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Mercedes-Benz S-class W220 (1998–2005)

2.0/5
Reliability score Needs attention
Email-verified reliability report

Model and generation reliability insights from verified owners. Variants are selected when adding reviews.

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Most reported affected parts

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No affected parts have been reported yet.

Engine reliability summary

Petrol

Engine Score Reports Common issues
AMG S 55 (360 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 55/113.986) No reports 0 No issues reported
AMG S 55 V8 (500 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 55 ML/113.991) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 280 V6 (204 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 112 E 28/112.922) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 320 V6 (224 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 112 E 32/112.944) No reports 0 No issues reported
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S 350 V6 (245 Hp) 4MATIC 5G-TRONIC (M 112 E 37/112.975) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 350 V6 (245 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 112 E 37/112.975) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 430 V8 (279 Hp) 4MATIC 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 43/113.948) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 430 V8 (279 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113.941) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 430 V8 (279 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 43/113.941) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 430 V8 (279 Hp) 7G-TRONIC (M 113.941) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 500 V8 (306 Hp) 4MATIC 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 50/113.960) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 500 V8 (306 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113.960) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 500 V8 (306 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (M 113 E 50/113.960) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 500 V8 (306 Hp) 7G-TRONIC (M 113.960) No reports 0 No issues reported

Diesel

Engine Score Reports Common issues
S 320 CDI (197 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (OM 613.960) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 320 CDI (204 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (OM 648 DE 32 LA/648.960) No reports 0 No issues reported
S 400 CDI V8 (250 Hp) 5G-TRONIC (OM 628 DE 40 LA/628.960) No reports 0 No issues reported

Owner reviews

Verified owner Verified
Model not specified Mileage unknown

S-Class W220: A Lemon's Tale

Bought this lemon for 35k in Germany. Looks nice, drives well, BUT it's a money pit. First the water pipe bursts, then the brakes fail, then the airmatic system, then the blower motor. The rust is horrifying, it was probably rotten from the catalog. Then injectors, then general chaos. It's old, sure, but I've dumped another 30k into parts in the last 2 years. Compared to my E46 3.0 petrol, this car has cost me...

Pros: Nice appearance, Good driving experience
Cons: Frequent and costly mechanical failures (water pipes, brakes), Airmatic system issues, Blower motor problems, Significant rust issues, Expensive injector problems, High ongoing repair costs

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