RE: Mercedes CL600: Spotted
Discussion
I'm currently running a 2004 CL500 W215. I think it's such a classy and elegant shape. I have a mountain of history for the car from the original purchase receipt of £75k with options, to every service and light bulb invoice to date. It's worked out about £1500 average per year on servicing/consumables covering approx 10k miles per annum by the time you add tyres/brakes into the mix.
The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird s
t on you
d) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views
)
I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird s
t on youd) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views
)I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
NITO said:
I'm currently running a 2004 CL500 W215. I think it's such a classy and elegant shape. I have a mountain of history for the car from the original purchase receipt of £75k with options, to every service and light bulb invoice to date. It's worked out about £1500 average per year on servicing/consumables covering approx 10k miles per annum by the time you add tyres/brakes into the mix.
The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird st on you
d) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views)
I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
Great write up and encouraging on the running costs. I am tempted by a CL. The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird s
t on youd) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views
)I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
bmthnick1981 said:
NITO said:
I'm currently running a 2004 CL500 W215. I think it's such a classy and elegant shape. I have a mountain of history for the car from the original purchase receipt of £75k with options, to every service and light bulb invoice to date. It's worked out about £1500 average per year on servicing/consumables covering approx 10k miles per annum by the time you add tyres/brakes into the mix.
The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird st on you
d) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views)
I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
Great write up and encouraging on the running costs. I am tempted by a CL. The 5.0 V8 also has the twin spark plug per cylinder so 16 spark plugs in all. Servicing is dear at main dealers, but it's pretty routine stuff unless there is a failure. I read all the stuff on the suspension, fortunately this one has been perfect in 110,000 miles so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. You'll notice a jump in price in the cross over between the 6 and 7 speed models. The seven speed box is fantastic and worth the premium. I was coming through from Italy in one hit earlier in the year, and top gear at a steady 93 cruising at less than 2k rpm returned 29mpg! I was gobsmacked, my diesel 3.0 Hilux pickup would do about 25mpg on the same run albeit its not exactly aerodynamic.
I got out feeling like I'd driven about 2 hours. Tank range was showing at around 560+ miles autonomy in these conditions. Back home through the twisties it drops to low teens. The suspension is unbelievable how it keeps the car level, there's no real body roll to speak of it just holds its line beautifully. I can only fault the brakes through the twisties, not cooked them yet but it's a heavy car and when being used inappropriately they're not quite up to that, but they are superb in normal use. The CL65 is a stunner, with those wheels and brakes it must be sublime, but with the extra expense of those replacement components and fuel consumption to boot I guess (not to mention another 8 spark plugs lol). I use mine for gentler trips, doesn't seem right to force a car like these through the twisties, it wasn't built for that.
All of the body panels appear to be plastic, so rust should not be an issue on body parts at least. The roof design is great, with all the windows down and sunroof open, with the B pillarless design you get all the benefits of a convertible without the disadvantages such as;
a) getting your hair blown about
b) if you have no hair, getting your head burnt or having your hat fly off!
c) Having a feathered bird s
t on youd) You can own it without looking like a (er, leave it to your imaginations, I have my views
)I'm enjoying it for the moment. This example has been nurtured all its life with a mountain of paperwork. I almost feel obliged to keep up main dealer history but it could be maintained for an awful lot less if wanted. Oh, it takes 8 litres of engine oil too!
It's a huge amount of car for the money and the boot is also immense.
Cheers
Nito
They are great cars to drive and certainly has presence. Having owned one I can say you have to be able to live with the niggles. All the time I went to use it I'd find something not quite right in the electrical department.
I didn't use it very much but when I did I wanted to enjoy it. I did spend plenty of time polishing it though as it was black.
I'm not shy of looking after a car but it becomes annoying when one day it works and then the next day it doesn't. Moved on to a Maserati, which again has character but slightly less niggles.
I didn't use it very much but when I did I wanted to enjoy it. I did spend plenty of time polishing it though as it was black.
I'm not shy of looking after a car but it becomes annoying when one day it works and then the next day it doesn't. Moved on to a Maserati, which again has character but slightly less niggles.
EarlOfHazard said:
I'm tempted too. What would the mpg be for a motorway only? Aren't the CL600s 5 speed only?
Bear in mind I'm referring to the 500CL equipped specifically with the 7G-Tronic box. Motorway at 93 leptons is 29mpg. IIRC it was sat at 2k rpm or just under at this speed. So at 70mph I guess it would be comfortably over 30mpg. It's a great motorway cruiser. I've not had any issues with electrics yet, but this car has been in regular useage and not sat for long periods without being used. There also seems to be good supply of used parts on ebay should bits pack up as these are becoming good dismantling propositions also.Which ironically means they shouldn't depreciate vastly more in any case.
jdleeso said:
Moved on to a Maserati, which again has character but slightly less niggles.
That's like saying I swapped girlfriends from one who used to stab me with knitting needles to another who used toothpicks.Either way I'm still masochistic enough to covet both options.
You lucky people.
NITO said:
EarlOfHazard said:
I'm tempted too. What would the mpg be for a motorway only? Aren't the CL600s 5 speed only?
Bear in mind I'm referring to the 500CL equipped specifically with the 7G-Tronic box. Motorway at 93 leptons is 29mpg. IIRC it was sat at 2k rpm or just under at this speed. So at 70mph I guess it would be comfortably over 30mpg. It's a great motorway cruiser. I've not had any issues with electrics yet, but this car has been in regular useage and not sat for long periods without being used. There also seems to be good supply of used parts on ebay should bits pack up as these are becoming good dismantling propositions also.Which ironically means they shouldn't depreciate vastly more in any case.
EarlOfHazard said:
NITO said:
EarlOfHazard said:
I'm tempted too. What would the mpg be for a motorway only? Aren't the CL600s 5 speed only?
Bear in mind I'm referring to the 500CL equipped specifically with the 7G-Tronic box. Motorway at 93 leptons is 29mpg. IIRC it was sat at 2k rpm or just under at this speed. So at 70mph I guess it would be comfortably over 30mpg. It's a great motorway cruiser. I've not had any issues with electrics yet, but this car has been in regular useage and not sat for long periods without being used. There also seems to be good supply of used parts on ebay should bits pack up as these are becoming good dismantling propositions also.Which ironically means they shouldn't depreciate vastly more in any case.
In a well-configured and maintained example you'll glean 25-30mpg from the earlier n/a 600. No problem. Hell, I routinely got that from my '55 on long runs, so a longer-legged V12 in a timid state of tune and ankle canted at say, 30 degrees, should get that too.
I, too, agree in the main about using the flaming thing regularly and then seeing rough corollary with issues cropping up more infrequently. Sure, compared to a Zafira or an S-Max or that really special 330d M-Sport Touring fully optioned including Trunk Trim Panel Alcantara, Cold Weather Pack and the oh-so-necessary BMW Light Alloy Wheel V-SPOKE 126, any CL is really just a luxury item: you can buy less to do the same thing. But just treat it as a car, and one that should be used with regularity.
My sneaky feeling is that long, long after the fool and his money were easily parted when the plump MD walked into the Daimler showroom and specced his W215 to the gills and bought it nice, shiny and new in 2004, years down the line some formerly content petrolhead who has been told to buy that snazzy Chaplins Ino drinks cabinet, by Giorgetti (in Canaletto Walnut with Gold Leaf interior, 141cm x 45.5cm x 134.5cm; yours for £15,075!!!) to keep their missus happy, also sees they can snap up what their exceedingly daft MD had - ten years back. And, instead, sneaks away from the brood, down to the second hand car merchant, smugly 'makes the deal', mooches back (the long way home) with the Serengeti sunglasses just so, weathers the inevitable wife-y moans ("...but petal, it's got massaging seats and everything!!!"), then promptly treats the thing as a once-a-month garage queen!
Two months later, their lovingly waxed but fleetingly used Meister Der Autobahn, throws up a p2059, p205A, p208B and a p205C! Welcome to the world of big boys toys and that wonderful ransom note being gently waved around by the Head of After Sales Care & Support or whatever he's called, as the booking clerk giggles to herself as she hits level 3 on Candy Crush Saga.
Full of remorse: "What have I done?"
Angel on the shoulder: "You didn't use it enough...you should have got the Ino drinks cabinet - by Giorgetti - for £15,075 instead. Like wife-y tolllllldddddddd youuuuuuuuu..."
Anyway like Robinson Crusoe, I'm marking off the days. I predict like that football predicting octopus thingymajig that predicts, well, prediction-y stuff, that I'll be feasting on a nice W222 S63 AMG Coupe sometime around May 2020. I'll gleefully thumb through the V5 and see 'two former keepers'. Then try to guess who kindly wore the tarmac-wilting depreciation for me: some tubby, golf-clubbing, MD? or just mindless expenditure of interest upon on interest accumulated by a widow and her idiot son? Or maybe a genuine petrolhead who just didn't care.
Either way, in my mind all I'll be thinking is....'ta'
oh FWIW - do ensure you get the air-cooled seats and the rear blind too. I remember they would have been great on my '55 at the time on a hot day, and if I had my time again would make sure I didn't miss that trick. The cabin is a proper glasshouse when parked up in the SoF in July
Good luck!
Atmospheric said:
J4CKO said:
What are the performance figures for these, 0-100 mph etc ?
CL600 n/a 10.9 secCL600TT - 9.8 sec
CL65AMG - 9.0 sec. Traction is an issue, I understand.
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