designo wino CLS 55 AMG
Discussion
Chestrockwell said:
I cannot get over this car and that engine, I’ve heard SL55’s on light throttle and it sounds demonic, much better than C63’s I think, haven’t heard one at full throttle though.
Please can you describe kick down at 30 mph, flat out on a slip road joining a dual carriage way
Simple answer - loud and fast. At 30 it’d kick down into second and just go. Torque low down is brilliant, but dropping a gear (there’s only 5...) is great fun. There’s a two lane upwards sloping sliproad onto the motorway near me that has a concrete wall up one side and flooring it up there is very childish but if all the surrounding cars have their windows shut it’s safe to do so Please can you describe kick down at 30 mph, flat out on a slip road joining a dual carriage way
Another update : 60,000 on the clock now. And after the poor thing was outside all last winter I now have some warm and cosy garage space for it, and an Optimate hardwired to the under-boot-floor battery just in case.
Insurance is due - nearly £500 this year from Classicline so I need to shop around this week.
MOT passed with flying colours apart from slight play in a front wheel bearing and (shock horror) needing new rear tyres - which is where it got interesting.
Front are Goodyear in great shape, rears were Pirelli 295/30/19 fitted by previous owner, with the inner edges in particular getting past their best.
Standard size should be 285, but the internetz blathers on about 295 being wider, better, cheaper. So that's what had been fitted.
I got a pair of same-sized Goodyears and took 'em with me to the MOT.
Up on the MOT ramp before the tyres were swapped and it was pointed out by my MOT/tyre/TVR wizard that the existing Pirellis looked ridiculous - inner sidewall was way off square to the wheel, really rolled over, not supporting the car at all.
Outer sidewall looked fine - but the inner looked plain silly with evidence of rubbing on the plastic arch liner. Clearly wrong when fitted to the standard alloys, and odd that just the inner sidewall was rolled over so much - might just be an asymmetric Pirelli 'characteristic' with other brands being completely fine.
No way was I risking fitting another pair in that size. Sent the 295s back to mytyres who were really helpful and I got the correct more expensive 285/30/19 Goodyears which are now on the car, again asymmetric in design.
Previously whatever tyre pressures I tried the rear of the car felt loose, skittish, uncontrollable. Not now. Big difference that even a hamfisted me can spot. It would corkscrew and twist from side to side from the rear on full throttle but now it's just much more level and grippy, possibly because the tyres are now holding the car up correctly. Very happy!!
New MB drivers window regulator just been fitted by my local Merc specialist Nick Webster after it made some very expensive sounding chewing noises and stopped moving - not cheap going for OEM when you can get a replacement cable kit off ebay for less than a tenner but if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. Courtesy car for the day was a 211 E320 estate in Avantgarde spec with a quarter of a million miles on it - and a PH badge on the boot for an extra 5bhp. One thing the CLS is missing is that three pointed star on the bonnet. Makes any car feel special.
Service isn't due yet but I'm gong to get it done before the winter. Main dealers are such hard work on the phone - their call centre literally has no idea on a car of this age so I'm thinking of ruining the continuous set of MB stamps in the book and going indie. We shall see.
Also - killerhertz has been adding to his videos which are well worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/user/karlkillerhertz/video... - some really useful stuff I wasn't aware of particularly on the 5 hidden tricks vids
Insurance is due - nearly £500 this year from Classicline so I need to shop around this week.
MOT passed with flying colours apart from slight play in a front wheel bearing and (shock horror) needing new rear tyres - which is where it got interesting.
Front are Goodyear in great shape, rears were Pirelli 295/30/19 fitted by previous owner, with the inner edges in particular getting past their best.
Standard size should be 285, but the internetz blathers on about 295 being wider, better, cheaper. So that's what had been fitted.
I got a pair of same-sized Goodyears and took 'em with me to the MOT.
Up on the MOT ramp before the tyres were swapped and it was pointed out by my MOT/tyre/TVR wizard that the existing Pirellis looked ridiculous - inner sidewall was way off square to the wheel, really rolled over, not supporting the car at all.
Outer sidewall looked fine - but the inner looked plain silly with evidence of rubbing on the plastic arch liner. Clearly wrong when fitted to the standard alloys, and odd that just the inner sidewall was rolled over so much - might just be an asymmetric Pirelli 'characteristic' with other brands being completely fine.
No way was I risking fitting another pair in that size. Sent the 295s back to mytyres who were really helpful and I got the correct more expensive 285/30/19 Goodyears which are now on the car, again asymmetric in design.
Previously whatever tyre pressures I tried the rear of the car felt loose, skittish, uncontrollable. Not now. Big difference that even a hamfisted me can spot. It would corkscrew and twist from side to side from the rear on full throttle but now it's just much more level and grippy, possibly because the tyres are now holding the car up correctly. Very happy!!
New MB drivers window regulator just been fitted by my local Merc specialist Nick Webster after it made some very expensive sounding chewing noises and stopped moving - not cheap going for OEM when you can get a replacement cable kit off ebay for less than a tenner but if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. Courtesy car for the day was a 211 E320 estate in Avantgarde spec with a quarter of a million miles on it - and a PH badge on the boot for an extra 5bhp. One thing the CLS is missing is that three pointed star on the bonnet. Makes any car feel special.
Service isn't due yet but I'm gong to get it done before the winter. Main dealers are such hard work on the phone - their call centre literally has no idea on a car of this age so I'm thinking of ruining the continuous set of MB stamps in the book and going indie. We shall see.
Also - killerhertz has been adding to his videos which are well worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/user/karlkillerhertz/video... - some really useful stuff I wasn't aware of particularly on the 5 hidden tricks vids
Well, it is time...
Nothing to report other than an A service at Mercedes, but due to a 'lifestyle' change the CLS's limitations were starting to show - no room for dog, no room for mother-in-law (actually a plus point...), and although it's an event every single time you drive it, the mpg for regular long distance trips would be painful.
We have euro trips planned, driving from t'frozen north down to the Algarve with dog (not mother-in-law...), so I've been looking around for a nice sensible long distance car, which I collected yesterday.
It's an Audi A7.
Diesel.
Shoot me now.
Plus points : BiTurbo, 500 torques, self driving capabilities, and it does have quite shapely hips. 5 seats, bootspace for dog, and a good stereo.
Did look at the W218 Shooting Brake - saying 'shall we take the shooting brake' sounds almost as good as 'shall we take the Aston' but unless you're an undertaker the estate is just too damn big.
I'm hoping The Black Audi will grow on me <bitesbackofhand>
Absolutely loved owning this car. Bugger.
Nothing to report other than an A service at Mercedes, but due to a 'lifestyle' change the CLS's limitations were starting to show - no room for dog, no room for mother-in-law (actually a plus point...), and although it's an event every single time you drive it, the mpg for regular long distance trips would be painful.
We have euro trips planned, driving from t'frozen north down to the Algarve with dog (not mother-in-law...), so I've been looking around for a nice sensible long distance car, which I collected yesterday.
It's an Audi A7.
Diesel.
Shoot me now.
Plus points : BiTurbo, 500 torques, self driving capabilities, and it does have quite shapely hips. 5 seats, bootspace for dog, and a good stereo.
Did look at the W218 Shooting Brake - saying 'shall we take the shooting brake' sounds almost as good as 'shall we take the Aston' but unless you're an undertaker the estate is just too damn big.
I'm hoping The Black Audi will grow on me <bitesbackofhand>
Absolutely loved owning this car. Bugger.
andy43 said:
Well, it is time...
Nothing to report other than an A service at Mercedes, but due to a 'lifestyle' change the CLS..........no room for dog..............It's an Audi A7............boot space for dog............
Seriously? Where does the dog go in an A7 that it couldn’t go in the CLS? Unless it’s a really odd shaped dog? Nothing to report other than an A service at Mercedes, but due to a 'lifestyle' change the CLS..........no room for dog..............It's an Audi A7............boot space for dog............
swisstoni said:
Just out of interest (ive got an SL55) what prompted the supercharger oil change?
Is it not taken care of by the normal MB service schedule or was it just precautionary?
It’s ‘sealed for life’ but the US forums do say it should be a service item, although maybe only every 100k or so. For not much money and a bit of fiddling I thought it was worth doing. The stinking oil that came out proved my theory. Horrible stuff.Is it not taken care of by the normal MB service schedule or was it just precautionary?
BigFatWombat said:
Seriously? Where does the dog go in an A7 that it couldn’t go in the CLS? Unless it’s a really odd shaped dog?
In the boot. Dog has never been in the CLS jumping all over the seats with claws in the wood work - no chance. I never really took much notice of these Audis until a few months ago - I thought the A7 was a similar competitor of the CLS and 6 series Gran Coupe but it’s actually a proper hatchback plus it’s a 5 seater not 4 - it’s even got folding back seats.
Already have an old Landcruiser for my local dogging activities and moving crap about so another estate-type car would obviously work but international dogging needs something more svelte and sophisticated - cue
Looks like a great example of a CLS55 OP, that colour is really something once the sun hits it. Good to see you had it detailed as that colour is ideal to show off when it's been polished to perfection and protected.
Good to hear you rate the CLS as an overall car. I have a CLS63 myself so I can totally understand that AMG-ness and what it adds to the car. The noise, the power and the styling all add up to somethign special. That said my other half has a CLS350 CDI which is her 'mum' car. It does 95% of what my CLS does, it's quiet, refined, well spec'd and comfortable plus I think the styling of the W219 holds up well considering it's a 15+ year old design.
Good to hear you rate the CLS as an overall car. I have a CLS63 myself so I can totally understand that AMG-ness and what it adds to the car. The noise, the power and the styling all add up to somethign special. That said my other half has a CLS350 CDI which is her 'mum' car. It does 95% of what my CLS does, it's quiet, refined, well spec'd and comfortable plus I think the styling of the W219 holds up well considering it's a 15+ year old design.
andy43 said:
swisstoni said:
Just out of interest (ive got an SL55) what prompted the supercharger oil change?
Is it not taken care of by the normal MB service schedule or was it just precautionary?
It’s ‘sealed for life’ but the US forums do say it should be a service item, although maybe only every 100k or so. For not much money and a bit of fiddling I thought it was worth doing. The stinking oil that came out proved my theory. Horrible stuff.Is it not taken care of by the normal MB service schedule or was it just precautionary?
Polarbert said:
That colour is stunning. I too am a fan of cars not optioned for resale. Life is too short.
Incoming A7 is resale black, with about 15k of options chucked at it, but cosmetically boring... I'm going to miss the CLS's wood for sure.
Alex_225 said:
Looks like a great example of a CLS55 OP, that colour is really something once the sun hits it. Good to see you had it detailed as that colour is ideal to show off when it's been polished to perfection and protected.
Good to hear you rate the CLS as an overall car. I have a CLS63 myself so I can totally understand that AMG-ness and what it adds to the car. The noise, the power and the styling all add up to somethign special. That said my other half has a CLS350 CDI which is her 'mum' car. It does 95% of what my CLS does, it's quiet, refined, well spec'd and comfortable plus I think the styling of the W219 holds up well considering it's a 15+ year old design.
Read your '63 thread already - looks a great example. Buying from a detailer is a good sign!Good to hear you rate the CLS as an overall car. I have a CLS63 myself so I can totally understand that AMG-ness and what it adds to the car. The noise, the power and the styling all add up to somethign special. That said my other half has a CLS350 CDI which is her 'mum' car. It does 95% of what my CLS does, it's quiet, refined, well spec'd and comfortable plus I think the styling of the W219 holds up well considering it's a 15+ year old design.
Needs more miles putting on it!
i've just read this thread cover to cover and the @KillerHERTZ one too as i'm not looking at getting a CLS55 - not many on autotrader , and very very few close to me apart from one in Huddersfield from a dealer - which has NO description to it (why dod they do that!)
I thought i wanted Silver based colour - but seeing these threads - WOW !
there is just one small issue - i need to carry bikes - i'm assuming a roof rack is available? or salaris bones type of rear rack at worst....?
I thought i wanted Silver based colour - but seeing these threads - WOW !
there is just one small issue - i need to carry bikes - i'm assuming a roof rack is available? or salaris bones type of rear rack at worst....?
This is a good way to buy one, I sold mine to a PHer, then it went to another PHer.
Great being able to see whats been done, I did look at getting a 55 engined car but so much dross on budget tyres with an air of sketchiness sat at dodgy looking dealers.
I reckon these are destined for a bit of appreciated eventually, what a special car, along with the E55.
Great being able to see whats been done, I did look at getting a 55 engined car but so much dross on budget tyres with an air of sketchiness sat at dodgy looking dealers.
I reckon these are destined for a bit of appreciated eventually, what a special car, along with the E55.
rider73 said:
andy43 said:
Yes you can get roof mounted bike racks. If you google w219 cycle rack there's a few options. Not advertised mine yet - am doing so next week - I'm near Manchester
Well i can be near Manchester - is there a way to message each other on this forum?Cycle rack - yes - google w219 bike rack - there's a few available.
Tyres - yes - Goodyears all round. I already mentioned getting the right sized rears - the difference between the 295 Pirellis that came off and the correct 285 Goodyears is ridiculous. With hindsight the back end literally felt broken on those Pirellis. Gawd knows what Nangkangs would feel like...
What a stunning car...reading this thread has now got me trying to work out if a CLS55 can be a sensible purchase in any way, in the same way you could class a Lexus ISF sensible as they’re apparently very reliable or how I told my OH my Forester STi was sensible as it has a big boot?!
rider73 said:
Is this up for sale yet - i cannot see it in my autotrader searches :-)
I always check Pistonheads first if I'm looking for a car (AMG section). Or maybe ebay 
BUG4LIFE said:
What a stunning car...reading this thread has now got me trying to work out if a CLS55 can be a sensible purchase in any way, in the same way you could class a Lexus ISF sensible as they’re apparently very reliable or how I told my OH my Forester STi was sensible as it has a big boot?!
Yes. It's incredibly sensible. Honest 
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