here's the cheapest in Germany: And the four most expensive, still under 20K AUD: Regardsngruzevs wrote:....
I note Lorbeck have an S430 and S350 L, but they are pricey, all over $25K. Were the last or later W220's any good?
....
I'm so tempted, but will likely stick with my 420SE as my daily, found it reliable and cheap to maintain, petrol is the only issue.
Thomas
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1967 W111 250SE Cabriolet, horizon blue
1973 W115 220D 5.0 Pick-Up Argentina, solar orange, "Ute"
1986 R107 500SL, arctic white, the midlife crisis viagra replacement
2007 R171 SLK350, calcit white
2019 W222 S560, ruby black, comfy cruiser
1967 W111 250SE Cabriolet, horizon blue
1973 W115 220D 5.0 Pick-Up Argentina, solar orange, "Ute"
1986 R107 500SL, arctic white, the midlife crisis viagra replacement
2007 R171 SLK350, calcit white
2019 W222 S560, ruby black, comfy cruiser
- ngruzevs
- M-100
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Fri 30 Oct, 2009 12:53 pm
- Model you own: w126
- Location: Melbourne
- Contact:
Re: Which is the better car and why
Thanks Thomas. Private prices for W220's are significantly cheaper than the dealer (Lorbeck) I quoted. Most W220's seem to be advertised between $10-15K. Maintenance bills scare me on these models and my 420SE is really nice as a daily.
Current Garage
1971 Jensen Interceptor: Jeremy (Turns petrol into noise)
1977 Triumph Stag (manual): Scarlett
1979 W116 450SE: Claudia
2005 C209 CLK320: Michelle
2007 Lexus LS460: Larry
2018 Hyundai i30N (manual): Penelope
1971 Jensen Interceptor: Jeremy (Turns petrol into noise)
1977 Triumph Stag (manual): Scarlett
1979 W116 450SE: Claudia
2005 C209 CLK320: Michelle
2007 Lexus LS460: Larry
2018 Hyundai i30N (manual): Penelope
-
- Mercedes Demigod
- Posts: 6305
- Joined: Sat 12 May, 2007 2:21 pm
- Model you own: I own multiple different models
- Region: Victoria
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Which is the better car and why
Current
S212 - E350 Wagon
W213 - E220d
Departed
W211 - E240
W204 - C280
W202 - C200, C180, C180
W126 - 380SE , 380SE (Ex SA Import), 560SEL
W124 - 300e, 260e (ex Japan)
W111 220s (Indonesia) 4 speed manual column shift
W123 230
W116 450SEL
W140 420SEL
W210 E240, E240
W209 CLK 240
W201 190e 2.6 (ex U.K.)
S212 - E350 Wagon
W213 - E220d
Departed
W211 - E240
W204 - C280
W202 - C200, C180, C180
W126 - 380SE , 380SE (Ex SA Import), 560SEL
W124 - 300e, 260e (ex Japan)
W111 220s (Indonesia) 4 speed manual column shift
W123 230
W116 450SEL
W140 420SEL
W210 E240, E240
W209 CLK 240
W201 190e 2.6 (ex U.K.)