1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S320 from North America - Comments

Three front seat belt sensors have had to be replaced.

Valve cover leak had to be repaired.

Memory seat had to be repaired.

Radio had to be repaired.

Air conditioner evaporator had to be repaired.

Odometer readout became unreadable.

Power steering box had to be re-sealed.

Wiring harnesses deteriorating because of faulty materials and will soon need replacing.

Motor mounts are deteriorating and will soon have to be replaced.

My S320 Mercedes has been plagued by problems that I have never experienced in any car. The quality is far below what I expected when I bought this car brand new.

The car drives and looks great, but it is very weak in the area of "creature comforts." The electronics, in particular, seem especially prone to failure and are extremely unreliable.

This is a fairly low mileage car, so I can only wonder what lies in store if I still have it when the odometer passes the 100-mile mark. It is not pleasant to contemplate.

If Mercedes loses its reputation for quality, it is dead. Thanks to the C-Class, it already has lost its snob appeal.

Mercedes would be wise to quietly extend the warranty on its problem-plagued mid-1990s S-Class to at least 100,000 miles. For cars cost $70,000 and up, that is not an unreasonable idea.

I also own a Porsche and a Lexus and have experienced no comparable disappointment and/or satisfaction. In other words, it's not me, it's the car.

Looks great you say? I reckon the "Diana" S Class looks like its pregnant! This model was the start of the downhill slide for Mercedes S Class, a slide which has only accelerated. Too many electronic gadgets (which no longer last) and too much plastic in parts of the cabin where there used to be wood or metal. Even cheap looking plastic cup holders these days.

My advice - buy a W126 series in good condition and smile for years to come!

I have had my S320 for over than 5 years now... it has 245,000 km... I think this car is built to last... I have had much care before like Cadillac STS... Caprice... and others, they all look motorcycles in front of this car... for the past 5 years I had no problems with it.. I had to change the fuel pump on 236,000km... Had to change the break system on 244,000... The car tells now look as good as new... if I sell it I make sure to get same care newer model maybe... It's a great machine...

I agree with the comment that the 126 body style S-type Mercedes is a much better built car than the S320. I have a six cylinder 280SE circa 1981 with over 230,000 miles of reliable service which drives as well as the day I got it in 1986 with 40,000 miles on it. Then I had to get tempted with a lemon S320 1996 which not only had a leaking head gasket and transmission joints, but had to get the whole air-conditioning system rebuilt and several gauges replaced in the dash. After spending over $12,000, I gave it away free of charge to my sister last year.

I have been a Benz fan for years (12years) now. After I gave up my 300SD, I stumbled into my 1995 S320. The car looks like a beautiful woman with very dirty habits. I bought the car with 59K miles and its now at 85K mile.

So with under 30K miles, I have already changed:

* The entire brake system

*The reverse clutch in the transmission

*The AC is completely out

*Changed the Air flow meter (when the check engine light came on)

*The odometer panel light is out

*The Air control meter (I guess this controls how the doors close) is gone

* and so on.

These cars are a piece of junk. Mercedes needs to do a recall sooner than later. Guess what, my next car can't be a Mercedes. I am done.

Thanks.

Eyoh.

I have owned 2 E-Class cars (1992 & 1994) & they were absolutely bullet-proof. I made the huge mistake of trading the 94 in on a black 1995 S-320 LWB! Mercedes built them to be alluring & beautiful, but nothing more. I currently have 105,000 miles on her & have already changed the following:

Head gasket

Wiring Harness

Motor Mounts & Transmission Mount

Both rear window regulators (broken again)

Numerous dash light bulbs

MAF Sensor

Rear Upper Control Arms

Transmission Rebuild

I could go on & on. I have 12,000 miles on the transmission & it's already going out again! From what I hear, these cars eat transmissions like candy, because the transmissions are too small for the weight of the car. The trans rebuild cost me $3,400! I will be cutting my losses very soon & buying another W124 E-class.