1986 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 420 SEL review from North America
"The last of the Camelot years, a well built, precise German machine"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Weird alternator behavior, but what are you going to do?
I recently had the entire exhaust redone, and got rid of the "after burners" that lie before the tail pipe. It's amazing- better MPG and horsepower; no hesitation when accelerating from a stop.
The sunroof is a bit sticky, I liked the older version without the tilt function.
A lot of the wiring gets fried after a while, so blower motor switches for the A/C and heat may stop working. It's a simple box by the fuses that you pry open and rewire.
General comments?
Best car I've ever had. My first Benz was the 500 SE European model, which was gorgeous, and still is because I can't get rid of such a well built automobile.
The 420 is a smaller engine, but longer car, about 6" compared to the SE model. It's very elegant, and has a presence about it that is almost regal. It truly is a stately automobile, and performs better than most new cars.
I recently drove from Denver to San Diego, non-stop at speeds above 100 mph, and still averaged a remarkable 30 mpg on the highway. It's unbelievable, and cheap to insure.
It's a tank. I'd love to play chicken with a Honda and see what happens!
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1986 |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.2L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 148000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 180000 miles |
| Previous car | Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
| Date of Entry | 5th July, 2006 |