W219 CLS info needed

[Nigel_O]

Hi all - not a frequent visitor to the Merc forums - previous car history has a definite Italian flavour to it. However, I fancy something a bit wafty and I really like the cleaner shape and style of the early W219 CLS over the W218 facelift. It'll be a diesel, due to the 70 mile a day commute - I need to get close to 40mpg for it to make any sense.

I'm a bit confused about the info I've managed to glean so far from t'internet. I can see there are two models - 320CDi and 350CDi. I know they are both 3-litre engines, but is it simply a mapping difference? Some places list both models at 224bhp and some seem to show the 350 as 260-ish bhp.

Is it only the 350CDi Grand Edition or do all 350s have the higher power?

Is the Grand Edition worth the premium?

Is there a buyer's guide anywhere? I'm used to iffy reliability (the Italian connection), but I don't want to be buying something that's likely to generate big bills

Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance

[James P]

Can't help with direct experience of exactly what you're after but my 2015 350 Shooting Brake will easily achieve mid to high 40's on A roads/ motorways if I'm sensible. My best is approx 52mpg (per onboard computer so not gospel) although that's with the benefit of the 9 speed box to cut rpm from approx 60mph.

[ZX10R NIN]

The change was more than a badge, it was a host of revisions for the new regulations the 265bhp models were short lived but are worth seeking out.

[J4CKO]

Get a V8 Nigel, after your coupe the V6 may feel a bit tardy.

[Paddymcc]

The grand edition was fitted with the brabus tuning box as standard which was an option on the earlier models. Have it on my 08 CLS and it was pretty expensive at the time for what it is.

[Nigel_O]

J4CKO said:

Get a V8 Nigel, after your coupe the V6 may feel a bit tardy.

Still got the Coupe - now for sunny weekends.

TBH, even a V8 CLS is going to feel tame against the Coupe, which is why I'm looking for a comfy cruiser - if I want quick, I'll take the Fiat

[Black-C5]

I have a 59 plate CLS Grand Edition, which I bought back in November last year with just over 60k on the clock. Like you, I had spent the previous few years with an Italian of questionable integrity, so was looking for something a little more solid and reliable whilst still retaining a stylish edge. To that end, the first generation CLS fitted the bill perfectly.

Six months in and the car has been pretty much faultless and is always a pleasure to drive. The novelty of premium build quality has yet to wear off - everything works! I was keen to get a Grand Edition and waited until I found one in the right spec that fitted my budget. As I understand it, the Grand Edition has a Brabus tweak to the ECU that gives an extra few BHP over the standard CLS 350CDi, which in turn is more powerful than the CLS 320CDi. From what I recall, the 320Cdi is about 225 bhp, the later 350Cdi is 260-ish, and the Grand Edition is 272 bhp (not sure of the torque increase). Apart from that there are only a few differences that distinguish the Grand Edition from other CLS models, the most obvious being the 18" AMG wheels. Honestly though, is it worth buying a Grand Edition for the power advantage alone? Probably not, I would say - although it is quicker on paper, I haven't noticed much difference in day-to-day driving over the two CLS 320CDi I have driven. As for fuel economy, the best I've seen is just over 40mpg on a long-ish motorway journey, which I think is pretty good for a car of this size and performance.

[J4CKO]

Nigel_O said:

J4CKO said:

Get a V8 Nigel, after your coupe the V6 may feel a bit tardy.

Still got the Coupe - now for sunny weekends.

TBH, even a V8 CLS is going to feel tame against the Coupe, which is why I'm looking for a comfy cruiser - if I want quick, I'll take the Fiat

You need a CLS 55 then ! to be honest, I cant see the point in getting a V6, the V8 is no more expensive, they are all pretty poor on fuel, still amazes me how mine goes.

Having some challenges with it at the moment, I have partially sorted the creaking from the front suspension, better but not perfect and now its throwing a Malfunction on the air suspension, suspect the pump is dying, but you are pretty hands on I guess so shouldnt be an issue.

[Nigel_O]

J4CKO said:

You need a CLS 55 then ! to be honest,

Still wouldn't be quick enough - my Coupe has more power and weighs 500+kg less, so you can imagine how well it goes. As long as its not from a standing start, it would even beat the CLS63AMG (Coupe does 60-120 in 7.2s, CLS63 takes 9.7s). In fact the Coupe has done a standing quarter faster than a stock CLS63, although I'll accept that the CLS driver is probably having an easier time while he's doing it though....

I'm just looking for a refined, good looking cruiser that will do mid to high 30s mpg (40s at a push) - it will get used for the awful 70-mile a day commute in the usual M42 rush-hour traffic.

My Alfa GT has been wonderful at this role for the last four years, but the four-pot diesel is grumbly and the whole car is a bit un-refined - time for something soothing....

[J4CKO]

Nigel_O said:

J4CKO said:

You need a CLS 55 then ! to be honest,

Still wouldn't be quick enough - my Coupe has more power and weighs 500+kg less, so you can imagine how well it goes. As long as its not from a standing start, it would even beat the CLS63AMG (Coupe does 60-120 in 7.2s, CLS63 takes 9.7s). In fact the Coupe has done a standing quarter faster than a stock CLS63, although I'll accept that the CLS driver is probably having an easier time while he's doing it though....

I'm just looking for a refined, good looking cruiser that will do mid to high 30s mpg (40s at a push) - it will get used for the awful 70-mile a day commute in the usual M42 rush-hour traffic.

My Alfa GT has been wonderful at this role for the last four years, but the four-pot diesel is grumbly and the whole car is a bit un-refined - time for something soothing....

You need a 55 with a few mods then

Went in a coupe for the first time since my disaster the other day, my mate at work has a 16v non turbo, "barn find", in that it had been in his garage for years, broom yellow dead standard, forgot how well they rode.

[ZX10R NIN]

For wafting does the CLS need to match your Coupe's performance?

[J4CKO]

ZX10R NIN said:

For wafting does the CLS need to match your Coupe's performance?

Think Nigel was saying it doesnt need to so may as well get a V6.

[Nigel_O]

Exactly - if I want quick, I'll take the Coupe. After years of a slightly jiggly Alfa, I just want to waft for a while...

My youngest son has just bought himself a 2012(?) Jag XJ and it is epic - I'm so jealous...

That said, I polished the Alfa GT over the weekend and it passed its MOT on Saturday. It's running very nicely and it looks good, despite the mileage (226,000...)

I'm in two minds, so probably the best thing to do right now is nothing

[so called]

I've enjoyed my CLS 320CDI for the past 3 years. It's been to Germany a few times and also down to Spain.
Common 45mpg on motorway runs. The big petrol engined cars performance must be amazing as the 320 is great when I need to move. 😀
Unfortunately selling to pay for the engine rebuild on my Cerbera.

[J4CKO]

I thought mine was rapid, had a little tussle with a Mk7 Golf GTI, very little in it, how does that happen ?

220 bhp plays 388 ?

BHP/Tonne 160 vs 210 ish

Didnt realise they were that bloody quick, nose well and truly out of joint !

[ZX10R NIN]

How do you know the Golf wasn't mapped which would put it at around 300bhp plus where did this tussle take place? I've (when driving the E500) found that in traffic light situations I might as well leave the hot hatches to it (especially if 4wd) as there's not usually enough room to let the car have it's head, motorways are a very different situation on A/B Roads it depends on how tight & twisty it is, my mates 350bhp Megane gives me nightmares on some of the tighter stuff but if it's a bit more flowing I'll just start to gap him.

If it was a straight line drag race then I'd guess the golf was mapped which would keep you close to one another, also remember in reality you'll be putting around 330bhp to the floor.

[J4CKO]

ZX10R NIN said:

How do you know the Golf wasn't mapped which would put it at around 300bhp plus where did this tussle take place? I've (when driving the E500) found that in traffic light situations I might as well leave the hot hatches to it (especially if 4wd) as there's not usually enough room to let the car have it's head, motorways are a very different situation on A/B Roads it depends on how tight & twisty it is, my mates 350bhp Megane gives me nightmares on some of the tighter stuff but if it's a bit more flowing I'll just start to gap him.

If it was a straight line drag race then I'd guess the golf was mapped which would keep you close to one another, also remember in reality you'll be putting around 330bhp to the floor.

Yeah, that would make sense, been in a colleagues gti and it felt fairly quick, but not as quick as mine, it did look a little non standard with different wheels and perhaps a bit lower, was a couple of roll ons on a dual carriageway.

These VAG 2 litre turbos can be very rapid, I think he expected to destroy the big old lumbering Merc but it was pretty much even.

[ZX10R NIN]

All 2.0T's are rapid once played with top end roll ons is where they suffer as that small turbo becomes a hinderance I have a friend with a 400bhp manual Golf R when rolling on from 70mph onwards my CLK55 just walks away from him (tests done on a runway) below that & he'll edge me showing it's benefits as well, what's more interesting was watching was the difference between his car & a 400bhp Escort Cosworth as low down he'd gap the Cossie but get overhauled up the top end as the Cossies big turbo came into it's own.

It's all good fun though there's nothing like a good unexpected tussle to put a smile on your face.