Thanks for liking the Video! What is your Favorite and Least Favorite S Class?

So underestimated! Love this car

Never clicked on a video so fast, this is the car my dad had when I was growing up!

Im 31 years old and I will buy S500L 2004 this year. This is my dream car since I was a kid in late 90s. Great video, thank you :)

Just bought a W220 S430 and it’s literally a perfect car man such a fun ride

I'll chime in as someone who has bought this exact year and model W220 last fall for a winter daily driver. Mine was the front sagging, head light fogged, high miles example that gives these cars a bad name. I did a lot of reading, the key is to buy and example that is not at the top of your budget and to get a Mercedes DAS setup with the multiplexer. I have put about $3k in parts (including the Arnott front struts like the example Tedward drove) and have rebuilt the front suspension with decent grade parts. At 257k miles, mine has fared pretty well and is comfortable, reliable, and honestly pretty straightforward to work on/own without breaking the bank. Having the MB DAS setup has saved me lots in money in diagnostics and has been the key to making it much easier to live with. Oh, the best part is that I only paid $950 for a clean title car that moved under its own power in the crazy inflated late 2021 car market. These cars are truly a great buy!

Last July I bought a 2002 S430 with the AMG sport package, from the original owner, an 84 year young lady with white hair that took excellent care of the car. 59k original miles, dealership maintained, in great condition. This car is great for those long highway trips, cruising 80-100mph on the highway or turnpike. It’s so effortless in its cruising capabilities and comfort. I was originally looking for a W140 but when I saw this one owner with the low miles I just couldn’t turn it down. Keep up the great content!

I have an 01 S430 and I love it! So comfortable, I love taking super long 100+ mile drives because that’s where it feels at it’s best. Awesome car, love the appreciation for the old grandpa mobile :)

When you described the W221 as a mafia mobile I already got the mental image of the car in my head despite never having connected that car to the model number in the past, really is an iconic look in its own way

Our neighbors across the street growing up had one of these and 2 E Class wagons. Exquisite taste they had.

Love these older Mercedes, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to drive my dads 03 s55 quite often. Timeless and beautiful cars

9:10 The old 5 speed boxes only started in 2nd gear when in "W" or "C" mode (depending on year it was called one of those two) and will start in 1st in "S" mode. It just shifts out of 1st really quickly since 1st is quite a short ratio.

The first time I drove one I was sold - still have it 2003 - no brainer

I am 18 and bought a 2003 W220 S320 CDI (3.2L Turbo-Diesel) as my first car a few months ago. I've been a huge fan of this car for years, it has all the technology I ACTUALLY want and need in a car, unlike the W140 and most other cars of the time, while not being forbidding in terms of price. I love the styling, simple and rounded, with a great rear-light design for the Facelift model. The petrol engines are quite thirsty, but the diesels are very good fuel-economy-wise for such large cars and offer very high torque in place of horsepower, which to be 100% honest, the petrol engines of this model don't really offer anyway. For those worried about maintenance, it's not all that expensive, if you don't buy new original Mercedes parts, opt for non-original or used and find a good Mercedes-Benz independent mechanic, you can keep these cars running for years and at relatively low cost. However, don't forget, you get to drive an incredibly comfortable and impressive car for a mere fraction of its original price, you have to be prepared to go the extra mile if you want to keep it that way. A few things to note: -The petrol engines on these cars are VERY low revving, if you pay attention to the tachometer, you will notice that it redlines at 6K RPM. These engines were built to prioritize torque, not horsepower. They have very long stoke-length and not that great a bore diameter, which lends itself poorly to high RPM engines, resulting in low horsepower, high torque, much like a diesel. -In terms of features, there are quite a few to look out for, such as the fridge extra and dis-tronic (radio cruise control), so if you get a loaded one, you can impress people with them even to this day, at least in Europe. I have no idea what Americans are up to and honestly don't care. -For all the haters of this car who say they prefer the W140, I understand and respect your preference, but this cars was a massive improvement over the old one in everything except material quality. The design is slicker, more aerodynamic, there are many great new features, the car is smaller while having more space, the engines are smoother and a lot more fuel-efficient. Look I get it, I also love the old brick-y design of Mercedes cars, I grew up in a 1994 W202 C180, we still have it and I love it, but it looks very old-timey compared to next gen chassis.

My dad still owns his w220 s500, its just a comfy ride everytime. We used to take road trips all the time. Great highway cruiser with amazing mpg (usually in the high 20's), pretty incredible for a 5L V8. We had the "massage" and cooled/heated seats as well as some other goodies in our designo version. Barely needed any work to the engine and transmission, except for the air suspension. Small price to pay, but well worth it to have airmatic. I don't get the the amount of hate the w220 gets, its much more reliable that the generation before and doesn't have so much electronics like the w221 does. Great car by Mercedes.

Never thought I’d see my exact car (except for the AWD) on this channel. Mine has 140,000 miles and is running strong. Bought from the original owner and it’s been very reliable over the years. At least from my experience I don’t understand the hate. As far as handling when you put the suspension in sport 2 it gets super firm. Rides like crap but handles good in that mode. In convenience mode it is so isolated and the best highway cruiser I’ve driven.

I had the same year e500 and loved it. I got it a few years ago specifically to commute and numb the drive. I listened to a lot of Rachmaninoff and loved the car. So quiet and smooth.

Ahhhhh Tom thank you! This underrated generation was my favorite car when I was younger. The S55amg is still a modern classic in my dream garage, perhaps you’l come across one for a review some day 😁

I miss these older generation of Mercedes...

I had the s500 w220 for years. Was a super good vehicle. Some say it sucked, but I loved it much more than my w140 400se.

This is currently my daily driver and I absolutely love it! It’s a 2005 S430 4matic in Desert Silver. She was bought brand new in 2005 by my wife’s grandparents and had been dealership serviced its entire life before it was given to my wife and I as a Christmas gift 2 years ago. Mine just passed 100,000 miles. Best car I’ve ever driven, super smooth and relaxing on the freeway with good passing power. The engine and transmission are very reliable. Mine has the Airmatic system, which has blown once, but there are good aftermarket units at reasonable prices. I actually replaced the blown strut with the help of my friend and it wasn’t too bad. Unfortunately this model of S-class is often neglected so there aren’t many good examples out there. But if you put some time and effort into finding a good one with detailed service history, you’ll have one of the best affordable daily drivers out there!

Fun fact: the S65 was introduced in this body style. In 2005 it was the most powerful and, fastest production sedan ever made.

I currently own a W203 C240 4matic, the similarities between the classes are really subtle! in both cars you have to really throw the steering wheel around to change direction, and throttle input is so smooth.

Still looks perfect specifically the long base

The M113 is a pretty bulletproof V8. I'm with you on the cruise control stalk placement, on my 2006 Mercedes CLS it's in the same place as that S-class & in my 2020 Mercedes Vito work van the positions are swapped, meaning that occasionally I signal instead of initiating cruise in either vehicle lol.

I owned a 2004 S500 4Matic for 2 years. I still regret to this day trading it in for my '14 ML350. The BEST car I have ever owned. In the 2 years and 50,000 miles I owned it, I only had one issue to repair and it was a torn CV Axle boot. $350 and that was solved. Original air suspension and at 115k miles still drove like butter. Motor and transmission will just keep on chugging if you do the fluid flushes and oil changes regularly. Reason I got rid of it was rust starting to bubble on the bottom of passenger door after 17 years in New England. I will definitely get another soon.

I loved these. The rear is the best looking of all S Classes to date. It looks so classy. This facelift solved any rust issues and this felt a lot more solid than the newer versions that came after it.

I have one like this. S430 4Matic. Bought cheap, with a few issues. Mostly fixed now. Most comfortable car I own.

Man, that's a clean S430! Still looks lovely, even though it was known as the trouble child of the W220 lineup.

I had a 2005 S430 I bought with 47k miles with the 7 speed auto and loved it for seven years before selling cheap to my son. It’s probably got another 100k miles on it now. Replaced 2 air springs and the shift modulator that had to come from Germany. Other than that, it’s been a completely reliable daily driver and sooo comfortable! Mows the part where things get silly. When the pneumatic door locks and power trunk poner went out, I knew I was going to keep the car and it hadn’t cost me a lot of money to that point, so I chose to spend the $4000 (at an independent shop) to go ahead and fix it. So glad I did. It all works and it’s serving my son well. Not everyone would make the same choice.

These are still one of my favorite S class chassis. I’m still mulling over getting one of these. The good thing is they’re relatively cheap to buy now

10:40 Good spot on the convertible W124! Just a little correction, it can't be a 500E/E 500, the V8's were only on the sedans. That's probably an E320. Love those cars, from the golden era of Mercedes-Benz, I have a 300D myself, and for a 30 year old car, it is a more capable daily than a lot of newer ones! The W220 shouldn't be so hated, it is a really good car as well. I think the problem is that with age, all that tecnology turns into expensive issues with the cars, and a lot of them were neglected and got a bad reputation.

Best year for the W220 is 2003. Facelifted interior and exterior and still has the 722.6 trans.

My dad has a 2003 s430 and still does. He drives a 2011 GL450 now, but the s430 just crossed over 200k miles. It has its issues for sure and I will not shy away from that, but that M113 is solid as a fucking rock. The trans needs to be replaced as its now slipping a bit and airmatic is shot, has a few electrical bugs. But, my plan is to have this car passed down to me and I want to fully restore it to what an S class should be. It needs a paint correction (it has swirled out black paint), new trans, fixed radio, fixed airmatic, and it will be in great shape. I drove it when it was in better condition when I first started driving @ 16, and this is THE car that made me fell in love with Mercedes. When this car is taken care of and in solid condition, it is a dream. After driving this car, I bought a 2011 c300, a 2007 e350, and now Im on a 2011 c63. I love the early 2000-2010 era of Mercedes.

I have a 2000 s430 and I absolutely love it!!

The W220 s63/s55 is my dream car

i own a S500 W220 since 2017. It never failed, very reliable. The airmatic complaints are over exaggerated. its not a complicated system. 4 struts, a reservoir, a compressor and a bunch of hoses. That's it and the components a good for 250tkm without any maintenance. But the ride quality is outstanding. I don't like modern sedans which are trimmed for sportiness with big wheels which hurt your back while driving. i also like the smooth and non-agressive V8 sound unlike modern AMGs. Driving my S500 is just relaxing anf for me 306hp are enough. Runs effortless 250km/h.

Always wanted a w220 s65 they’re some amazing cars

You have the best POV videos on KZfaq

W220 is my absolute favorite Benz. I own 2. A 2001 s430 and a 2000 s500 with full custom bag kit. S500 is my avatar.

S430’s in black are 🔥

It is one of the best car with pre-Safe technology, it does takes over the command if the car detect is going to roll or getting to accident. Enjoy this car is the one the best

W220 is the best. Period

My friend had one of these, his had soft closing doors! and that cutout on the right side of the center console armrest opens and theres 2 cupholders in it. the suspension button on the dash that can raise the car a little was always cool too

My Dad had this car in a really dark purple when I was young , remember he was very mad when I broke one of the rear shades playing around.

I brought one just to buy it on the cheap and I love. It rarely gets driven but when it does it's a nice cruiser. I get that it's sandwiched between the iconic class and the still great,modern looking 07-13 body style. It's the middle child. I have a large SUV and pickup so it's nice to sit in a car. I actually take my dogs to the vet and the park in this. Bear in mind my 2 dogs nearly total 300 pounds combined and gave amole room in the back. I got this car so cheap I'm glad I did. Love it!

... This car is so smooth ♥ thanks to AirMatic or even Active Body Control... Also smoothest is W140, after that W221 and this W220. W222 is digital + luxury but in appropriated way than too digitalized W223... Greetings from driver who fall in love in S-Class after drive A8 and Series 7 ♥ S-Class - *lady on wheels* / *best or nothing*

I've had my '06 for a year now and love it. It's a great grandpa car, because it's clean, quiet and can move out quickly. I drive around 90-100mph regularly and still quiet. Only replaced the starter with an American made one(@103,000 miles) and going to fit new brakes tomorrow. Should be sweet after that.

The Grampa v Russian mob analogy of the 220 v 221 is golden.

I was originally watching your 2022 Civic Si review but I absolutely had to click on this one since it was my second car ever and also because this exact model made me the car enthusiast I am today. Definitely some nostalgia involved!

Love the W220 🇩🇪

I picked up a clean 2004 S430 with 68k miles a few months ago in FL and drove it 1300 miles home. An excellent highway cruiser! Mine is not 4matic and has the 7 speed trans. The cupholder is not quite as complicated as the one in the W208 2001 CLK.

Great review! I recently purchased a w220 s430 4matic and to be fair coming from an s60R the repair costs aren’t even as bad as people make them to be… a lot more great aftermarket companies make parts for a lot cheaper than Mercedes does. I think people will gain appreciation for these cars in the upcoming years.

Thanks for reviewing this car and for your final verdict. I couldn’t agree more. The example you’ve driven looks well kept and smart in this colour, which I think is called Smoke Silver. It suits the car really well.

In 2003 the W220 was overhauled and got rid of most of the problems the 1998 model had. So you have an upgraded version of this car, which is much more reliable.

I have the designo Silver Edition of this in my garage 😂 regarding the cup holders… the back ones are actually *WAY* more secure than the front ones lol. I do not use the front one unless a very short distance where I know the road and know that there won’t be an opportunity for my coffee to spill everywhere… otherwise drinks go in the back cup holder haha.

The color is called cubanite silver. Had an S350 LWB in the same color that used to be my dad's and I really loved that car! So smooth and comfortable and the handling was much sharper than the W221 especially when you turn on the sport suspension setting to level 2.

Last time I was this early, Mr Tedward was still rallycrossing his former E92 M3

Great video and beautiful Mercedes-Benz! You should do a video review on a 2004 or 05 Audi A8! The D3 A8 is my all time favorite German luxury car. It was featured in the Transporter movie series.

Is always something special with Mercedes. Especially those with an S.

W220 S430 4.3 V8 275 Hp and 295 Ft/Lbs of Torque. The S430 replaced the S420 of the W140 and the W126's 420 SE and SEL. Over 25+ years of Mercedes Benz Research

The W220 gets a lot of flack but it’s probably a better option than some of its rivals. (some). E65 BMW 7-Series: A little ugly with a weird interior design that wears too easily. N62 V8’s are legendary in their power and their ability to obliterate your bank account. Audi A8: Handsome design inside and out. 4.2L V8 has a questionable reliability record. Some are good some are bad. Jaguar XJ: (my choice) Advanced all-aluminum construction with classic Jaguar styling that arguably looks better today than it did in 2003. Weighs 300-500 lbs less than its rivals. A tad cramped. But these are fairly reliable, handle really well and will continue to age gracefully. Could you resist an XJR? Maserati Quattroporte: Gorgeous as hell. Sounds like heaven. Handles like a 4-door Ferrari. Intoxicating aroma of Italian leather. Unfortunately the positives end there. Lexus LS 460: The left-brain luxury car. Jewel-like build quality with bulletproof reliability. Devoid of personality but the obsessive attention to detail is endearing in itself.

Honestly, if you can find one that isn’t rusted out they’re not bad cars, especially the later models. Make sure you get it with the 5 speed auto. Definitely a much better purchase than an E65 7 series. The S55 model is awesome.

I can see someone buying that to do a lot of miles in it. It seems like a nice place to do them too. Perhaps not the fastest car but I sense you won't get pulled over much. Only hyper car owners seem to revel in getting pulled over. This would surely slip under the radar.

Great video!! I've driven recently a S320 W220 and it's such a relaxing and quiet car, ideal for any journey. But i still prefer the W221 (but they are way more expensive)

It’s a nice Benz, like most others out there. Didn’t have one of these, but I did drive a ‘94 C-Class sedan. Off the older W202 platform that’s built solid and not like how MB is now. 👌❤️😎

It's a nice one! The maintenance and repair issues need to be resolved, and they can be expensive initially depending on those "former owners". However, if the former owner(s) do not trash the car these vehicles are very pleasant places to be on a commute or trip. What are modern car payments, of course younger people want the newest, but there are some well built vehicles from the last 25+ years that with maintenance are very satisfying rides with character!

so beautiful car

I have a black s550 w221 and I love it

I chose my W220 over the W140 and the 221. It looks better than both.

The S430 and W220 is a proof of concept. It won't be as "sorted out" as future Mercedes because the S430 was the first edition. I would figure that the "average" S class would have had a V6. the S430 is a Grand Touring cruiser. Hit the highway, dial in 70 mph, and go all day. The cup holder? That is pure German. "Why make something? Just overengineer the heck out of it. Sorted."

I like the look of a W140, especially a final year Grand Edition, more but I like the way the W220 drives more than the W140. The W220 feels lighter on it's feet and the ABC equipped ones handle insanely good for a heavy vehicle. Also, later models (2004-2006) were good in terms of reliability. You had to stay on top of them but they were solid overall.

I remember seeing the iconic Bruno Sacco designed W140 drive down my street when I was young. That defining moment sprouted my life long passion for automotive engineering and timeless design. For me, the W140 is the most impactful S-class but the W220 is my favorite. It was one of Bruno Sacco's last designs and is a beautiful evolution of the W140. I still do a double take when I see a facelifted example waft by. As for my least favorite, probably the W221. I still think it's an impressive car but it's not beautiful from any angle like a 2003+ W220 is.

I have a 2006 S55. I never want to drive any other Mercedes. Not even a brand new one.

I think a w210 is up for a test drive especially the e55 AMG!

Bruno Sacco is a genius of car design.

i really love this car 1999 this shape started till 2005. 2006 was limited units and it was only s65 amg, even its 2005 or before models but comfort on this car is ufffffff

My favorite... Mine has the same color.. Cubanite silver

Thank you for reviewing a car I could actually afford. I would buy one!

"Nostalgia"? "Back in the day"? This car STILL commands presence on the road. And bi-turbo wasn't only s65 but facelifted s600 too.

yes

Awesome vid man! 🔥

Dude really thanks for the video I am buying one actually right now and I was looking for a sign to make that dump move but u encouraged me lol , so I am getting it 04 s430 21k miles 😅

Interesting that you think the w221 looks like russian Mafia car more than w220 because in Russia the w220 (and w140) are considered to look like mafia cars

Beautiful Mercedes Benz S430, this model is highly reliable, you can easily put 300k on the engine with rountine maintenance, just find a reputable German service center, not the dealership you can save thousands on Maintenance. Change out the ABC suspension for Coilovers. This vehicle will last years and a luxurious driving experience. Me I would Chang the wheels to the AMG wheels for this year or 2006 model in chrome, or not. You will still have a very classy looking vehicle in the year 2022 and beyond. I would get paint correction if needed, Ceramic coated as well. Probably 35% tint that's legal tint here in the state of Maryland.

Personally, my only issue with this generation of S-class is that it isn't particularly pretty to my eyes. It just looks like the original clay model melted under the sun, and then the top brass saw that and approved the design. I have no doubt that it'll be amazing to ride in, and while I personally prefer the W140, I wouldn't say no to this. There was another KZfaqr who owns a W220, and I recall one line from his review (I'm paraphrasing here): if the W220 is the worst iteration of the S-class, the worst iteration of the best car in the world is still a very nice place to be in.

4:45 You know you're a car guy when you just eye some guys car on the way past like that

Its funny because this car was owned by every single top mafia guy in my country back in the day. All of them had either S600 or the armored S600 version

the most interesting S-class imo, I want to buy a 3.2 V6 version soon, but firstly i'll buy a W210 to see if Mercs are for me

Why would people be upset that you’re enjoying driving s430 …

Krass, dass 2004 schon nostalgie ist 😔

Oh, what a rare video of this MB model. It looks much too like the baby Benz, at first sight, I have always to make sure is this the small one or the big one? It was just the opposite of the W140, which the French call the german panzer. Thanks for your enthusiasm for german engineering.

Nice! I have an E39 but also picked up a W140 S500 to drive while it’s getting repaired. Would love to see ya drive a W140 and hear your thoughts on them. Starting to appreciate in value as of late; can’t find them anymore all of a sudden. The last old-world Mercedes quality before the merger in 1998.

I love german car in the US Version. It looks great . GREETING YOU FROM GERMANY 🇩🇪

I just got one and I love it

Like ur videos. Keep it up👍

The coupe of this is beautiful.

i find it amazing how a Golf R makes more power than this. Probably would have been unimaginable back when those were new.

literalmente estoy viendo este video por nostalgia al coche de mi abuelo, que fue este clase s 430

Thanks