Should you buy a USED Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

2015 s550 bought for 39k at 47k miles. Currently 61k on the clock never had a single issue yet! Best daily ever

Thanks for the video. I have driven, but never owned an S class, but I have owned four different previously owned Mercedes cars in the last 26 years. I am a Mercedes enthusiast through and through. The secret to buying any used vehicle is to do thorough research. I have never had problems with any of the Mercedes that I have purchased and this is my research approach:- 1. Find a one owner Mercedes of your choice with low mileage for its year. 2. Choose one that looks immaculate inside and out. This will show that the vehicle has been cared for. 3. Find one with a full Mercedes-Benz service history. 4. If you can get a mechanic to inspect it prior to purchase it would be good, otherwise you could examine the service book and contact the mechanic that knows the vehicle and has worked on it over the years. (I did this with my present E Class and the mechanic stated that he would be happy to buy it himself). 5. Ask the current owner why he/she is selling the vehicle. Ask other questions, e.g. has the vehicle ever been in an accident. Has it been kept under cover at work and in the owner's garage at night. 6. Take it for a test drive and make sure that everything works on the vehicle. I have found that most Mercedes first owners tend to look after their vehicles better than the owners of other makes of vehicles. Some wealthy or company owners may only sell their Mercedes to update to a newer model and the car can still be immaculate. Be careful about second or third owners who may have bought a Mercedes but could not afford to properly maintain them. In my opinion avoid buying a Mercedes without a full MB service record. Taking short cuts in maintenance of a Merc will only bring trouble. Finally, having driven various Mercedes-Benz vehicles over the last 53 years, it saddens me that Mercedes-Benz in recent times are making vehicles with too much emphasis on technology at the expense of build quality and comfort. With regards to the depreciation on Mercedes vehicles, I love it. It means that people like me that are not wealthy can enjoy an expensive luxury vehicle that they otherwise could not afford.

A used S-class is better than a new BMW.

I got 2016 s550 for two years, very reliable. I have my local Indy shop for maintenance and I purchase genuine parts online, it does not cost more than Maintain a Toyota in dealership.

My 2016 Maybach S600 is the most beautiful thing in my garage. I'm happy just sitting in it. Driving it is a bonus!

I still have a 2003 S 55 AMG. It has been the best car I have ever owned. The hydraulic suspension eventually got replaced by coil overs. I have been in newer 2016+ E and S classes and there seems to be a big difference in quality between them and older AMG versions.

You’re hilarious and I’m with you on the insane costs of ownership. Here in Los Angeles, these cars are fairly common amongst up and coming apartment dwellers that are just starting to pay rent. I think most of these cars are bought used. It’s like dating that 38 year old exotic dancer, you know you shouldn’t but she kinda still looks good from a distance and forget all the emotional baggage issues.

If you planning buy an S class go big at first, means buy the nicest, well documented, well maintained car. It's not cheap but I'd rather go expensive at the front then at the back, with cheapest S class that have a tons of issues on the list that can cost more to repair it.

I must have got the diamond in the rough. I bought my 2015 S550 in 2018, and it's been the best car I've ever owned, AND THE CHEAPEST BY A LONG SHOT! I'm an accountant, but I do all my own maintenance. The oil changes are a breeze as they're done from on top of the car, the brakes/rotors were easy to do, I replaced the engine filters with K&Ns, and the cabin filter...cheap and easy to replace. Also, FCPEuro (lifetime warranty on anything you buy, and I mean ANYTHING) has all of the tools and items I need for maintenance. When I bought it, it had warranty, and since then, the warranty has run out. Keep it clean, keep the leather cleaned and conditioned, park it in the garage where a luxury car should be kept, and stay on top of the maintenance and you can't go wrong with this car. I say this with honesty, this car is expensive up front, but cheaper than anything I've owned in the long run!

A great video. I had an S class 2007 model Diesel. In the early days, it was absolutely blissful. But I got ill, the car stood for about 6 months, and it really suffered from various electrical problems . This video is spot on.

I'm 57 years old and have owned 4 Mercedes-Benzes in my life. This new S-Class looks nice, but I'm not interested in all the electronics inside the car. There was a time when a Mercedes didn't have all of that stuff. Back in the day, they were cars that were just magnificently engineered and built using the nicest materials you could find in a car, this side of a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Now, there are moving parts everywhere and it all just seems too busy. I have to say that I don't like the direction Mercedes-Benz has been heading since the days of the W-140. More and more gadgets with every new model, and unfortunately, less and less quality to go along with it.

I'm happy with both of my Mercedes. Buying used is an unpredictable maintenance challenge I've looked forward to. I enjoy it while it works and fix it when it doesn't.

I have the S class coupé S550 and love it. Mine is 4 years old with 35K km. It is garage kept, always hand carwashed only, ceramic coating, leather was treated, and looks like new. That car you are driving is in rough condition! My exclusive nappa interior is soft and not shiny like the car you are viewing. If you look after your cat like I do, you will get a wonderful car. Actually all my cars are pre sold before I get my new cars to friends and neighbours as they know how I look after my cars. Would I buy that car, absolutely not, would I buy a used car I owned, absolutely yes!

Wow. I just sold my 2013 s63 and it literally had no issues. Panel gaps would make me think it was in an accident. The other issues I’ve never seen in any s class. I have a 2019 s63 now and it’s spotless with 10k miles.

My w222 S550 was a special order/build for me, late 2016, Iridium Silver with brown/black upgraded nappa leather, executive rear seating - all the bells & whistles. I leased it for 3 years, as I have for most of my cars, even the AMGs, but this is the first one I purchased outright at lease end. I have ~32K miles, dealer maintained and washed/cleaned weekly, garaged. The car has been PERFECT; this is the best car I have ever had in my garage, and I have owned all the high-end makes. It drives like a dream, much smaller than it feels, very fast with 4.0 V8 (449hp) and so quiet/comfortable. Some of what you showed is very surprising to me, and looks more like it was not cared for properly. It may be lunacy for me to recommend a $125K USD vehicle to people, but for those who can make the nut, it really IS "Das Best Oder Nichts"...

Bought a 2015 S550 in 2017, that looks exactly like this one! Car had 52k miles and I just reached 102k miles. Never had a single indicator light on the dash, mechanically durable. But yes, leather is exactly like this now. Didn't think it would be a common problem! Car's phenomenal safe, boujee, but yes, cosmetics decay over the years. Sucks :/

I bought at 2008 S-Class in Feb 2021 with 48K on the clock, $36000. OK so it needed a $3K transmission repair almost immediately but since then no issues. As AK says the drive is so smooth, the seats are so comfy and I look forward to every time I need to drive somewhere. Life is short.

I currently own a 2015 S550 4Matic. I bought it ‘pre-loved’, smile. But I must say the interior is still flawless and look like new with no mechanical issues to date. So a good buy so far… love the car!!!! I also have a 05 E500 for 15 years to-date and the leather and engine is still kicking ass… and hear this: I have been doing my own regular maintenance (Service A and B) on both vehicles. Labor is too high even when the parts are reasonable. So far no real mechanical problems on both cars… so I can’t agree with you…I don’t buy new cars because of the depreciation issue…I wait for about 3 years then I start looking etc. … still a great video….Thank you

I have the exact same car with the same multi spoke rim, I myself have cracked 4 rims. I recently discovered it’s not the rim, the problem it’s the low profile run-flat tires that come on the car. I bought the car from the dealership and it came with Pirelli tires. I recently changed to Michelin none run-flat tires and have felt a significant improvement in comfort driving and better protection on the rim.

I bought a 2014 s550 two years ago for 52K USD. 23000 miles on the odometer. I had a couple of minor issues fixed under CPO warranty. Mine has designo interior similar to the car in the video. My interior is in much better condition, no cosmetic issues. Also, the seats get shiny when dirty. I use Leatherique, which restores the original matte finish. Out of warranty now, no issues.