CLS 500 ?

[J4CKO]

ALways had a soft spot for these, would go for the 5.5 388 bhp version, the AMG ones are out of budget, but they seem to be a lot cheaper than the same age/mileage normal E class, is that just becasue they are less practical.

I am aware that the later ones, the 5.5 versions are faster and dont have the daft brake controllers that go wrong and cost a fortune, the Airmatic it has doesnt scare me quite as badly as it looks fairly easy to sortvia diy (correct me if I am wrong)

Might go and see one at the weekend, so what other pitfalls are there,

the 7G gearbox seems to be a bit hit and miss, but am aware they cant all be broken and people dont report 100k plus of no issues,

Brakes just been done and are cheap anyway

Tyres are huge but are apparenly fairly recent.

Service 4000 miles ago and had all 16 plugs done.

Recent MOT

SO Assuming electrics all work, any other pitfalls apart from £500 ved and 15 mpg ?

[KungFuPanda]

I was considering one a few weeks ago. I was all set to see this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

All that for £7495 on a facelifted 08 plate. Tremendous value. Instead I went for a 2008 S class 320 cdi with Brabus kit and D6 chip.

The 7G gearbox ain't the best. It never knows what gear it wants to be in. It needs to be driven with patience!

[J4CKO]

A few weeks back, been on sale for a while then !

Am guessing the Cls with a big v8, that isn't a full on AMG model isn't a great seller then, so needs to be bought right to avoid avoid a big loss down the line, even though we aren't talking huge money, cheeky bid time....

[KungFuPanda]

I'd say they've had it for at least two or three months. £6995 would be a steal...

[J4CKO]

Bumsacks ! the one I fancied has gone, was considering going to see it this weekend, oh well, always another out there and can sell my 350Z in the meantime and be ready with the cash,

[J4CKO]

KungFuPanda said:

I was considering one a few weeks ago. I was all set to see this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

All that for £7495 on a facelifted 08 plate. Tremendous value. Instead I went for a 2008 S class 320 cdi with Brabus kit and D6 chip.

The 7G gearbox ain't the best. It never knows what gear it wants to be in. It needs to be driven with patience!

Think I will go and see that one tomorrow, not over enamoured by the colour scheme but the dealer made all the right noises, spoke to a very helpful lady, car has been looked after by them and has a good amount of history.

[KungFuPanda]

The grey interior puts me off. Yeah I think I spoke to the same woman. She called me back that afternoon to see if I was actually coming so they could get it ready. Owned by the same local family for a while. They've got some decent metal in there for a place in Huddersfield.

I just drove back from there this afternoon along the A62 to Oldham. Given the weather, it was ermmmm interesting.

[j4ckos mate]

What did you think of it?

[Mr E]

I've never had a problem with the way the 7g box picks gears, but we tend to waft rather than charge.

[vanordinaire]

I've got registration number CLS 55Y on an old bike if you buy a 5.5l and fancy a private plate for it?
I've kept the bike/registration for years hoping that one day I'd get a CLS for myself but it doesn't look like it now. Shame, they are nice cars.

[J4CKO]

Well, deposit paid, car is very very nice, bodywork is perfect, wheels good apart from a minor scuff and interior has 1 scuff on the bit between the rear seats but otherwise, like a new car, well maintained, drives spot on, pulls well.

Managed to get it for seven grand, will get the tax and insurance sorted and pick it up next Saturday, cant beleive what you get for that money, I am glad most avoid petrol V8's.

Plate looks good van, let me get it sorted and I may drop you a message

[J4CKO]

Just checking the options, it is plenty well specced for me but it doesnt have Xenons, Auto Boot close, Harmon, Kardon or seat memory but I had worked that out before I went, I am guessing someone didnt tick a box but it has everything I need.

200A - LEATHER
205B - OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE RECORD - ENGLISH
208A - LEATHER - GRAY
220 - PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
249 - INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
255B
283B - AIRBAGLABLE - ENGLISH
335B - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/HU LANGUAGE - ENGLISH
386 - MOBILE PRE.-INSTALLATION (MTUS)
427 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7-SPEED
461 - INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
489 - AIRMATIC DUAL CONTROL / AIR SUSPENSION SEMI-ACTIVE
500 - OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR LH AND RH FOLDING
512 - COMAND APS WITH DVD CHANGER
537L - GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
551 - ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
581 - AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
5XXL - EUROPE
613 - HEADLAMP LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
666 - PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/O TIE-DOWN HOOKS
690 - EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE (MINI SPARE)
775U - BRIGHT SILVER METALLIC CLEAR COAT PAINT
809 - AEJ 08/1
817 - SIREN BRACKET FOR INCREASED THEFT PROTECTION
873 - SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
875 - HEATED SCREEN WASH SYSTEM
882 - INTERIOR SAFEGUARD
885 - HIGHTEN THEFT PROTECTION
983 - COC PAPER EURO 4 TECHNOLOGY W/O REG. CERT. PART II
989 - IDENTIFICATION LABEL UNDER WINDSHIELD
A22 - NEW CONVERTER GENERATION
A24 - JOINT FLANGE, 4-ARM 120
A38 - M - VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH VGS 2
A44 - SOFTWARE 3
A49 - CONVERTER WITH 3 FRICTION DISKS
F219 - MODEL SERIES 219
FC - COUPE
G904 - TRANSMISSION CODE VERSION 04
GA - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
H05 - LAUREL WOOD VERSION, GLOSSY
HA - REAR AXLE
K11 - ADAPTIVE STOP LIGHT FLASHING
K13 - STEUERCODE FUER SERVICEINTERVALL 25000 KM
M273 - V8-GASOLINE ENGINE M273
M55 - CAPACITY 5,5 LITRE
N2T - EMISSIONS-TEST IN PLANT 67
R - RIGHT-HAND STEERING
R01 - SUMMER TIRES
R96 - 18" LIGHT ALLOY WHEEL 5-SPOKE DESIGN ALL-ROUND
U18 - AUTOMATIC CHILD SEAT RECOGNITATION (AKSE)
U72 - DVD PLAYER WITH REGIONAL CODE 2, EUROPE, JAPAN
V07 - SPEED- + LOADINDEX 93Y
VL - FRONT AXLE HALF, LEFT
VR - FRONT AXLE HALF, RIGHT
775U - BRIGHT SILVER METALLIC CLEAR COAT PAINT
208A - LEATHER - GRAY
M273 - V8-GASOLINE ENGINE M273

[KungFuPanda]

Brilliant new!!! I knew it would go for £7k!

I'm thinking of changing the wheels on my S class for Brabus ones. I currently have 19" AMG ones on it with decent premium tyres on if you're interested in upgrading yours. They're like the one in this link. http://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-tires/314972-19-o...

Let me know if you're interested.

[j4ckos mate]

I went with him ready armed with big bags of pessimism.

I liked the 350z.
I must admit that's peach of a car looks every bit a two year old one


Two think someone paid northwards of 55k for that less than 8 years ago.
Staggering value and performance

[J4CKO]

KungFuPanda said:

Brilliant new!!! I knew it would go for £7k!

I'm thinking of changing the wheels on my S class for Brabus ones. I currently have 19" AMG ones on it with decent premium tyres on if you're interested in upgrading yours. They're like the one in this link. http://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-tires/314972-19-o...

Let me know if you're interested.

Cheers, wheels look nice but I suspect if I start messing with this she will kill me, but how much you thinking, will need a couple of tyres at some point

[softtop]

Barge and mid life crisis sorted!

[J4CKO]

softtop said:

Barge and mid life crisis sorted!

Mid life crisis was the 944 cabrio !

Barge, Merc and V8 boxes ticked.

[KungFuPanda]

Was thinking £500 for the set of 4. The other half doesn't need to know...

[J4CKO]

KungFuPanda said:

Was thinking £500 for the set of 4. The other half doesn't need to know...

Hmm, that sounds good if the tyres are decent, where you based ?

Will need a week or two to get sorted out.

[Crackie]

J4CKO said:

Well, deposit paid, car is very very nice, bodywork is perfect, wheels good apart from a minor scuff and interior has 1 scuff on the bit between the rear seats but otherwise, like a new car, well maintained, drives spot on, pulls well.

Managed to get it for seven grand, will get the tax and insurance sorted and pick it up next Saturday, cant beleive what you get for that money, I am glad most avoid petrol V8's.

Plate looks good van, let me get it sorted and I may drop you a message

J4CKO said:

So assuming electrics all work, any other pitfalls

I've been considering a 382/388 CLS500 for a while but only late 08/09/10 car because of the timing chain idler gear issue ...........did you check out the VIN number / engine code for the problem ?

Loads of info about the M272 V6 and M273 V8 problems online, there was a class action against Merc in the USA for example.

Here a link http://www.mercedesmedic.com/check-my-mercedes-ben... which should help check out whether the one you've looked at has an 'old' or 'new' idler gear.

I appreciate you've already paid the deposit but my understanding its a potentially big 'engine out' bill if it does let go.

Clearly, and older car may have already had the uprated timing chain idler gear fitted.

Good luck

Edited by Crackie on Saturday 21st November 21:01