Mercedes S-Class W220 - luxury (not) only for the elite

The mafia has its own needs - including a huge barefoot limousine in the garage ... The Mercedes S-Class W220 fits perfectly into this vision. It used to be for fans - but today it is for everyone, because you can buy it used for the price of a subcompact car. But is it worth it?

Mercedes S-Class W220 opened a new era. Its predecessor looked like a fallout shelter, which not everyone liked. The rough construction also reflected its durability - despite its splendor, it was renowned for its reliability. The crossbar was suspended high, so the successor had to be even better. Daimler takes up the challenge?

The first Mercedes W220s were handed over to customers in 1998. Production ended in 2006 and the car received a minor facelift in 2002. With the W140 successor, design came to the fore. The Mercedes W220 boasted a slimmer design that was immediately appreciated. The car not only became lighter, but also lost weight in practice. However, subtlety concealed powerful capabilities. The car measured a whopping 5.04m, and if the owner thought that was still small, there was also a version on offer, extended to 5.15m with a wheelbase of over 3m. But the new model did not seduce only with its style and comfort.

Everything that was invented by man could be on board. ABS, ESP or a set of airbags that didn't impress even when falling off a precipice are all obvious standard. More demanding ones can be seduced by voice control, an excellent Bose audio system, massage chairs and a host of other gadgets. And all this vision would be perfect, if not for one small detail - when designing the W220, proven Daimler engineers were on vacation.

The legendary trwałość?

Market experience has painfully tested the longevity of Mercedes' flagship limousine, which looks wretched compared to its boxy predecessor. The innovative Airmatic pneumatic system can lead to huge costs - it fails, compressors fail. Some variants are additionally equipped with an oil-filled Active Body Control system that adjusts the suspension according to driving conditions. It is more durable, but even more expensive to maintain. When buying, it is better to check if the car rises without problems. It is also worth bearing in mind that any malfunction of the Airmatic ends up in a tow truck, because the car falls and cannot move on its own. The exceptionally poor corrosion protection is also surprising - it is very easy to get crusts and blisters on the flagship limousine. Fortunately, the durability of engines is usually hard to fault, although they do have their weaknesses due to wear and tear. In petrol engines you have to watch the ignition coils, in diesel engines you have to watch the injection and charging systems. The EGR valve, flow meter, throttle and accessories can also be capricious. In addition, weak points also include the steering mechanism, unstable electronics and automatic transmissions. There was no manual transmission in this generation of Eski. However, the loss of opinion about the car for many years does not change the fact that the S-Class has set new standards in its class.

standard luxury

Maybach has used several W220 solutions and it speaks for itself. The flagship Mercedes has become the base for a limousine worth over PLN 2.5 million! What did he offer his owners? CEOs will love the rear end the most. Space is plentiful, and flagship options offered electric sofa controls, heating, and a host of other goodies. A refrigerator will keep the champagne cold, and a built-in mirror will help you take care of your image before the conference - after all, in the business world, not only the car should look good. What's ahead? In the foreground are shiny armchairs - the range of their adjustments is huge. A large set of storage compartments and a mesh in the passenger's legs will help to clear the mess in the car. Too bad the color screen wasn't a standard feature on every instance. The multimedia system takes some getting used to, but it's not difficult, as most functions are controlled using buttons scattered around the cockpit. The ergonomics are not bad - only the power window regulators could be placed a little higher on the door. The most important functions can be controlled from the steering wheel, and it makes no sense to write about the level of equipment - telephone, massage, satellite navigation, a system for pre-accident preparation of passengers for an accident ... Anything can be in this car. Even the rear head restraints can be electrically folded down to make them easier to stow away - unfortunately they won't lift up on their own. And what does the S-class offer the driver on the road?

Under the hood...

The thoughtful suspension is focused on comfort. In slalom, the body rolls a little, but the car behaves predictably. The automatic transmission is not one of the fastest in the world, but in this case it is forgivable. The safest choice is the base gasoline engines of 3.2 liters 224 km and 3.7 liters 245 km. These are proven designs that don't cause many problems and provide acceptable performance. Combustion? Usually you can close in around 12l/100km. In addition to the 4.2-liter V6, the offering also includes V-306 engines with a range of 500 km. They turn a Mercedes into a rocket, but their powerful capabilities are usually unable to withstand the gearbox, which - to

To put it mildly, it crumbles. However, this is not the end - at the top were 12-cylinder engines, the power of which in the AMG version reached 612 hp. However, these are real white crows. Diesel is the easiest option on the secondary market. The base 3.2L 204KM receives positive reviews, although it has a sensitive injection system. In turn, the 8-cylinder 400CDI is already in the big leagues. It offers 250 km and a beautiful thin sound, but the difference in performance in practice is not that big compared to a weaker device. True, there is in the service - more cylinders, double supercharging and significantly reduces the life of the automatic transmission, which is too delicate in this version.

It will soon be 220 years since the premiere of the Mercedes S-Class W20! The car still captivates with its finishes, equipment level and timeless style. Unfortunately, low prices are not accidental. Users most often complain about the expensive air and emergency suspension. In addition, used copies are often already heavily worn out and have a huge mileage behind them, so it’s easy to fall into the popular expression. Despite this, a well-maintained car will turn the trip into a real pleasure, which can be enjoyed not only by the elite, but on one condition - they must take into account the cost of living. 

This article was created thanks to the courtesy of TopCar, who provided a car from their current offer for a test and photo shoot.

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