CLS500 or 650i?
Discussion
Morning all
I'm changing car soon and the shortlist is down to either a CLS500 or 650i Convertible / Coupe, probably 2007 on and ideally with under 90k miles. I've yet to drive either, planning to start the process proper in a couple of weeks once I've got the current car up for sale.
Budget is around the £10k mark, I've looked into the running & general servicing costs so am aware of those already along with many hours on t'google reading owners forums, comparison threads, buying guides and the like.
Is there anything I've missed, and any previous owners on here that can steer me in either direction?
Thanks for looking,
I'm changing car soon and the shortlist is down to either a CLS500 or 650i Convertible / Coupe, probably 2007 on and ideally with under 90k miles. I've yet to drive either, planning to start the process proper in a couple of weeks once I've got the current car up for sale.
Budget is around the £10k mark, I've looked into the running & general servicing costs so am aware of those already along with many hours on t'google reading owners forums, comparison threads, buying guides and the like.
Is there anything I've missed, and any previous owners on here that can steer me in either direction?
Thanks for looking,
If you've done your research then I'd say let the test drive help you decide the 500 will be the later 5.5 engine which means 390bhp rather than 310bhp.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Also worth a look is the CL500
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
Also worth a look is the CL500
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
mr alan said:
I think a chap on here bought one of the cl500 not so long ago and had coil pack issues, around £1200 to fix if I recall, so check its running correctly. His was misfiring slightly and the packs are only from MB
That sounds like a 'take it do the dealers and pull your pants down' price for a fix.I'd expect a CL to have more potential for ruin than a CLS since it's effectively an S class platform. The CLS is based on the E class.
No direct experience of a 6 series or CLS but I'd have the CLS FWIW.
Edit: are you sure it wasn't a 600? They are more prone to coil pack issues AFAIK and carry a whole lot more bork.
Edited by Patrick Bateman on Wednesday 5th April 12:09
My Brother has a 2002 MB CL500 and it looks a million $$'s as it drives down the road. Wheels, paintwork are all in very good condition...
Why then does my Brother continually get close to tears with the car then?
One word; electrics mostly!
- Satnav module broken. £1300 to replace
- Headlight electrical issue which blows headlights sometimes weekly. MB can't find fault in 4 visits
- Central locking/alarm fault. Door module needed replacing.
- 3x shock absorbers at £1000+ each
- Battery drain identified at great expense
- Eats CV joint boots
- Lots more and continuous...
That said a friend has virtually the same car/spec and year and has trouble free driving for 8 years! It's a minefield...
ETA...Brother has had car for 18 months.
Why then does my Brother continually get close to tears with the car then?
One word; electrics mostly!
- Satnav module broken. £1300 to replace
- Headlight electrical issue which blows headlights sometimes weekly. MB can't find fault in 4 visits
- Central locking/alarm fault. Door module needed replacing.
- 3x shock absorbers at £1000+ each
- Battery drain identified at great expense
- Eats CV joint boots
- Lots more and continuous...
That said a friend has virtually the same car/spec and year and has trouble free driving for 8 years! It's a minefield...
ETA...Brother has had car for 18 months.
They are both "special" cars, so I'd recommend taking an example of each for a test drive, and buy the one that makes YOU feel special when you're driving it.
If you weren't after a sense of occasion, a Ford Mondeo would do... But you want it. You want to feel a million dollars.
CAVEAT: Usual rules apply when it comes to price, condition, number of owners, service history, stack of bills, spare keys, old MoTs, etc.
If you weren't after a sense of occasion, a Ford Mondeo would do... But you want it. You want to feel a million dollars.
CAVEAT: Usual rules apply when it comes to price, condition, number of owners, service history, stack of bills, spare keys, old MoTs, etc.
CLS gets my vote purely as I think it's nicer looking, and I have a CLS myself so I'm not biased in any way at all! haha
I actually do like the 6 series as well and looked at the M6 before I settled on my car.
As said, the CLS is based on the E Class platform and from experience and what I've read it generally a solid car all round.
I actually do like the 6 series as well and looked at the M6 before I settled on my car.
As said, the CLS is based on the E Class platform and from experience and what I've read it generally a solid car all round.
Back in 2006 I ordered CLS as a company car over the 6 Series after careful consideration of both - the MB was just a better looking, more comfortable vehicle. Took delivery (in the days when MB did factory pickups) from Stuttgart early 2007. Had a few decent options that are pretty mandatory in my view: BiXenons, ventilated seats, heated rears, rear blind.
Loved the car. When its term 'expired' as a company car I bought it off the firm that manages our fleet and kept it through to 2013.
I never thought "wish I'd gone for the 6 series" and a few colleagues with 6s did admit that they should have CLSd instead.
Why did I get rid of it?
I did love that car but at 90,000 miles it was getting a little sloppy. Nothing major but it's a heavy car and was at the point where a bunch of bushes and bearings were going to need to be replaced. BiXenons were on their way out and the driver's window mechanism had failed and been replaced. To be honest I was prepared to throw a few thousand at it to get it back up to taut but then the dealer called to persuade me to take a new W218 CLS with a cracking discount.
The new CLS was spec'd with virtually every option apart from the pointless (no Keyless Go, no sunroof, no auto boot closing). So a very, very nice car.
But the morning that I drove down in the old CLS to pick up the new one I felt really down - a bit like having a faithful hound put down. No excitement in changing.
Make sure that you've a fund put aside for problems and surprises --- but that's true for any 10 year old car. The W219 CLS is very fine car indeed.
Loved the car. When its term 'expired' as a company car I bought it off the firm that manages our fleet and kept it through to 2013.
I never thought "wish I'd gone for the 6 series" and a few colleagues with 6s did admit that they should have CLSd instead.
Why did I get rid of it?
I did love that car but at 90,000 miles it was getting a little sloppy. Nothing major but it's a heavy car and was at the point where a bunch of bushes and bearings were going to need to be replaced. BiXenons were on their way out and the driver's window mechanism had failed and been replaced. To be honest I was prepared to throw a few thousand at it to get it back up to taut but then the dealer called to persuade me to take a new W218 CLS with a cracking discount.
The new CLS was spec'd with virtually every option apart from the pointless (no Keyless Go, no sunroof, no auto boot closing). So a very, very nice car.
But the morning that I drove down in the old CLS to pick up the new one I felt really down - a bit like having a faithful hound put down. No excitement in changing.
Make sure that you've a fund put aside for problems and surprises --- but that's true for any 10 year old car. The W219 CLS is very fine car indeed.
The W219 CLS remains, to my eyes, one of the best looking modern cars on the road. Considering the original concept car was launched in 2003, the design looks remarkably fresh today. I never understood what they were thinking when they designed the W218, which is so bland and tubby looking in comparison. Here's hoping the next gen one will recapture some of that sharpness the original design had.
My dad had a CLS320 CDI about ten years ago, and it's still the car he regrets selling the most. He looked at getting a CLS 55/63 last year but couldn't find the "right" one he wanted - but he still maintains he'll get one at some point in the future.
My dad had a CLS320 CDI about ten years ago, and it's still the car he regrets selling the most. He looked at getting a CLS 55/63 last year but couldn't find the "right" one he wanted - but he still maintains he'll get one at some point in the future.
RushDom said:
The W219 CLS remains, to my eyes, one of the best looking modern cars on the road. Considering the original concept car was launched in 2003, the design looks remarkably fresh today. I never understood what they were thinking when they designed the W218, which is so bland and tubby looking in comparison. Here's hoping the next gen one will recapture some of that sharpness the original design had.
My dad had a CLS320 CDI about ten years ago, and it's still the car he regrets selling the most. He looked at getting a CLS 55/63 last year but couldn't find the "right" one he wanted - but he still maintains he'll get one at some point in the future.
Agree with thisMy dad had a CLS320 CDI about ten years ago, and it's still the car he regrets selling the most. He looked at getting a CLS 55/63 last year but couldn't find the "right" one he wanted - but he still maintains he'll get one at some point in the future.
A 6 series convertible is a very different car though.
I had never owned a convertible before my Z4 and I'd always of picked the Coupe version over the Convertible option but after 6 months I'm hooked and I'm now looking at my next car having to be a Convertible as well!
Something about having the roof down makes the most boring of journey's a complete event. It's also like having 2 cars. My car with the roof up in comfort mode is a lovely relaxing place to be, push 2 buttons (sport and roof) and pull a paddle to put it in manual mode and it's completely transformed itself in to a fun weekend car (I appreciate it's no Caterham!).
I love the CSL but I think I'd go for the 650i Convertible.
I had never owned a convertible before my Z4 and I'd always of picked the Coupe version over the Convertible option but after 6 months I'm hooked and I'm now looking at my next car having to be a Convertible as well!
Something about having the roof down makes the most boring of journey's a complete event. It's also like having 2 cars. My car with the roof up in comfort mode is a lovely relaxing place to be, push 2 buttons (sport and roof) and pull a paddle to put it in manual mode and it's completely transformed itself in to a fun weekend car (I appreciate it's no Caterham!).
I love the CSL but I think I'd go for the 650i Convertible.
SteveS Cup said:
A 6 series convertible is a very different car though.
I had never owned a convertible before my Z4 and I'd always of picked the Coupe version over the Convertible option but after 6 months I'm hooked and I'm now looking at my next car having to be a Convertible as well!
Something about having the roof down makes the most boring of journey's a complete event. It's also like having 2 cars. My car with the roof up in comfort mode is a lovely relaxing place to be, push 2 buttons (sport and roof) and pull a paddle to put it in manual mode and it's completely transformed itself in to a fun weekend car (I appreciate it's no Caterham!).
I love the CSL but I think I'd go for the 650i Convertible.
I've got the 2006 56 Z4 Coupe myself at the moment making way for the next car, which is looking more and more like a CLS based on the aboveI had never owned a convertible before my Z4 and I'd always of picked the Coupe version over the Convertible option but after 6 months I'm hooked and I'm now looking at my next car having to be a Convertible as well!
Something about having the roof down makes the most boring of journey's a complete event. It's also like having 2 cars. My car with the roof up in comfort mode is a lovely relaxing place to be, push 2 buttons (sport and roof) and pull a paddle to put it in manual mode and it's completely transformed itself in to a fun weekend car (I appreciate it's no Caterham!).
I love the CSL but I think I'd go for the 650i Convertible.
I have a trackday prepared turbo MX5 that I can use on sunny days if the mood takes me (and I want to squeeze my pie-loving frame into a tiny bucket seat), otherwise the 650 cab would be a more likely winner.
I've just run a 5.0 E500 for 7 years from 90k to nearly a 150k. The only non-scheduled fixes were an engine mount, a door lock, a crank pulley and a minor wiring issue. Just replaced it with a newer 5.5. In my eyes the CLS looks great, the 650 a bit Bangly. EDIT just remember I also fitted a pump for the air suspension. Still all in those fixes cost about £1.3k which is less than £200 a year.
Edited by AC43 on Wednesday 5th April 18:03
When I was choosing between the CLS500 and the 645 I went with the BMW as I found I preferred it on the test drive. It is my 8th BMW though, and I've never owned a Mercedes.
Both cars can give expensive problems, they're complicated cars and were expensive when new.
My 645 has had a few issues, rocker cover gaskets, gearbox sump (they're plastic and eventually warp), brake lines, the Idrive has just been rebuilt as well as routine servicing.
It does still feel special to drive though, it's fast enough for most things and has never really felt lacking. Mine has active steering and anti roll bars so the sport button makes it feel quite different.
On longer runs it's a relaxing thing to do the miles in, while still being fun on more interesting roads.
I've always loved the looks, however they do seem to be a marmite car and you don't see many others.
I've had it a couple of years and I don't really know what I would change it for, I'm usually well down the road of buying something else by now.
Both cars can give expensive problems, they're complicated cars and were expensive when new.
My 645 has had a few issues, rocker cover gaskets, gearbox sump (they're plastic and eventually warp), brake lines, the Idrive has just been rebuilt as well as routine servicing.
It does still feel special to drive though, it's fast enough for most things and has never really felt lacking. Mine has active steering and anti roll bars so the sport button makes it feel quite different.
On longer runs it's a relaxing thing to do the miles in, while still being fun on more interesting roads.
I've always loved the looks, however they do seem to be a marmite car and you don't see many others.
I've had it a couple of years and I don't really know what I would change it for, I'm usually well down the road of buying something else by now.
have had my 2008 CLS 500 for a year and a half, bought on a bit of a whim but love it.
Mine is the Club Sport version, i.e. whoever bought it didn't tick many boxes, so missing Xenons and the standard lights aren't great.
Problem wise, not much, it stank of burning oil, not a great start with a Mercedes, tracked it to the cam blanking plus on the back of the engine and oil separator, £40 in parts and half and hour to fit, so don't worry if there is a hint of burning 5w30, its that !
The front suspension is creaking a bit, drives fine but sounds like an old pram, good news is its, for those parts at least, just regular E class stuff and dead cheap, all 500s have Airmatic which is where it differs, which can get a bit spendy, mine has been fine, they will however "have a lie down" if left long enough, i.e. it settles, but it should come right up and should never go really low, going to remove the Anti Roll bar and change the bushes as I believe its that.
Brakes and stuff are cheap on the non AMG versions, tyres cost me £105 a corner for Pirellis.
it is properly quick, to me anyway, made my 350Z feel slow, on the move it will stay with some pretty impressive stuff, if corner aren't involved and for a big RWD it is remarkably easy to launch, it just hunkers down and goes, traction is not an issue in the dry, in the wet if it kicks down the dash lights up like mad, the AMG versions overshadow it but with nigh on 400 bhp/400 lb ft, its a pretty rapid car and thought you would never call it a ports car, it will, when the airmatic is stiffened up, corner quite flat, then you can set it to floaty mode and its really very comfy.
I replaced the Head Unit with a Chinese Android job, miles better, and I sold the old one for £350.
Not driven the BMW, would imagine its a bit sportier, it isn't faster, same ball park but a bit less power.
MPG, late teens up to 28 on along journey, not an issue as I don't do many miles.
Overall, love it, just need the front end to stop sounding like an old pram !
Don't pay much for one, I paid seven in Dec 2015 (110k) and decided to change for a 55 but couldn't raise enough for it, the same ones are for sale for ages at dealers, months if not years, the 11 grand ones are in cloud cuckoo land, buyers market, I reckon I could get six for mine. Same goes for 55's, the same ones from six weeks ago are for sale !
Mine is the Club Sport version, i.e. whoever bought it didn't tick many boxes, so missing Xenons and the standard lights aren't great.
Problem wise, not much, it stank of burning oil, not a great start with a Mercedes, tracked it to the cam blanking plus on the back of the engine and oil separator, £40 in parts and half and hour to fit, so don't worry if there is a hint of burning 5w30, its that !
The front suspension is creaking a bit, drives fine but sounds like an old pram, good news is its, for those parts at least, just regular E class stuff and dead cheap, all 500s have Airmatic which is where it differs, which can get a bit spendy, mine has been fine, they will however "have a lie down" if left long enough, i.e. it settles, but it should come right up and should never go really low, going to remove the Anti Roll bar and change the bushes as I believe its that.
Brakes and stuff are cheap on the non AMG versions, tyres cost me £105 a corner for Pirellis.
it is properly quick, to me anyway, made my 350Z feel slow, on the move it will stay with some pretty impressive stuff, if corner aren't involved and for a big RWD it is remarkably easy to launch, it just hunkers down and goes, traction is not an issue in the dry, in the wet if it kicks down the dash lights up like mad, the AMG versions overshadow it but with nigh on 400 bhp/400 lb ft, its a pretty rapid car and thought you would never call it a ports car, it will, when the airmatic is stiffened up, corner quite flat, then you can set it to floaty mode and its really very comfy.
I replaced the Head Unit with a Chinese Android job, miles better, and I sold the old one for £350.
Not driven the BMW, would imagine its a bit sportier, it isn't faster, same ball park but a bit less power.
MPG, late teens up to 28 on along journey, not an issue as I don't do many miles.
Overall, love it, just need the front end to stop sounding like an old pram !
Don't pay much for one, I paid seven in Dec 2015 (110k) and decided to change for a 55 but couldn't raise enough for it, the same ones are for sale for ages at dealers, months if not years, the 11 grand ones are in cloud cuckoo land, buyers market, I reckon I could get six for mine. Same goes for 55's, the same ones from six weeks ago are for sale !
DanL said:
Costs and what went wrong on my previous 650 are in my profile. I liked it enough that I've got the current shape one now - whilst the technology is better in the new one, I think the old one had the nicer sounding engine!
Very useful info there, thanks for filling it out. Although maybe a bit painful to look back on!7795 said:
My Brother has a 2002 MB CL500 and it looks a million $$'s as it drives down the road. Wheels, paintwork are all in very good condition...
Why then does my Brother continually get close to tears with the car then?
One word; electrics mostly!
- Satnav module broken. £1300 to replace
- Headlight electrical issue which blows headlights sometimes weekly. MB can't find fault in 4 visits
- Central locking/alarm fault. Door module needed replacing.
- 3x shock absorbers at £1000+ each
- Battery drain identified at great expense
- Eats CV joint boots
- Lots more and continuous...
That said a friend has virtually the same car/spec and year and has trouble free driving for 8 years! It's a minefield...
ETA...Brother has had car for 18 months.
If he is paying £1300 to replace a nav unit that can be picked up second hand on ebay for about £100 then he needs help. There is no way on earth I would be taking a 2002 Mercedes to a main dealer for servicing/fault fixing!Why then does my Brother continually get close to tears with the car then?
One word; electrics mostly!
- Satnav module broken. £1300 to replace
- Headlight electrical issue which blows headlights sometimes weekly. MB can't find fault in 4 visits
- Central locking/alarm fault. Door module needed replacing.
- 3x shock absorbers at £1000+ each
- Battery drain identified at great expense
- Eats CV joint boots
- Lots more and continuous...
That said a friend has virtually the same car/spec and year and has trouble free driving for 8 years! It's a minefield...
ETA...Brother has had car for 18 months.
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