Cls 500 v cls 55 amg

[neil_bmw]

Was considering a cls 500 for my next daily driver, then realised the 55 amg isn't an awful lot more expensive to buy.
I am aware of what both cars have to offer in terms of performance, mpg, etc
Would the 55 be horrendously more expensive to service? Are we talking similar parts and service costs to an M5?
Are we talking the same sort of difference between these two as say a 550i to an m5?

Any real life experience welcome.

Thanks
Neil

[Rat_Fink_67]

neil_bmw said:

Was considering a cls 500 for my next daily driver, then realised the 55 amg isn't an awful lot more expensive to buy.
I am aware of what both cars have to offer in terms of performance, mpg, etc
Would the 55 be horrendously more expensive to service? Are we talking similar parts and service costs to an M5?
Are we talking the same sort of difference between these two as say a 550i to an m5?

Any real life experience welcome.

Thanks
Neil

The 55 won't be much more to service at all in reality really, bar the brakes. Oil, filters, spark plugs and other service item prices are virtually identical between the 2, just keep plenty in reserve for brake discs & pads. Running cost-wise, the AMG will use more fuel, but the difference between a 500 and a 55 is a lot smaller than say a 320cdi to a 500. If you can afford the extra insurance that the AMG badge brings then go for it, I think if you got the 500 you'd always be wondering "what if?".

[SFO]

CLS55 can be 'economical' ..

and brake discs and pads depends on driving style obviously.

[Gouki]

I can echo this 'economy', in my SL55 which is a fair bit heavier than the CLS 55 I averaged 21.7mpg with an average speed of 69 leptons from Cambridge to Sandwich, Kent this morning.

[vinnie83]

The problem is, the 55K engined cars beg to be driven hard often due to the buckets of low end torque, meaning that your tyres and fuel tank will take a hammering often!

[CraigVmax]

FWIW, I had a later CLS500 as a courtesy car for a bit, I had just changed from an RS6 to a Quattroporte at the time. The CLS had the later 5.5 engine but wasnt an AMG.

I was utterly astonished by how quick it was, very capable

[slippery]

CraigVmax said:

FWIW, I had a later CLS500 as a courtesy car for a bit, I had just changed from an RS6 to a Quattroporte at the time. The CLS had the later 5.5 engine but wasnt an AMG.

I was utterly astonished by how quick it was, very capable

Agreed. I've never had the pleasure of travelling in one, but on paper at least, the later 5.5 CLS 500 looks like a great proposition.

[s3uly]

What year did the CLS 500 go from 308 bhp to 388 bhp ?

[slippery]

s3uly said:

What year did the CLS 500 go from 308 bhp to 388 bhp ?

2006 if my memory serves me correctly.

[neil_bmw]

Thanks for the info, muchly appreciated!

[ras62]

The later 5.5 engine is certainly quick and has torque aplenty everywhere, mine also had the steering wheel tip function gear paddles which I used now and again. 30mpg is achievable quite easily at motorway speeds. I would avoid 19' wheels on any CLS, the ride suffers too much even if they do look nice.

[DSLiverpool]

The sc engine is a special bit of kit, the whine and feeling of utter power at low revs is addictive and when I sold the cls I missed the engine so much I got an sl55.

However I have as a daily driver a cl500 with the old engine and or a dd it's PLenty fast enough. 2006 /£12k / 40k miles bargain

[pf555]

I have a CLS 500 2005 Model. Use most days. Its plenty quick enough and so comfortable. Since I have had it have put 20,000 miles on it average mpg is 27 mpg. Mainly Motorway with odd bit in and out of Birmingham. Looks ace with the AMG bodykit and exhaust on it.