My 07 is the best daily driver I have ever had, hands down. A couple quick notes though. Big wheels ruin the ride of these cars. I have 18s on mine and the ride is great but also very controlled. On the tire size, on 4Matic W221s Mercedes used the same wheel/tire size on all four corners. On RWD S550s they did use a wider rear wheel and tire. 275s vs 255s.
@@kevin9c1 I appreciate your input. But actually, Mercedes did offer a staggered setup, AMG wheels on some 4matic models. It was an upgrade option. Mercedes engineers allowed it, as long as there was less than a 2% difference in overall diameter of the tire setup. This has been utilized for years by 4matic sedan and coupe owners. A staggered setup allows for that with the proper tire sizes.
@@goldelementautoworks They did? At least going by Tire Rack there was no staggered offering on the 4Matic cars. They did offer a 19 but the tire size was the same front and rear.
I found the audio system acceptable. I did have to glue the spider back together on the sub which is a common issue that causes a rattle. Simple rubber cement is all you need. I have heard that the sub itself can take more power than is provided by the amp so one tip for perhaps an incremental improvement is to separately amplify the sub and drive it harder. Depending on what you are looking for this could be sufficient. If you are trying to vibrate the car next to you, obviously not.
I have an S550 (2010). I've added lane change assist, blind spot detection, security password (to start the car), and another screen that slides out and stores all & shows all the car's data: driving speed, style, maintenance etc. I couldn't find any third party stuff, so I designed it.
i will aways love this body style s550 and the wheel setup looks perfect on it 👍🏾, and yea that radio situation in that year really suck. but other than that it’s a Beautiful car
Try the Bovee1000 for Bluetooth audio just for music its great it uses the ipod auxiliary thats in the glove box it works great in my 2009 S550 very clear and clean tunes. You use the aux option on the screen. Try it lmk what you think.
I bought the CHOOCL one that supported aptX HD audio. I tried to find one that supported the higher res codecs as well as had a better DAC because cheaping out on those things can also lose audio quality. It doesn't seem to be available at this time though. Maybe there are others. All you need is the iPod adapter in the glove compartment. It displays the artist and song on the cluster and you can even change songs with the steering wheel button. Basically, the car thinks it's talking to an iPod.
Going through starting batteries could indicate that your aux battery in the trunk is performing poorly. Might want to replace that and you may start to have better luck with the starting battery. When mine sits only the aux battery is drained. I think if your aux battery is really low the car will begin to rely on the starting battery for more things.
Just bought a 2007 s550 with only 26 k miles…… I want to apply the s63 bumpers and side rockers…… and get the 22 inch 245/30 and 295/25 concave…… what do you think or opinions
What an awesome ride you have there! Really like that 221 generation apart from the w140.. have you try change the command system to the android head unit? Here at my place a lot of these w221, w204 & w212 change it to the android system. The best thing of having android head unit is that it have Bluetooth connection & apple car play & all the modern features that nowadays you can get on the newer cars & you can still keep the original head unit system at the same time. So that if you want to go to settings you can still have it. Anyway your car looks huge + with the 22 inch it really suits the lwb 221👍
They actually make a headunit that goes there now. It has car play and all and the joystick and steering wheel controls etc all still work. It’s super nice upgrade!
You probably figure out by now a way to add better audio to your car without changing the radio, but there is a Bluetooth device you can purchase that plugs into a connection in your glove compartment, it will $79 on amazon and you able to get music and also phone calls as Bluetooth.
@@deruin78 I understand. I do not know why Mercedes only installed that feature on a select few. Why not all of them. It’s not difficult or expensive on their end to do so. Even their cars from early 2000’s had it. Atleast an aux input.
Right. The previous body style had them as well. I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t incorporate that into the ‘newer’ model as a standard. Very foolish on their part.
The iPod connection is still available but it is an option. It’s hard to find a retro fit. (Mercedes doesn’t like to do it) You gotta get AUX programmed into the radio and there is a AUX plug in the back of the radio and run it thru the glovebox. You can use a “puck” for Bluetooth phone calls.
@@goldelementautoworks MekedeTech 10.25'' Android 10 8 Core 4+64G Car Radio Multimedia Player GPS Navigation for Mercedes Benz S W221 W216 CL 2005-2013 S-Class Head Unit
@@goldelementautoworks CHELINK MI Music Interface to 3.5mm Female Aux-in Cable for Benz, Stereo Jack Cord Audio Adapter Compatible for i-Phone i-Pad i-Pod Andriod Smartphone MP3 Player and More, Fit for Mercedes Benz If you got the hookup for AUX in the glove box....
Lovely car. I just bought some MRR 20" staggered (10.5 rear, 9 front) - for my CL500. I have lost acceleration since fitting them so it feels slower. I understand it's because the wheels are bigger, any tips to get the power back?
That’s the correct tire size. Hmmmmm………On my previous CL500, I noticed a huge slow down when I put in staggered 22’s. Not as much of course w/20’s. I do 20’s standard on all my cars so I guess I’m used to the acceleration. Anytime you add rotating mass, it will effect acceleration. The only way to decrease that is to go with the lightest wheel. That’s one reason I no longer buy chrome wheels.
I’m just about to post a video in the next few days about it. 😂 It’s been a great car. No issues out of the suspension, motor or tranny. Ive heard and seen some bad stories though. Mine………I have some coolant and oil mixing in the overflow reservoir. Likely from the oil cooler or radiator. I’m working on mine now. It doesn’t affect the driving. But it will eventually if I dont fix it.
I would say yes. I haven’t had many issues with my 2007. Thermostat, engine mounts, axle boots, blower motor, a gasket hear and there. Some people have transmission issues and suspension issues. And radio issues.
@@goldelementautoworks I just purchased the unit that is available off of Amazon Prime currently. Installed and I am currently loving it. Really modernizes the car. The wireless CarPlay can lag at times with music but there is an option to use CarPlay via a wired connection.
@@goldelementautoworks Not particularly, no. Dismantling the interior is surprisingly easier than most cars. The unit is Chinese and came with literally no instructions but there's a good amount of resources online with youtube and the W221 forums. Its all plug and play. Not need to tap into the wiring harness.
First of all great vid 🙌🏽 But have a question if you could answer. I’ve found a s550L V8 (long version) 2009 model with 51,000km (31,000 miles) for 12,000$ in Japan. As far as I have looked in the pics, the body is clean, it’s got the AMG sports package, the tires clean, interiors clean too, but the main question I want to know is; is it a good price? And how long can it last (in terms of distance) before issues start to pop up?
Thank you. I appreciate you watching my video(s). Regarding the 2009 S550L w/31k miles for $12k…..that is a good price based on mileage alone. That is $12,000 US dollars, correct? Or did I misread that? The actual true value and worthiness is also based on the care that has been given to the car. Is there history on the car from the previous owner that you can investigate? Is it private owner or a dealership car? These cars will run over 250k miles easily. General maintenance with a few exceptions specific to the model of course.
@@goldelementautoworks Yes, it is a dealer ship car. I have not yet been to the store to ask about the previous owner so I do not know yet. And as of price, yes, it is 12,000$. If I could negotiate with the dealership, how much do you recommend for me to go? And what parts do you want me to inspect or ask them if it has any kind of problems? Thx 🙏
@@ragemode9622 $12k isn’t a bad price with those low miles. But anything close to $10k or less is a steal. Look at the suspension. Make certain it goes up and down. Make sure you have no Airmatic alerts. Make sure there are no warning lights. Look for oil leaks. Look for coolant leaks. Look at front axles for grease/torn boots. Make sure it shift smoothly with no jerks while cold especially.
@@goldelementautoworks sorry for keeping you waiting. Unfortunately, I could not buy the car since the dealership said that I might face suspension problems in the near future, so I passed on this car. However, great news is that I have found another w221 s550 2011 model with 11,600km (7.2k miles). It says that there has been no repair history and based of the pictures provided by the dealership, the inside and outside is pretty clean. Now as for the price, it is 13,200$ with tax included. In my opinion, it is a good price as I have been looking at tons of other cars (w221 s550s) with high mileage, and all of them are near or above this price (13.2k $) in Japan. But, I want to hear your opinion on the price and want to know if the 2011 model of s550 face the same amount of issues as the pre face lifted versions. Thanks in advance 🙌🏽
@@goldelementautoworks Wow.Thats great to hear. I plan to get one soon. I'm just trying to make sure that I can handle the repair costs. I have a towncar and I've put about $3000 into it within 1 year . She's running smooth . She needs a little more work done to her. Nothing serious though. Basically what you told me is that I will be able to handle one. I appreciate your inspiration.Thank you very much.
@@yuseffarooq7684 You are very welcome. Just make sure you buy one that hasn’t been neglected. Prices are dropping on them. But spend the right price for the right one. 👌🏾
@@a1phamalestud I love the reliability. You’re getting a great motor and tranny. Some have issues with the early 07-09 tranny. I fortunately have not. Keep the fluids clean and resolve issues quickly. Biggest issue is audio issues with the amplifier and cd changer. Some have issues with the Airmatic suspension. If a strut starts to fail, replace it. Simple.
My 07 is the best daily driver I have ever had, hands down. A couple quick notes though. Big wheels ruin the ride of these cars. I have 18s on mine and the ride is great but also very controlled. On the tire size, on 4Matic W221s Mercedes used the same wheel/tire size on all four corners. On RWD S550s they did use a wider rear wheel and tire. 275s vs 255s.
@@kevin9c1 I appreciate your input. But actually, Mercedes did offer a staggered setup, AMG wheels on some 4matic models. It was an upgrade option. Mercedes engineers allowed it, as long as there was less than a 2% difference in overall diameter of the tire setup. This has been utilized for years by 4matic sedan and coupe owners. A staggered setup allows for that with the proper tire sizes.
@@goldelementautoworks They did? At least going by Tire Rack there was no staggered offering on the 4Matic cars. They did offer a 19 but the tire size was the same front and rear.
we add Carplay and Bluetooth modules to our w221 original infotainment system for like 50usd, and it works brilliantly.
How do you do this
Can you drop the link please?
Dude you already won at this crazy game called life. 👏 Congrats
Thank you bro! I’m just trying to do my best.
@@goldelementautoworks You're welcome man.
I found the audio system acceptable. I did have to glue the spider back together on the sub which is a common issue that causes a rattle. Simple rubber cement is all you need. I have heard that the sub itself can take more power than is provided by the amp so one tip for perhaps an incremental improvement is to separately amplify the sub and drive it harder. Depending on what you are looking for this could be sufficient. If you are trying to vibrate the car next to you, obviously not.
I have an S550 (2010). I've added lane change assist, blind spot detection, security password (to start the car), and another screen that slides out and stores all & shows all the car's data: driving speed, style, maintenance etc. I couldn't find any third party stuff, so I designed it.
i will aways love this body style s550 and the wheel setup looks perfect on it 👍🏾, and yea that radio situation in that year really suck. but other than that it’s a Beautiful car
Thank you bro! I totally agree. One of the best body style S-classes.
I can understand that my amp failed and they are NOT cheap!
Try the Bovee1000 for Bluetooth audio just for music its great it uses the ipod auxiliary thats in the glove box it works great in my 2009 S550 very clear and clean tunes. You use the aux option on the screen. Try it lmk what you think.
Thank you very much.
I bought the CHOOCL one that supported aptX HD audio. I tried to find one that supported the higher res codecs as well as had a better DAC because cheaping out on those things can also lose audio quality. It doesn't seem to be available at this time though. Maybe there are others. All you need is the iPod adapter in the glove compartment. It displays the artist and song on the cluster and you can even change songs with the steering wheel button. Basically, the car thinks it's talking to an iPod.
Going through starting batteries could indicate that your aux battery in the trunk is performing poorly. Might want to replace that and you may start to have better luck with the starting battery. When mine sits only the aux battery is drained. I think if your aux battery is really low the car will begin to rely on the starting battery for more things.
so i went to a shop where they changed the aux to bluetooth find audio shops that work on high end vevhiles
Just bought a 2007 s550 with only 26 k miles…… I want to apply the s63 bumpers and side rockers…… and get the 22 inch 245/30 and 295/25 concave…… what do you think or opinions
What an awesome ride you have there! Really like that 221 generation apart from the w140.. have you try change the command system to the android head unit? Here at my place a lot of these w221, w204 & w212 change it to the android system. The best thing of having android head unit is that it have Bluetooth connection & apple car play & all the modern features that nowadays you can get on the newer cars & you can still keep the original head unit system at the same time. So that if you want to go to settings you can still have it. Anyway your car looks huge + with the 22 inch it really suits the lwb 221👍
Very good info! Thank you so very much.
@@goldelementautoworks my pleasure!👍
Hey my brother have the same car you have 07 S550
Can you let me know where you get your front grill from
I need one of those ASAP
ebay.us/x55BPp
Thank you big bro I appreciate you.
I will be ordering mine today
Hit up any reputable audio shop for amps subs speakers and aux head units and or setups.
Thank you!
They actually make a headunit that goes there now. It has car play and all and the joystick and steering wheel controls etc all still work. It’s super nice upgrade!
I’ll look into it. Thank you!
Where can I buy one
You probably figure out by now a way to add better audio to your car without changing the radio, but there is a Bluetooth device you can purchase that plugs into a connection in your glove compartment, it will $79 on amazon and you able to get music and also phone calls as Bluetooth.
I appreciate that information. But….Not every S550 has the glovebox option/connection. Some do, some don’t.
@@goldelementautoworks I thought they all did because mine did
@@deruin78 I understand. I do not know why Mercedes only installed that feature on a select few. Why not all of them. It’s not difficult or expensive on their end to do so. Even their cars from early 2000’s had it. Atleast an aux input.
They used to have hard line connectors in the glove box.
Right. The previous body style had them as well. I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t incorporate that into the ‘newer’ model as a standard. Very foolish on their part.
The iPod connection is still available but it is an option. It’s hard to find a retro fit. (Mercedes doesn’t like to do it) You gotta get AUX programmed into the radio and there is a AUX plug in the back of the radio and run it thru the glovebox. You can use a “puck” for Bluetooth phone calls.
Amazon got an upgraded replacement for the factory system retains all car functions
Thank you 👍🏾
@@goldelementautoworks
MekedeTech 10.25'' Android 10 8 Core 4+64G Car Radio Multimedia Player GPS Navigation for Mercedes Benz S W221 W216 CL 2005-2013 S-Class Head Unit
@@goldelementautoworks
CHELINK MI Music Interface to 3.5mm Female Aux-in Cable for Benz, Stereo Jack Cord Audio Adapter Compatible for i-Phone i-Pad i-Pod Andriod Smartphone MP3 Player and More, Fit for Mercedes Benz
If you got the hookup for AUX in the glove box....
Lovely car. I just bought some MRR 20" staggered (10.5 rear, 9 front) - for my CL500. I have lost acceleration since fitting them so it feels slower. I understand it's because the wheels are bigger, any tips to get the power back?
Thank you very much! What tire sizes do you have?
@@goldelementautoworks Rear 285/30 - 245/35 Front
That’s the correct tire size. Hmmmmm………On my previous CL500, I noticed a huge slow down when I put in staggered 22’s. Not as much of course w/20’s. I do 20’s standard on all my cars so I guess I’m used to the acceleration. Anytime you add rotating mass, it will effect acceleration. The only way to decrease that is to go with the lightest wheel. That’s one reason I no longer buy chrome wheels.
@@goldelementautoworks These are MRR Diamond cut Herbarana wheels. It's a cruiser not a bruiser 😉
@@goldelementautoworks One more for you ua-cam.com/video/CXHF4hT5jk0/v-deo.html
Like your video. So true... the more you have....the more you need to do....
Thanks bro!
Whats the link for those rims
They’re sold out unfortunately. Discontinued.
Where did you get that grille?
eBay at that time. A few years back.
Where can u find that grill
i have an E550 2011 love it ,and i like that GL 550, getting one for a winter machine ,i put my e550 away for winter ,
@@ronniereece8752 Very nice!
I’m thinking about buying an ‘08 s550. What mechanical issue have you had with yours?
I’m just about to post a video in the next few days about it. 😂 It’s been a great car. No issues out of the suspension, motor or tranny. Ive heard and seen some bad stories though. Mine………I have some coolant and oil mixing in the overflow reservoir. Likely from the oil cooler or radiator. I’m working on mine now. It doesn’t affect the driving. But it will eventually if I dont fix it.
Nice!! Is that the long wheelbase version? I'd love one of those!
Unfortunately this is not. The closest I’ve seen was the next body style in the long wheelbase. Incredible room in the rear.
thank you for the video
You’re very welcome.
Thank you for this video
You’re very welcome.
They make a w221 12.3 inch wide screen for this vehicle now
Ok. Thank you!
Does the S550 have better reliability than the SL ?? Thanks!
What year SL?
So sweet
Are 08 and 07 years reliable
I would say yes. I haven’t had many issues with my 2007. Thermostat, engine mounts, axle boots, blower motor, a gasket hear and there. Some people have transmission issues and suspension issues. And radio issues.
@@goldelementautoworks a what kind of gasket
@@d3m0niccity Oil cooler, maybe valve cover gasket eventually.
@@goldelementautoworks ok I thought maybe head gaskets 😂
@@d3m0niccity 😂😂👍🏾
so you basically don’t drive it because you can’t add the modifications you want? so confused on this video
Considered one of the Android units? Just ordered mine. Seems that many in the W221 community have success with it
I might just do that. Which one did you buy?
@@goldelementautoworks I just purchased the unit that is available off of Amazon Prime currently. Installed and I am currently loving it. Really modernizes the car. The wireless CarPlay can lag at times with music but there is an option to use CarPlay via a wired connection.
@@josephshannon9900 Was it hard to install?
@@goldelementautoworks Not particularly, no. Dismantling the interior is surprisingly easier than most cars. The unit is Chinese and came with literally no instructions but there's a good amount of resources online with youtube and the W221 forums. Its all plug and play. Not need to tap into the wiring harness.
@@josephshannon9900 I’m going to buy it. Thank you!
Use the RCA adapter in the glove box
This one unfortunately doesn’t have one.
@@goldelementautoworks bummer. Beautiful ride though
@@lawrencescurlock1327 Thank you very much!
First of all great vid 🙌🏽 But have a question if you could answer. I’ve found a s550L V8 (long version) 2009 model with 51,000km (31,000 miles) for 12,000$ in Japan. As far as I have looked in the pics, the body is clean, it’s got the AMG sports package, the tires clean, interiors clean too, but the main question I want to know is; is it a good price? And how long can it last (in terms of distance) before issues start to pop up?
Thank you. I appreciate you watching my video(s). Regarding the 2009 S550L w/31k miles for $12k…..that is a good price based on mileage alone. That is $12,000 US dollars, correct? Or did I misread that? The actual true value and worthiness is also based on the care that has been given to the car. Is there history on the car from the previous owner that you can investigate? Is it private owner or a dealership car? These cars will run over 250k miles easily. General maintenance with a few exceptions specific to the model of course.
@@goldelementautoworks Yes, it is a dealer ship car. I have not yet been to the store to ask about the previous owner so I do not know yet. And as of price, yes, it is 12,000$. If I could negotiate with the dealership, how much do you recommend for me to go? And what parts do you want me to inspect or ask them if it has any kind of problems? Thx 🙏
@@ragemode9622 $12k isn’t a bad price with those low miles. But anything close to $10k or less is a steal. Look at the suspension. Make certain it goes up and down. Make sure you have no Airmatic alerts. Make sure there are no warning lights. Look for oil leaks. Look for coolant leaks. Look at front axles for grease/torn boots. Make sure it shift smoothly with no jerks while cold especially.
@@goldelementautoworks sorry for keeping you waiting. Unfortunately, I could not buy the car since the dealership said that I might face suspension problems in the near future, so I passed on this car. However, great news is that I have found another w221 s550 2011 model with 11,600km (7.2k miles). It says that there has been no repair history and based of the pictures provided by the dealership, the inside and outside is pretty clean. Now as for the price, it is 13,200$ with tax included. In my opinion, it is a good price as I have been looking at tons of other cars (w221 s550s) with high mileage, and all of them are near or above this price (13.2k $) in Japan. But, I want to hear your opinion on the price and want to know if the 2011 model of s550 face the same amount of issues as the pre face lifted versions. Thanks in advance 🙌🏽
Is it reliable . How much have you spent in repairs?
Yes. I thoroughly have enjoyed owning it. I do most of my work. So I’ve only spent less than $1500 in repairs over the last 6 years.
@@goldelementautoworks Wow.Thats great to hear. I plan to get one soon. I'm just trying to make sure that I can handle the repair costs. I have a towncar and I've put about $3000 into it within 1 year . She's running smooth . She needs a little more work done to her. Nothing serious though. Basically what you told me is that I will be able to handle one. I appreciate your inspiration.Thank you very much.
@@yuseffarooq7684 You are very welcome. Just make sure you buy one that hasn’t been neglected. Prices are dropping on them. But spend the right price for the right one. 👌🏾
Smooth as butter! I own a 2011 s550 4 matic! If the air suspension fails will you do coilover? Or fix the issue?
It really all depends. The airmatic seems pretty good on these cars. As long as it’s an easy, less expensive repair, might be worth saving.
Dam bro mad cars that cl is dope
Thanks bro.
Aluratek - iStream Universal Bluetooth Audio Receiver - Black - plugs into AUX $29
Thank you. Unfortunately, my car doesn’t have the aux input at all. 😔😭
aee bro what floor mats are those look snug
@@DBOOKIN208 Those are Mercedes OEM wheels specifically for the W221
@@DBOOKIN208 Those are Mercedes OEM wheels specifically for the W221
Nice car, nobody mentioned regular maintenance and costs of this toy .
Great car
Thank you.
@@goldelementautoworks I’m in the market for a w221 how is the reliability?
@@a1phamalestud I love the reliability. You’re getting a great motor and tranny. Some have issues with the early 07-09 tranny. I fortunately have not. Keep the fluids clean and resolve issues quickly. Biggest issue is audio issues with the amplifier and cd changer. Some have issues with the Airmatic suspension. If a strut starts to fail, replace it. Simple.
It's gorgeous, but it's no 560 SEC. ;-)
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Bovee 1000 just type your year and model it works instantly
Thank you. But I don’t have that connection in my glovebox unfortunately.
Say Mayne what’s your rap album?
😂
Another one - ua-cam.com/video/CHTv8tRUEXk/v-deo.html
They actually make a android touchscreen radio for the car.
Thank you. I’ll look into it.
get an S63 AMG boss car for sure
I’ve thought about it. How reliable is that 6.2L V8?
i love my benz'
my car of choice
im an AMG guy my self
For sure bro! Thank you. I’m an AMG guy as well. You gotta see my new car collection……
Stance and wheels are totally wrong
What??????
9.5 in the front lol 😂
These are 9” in the front I believe. 10.5” rear.
😢
20 MINUTES AND THA BEST U CAN DO IS THE SOUND SYSTEM?????? WEAK AT BEST. GLAD TO HEAR U R INTO MERCEDES.....BUT......DAMN!!! STICK TO A POINT
HOF YAPPER