dreamhope

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a used car and worry about the transmission. I figure these questions may be of generic interest:

1) Does drive wheel configuration affect transmission, or more general, reliability?
2) How about the costs to repair faults?
3) Can I assume that AWD is worse off in this area by default?
4) Is ZF 5HP24 less reliable than 722.6?

Another more specific question is: How would you compare the cost to own say a 2000 S500 w/ airmatic vs. a 2000 A8 4.2 at 80-90k miles?

S8ilver

Airmatic is cheaper to maintain than Merc's ABC systems (my father and I had a hydraulic valve block replaced on a 2006 SL600 @ $2500 for just the front axle)...the ABC shocks run $1900/each. 5 figure suspension repair bills are not uncommon. I think you can find the Airmatic shocks for around $500 each, and about the same for a pump, when (not if) they fail. When you replace the A8's shocks, you can buy 4 of them for around $500, and then drive 100k miles without worries. I've heard nothing but nightmares when it comes to the Mercedes air/hydraulic suspensions systems. When they work properly though, there's nothing better. I feel like I can take a 90 degree corner at 90mph when I'm driving the SL.