Used 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Consumer Reviews
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Great car but expensive to repair
Rich, 01/23/2017
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 5A)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2005 S430 2 years ago when it had 126,000 miles on it. It is by far the most comfortable car I've ever owned and I've owned several. Great reliable engine, sufficient power. good in snow (I live in northern climate). The Nav did not work when I got it, but that's ok what with iPhone and google maps. Radio sound quality is average. The only drawback is that the repairs are expensive. If you keep that in mind, you will love this car.
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A Great Car
Mr. Marques, 08/18/2008
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
This is my first ever own Benz the 2004 Black on Black AMG. It is my retirement gift and it is everything that I could ever ask for in a sedan. The only bad thing I can say is the gas mileage but hey when you can go that fast what the heck. It's a beast and when I'm in heavy traffic on the Interstate I can hit the pedal and go yeah. So if you dare get one you won't be dissapointed. It's true to its form.
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class for sale near you
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S55 AMG
pat g, 12/23/2006
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
The S55 AMG has a perfect blend of comfort, styling and performance. I look forward to road trips in this car. It is incredible. It has tons of room, especially in the back. When I start the car with the keyless go, a cool option, the engine sound is incredible. The exhaust and supercharger emit a sound that lets the occupants know that there is plenty of power available when needed. The supercharger has a subtle and very cool whining sound that is downright stimulating. The active body control suspension is amazing and definitely adds a very connected and sporty but smooth feel to the ride. This is the ultimate sedan. Period.
High Cost of Maintenance - Great Car!
Krista, 04/19/2010
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
This is my first Benz and I really like the car. My fiance bought a 2004 C Class the same day and has not had as good an experience as I. Great interior size, great performance, great styling. White Exterior, cream interior - just yummy looking! Stereo system sounds great, but the iPod connection is subpar, to say the least. Handles well in all weather and the brakes are second to none; I feel very safe in this vehicle. The only major issues are: electronics are touch and go on this vehicle, maintenance costs are expensive on all MB, storage is NON EXISTANT on this vehicle (interior or trunk - you are hard pressed to fit 10 bags of groceries). But the leg room in back is truly wonderful!
I love this car! Got it used at great price!
Big Al, 08/24/2016
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 5A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I love this car! So does my teenage son, who keeps trying for find excuses to borrow it from me! I bought it used last year with only 58,000 miles for way less than its original new car price (of course, it was 10 years old). Glad I didn't buy it new, since it did depreciate quite a bit in value over the 10 years. However, it was still in near mint condition, and with only 58,000 miles I just had to take a chance on it! This car is extremely comfortable and it rides like a dream. The leg room and comfort of the back seats is so great that I sometimes just let my son drive and I ride in the back. I've put about 13,000 miles on it and haven't had any mechanical problems, but I understand that future repairs and service could be costly. It does not have blue tooth or satellite radio (a bummer), but I'm okay with just radio and CDs. All wheel drive is great in bad weather. Gas mileage has been about 21 mpg on average (not bad for a V8). Trunk space is good. Headlights are bright. Heat and AC perform well. Heated seats are still warm and cozy. No rust problems (which did occur on some earlier years). Overall, I really enjoy this car, especially for the price I paid. If you can get a well maintained used one, these cars are a great purchase.
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Nightmare
Sam, 12/13/2008
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
15 of 19 people found this review helpful
This car has been the worst car I have ever had. The vaccum assist has gone bad 5 times and so has the GPS. Driver side seat has been repired more than 4 times. Above all, I lost complete power stering fluid at 65mph and no warning light came. I nearly died controlling the car. Tire pressure sensors have gone bad, battery, alternator, dvd on the gps. Music dvd cartridge. The only saving grace has been that the dealers repiring the car have been polite and agreed to fix the items. Now as soon as the car is out of warranty i needed engine mounts, trans mounts and control arms. German cars are not only very poorly made, they are also very, very expensive to maintain.
2005 Mercedes S55
woodybyrd, 12/14/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
My 2005 Mercedes S55 is very sporty and fun to drive. I just came out of an S600. In summary, the S600 is like riding in a Maybach, the S55 is like driving the Maybach.
Mercedes- nothing but the worst.
Philip, 08/23/2017
updated 12/21/2020
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
24 of 34 people found this review helpful
You better do your long, hard, and unbiased research on this vehicle because if you do not, you will be presented with a host of surprises that can and will financially bury and emotionally burden you. This vehicle is not worth owning outside of bumper-to-bumper warranty, and if you are thinking about buying one for a few thousand dollars because it is cheap, you better know how to work on it or have a mechanic who has no bills to pay. Be honest with yourself. Regardless, you will pay...a lot. This vehicle is an absolute money pit. It is extremely unreliable. The abc pump, accumulators, struts, body control system are flawed and can and will drain your savings account. The transmission is one of the worst Mercedes has ever put out. It is extremely unreliable. It will either need to be replaced or overhauled. The conductor plate goes bad. The speed sensor goes bad. The crankshaft position sensor goes bad which will cause the car to not start or stall while driving. The ac blower motor and resistor go bad which results in no ac. The rain sensor goes bad. The interior temperature sensor goes bad which is located near the rear view mirror and will cause the climate control system to not work. The radio controls may exhibit delayed input. The transmission and motor mounts go bad very quickly even with moderate driving. Radiator longevity is low. Passenger sensors in seats fail and cause the srs light to come in which causes the 'pre safe unavailable' message to appear in the dash. Gear shifter selector bushings go bad. Soft-close doors fail. This car is just an absolute disaster.
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King of the road
makandari, 11/15/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 5A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 1005 Mercedes-Benz S430 and am very pleased with it. i have not had any problems with it so far.no problems. It has been very reliable and safe. I am waiting for the 2006 S-class. When you drive a Mercedes you do not want to drive any other car. It is king of the road.
My S500
Vince Le, 03/12/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 7A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is by far the best built and best luxury car I have ever owned. I have just about driven and owned almost every car under $100,000 for the past 6 years. This car is by far the most reliable and the best car I have ever own.
Great luxury and safety
2005 Mercedes-Benz s, 01/13/2006
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have owned two S500 sedans and I can't imagine driving anything else. I have the sport package and love the interior. The ride is so smooth,nothing compares. The front and rear seat areas are roomy. Seats are comfortable and easily adjustable to drivers and passengers of all sizes. Very open feel and no blind spots. Keyless go and automatic door and trunk closing is great. Sound system is awesome. Hands free phone system is a must have. I had a major side impact accident and the car held up to its reputation for safety. The head curtain airbags saved my life, and side door airbags prevented serious injury. Walked away without a scratch.
Tires, brakes and dash
Marty Cohan, 01/16/2006
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 7A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Brakes have squealed since first service. At 19,000 miles I am on my third set of Michelin Pilot sports at =/-$300 each. Dash electric went out in first 6,000 miles and dealer replaced under warranty. Dealer also performed a full alignment on them after second set of tires wore out.
Horrible Mercedes
irving mangel, 12/12/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
19 of 30 people found this review helpful
My 2005 Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG is in the shop more than I drive it. Mercedes has been horrible at taking care of the problem. My next car will never be a Mercedes-Benz and I have owned a number of Mercedes. This will be my last one. Next time I will hire a lawyer to use the lemon law.
Fun when it works
Dissapointed, 04/15/2007
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
Great when it works. Fun to drive, quiet, responsive, nice style, but reliability is awful. Electronics are terrible. What a shame. Second Mercedes in a row that was a lemon. It also depreciated from $96,5000 new to under $50,000 in just a little under two years. Stay away! Look at Lexus LS instead.
S55 AMG
Ron Kidd, 10/07/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A world class automobile. A thrill to drive. It handles on par with most high performance sports cars but with the legendary S class comfort. Truely a shame that there is no place I can really open her up! I do wish that the final drive was a little taller for enhanced fuel economy!
Great Car... Best I've Owned
Ishan, 07/09/2008
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 5A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought the car last weekend and I cant get enough of driving it. It's a super smooth car, rides like no other, not even other MBs. This is smooth creamy ride. I wish it just had a bit more power, but I can compensate it with the manual shifter, because I love leading off-the-line. The car is worth the money and I get compliments like crazy, even from people I don't know. I got black/black and I love it. I feel like I want to drive it all the time. I really don't have any experience in the reliability of the vehicle, but it better be excellent because its a MB because I heard that repairs can be costly.
The Best Car Ever
Ryan Jennings, 03/01/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 7A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I recently bought this new S-class 500 at Atlanta Classic Car and it was my most enjoyable buying experience. Mercedes knows how to treat its consumers right. I love this car it has a strong engine and the technology is amazing. The safety aspect was one of the reasons I bought this car. It has the Pre-Safe system and 8 different airbags. The seats are very confortable and it can make you feel as if you were riding in a limo. Love the Car. If your in the market for a quality and powerful luxary sedan, the Mercedes should be your fist choice. Love this car!
Serious Speed in a Sedan
D Coz, 06/12/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is a first class car. It is quick off the line and even quicker when you accelerate from 70 up. The transition of power is real smooth and with the sport package wheels it's flashy with a minimum of chrome. I love the car and all my friends envy me now. Best car I've ever had. Buy one if you can afford it. It's slick!
Great car
showard, 11/12/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a great car ,but should have better resale value.
Smooooth!!!
Monster Van GoGh, 11/19/2020
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 7A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bangin....
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Don’t hesitate
Devin G. , 07/13/2021
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S55 AMG 4dr Sedan (5.4L 8cyl S/C 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I did plenty of do diligence before making my decision. I knew going into it that this was not going to be an inexpensive car to own. However that being said I have never owned such a wonderful piece of machinery in my entire life. Every day I am excited to start the engine and drive. Nothing has ever compared to this car. The acceleration is perfect and he handling superb and the ride is perfection. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone that wants the perfect machine. Be prepared to take care of some pricey issues if the any maintenance has been deferred. I spent about $8000 upon purchasing it to bring it back to factory specs. But it was well worth it. One thing to be sure of is to make sure you change the ABC fluid every 30k miles. As soon as it begins to change color it needs to be changed. I wish all the very best with their purchases and many happy miles driven.
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Still pleased
john, 01/06/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is my third Benz and I'm still quite pleased with selection. Even thought this is a large car, the sport package helps make it look and perform like a smaller sport sedan. Styling of the car sets it apart from the competition. Dealer support remains strong. Only dissatisfaction is in rear tire wear.
Mercedes Got It Right!
Kevin, 05/18/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 Rwd 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 7A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This auto is a dream to drive! But, even sitting still it looks the part. Ours has the standard rims which have been triple plated. That really sets off the Pewter color. We don't have all the bells and whistle's I'd like but that just means I get to buy another at some point in the future. My wife has severe back and leg pain and this is the ONLY vehicle in which she adjust the seat to the point she is comfortable and depend on the vehicle to be smooth enough to keep her that way. We love it!
The Ultimate Luxury Sedan
Greg Rhea, 01/20/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great styling, wonderful performance, spacious interior. A must have if you want to drive an awesome sedan with nible capabilities that has safety features that are second to none. And you will always get front row parking from the valet.
Safety, Comfort, Style and Value
Dr. Mike, 05/27/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have bought two of these cars in the last few months. The first was for my wife. She loved it so much, she would not let me near it. I had to get one for myself. It is quiet and solid. Definite first class ride and feel, and a great value in comparison. You can easily negotiate 15 to 20% off MSRP, making it a great buy for something you will love to drive for many years to come. I do love the gadgets. Voice activated system, great navigation, satellite radio, phone, and all the extra stuff I still need to learn about. My only criticism is MB did away with the included maintenance and some of the cloth interior, i.e. visor, etc look a little chintzy on this flagship model. A great car!
Mark's S430
Mark Papay, 12/19/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Mercedes-Benz S430 is the finest car that I've ever driven. This is the so-called base model of the "S" series and it is provided with standard features that most other manufacturers have never even thought of. It actually out-performs the stated EPA mileage data (17/26). It provides an amazing blend of comfort and performance at a surprisingly tolerable price.
S Class number 1
JFL, 12/03/2004
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S430 Rwd 4dr Sedan (4.3L 8cyl 7A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have owned Volvos, Bmw's and Mercedes Benz. The new S 430 I recently purchased with the AMG package is not only the nicest looking car I have ever owned, it is the most fun to drive. For a large sedan, it drives like a smaller vehicle and is very easy to navigate in the city, and is pure heaven on the open road. This is without a doubt the best vehicle I have ever owned and it is more comfortable to drive than my wifes 2004 SL500. I can't wait to see what Mercedes comes up with next.
The Best of European Luxury
Cleighman, 01/06/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
My 13th Mercedes and the best. Amazingly smooth ride coupled with the SIRIUS satellite radio/stereo make driving a pleasurable experience.
S-500 Solid, Reliable, Fun to Drive
Brent Johnson, 01/22/2005
2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S500 4MATIC AWD 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 5A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is the 6th S body I have owned in the last 3 years. Great car!