2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Consumer Discussions

Mercedes Benz S-Class is Rusting!

Re: Mercedes Benz S-Class is Rusting! [ebs1]

Written by: rockypaul on Dec 29, 2008 10:11 AM

My 2003 S-430 4-Matic was purchased new, sticker price $80k. It has 50k miles and was last on a lift for a wheel balance 2 months ago. No rust anywhere including under carriage, chassis and body. I live in upstate NY where road salt is both mined and applied profusely. If you purchased used it may have had inferior body work performed following a rear end collision. ... Read More...

Mercedes Benz S-Class is Rusting!

Written by: ebs1 on Dec 29, 2008 09:51 AM

My $70,000 Mercedes S430 2003 is showing signs of significant Rust above both rear wheel wells. Has anyone ever experienced this problem before? To correct and repaint the rusty areas I am looking at $4,500. Is this what you can expect from a Mercedes? I am shocked that a car of this caliber would rust! By the way, the car is garage kept, washed at least weekly, and ... Read More...

High End Luxury Cars

Re: Mercedes, McLaren SLS [tagman]

Written by: merc1 on Jan 15, 2007 01:57 PM

Surely you're not going to go for this about the SL being so old and not recognizable from the CLK? The SL is on the streets in good numbers because it has been out since 2003, its called success. It is easy to say that they're "everywhere" compared to a brand new Jaguar that doesn't sell in the same numbers as a car in its 5th model year. Of course I don't have anything ... Read More...

Re: I'm caught up again! [merc1]

Written by: garyh1 on Dec 17, 2006 01:08 PM

This about the LS430 beating the LS460 is pure nonsense. The LS430 was compared to a different Jaguar and a different Mercedes, why can't you allow that at least 2 of the cars in that comparo have moved the game on, especially a brand new S-Class? Hey, I agree that the S is winning the "Battle of the Comps". But I think the S and the LS are the only totally new models since ... Read More...

Seems Like A Reality Disconnect

Written by: hpowders on Oct 08, 2006 08:51 AM

Reality check: Reviews of the S-Class have been overwhelmingly positive. Reviews of the LS 460 that have concentrated on the car and not the company, have been "polite" to negative. If anything, given the representative reviews I posted above, it seems that Lexus has fallen even further behind the great German automakers. Car and Driver, for example, found ... Read More...

Joined the Mercedes-Benz ranks....

Written by: merc1 on Oct 05, 2006 09:43 PM

Finally, there is a Mercedes-Benz in my garage! Tuesday I picked up a 2003 CLK430 Cabriolet. It is Brilliant Silver over Ash (grey) with an Ash top. Four things come to mind when driving it over the last couple of days; fast, comfortable, stylish and solid. Everything clicks and thunks, from the doors being closed to the windows doing their little drop down/raise ... Read More...

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Re: 2007 4Matic Pricing [mcaleer]

Written by: merc1 on Sep 25, 2006 09:53 PM

Does the 4Matic come with the 7-speed transmission? Yes. I'm also told that the 2007 won't have the hump in the passenger footwell that my 2003 S430 4Matic has - true? True, the new S-Class was engineered from the ground up for 4Matic and the 4Matic system is also brand new and more compact compared to the version in use on every other current Mercedes. M Read More...

High End Luxury Cars

Re: DCX/MB [houdini1]

Written by: tagman on Aug 30, 2006 07:25 AM

Allow me to post the history of the merger: Daimler-Benz merger: Chrysler merged in 1998 with Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler AG. This was initially touted as a merger of equals, but within a couple of years the truth was evident: it was a buyout of Chrysler by Daimler-Benz, with the latter being very much the dominant partner. As if on cue, Chrysler went ... Read More...

Re: Mercedes more dependable than Porsche ! [merc1]

Written by: lexusguy on Aug 09, 2006 10:12 PM

And this for 2003, the year of the awful E-Class and SL which were brand new that year. Go figure. Stranger still is that Porsche's very poor showing came from Boxsters and 911s, which are supposed to be very reliable. The Cayenne won't be included until next year's VDS. Read More...

Re: Mercedes more dependable than Porsche ! [tagman]

Written by: merc1 on Aug 09, 2006 10:00 PM

So, the JDP study shows Mercedes Benz, the often accused repair shop lizard, as just a bit below average, which is certainly no nightmare as it is often portrayed. And . . . it is rated better then Porsche and even Hyundai, which have been getting lots of quality kudos lately. And this for 2003, the year of the awful E-Class and SL which were brand new that year. Go figure. ... Read More...