Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]
Discussion
Krikkit said:
Regardless of b0rkage potential they are fabulous looking cars, that black one is the perfect colour combo for me, love those wheels. The only thing about that era of C215/W220 is the seat adjustment buttons right at the point where the door meets the dash... Why the hell do you want to drive along with those hideous buttons in the corner of your eye? It should be an uninterrupted slab of wood or cow.
The 19" AMG wheels make all the difference over the 18" AMG wheels on the silver car.The seat switches have been like that on mercs since the 70s and most of the decent mercs still have them up there.
Can't say I've ever noticed them in my eye-line whilst driving mine.
It's usually the cheap models that get the seat switches down the side of the seat...
As the 5.5 M113 lump is known as bullet proof and that black one has just had the brakes and ABC replaced, it should be trouble free for a long time to come.
If the ATF hasn't been changed in the last few years then it would be worth doing that but otherwise just drive and smile...
Just how ruinous are these CLs?! Went to see a 500 on Saturday which just looked epic. 90k miles with last 4 services at an independant in Kent and 12 months ticket. All ols MOTs present. In black with the black leather. Would be a second car so only around 3k miles a year but I don't know if that would help/hinder as some say these need regular outings?? Is it mainly the suspension and soft close doors you should look out for?
Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
cwoodsie2 said:
Just how ruinous are these CLs?! Went to see a 500 on Saturday which just looked epic. 90k miles with last 4 services at an independant in Kent and 12 months ticket. All ols MOTs present. In black with the black leather. Would be a second car so only around 3k miles a year but I don't know if that would help/hinder as some say these need regular outings?? Is it mainly the suspension and soft close doors you should look out for?
Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
The mystery electric faults are normally on underused cars that suffer under-voltage issues. A strong battery and a maintenance charger are a must for these when only occasionally used. They should really be driven AT LEAST once a week.Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
We've had 3 of the W215 CL's now, all have been pretty much good as gold compared to what you read on t'internet.
V12 AMG said:
cwoodsie2 said:
Just how ruinous are these CLs?! Went to see a 500 on Saturday which just looked epic. 90k miles with last 4 services at an independant in Kent and 12 months ticket. All ols MOTs present. In black with the black leather. Would be a second car so only around 3k miles a year but I don't know if that would help/hinder as some say these need regular outings?? Is it mainly the suspension and soft close doors you should look out for?
Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
The mystery electric faults are normally on underused cars that suffer under-voltage issues. A strong battery and a maintenance charger are a must for these when only occasionally used. They should really be driven AT LEAST once a week.Ran a 2003 CLK500 for 6 months and that was totally reliable - just some of the electrics played up then would curiously fix themselves and as said above, these CLs are just ridiculously good looking to me!
We've had 3 of the W215 CL's now, all have been pretty much good as gold compared to what you read on t'internet.
Ditto with my 928, in fact I've stopped believing a lot of the myths surrounding certain cars and their propensity for being ruinous, I've known people fork out more in repairs for 3-4 year old run of the mill hatchbacks, than I've spent in the last 2 for my fleet of 5 cars.
Pickled said:
Although mines the W220 S class, I paid peanuts for it, and thought if it got me a few months motoring before it went ruinously wrong I would be happy, 2 years on and it still refuses to put a foot wrong, and I haven't exactly been overly enthusiastic with any preventative maintenance either.
Ditto with my 928, in fact I've stopped believing a lot of the myths surrounding certain cars and their propensity for being ruinous, I've known people fork out more in repairs for 3-4 year old run of the mill hatchbacks, than I've spent in the last 2 for my fleet of 5 cars.
Same experience here. My daily S320 cdi MY04 has been the most reliable car i've had since my 190E 2.6 more than 10 years ago. I even let my breakdown recovery lapse and wasn't too bothered about renewal as I haven't used it since I've had the W220. Better go and renew now i've said that!Ditto with my 928, in fact I've stopped believing a lot of the myths surrounding certain cars and their propensity for being ruinous, I've known people fork out more in repairs for 3-4 year old run of the mill hatchbacks, than I've spent in the last 2 for my fleet of 5 cars.
Many thanks for the advice folks. The car in question has been doing around 9k miles a year for the last 5 years so was very low mileage before that. Just looked fantastic. What are they like for rust or were most of these before that period?? Is there much difference between the 500 and 55AMG parts cost wise?? Just wary of an AMG tax. I appreciate the 55 often looks better with the subtle kit and wheels but as i'd mainly use to waft around in the 500 seems ample.
cwoodsie2 said:
Many thanks for the advice folks. The car in question has been doing around 9k miles a year for the last 5 years so was very low mileage before that. Just looked fantastic. What are they like for rust or were most of these before that period?? Is there much difference between the 500 and 55AMG parts cost wise?? Just wary of an AMG tax. I appreciate the 55 often looks better with the subtle kit and wheels but as i'd mainly use to waft around in the 500 seems ample.
AMG tax is very minimal on these. Most parts are interchangeable. The aluminium body does corrode where the C pillar meets the rear quarter. That's it really.2004 (54) Volkswagen Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI 5dr AUTO £4,995
http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
grantone said:
2004 (54) Volkswagen Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI 5dr AUTO £4,995
http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
181k miles! Just about run in then http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
How can a drivers seat still look that good at those miles?
Easternlight said:
grantone said:
2004 (54) Volkswagen Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI 5dr AUTO £4,995
http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
181k miles! Just about run in then http://www.kars.co.uk/used/volkswagen/touareg/5-0-...
How can a drivers seat still look that good at those miles?
Krikkit said:
I would imagine its owners haven't been your typical PH company director type rolling in and out of the thing every 5 miles... £5k seems steep for 180k miles... Plus it's a diesel where you totally fail to get decent economy!
And of a sample of half a dozen or so that I've known it's also a vehicle which usually fails to work!RobinBanks said:
And of a sample of half a dozen or so that I've known it's also a vehicle which usually fails to work!
Really? I've only ever been in one, and that was as a passenger, but I was really impressed with it. The owner raved about it. Presumably it won't be much less reliable than any other VW product of the era? As it's done around 18k miles a year, it can't have spent very much time not working!
hornetrider said:
V12 AMG said:
Lower mileage. Better colour combo to my eyes and much better spec...worth a haggle.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
Lest anyone is under any illusion as to the running costs:http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
Ad said:
NEW SUSPENSION STRUTS (REPAIRED AT MAIN DEALER £3247), RECENT DISCS AND PADS ALL ROUND (£2173), NEW ABC CONTROL UNIT FITTED
Those three alone coming to more than the asking 
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Really? I've only ever been in one, and that was as a passenger, but I was really impressed with it. The owner raved about it.
Presumably it won't be much less reliable than any other VW product of the era? As it's done around 18k miles a year, it can't have spent very much time not working!
I found that they were pretty good cars but quite problematic. Also the V10 diesel seemed to ride strangely compared to the V8.Presumably it won't be much less reliable than any other VW product of the era? As it's done around 18k miles a year, it can't have spent very much time not working!
I mostly mention it because it became a running joke in my friend circle. "Will Brian's Touareg make it this time or will he turn up in his wife's 3-Series?"
That one in particular had continual electrical problems from around the time it went out of warranty. We just found it funny because he was smug about how reliable it would be compared to a Jeep or Range Rover when he bought it, but came to hate it by the time he got rid of it.
Patrick Bateman said:
How can someone willingly pay that for discs and pads?
As I said on the last page or so looked at an e66 750 last week chap had front and rear discs and pads done at main dealer for something like £1500-1600. I looked at the invoice then back at the seller in bewilderment. This is after all a bargain barge not in warranty etc. I'd get the bits from euros and stick them on myself or if I'm feeling particularly lazy get the local mobile mechanic chap to come round and fit them for cash. kapiteinlangzaam said:
bmthnick1981 said:
Patrick Bateman said:
How can someone willingly pay that for discs and pads?
As I said on the last page or so looked at an e66 750 last week chap had front and rear discs and pads done at main dealer for something like £1500-1600. I looked at the invoice then back at the seller in bewilderment. This is after all a bargain barge not in warranty etc. I'd get the bits from euros and stick them on myself or if I'm feeling particularly lazy get the local mobile mechanic chap to come round and fit them for cash. Ive priced up Ferodo/Brembo pads and discs all round for that CL55. About €500 +/-. So paying £2k+ is essentially pissing your money away for nothing. Cant see why you would do it on a mass-produced 10+ year old car.
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