Maybach 57 Review (2002 to date)

Quick Summary

A Maybach is a car that may not inspire love but generates enormous admiration. If you see a car as a tool to perform a task, few are as fit for purpose as a Maybach. We'd opt for the 57 given our tight streets and often cramped parking facilities but if the car is to be used in Europe for long distance work, a 62 would be the ticket.

Overall:

Models Covered: 57 and 62 4dr saloons – 2002 to date – [5.5-litre petrol (base, S)]

BACH IN BLACK

* IntroductionFew cars are a specialised as a Maybach, a fact reflected by the rather modest sales figures this much-trumpeted luxury division of Mercedes has racked up. A typical Maybach owner will want peerless luxury but without the ostentation of something like a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. The ability to cross country quickly, comfortably and discreetly is important to some and for that task there is nothing better than a Maybach. Here's what to look for when buying used.
Used Maybach 57 for sale

History of the 57

The trend for digging up old car marques and buying instant heritage isn't solely a British phenomenon. Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH was originally founded way back in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and was a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin. Producing engines for Zeppelin balloons and, latterly the Panther and Tiger tanks of World War II, Maybach moved into producing rather grand passenger cars before the war intervened.Fast forward to 1997 and Maybach was back. The Tokyo Motorshow saw the unveiling of a car dubbed the Mercedes-Benz Maybach. Public reaction to this car that looked set to campaign above the S-Class in the product hierarchy appeared favourable but rather than market the car as a Mercedes, the decision as made by senior executives to launch Maybach as a brand in its own right.The first production cars were sold in early 2002. Two models were offered, the 57 and the 62, both powered same twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V12 engine, good for no less than 543bhp. The model designations referred to the wheelbase in inches. In 2005 the Maybach 57S was unveiled. Sporting a more powerful 604bhp motor and more focused suspension, this model arrived in dealers in February 2006, followed in December of that year by the 62S. If you need to escape the paparazzi without breaking sweat, this is your ride.
Used Maybach 57 for sale

Maybach 57 Road Test

The 57 and 62 cars are powered by the same twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V12 engine, good for no less than 543bhp with a torque figure of 899Nm. This monstrous power output will propel 2780kg of Maybach 62 to 60mph in 5.4 seconds. The S models get a 6.0-litre version of the same engine with 612bhp and a nice round 1,000Nm torque rating. Everything about the Maybach, from the 62's 6165mm length to its 19-inch wheels, is writ large. It's worth putting a few of the statistics into perspective. The torque figure on the 57 is greater than the combined torque outputs of a Mercedes S500 and a Porsche Carrera 4S. The Maybach 62 is as heavy as two Mercedes C class saloons and the difference in price between the two versions is about the same as a nicely specified Lexus GS430.
Used Maybach 57 for sale

Buying a Maybach 57

Absolutely nothing should be wrong with a used Maybach, as it should have been attended to regardless of cost. If it looks anything other than brand new, choose another car.
Used Maybach 57 for sale

Maybach 57 Typical Pricing

Prices start at around £115,000 for a 2002 registered 57 with a later 2005 registered car fetching around £145,000 with average mileage. You'll struggle to find a 57S for anything less than around £200,000, even with higher mileages. The 62 opens at around £140,000 for a 2002 car with a 2005 car averaging around £225,000. All Maybach models are, unsurprisingly, rated at insurance group 20.
Used Maybach 57 for sale

Maybach 57 Parts

(Based on a 2004 62) Consumables for the Maybach 62 are reasonably priced with an air filter weighing in at £24, a fuel filter the best part of £60 and an oil filter a mere £6. Spark plugs are around £5 each, although tyres are expensive at around £295 per corner.
Used Maybach 57 for sale