Test drive Mercedes Benz S-class w220 2002-2005 sedan
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse
$43000--55000Gold is the basis of the wealth of the state, the army is a guarantee of its strength. A symbol of welfare is Mercedes S-Klasse.
The new Mercedes-Benz S-class with the W220 factory index changed its former flagship, a model with W140 index. The latter, known in our country under the collective name of the six hundredth, in the West literally from birth was sharply criticized. Not for the technical part-there are rarely claims of Mercedes-Benz products-but for ideological non-restraint, just like at party and in Soviet times. The car was scolded for the fact that with all his appearance he demonstrated to others how much money the owner gave for him. Stosorot became not only the hero of numerous jokes, but also literally a symbol of the wealth of those years. In total almost eight years, 402 thousand cars were produced from the conveyor in the body of W140. But the reputation of the company was higher than banal sales, and Mercedes-Benz decided to change the leader, bringing it into line with the realities of the current day.
Minus per minus is plus. Presented by the public in the fall of 1998, a model with a factory W220 index against the background of its predecessor looked much more harmonious and elegant. This is not an optical deception, the new S -class really has become noticeably smaller: the length is 5038 mm (minus 75 mm), the wheelbase is 2965 mm (minus 75 mm), the width is 1855 mm (minus 31 mm), the height is - 1444 mm (minus 41 mm). And inside the W220, on the contrary, it is more spacious than its predecessor - the salon has become more than 17 mm, the width at the shoulders level is increased by 65 mm, and the height from the pillow to the ceiling remained unchanged. But the main difference was an order of magnitude greater saturation of the new machine with all kinds of electronics. 40 electric drives and 850 sensors are tied to a single system of the car that control the operation of 170 electronic and electrical devices. All this farm is exchanged not through the classic wires, but as in aircraft - through three central electronic tires.
As you know, any complication of the device increases the probability of failure. Therefore, the abundance in the S-class of all kinds of electronics causes customers of a used car a logical fear. As the three -year experience of operating the W220 series in our conditions has already shown, this does not entail any unpleasant surprises. As befits a machine of this class, everything works like a clock. Moreover, the state of electronics is easily checked by the diagnostic complex of Star Diagnost, which has all the maintenance stations of the official Mercedes-Benz dealers and the largest gray dealers.
Chemical protection kit. Like all cars, saturated electronics, the S-class is contraindicated by unprofessional drying of the cabin. Sometimes it ends with the oxidation of numerous contacts and connectors, which are a lot in the cabin. The elimination of floating defects that arises will cost the owner of the W220 in a rather round sum, as it entails an almost complete disassembly of the salon and the nickname of numerous chains. Therefore, it is better for economical sterility lovers to use dry cleaning, and even better from time to time to bring a marathon at the dealer station, which in which case will make possible the possible consequences.
As it should be for the car for that kind of money, the S-class itself practically does not break. Two traditional Russian troubles break him - fools and roads. From the chemical experiments conducted on our roads every winter, that part of the electrician who is open to all winds suffers - wiring of fog headlights and parking sensors.
In addition, fogans often die at the end of the first winter - after taking a shower from a cold puddle, glass cracks. Our road mud, like a sandblast, tears the bottom and thresholds. Therefore, if the machine is not equipped with mudguards, which are an option for the S-class, then it is better to put them. For official dealers, it will cost $ 77.5 per set for all wheels and another $ 98 for work on their installation. The paint of the front bumper also suffers from the sand, but then no prevention measures have been invented. In general, the bumper on the new S-class is no longer the same as the W140 models, and require completely different departure. Firstly, they are painted, and therefore traces of them remain even from an awkward parking lot. Secondly, their main function is still the absorption of energy in an emergency collision, and not the work of a ram. The times of gray unpainted Bumpers of the W140 series, which could literally roll other cars have sunk into the past. Now the bumper should be treated as carefully as the rest of the body elements. By the way, the paint in the area of \u200b\u200bthe door handles is scratched very quickly, although few people open such a car with a key. Apparently, the owners of the W220 should more often cut their nails.
Under voltage. The fundamental difference between the W220 and the previous series is the equipment of the machine in the standard configuration of the new Airmatic pneumatic suspension, where instead of classic twisted springs, each wheel is suspended on a pneumatic rack. The pressure in the racks is regulated depending on the conditions of movement using the compressor located under the hood. It is his breakdown, as well as the Russian hope for aircraft, that the main reason for the cost of repairing the suspension. On the appearance of any problems in the pneumatic system (most often-about the drop in pressure due to the compressor valve malfunction) the driver will timely notify the scoreboard on the instrument panel. And although from this moment the suspension begins to work in emergency mode, many try to reach the service on their own, thereby finally finishing off the racks. As a result, the owner is replaced not only by the compressor ($ 850 + $ 70 for work), but also of even more expensive racks, each of which costs $ 1300 plus $ 120 for work. And to change the racks is supposed only in pairs ... Calculate the result yourself and compare with the cost of calling the tow truck, even in Zavidovo.
And the main reason for the failure of the compressor valve are the very fools. Of course, the pneumatic suspension allows you to not pay attention to the fact that under the wheels, and on the move to fly tram tracks. That's just the cost of flights we have already counted. By the way, on later models, an active system for monitoring the position of the body of Active Body Control (ABC), which is more reliable, appeared as an option.
Brains are slanted. Now the S-class machines are equipped with a whole range of engines, which includes both a 5.8-liter 400-horsepower V12 gasoline engine, and a V8 turbodiesel with a 4-liter Common Rail system and a capacity of 238 hp. Well, the buyer of a three -year -old car can only choose from three gasoline engines. This is a well -known V6 V6 motor with a volume of 224 hp. As well as two V8 engines: one with a volume of 4.3 liters and a capacity of 279 hp, and the other-a 5-liter capacity of 306 hp. The most common is 5-liter, and indirectly this indicates that the machine belonged to the private owner. The second most popular is the V6 motor, but such cars were mainly bought by organizations. However, all engines are equally reliable and even our gas is digested without any problems.
But all the machines that are purchased in the West should be driven to the same Star Diagnost diagnostic complex and, if necessary, with it, with its help, make a small correction of the brainwashing system - so that the engine does not take gasoline to the quality of gasoline. Moreover, this procedure costs only $ 30. True, this does not mean at all that after that the car can be seasoned with the 92nd Chechen gasoline. But there is no need to fall into extremes, pouring only the 98th into the tank, in which there is more additives than gasoline itself. The engines are best digested by the 95th, but on it, alas, platinum candles, designed for almost one hundred thousand euro-wires, in Russia no more than 20 thousand km serve. For mental calm, the candle is better to change at each, that is, once every 15 thousand km. By the way, they themselves are divided into small and large. The first is carried out during a run of 15 thousand km, the second - at 30 thousand km, and then they alternate. It costs $ 300 in a small way, including consumables, and in a large way-$ 450-500. Text Alexei Khresin, photo Alexey Ilyin, drawings Alexander Krasnov
We thank for help in the preparation of the material Technical Center Logovaz-Belyaevo, (095) 336-9001.
The cost of spare parts for MB S500
Spare part cost installation
Platinum candle (2 pcs. On the cylinder) $ 13 (pcs.) $ 110
Front pads $ 93 $ 45
Rear pads $ 126 $ 45
Oil filter $ 11.5 $ 25
Filter (2 pcs.) $ 31.5 $ 15
Filter of the floor. $ 126 $ 30
Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse S320 S430 S500
Working volume (cubic cub) 3200 4300 5000
Power (L.S.) 224 279 306
Maximum speed (km/h) 240 250 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 8.2 7.3 6.5
Fuel consumption (l per 100 km):
highway 8.2 9.2 8.9
city \u200b\u200b17.1 17.7 18.9
The price is $ 43--48 thousand $ 49--51 thousand $ 51-55 thousand.
Source: "Autopilot"
