1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S320 SWB review from North America

Dash light bulb for odometer burned out.

Suspension clunk in front right.

Tire noise when turning tight at speed.

I just got this car two days ago. After researching various makes and models for 6 months, I decided that the six cylinder S Class, without all the gadgets associated with the V8 cars, was a fine option, except for continuous comments that the 238hp i-6 was underpowered for the car.

I drove home 400 miles from Los Angeles to northern California, over the Grapevine and Tejion Pass at ~4200 feet. At a constant 70 mph, the and the air conditioner running (it was over 100 deg f) the car never even shifted down for the climb, and the temperature stayed in the normal range. The final climb from sea level to my home at 2650 feet was the real test, with many of the climbs at 9 percent grade. The car performed well, again, without shifting to a lower gear. The gas mileage for this drive was 26.5 mpg. This is not an underpowered car. If you want to race from a dead-stop, this isn't for you, but then why would you be reading this if you wanted to drag race?

The dash bulb needs replacement, and after spending a couple of minutes searching around, I see it's a pretty easy do-it-yourself task. I have also found the suspension clunking is also most likely an easy fix, and I'll be ordering the parts (under $100 US) to fix it myself (probably a shock or stabilizer link).

For the price, I could have had a 5 yr old Accord, Camry, etc. but I wanted something safer than those, with larger size, quieter ride, rear wheel drive, and still have reasonable gas mileage. Perfect choice.