[W126 Coupe] Questions about 2003 S500

Mon Sep 25 18:02:20 EDT 2006

The wiring issue is spot-on.

In 2000 I was working with an automotive component client. They were working
on optical bus systems (an alternative to MOST) for automotive electronics
and were marketing their concepts to the all the big firms. They received a
lot of interest from European companies, but the response from the Japanese
manufacturers was that unless it was all copper wiring and capable of 400
Mbps, they would not even look at it.

At the time, MB had fiber-optic cables carefully installed by specially
trained assembly line workers. The Japanese installation was brutal by
comparison; nail the center of the loom down and pull all the wires to their
locations.

Cheers,

Axel

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Shayegan, Richard
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 4:28 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Questions about 2003 S500

I think the instance of people liking their Lexus's is a result of lower
expectations. You ever worked on a Lexus Jonathan? It's that same mentality
I see in all Japanese cars: out of sight out of mind. Make it look to an
average consumer that it is quality, but don't spend the money to actually
make the wiring and things like that properly.

Richard

  _____  

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Hodgman
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 2:43 PM
To: mfmeyer at iwon.com; Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Questions about 2003 S500

All the German makes have taken a dive w/ their quality/longevity.  My Audi
friends aren't terribly fond of the new ones by any stretch.

Hell, our 06 Z4 BMW has been back to the dealer 4 times in 4000
miles....pretty sad. 

With that in mind, the vast majority of Lexus owners I know have nothing but
glowing praise for their cars...even those cresting the 150+K mark.

Jonathan

On 9/25/06, Markus Meyer <mfmeyer at iwon.com> wrote: 

Lexus? At least stick with German...what about the Audi's, A8 for example as
a comparison to the S500 4-matic? 

Markus Meyer
484-919-9762 (cell)
http://www.meyerprobateproperties.com/

--- On Mon 09/25, Jonathan Hodgman < jhodgman at gmail.com > wrote:

From: Jonathan Hodgman [mailto: jhodgman at gmail.com]
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:32:11 -0400 
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Questions about 2003 S500 

Interesting, the ML transfer cases are an engineers nightmare..poorly
thought out/executed. ML's are known for eating their transfer cases..Big
$$. 

The last tech I spoke w/ (25+ years now, certified by MB every which way)
nearly gagged when I mentioned the 220's.. He can't stand them...lots of
issues, difficult to diagnose.. MB has apparently had quite a few 220's that
even They couldn't fix. 

Personally, if he wants something new I'd look to a Lexus..they seem to be
relatively OK.

Jonathan

On 9/25/06, Michael S Cosby <michael.cosby at state.co.us > wrote: 

I live at 9000 feet outside of Denver, drive in every day, and just have 
studded snow tires. I am left wanting MAYBE 1-2 times per year, and it
gets me home every time anyway.
Mtnmike

>>> Steve Nervig < dakota at mac.com <mailto:dakota at mac.com> > 09/25/06 11:42
AM >>>

On Sep 25, 2006, at 9:49 AM, Mister McGoo wrote:

> 4-matic can be VERY expensive. ... sometimes called the Mercedes
> Probla-matic, particularly as they age. 
>
> -Bellamy
>
>

I've heard differently, Bellamy. The early 4MATIC system found on the

W124 from 1990-1993 was problematic. Complicated, and prone to seal
failure.

However, the later, late-90s-introduced 4MATIC was a different 
animal, as I recall. Based on the ML system. I have not heard of many

problems with the later system.

Steve

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Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

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 <http://monthlyprizes.iwon.com/mp/overview.jsp> 

The MB Coupes Website!
W126 SEC Mailing List
Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

-- 
Blue Ridge Mercedes
Offering Enthusiast Service and Restoration. 
Providing quality parts to discriminating customers in all parts of the
world.
Located in the Greater Atlanta area 
www.blueridgemb.com
1996 S600 Euro "Scharnhorst" 
1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
1989 560 SEC AMG (N.America Conversion)
1987 560 SEC US Spec
1986 560 SEC Currently being Parted (check my page)
1986 560 SL  White on Burgundy
1985 500 SEL Euro (Parts Car)
1985 300 CD Blue on Blue
1980 280 SE Euro
1978 300D TMU
1987 560 SEL 162K Midnight Blue on Gray RIP:(
1992 E300D 140K Champagne on Parchment tex (Sold)
1990 560 SEC 154K Anthracite on Gray (Sold) 
1988 300 TE 160K Burgundy on Palomino (Sold)
1980 280 SE US 185K (Sold)
2006 Z4 3.0Si M spec 6sp 

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