CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
Jay. I have the facelifted w221 s63 5.5 BiTurbo. A very nice example currently for sale. If you'd like to do a video with it to pit against this one 👍 it'd be a great swansong for my girl.
wait for the first time things might break cause then you will face the real value of the car - cause you will want to held it on the car to sell it again. Those prices will even explode far more within the next 5 years cause when Mercedes will have stopped the combustin engines then it is time to raise all spare parts by huge percentage just to double the profit from the slowly adaptors that do not want to learn the lesson. It is part of their income strategy . And AMG parts are the creme - except there are maybach parts cause that are even more expensive
@@JayEmmOnCars How did the owner replace the Rotors and Pads for 800$ ? In Germany the cheapest China brand Discs are 558€ PER DISC. ATE's are like 700€ per Disc and OEM is 1200€ per disc. So even if you would take the cheapest discs for the front and add another 200€ for the pads, thats like at least 1300€. For the front axle. Talking about the cheapest internet price.
I switched mine to all red. I think the body color stripes made the car look dated and less modern. I have the OEM ones with black stripes in my garage I'd be willing to sell.
If you can, get your hands on the S65 AMG W221 and W222 which later came with an improved M279 and a 7 speed gearbox. They are the epitome of automobile for me as they were nearly just as comfortable as a Bentley or a Rolls Royce of that time whilst being faster and cheaper. I would pick one up in a heartbeat if I could
@@huzzzer6083 I would disagree on the reliability part but agree on the poor part🤣 These cars are expensive to do even normal and routine maintenance, with prices for brake pad and discs being something crazy that can go up £1000 per corner. Has two spark plugs per cylinder, W221 has ABC suspension which is fantastic but very expensive to maintain and when it does go wrong, you have to pay a bit to get it back to purpose. W222 comes with air suspension I believe so its normal air suspension issues with age. Tyres will be £600-£1200 per set In terms of reliability, I would say they are very reliable for the car they are. The M275 and M279 are perfected over time as it existed in W220 as well. The 5 speed gearbox although sluggish, its bulletproof. The newer 7 speeds were also heavily improved so nothing to worry there so long as maintenance has been done At this age though, I would expect getting one and having to spend anywhere between 1-4k to put right and then you have an amazing, ultra luxurious, rapid car that turns heads and chews up supercars on a roll
I own an S65AMG W221 and a facelift S63AMG W221 with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. They are amazing cars and I love them both. One thing to keep in mind is that they are very expensive cars to run. I used both cars this weekend but the one that scares me is the S65AMG. The way it picks up speed is something else!
@@Sam_AMG I’m jealous man but congratulations! W221 shape is by far my favourite shape of S Class and the S65 AMG will remain a dream car. I could buy it but the maintenance costs like you said are out of this world so is a nice way to live paycheque to paycheque 🤣 I think the only thing that lets it down is the 5 speed gearbox, whats your thoughts on it compared to the 7 speed in your S63?
Owned a w220 CL65 nine years ago and honestly other then a couple of random warning lights that popped up then disappeared all by themselves it was a brilliant car, in my two years of ownership i was not stung on any costs just servicing and some rear tyres ( the previous owner got stung for brakes at mercedes they confirmed it had discs and pads 8 months before i bought it ) i did get a quote for front discs and pads for future expenditure ( specialist ) and it was just under £1500 at the time, i sold mine on 59k, the wife loved it and would daily it while i was working away it was that easy and relaxing to drive, great upload really enjoyed it
Thank you Jay, been waiting for this one for aaaaaaages. I’ve been driving W221’s for 5 years now and I can’t imagine wanting anything else. I recently bought a 2013 (last year before the 222) S350 L AMG sport pack, with every conceivable extra. While it’s not in the same 0-60 league as the S63, it’s still no slouch. And with 457lb ft, it certainly takes your heart rate up a notch when you floor it at 50 or 60. You’re very quickly breaking the law, by a lot. But it’s all about the comfort and quality. It’s one of those cars you just kind of sit in for a couple of minutes listening to classic FM when your journey ends, and look over your shoulder at when you get out.
Jay has to be the hardest working car review UA-camr out there so many videos ! My favourite channel especially as you chose cars that we all think about/look at on autotrader so are relevant to people who can’t afford something like a Porsche GT3! keep up the good work! I don’t think I could buy a car with wooden trim, it seems so old fashioned and heavy in a car that is supposed to be sporty
@richardharrold9736 it just looks so heavy, which is exactly what a sports car doesn’t need in my mind, so makes the car seem less Sporty and more barge like
There's a reason why no manufacturer has ever made an estate version of their top of the range luxury saloon, there's simply no need. The E63 AMG touring of this same era had the same engine and the added practicality of an estate to fill that need.
Grsndma had the 320 version. After she passed I sold it, didnt get much as had to replace alot of the electrics. Buyers should be wary of this. Have some great childhood memories from the car. Even in v6 form it sounded sporty and guttural, and had a bit of go. Grandma also had a W140 generation beforehand, that thing was a tank. Mercedes at its peak, build quality felt years ahead of anything else on the market
Oh Jay, I wish you had asked me to drive my cars as it would have been a great review to drive my S65AMG W221 prefacelift and my facelift S63AMG W221 but with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. My S63AMG is also a Designo performance pack car and it has 571bhp and 900NM standard. Anyways, the 6.2l V8 naturally aspirated is also a great engine. As I own both, I can honestly say that no other engine other than the 6.0l V12 Twin Turbo is suited better to this S class. The S65AMG has a super car performance! No exaggeration Another great video by the way
I own a 2007 black on black W221 S550 with AMG sport package w/ 19" alloy wheels. Limo tinted windows and 35% windshield, had the 2nd cats removed and replaced with an x-pipe, muffler and resonator delete. ECU tuning from OE Tuning. The car is quiet still but when you stomp on the gas you can hear the V8 roar. It's very powerful and it is a comfortable highway cruiser that I have taken across the US a few times in the past year. It does go through brakes and tires quickly though since it's a heavy car. I put cross drilled rotors on the rear to match the fronts and run ceramic brake pads for low dust and painted the calipers with a high temp red. I want to lower it a bit with an airmatic lowering module and I'm considering blacking out the chrome trim on the windows, lower doors, trunk lid, and buying a 2nd grille and having it stripped and painted gloss black. I really do enjoy owning this car. I also upgraded to all red 10-13 tail lights. Only downside is the small trunk space for this size of car, and the Harmon Kardon audio system really isn't that impressive. My front door mid bass speakers are torn around the surrounds and need to be replaced. The system sounds too flat no matter how you adjust it and the Logic 7 settings just make the music sound "wide". Lack of bluetooth audio means you have to use an FM transmitter to play music from your phone but that isn't as crisp and can have interference from radio stations when you are traveling. If your W221 has the iPod cable in the glovebox you can add a bluetooth dongle to that, but my car doesn't have the cable or the add on box behind the dash for it, so unless I find out being parted out and I can get the parts (and then have the radio coded to enable the "aux" input) I'll live with the FM transmitter for now. There is a bluetooth module in the center console but that is to pair your phone for calls only since it doesn't work for A2DP music streaming. Great cars that have tech right before bluetooth streaming. NAVTOOL makes a piggyback adapter you install behind the dash allowing for bluetooth and carplay on the factory screen but it's $600+ install. There are also some aftermarket screens to replace the factory screen with a wider touchscreen but they cause you to lose the leather top dash piece and look out of place in my opinion. I considered the S63 AMG but those 6.2L engines had known headbolt issues and the ABC suspension is an expensive headache to repair compared to the simpler Airmatic struts and compressor. My M273 only has the timing gear to worry about but that was upgraded in 2008 so if I have timing chain issues I will replace the parts with the later versions.
Thanks for the detailed post. I'm looking at a 2013 s63. Maybe a 3 day a week driver. Still debating b/c the maintenance scares me. My 1999 s500 was great but it nickel & dimmed me to death.
@@ihamptoniiThe ABC stuff and brakes are expensive. The engines and trans are pretty solid except some people have issues with head bolts but not sure how hard those cars are being driven. Good luck with your decision.
Hey, I own this car since 2009 (it's a 2006 model) and I mostly use it for long distance travel. What still amazes me is the fact the this limousine offers true driving pleasure not far away from my Porsche 911 turbo S which is much never btw. Usually when you drive such a sedan your confronted with a grandma behaviour but not with this car. Regarding reliability and cost of ownership I'm blessed with good luck so far and I hope it stays on. Apart from minor things and regular (non Mercedes) maintenance there is nothing to report but hold on the car has only 70k km as I have several cars from the same brand - the top being marked by the SL65 AMG (W230) - and all-in-all I can't complain about quality.
Having had my first s class at the age of 23. I do love the power that my w221 brings. It looks fresh enough and the technology is at the sweet spot. It will out handle most cars on the streets and you'll be surprised it will spin up the rears at 3rd gear. You can get it to handle like an m3... Almost, but you have to play that game of opposites to ensure the handling is safe and still sporty. So not for everyone, unless your very competent driver. The biggest thing to factor in the cost to keep it running. I've spent the cars value in 2 years ownership on keeping it running. Be very careful. If you have deep wallets go for it. Otherwise steer clear from the s class and go for something far more attainable like a 530/540. That's my honest opinion having covered 40k in the car
When Mercedes introduced the COMAND system the handbook for it was FIVE HUNDRED pages long. Not the car’s handbook, just the standalone guide to the infotainment system.
Oh, yes, Jay. In 1993 I bought the S600 and SL600 brand new. If only I hadn't been such a young fool and sold them only a few years later for the next shiny bit of glitter. At the time, the 389 hp V12 was absolutely world-class and it was mounted in the tank-like W140 body. I have owned lots of top cars since, but nothing that felt like those cars at speed. I drove them at autobahn speeds when I could get away with it, and it felt at say 140mph (statute of limitations has passed) like you were quietly driving through your neighborhood at 35mph. They hadn't quite perfected cooling as a result of stuffing that V12 in the cabrio, and it did overheat at times. Amazingly, I never got a speeding ticket in either one. Actually, knock on my wooden head, I got only 2 tickets over about a 30 year period, one being the red-Ferrari-attracted obligitory ticket in my then new F355 in 1996. The other was in the 1997 Porsche Twin Turbo, in ticket-attractive Porsche yellow (which has that cool orange undertone). Now as a geezer, my S63 AMG Cab is so smooth and quiet when you are gently cruising that you might mistake it for an EV. Of course, the moment you wake it up by going into Manual/Sport mode, it gets quite an attitude. If I were in the UK, I would happily let you do your test/review, but there is a wee ocean between us.
@@bobsteve4812 I'm sure there would be a few things in your life that I wish I could have had (a son, having ever met my father - I didn't). And I wish you had driven the 600, though the 500 was right there with it in almost all respects. I have had some great car experiences, but if I am honest, I would trade them for some other life experiences given the chance. :-)
Thanks for the video. I just recently sold my CL63 which I loved. I have always had a soft spot for the big Merc thing. My advice always buy the best you can afford with cars like this.
This particular S class has been on my short list for a while, but now the 2005 design is almost 20 years old. I still consider the S65 AMG because one should, once in one's life, own a V12.
I laughed out loud about the stalks part 😂 Very true of the 2000s Mercs. Excellent generation of S-Class, I like the looks a lot. I think the best you can get is a post-2008 500. The revised M273 has got rid of the idler timing gear-related issues while remaining N/A. And you get Airmatic which makes the car comfier. Like you said, the AMG version's performance is hampered by its weight, and the ABC suspension is a nightmare to maintain so I don't quite see the interest, compared to normal V8 versions.
Cruise control should be on the steering wheel where it is always under your thumb. Taking your hand off the wheel at 70mph to fiddle with a toothpick on the steering column is not recommended procedure. For later models (I don't know which year, but 2021?) they did finally come to a realization that an auto-mobile is principally about "mobile", and moved the cruise control onto the wheel where they belong. Darn, congratulations Mercedes execs!
One of the greatest s classes (w221) and one of the greatest engines (156) although I believe they don't match each other, amg s classes benefit greatly from the torque of supercharged or turbocharged v8s or ideally a low stressed v12. I think this s class is best described as a wonderful paradox
You mentioned a lot of cars that could possibly compare to the S63, except the Bentley Flying Spur. Luxury; Check, Engine; 6.0L W12 550bhp. You can pick one up of similar age to the Mercedes shown, for around the same price, too. Disclimer, I am biased, being a Spur owner. You can take mine out any time to do a comparison. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. Been waiting for a review of this generation of S63. Would be great if you could review the facelift version of this S63 with the 5.5 BiTurbo. I know a lot of people love the 6.3 NA but the 5.5 seems to fit the character of an S class more with the increased torque.
I second that - and maybe a coupe or cabrio. I would be interested in Jay's perspective, having driven the Bentleys and Rolls, on the updated (for 2017) interior. I have a 2018 S63 AMG Cabrio and feel that the interior is world class. Power is up to 585 with 664 lb ft of torque. And I feel that THIS is the sweet spot, before the changes of 2019/2020. Interesting, how one's definition of the "sweet spot" is relative.
There is a very clever young chap in Reading UK (Rand_Ash) on youtube who actually makes his own Gearbox Computer for these and other AMG models. It absolutely transforms the car. They are available to buy or even assemble yourself if your good with a soldering iron.
Great video as always James. I did a quick check on the price of brakes on Autodoc & sure enough boy are those discs expensive. Not much choice either. Zimmerman, Delphi, & SHW range from £450 to £628 per disc. 😬 based on todays Autodoc discount of just 30%, but wait a sec they also sell Quinton Hazel discs which are just £65 each. 🤔. Pads are all reasonably priced at £45 to £117 for the most expensive. Those are front brake prices.
@@paganizondasroadster1660 No, a set of front pads start as cheap as £45 whereas the most expensive were £117. It was the front discs that were the expense.
@@mikeroz6549 I had a CL63 and thank god i did not have to replace the brakes because they were new when i bought the car. When i looked up what they cost on autodoc ..i was like wtf. 582€ for the first known brand dics, Zimmermann is obviously the worst china shit ever. Known pads another 80€. So if i would kit out the whole car with the cheapest stuff it would still be like 1650€ front and back. Just for comparison on my S5 V8 i ordered Original Brembo (sport dics with ventilation) and brembo pads for 220€ for the front and 160€ for the back. Thats 380€ for the whole car with the best brand you can possibly buy including pads. S5 Diameter is 350mm CL63 is 390mm, so theres literally not that much more material on them. My S6 V10 brake is 385mm and OEM Audi discs are 499€ for both... Two ATEs are like 250€. Mercedes Parts are unecessary expensive for them not being exotic stuff like the RS5 or RS6 brakes which have a different design and are waved or ceramic, they are completely normal standard brakes.
in a country with speed limits, an older MB like a W116 or 126 would be my preference. Now were I living in Der Vaterland, it'd be one that sounds like a detuned NASCAR engine.... This!
“Most car per unit currency” is tricky to precisely nail down, but I do believe it has an AMG badge. Combine an S, SL or CL with a 55, 63 or 65… depending on which way the wind is blowing.
Gonna tell you something after owning one. Power - Hell no, 2100 KG and 525 HP is a damn bad mix, rather get the 507 HP C63 which is just around 1,7 tons and a lot shorter which helps with handling. Sound - CL63 sounds nothing like a C63,E63 or CLS63. The exhaust is castrated and its subjectively two times quieter outside and 4 times quieter inside than a C63 with its short exhaust. Elegance : Its elegant as long as people don't see the old looking rear lights which have no replacement LEDs or something, ruins the whole car in 2023 Rarity : Every Arab or Turk with zero money who acts like a Ape has a) either a CL500 with 63 badges, or a CL63. The image is absolutely horrible, worse than on C'classes. Every time i saw one of those dudes in this car class i had to vomit Discretion - Yes, if it wasnt for the arabs/turks gutting the exhaust, putting 22" ugly MAE rims on them, lowering them until the ABC-Suspension fails or removing the Cats and programming pops and bangs. At least in Germany with current gas prices (1 Gallon = 7,20$), its average consumption when driving slow (14.5L+) and the biggest problem, no way to get certain parts because the demand is huge and the market is empty which meant i had months to wait until i got replacement parts when something broke ... i would not want another one. Maybe another C63, but a C216/S-Klass no thank you, worst car experience i ever had.
Having had a C63 and sold it after 12 months I thought I've done it , had fun and moved on Now driving a transporter van , trusty thing that it is Until I watched this , another great video jay , now I'm of to check out auto trader 😀
Love the review and good breakdown of the primary lens of which you look at your car, luxury or sport. Future video(s) idea - top 3 sporty luxury cars and top 3 luxury sports cars.
This might kick off a fight but cars like the S63 remind me that in my completely irrelevant opinion that crossplane crank V8's sound better that V12's.
Great video. Maybe my next drive if I get braver and a bit richer. I have a w212 with the OM642 and it’s an interstate weapon. 195Kw and near 1200kms a tank.
I seriously miss my W126. An absolutely fabulously well made luxurious car I could take out in the countryside and kick the shit out of it, and it took it and gave me back as much as I gave it in feedback. Amazing cars. Such a shame they are now nothing but computers on wheels. I'm sure a new one wouldn't let me kick it's doors in as much as did with my fabulous 300SE did.
For the purposes of this discussion about which is the best car in the world, would the Brabus Rocket 900 (which is based on the AMG S65 but is even faster) count as a production car? Or the Lister Stealth, a 195 mph SUV based on the Jaguar F-Pace?
Great review! I love the w221, own a S600 myself. Not the same as a S63, but much more focus on comfort and luxury (eg much better leather and alcantara headliner). Anyhow, I agree that the w221 is one of the best allround cars ever made.
@@werbinich7908 S600 is very advanced and complex car. If you are not handy yourself or if you dont have deep pockets, you are better off with S500. I had to replace entire ignition system, bad starter, bad engine and transmission mounts, failed ABC strut and some smaller things. Car has only 160.000km and full dealer history. Also it has 24 spark plugs😵💫. So be prepared when choosing the V12.
Although almost any Mercedes generation pre 2020 is respectable and admirable, the next generation S Class, the W222, started in 2013 is better in every aspect than the car analysed in this video. It’s more reliable, more luxurious, faster, more economical, and even more good-looking.
If you gave me infinite money to buy a car, I would pick up a black on white designo interior prefacelift w221 s65 in a heartbeat. Simply dream car material.
Depreciation is off course massive however if reliability is questionable for those Hot-V engines in a longer perspective it might cause ulcers for later owners too
Like the guy before me said it has the M156 which is N/A. But the M156 is just as problematic as the S65 with its rod bearing problems. Many people know the BMWs have horrible problems with them, but on the M156 the problem is the camshaft adjustors. Both fail after 120k km and are complete toast. The spur gear is completely dissolved and replacement parts are obnoxious expensive, because they are not small parts like the rod bearings but huge metal parts which are hard to produce. OEM ones are not to get anymore. Price for two aftermarket ones is like 5000€, refurbished ones are 3500€. EVERY M156 with more than 120K run had the same sign of wear.
The most surprising thing I heard, was that it was only £800 for discs and pads up front! I would guess it wasn't a dealer he went to? If it was, that's actually very reasnoble.
I was surprised as well, I would reckon a dealer would let you pay at least twice that amount. I recently had to replace discs and pads on my gs450h and paid more than 1000 euros. Discs got warped without any good reason.
No such thing as a cheap fast car thats not full of problems. Im from manchester and got a x5m 2013 plate. Had it 1 year and now leaking oil from the rocker cover gasket but worst case senario could be from the head gasket
Brake discs are around £600 each so not sure about the misinformation that 800 for discs and pads! Nice car but high maintenance as recently abc hydraulic pipe bursted and Mercedes wanted around £350 just to buy the hose! Got it repaired instead! Still has other issues that I can’t workout! Sometimes gears wont shift up or car doesn’t accelerate! Anyone has one of these?? Get in touch. Valve cover gasket is now dripping oil onto the manifold etc etc etc and so on :)
CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!
www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
Jay. I have the facelifted w221 s63 5.5 BiTurbo. A very nice example currently for sale. If you'd like to do a video with it to pit against this one 👍 it'd be a great swansong for my girl.
Bit of a sound issue around the 10 minute mark JM.
wait for the first time things might break cause then you will face the real value of the car - cause you will want to held it on the car to sell it again.
Those prices will even explode far more within the next 5 years cause when Mercedes will have stopped the combustin engines then it is time to raise all spare parts by huge percentage just to double the profit from the slowly adaptors that do not want to learn the lesson. It is part of their income strategy .
And AMG parts are the creme - except there are maybach parts cause that are even more expensive
@@LiamE69 Yes I noticed - what's frustrating is that it's a glitch of the editing software - I haven't actually made a mistake in the edit for once!
@@JayEmmOnCars How did the owner replace the Rotors and Pads for 800$ ? In Germany the cheapest China brand Discs are 558€ PER DISC. ATE's are like 700€ per Disc and OEM is 1200€ per disc. So even if you would take the cheapest discs for the front and add another 200€ for the pads, thats like at least 1300€. For the front axle. Talking about the cheapest internet price.
Have to say, that 221 has really held up over the years. I still think it’s a really good looking car - especially this AMG spec one you’re driving.
Might be a hot take, but i MASSIVELY prefer the pre-facelift tail-lights over the facelift ones. the segmented ones just look alot cooler.
I agree with you, they gave this car a unique detail, rather than it being merely large.
Factzzzz
In retrospect, I can respect this argument. I think its color-dependent.
I switched mine to all red. I think the body color stripes made the car look dated and less modern. I have the OEM ones with black stripes in my garage I'd be willing to sell.
I've always thought the same thing.
If you can, get your hands on the S65 AMG W221 and W222 which later came with an improved M279 and a 7 speed gearbox. They are the epitome of automobile for me as they were nearly just as comfortable as a Bentley or a Rolls Royce of that time whilst being faster and cheaper. I would pick one up in a heartbeat if I could
Would have to agree. The most perfect car ever built imo. Looks way classier/sexier than the latest S class.
The only problem is reliability, don't buy a car like this if you're poor.
@@huzzzer6083 I would disagree on the reliability part but agree on the poor part🤣
These cars are expensive to do even normal and routine maintenance, with prices for brake pad and discs being something crazy that can go up £1000 per corner. Has two spark plugs per cylinder, W221 has ABC suspension which is fantastic but very expensive to maintain and when it does go wrong, you have to pay a bit to get it back to purpose. W222 comes with air suspension I believe so its normal air suspension issues with age. Tyres will be £600-£1200 per set
In terms of reliability, I would say they are very reliable for the car they are. The M275 and M279 are perfected over time as it existed in W220 as well. The 5 speed gearbox although sluggish, its bulletproof. The newer 7 speeds were also heavily improved so nothing to worry there so long as maintenance has been done
At this age though, I would expect getting one and having to spend anywhere between 1-4k to put right and then you have an amazing, ultra luxurious, rapid car that turns heads and chews up supercars on a roll
I own an S65AMG W221 and a facelift S63AMG W221 with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. They are amazing cars and I love them both. One thing to keep in mind is that they are very expensive cars to run.
I used both cars this weekend but the one that scares me is the S65AMG. The way it picks up speed is something else!
@@Sam_AMG I’m jealous man but congratulations!
W221 shape is by far my favourite shape of S Class and the S65 AMG will remain a dream car. I could buy it but the maintenance costs like you said are out of this world so is a nice way to live paycheque to paycheque 🤣
I think the only thing that lets it down is the 5 speed gearbox, whats your thoughts on it compared to the 7 speed in your S63?
Owned a w220 CL65 nine years ago and honestly other then a couple of random warning lights that popped up then disappeared all by themselves it was a brilliant car, in my two years of ownership i was not stung on any costs just servicing and some rear tyres ( the previous owner got stung for brakes at mercedes they confirmed it had discs and pads 8 months before i bought it ) i did get a quote for front discs and pads for future expenditure ( specialist ) and it was just under £1500 at the time, i sold mine on 59k, the wife loved it and would daily it while i was working away it was that easy and relaxing to drive, great upload really enjoyed it
Thank you Jay, been waiting for this one for aaaaaaages. I’ve been driving W221’s for 5 years now and I can’t imagine wanting anything else. I recently bought a 2013 (last year before the 222) S350 L AMG sport pack, with every conceivable extra. While it’s not in the same 0-60 league as the S63, it’s still no slouch. And with 457lb ft, it certainly takes your heart rate up a notch when you floor it at 50 or 60. You’re very quickly breaking the law, by a lot. But it’s all about the comfort and quality. It’s one of those cars you just kind of sit in for a couple of minutes listening to classic FM when your journey ends, and look over your shoulder at when you get out.
Jay has to be the hardest working car review UA-camr out there so many videos !
My favourite channel especially as you chose cars that we all think about/look at on autotrader so are relevant to people who can’t afford something like a Porsche GT3! keep up the good work!
I don’t think I could buy a car with wooden trim, it seems so old fashioned and heavy in a car that is supposed to be sporty
@richardharrold9736 it just looks so heavy, which is exactly what a sports car doesn’t need in my mind, so makes the car seem less
Sporty and more barge like
Can you imagine if Mercedes built an Estate version of the S63 AMG? That would cover all of the bases.
There's a reason why no manufacturer has ever made an estate version of their top of the range luxury saloon, there's simply no need. The E63 AMG touring of this same era had the same engine and the added practicality of an estate to fill that need.
They did,
Its called the R class
R63 and R63L
@@vishS14the r class was not an estate it was a minivan and hideous 😂
@@UMNRZnot No manufacturer ever. Bmw made 2 735i touring’s in the 80’s
People who buy S-Classes or 7 Series new have people to do their load lugging for them!
Grsndma had the 320 version. After she passed I sold it, didnt get much as had to replace alot of the electrics. Buyers should be wary of this. Have some great childhood memories from the car. Even in v6 form it sounded sporty and guttural, and had a bit of go. Grandma also had a W140 generation beforehand, that thing was a tank. Mercedes at its peak, build quality felt years ahead of anything else on the market
Oh Jay, I wish you had asked me to drive my cars as it would have been a great review to drive my S65AMG W221 prefacelift and my facelift S63AMG W221 but with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. My S63AMG is also a Designo performance pack car and it has 571bhp and 900NM standard. Anyways, the 6.2l V8 naturally aspirated is also a great engine.
As I own both, I can honestly say that no other engine other than the 6.0l V12 Twin Turbo is suited better to this S class. The S65AMG has a super car performance! No exaggeration
Another great video by the way
With the right wheels .. the w221 is a very VERY chique and nice car
I own a 2007 black on black W221 S550 with AMG sport package w/ 19" alloy wheels. Limo tinted windows and 35% windshield, had the 2nd cats removed and replaced with an x-pipe, muffler and resonator delete. ECU tuning from OE Tuning. The car is quiet still but when you stomp on the gas you can hear the V8 roar. It's very powerful and it is a comfortable highway cruiser that I have taken across the US a few times in the past year. It does go through brakes and tires quickly though since it's a heavy car. I put cross drilled rotors on the rear to match the fronts and run ceramic brake pads for low dust and painted the calipers with a high temp red. I want to lower it a bit with an airmatic lowering module and I'm considering blacking out the chrome trim on the windows, lower doors, trunk lid, and buying a 2nd grille and having it stripped and painted gloss black.
I really do enjoy owning this car. I also upgraded to all red 10-13 tail lights. Only downside is the small trunk space for this size of car, and the Harmon Kardon audio system really isn't that impressive. My front door mid bass speakers are torn around the surrounds and need to be replaced. The system sounds too flat no matter how you adjust it and the Logic 7 settings just make the music sound "wide". Lack of bluetooth audio means you have to use an FM transmitter to play music from your phone but that isn't as crisp and can have interference from radio stations when you are traveling. If your W221 has the iPod cable in the glovebox you can add a bluetooth dongle to that, but my car doesn't have the cable or the add on box behind the dash for it, so unless I find out being parted out and I can get the parts (and then have the radio coded to enable the "aux" input) I'll live with the FM transmitter for now. There is a bluetooth module in the center console but that is to pair your phone for calls only since it doesn't work for A2DP music streaming.
Great cars that have tech right before bluetooth streaming. NAVTOOL makes a piggyback adapter you install behind the dash allowing for bluetooth and carplay on the factory screen but it's $600+ install. There are also some aftermarket screens to replace the factory screen with a wider touchscreen but they cause you to lose the leather top dash piece and look out of place in my opinion.
I considered the S63 AMG but those 6.2L engines had known headbolt issues and the ABC suspension is an expensive headache to repair compared to the simpler Airmatic struts and compressor. My M273 only has the timing gear to worry about but that was upgraded in 2008 so if I have timing chain issues I will replace the parts with the later versions.
Thanks for the detailed post. I'm looking at a 2013 s63. Maybe a 3 day a week driver. Still debating b/c the maintenance scares me. My 1999 s500 was great but it nickel & dimmed me to death.
@@ihamptoniiThe ABC stuff and brakes are expensive. The engines and trans are pretty solid except some people have issues with head bolts but not sure how hard those cars are being driven. Good luck with your decision.
Hey, I own this car since 2009 (it's a 2006 model) and I mostly use it for long distance travel. What still amazes me is the fact the this limousine offers true driving pleasure not far away from my Porsche 911 turbo S which is much never btw. Usually when you drive such a sedan your confronted with a grandma behaviour but not with this car. Regarding reliability and cost of ownership I'm blessed with good luck so far and I hope it stays on. Apart from minor things and regular (non Mercedes) maintenance there is nothing to report but hold on the car has only 70k km as I have several cars from the same brand - the top being marked by the SL65 AMG (W230) - and all-in-all I can't complain about quality.
Having had my first s class at the age of 23. I do love the power that my w221 brings. It looks fresh enough and the technology is at the sweet spot. It will out handle most cars on the streets and you'll be surprised it will spin up the rears at 3rd gear. You can get it to handle like an m3... Almost, but you have to play that game of opposites to ensure the handling is safe and still sporty. So not for everyone, unless your very competent driver. The biggest thing to factor in the cost to keep it running. I've spent the cars value in 2 years ownership on keeping it running. Be very careful. If you have deep wallets go for it. Otherwise steer clear from the s class and go for something far more attainable like a 530/540. That's my honest opinion having covered 40k in the car
I think the W221 sweet spot is the facelifted S500 with its 4.7L twin turbo and 435-455 HP.
Only thing is it’s not as reliable as the m113 and m119 na v8
When Mercedes introduced the COMAND system the handbook for it was FIVE HUNDRED pages long. Not the car’s handbook, just the standalone guide to the infotainment system.
And it was only available in German for some reason
Oh, yes, Jay. In 1993 I bought the S600 and SL600 brand new. If only I hadn't been such a young fool and sold them only a few years later for the next shiny bit of glitter. At the time, the 389 hp V12 was absolutely world-class and it was mounted in the tank-like W140 body. I have owned lots of top cars since, but nothing that felt like those cars at speed. I drove them at autobahn speeds when I could get away with it, and it felt at say 140mph (statute of limitations has passed) like you were quietly driving through your neighborhood at 35mph. They hadn't quite perfected cooling as a result of stuffing that V12 in the cabrio, and it did overheat at times. Amazingly, I never got a speeding ticket in either one. Actually, knock on my wooden head, I got only 2 tickets over about a 30 year period, one being the red-Ferrari-attracted obligitory ticket in my then new F355 in 1996. The other was in the 1997 Porsche Twin Turbo, in ticket-attractive Porsche yellow (which has that cool orange undertone). Now as a geezer, my S63 AMG Cab is so smooth and quiet when you are gently cruising that you might mistake it for an EV. Of course, the moment you wake it up by going into Manual/Sport mode, it gets quite an attitude. If I were in the UK, I would happily let you do your test/review, but there is a wee ocean between us.
Jealous your experienced those cars new. One of my first cars was a W140 S500. Always longed for the full V12.
@@bobsteve4812 I'm sure there would be a few things in your life that I wish I could have had (a son, having ever met my father - I didn't). And I wish you had driven the 600, though the 500 was right there with it in almost all respects. I have had some great car experiences, but if I am honest, I would trade them for some other life experiences given the chance. :-)
Thanks for the video. I just recently sold my CL63 which I loved. I have always had a soft spot for the big Merc thing.
My advice always buy the best you can afford with cars like this.
This particular S class has been on my short list for a while, but now the 2005 design is almost 20 years old. I still consider the S65 AMG because one should, once in one's life, own a V12.
The perfect car if you're ever in Albania and need to get away from the police!
W221 was the last elegant S Class, W222 already gone cheap...less wood & leather, more plastic! 😢
Merc mechanic told me the rusty ones were from 1998 to 2002. After that they were all quite well sorted.
I laughed out loud about the stalks part 😂 Very true of the 2000s Mercs. Excellent generation of S-Class, I like the looks a lot. I think the best you can get is a post-2008 500. The revised M273 has got rid of the idler timing gear-related issues while remaining N/A. And you get Airmatic which makes the car comfier. Like you said, the AMG version's performance is hampered by its weight, and the ABC suspension is a nightmare to maintain so I don't quite see the interest, compared to normal V8 versions.
Cruise control should be on the steering wheel where it is always under your thumb. Taking your hand off the wheel at 70mph to fiddle with a toothpick on the steering column is not recommended procedure. For later models (I don't know which year, but 2021?) they did finally come to a realization that an auto-mobile is principally about "mobile", and moved the cruise control onto the wheel where they belong. Darn, congratulations Mercedes execs!
I currently own a '08 S550 L and its been fantastic. I've owned 73 cars, but this may be the finest.
We are so glad they made this .....
One of the greatest s classes (w221) and one of the greatest engines (156) although I believe they don't match each other, amg s classes benefit greatly from the torque of supercharged or turbocharged v8s or ideally a low stressed v12. I think this s class is best described as a wonderful paradox
A W221 with the M156 engine is my most favorite ever!
Jay, if you like vehicles with 4 brakepads, the ducati 999 is your next bike. Each front caliper 4 pads!
You mentioned a lot of cars that could possibly compare to the S63, except the Bentley Flying Spur. Luxury; Check, Engine; 6.0L W12 550bhp. You can pick one up of similar age to the Mercedes shown, for around the same price, too. Disclimer, I am biased, being a Spur owner. You can take mine out any time to do a comparison. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. Been waiting for a review of this generation of S63. Would be great if you could review the facelift version of this S63 with the 5.5 BiTurbo. I know a lot of people love the 6.3 NA but the 5.5 seems to fit the character of an S class more with the increased torque.
I second that - and maybe a coupe or cabrio. I would be interested in Jay's perspective, having driven the Bentleys and Rolls, on the updated (for 2017) interior. I have a 2018 S63 AMG Cabrio and feel that the interior is world class. Power is up to 585 with 664 lb ft of torque. And I feel that THIS is the sweet spot, before the changes of 2019/2020. Interesting, how one's definition of the "sweet spot" is relative.
Had 2007 s550 for 6 years
Beautiful car
If it has an m156 it is king! Although I preferred my cls and e63
My W222 S350 was the best car I ever owned, gorgeous in every way, seriously smooth n quiet and powerful 👌
One of the meanest Gen of S class ever
I've always loved the S600, s63 and s65
I've had an E55 and an s500 and they were both amazing cruisers
Agreed on the S classes. It always amazed me how different the 600 in the S class and CL is to the AMG models are.
There is a very clever young chap in Reading UK (Rand_Ash) on youtube who actually makes his own Gearbox Computer for these and other AMG models. It absolutely transforms the car. They are available to buy or even assemble yourself if your good with a soldering iron.
that would be me! 😅
@@RANDASH The very same. Hi mate.
Great video as usual, in looking to get myself into one of these. Crazy that a good example can be had for sub 20k
Five hundred quid a week, to keep it on the road? Some people, like Jay, can afford that, so it's all good.
Great video as always James. I did a quick check on the price of brakes on Autodoc & sure enough boy are those discs expensive. Not much choice either. Zimmerman, Delphi, & SHW range from £450 to £628 per disc. 😬 based on todays Autodoc discount of just 30%, but wait a sec they also sell Quinton Hazel discs which are just £65 each. 🤔. Pads are all reasonably priced at £45 to £117 for the most expensive. Those are front brake prices.
Are you saying brake pads on this car cost £450?
@@paganizondasroadster1660 No, a set of front pads start as cheap as £45 whereas the most expensive were £117. It was the front discs that were the expense.
@@mikeroz6549 I had a CL63 and thank god i did not have to replace the brakes because they were new when i bought the car. When i looked up what they cost on autodoc ..i was like wtf. 582€ for the first known brand dics, Zimmermann is obviously the worst china shit ever. Known pads another 80€. So if i would kit out the whole car with the cheapest stuff it would still be like 1650€ front and back. Just for comparison on my S5 V8 i ordered Original Brembo (sport dics with ventilation) and brembo pads for 220€ for the front and 160€ for the back. Thats 380€ for the whole car with the best brand you can possibly buy including pads. S5 Diameter is 350mm CL63 is 390mm, so theres literally not that much more material on them. My S6 V10 brake is 385mm and OEM Audi discs are 499€ for both... Two ATEs are like 250€. Mercedes Parts are unecessary expensive for them not being exotic stuff like the RS5 or RS6 brakes which have a different design and are waved or ceramic, they are completely normal standard brakes.
Stunning Motor , Great Video as always James
Always had a soft spot for these. Something about a mad engine in the epitome of comfort.
I’d like to see this up against a first gen Panamera Turbo
The Cl65 Amg and S65 AMG are my dream cars anything v12 like the Sl65AMG
My heart likes it. My wallet doesn't trust it.
Just saying, set of front pads from Euro Car Parts £214.99
I love how you're always asking the right questions.
in a country with speed limits, an older MB like a W116 or 126 would be my preference. Now were I living in Der Vaterland, it'd be one that sounds like a detuned NASCAR engine.... This!
“Most car per unit currency” is tricky to precisely nail down, but I do believe it has an AMG badge. Combine an S, SL or CL with a 55, 63 or 65… depending on which way the wind is blowing.
Very much so. The CL is an oft forgotten beast
@@JayEmmOnCarsa video on a CL63 might be a cool video
@@charlie1832he did one on the cl65 I think
The CL 63 with this engine is undoubtedly one of the best modern Mercedes AMG.
Power, sound, elegance, rarity, discretion.
Gonna tell you something after owning one.
Power - Hell no, 2100 KG and 525 HP is a damn bad mix, rather get the 507 HP C63 which is just around 1,7 tons and a lot shorter which helps with handling.
Sound - CL63 sounds nothing like a C63,E63 or CLS63. The exhaust is castrated and its subjectively two times quieter outside and 4 times quieter inside than a C63 with its short exhaust.
Elegance : Its elegant as long as people don't see the old looking rear lights which have no replacement LEDs or something, ruins the whole car in 2023
Rarity : Every Arab or Turk with zero money who acts like a Ape has a) either a CL500 with 63 badges, or a CL63. The image is absolutely horrible, worse than on C'classes. Every time i saw one of those dudes in this car class i had to vomit
Discretion - Yes, if it wasnt for the arabs/turks gutting the exhaust, putting 22" ugly MAE rims on them, lowering them until the ABC-Suspension fails or removing the Cats and programming pops and bangs.
At least in Germany with current gas prices (1 Gallon = 7,20$), its average consumption when driving slow (14.5L+) and the biggest problem, no way to get certain parts because the demand is huge and the market is empty which meant i had months to wait until i got replacement parts when something broke ... i would not want another one. Maybe another C63, but a C216/S-Klass no thank you, worst car experience i ever had.
rare yes but good luck trying to sell it when the time comes
Having had a C63 and sold it after 12 months I thought I've done it , had fun and moved on
Now driving a transporter van , trusty thing that it is
Until I watched this , another great video jay , now I'm of to check out auto trader 😀
In my opinion that is the best car in world
Love the review and good breakdown of the primary lens of which you look at your car, luxury or sport. Future video(s) idea - top 3 sporty luxury cars and top 3 luxury sports cars.
absolutely amazing car but I'd be utterly terrified of some random enourmous repair cost
I guess this is a car for you if money is not so relevant anymore.....🤔
My fathers car, 07 s63 i used to be scared shitless when i was 10 and he went full throttle
I'd love this gen S500/550. So much car for the money, period
I wish Mercedes would go back to the elegant, classic, and well thought out interior designs that they had back in the W220/215/209 etc.
Fantastic car, fantastic review…thank you, much appreciated👍👍
Ok. Someone find a Stig to play Top Trumps with him......and then flip a table over.
This might kick off a fight but cars like the S63 remind me that in my completely irrelevant opinion that crossplane crank V8's sound better that V12's.
I had a 2010. Horridly built cars. Marc dealers didn't know how to begin to fix it. Mine only had 60k miles. Won't be missed
lemme guess, ticking noise?
The sound is glorious
Is the mpg about 10mpg every where?
Great video. Maybe my next drive if I get braver and a bit richer. I have a w212 with the OM642 and it’s an interstate weapon. 195Kw and near 1200kms a tank.
I seriously miss my W126. An absolutely fabulously well made luxurious car I could take out in the countryside and kick the shit out of it, and it took it and gave me back as much as I gave it in feedback. Amazing cars.
Such a shame they are now nothing but computers on wheels. I'm sure a new one wouldn't let me kick it's doors in as much as did with my fabulous 300SE did.
For the purposes of this discussion about which is the best car in the world, would the Brabus Rocket 900 (which is based on the AMG S65 but is even faster) count as a production car?
Or the Lister Stealth, a 195 mph SUV based on the Jaguar F-Pace?
Great review! I love the w221, own a S600 myself. Not the same as a S63, but much more focus on comfort and luxury (eg much better leather and alcantara headliner).
Anyhow, I agree that the w221 is one of the best allround cars ever made.
Im also thinking of buying an S600 next year. Can I ask how the reliability was for you, or something special you have to look out for in an 600?
@@werbinich7908 S600 is very advanced and complex car. If you are not handy yourself or if you dont have deep pockets, you are better off with S500. I had to replace entire ignition system, bad starter, bad engine and transmission mounts, failed ABC strut and some smaller things. Car has only 160.000km and full dealer history. Also it has 24 spark plugs😵💫. So be prepared when choosing the V12.
Nice review! Always liked the W221, much like the W126 a great example of timeless elegance 👌
Although almost any Mercedes generation pre 2020 is respectable and admirable, the next generation S Class, the W222, started in 2013 is better in every aspect than the car analysed in this video. It’s more reliable, more luxurious, faster, more economical, and even more good-looking.
Thanks James. If you could get your hands on an Audi S8 or S8+, circa 2015-2017 and do a review, that would be great.
"Who's this for?, Alan Sugar on a track day?"
-James May
🤣
If you gave me infinite money to buy a car, I would pick up a black on white designo interior prefacelift w221 s65 in a heartbeat. Simply dream car material.
Depreciation is off course massive however if reliability is questionable for those Hot-V engines in a longer perspective it might cause ulcers for later owners too
The W221 never had a hot Vee turbo engine, this model has the M156, the facelift had the M156 biturbo which had conventionally mounted turbos.
Like the guy before me said it has the M156 which is N/A. But the M156 is just as problematic as the S65 with its rod bearing problems. Many people know the BMWs have horrible problems with them, but on the M156 the problem is the camshaft adjustors. Both fail after 120k km and are complete toast. The spur gear is completely dissolved and replacement parts are obnoxious expensive, because they are not small parts like the rod bearings but huge metal parts which are hard to produce. OEM ones are not to get anymore. Price for two aftermarket ones is like 5000€, refurbished ones are 3500€. EVERY M156 with more than 120K run had the same sign of wear.
The most surprising thing I heard, was that it was only £800 for discs and pads up front! I would guess it wasn't a dealer he went to? If it was, that's actually very reasnoble.
Did I see it was fairly low miles ? disks worn out that quickly ?
@@jameslovering9158 it's a heavy old barge, if there's been a fair bit of spirited driving, say 50% of the time, discs won't last long!
Agree, one disc alone is 572€ in germany without pads currently from the worst brand you can buy.
I was surprised as well, I would reckon a dealer would let you pay at least twice that amount. I recently had to replace discs and pads on my gs450h and paid more than 1000 euros. Discs got warped without any good reason.
Love mine! 08 model very rare the S63s and 65s here in Australia. Good video.
Hey mate do you have a video of your S63. I’m in Melbourne and looking to buy one.
9:52 Audio Issues 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Thanks for letting me know. The new version of DaVinci has some gremlins
@@JayEmmOnCars anytime. Cheers 🥂 mate! 😀
The age old Lexus LS600h intro reheated and served with a splash of AMG
W221 (M156), W140, W223. ILL TAKE THOSE THANKS
I personally prefer the C or E class AMG 63S Given that they're not limousines they're slightly smaller and lighter with the identical powerplant.
Ive always liked these, keep looking at them on AT
love this car today. I just dont know about the air suspension🤔
The best Sclass ever
Could you do a S65 too?😊
An excellent review, 10/10
I think the 5.5 biturbo suited the nature of the s63 far better than the 6.2
100 percent.
No such thing as a cheap fast car thats not full of problems. Im from manchester and got a x5m 2013 plate. Had it 1 year and now leaking oil from the rocker cover gasket but worst case senario could be from the head gasket
All BMWs just leak there just ignore it and keep adding oil Even if you replace it it'll probably start leaking in a few thousand miles lol
Watch M539 Restorations, Sreten will show you how to fix that lol
Search a great point. I should probably not get one of these because I'm afraid it will turn into a money pit.
@@ihamptonii do not ever buy an old BMW, ESPECIALLY the 4.4L V8 unless you want to burn money
Those half colored brake calipers look absolutely horrendous
Brake discs are around £600 each so not sure about the misinformation that 800 for discs and pads! Nice car but high maintenance as recently abc hydraulic pipe bursted and Mercedes wanted around £350 just to buy the hose! Got it repaired instead! Still has other issues that I can’t workout! Sometimes gears wont shift up or car doesn’t accelerate! Anyone has one of these?? Get in touch. Valve cover gasket is now dripping oil onto the manifold etc etc etc and so on :)
Sounds and looks lovely, can drive soon next year so waiting for the inevitable death by insurance
This intro was amazing about the Jag 😂
I'm guessing the owner turned his carpet mats over for some reason? I can't imagine someone having checkered plate floor mats in an s class, lol.
What year is your car?
800£ for a brake pad? For the front tyres alone 😂😂😂. That’s a lot in Naira
s55 supercharged for me
That sound in that car is all wrong but I love it
If you need a really well sorted highly specced facelift S350 CDI as a comparison (so much torque!) give me a shout.
That Merc only proves that money can't buy you style
The only thing letting down the car is the headlights the rest perfect
Hey I have a 2016 M5, what’s your thoughts compared to that, always wanted an S class worth a swap?
All vehicles get rusty in the U.K.
The air is salty everywhere!
And people don’t like washing their cars anyway!🤷🏻♂️
Would look nice in a transporter movie.
Ooo the rear discs are scored......
TY J 🙏
Good old days