For those interested in the lift that I used in this video it’s a Quick Jack BL-6000XLT. Here’s an older review that I did when I got it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XWx9NAXzS8w.html
I enjoyed your video, especially your professional opinion and also your experience with Toyota. Is there a way I can get in touch with you, for some particular issues I have with my Toyota camry 2005 LE? I will appreciate any means to be in touch with you, either email and/or telephone. Just to let you know, I'm Michael, live on Africa continent and in a country called Ghana. Thanks
I'd love one of these for home, but can't see me getting it past my wife :-D Totally respect your views on using OEM parts - except for brake rotors - they are literally lumps of steel, as long as you buy them from a reputable distributor and they meet manufacturers specs there really isn't much that can go wrong - only ever had one problem and that was where the distributor had the wrong part in their database so I sent them back and they sent me the right one no problems.
@@Beer_Dad1975 I’ve toured many factories. Factories making compatible parts at best have designed their own parts to spec, while some blatantly copy through 3D scanning while others make do with rough equivalence. Patented designs can be outright illegal counterfeit copies (like Gucci handbags). Generally speaking an OEM or original part will always fit, work or last better. The cost difference is part profit (to keep the manufacturer afloat and recoup R&D), part marketing and OEM company overhead and part the extra cost of running a subsidiary in a lower volume or remote market. VW parts are relatively affordable in the USA for example but twice the price in Australia (unfortunately). I usually try to stick to genuine parts for all but the basics (like spark plugs, filters and fluids) provided they are themselves reputable brands of a known quantity and specification.
@@davidorama6690 Yeah I wouldn't go fitting a chinese manufactured water pump or air con compressor or something like that... asking for trouble for sure...
The key battery last much longer if your doors have the door handle sensor. I've probably pressed the button on the key fob 4x over the past 6mo. Yours looks like my E-Class so pretty sure the same. I also use the push start.
As a former technician for Audi, I know well the love of German vehicles, but the dread of owning them as an average Joe, blue collar guy. To my friends who ask about buying them, I put it simply. A German vehicle is like a trophy wife. Spend whatever it takes to give her what she wants, and they will be the best ride of you life. The second you get cheap, she will leave you on the side of the road.
As a German living in Germany, I must admit that you are right and that your analogy is spot on. When I was living in Canada, I only drove USA products. Better parts availability and greater likelihood of finding mechanics who can perform tune ups, as well as troubleshoot these cars for reasonable costs. Living in Europe, the same applies for European brands/cars and European mechanics working on European cars. Although I like Cadillacs for example, the running costs of owning one in Europe are exorbitant (taxes, parts etc.), even if you find a competent mechanic. Sticking to brands and models that are endemic to your specific global region makes financial sense. Some specific European models can be an exeption (as depicted in this video) for your market. In the end, if you like a certain car and are prepared to invest in it, do it. Then it is a passion, which can be explained through the greatest logic of all: Man-Mathematics 😉
Wow. One thing I have to say.. I would buy this guy's used cars in a heart beat, without question, no pre purchase inspection.. I mean, he is meticulous in his method!
Gives me joy to realise there are mechanics like you in the world! And that you get to drive the car you like. Mechanic in an S Class - that’s a statement. God bless you!
I owned a Toyota Camry before and I now own a Mercedes C class. I can totally relate to your comment on the German cars. During the ownership of Camry, it never gave me any headache and it always gets the job done: bring me to point A to point B. The car was reliable but extremely boring at the same time. I'm no millionaire by any chance and I work hard for my money. And now that I own a Benz, when I get off work from a stressful day and hop on my car, it always put a smile on my face. The car is so enjoyable to ride.
you must have a different C to the one that I hired. It was an unpleasant driving experience..noisey .harsh suuspention and hard on the back side and back ...I was glad to give it back and return to my GM vehicle!!
yao forgot to mention that he is a mechanic, gets off work from a stressful day and hops into mercedes c class, to sit at shop until the next day. stress free
I live in Nigeria and I'm a car buff. I watch every of your videos that I can afford to watch and one thing I've always loved and respected about them is your honesty. I fix cars too and have learnt immeasurably from you. Thank you for all you do, and from the bottom of my heart, I say a big God bless you. Home to meet you sometime soon
This happens quite often with luxury cars in general. I have seen plenty of people put cheap parts on Lexuses because the OEM part was too expensive and then the car runs like poop.
@@AgonxOC A lot of Lexus OEM Parts are just rebadged Toyota parts being as the original ones were just built directly from the same parts Their water Pumps are the same as a Toyota Yaris, Auris or Prius ...once you have the Lexus part number then you're good to go looking for same as a Toyota or getting the OEM Part Number it can be cross referenced other car models...Buy cheap parts and you pay at least Twice...
@@malachy1847 it depends on the Lexus platform. Not all Lexus share parts with Toyota. A FWD based Lexus (ES, RX, etc) is basically an Avalon platform (stretched Camry) so a lot of part are in fact interchangeable. I have saved a lot of money that way. Lexus rips you off a lot of the time. Now if you have a RWD platform; there is no escaping it as some part are not interchangeable. The 3.5 V6 2GR-FE (Great engine for the most part) has a dirty little secret that will leave you stranded and possibly requiring a new engine. It all happens when the oil cooler rubber hoses, with time and miles, get cocked by the front bank cat in the down pipe. Toyota knew about it, but won’t do the TSB unless the hoses break and if you have more than 120K miles, your are hosed. The updated part is all metal. Lexus wanted 800 bucks to do it. Toyota 250. The parts was included in the cost too. Toyota sold it for just 60 bucks. Lexus over 200. Insanity! That same Lexus (Now has over 200K) , an RX350, needed a new transmission at 66K. That was a huge fight with Lexus. The input shaft bearing was going bad. That was a noise I had been very familiar with and it took like three trips for them to recognize it. That left a poor taste and the typical joke of the 90s was, if you buy a Japanese V6, make sure you get the manual, as the autos with V6s didn’t hold too well. There lot of stories of RX needing new gearboxes.
I like how you actually teach and have an open mind to different types of cars instead of screaming at us and calling all of us who drive European cars idiots. Very refreshing.
He kinda did. Lmao he pulled up Scotty for reference but he acknowledged that he’s very fortunate to be able to afford what he will get out of the car. Hence the part costs and warranty. But once all that is up he doesn’t plan on keeping that money pit like ehm. Most broke ppl do when they drive around these cars and don’t even do research on what engine they’re dealing with or diaphragm of the engine layout because like he mentioned they have no intention on making these cars a diy at home work. They have leman where all this labor dollar goes into
Scotty Kilmer is for me, with Jeremy Clarkson, the two only highest moral authorithies in the automotive world. Drive euro cars is a nice experience. Be an euro citizen and to have the chance to drive US cars, i love them and i find them cool. I stop driving euro cars, and now, thanks God, i drive a japanese car Made. Grettings from Swiss.
I like the laid back attitude of this guy. Easy explanations of maintenance and he actually finds joy in life behind his Mercedes. I can relate to that as I drive one and it’s a joy.
It's not about the cost or the complexities of what can go wrong or not, it's about the feel of the car I totally get it. I respect his honesty and understand his passion.
You remind me of when I work on my cars, I can tell you're a Toyota mechanic. I always check all the little details, clean things, unclog drainage holes and such. Very nice work, good job!
AMD is a meticulous Master Automotive Technician who loves his job. What a shining example of a PROUD AMERICAN THAT WAS BORN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. KUDOS TO YOU YOUNG MAN AND THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEOS.
Keep an eye on the cam sensors. They love to leak into the harness and the oil makes it all the way to the ME (ECU). Engine harness replacement is and engine out procedure. Unplug the connectors at the cam sensor once a month or so and look for oil. If you see any, replace the sensors right away. Btw, I’m talking about the cam position sensors on top front of the engine and not the cam magnets in front of the engine (although those leak too). Also, keep an eye on the cooling circuit from the front mid engine area going into the turbos. If you see any, order all the lines as well as the thermostat housing - they all will break. Other than that, the 278 is not that bad of an engine. Once in awhile a turbo may go out or an injector (needs to be coded upon replacement. Lastly, when you’re doing plugs, you need to properly torque them (23nm) to ensure proper orientation. 15y MB master tech.
Here in Germany there are some companies selling so called "Ölstoppkabel" wich translates to "Oil stopping cables". These can give you peace of mind with this very known issue of the sensors leaking for a few bucks. I know of one Mercedes expert in particular that is known for good quality cables that stop the oil before it can get into the wiring harness. The name is "Motoren Zimmer". Once these cables are installed, you don't have to worry about the sensors anymore. The plugs and cables are made so that it won't be possible for oil to creep up through the wires. I'm pretty sure you will be able to get these in North America as well. No need to replace any more sensors. ; )
I’ve owned a 2008 S550. 4-MATIC. My philosophy and yours are the same. It was wonderful seeing how you did a very professional job on the “car of your dreams.” Great job, my friend. Dave in Phoenix Arizona.
I'm a DYI guy and owed a few MBs. On one hand, I was impressed with their engineering and yet sometimes found myself frustrated by it. Driving them was always a really nice experience.
I like your sense of humor :) and the way you explain things clearly. You work very clean and your attention to details is great. By the way, only professional mechanics like you can afford to buy high maintenance (900 dollars annually on average :) MB S550. I hope that I can find a good mechanic like you.
I noticed in the garage you are working in has what appears to be Toyota Service Uniform colors as a your garage wall paint scheme. If so , that’s a cool touch to your dedication to Toyota.
My 1985 300D has "features" like an electric "aux water pump" to flow more hot water to the heater core at idle. It can jam to block coolant flow or leak coolant out the shaft to overheat the engine, but worst is that a motor stall draws high current which has caused cabin fires (no fuse in dash control box). To think that U.S. and Japanese cars have never needed one, oh the inhumanity. Another is a temperature sensor to disable the cabin fan until the coolant temperature is sufficiently hot, to prevent blowing cold air on rich owners. Downside is it confuses the heck out of newbies (blower broken?) and another part to fail. Finally, if the "OverVoltage Protection relay" which was kludged in to prevent damage to the EGR control box fails, the dash tachometer stops working and the AC compressor won't engage. The OVP commonly fails and replacements "not avail", so must bypass that claptrap to get the tach and AC working again.
@@andyb8005 No warranties on any of our cars though get unsolicited phone calls every day for warranty scams. Our newest is a 2002 Chrysler. I do my own repairs, incl. auto transmissions. Indeed, have one apart currently for rebuild at 270K miles, awaiting a few parts.
One of the best intimate video i have ever watched on RU-vid. I was planning to buy a Toyota and i was watching your videos, while we own an MB for another family car. I was so suprised when i saw this video from a Toyota expert. The last moments of the video had just reflected my passion of owning a Merc. Even I cannot explain better my passion to it. Thank you for a delightful video again.
He also said mechanics prefer not to have endless money pits because the last thing they want after working on cars for a week, is to spend their days off working on their cars.
As a Mercedes technician that came from a background starting off as a John Deere technician working on heavy AG equipment, I have found these cars to be easy to work on if you’re not afraid to tear things apart. I love the engineering that goes into Mercedes’ products, BMW and Audi on the other hand are a whole different animal. With that being said don’t know if you eventually caught this but Mercedes’ wipers have a small sticker covering the replacement indicator that you need to remove.
@@borghorsa1902 with the push for Electric vehicles, at this point I don’t see the prices going down anytime soon if ever anymore, people keep paying these absurd prices so they keep incentivizing companies to keep the increases
So awesome my brother! May the Lord bless you and keep you as well! I wish we were neighbors. I am a retired auto tech, though at 70 still do most of the work on my Toyotas. Thank you for the video and all you do!
@@trdrav4 Now I Do Enjoy His Reviews! He’s Very Good But, Scotty Is The G.O.A.T.! Lol He Calls Toyota Out On Their BS Too. He’s just Honest but, I do believe The Part Of Being A Real Enthusiast Is To Drive What You Love Not Based On Just Reliability👌🏽
This guy is my favourite pro mechanic.... Only found him last week (Camry 2017 PCV valve) ...no bull and admits to his short-cuts and mistakes..That is the sign of a true pro. My ACE dentist admitted to dropping something down a patient's throat... Only someone who is comfortable and confident in the rest of his work would admit to that...
I have done a couple brake jobs on the E550 with the same brakes as your car. It has a great braking system. I also has the same concern about the direction of the rotors but you're right. Both front rotors are in fact "left" rotors. As a piece of advice. Check the coolant level on the intercooler. It has a separate reservoir as it is a water-to-air intercooler. Both of the ones I have worked on were low.
Being a mercedes tech i can say take anything you think you know about cars and throw it out the window they arent 2 left rotors they are actually non directional. And it confuses many people with the way they are drilled.
Funny that I had to leave a Toyota dealership to a Mercedes dealer awhile back so i could learn more other areas of the vehicle to repair. Lol Toyota dealers are one of those places where if you don’t want to do too much, its the place to be. Just routine maintenance over 75% of the time. Lol every now and then we had our lemons but it’s a different story when it comes European vehicles. It’s nonstop every day for us with The serous mechanical side repairing
I don't know if it's still true about the recent models, but about a decade ago, the germans called the VW Passat "Der ewige patient" (the eternal patient). One of my collegues husband has a Passat from that generation, and it had the engine replaced a couple of years ago. I think VW wanted about $13,000 for a new engine. Same with another collegues husband, but this time with a BMW 5-series (about the same age), but at en even higher price.
@@HepauDK Our 2012 Passat B7 2.0 TDI EU model has been faultless for over 250 000 km. US VW models are nowhere near the quality of their original EU models.
@@kamata93 I was actually talking about the EU models. The US models must really be sh*t then, when the germans themselves comes up with nicknames for the EU models. And the 2.0 TDI is one of the engines that has seen some major problems. Unlike like the old bulletproof 1.9. Although a collegue had an Audi A4 (B6 Avant S-line) with that engine, that started going into limp mode ever so often, only 2 weeks after he bought it (used). It took Audi 2 months do find the fault, which turned out to be faulty engine management hardware. He always bragged about Audi quality, so I used every possible opportunity after that to remind him about it. :)
@@HepauDK did a engine job in a 550ix and was $17,000 (would've been $26,000 at dealer) and would have been over $40,000 if BMW didn't. Cover 90% of the long block new, N63 was on a program coverage, sweet ride.
A lot of owners leave the routine maintenance and trade them up or sell them needing a tonne of work. However there's some dreadful Euros out there. Recent models - it's all the emission stuff that make the engine management complex. The basic mechanical stuff is normally reliable. It's getting to be mechanics don't work on mechanical stuff theyre computer technicians.
Great point! People should know what to expect when getting a used Mercedes. Driving an depreciated Mercedes would not automatically make Mercedes service/repair cost depreciated too.
WOW! What a beautiful machine. It looks brand new, inside and out. It is true, you are a "Care Care Nut" and it certainly shows. Thank you for this video. I've never owned a Mercedes and probably never will, but I can enjoy one vicariously through this video.
2 kinds of people own Mercedes for the long run. The person who can fix it themselves and the person who can afford to pay someone else to fix it. Bought a 2000 MB new and the key battery lasted 18 years.
I do basic maintenance myself such as he just did and I find Mercedes to be so much easier to work on than Toyota. Never understood why the dealer charged so much. Of course anything beyond brakes and oil is beyond me so off the dealer it goes.
Those older key fobs last forever. My 96 Thunderbird's keyfob still works despite the battery never being replaced in 20 years (possibly 25 years). My Jag, however, has a fancy smart key fob and the battery just went bad. I don't know how old it is, but possibly 12 years old. It was at least 4 years old.
Sometimes you just love your car. People give me crap about spending money on and continuing to drive my old 94 Camry SE, but I just like the thing. I'm glad to see you feel the same way about your dream car.
It is easier for you to own it, you can repair most of the issues yourself and at least you cannot be fooled by the Mercedes service. Me here in Germany, for peace of mind I prefer to drive a Honda or Toyota :D
@Prime Artemis my experience as well. I've known my neighbors and my friends who drive Hondas and Toyotas and they break more often than my 5 series. People really just like bitching about European cars which is good i guess...it drives down the price even more on the new (used) cars the moment they drive off the dealership...easier to pick it up for people like me (or us) ..lol..cause we get more for our money.
You have one advantage others don't - you're a mechanic and you can practically fix it yourself without having to go to the dealership and break the bank. Good for you.
@Go tigers nah, most people will avoid trying to work on their own stuff. Be it detailers, mechanics, electricians, etc. Yeah if they HAVE to do it they will. I would guess most mechanics would just work on their car at the shop when it's closed for like any fluid change/simple diy. No mechanic is driving around a s class because one they don't make that much, two, most mechanics like grandma cars (see car wizard channel). Also, working on a project car (which every mechanic has) isn't really the same thing as your daily driver. Lastly, if we are talking about people who actually have money for a s-class (or let's just generalize and say $200k+ car), they usually make more money in the time it would take for them to learn, get tools, and DIY then they would pay for the service. I personally think most people making that much money all have the ability to learn and do the DIY car stuff, it's just whether they are open to learning it. I work on my own car right now (not electrical) and I hate have anyone else work on it. I understand when I get older it won't make sense for me to work on it (especially with stuff like Porsche where you need work to be done at a shop to stay within warranty). Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should learn to work on their car so they know when something doesn't feel right.
You work exactly how I did when I was a full time tech and how I still work on my own vehicles to this day. Just found your channel and love it brother!!!
My 2012 S550 is so nice. The S class seats are perfect. Twin turbos are fast! I bought a Florida car with 60 k miles for 15K USD. I can afford to pay for repairs with all the money I saved. I do my own oil, brakes, filters. Remember to change trans fluid and filter.
I loved watching you work on this machine throughout the video. It's clear you enjoy your hobby, appreciating its over-engineered benefits to its flaws with aristocratic price tag for maintenance and repairs. It reminds me of old Triumph motorcycle lovers. The machines would continuously leak oil and vibrate parts to the point of falling off, but the owners were completely enthralled with the aesthetic lines of the machine and how they felt when they rode them. I was one of those folks at one time too. So I get it for what you're saying. I still appreciate our Toyotas for their dependability, solid ride, even if they aren't as perfect as the over-engineered brand. At least I can afford to get the rotors turned for a brake job.
Nothing is more satisfying for a "driveway mechanic" than to see an experience mechanic do a video like this. Thank you for the time and effort you take so that the little guy can learn hands-on and save some money. Keep up the good work with your lectures.
The sensors in the air filter housings are air temp sensors. The notice in the brake pad box about SBC brakes does not apply to this car. Some of the older cars used the same pads and did have SBC brakes, and that brake system can injure you if not disabled before removing.
Really enjoyed this. Appreciate the honestly you show in all your videos and the fact your approach to cars is a lot like mine. Nothing wrong with buying a fun car that may not always be as reliable as a Toyota but understand there are compromises that are worth it sometimes. I own a Toyota and a Mercedes among a few others. My favorite mechanic RU-vid page.
This is a great video and it says a lot about which car each individual chooses. No car is perfect. No car has everything. There are obvious “pros and cons” with each decision. RS. Canada
Was good to see you closer, it felt like doing the maintenance with you, and off course honest and humble as always. Great video!!! God keep blessing you.
I really liked seeing what it is like working on a MB versus Toyota. Counting the cars we have for our two sons, I have 3 Toyotas and a Lexus and do all the maintenance on them. I’m thankful that Toyota tends to find a design that works and keep using it for many years. Congrats on the success of your RU-vid channel. I’m so glad I found your channel.
@Jake Dank You just crying because you bought garbage and you try justifying it by attacking Toyota And to that I say enjoy seeing your mechanic every week you fucking moron
I love your attitude. I bought a 2018 Volvo new and now has 70k and not the first problem. The dealership made me mad so now I do all the maintenance using OE/OEM parts. I buy the special tools as needed and look forward to working on it. I to love the solid, secure,safe ride.
The S550 is a beautiful car. It is my second S-Class (a 2009 after the previous gen 2005 S500 which I lost to a flash flood). It is also my 3rd S-Class...a 2013. The 2009 is naturally aspirated but the 2013 is, like yours, turbo. Both are wonderful drives. Smooth and quiet and comfortable and, when you want it to be, powerful and sporty. You make an excellent point at the end about why so many consider these "nightmares". This is EXACTLY what I've been telling everyone for many years. These vehicles are $100k+ when new. They might depreciate over time but maintenance, parts, and labor do NOT depreciate over time. If anything, they continue to get more expensive (inflation). If a person can't afford the vehicle new, then they should be careful getting into one of these used. If they are ready to have repair/maintenance bills of a $100k vehicle, then no problem...otherwise, yes, nightmare time. All my cars were bought new and I've had virtually no problems with them. The problem many have is when they buy used/out of warranty and start cutting corners with aftermarket parts.
On a Mercedes you're actually supposed to suck the oil through the dipstick tube with a special tool, much easier if you have the equipment, and since they're designed for that there's no oil left in the pan. I also love that the filter can be replaced from under the hood, you never need to jack up the car for an oil change. Also, if you want great aftermarket wipers, Bosch is excellent and comes with adapter clips for any car.
You're supposed to fill half of the oil through the fill hole and half of it through the oil filter hole, then wait for 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure 99,9% of mechanics won't follow the correct procedure and run the engine half dry on startup.
@@dingdong2103 If this is true, it is min my mind stupid design, but in the real world it would not really do any damage filling all in one of the places. There is still a oil film on every part in the engine, and the oil pump starts up as soon the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts. .
@@dingdong2103 I have never said anything other... The point is exactly that, that there is some oil left in the engine, even in all the cavities there i still oil film that will lubricate the engine the few seconds it takes for the oil pressure to build.
My dad who used to have his own auto repair business used to tell me, “Mercedes Benz, engineered like no other car in the world; thank God no other car is engineered like Mercedes.” Some of them can be a pain to work on. Some of them can also have some quirky things about them as you mentioned about drainage with water near the cowl.
I am really impressed with your work ethic ~ particularly how you clean the INSIDE of the wheels! (I thought I was the only one that bothered to do this).
Nice vid! it's really not all that bad to maintain a Mercedes Benz. As a home mechanic, I've spent pretty good amount of money on tools in the beginning but these are one time purchases. I do get joy out of working on our cars (German and Japanese) I would say though that German cars do require more steps, mostly because they have more covers to pull, more sensors to pull, different types of bolts (hex, torx, security torx) , but I don't think you need the technology of SPACEX to work them. Parts are more expensive if you go OEM (if you really like that Mercedes logo) - however if you go with MANN or Brembo or whatever, for example, they're pretty reasonable.
Seining you clean everything made me feel normal lol. I thought I was a little out there . I do exactly the same every single time. Thank you for sharing.
I'm in Norway where we'll change over to winter tyres. In order to find a car nut you'll literally see if the air valve is perpendicular to the car logo. Two times a year for the four of them. Car nuts.
Beautiful car. I'm guessing the kids aren't allowed to eat or drink in it? lol Thanks for mixing things up. I love Toyotas but it's cool to see maintenance on other cars being done.
I have a 2010 Mercedes S600, and all I can say is ' be ready'. Because depends on whoever used to own the vehicle before you, you are in for some surprises, very expensive surprises... By the way I love the Jack, I'm trying to get one myself.
Two things: 1) Using all genuine replacement parts, don't scrimp, no buyers remorse. And 2) That you can get into this vehicle, at the end of a very loud and busy day, drive home and be relaxed by the time you get there. By the way, the main ECU is exposed to dissipate heat, brilliant design. Thanks Mr. CCN~!
Yes about the ECU. I cannot imagine why someone thought it would be a good idea to put delicate electronics right in the centre of the engine where it generates the most heat. Heat rises to the top, so yeah, go figure...
I never used genuine Mercedes parts if I could find an after mkt. parts and never had a problem. I saved many thousands of dollars and never had one failure. The things that constantly broke were Mercedes OEM parts
@Mike S Pretty hot. With a big V8 engine AND 2 turbos it can be very toasty in there. It is a well known fact that having the ECU where it is was a stupid mistake and there are many instances where the ECU has had to be replaced because of this stupid design flaw. Watch a channel called "Diagnosis Dan". There's a video in there on th very subject.
Depending on vehicle ford and GM OEM brake parts wear rather quickly compared to aftermarket and then of course you have varying degrees of aftermarket quality. So it's a roll of the dice either way.
I’m a Opel/Vauxhall mechanic and used to think luxury cars are a money pit but now 5 years later I moved to a better job and bought myself a 2018 C350e I absolutely love it 😊 used to drive a 2001 Vauxhall Astra estate.
Sigh...... I spent 19 years supervising the maintenance/repairs on these cars. 1976 to 1995. You have nailed the essence of enjoying the ownership of a brand which has stayed with the original company motto, "Das Beste oder Nichts." It is so nice to hear someone who "gets it" and can verbalize what it all means. Back then, you had what seemed to me a broader product offering which catered to a broader spectrum of consumers. When I began, the MSRP for a 4-speed manual 240-D was $9995. This was a bomb proof diesel with no sunroof and crank-up windows! If you bought one early in life and faithfully did the maintenance you could still be driving it today, with easily over half a million miles. There was no automatic climate control, no auto dimming lights, nothing. In Germany they were everywhere as taxicabs. On the other end of the spectrum, there was the '77-'79 6.9. A beast, and still serves as the fastest I've ever driven a car. Hard, high speed Michelin XWX tires so no fear. The speedometer was falling through 145 when I began to catch other cars at a rapid clip and had to stifle the fun. Business moguls, lawyers, famous athletes, musical stars, all were customers. But, things changed with the190 series. A blind person could pick out their service files from the cabinet by merely lifting the heaviest folders, not having to read the model number! A sad down hill slide in as Lexus quality stole the hearts of many a former M-B customer. Mine included...... I LOVE my RX. It irks my wife that I don't use the county Bookmobile to bring books to a spot 1/2 mile from our home, rather preferring to drive ten miles downtown instead. Any excuse will do to drive my sweet ride......
My 1979 240D with manual crank windows and 4 speed manual transmission stickered for $16,000. Part of that is the collapse of the dollar to Mark exchange rate but also that the car was built like a tank. Yes I still have it. It is the only US W123 I’ve ever seen with factory rear headrests.
@@bobbbobb4663 Indeed. Between the last of the W115 240d's (1976) and your car, the exchange rate was killing us. Congratulations on a job well done. How many miles now? And, tell me. Did the plastic trim around your window frames curl up and die? I owned a couple of cars that happened to!
@@thomasroberts8024 Thanks. I bought the car in 1993 and am the second owner. Little over 300,000 miles on her. Haha...yes the plastic trim has shrunk around a few of the doors. Also had a few rust spots to tackle especially around the weather stripping in the trunk. She is currently getting suspension components replaced but should be back in the road soon. Truly the last era of a car that Pierre Hedary calls an analog car that does not require any microprocessor to run.
I maintain the wifes 2008 W221 S class which is chipped rather than remapped, cruise at 70mph on the motorway returns 40mpg (they are called 'race chip' in the UK). I virtually never buy mercedes parts which are a fraction of the cost. She has had it now for 5 years and still loves it more than me...
You have a new fan from Tanzania... I am in love with Toyotas as they are brilliant over here.... makes our days goes by. It was awesome to learn stuffs for Mercedes... watched from begining to the end.... Nice flow..
That’s too crazy of a coincidence. I was fortunate enough to own a barely used (only 54k mi when I got it) 2008 Toyota Solara XLE since 2012 and after just letting it go to a new home this past year (I had over 243,000 miles on it) it has served me very well and will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish Toyota still made them! I was able to find a nice used 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with only 97,050 miles at a local dealer and I also love it very much. I’ve only had it for 7 months and somebody just recently hit me who wasn’t paying attention. Thankfully it was not totaled but I completely understand, I’m sorry you didn’t get to keep yours. It’s still in the shop right now I can’t wait to get it back. Hopefully they can make it good as new again. I hate to see a perfectly good Toyota sitting in the scrapyard. My old one is still on the road and I hope the new owner will enjoy it as much as I had. I still get nostalgic every time I see somebody else driving their Solaras around town.
Nice to see you enjoy your dream car & tell us to make proper expectations for what you get. I’m DYI mechanic also & with cars being more computerized it is get harder to DYI unless you get tools to do diagnostics on them.
Got an ML55 and it is just so enjoyable in the same way as you explain here. Makes it so much easier to spend the money and time to keep it in perfect condition!
I personally learned a valuable lesson on a small engine that may or may nor apply to this or other engines, and it was as simple as an oil change. Before replacing the drain plug on the oil pan, get the filter off. It was a cartridge filter, but I will always adhere to this practice from now on, canister, cartridge, whatever
You are so much like me as I own a 1981 Mercedes 380SL and it has been a huge learning curve for me as everything is over engineered. However it usually has a good purpose for this. I like your thoroughness and OCDs of how you do things. As I am the same way. Your presentation was absolutely awesome and thank you.
I agree that German cars are fun to drive. I really enjoyed my 1998 BMW 2.8 Z3 Roadster manual trans. I was impressed with the power and torque available at any speed and the handling. I sold it with 211,000 miles. It still looked new and ran great.
Don't have anything quite as fancy as an S-Class - we have a nearly 6yr-old GLC 300. Our first M-B and something I've noticed is the attention to detail in design. Nearly everything operates differently from every other vehicle I've ever owned, but you get used to it and it's always better! I understand completely why you like the S.
Great video. You make me laugh about driving like a normal human being. I try to drive slow but many times, I hit the gas also. You have a great way of maintaining your car. I've watched many of your Toyota hybrid videos. You are a master in my opinion. I'll keep watching.
I was a Toyota tech for five years, and have always driven Toyotas. Owned dozens of Camrys over the years, and still own a Previa (awesome vehicle, but getting long in the tooth). I moved to Mercedes in 99, largely because the shop had AC. I loved working on Toyotas, and found Mercedes to be a giant pain in the ass, but the dealership I worked in was a truly great place to work. It took me 17 years before I bought one that was traded in. It had over 200k, but had been maintained/repaired extensively, and exclusively at the dealership. I drove it daily for six years, and had to make some repairs, but sold it for more than I paid. I bought a 2013 ML350 that was traded in before I retired last year, and have really enjoyed driving it, but I fear it was a mistake. It has a naturally aspirated V6 version of the engine in your S-Clsss. These newer engines are very complex, and very expensive to repair, even with a discount on parts, and no labor charges. I concur with what you seem to be saying in the video: "Don't own one without a warranty". I would add that the factory extended warranty does not cover everything. There is a LOT that it doesn't. Owning that bi-turbo S-Class with air suspension would scare the hell out of me.
Oh, and those caliper and rotor mounting bolts are "one time use" according to Mercedes. They would be thrown away if removed at the dealership I worked in.
Great choice AMD. ABSOLUTELY beautiful car. They do drive amazing. Can't wait for a couple years update review on this white beauty. That model years of the S class is by far my favorite. Congrats on buying your dream car. Love your videos. 👍
I couldn't agree more with his summary comments, the same applies to my 2007 C350 (125K mileage). It's expensive to run and fix, although mine has been quite reliable, but at the end of the day it's the way the car feels to drive -- the heaviness, the refinement -- that makes it all worthwhile. My car is very relaxing to drive yet also really fast when you step on it. I'm gonna keep mine for quite a while longer. PS: current Mercedes don't feel nearly as good. I've driven both the current C Class and E Class, and they are much softer feeling, with steering that is way over-boosted. I wouldn't buy one.
The S550 from that era, even as low as the S450 are great cars. I used to service a few of them when i didn't work for Tesla and would always enjoy the test drive afterwards. Super smooth acceleration, lots of torque, and just feels super smooth in general no matter if you are braking, accelerating or turning.. I own a C Class and have always loved Mercedes for the Comfy ride and good quality. Mercedes age very well, my 2012 C Class Coupe always gets complimented still and people think it's a 2017 or something
