1993 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 500 SEL from North America - Comments

The heater fan was blown when I got the car, it's a problem that almost most mercedes cars have. Rear shocks had issues, but other than that nothing else.

I love this car. I cannt believe how much they have dropped in price. I feel so bad for those people driving new Hondas and Toyotas that have no heart whatsoever. Here we all traded in our soul for a market share and political correctness? I am lucky I am not one of those people.

This car is everything you will ever need. 4700 lbs, 325 hp motor that will bury you in your seat when floored, very low levels of outside noise, great stereo system and an undeniable presence. Car is very safe and solid even at 100+mph blasts.

Buy a good well kept model and you will never look back again.

One downside is fuel economy, 12mpg is in the city, and 20 on highway. But when you are being treated like a king, who cares, one life, enjoy it!!

Not many people who drive Japanese cars have to put up with vinyl seats and wind-up windows, unless you are talking about cars built in the sixties and seventies.

These cars are lovely, the high fuel consumption being a major downside.

Mechanical repair costs can be kept low by being vigilant on maintenance and using a specialist for repairs. Avoid main dealers.

I agree that the 1993 500SEL is truly a reflection of "when the engineers ran the company".Heavy yet agile as a cat. I notice that the mpg often sits up at 27mpg if you cruise and don't floor the gas.

I totally agree about avoiding dealer maintenance. Took my car in when the A/C went out and they "found" that the rear brake was leaking, accumulators leaking, oil sender leaking, engine leaking, to the tune of a $3000 estimate on a car that has never leaked parked in my garage for weeks, and looks like it is off the showroom floor. I had them charge up the A/C and told them I was not going to get the other stuff done and would pick up the car. Funny thing, when I went to pick it up, suddenly the service writer comes over and says "oh, we discovered that the brakes are not leaking, only the accumulators" He did not know that I had replaced the rear accumulators a year before, and also that when I had brought this largely stored car in to the same dealer six months before for the power antenna, there was no mention of any leaks at all.

I think this is how servicewriters and mechanics encourage the trade in of a cream puff that they want for themselves!!From now on, I will take it to an independent specialist who has worked on my other gem, a 240D, for years.

Having owned a 1992 500SEL as it's original owner from 4/1992 to the present (9/19/07) this car is simply fabulous, but not without fault. The 140 class was the pinnacle of the "old school" Mercedes Benz. My car has accumulated a rather low 108,000 miles over its 15 years. When new it was plagued by too many problems to list here. It was an early production car and loved the service department. The most troubling problem was the traction control coming on randomly at highway speeds. I should have returned the car under the "lemon" law, but didn't. Eventually the car was made right and remains a sturdy as a brick highway missile. At 108,000 miles this car is as solid and rattle free as the day I picked it up. The music the motor make as it races to it's red-line is intoxicating. This car is not a "town" car, but an autobahn cruiser. An E class is better suited for in town driving, but cannot touch the S class on the highway. One of these days I am going to get the top speed limiter taken off, bypass the ESP, and see what this baby will really do. I'd love to drive a 1992 Lexus LS400 with 108,000 miles. I bet it feels like a tin can compared to the MB bank vault! I have owned MB's from the 6.9 of the late 1970's to a current CL55 AMG and this 500SEL is the cream of the crop. Although not cheap to upkeep, these 140 series are Mercedes at her very best!!

1993 500 SEL. White 4-dr. Great Condition inside and out! I love this car! $82,000 MSRP! Features include bullet resistant glass, electric back seats, 325 Horsepower, Top quality leather, 4830 Lbs. Would say Rides like a cadillac, but that would be an understatement.

I have a 1992 500 SEL with 140,000 miles and love it. It does have a recurring fault that I would appreciate some help with if anyone can provide it. When the car is fully warmed up (never when cold) and I slow down to a stop, the engine will shudder and shake and loses power in a big way (like it is running on one bank of cylinders only). If I shut off the engine and re start it, it is perfect again until I again slow down to a stop.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be?

I am 24 yrs old and have owed two 300E's 124CH, a 1984 500 SEC 126CH, my dad owns an auto body shop so I've learned from him.

I recently bought a 1993 500 SEL, and I knew that it was going to be a great car. I am extremely pleased with the car, it's an absolute pleasure to drive! Super quiet with the thick windows, thick doors, and like someone above me mentioned,... the roar of the engine gives me the goose bumps along with a grin my face as I blow past everyone hehe..

I have worked on 100s of cars with my dad since I was 11 years old. I've had the chance to see what is a well made car, and what is a piece of junk,... 140 Chassis 400/500/600 SEL's are tanks on wheels, made from high quality steel" very tough metal", the frame of the car is the most tough and well designed that I have ever worked on, period.

Every 140 Chassis that I have seen on the Auto Auctions (70%) of the time they have been rear-ended and the cabin stays completely intact, I've seen ones where they were hit so hard that the driver's seat has bent backwards from the force... though the cabin stays completely intact and outside... the damage does not exceed the rear axle.

TANK ON WHEELS, very safe car, looks great, the suspension is kind of like a Cadillac, very soft.

I just purchased a 1993 500sel from a customer of mine. I own an independent Mercedes service center and had worked on this car for the last 250k miles or so. It now has 300k on it and drives great. The previous owner fixed any and everything on the car ASAP. Original drive train. The heads have never been off the motor, the timing chain, rails and tension-er were replaced at 250k. The transmission is the original as is the rear differential. The largest repair bill I remember was for A/C work. The evaporator was replace due to leaking, we charged about $2k for that job (40 hours labor). The original a/c compressor was replaced at about 275k at a cost of $1200. I have been driving the car all weekend and feel like I stole it for $1500, alas it is a 300k mile car even though it doesn't drive like one.

I have a 1992 MB 500SEL. I am very happy with it. Now I have 268K and it's the best car I have ever owned. I also own a 1981 300D. Dollar for dollar, MB is the best car out there.

Ah fellas! I am looking at a 93 500 SEL at a local car dealer. Man is it sweet! I am trying to avoid checking it out and you guys are not helping. This MB has 135,000 and they want $5900 for it. I am not familiar with Mercedes, but my girl gave away a 87 300s, I had one chance to drive it and it was amazing. Never had rode nor drove a Benz before and it was an awesome ride. Nice and smooth. I am wondering about potential problems and you're not giving me any. So was sup? It comes with a six month or six thousand mile warranty. So what do you think?

This is so intriguing. Mercedes lost a class-action lawsuit over the early W140 body cars because of poor quality and a terrible lack of dependability, yet it's being described here as a "Benchmark of automotive industry".

I had a 1992 W140, and I was never more happy to get rid of a car in my life. Only had 101K miles and it was falling apart. Never again! I didn't mind the high finance payments, around $800 a month at the time, but it would have been nice to have been able to drive it a little, instead of keeping it in the shop constantly!

I'm back in my old W126, still going at 662K, and no signs of stopping. 1991 is the latest year I'd ever buy an MB car. Anything newer just isn't the same (despite all the nice little "show-off" trinkets they have)...

I have a 1993 500SEL and love it. Drive to the Desert from Canada every winter. Never seen the snow, or cold. Garage stored from October till February.

Car just turned 100K. Check Engine light came on, and the car started making a banging noise to the point were the scan showed 17 faults.

After checking all the faults, nothing turned up?

Any ideas? Timing tensioner is OK, chain OK, oil pump OK, cam sensor OK, air pump OK.

It's been in 2 shops and no one can tell me the problem.

Love the car. Big, smooth ride and 25mpg on the hwy, but no idea what the banging was. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the banging went away...

I have a 600SEL and it is the best car I have ever owned. It has had a few things go wrong with it, but I'm happy to maintain it because it is such a nice car.

I have a 1993 400SEL, and it runs great!!! And at 240k miles, no other car on the road can compete. I have several other cars and trucks, and they are just other cars compared to this one. I traded a camera system for it (roughly $1500), and couldn't be happier. I have had it for 2 years, and it has a small shake in the front, but other than that it runs perfectly. All you nay-sayers scratch your head on this one. It is 17 years old, and looks brand new. My only issue with MB is the fact that they do not offer cup holders in the front of the car. Silly aye??? AAAA++++