2013 CLS 250 Views Please,

2013 CLS 250 Views Please,

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Discussion

dst99

Original Poster:

2 posts

104 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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Hi,

I'm looking to buy a 2 year old CLS 250 and wanted to hear the thoughts of some owners. I will be test driving both the AMG trim and standard model in the next week or so but would like to garner the views on reliability, comfort, road noise, etc. How is it as a daily drive? Is the 250 underpowered? should i be looking at the 350? What size alloys would you recommend? Buy from a dealer or independent/private sale?

I've never owned a Mercedes before so would appreciate any guidance. Thank you very much

Big Brin

529 posts

240 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
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I had a CLS 250 Shooting brake in Tenorite grey with the AMG spec. It was a beautiful car....in every way. My wife described it as presidential....But, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the way the car 'felt' so I sold it after 4 months. In trying to analyse it all....it just wasn't me. I did not spend long enough with it during the test drive. At cruising speed it was effortless, quiet and it could not be faulted. The standard spec was incredible and the command system superb. You could not ask for anything more. You could even alter the mood lights in the door cards.... The troubles started for me when I drove over the crappy roads near my home and work it became tiresome. Not that it wasn't comfortable, but that it creaked and moaned. There were rattles to the left of me, rattles to the right of me. So irritating when you expect silence.... I sent it back to Merc three times to have it looked at. They could never solve it. It was all down to the way the internal body trim panels seemed to be put together on that particular car. Or it could be me being very, very fussy. Spending what was serious money on a top of the range Mercedes, you expect better. At the time, I had three other Mercs too and, whilst all of them had 'character', I couldn't bond with the CLS and overlook it's foibles. It ended up being 'unloved'......

You ask about the engine. The 250 was ample and economical...but I would rather have had the 350, which is what I originally set about finding, but the 250 in the right AMG spec with the right colour scheme and extras came along first. I had planned to keep it for 4-5 years...

Just today I saw a black one on the road and I couldn't help staring longingly at it and wondering if I should 'go back'......

Rgds, Brin

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
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Mrs WR had a new 320cdi in 2007, it was a lovely car with bags of power, and economical too.

The only downside (not much) was limited headroom in the back for very tall passengers.

I would be a bit concerned about the smaller engined version being a bit underpowered, because it is a big heavy car, but, (to be fair) I've never driven one, so it might be fine.

Depreciation is very steep though if you buy new, but they make an excellent buy at 3-5 years old, if you can find a good low mileage example.

softtop

3,048 posts

246 months

Tuesday 21st July 2015
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Do a search. This has been discussed at length. If you are a real PHr then only the 350 will do.

JEA1K

2,485 posts

222 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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softtop said:
If you are a real PHr then only the 350 will do.
What an absurd statement.
























































If you're a REAL PHr then the CLS63 is the only option.biggrin

Targarama

14,635 posts

282 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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Do you really need a diesel? Especially a 4 cylinder diesel? In a CLS?! They are rare but there is a non AMG/18mpg petrol option. I drive a 2011 CLS 350 petrol. 300hp and 38+mpg on a run. I've had 48mpg out of it on a sensible long trip. I'm no slow driver either. Around town I get around 30mpg though.

Putting the fuel choice aside, they are a lovely car all round. Not that sporting though (my previous daily was a BMW E39 5 series 3.0i petrol and it was much more sporting). I don't care though, I bought it to waft. Ride quality on my CLS is great, it runs std 18 inch alloys which IMO look great. There is plenty of room for 4 too, even with a sunroof (I'm 6ft 4). The rear holds 6 footers with no problems.


Ocean

123 posts

230 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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I have been running one now for about 16 months.

It's very well built, comfortable and wafts along nicely. No rattles squeaks or anything. I'm at nearly 30,000 miles now. Everyone comments on it and it certainly has a lot of presence.

There are 2 issues with it though, which would stop me having another.

The engine after about 20,000 miles became really diesely. It just almost overnight, became like a '90s Diesel engine whereas up to that point it had been reasonably refined for a 4 pot. It's perky enough and gets well over 40mpg average, but be prepared at some point they will get a bit noisier than they were. It's not a deal breaker this, but something to be aware of. Apparently this is pretty common for that engine.

Combine it with the other issue though and .........maybe it is.

The other issue is the ridiculously little amount of suspension travel. I ground it when I creep over speed bumps, it crashes over bumps that other cars float over and it is just not suited to British roads. I know I said earlier that it was comfortable and it really is and it does waft on the right road, but get something lumpy and you either go slow or feel like it's going to collapse under you.

I really like my CLS and it's a great place to be, but wouldn't recommend it or replace it with another.


Targarama

14,635 posts

282 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Ocean said:
I have been running one now for about 16 months.

It's very well built, comfortable and wafts along nicely. No rattles squeaks or anything. I'm at nearly 30,000 miles now. Everyone comments on it and it certainly has a lot of presence.

There are 2 issues with it though, which would stop me having another.

The engine after about 20,000 miles became really diesely. It just almost overnight, became like a '90s Diesel engine whereas up to that point it had been reasonably refined for a 4 pot. It's perky enough and gets well over 40mpg average, but be prepared at some point they will get a bit noisier than they were. It's not a deal breaker this, but something to be aware of. Apparently this is pretty common for that engine.

Combine it with the other issue though and .........maybe it is.

The other issue is the ridiculously little amount of suspension travel. I ground it when I creep over speed bumps, it crashes over bumps that other cars float over and it is just not suited to British roads. I know I said earlier that it was comfortable and it really is and it does waft on the right road, but get something lumpy and you either go slow or feel like it's going to collapse under you.

I really like my CLS and it's a great place to be, but wouldn't recommend it or replace it with another.
What wheels, tyres and suspension does yours have? Mine doesn't crash or float? It is the 'standard' model, not AMG Sport (or whatever they call it). I think mine is perfectly suited to our roads. Compared to say a F10 5 series it is divine at normal road use. However, its no sportscar and I suspect an F10 would be better at 'pressing on' (as I mentioned I miss my E39 for this reason).

Ocean

123 posts

230 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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It's an AMG Sport on 19s. It's not that it is crashy, it's more that it has little travel. Fine until it gets to something lumpy when it rapidly runs out of comfort.

Perhaps it's the combination of the wheels and suspension as well as ridiculously low profile tyres that makes it a bit, unresolved.

It's certainly my last cars on 'big' wheels. Look good, crap in every other respect.

prashan

256 posts

194 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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I had a 250 Sport as a courtesy car through MB recovery (Mobilo) whilst my gen1 CLS320CDi suffered a turbo failure....initial impressions were positive...good kit, car had a lot of presence...after a few days, I started to miss the refinement of a 6 cylinder engine.

When my car was returned, it felt far more refined than the gen2 250 CLS.

Rgds
Prashan

m2m

24 posts

108 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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I had the cls63, a 2012 Tenerife grey Car till 2015. It was a machine.
The AMG ( not talking about body kit diesel or petrols) feel absolutely like different vehicles from a drivers perspective.

It will feel like most any luxobarge model. Quite generic. A big Benz beautiful inside and well built with a well insulated driving environment.

So it really depends on what you want out of the car? Image? Luxury? Economy?

The amg is a different beast all together.

Good luck.

ParanoidAndroid

1,359 posts

282 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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No experience of the 250 but do own a 2012 350 AMG Sport SB and absolutely love it. I don't find the suspension overly crashy in fact find the ride exceptional and typically big, luxurious car feeling. However, my previous car was a BMW 325i Sport which was rock hard and my wifes car is a 630i with run flats so perhaps coming at it from a different angle to everyone else! wink

The car is perfect for me, can get my dog in the boot, bikes on the roof and it gives me a sense of ownership the BMW simply didn't have. In 350 guise its also more than adequately fast. Interior is sublime, but I do have the lighter interior which with the black stitching which I think lifts it over black (personal preference I guess).

Someone above mentioned presence as well, I am continually surprised by the number of looks and positive comments the car generates, especially considering it's just a big diesel estate car.

I do get a bit of a rattle from the pull over boot cover (Shooting Brake) when I go over speed bumps, think it's pretty poorly designed but other than that no other rattles.

Go test drive one, really enjoy mine. In fact I'm constantly looking at CLS63 SB's waiting for the price to drop as I think that would pretty much be my perfect car - not happening fast enough at the moment wink

Cheers
Graham


AC43

11,436 posts

207 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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As others have said that 4 pot diesel engine is incredibly rough.

I had one as a loaner for two weeks and my one abiding memory is the racket it made.

Get the 6 cyl version. Much more suited to the car.

V8convert

38 posts

189 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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The v6 is the best engine I am on 54000 miles at 20 montths old and no issues,acceptable fuel consumption', I have experienced no rattles inside the car, estates may be different. The engine pulls well and is a match for my SL 500 to 40 mph and eats miles. Tyres I am on 19 inch which do affect comfort and make car lower but they do look nice which is part of the reason you buy a coupe not the cheaper E Class. Back tyres are expensive but I got 30000 miles out of them. I regularly drive 400 miles and the car is ideal for this and the only reason I have to stop is for toilet break. Not sure if of interest but the boot is massive. Only thing to remember is it only seats 4 people in saloon.