BEAUTIFUL BARGAIN
An ongoing series highlighting the desirable and affordable classics of club members
2002 W220 S500
Article & Images Scott Brinkley
The first words out of the mouths of my friends when I told them I was buying a 15-year-old Mercedes-Benz S-Class were, “Are you nuts?” When I told my enthusiast friends in the Mercedes-Benz Club of America the S500 I was buying was equipped with Active Body Control, they said almost the same thing: “Are you crazy?”
I understand why people shy away from older luxury cars. They aren’t for everyone. If you are uncomfortable opening the hood of your car, let alone changing its oil, just buy a new Toyota and trade it in after 100,000 miles. But I wanted something special for my money, so I looked at used Mercedes-Benzes on the internet. I strictly follow a set of personal rules and I’ve never been disappointed. As an example, consider this W220-chassis 2002 S500.
I did my research
When buying an out-of-warranty car, I find out about the model’s idiosyncrasies. Looking for a luxury car, it took six months to determine a 2002 S500 was the best value for my $20,000 budget. I learned everything I could about the vehicle’s systems and what questions to ask. In this case, I learned that the ABC system can be a marvelous feature provided it’s been rebuilt and properly maintained.
I talked to the owner before bidding
Ownership, mileage and the way the car was used are important in determining reliability. The car I was interested in was being offered by its second owner, who told me that the first owner was a former U.S. ambassador to Austria, by the name of David F. Girard-diCarlo. Girard-diCarlo paid roughly $114,000 back in 2002 by the time he stopped checking the option boxes. He had the car monogrammed and pinstriped by hand and used it in Scottsdale, Arizona, to drive back and forth between his home and his country club. When Girard-diCarlo and his wife retired to Santa Fe in 2008, he sold the vehicle, having driven only 30,000 miles. The second owner only used it for local car events. I even knew a New Mexico Section member who had photographs of the car.
I asked for the service records
If service records hadn’t been available, I would have moved on. The two owners of the S500 were meticulous, with all service done at the dealers. Asking about that critical ABC system, I learned the seller had purchased an extended warranty that he recently used to have the ABC system rebuilt – typically a $7,000 job – at almost no cost.
I carefully checked pictures of the car
If headlamp lenses are cloudy or wheel rims are scuffed, chances are that crucial things like transmission and brake-fluid service have been neglected. The pictures I received of the S500 showed a car that had been pampered since new.
With all my considerations addressed, I made an offer of $15,000. Even though that’s an incredible value considering the original cost, it was well above the typical prices these cars – with all their uncertainties – fetch in the market. But I was certain: I made my offer, it was accepted and I couldn’t be happier. Every time I drive my S500, I feel as if I’m on my way to the embassy or golf course.
Specifications: 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500V (W220)
TYPE: Four-door, five-seat, full-size luxury sedan
ENGINE: M113 E50 4,966cc fuel-injected 24-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION: 722.6 5G-Tronic 5-speed automatic with manually selectable ratios
HORSEPOWER: 302 at 5,600 rpm TORQUE: 339 lb-ft from 2,700-4,250 rpm
LENGTH: 203.1 in CURB WEIGHT: 4,090 lb
FUEL EFFICIENCY: 14 mpg city, 21 mpg hwy
ACCELERATION: Zero-60 mph 6.2 sec TOP SPEED: 155 mph (electronically limited)
My beautiful 2002 S500V.
If you do your homework, have decent mechanical skills and invest the time to make it happen, an 8-10-year-old Mercedes-Benz might be a good choice for you. It was for me: I paid over market for my car, but think I got a good bargain once the big-ticket maintenance items that had already been carried out were factored in.