CLS550 - What are they like?

[944fan]

I have got an Audi S6 V10 at the min. I am not completely unhappy with it but there are a couple of things which have annoyed from the start. The auto gearbox is rubbish, it is always just in the wrong gear. The ride is horrid, really bumpy - it makes my kids car sick and one of them did a rainbow yawn in it a while back (which has never happened before).

Anyway I was watching Ray Donovan the other night and he has a CLS550 which looks really nice. What are they like to drive? Is the ride good. Anything to look out for?

Don't care about MPG, my S6 does about 12-14 on my commute.

[DKL]

I didn't think we had the 550 in the UK? Do you mean that or a cls 55 amg?
IIRC 07 on cls 500 had the same engine and output as the 550 at 388 but the cls 55 is the SC 5.4v8 putting out 480 ish, maybe 500 in a cls.
That 100 bhp will make a difference!We get about 18mpg around and about and up to 24 on a good run in our e55 estate.

[944fan]

Ah the TV show I saw it on was American. The 55 has 507 HP which is a few more than my S6. They seem a little more expensive than the S6.

The 500 is quite keenly priced though. Equivalent mileage and year to my S6 is a few grand less.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 55's are very torquey but as you say are holding their money well, the 500 if it's a later one will be the 5.5 388bhp model.

[J4CKO]

Yeah, the 550 was still called the 500 in the UK.

55 is a 470 bhp Supercharged V8 and the 63 is a 500 ish bhp NA, tempted to change the central 0 for a 5 on mine to confuse people

The original 500 was a 306 bhp V8, nice car but the 388 bhp is noticeably faster, it is quite a lot quicker than the 350Z I had before

I paid seven grand for mine, had it 10 months and it has just cost me some tyres, a cam blanking plate (£14) and I have just serviced it myself which cost £100 ish for oil, oil filter, brake fluid and air filters.

Am sure the AMG ones are quicker but not sure I need to actually go any quicker at the moment, and this cost half the price of an AMG version, well, certainly a 63 so it was good value, plus its the facelift with the rectangular exhausts. being a facelift it avoids the SBC brakes and the issues.

Service and consumables have been reasonable, 4 Pirelli P Zero Rossos were £424, I do what I can myself, as mentionew, did the oil today, £42 for 10 lires of Mercedes oil off Ebay to the correct grade.

It has averaged, according to the computer 20.7 over 4000 or so miles.

It isnt a sports car, its mainly a cruiser that can accelerate, it corners of for a big lump, the air suspension is good, can adjust it three ways, floaty, medium and firm, in the latter it is actually pretty able but being an large, heavy auto it doesnt lend itself to country roads, the braes are good, well since i changed the fluid they are.

The gearbox is pretty good, can be a small delay as it has a think but if you need to overtake and get ready, just drop it a ratio or two and then give it some stick.

Mine has the later, but still aged infotainment, it all works but is a bit clunkier than new ones, sounds ok but mine doesnt have the HK sound which is desirable, it is still way better than the Bose in my 350Z, perfectly adequate and then some.

Would love to try an AMG, I think the 55 is gruntier low down than this, not that 400 ish lb ft of torque is really lacking bt the 55 will be more immediate and AMGs are generally more sporting in character, be interesting to see how much quicker they are, Car and Driver got 4.7 to sixty and a 13.3 sec quarter out of one


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2007-mercedes-...

[BUG4LIFE]

I really want to make a CLS 55 AMG my next car. I thought the cost of running one would be huge compared to a C55 (for example), but that might not be the case! It seems servicing, brakes etc don't have to cost the earth! Obviously is stuff goes wrong they can be costly.

That's what my research has lead me to believe at the mo anyway...maybe I'm wrong, so then I think I'd need to decide between a C55 and CLS 500 that the OP is asking about.

[Zanderman]

Funnily enough Ray Donovan has tempted me to go and have a look at the CLS myself! Went and had a look at a 2013 CLS63 AMG yesterday, really liked it. The styling is very agressive (hense it beinh used in RD I guess!) and that 5.5L V8 TT engine is just mental. Very much a GT car and just overall a nice experience and place to spend time in.

[J4CKO]

I dont think we got the W218 500 or 550 over here, was a 6 cyl petrol and a few diesels then the CLS 63 as far as I know, it would be a good shout as I suspect that with a remap it is not far off a standard CLS 63.

Are there any in the UK, seem to remember them importing them early on ?

[J4CKO]

Looks like there are about 20 W218 CLS 500's in the country,

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&...

Judging by this, anything with "Blue Efficiency" will be a 218 I guess as that was never applied to the earlier ones.

I did read you can get them remapped to 500 ish bhp.

Wonder where else that engine does service, E class ?

Edit

Found 1 for sale on Ebay,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E500-4-7-B...

[ZX10R NIN]

J4CKO said:

Looks like there are about 20 W218 CLS 500's in the country,

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&...

Judging by this, anything with "Blue Efficiency" will be a 218 I guess as that was never applied to the earlier ones.

I did read you can get them remapped to 500 ish bhp.

Wonder where else that engine does service, E class ?

Edit

Found 1 for sale on Ebay,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E500-4-7-B...

I have one of the above a very rare car & a proper sleeper with most people thinking it's 350 cdi much to my amusement

[Smokey32]

BUG4LIFE said:

I really want to make a CLS 55 AMG my next car. I thought the cost of running one would be huge compared to a C55 (for example), but that might not be the case! It seems servicing, brakes etc don't have to cost the earth! Obviously is stuff goes wrong they can be costly.

That's what my research has lead me to believe at the mo anyway...maybe I'm wrong, so then I think I'd need to decide between a C55 and CLS 500 that the OP is asking about.

Running costs are quite a step on from a c55. The air suspension often goes and thats not cheap. The brakes have a complicated system and a pump that can fail that costs a grand just for the pump. Tyres are quite a bit bigger. The car is a lot more complicated.

[J4CKO]

ZX10R NIN said:

J4CKO said:

Looks like there are about 20 W218 CLS 500's in the country,

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&...

Judging by this, anything with "Blue Efficiency" will be a 218 I guess as that was never applied to the earlier ones.

I did read you can get them remapped to 500 ish bhp.

Wonder where else that engine does service, E class ?

Edit

Found 1 for sale on Ebay,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E500-4-7-B...

I have one of the above a very rare car & a proper sleeper with most people thinking it's 350 cdi much to my amusement

Which Mercs havent you got ?

How many do you have and how do you decide which to use ?

[J4CKO]

Smokey32 said:

BUG4LIFE said:

I really want to make a CLS 55 AMG my next car. I thought the cost of running one would be huge compared to a C55 (for example), but that might not be the case! It seems servicing, brakes etc don't have to cost the earth! Obviously is stuff goes wrong they can be costly.

That's what my research has lead me to believe at the mo anyway...maybe I'm wrong, so then I think I'd need to decide between a C55 and CLS 500 that the OP is asking about.

Running costs are quite a step on from a c55. The air suspension often goes and thats not cheap. The brakes have a complicated system and a pump that can fail that costs a grand just for the pump. Tyres are quite a bit bigger. The car is a lot more complicated.

The SBC brakes can be a problem, I thinkt he CLS 63 avoided that, not sure if any CLS 55's did though.

I have been lucky thus far with the air suspension, a company called Arnott do remanufactured units and they are about £600 for fronts and £300 for rears, the pumps are cheap at £150 or so, it looks like diy is possible for some of it, I think its a bit simpler and less simple than the full on ABC stuff like on the SL.

Mine will drop a bit over four days or so but always rises correctly with no warnings so not worrying about it, you can end up fretting about such things and never own anything interesting and drive a Fabia 1.2 or you can own something nice, just check it over beforehand, it is pretty good to be fair.

[ZX10R NIN]

J4CKO said:

Which Mercs havent you got ?

How many do you have and how do you decide which to use ?

Lol down to four but the CLK63 & E500 are proper garage queens (sitting in the air on axle stands) maybe one or two days out of the month but to be honest most driving duties are split between the CLK55(which is up for sale thanks to the Mayor)/CLK320cdi, so I'm now looking for a 2005 one so if anyone has one let me know or a late 5.5 CLK 500.

I have a wishlist of what I'd like to add to the garage at some point cashflow permitting of course.

SLK Black Edition (Never seen one)
M3 GTS/CRT
CLK63 Black Series
CLK63 Replica (I already have the rear set up) but with a Weistec Supercharged 6.2 with around 630bhp or a Brabus Biturbo 5.5 with around 700bhp

As you can see I have plans, I'm sure life will get in the way but there's nothing wrong with having goals.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 30th August 00:50

[Mr E]

Our 500 is the family wagon, and is used appropriately. It woofles about the place quite nicely. Likes a petrol station.

[Smokey32]

J4CKO said:

Smokey32 said:

BUG4LIFE said:

I really want to make a CLS 55 AMG my next car. I thought the cost of running one would be huge compared to a C55 (for example), but that might not be the case! It seems servicing, brakes etc don't have to cost the earth! Obviously is stuff goes wrong they can be costly.

That's what my research has lead me to believe at the mo anyway...maybe I'm wrong, so then I think I'd need to decide between a C55 and CLS 500 that the OP is asking about.

Running costs are quite a step on from a c55. The air suspension often goes and thats not cheap. The brakes have a complicated system and a pump that can fail that costs a grand just for the pump. Tyres are quite a bit bigger. The car is a lot more complicated.

The SBC brakes can be a problem, I thinkt he CLS 63 avoided that, not sure if any CLS 55's did though.

I have been lucky thus far with the air suspension, a company called Arnott do remanufactured units and they are about £600 for fronts and £300 for rears, the pumps are cheap at £150 or so, it looks like diy is possible for some of it, I think its a bit simpler and less simple than the full on ABC stuff like on the SL.

Mine will drop a bit over four days or so but always rises correctly with no warnings so not worrying about it, you can end up fretting about such things and never own anything interesting and drive a Fabia 1.2 or you can own something nice, just check it over beforehand, it is pretty good to be fair.

Have u got a cls55? Yeh i agree with you, but the running costs arent cheap on them. U might get lucky you might not. Ive had 2x c55's since feb 2015 and they havent needed anything except oil and tyres. The cls is a much bigger, heavier and complicated car the running costs are a step up.

I love the cls and e55 but i dont need the extra space and i prefer the handling of my c on h&r coilovers. Great cars though. Maybe when im older ill have a E class heh.

[edc]

If they had made the CLS55 with 5 seats then I would have certainly considered one of those instead of my C55. As it was, my C55 is my practical car so it won out. As above I also felt the CLS55 was another step down the 'cruiser' scale compared to C55, and I just didn't want that. The air suspension doesn't worry me having had 2 Range Rovers

[J4CKO]

Smokey32 said:

J4CKO said:

Smokey32 said:

BUG4LIFE said:

I really want to make a CLS 55 AMG my next car. I thought the cost of running one would be huge compared to a C55 (for example), but that might not be the case! It seems servicing, brakes etc don't have to cost the earth! Obviously is stuff goes wrong they can be costly.

That's what my research has lead me to believe at the mo anyway...maybe I'm wrong, so then I think I'd need to decide between a C55 and CLS 500 that the OP is asking about.

Running costs are quite a step on from a c55. The air suspension often goes and thats not cheap. The brakes have a complicated system and a pump that can fail that costs a grand just for the pump. Tyres are quite a bit bigger. The car is a lot more complicated.

The SBC brakes can be a problem, I thinkt he CLS 63 avoided that, not sure if any CLS 55's did though.

I have been lucky thus far with the air suspension, a company called Arnott do remanufactured units and they are about £600 for fronts and £300 for rears, the pumps are cheap at £150 or so, it looks like diy is possible for some of it, I think its a bit simpler and less simple than the full on ABC stuff like on the SL.

Mine will drop a bit over four days or so but always rises correctly with no warnings so not worrying about it, you can end up fretting about such things and never own anything interesting and drive a Fabia 1.2 or you can own something nice, just check it over beforehand, it is pretty good to be fair.

Have u got a cls55? Yeh i agree with you, but the running costs arent cheap on them. U might get lucky you might not. Ive had 2x c55's since feb 2015 and they havent needed anything except oil and tyres. The cls is a much bigger, heavier and complicated car the running costs are a step up.

I love the cls and e55 but i dont need the extra space and i prefer the handling of my c on h&r coilovers. Great cars though. Maybe when im older ill have a E class heh.

Mines a CLS 500 with the later 388 bhp engine.

[J4CKO]

edc said:

If they had made the CLS55 with 5 seats then I would have certainly considered one of those instead of my C55. As it was, my C55 is my practical car so it won out. As above I also felt the CLS55 was another step down the 'cruiser' scale compared to C55, and I just didn't want that. The air suspension doesn't worry me having had 2 Range Rovers

Yeah, they are more cruiser than B road blaster but to be honest, the size and weight isnt the hampering factor for going quickly, its having an auto I find that doesnt really suit that kind of driving.

[edc]

J4CKO said:

Yeah, they are more cruiser than B road blaster but to be honest, the size and weight isnt the hampering factor for going quickly, its having an auto I find that doesnt really suit that kind of driving.

Sounds like you need the Eurocharged TCU map and some of those aftermarket flappy paddles.