you simply would not want a W221 without some warranty covering your behind. There are just too many electronic devices/ computers involved and with age they are all guranteed to fall apart. As the above post stated it is not all about well engineered chasis, shocks etc. Technology changes rapidly and so the innards of these cars will be outdated and not look well after a decade or so.

eg: a digital watch will never age as well as a analog one no matter what the cost.

Almost makes you wonder how modern cars will translate into classics at some point!!

So, going back to the thread. If I had to choose between the 550 and 600. If I had no need for 4matic and money was not an issue I would go with the 600. The 600 does not have the AMG pkg as an option. But if you are willing to spend $140k on a car you can exterior mod it to your taste with ease. The interior of the 600 is vastly superior to the 550. It is pretty much fully covered in leather and alcantara. Also drive dynamic rear seats are standard (these are not even offered on the 550)

best

Labor rate is the same, but it may take 3 hours to replace the water pump on a V8, and 6 hours on a V12...

The electronics for the suspension systems have improved a great deal over the W220 S as you noted! Not only do thay offer 25 to 95% faster reaction times to body roll over the previous systems, the relibility is said to be outstanding. The S600 uses ABC while the S550 uses AIRmatic.

lOl, the water pump usually sits in front of the engine in most rear drive cars,
in the same location. The V12 engine layout isn`t any more complex than the V8. The parts might be a little more expensive to begin with and might (as you indicated) take a little more time.

Actually it doesn`t take more time, The dealers charge more hrs. because it`s a V8 or V12. I used to own a 420SEL and I have seen this happen. The dealers go by "book hours" not actual work hours.

Of course a 550 is more economical than a V12 but so is a 4 cylinder in comparison to a V8. What I can't understand is why so many people exaggerate how much more trouble a V12 is compared to a V8? I understand that it will be 50% more costly in terms of parts but it's only the cost of the extra 4 pistons/valves. Yes, it will take more time but it's not like these extra pistons/valves are made of gold and can only be handled by some special tech only. Are the extra 4 pistons buried somewhere deeper inside the block than the pistons of a V8? No!
I don't see where the difference between a V8 and a V12 would be any different than a 4 cylinder and a V8. We don't here people saying ,"Oh don't get a V8 because it is so much more expensive to repair than a 4 or 6 cylinder car". I think it is just that V12s are rare and they scare people because they haven't owned one to understand that they are really not any different than an 4,6, or 8 cylinder other than just being more of the same.

I wouldn't touch the S550 or S600. I'd go for the S320 CDI.

Between the S550 and S600 though, the S550 is the more realistic choice. It's fast enough and gets better fuel economy, it offers virtually the same comfort and the S600 comes with a few more features that most sensible people would feel are not needed. Of course, if you're sensible you wouldn't buy an S600, much less an S550.

I agree, diesel for me, beats any gas option there is. Except in an S - Class I would take the 420 CDI although the 320 CDI is a great and spectacular V6 engine it's just not enough for the 2000+ kg monster. 320 PS and a V8 diesel = win win win.

Interesting because everytime I've asked anyone at either the dealer or just an owner on the street or a person in the service bay with a V12 MB they've always said the very things you mentioned. I would think there has to be some extra cost in dealing with a V12 just like a regular tune up or any type of service. There is more oil, more plugs, etc. surely this is some of the slant most people give on owning a V12 compared to a V8? People don't say that about a V8 vs a 4-cylinder because of the V6 in the middle IMO. I have neard these very things said about a V6 vs a V8, i.e. the V8 cost more blah, blah, blah. I personally don't care because to me a real car is V8 and RWD, my first taste of this has me sold. Love it.

M

Open the hood of an S500, you and fit a hand around the engine, pretty easy, now try that with a S600, you have a lot less room.
Anything you do to a 600 will be more expensive then a 500. Most people fear a V12 because the early ones were two inline six cylinders bolted together so you have two of everything, control modules, mas air flow sensors, throttle valves... one side of the engine does not talk to the other. Much harder to diagnos.
The car I was fired over was a V12, effing V12s
but then that had more to do with other things then me working on that car.

Keep in mind that the S600 uses two spark plugs per cylinder for a total of 24.