KNOWN FAULTS · Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Clase S (W220) common problems.

2000–2005 · Diesel / Petrol

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Engines: S 320 / 400 CDI (Diesel) · S 350 / 430 / 500 (Petrol) · S 55 AMG (5.4 V8) (Petrol) · S 65 AMG (6.0 V12) (Petrol)

Applies if: Only if fitted with air suspension.

AIRMATIC leaks and compressorSuspension

Engine / equipment: AIRMATIC air suspension: E-Class W211, W212 and W213, S W220 to W223, CLS, CL, ML W164, GL, GLE and GLS
Period mentioned: 2002–2026
Symptoms: One corner sags overnight, suspension fault warning, the compressor runs a lot or a compressor overheated message appears; eventually the car sits low and rides hard.
Possible cause described: The air bellows on the struts leak with age, often at the upper crimp rings, and the compressor overworks until it burns out. The valve block and lines also leak, and the compressor relay (in the rear SAM on W221, W222 and W213) and ride height sensors fail.
Check for the garage: Spray soapy water on bellows, lines and valve block; read each corner's data with Xentry; check the compressor fuse and relay. Do not replace the compressor without fixing the leak first, or the new one will fail soon.
Cost cited in the source: Compressor: approx. €600–1,200 at an independent garage (converted from Canadian dollars); bellows: depends on the cornerA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: 95,000–115,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Engines: S 320 / 400 CDI (Diesel) · S 350 / 430 / 500 (Petrol) · S 55 AMG (5.4 V8) (Petrol) · S 65 AMG (6.0 V12) (Petrol)

Applies if: Only if fitted with the automatic gearbox described in the record.

13-pin connector leak on the 722.6 gearboxAutomatic gearbox

Engine / equipment: 722.6 five-speed automatic (5G-Tronic), not the 7G-Tronic: C-Class W203, E-Class W210 and W211, CLK, S-Class W220, ML W163, SLK, SL R230, Vito and Sprinter with this gearbox
Period mentioned: 1996–2013
Symptoms: Oil around the electrical connector on the side of the gearbox, harsh shifts or slipping, delayed engagement and limp mode: the car stays in one gear (usually 2nd and reverse after a restart) and the engine light comes on.
Possible cause described: The plastic adapter of the 13-pin connector has O-rings that harden and let oil out. Oil can wick up inside the wiring to the gearbox control unit and damage it. If the problem persists after replacing the connector, there may be oil in the harness, a damaged wire or a conductor plate fault.
Check for the garage: Read the gearbox control unit codes before switching off if possible (a restart can clear them). Look for oil at the connector and, with it unplugged, on its pins and at the control unit plug. According to the service bulletin, the connector should only be removed with gearbox oil below 50 °C to avoid damaging the conductor plate, and the harness must be routed without tension.
Cost cited in the source: Connector adapter: about $15–20 in parts (US prices quoted in the sources), plus the lost fluid; labour extra. If oil has reached the control unit, the repair is bigger.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: S 320 / 400 CDI (Diesel) · S 350 / 430 / 500 (Petrol) · S 55 AMG (5.4 V8) (Petrol) · S 65 AMG (6.0 V12) (Petrol)

Applies if: Only those with AIRmatic air suspension; those with ABC hydraulic suspension have other faults.

The Mercedes S-Class (W220) sits low because of leaks in the AIRmatic air suspensionSuspension and steering

Engine / equipment: S-Class (W220) with AIRmatic air suspension
Period mentioned: 1998–2005, mostly cars built before 2003
Symptoms: The car looks sunk, with one or more wheels lower than normal, sometimes almost touching the ground after a night parked; a suspension warning may appear or it may stay low after starting.
Possible cause described: AUTO BILD reports faults in the standard AIRmatic that left many cars “on their bellies”, mostly in the first years, because of leaks and level-control failures. PistonHeads specifies that on cars before 2003 it was mainly the top seals of the air struts and the high-pressure lines to the valve blocks that failed. W220s with ABC hydraulic suspension have their own pump and pipe faults.
Check for the garage: Read the suspension faults with Mercedes diagnostic equipment, check the air strut seals, lines and valve block with soapy water, and see whether the compressor manages to lift the car. Replace the part that leaks air; if the compressor has worked hard because of the leak, check it too.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: S 320 / 400 CDI (Diesel) · S 350 / 430 / 500 (Petrol) · S 55 AMG (5.4 V8) (Petrol) · S 65 AMG (6.0 V12) (Petrol)

Applies if: All versions.

COMAND screen goes black and electronic faults on the Mercedes S-Class (W220)Electrical and electronic systems

Engine / equipment: S-Class (W220)
Period mentioned: 1998–2005
Symptoms: The COMAND screen (navigation, radio and phone) stays black or stops working altogether; more rarely, engine management or immobiliser faults that stop the car from starting.
Possible cause described: AUTO BILD reports that the COMAND system malfunctions or fails completely, that its screen often stayed black, and that engine management or immobiliser failures cannot be ruled out.
Check for the garage: Read the faults in all the control units with Mercedes diagnostic equipment before replacing parts. Check the battery and the COMAND power supply, because low voltage causes similar faults.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.