x2, MB's S-class is the Windows of the car world, it's basically the test-model for the new generation E and C-class.
S-class users have a lot of money and get everything fixed fast, and usually in contract garages, this is way cheaper for MB than running tests over test, LOL.
Well, this gen's E classe came out last yr, C class just got it's midlife refresh, S Class comes out next yr---the problem is, Mercedes used to over engineer their cars, like the 300E, and Musclecenter's S Class, and they spent more---Lexus came around, spent less in engineering, but had a damn near inbreakable product in the LS400...and then Mercedes and BMW tried to outdo each other with electronics---untested, using the consumers as guinea pigs, whereas Lexus didn't, and kept it simple...
Older folks like the simple, quieter, smoother ride of the Lexus, younger folks like the Electronics of the S and 7---but what was the cost? Spiraling reliability, Mercedes losing it's credibility (ML, C, E, S classes all having reliability problems).