Usually this is how it goes... if the production of the body style runs like
7 years... it is in your best interest to buy from mid year to last year.

So say E class W210 runs from 1996 to 2002... then it is best to buy 2000 to
2002. However in 2000, there was an issue of running extended oil drain
interval with regular dino oil... so for W210... I'd prefer 2001 and 2002
for the V-6 engine... If you like the inline engine, then go for 98-99 I
believe... same for diesel...98-99.

Now, you are talking about S class... I don't know much about them so using
the general guideline as above and do research online about any particular
problem... and have the car inspected by MB dealer or specialist BEFORE you
buy it if possible.

Hi Alfred,
this is fascinating to me.  Even though you are aware these cars are
famous for being unreliable you still want one?
Please explain why?  this just makes no sense to me...

A lexus (famous for being reliable AND luxurious) is no good for you?
What's your budget?  For a used S class MB you'll probably have to
double your budget - one half for purchase of mb and the other half
for repairs to mb to make it road worthy (for a little while).

I have a friend who purchased S class (2001 500).  car cost him about
17k, repairs to make car road worthy were a bit over 12k.
This was about 1 year ago.  Now he's got passenger door which doesn't
work with electric door lock or vacuum assist.  Price to fix this door
is about 1k.  He's disgusted with all the money he's had to pay for
this thing so now it sits in a garage.  He drives another car!!  He
considers he spent too much $$ on this car to sell it, so he sits on
it hoping it will go up in value some day....
this was an AMG 55.  PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!
funny thing is I warned him NOT to get this car.  So much for trying
to do the right thing.

Oskar