CL & CLS Ownership? Any problems?
Discussion
Hi, just looking through the classifieds and notice that 03-05 CL's & CLS's are quite cheap for good ones around £15,000-17,000. This seems REALLY cheap to me and are a lot of car for the money! Is buying one at this price a false economy or a truly sensational buy and great car to own? I mean they look like they are worth double that. Golf GTI Mark V's costs that!
If it has low k's and is well optioned and you get it fully checked out should there be any problems with ownership?
I look forward to hearing from you all.
If it has low k's and is well optioned and you get it fully checked out should there be any problems with ownership?
I look forward to hearing from you all.
I'm a fairly new owner of a CL so not sure I can comment on their reliability but I did look into the common problems associated with them before I parted with any cash which tends to be rust, rust and ABC issues. Quite commmon for ABC pumps to fail at c.60,000 miles and it's not a cheap fix.
Maintenance when it's required, is going to be more than your average car but then again, this isn't your average car.
I've wafted along for several thousand miles now with no issues whatsoever and even tho it's a V12 biturbo, I'm still getting c.23mpg which can't be bad.
I bought a comprehensive warranty so I can sleep at night so as long as you go into this with your eyes open, I'm sure you'll be happy with the car too.
Maintenance when it's required, is going to be more than your average car but then again, this isn't your average car.
I've wafted along for several thousand miles now with no issues whatsoever and even tho it's a V12 biturbo, I'm still getting c.23mpg which can't be bad.
I bought a comprehensive warranty so I can sleep at night so as long as you go into this with your eyes open, I'm sure you'll be happy with the car too.
So either something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1531144.htm or http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1916686.htm
is it worth paying more for the above than say something like this if they both check out well mechanically and are in the same condition? £5,000 difference! You can change the trim with it!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1956520.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1531144.htm or http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1916686.htm
is it worth paying more for the above than say something like this if they both check out well mechanically and are in the same condition? £5,000 difference! You can change the trim with it!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1956520.htm
I also like something like this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2149366.htm
Also why are the CL's cheaper by a fair bit than a CLS if they are similar years?
Cheers.
Also why are the CL's cheaper by a fair bit than a CLS if they are similar years?
Cheers.
Hi,
I have a late 03 CL 55 AMG Kompressor.
It's a fantastic car - but - the areas I worry about are - paint quality and finish - mine has started to blister near the wheel arches.
ABC/PAS tandem pump - it's expensive when it goes wrong - pump alone is around 700.00 I seem to recall.
The car is heavy and the front suspension components wear accordingly - spring control arms/track control arms etc.
On the 55 Komp rear tyre wear can be spectacularly bad if you're lead footed.
Not sure about the other models but mine has 2 spark plugs per cylinder so that pushes up the servicing costs.
I love mine - it's a quiet bruiser. You can waft along in comfort but if you want to pass something there's no drama, just stacks of power.
If I were to buy again I'd double check the history - mine has a full merc one and they're arguing with me about the '30 year' body/paint warranty at the moment.
Cheers
Matt
I have a late 03 CL 55 AMG Kompressor.
It's a fantastic car - but - the areas I worry about are - paint quality and finish - mine has started to blister near the wheel arches.
ABC/PAS tandem pump - it's expensive when it goes wrong - pump alone is around 700.00 I seem to recall.
The car is heavy and the front suspension components wear accordingly - spring control arms/track control arms etc.
On the 55 Komp rear tyre wear can be spectacularly bad if you're lead footed.
Not sure about the other models but mine has 2 spark plugs per cylinder so that pushes up the servicing costs.
I love mine - it's a quiet bruiser. You can waft along in comfort but if you want to pass something there's no drama, just stacks of power.
If I were to buy again I'd double check the history - mine has a full merc one and they're arguing with me about the '30 year' body/paint warranty at the moment.
Cheers
Matt
Big Tav said:
I also like something like this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2149366.htm
Also why are the CL's cheaper by a fair bit than a CLS if they are similar years?
Cheers.
CL's and CLS's are very different cars. The CL is more like an S-Class coupe (from where they are derived). The CLS is not in the same league. More a twist on the E-Class. Also why are the CL's cheaper by a fair bit than a CLS if they are similar years?
Cheers.
One reason for [relatively] low W215 CL prices is simply that they are fiendishly expensive cars to keep spick and span. Same thinking behind buying a 20 year old Bentley Mulsanne. Cars that are near on 100k new, tend to want to be kept like that for much of their future ownership........
At genesis, they tend to have all the latest features from Mercedes and are the flagship car. So lots of things you have to keep a watchful eye on.
CLS's, nice as they are, aren't the same drama. I lost the bootlid reflector strip on mine. Simple piece of reflective red plastic, right? Yeah. but still £250+ for the the complete part set...
Also.......make sure you know the delineation of the AMG CL's between the NA and the latter Kompressors. There should always be clear distance in pricing there.
A car you'll love if you had, though. Beauty in the eye of the beholder etc, but for the most part, one car where you'll enjoy a lot of positive commentary about it's looks. No doubts there. A future Benz classic.
And yes. In AMG guise, massively quick.
A car you'll love if you had, though. Beauty in the eye of the beholder etc, but for the most part, one car where you'll enjoy a lot of positive commentary about it's looks. No doubts there. A future Benz classic.
And yes. In AMG guise, massively quick.
tigerkoi said:
Also.......make sure you know the delineation of the AMG CL's between the NA and the latter Kompressors. There should always be clear distance in pricing there.
A car you'll love if you had, though. Beauty in the eye of the beholder etc, but for the most part, one car where you'll enjoy a lot of positive commentary about it's looks. No doubts there. A future Benz classic.
And yes. In AMG guise, massively quick. Also agree about looks - personally I think my model is better looking than the current car, especially at the rear. Definitely a future MB classic and one I'll be keeping and bringing back to as-new when I get time
I've got the NA version of the CL55AMG which is on a 2003 plate but is actually 2002 - easily enough performance for me A car you'll love if you had, though. Beauty in the eye of the beholder etc, but for the most part, one car where you'll enjoy a lot of positive commentary about it's looks. No doubts there. A future Benz classic.
And yes. In AMG guise, massively quick. Also agree about looks - personally I think my model is better looking than the current car, especially at the rear. Definitely a future MB classic and one I'll be keeping and bringing back to as-new when I get time
The dealer I bought it from got caught out thinking in was a Komp version ... 
More space/headroom in the back of the CL than the CLS according to my in-laws (they had a CLS320CDI)- they actually preferred long journeys in the back of the CL!
As mentioned above the main issues are:
- ABC pump (for active suspension) often fails and will cost around £1k to get fixed (mine was done under warranty somehow but most seem to get the warranty claim rejected). Also watch for sticking/faulty valves in the same system which can often be spotted by pushing the ride height switch or just by checking the car isn't "sagging" on one corner.
- Corrosion. Mine had blistering on inside of rear arches (major location), hidden corrosion at base of C-pillar (known issue), front of bonnet and small patches on each door panel. This was all repaired and resprayed last year for free and under the MB warranty BUT you won't stand a chance on this unless your car has been serviced each year at an MB dealer (they are meant to do a corrosion check as part of the service). Also remember the car is aluminium so work has to be done at a specialist.
- Wiring harness for steering wheel - mine failed and was replaced under warranty (got a new steering wheel in fact!)
- Instrument cluster - not unheard of for these to die and just go black.
- Prop shaft bearing issues also not uncommon. Again, mine was changed under warranty (new prop shaft in fact).
- Driver's door mirror is self-dipping and they tend to rust at the bottom and dump out the liquid crystal contents, making them go cloudy. New glass is £300 or £80 for non-dipping.
Remember that with the CL you are buying a £100k+ car with (potential) costs to match, even though it might only cost you £10k to buy. There are two spark plugs per cylinder so 16 in all - main dealer can charge up to £500 to change them!
Tyres aren't bad though at around £250 a corner. If you drive sensibly they will last quite a long time although the V12 can (apparently) see of a set of rears in 4000 miles if you drive like a loonie!That said, mine has been superb. It is the most comfortable car I have ever had and I have no regrets buying it. Reliability is great and it hasn't cost me too much either!
Only major downside is you hear EVERY rattle or squeak as it is just so quiet inside thanks to loads of sound insulation and double-glazing! Depending upon how flush the previous owner was, the car could come with loads of toys. Mine has heated/ventilated seats, soft-close doors, keyless go, fridge, electric rear blind, TV, etc, etc so you should get an idea of what you could get. Beward of CL500s dressed up as CL55s though - the AMG cars are a lot rarer than the bog standard 500s.As was said earlier, the CLS is a nice car but the CL is in a different league as the flagship of the range ...
Couple more questions on the CLS.
Is the 320cdi the one to go for? I can't see the 350 being much quicker (maybe just a smooth sounding engine) but would cost more to run? Also how much more expensive would it be to run and own a 500 over the 320cdi?
Also, I was just reading a review on the CLS 320Cdi and it said:
TAX
It may put out 32g/km more CO2 than its rival, but the CLS is slightly cheaper for business users. However, higher band owners will still be faced with a hefty £5,802 bill.
What does that mean exactly? What is a higher band user? If I buy a used one you just pay your yearly Road tax right?
Is the 320cdi the one to go for? I can't see the 350 being much quicker (maybe just a smooth sounding engine) but would cost more to run? Also how much more expensive would it be to run and own a 500 over the 320cdi?
Also, I was just reading a review on the CLS 320Cdi and it said:
TAX
It may put out 32g/km more CO2 than its rival, but the CLS is slightly cheaper for business users. However, higher band owners will still be faced with a hefty £5,802 bill.
What does that mean exactly? What is a higher band user? If I buy a used one you just pay your yearly Road tax right?
Big Tav said:
Couple more questions on the CLS.
Is the 320cdi the one to go for?
If you like diesels, yesIs the 320cdi the one to go for?
Big Tav said:
I can't see the 350 being much quicker (maybe just a smooth sounding engine) but would cost more to run? Also how much more expensive would it be to run and own a 500 over the 320cdi?
When I looked at 320 and 500 E classes (same car underneath) I reckoned the equivalent diesel would cost £16k to my V8's £14k. On 8k miles a year I'd save maybe £700 a year on fuel with the diesel. I guess I might get more back at resale time but it just wasn't worth it for me. Plus to get the similar performance I would have add a Brabus chip (£1000) then pay more insurance for a modified car. So we're now £3000 more for the diesel. Finally the diesels really do rattle and bang when you start them up from cold. So to me the CDI only makes financial sense on much higher miles and only only makes performance sense if Brabus'd
Big Tav said:
Also, I was just reading a review on the CLS 320Cdi and it said:
TAX
It may put out 32g/km more CO2 than its rival, but the CLS is slightly cheaper for business users. However, higher band owners will still be faced with a hefty £5,802 bill.
What does that mean exactly? What is a higher band user? If I buy a used one you just pay your yearly Road tax right?
That's for a new car. The annual VED on a 500 is £500-ish. On a diesel much lessTAX
It may put out 32g/km more CO2 than its rival, but the CLS is slightly cheaper for business users. However, higher band owners will still be faced with a hefty £5,802 bill.
What does that mean exactly? What is a higher band user? If I buy a used one you just pay your yearly Road tax right?
What you save on fuel, insurance (if not chipped) and VED you more than pay for in higher purchase price unless you are going 20k + a year INMO.
Hi there
I am surprised nobody has mentioned water damage on 215 CL's.
beneath the near-side of the windscreen there is a vent which is actually a drain, now if this gets clogged up with leaves, twigs etc then your in trouble, potentially 6k trouble. basically what happens is the drain overflows and floods one of the cars many ECU's. then goes on soak the passenger foot well where the are even more ECU's etc etc so its always worth shining a torch through the vent/drain and make sure you can see the drain hole (20p size)
J
I am surprised nobody has mentioned water damage on 215 CL's.
beneath the near-side of the windscreen there is a vent which is actually a drain, now if this gets clogged up with leaves, twigs etc then your in trouble, potentially 6k trouble. basically what happens is the drain overflows and floods one of the cars many ECU's. then goes on soak the passenger foot well where the are even more ECU's etc etc so its always worth shining a torch through the vent/drain and make sure you can see the drain hole (20p size)
J
Rather than start a new thread I will just add on to this.I have looked at 2001/2002 CL 500 /600.Both low mileage 64k and 76k both stunning cars.
Its use would be purely fun weekend stuff no more than about 3k miles a year. But am I missing something often if something looks so good there is a catch.
Provided a decent warranty comes with the car and the service history is full Merc what else is there to worry about other than do I go full hog for the CL600 which is my preference.
it will be my first Merc they are cars i have always admired but never bought but now over 50 yrs old they seem right.
Its use would be purely fun weekend stuff no more than about 3k miles a year. But am I missing something often if something looks so good there is a catch.
Provided a decent warranty comes with the car and the service history is full Merc what else is there to worry about other than do I go full hog for the CL600 which is my preference.
it will be my first Merc they are cars i have always admired but never bought but now over 50 yrs old they seem right.
johnxjsc1985 said:
Rather than start a new thread I will just add on to this.I have looked at 2001/2002 CL 500 /600.Both low mileage 64k and 76k both stunning cars.
Its use would be purely fun weekend stuff no more than about 3k miles a year. But am I missing something often if something looks so good there is a catch.
Provided a decent warranty comes with the car and the service history is full Merc what else is there to worry about other than do I go full hog for the CL600 which is my preference.
it will be my first Merc they are cars i have always admired but never bought but now over 50 yrs old they seem right.
The only thing you need to worry about on the 600 over and above what has been mentioned in the thread already is that the V12 engine from that era has a ferocious appetite for coil packs, and more specifically the little red plastic inserts that fit in the spark plug tubes. These are very prone to burning out and bringing on the engine management lights. If there are receipts with the car have look and see if the any of the ignition components have been replaced, chances are that if they haven't they will soon! If you're intending to take out a warranty though then it's not such a problem. The 600 is a lot smoother to drive and obviously has a power advantage over the (dare I say, a little underpowered for it's size?) 500.Its use would be purely fun weekend stuff no more than about 3k miles a year. But am I missing something often if something looks so good there is a catch.
Provided a decent warranty comes with the car and the service history is full Merc what else is there to worry about other than do I go full hog for the CL600 which is my preference.
it will be my first Merc they are cars i have always admired but never bought but now over 50 yrs old they seem right.
Do you really need the seats in the back?
If not, have a look at late model R129 SL500s. 99-on models have the same engine as the CL and CLS500s you've been looking at. They are from the "built from solid" era of Mercedes engineering. A pre-2001 model will be £205 road tax. Lovely cars with the panoramic hard top, and of course you've got the soft-top option too!
If not, have a look at late model R129 SL500s. 99-on models have the same engine as the CL and CLS500s you've been looking at. They are from the "built from solid" era of Mercedes engineering. A pre-2001 model will be £205 road tax. Lovely cars with the panoramic hard top, and of course you've got the soft-top option too!
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