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Additional
Details:
(VIN:
WDDNG71X07A086958), designo graphite met. / charcoal leather, 7-spd.
driver adaptive auto trans with direct-select
gearshift, 51,500 miles, built 08/2006, in-service date of approx.
10/05/2006, sold new in Ohio, new generation 5.5L DOHC
32-valve 90º V-8 engine with variable valve and camshaft timing,
4V per cylinder, bore x stroke: 98mm x 90.5mm, compress-
ion ratio: 10.7:1, high pressure alloy cylinder block and heads, 382
hp. @ 6,000 rpm., 391 ft-lbs. torque @ 2,800 rpm., ME273
engine management, integrated sequential multipoint fuel injection and
phased twin-spark ignition - includes individual cylinder
control of fuel spray, spark timing and phase, and antiknock,
electronic throttle includes adaptive accelerator - which provides
more rapid throttle opening in response to the speed at which
accelerator pedal is depressed, two high-energy ignition coils
and two spark plugs per cylinder with 100,000-mile spark plug
intervals, magnesium 2-stage resonance intake manifold
increases intake runner length at lower rpm for improved response,
driver-adaptive electronic 7-speed automatic, speed
sensitive rack and pinion power steering with integral hydraulic
damper, aluminum body components starting with the hood,
front fenders, trunk lid, front crossmember and front subframe,
Airmatic dual control driver adjustable air-spring suspension,
independent 4-link front suspension with anti-dive geometry and
stabilizer bar, coil springs over gas-pressurized monotube
shock absorbers, independent 5-arm multilink rear suspension with
aluminum links and wheel-hub carriers, geometry for anti-
squat and alignment control, and stabilizer bar, separate coil springs
and gas-pressurized monotube shock absorbers, 4-wheel
electrohydraulic power-assisted 4-wheel cross drilled and internally
ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston calipers, ABS and Brake
Assist (senses emergency braking via the speed at which the driver
presses the brake pedal, and immediately applies maximum
available power boost, potentially reducing the overall stopping
distance by eliminating the delay caused by a common human
tendency not to brake hard enough, soon enough), floating front and
rear calipers, ASR traction control, hill ascent assist, stability
control, limited slip differential, ESP-2 compares the driver's
intended course, via steering and braking inputs, to the vehicle's
response, via lateral acceleration, rotation (yaw) and individual wheel
speeds, ESP-2 then brakes individual front or rear wheels
and/or reduces excess engine power as needed to help correct understeer
(plowing) or oversteer (fishtailing), ESP-2 incorporates
the functions of ASR traction control, which senses drive wheel slip
and individually brakes the slipping wheel or wheels, and/or
reduces excess engine power, until control is regained, (SBC)
Electronic Sensotronic Brake Control more precisely controls brake
pressure at each wheel during normal braking, emergency stopping and
during ESP activity, automatic brake drying applies the
brakes lightly and briefly based on windshield wiper use and driver
braking intervals, to reduce moisture on the brake surfaces in
wet weather, predictive brake priming sets the brake pads nearer the
discs when the driver quickly releases the accelerator, for
faster brake response, Mercedes-Benz integrated Pre-Safe restraint
system - occupants have 10-way protection from 8 total airbags,
driver and front passenger are each provided with a front air bag with
with multi-stage deployment, a full-length head-protecting
curtain side airbag and a 3-point seat belt with an emergency
tensioning device (ETD) and belt force limiter, each rear passenger
is provided with a side-panel-mounted side-impact air bag, full-length
head-protecting curtain side airbag and a 3-point seat belt
with ETD and belt force limiter, The revolutionary S-Class
PRE-SAFE® system that made its debut in 2002 on the S-Class auto-
matically tightens the front seat belts during those valuable seconds
just before a possible impact, and the front passenger seat
(and optional power rear seats) move to positions that can provide
better protection. If the system senses an impending rollover,
the sunroof also closes. On the new S-Class, side windows also
close to provide better support for the window curtain air bags,
and special seat cushions can inflate to provide greater lateral
support for occupants and to help the side air bags provide even
better collision protection, triple rear-seat head restraints are
manually adjustable fore-aft and are electronically driver-retractable
for improved rearward vision when the rear seats are unoccupied, Options: (321) AMG Sport package:
AMG body styling, 19"
Sport rims ($5,630.00), (289) wood and leather steering wheel
($560.00), P2 package (heated and ventilated power seats, NAV,
Sirius satellite radio, parktronic, premium leather, keyless-go), rear
window sunshade, rear view camera, BlueTooth, hand polished
gloss finish cherry interior trim, COMAND system with AM / FM / WB /
MP3 / CD & GPS NAV with an 8 inch color screen with 20G
on-board hard disc, HomeLink 3-button garage door opener, seat memory
package, 600 watt Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround
sound system, dash integrated 6 CD changer, satellite radio and element
antennae, automatic ambient lighting from the roof, dash
and door panels provides gentle illumination while driving in darkness,
night-time security illumination system, electro-luminescent
dash with digital driver information center, ext. temp gauge and clock,
electronic analog speedometer, digital display for odometer
and gear/mode selection, multifunction display is controlled with a
center console wheel controls to operate and display various
menus and vehicle features: odometer and resettable trip meter,
maintenance system, tire pressure monitoring, engine oil-level
check, and digital speedometer, radio station, CD player/CD changer,
Mobile phone book, trip computer (elapsed time, fuel con-
sumption, distance to empty), vehicle reminder and malfunction
messages, driver-programmable settings for instrument cluster,
clock, lighting, vehicle and convenience features, Mercedes-Benz
Maintenance System displays distance remaining to next
recommended maintenance service, indicates type of service due and
provides automatic reminder feature when service interval
draws near, front center armrest with two-level enclosed storage and
dual cup holder, factory alarm and engine immobilizer dual
14-way power heated front seats with lumbar support and 3-position seat
memory (which includes ext. mirror and steering wheel
memory), key dependent memory settings include steering wheel, mirror
and seat settings plus climate control and radio settings,
power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, height adjustable front
seatbelt anchors, height adjustable front head restraints, bi-Xenon
headlamps with active curve illumination including cornering lights and
heated washers, power tilt / sliding tinted glass sunroof(s)
with one-touch express-open / close and sunshade, driver-programmable
daytime running lamps, automatic lamp substitution uses
a nearby lamp if a critical bulb fails, touch turn signals flash three
times with one touch of turn-signal lever (for lane-changing), rain-
sensing windshield wipers - infrared rain sensor automatically adjusts
intermittent wiper frequency from infinite delay to constant
wiping based on amount of rainfall measured on windshield, highly
polished interior wood trim, embroidered floor mats, auto-dimming
electrochromatic interior rear view and exterior driver's side mirrors
with integrated amber LED turn signals, dual power mirrors linked
to driver's seat memory and automatically heated, aerodynamic bumpers
& side sills with integrated projector beam fog lamps, infrared-
reflective glass helps reduce radiant heat penetration, laminated side
glass helps reduce UV penetration, electrically heated rear window
with automatic shutoff based on time, vehicle speed and outside
temperature, SmartKey remote central locking system integrates: door
lock/unlock buttons, trunk opener, removable valet key and panic alarm,
driver may selectively unlock only the driver's door and fuel filler,
or both doors plus the trunk/tailgate and fuel filler, Tele Aid
GPS-based stolen vehicle recovery allows law enforcement agencies to
track
and recover stolen vehicle, allows owners to have doors automatically
un-locked in the event the SmartKey becomes locked inside
vehicle, and alerts Mercedes-Benz to contact vehicle owner if
anti-theft alarm sounds (2 keys and 2 remotes), Telematics 240 and 12,
electronic parking brake, locking trunk and gas filler door, dual zone
auto climate control with carbon pollen filters and CFC-free air
conditioning, storage under front seats, triple chrome dash knobs and
controls, chrome door sill kick plates, cruise control, power windows
with express up/down feature, pneumatic door and trunk closers, dual
illuminated vanity mirrors and overhead map lights, 23.8 gallon fuel
capacity, EPA mileage estimates: (16 mpg City / 24 mpg Highway), curb
weight 4,270 lbs., Michelin Pilot SPort MO tires (255/40-19f &
275/40-19r) with Tread Depth Measurements: DF: 9/32, PF: 9/32, DR:
9/32, PR: 9/32 (10/32 is new tire tread depth), complete tool kit and
spare, checks out with Mercedes-Benz North America, clean AutoCheck
report, 1 owner since new, always dealer serviced, went through
MBZ CPO inspection and service, drives extremely well, very smooth, a
great color combo and a very rare exterior color, the right options
with books, owners manuals and service records on file with the MBZ
dealer, no known or detectable paintwork on the body but the front
bumper cover was painted, leather and carpeting like new, paint is
phenomenal, no dents or dings in the body, no curbed or scraped rims,
all glass is excellent, new tires, brakes and rotors at 44,000 miles,
an extremely nice example of the flagship Mercedes sedan, new MSRP
of $96,175.00.
2007 Mercedes-Benz
S550, The new benchmark
By: Tony Assenza
Having jumped into thousands of new cars over the course of nearly
three decades, it isn't often that you're hit with a car so unfamiliar
that it takes you a full minute to figure out how to just pull out of a
parking spot. Encountering the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 for the first
time requires a recalibration of the "been-there, done-that" attitude
and an appreciation of the fact that some people are still thinking
hard and long about the nature of the automobile and where it's going.
To begin with, the new 2007 Mercedes S550 is without a conventional
shifter. Selecting "Park," "Drive" and "Reverse" on the seven-speed
transmission — that's right, seven — is the work of a tiny stalk to the
right of the mighty steering wheel. The parking brake function has also
been reassigned to a smallish paddle to the left of the wheel. No more
ratchety E-brake noise on engagement. Instead, a solenoid somewhere
opens a circuit and the parking brake is applied by silent electronic
gremlins.
In the center of the console where you expect to find the shifter, you
see instead a machined aluminum knob that acts as one of the four
interfaces to what Mercedes calls its COMAND system, short for "Cockpit
Management and Data System." The push-and-turn knob is actually a
computer mouse that activates menus that appear on the 8-inch thin-film
transistor color display screen in the center of the dash. The
mouse/knob navigates you through the screen menus to control the audio
system (AM/FM, weatherband, optional satellite radio, CD, MP3 or DVD
audio, PCMCIA memory card slot and iPod docking), some seat functions
like dialing up the aggressiveness of the seat massage feature, the
navigation system, the telephone and address book, and a number of
vehicle functions like the security system. Sitting above the mouse is
an ellipsoid pod that opens up clamshell fashion to reveal the phone
keypad.
Thankfully, the future comes equipped with backup systems, workarounds
and alternatives. The mouse is only one of four ways of accessing
frequently used features. There are a) conventional buttons that will
activate functions directly, b) switches on the steering wheel and c)
the voice control system if you get lost in the Matrix and start
screaming for your controller to get you back to the real world. And no
one would blame you for screaming. Learning to navigate all the systems
is a little like getting lost in a house of mirrors. You find what
looks like a way out and keep running into yourself coming the other
way.
While the driver and front passenger can have fun pushing buttons, the
rear occupants live in a limousinelike cocoon of comfort. They have
their own fixed-glass moonroof, power-operated sunshades for the side
windows and rear glass, climate controls, flip-down center console,
power seats and enough head-, leg- and elbow room to qualify for a
separate ZIP code.
No joke, you can put on a motocross back there. Or at the very least a
Security Council meeting. And, of course, it's all done up in leather,
highly polished wood and triple-chrome control buttons.
Maybe the two coolest electrogizmos on the S550 are the Distronic Plus
adaptive cruise control system and the Night View Assist system. The
easiest way to describe the Distronic Plus is to call it a cruise
control with a tractor beam function. Once engaged at your chosen
speed, a couple of radar beams scan the road ahead. If you're closing
in too quickly to the car in front of you, the Distronic system will
decelerate, and brake if necessary, to keep you at a safe distance. If
you're approaching at a dangerous speed, you'll also get an audible
signal to wise up and check your environment. If the car ahead
accelerates, Distronic will also accelerate to match the car's speed
right up to your preset limit. Granted this is a great safety feature
but it also provides loads of entertainment on freeways and city
streets. You find yourself playing chicken with the digital domain.
The other very cool feature is the Night View Assist. Unlike most
automotive night vision systems that amplify ambient light levels, this
system throws out its own infrared light beam. Two beams actually, one
from each headlight assembly. The result is captured by an infrared
camera mounted in the windshield and displayed on the instrument panel.
The black-and-white video image of what's ahead replaces the digital
speedo in the IP. There's something mesmerizing about that image. It's
like being part of your own police chase or watching an Italian
neo-realist film.
We were so impressed with the level of tech in the S550 we decided to
solicit comments from someone who deals with some of the most advanced
hardware on the planet on a daily basis. Our candidate was Craig
Bomben, call sign "Bomber." He's a test pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base. Bomben flew combat missions
in a Hornet during the first Gulf War and for him, dealing with
electrowizardry holds more than a passing intellectual interest. He's
out there at the radical fringe of technology separating wheat from
what can get you shot down in combat.
The first thing that impressed Bomben was the S550's buttery-smooth
power delivery and the massive torque. This is M-B's first use of its
new-generation V8 engine family that features four valves per cylinder,
variable valve timing and a lightweight crankshaft assembly. This
engine and transmission combination sets a new benchmark for smoothness
and rapid-onset power delivery. Conventional metaphors like "turbine"
or "gyroscopic" smoothness just aren't up to the job of describing this
engine adequately. Maybe greased pigs on a waterslide or Vaselined eels
wrestling in liquid Teflon.
In testing, the 5.5-liter V8 with 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of
torque propelled the 4,270-pound S550 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The
quarter-mile flew by in 14.2 seconds with a trap speed of 101 mph. The
quickest runs were accomplished by letting the engine and seven-speed
transmission do all the work. Manually shifting by means of the
steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons actually produced slower times, an
indication that the shift algorithms have been massaged as much for
speed as smoothness. In real-world driving on flat terrain, the engine
is barely ticking over at 2,000 rpm at 80 mph, thanks to a combination
of the 0.73-to-1 top gear and 2.65-to-1 final drive ratio.
The S550's 14-way adjustable, leather-trimmed front seats take 2nd
place to no one. Not only do they have a nearly infinite combination of
adjustments, they also have a heating and cooling feature and what M-B
calls a drive dynamic feature plus a massage function. You can choose
one of four massage levels from fast aggressive to slow and gentle.
Some drivers loved the massage. Others thought it was like accidentally
sitting on a live raccoon. The bottom and side bolsters can also be
inflated to fit your level of comfort while the active lumbar feature
fully inflates and deflates a lumbar bladder twice per minute to give
the spine a subtle adjustment.
What knocked Bomben out was the dynamic seat feature that automatically
inflates the outside back bolster under G-loading. You can dial up the
level of bolster response under cornering from a vertical scale on the
digital display by using the mouse. Take the S550 hard into a corner
and the bolster cradles up against your back like a comforting hand. As
you unwind, the bolster slowly deflates until the next corner. I asked
Bomben how the seat compares to the chair in the Hornet and he said,
"It doesn't have any adjustment. You get what you get. This seat,
fantastic. It's like a G-suit."
As night fell, Bomben activated the Night View Assist and after a few
minutes decided that he could learn to drive the S550 without looking
out the windshield. "The clarity is terrific. It's better than the NVDs
[night vision devices] we use because you don't get big heat blooms on
this. Oncoming headlights don't blow out the rest of the field like an
NVD would." And in truth, you could drive the S550 entirely through the
infrared portal. All it takes is nerves, faith in the hardware and a
very understanding insurance agent.
The concept of a truly active suspension system has been something of a
Holy Grail for engineers since the invention of the decreasing radius
curve. While the S550 doesn't reach for the stars like the old Lotus
active suspension trial balloon of decades ago, you'd be hard-pressed
to find anything that gets as close.
Conventional springs have been chucked in favor of an Airmatic System
wherein four air bellows support the weight of the vehicle. Under
lateral weight transfer such as cornering, the outside bellows inflate
to reduce body lean by as much as 40 percent. The air is supplied by a
compressor that produces 227 psi. A computer activates solenoids to
inflate and deflate the springs according to road and dynamic load
conditions. The driver can also raise the ride height by 1.2 inches by
a button on the dash. At speeds over 68 mph, the ride height is
automatically lowered by 3/4 inch and lowered 1/2 inch when the
transmission is put into Sport mode. Pushing the air button repeatedly
won't make the S550 buck like a low rider. We tried.
The suspension architecture is an impressive four-link front suspension
and five-link rear. Bomben remarked on the S550's rapid turn-in and
astonishing agility in corners. "It feels like a car that weighs a lot
less." Mercedes' Electronic Stability Program (ESP) intuits the
direction the driver wants to go and where the car is actually going.
Using a sensor array that measures steering angle, yaw rate, G-load and
wheel slippage, ESP will detect under- or oversteer conditions and
apply the outside or inside brakes to maintain the intended direction
of travel. On the skid pad, all that glorious hardware conspired to
pull 0.83g. Not that long ago, a number like this was the exclusive
domain of thoroughbred sports cars.
This latest version of ESP also monitors windshield wiper activation.
When the wipers are on, the system automatically and imperceptibly
applies the brakes every few seconds to wipe water off the rotors. This
helps maintain full braking ability if it's needed. We clocked an
impressive 122.7-foot 60-mph-to-0 braking distance.
The stopping power of the massive four-piston front calipers clamping
against 13.8-inch rotors and single-piston rear calipers on 12.6-inch
rotors is further assisted by M-B's BrakeAssist system. When the system
senses faster-than-usual brake application, the brake booster
automatically applies maximum braking effort even if the driver
doesn't. It also ties into the Distronic system to determine if a
collision is in your immediate future and applies the brakes
accordingly.
When the question of safety came up, Bomben explained that the measure
of last resort in a fighter is to abandon ship and float to earth. No
such option is available in the S550. At least not yet.
What the S550 does provide is an eight-bag system that includes dual
front bags, four side-impact bags (two for the front and two for the
rear), two window curtain airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners for the
front and outboard rear passengers and M-B's legendary cabin structure
designed to reduce deformation in a collision. When deployed from the
headliner, the window curtain airbag is a full 6 feet long, 14 inches
in height and 2 inches thick. In its testing, M-B claims a 90-percent
reduction in forces likely to cause head injuries in a side impact.
When we sat down for a debriefing that evening, Bomben summed it up by
calling the S550, "The most technologically advanced car I've ever
driven."
All we can say is "Ditto." By any measure of performance, luxury,
safety and sheer technological prowess, the new M-B flagship has set a
new standard. There's simply nothing else like it. At least, that is,
until next year. That's when we can expect to see the V12 bi-turbo S600
with 500 hp. Until then, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 will just have to
do as the world's new benchmark.
Picks: Paint is excellent with no dents, dings or scratches, it shows only the normal light wash marks in the clearcoat, driver side door
has one touched up rock peck near the door edge, you may find 4/5 very minor touched up rock pecks on the front bumper cover, chrome
driver side door sill kick plate has the usual scuff marks from entry / egress, other than that this car is like new inside and out, non-smoking
previous owner, no dents, dings or body flaws, no curbed rims, always garaged, a superb example with recent service, just as nice as the
10K mile 2008 I just sold, as close to showroom new as they come, nothing else to reasonably fault..
Numerical Condition Evaluation:
(1 denotes Very Poor / Item needs replacement, 10 denotes Excellent / Showroom New)
PAINT: 9.5
BODY: 10
CONV. TOP: N/A
RIMS: 9.5
TIRES: 9
WINDSHIELD / GLASS: 9.5
LEATHER: 9.5
INT. CARPETING: 9.5
SERVICE RECORDS / OWNERSHIP HISTORY: 7
*Vehicle is
located at BMI - more information or photographs are available upon on
request. While every reasonable effort has been made
to
ensure the accuracy of the above data, mistakes
regarding hp ratings, options, etc. can be made. I have also done my
best to be very
honest
and very critical about the cosmetic and
mechanical condition of this vehicle. Of course, it is not possible to
pick-up on every single
detail
or flaw. Please keep expectations realistic
as this is a pre-owned vehicle, and I have personally found blemishes
on brand new
undriven
vehicles. If you are an exceptionally
detailed oriented person, please contact me to verify any information
directly, and I will do my
best
to specifically photograph anything you
request and to answer any of your questions to the best of my ability.
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