Upgraded W220 S500 4Matic First things first (assistance)

[chen_cheng]

One MB W220 S500 4Matic facelift that has been sitting in a garage unattended for the past nine years has just turned up. The car is resting on all four wheels, so the airmatic is likely malfunctioning. The car's front bumper is lying on the ground in front of it, unattached. The rust around the doors and wheels isn't too bad, but it's still an issue. In a few weeks, I will meet with the owner; I'm hoping he won't ask too much for the car; additionally, I am still uncertain about its undercarriage condition, which is a concern. Therefore, I am genuinely curious as to what the initial stages should be in order to test the engine's functionality. I don't have the key to open the hood and see the engine, and I read online that starting the car after it has been sitting for 9–10 years could cause a lot of damage. It seems to reason that I should drain the old fuel and replace it with fresh, and perhaps even change the oil before I start, if someone could advise me on the best course of action. My sincere appreciation goes out to anyone who can offer me some advice. If you would like, I can attach some photos of the vehicle. I would consider purchasing the vehicle for a modest sum if its engine and transmission are in perfect working order. My intention would be to transform it into a project car. I appreciate your assistance.

[chen_cheng]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=S500&linkCode=gg3

[maya.watsonoq]

Since there is some degree of air leakage in the Airmatic System, it will typically fall flat within a few weeks to months. Even if it was operational while parked, the rolling diaphragms made of fabric and rubber may have died over the past nine years.

It will be labor-intensive and costly to just do the expected repairs.
The brake system will almost certainly need to be rebuilt.
The fuel system will also need to be rebuilt.
Replaced battery. Fixing corrosion in the connections of the harness and fuses.
Engine, radiator, heater core, system valve, pipe, and control components might be severely corroded if the coolant was not of high quality and according to specifications.
I need to get five new tires.

There is absolutely no way you will do well on the W220 if you do not have extensive knowledge of it.

Even if the owner gives it to you, the restoration will be financially ridiculous unless you have a reliable source for inexpensive used parts.

The restored vehicle might fetch $2500 on the American market. For less than that, restoring it would be an incredibly challenging task.

[chen_cheng]

Your reply is greatly appreciated. I hail from Croatia, a European country, and S500 W220 is quite unusual here. There is only one active listing for this price range of 10,000 EUR (11.358 USD) that I could find online. I can save up about 5,000 to 7,000 euros and buy this car in a few years. Very few miles on the odometer, and the inside is in pristine condition; the vehicle has only one owner. I know there are a lot of things that could go wrong; perhaps I can put the car out of my mind when I lift the hood, but I was hoping for some advice on what to do in my boat. If it helps, I have direct lines with Germany and can order parts from anywhere in the EU.

[ibrahimwalkerxa]

It is probable that other areas, such as the sills, jacking points, behind the boot trim, sunroof, etc., will also have rust if it is present in those places. Without investing a significant amount of time or money, it could be worthwhile if you can find it at a low enough price. It appears that the airmatic system and panel paint will be the primary expenses. The majority of the other mechanical parts are not expensive to sort. The availability of high-quality used facelift components is debatable. In my country, it is much more difficult to get facelift parts than it was before the facelift.

Be sure you have the necessary fuel components and that you can manually turn the engine over at the crankshaft pulley with a 27mm socket before starting it.

[camille.kimcy]

It's likely that there are or were a lot of mice residing there. Autos are their favorite. Be cautious because they will also chew wires. You may require valve cover gaskets and, fingers crossed, the rear main seal isn't leaking if your car has been sitting for an extended period of time because the rubber seals, which are similar to gaskets, wear out. An issue that could arise with the fuel system is the possibility of a seized pump. The bright side is that you can usually get those electric motors working again with some voltage and a hammer, haha. As a last point, yes, you should wait before starting the engine. Before you try to start the engine, make sure the oil is at the proper level and spin the crank pulley slowly by hand. To get the engine ready to crank, some purists perform a unique cylinder soak and hand-spin the cylinders.

[chen_cheng]

Your responses and assistance are greatly appreciated. They are quite useful; when the owner stops by in a few weeks, I will inspect everything under the hood. I will provide an update here once I have more information; I'm glad you didn't tell me to leave it because it's not worth it.