1989 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 300 SEL review from North America
"Other 20 year old cars can't even come close to it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Really nothing has gone wrong with the car, just sometimes when you start the car, it will idle roughly until warmed up, then it will run properly.
The car needs a brake master cylinder, as the brakes are mushy.
The A/C condenser needs to be replaced as well as the seals, but hey, 20 years, it's about time for it.
Otherwise, it could use a full service and tune up.
General comments?
I will say that they don't build Mercedes Benz cars like this any more. The car is clearly over engineered, and the materials are of the highest quality. Most Japanese luxury cars from this era did not age well, this car has fit and finish that are just not seen anymore.
The inline 6 cyl engine is a bread and butter engine for Mercedes, and gets excellent MPG and give you all the power you need on the highway for a big body Benz. To me, the 560 SEL is just overkill.
It's rock solid on the highway; it's a car you want to take on a long trip and no other 1989 car can touch it in terms of aging well, performance and 5 star safety
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| Roomy family stylish sedan that hauls it weight effortlessly |
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| Last of its kind |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1989 |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2009 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 120000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 123000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 27th September, 2009 |