What to look for when buying S-Max (2015+ model)

[Sokol11]

Hello I'm looking to buy S-Max 2015 model year approximately 2018  manufacturing date. And would like to know if there are any general faults to be wary about.

Currently I'm driving 2012 S-Max Titanium S 2.0 TDCi 163 PS, 6-speed manual, crossed 200kkm and am very satisfied with it. No particular issues with it.

My question is as I'm thinking on moving to automatic transmission is how is it with reliability of those PowerShift transmissions? Anything to be alert about? Is it good and reliable automatic transmission?

Also how about engines? For example how is petrol engine? Very hungry?

2.0 EcoBoost 240HP Auto

And Diesel variants: Anything to be alert about regarding particular combinations? I see some are EcoBlue the first one is not. But the eco one has more emissions? What's the difference as basic motor seems the same for all variants?

Model	Year(s)	Displacement	Fuel Type	Power	Torque	0–100 km/h (0–62 mph)	CO2 Emissions
2.0 TDCi 150HP	2015–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp)	350 N⋅m (258 ft⋅lbf)	10.8 s	129 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi 150HP PowerShift	2015– 2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp)	350 N⋅m (258 ft⋅lbf)	10.8 s	139 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi 150HP AWD	2015– 2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp)	350 N⋅m (258 ft⋅lbf)	12.1 s	139 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi 180HP	2015–2019 2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	179 PS (132 kW; 177 bhp)	400 N⋅m (295 ft⋅lbf)	9.7 s	129 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi 180HP PowerShift	2015–2019 2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	179 PS (132 kW; 177 bhp)	400 N⋅m (295 ft⋅lbf)	9.5 s	139 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi 180HP AWD PowerShift	2015–2019 2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	179 PS (132 kW; 177 bhp)	400 N⋅m (295 ft⋅lbf)	10.5 s	149 g/km
2.0 EcoBlue TDCi Bi-turbo 210HP PowerShift	2019–	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in)	Diesel	209 PS (154 kW; 206 bhp)	450 N⋅m (332 ft⋅lbf)	8.8 s	144 g/km

I'm looking to get the ST line as exterior is looking better than Vignale one. Also looking to get LED headlights.

Does anyone has the AWD variant? How is the AWD on S-Max all good?

[Paulius55]

I have a 2018 2.0 TDCi 150 Titanium with Powershift gearbox and I am very happy with it. It is the version without AdBlue.  For a diesel it is very smooth and quiet and so far has given me no problems. I am averaging about 45 mpg, which for a big car is pretty good. I find the gearbox fine, it is the wet clutch version and does need an oil and filter change every 3 years or 40,000 miles, which I got done on mine. I have upgraded the SYNC3 system from 3.0 to 3.4 via Cyanlabs, which is a great improvement and I have retro-fitted a reversing camera. It already had the al-round sensors which are excellent at preventing contacts with objects all around the vehicle as well as enabling the auto-park feature, which is surprisingly good. If you can get LED headlights then it's worth getting them. Mine has halogen projector lamps which are ok but not as white/bright as LED, although the cornering foglights help at slow speeds.

[SMaxedDavid]

On 4/4/2022 at 11:54 AM, Paulius55 said:

I have retro-fitted a reversing camera

Sorry to jump on this older thread.

@Paulius55 could you let me know what camera you used please?

I've an older S-Max (MKII 2015) with SYNC2 and feel for the cars size a reverse camera would be a great addition.

Is it a plug and play option, what was the trim removal like, easy for routing etc.?

Many thanks,

David.

[SMaxedDavid]

On 4/4/2022 at 10:44 AM, Sokol11 said:

Also how about engines? For example how is petrol engine? Very hungry?

2.0 EcoBoost 240HP Auto

@Sokol11 my 2015 240hp EcoBoost is returning 29.8mpg.

It has the SelectShift Torque Converter box, not as exciting as the Powershift DCT (or if you're a VAG fan DSG..)

While it has the ST engine the autobox makes this car feel lazy unless provoked , a great cruiser and if you're felling naughty will shock a few cars who think you're in a "soccer mums" car.

[unofix]

Your wasting your breath @SMaxedDavid replying to the One Post Wonder Sokol11 who posted that question 4th April 2022 and has not been back since.

[Paulius55]

I didn't fit the camera myself but got a 3rd party supplier to do so. There are several threads on here for people fitting the camera themselves and it is not too difficult. It is possible that you already have the wiring in the car already and if you can get a second-hand OEM camera it will connect to that, although you will have to use Forscan to let the system know that you have a camera. 

[SMaxedDavid]

1 minute ago, Paulius55 said:

use Forscan to let the system know that you have a camera. 

I have Forscan and the ODB connector, how can i tell?

Is there a handy Forscan guide you can point me in the direction of?

Thanks.

[Paulius55]

Nothing handy but if you search for and find the threads from people who have fitted their own camera then the information is in there. Interestingly, when my supplier fitted my camera he didn't use Forscan but just plugged a special stand-alone plug into the ODB port which automatically did all the coding. He left that with me. Whether it is specific to my car or not is not certain.

 

[Paulius55]

If only you lived a little closer than Renfrewshire....

[SMaxedDavid]

1 minute ago, Paulius55 said:

If only you lived a little closer than Renfrewshire....

Appreciate the assist & info though. I'll do some homework. Thanks.