MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS
How to bag the best W140generation Mercedes S-class from our classifeds
ASK ABOUT ENGINE CARE
Regular oil changes will avoid timing chain wear, and look for minor oil weeps from the head gasket on six-cylinder motors although they rarely prove terminal. Early models employed an engine wiring harness with insulation that degraded over time. Replacement will cost well into four gures, so see if it’s been changed.
PRESS EVERY BUTTON
The W140 is famously stu ed with all manner of kit, and huge repair costs leads to some items being ignored by previous owners on a shoestring budget. Prod every switch and button, and bear in mind that many electronically-controlled functions are linked; for example, a faulty interior light switch on a coupé will also a ect the operation of the seat belt ‘butler’ (which presents the belt to the driver) and the seat back movement. Numerous functions, including door locks, are also operated via the PSE pump so multiple failures are likely rooted here.
CHECK THE RIDE
The suspension on these big, heavy ‘Benzes takes quite a pounding, so listen for knocks or clunks on the test drive. Broken springs aren’t always easy to spot so examine them carefully and look for wear in bushes, front ball joints, and anti-roll bar links. Cars with self-levelling rear suspension can su er from leaking struts and spheres, too.
LOOK FOR COSMETIC NEGLECT
The quality wobbles that aicted Mercedes in the mid-1990s/early-2000s didn’t greatly a ect the W140 so you shouldn’t have too many cosmetic woes to worry about. However, do check the front wings just above the bumper, the rear wheelarches and around the boot lock for rot. Are the panels and bumpers undamaged? If it’s scru y on the outside, just think what else might have been neglected.
TRY THE AIR CON
Check the e ectiveness of the climate control system because repair costs can be stomachchurningly high. It’s a dashboard-out job to replace the evaporator which can su er leaks on pre-1996 models in particular. Blower fans can give up the ghost, too, and the LCD screen in later models is prone to su ering from failed pixels. It’s highly unlikely that an inoperative air conditioning system just needs re-gassing, either.