[VwRabbit]

A true Mercedes experience starts at least from the E350D according to me, that butter smooth V6 diesel along with all the gizmos is what one should look for especially since spending north of 90 lakhs.
The E220 D is a nice car no argument there but just won’t feel exciting enough especially for the price and also since coming from a C250 (since OP mentioned they own a 10 year old C class i am assuming it’s the C 250 CDI).
A preowned E350 D with warranty and service package will be a good value buy when compared with a new E 220d and is every bit as good as the S Class except for the snob value.

[Ashar]

Thank you everyone for your advises. They mean a lot and have greatly helped us arrive at a decision within our family, and that is to go for a used S Class rather than a new E. My dad has also finalized on the S class, no matter what, as we have come to realize that S-Class is a brand in itself which sometimes even overshadows the Merc brand, if I may say so.

So, a used S class it is then. Plan is set - Pick a used S class, haggle for the best price and drive away - Easy as a Pie - Or so I thought. That brings us to the next big dilemma - Which generation to Choose - W221 / W222 / W223?

I had a secret crush for W221 since my teenage days and I pushed for it but faced huge resistance from family. Also, the idea of "upgrading" from one 10 year old car to another 10 year old car didn't seem logical enough. So, W221 was easily dropped.

Between W222 & W223, IMHO W222 looked grander, more majestic & more S-Classy (for the lack of a better word) than the sleeker looking W223. Many seem to share this opinion as - 1) Mostly only 2018 and before models are available in the market, and 2) They come with insane prices (even after bargaining).

The advantage with a used W223 (from what I found) was that they seemed to be of slightly better value compared to W222. A current-gen 1 year old car was quoted at a price which is around 40 lacs lower than the new car price. And you have roughly 2 years of warranty - still left on it. But is it really safe to go with a freshly baked German product - as some Bhp-ians have pointed out?

So, we are in this dilemma now - Used W222 vs Used W223.

Coming to the budget, we had earlier set aside around 1 Cr , and was looking for a 2020 W222 around this budget. Since we couldn't get any such model, we considered W223 and decided to extend the budget accordingly.

Your expert opinion would be deeply appreciated. Thanks again for taking time out to give your earlier advises.

[Ashar]

Originally Posted by VwRabbit

A true Mercedes experience starts at least from the E350D according to me, that butter smooth V6 diesel along with all the gizmos is what one should look for especially since spending north of 90 lakhs.
The E220 D is a nice car no argument there but just won’t feel exciting enough especially for the price and also since coming from a C250 (since OP mentioned they own a 10 year old C class i am assuming it’s the C 250 CDI).
A preowned E350 D with warranty and service package will be a good value buy when compared with a new E 220d and is every bit as good as the S Class except for the snob value.

We have a C220D. Performance-wise, E220D didn't seem like a huge improvement over our C220D. But when it comes to interior space, ride quality, seating comfort (seats were larger) and overall refinement, the new E220D was significantly better.

The back seat of our C is a disappointment as it is cramped and seat squab is a bit short - about 1/5th or 1/6th of your thigh hangs in the air (my height is just 5 9"). The E class rear seats felt heavenly in comparison. I can only imagine how the S would be.

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by Ashar

My dad has also finalized on the S class, no matter what, as we have come to realize that S-Class is a brand in itself which sometimes even overshadows the Merc brand, if I may say so.

So, we are in this dilemma now - Used W222 vs Used W223.

Coming to the budget, we had earlier set aside around 1 Cr , and was looking for a 2020 W222 around this budget. Since we couldn't get any such model, we considered W223 and decided to extend the budget accordingly.

Your expert opinion would be deeply appreciated. Thanks again for taking time out to give your earlier advises.

Firstly a great decision choosing the S Class over the E Class.
While the E Class LWB may offer similar legroom + some newer touches: the ride & handling, performance, and most importantly build quality of the S Class is far superior (fewer creaky plastics).

Since you plan to keep the car for a long time - do look at the W223 which would be my pick as it is the newest generation and would be worth it's value. However, do keep in mind that yes: it would have some niggles being a fresh product, and also there have been complaints about the tyres (low profile) getting cuts + bulges; and on ground clearance.

If it will be a daily drive, it may make sense to get the W222 facelift S Class instead whilst also leaving you with a buffer for maintenance. The W222 has fewer complaints of tyres & ground clearance + being a later production model will have most of the issues sorted out.
Don't fret about finding the right car or the price : buying a good condition pre-owned car requires patience and I would give it a few months for the right W222 to come. If needed, do expand your search to nearby cities & if you are able to travel - look at cars in Mumbai & Delhi as well. It may mean a little more work + the hassle of re-registration but better availability of cars + lower prices could mean a win-win.
For instance there is a 2021 S350D on carwale done 17,000kms asking 1Cr in Mumbai : a little negotiation, verification of service history and warranty - your dealer in Trivandrum could pull out the service and warranty history of the car - if they give the green light, a trip here + a paid inspection at Mercedes Mumbai could be worth considering.

[androdev]

Classic looks: W222 (facelift)
Digital theme, modern: W223

If you prefer W222 to W223 but hesitating because it may not have the status appeal of the latest W223, go for W222 Maybach. A well maintained black W222 Maybach (facelift) has immense road presence.

[vishal9999]

Originally Posted by Ashar

Coming to the budget, we had earlier set aside around 1 Cr , and was looking for a 2020 W222 around this budget. Since we couldn't get any such model, we considered W223 and decided to extend the budget accordingly.

Your expert opinion would be deeply appreciated. Thanks again for taking time out to give your earlier advises.

I wholeheartedly support your choice of the Mercedes S-Class, and I commend your decision-making process between the W222 and W223 models. However, I strongly advise skipping the W223 due to its potential ground clearance issues. To validate this concern, I suggest examining the resale market and observing how many used W223 models are available for sale specifically due to ground clearance problems. It's essential to ensure your chosen vehicle meets your requirements, so I recommend taking a test drive before making your final decision

[Ashar]

Originally Posted by vishal9999

I wholeheartedly support your choice of the Mercedes S-Class, and I commend your decision-making process between the W222 and W223 models. However, I strongly advise skipping the W223 due to its potential ground clearance issues. To validate this concern, I suggest examining the resale market and observing how many used W223 models are available for sale specifically due to ground clearance problems. It's essential to ensure your chosen vehicle meets your requirements, so I recommend taking a test drive before making your final decision

Can others also confirm if the ground clearance of W223 is worse than W222? Does the suspension lift function help in any way? Or is it just a gimmick?

[Ashar]

We found a 2018 model W222 - the face lifted version with 9 speed A/T and all. We got it inspected and was found to be good with no history of accidents. The asking price is a bit high but we are kinda ok with it. However, the car has run more than 60000km already. Do you guys think it is safe to go with this, given that we plan to use it for atleast 5 to 8 years?

[androdev]

Originally Posted by Ashar

Can others also confirm if the ground clearance of W223 is worse than W222? Does the suspension lift function help in any way? Or is it just a gimmick?

In general, newer models have lower profile tires and lower ground clearance - best to check and confirm with your MB service centre guys as these settings are tweaked for each market.

Ride height feature certainly helps, in fact, the car is to be driven in raised state for the most part. It automatically lowers if you cross 120 kmph or similar high speed conditions.

Some models came with "transport mode" which raises it even higher (don't know if it's available in India):

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...port-mode.html

Sometimes my dealer service guys forget to put my W221 in "raised" mode while dropping back the car at my place - essentially driving it in low GC mode. I really hate it but traveling with low GC on regular roads is not such a deal breaker. Worst case, you will have some underbody scraping over speed humps which I have had plenty during my 10+ yrs of ownership. It has no material impact on the car other than causing irritation due to the scraping sound, etc. To me, low GC is a friend. That's how you travel in great comfort with amazing stability - especially if you like to travel at good speeds.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Ashar

Can others also confirm if the ground clearance of W223 is worse than W222? Does the suspension lift function help in any way? Or is it just a gimmick?

It is - one of the specialists that I use had one come in soon after its launch as the car kept scraping when descending into the basement. I think it was solved with higher profile tyres plus taller bushes. No idea how it affected the dynamics though

[Ashar]

Good morning Bhpians. We have found 2 used S Classes and are confused on which one to choose:
1. A 2018 model which has run 60000km. We got it inspected and was found to be good with no history of accidents.
2. A 2019 model which has run 15000 km. We are yet to get it inspected but we expect it to be good.

Both are post-facelift models and come with inline 6 cyl engines and 9-speed A/T. I am deliberately not posting the quoted price as I feel it is not appropriate to quote before sale.

The 2018 model was available at around 20 lacs lower than the 2019 model and is available around the market price. But the 2018 model having run almost half of its life, we are a skeptical in going ahead with it. The 2019 model, on the other hand, is available for sale way above the market price for a 2019 model.

Can you suggest if it's wise to go for the 2018 model? Or is it better to pay the premium on 2019 model given that it has run just 15000 km?

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by Ashar

Can you suggest if it's wise to go for the 2018 model? Or is it better to pay the premium on 2019 model given that it has run just 15000 km?

Pay the premium and get the 2019 model, of course after doing due diligence and a test drive. A lower run car is in most cases the better option.

[androdev]

60K km is high, better to rule it out.

15K km - if the usage is spread uniformly across the years (check the ODO reading for each service visit), then it's worth pursuing. There might be Covid related lack of usage - but there should not be any annual service missed.

Best bargain criteria: oldest car after facelift with lowest odo reading. These cars age really well if looked after with care, so there is no need to pay premium for newer cars. Odo reading should be the real deciding factor and under 40K km would be ideal.

When it comes to high value purchases, I give a lot of weightage to the person/organisation selling it it. I would happily pay 5-10% premium in case of a direct owner sale or from authorised pre-owned dealer - of course, after doing the required due diligence.

[Ashar]

Good evening, Bhpians. I have an important update to share. We have decided to completely abandon the idea of purchasing used cars due to our recent experiences over the past 2-3 months. Below are some key factors that influenced our family's decision:

1. The luxury used car market is dominated by dealers and brokers. It's nearly impossible to acquire a car directly from an owner, and they do not facilitate price negotiations with the owner.
2. Dealers and brokers add a significant margin to the owner's quoted price and additionally charge a 1% service fee from both the buyer and seller. Dealers tend to impose larger margins than brokers.
3. Car inspections are only permitted when conducted by the buyer themselves or by inspection agencies approved by the brokers. Inspection companies like CarWale Inspection or others such as SureshDrives are strongly discouraged.

Furthermore, brokers often make extravagant claims about the impeccable maintenance of the cars, supported by questionable "fictional" stories.


All of these factors have left us with serious trust issues, and we worry that the used S-Class we aspire to own may turn out to be a lemon.


But here's the twist: Dad's already fallen head over heels for the S-Class. So, in a bid to purchase it new, we took it for a test drive mainly to check the ground clearance. Surprisingly, that wasn't a problem at all. When it's fully raised, it felt even better than our C220D. It's not an SUV, but for a sedan, it's pretty solid.


And let me tell you about the comfort and luxury. I'm struggling to find the words. Can I dare say this was the most comfortable ride of my life, by a long shot?


But wait, there's more. Dad usually never sleeps in the car, always keeping an eye on the road. He's also got a bad case of motion sickness, so the back seat's a no-go. But during our 10-minute test drive, with him in the back seat, he was out like a light. We had to wake him up after the test drive. That's how comfy it was.


That being said, we really expected a tomb-like silence which is sadly not the case. It is way better than what we experienced in any other car so far but .....!! Yeah, human's greed is insatiable.

[Ashar]

The dealer has informed us that the S350D which we are planning to get is not available for sale right away and should be available only by late December or early January. Also, the dealer has been informed of a few feature additions to the S450 petrol and this car is expected to be launched by end of November, it seems.

The feature additions expected are as follows:
1. Rear Seat front Air Bag,
2. Air Balance or Perfume Package
3. Rear Axle turning Package and
4. Engine Tuning (Even I didn’t understand this point nor did the sales exec)

They said these are almost confirmed for the S450 but not sure about S350D.

We are expecting these feature additions to push the price even higher by atleast 10 to 20 lakhs. So, we have informed the dealer that we are ok with a car even without these features. What do you think, Bhpians?