E60 M5 to CL600 Biturbo
Discussion
Hi guys
New car time for me!
I purchased an E60 M5 3 years ago, having previously enjoyed a W215 Merc CL600 Biturbo. The Merc was lovely and torquey and came with all the toys but was getting a little long in the tooth and to be honest I missed a little driver involvement.
The hunt was on for a nice E60 M5 - I had heard all the horror stories and was very careful about my selection. In the end I settled on a '55 plate M5 showing 68K miles. Initially when I viewed it I was ready to run a mile as the service history was missing. However a quick call to BMW revealed it had spent most of its life under extended warranty and had literally just (1000 miles ago) been fitted with a brand new engine at a cost of £18,000 courtesy of BMW!
So effectively I was buying a 1000 mile M5 - new clutch, SMG pump and flywheel was also included!
I loved the car and over the years subtly improved/personalised it adding H&S springs, BBS reps, spacers muffler delete etc.
There were a few niggles but I did everything myself DIY- new disks all round, ionic control unit, 2nd hand throttle actuators - common stuff.
I bought the car for £14K and pretty much got that back when I came to sell it so overall depreciation has been almost zero
And
That
Sound!!!
Press the M button and unlease all hell from the V10 - if you havent tried on, you must!
A few pics of how it was when I finished with it
So I used the M5 as my daily for almost 3 years and it rarely put a foot wrong. However, I started to think that, at nearly, 100K miles by now that it was only a matter of time before some potentially big bills were to come my way. Plus I was starting to get a bit tired of the need to rev the nuts of the car to make good progress.....I must be getting old
So the hunt was on for something new and exciting. Had to be 500 HP plus as this is what I am used to!!!! Didnt fancy the M5 as I can't get on with the looks. I had a look at the XKR but just not practical with 2 under 5s in the family.
The short list was therefore a new shape CL63 or 600 or a C6 RS6
I saw a couple of RS6s but a really nice one is still the best part of £30K and again, in my eyes, it is starting to date now
So my heart said W216 CL with a big engine and the hunt was on!
I saw quite a few CL63s but none that I really gelled with. I like a car to be mint and none of the ones I saw in my budget were quite right. Eventually I started looking at 600 Biturbos again - now most of them are horrible to look at without the AMG spec but I found one which had been really nicely upgraded - quad exhausts from CKS, lowered slightly, 63 wheels, full AMG bodykit. Went to see it and was completely sold there and then.
The torque is AMAZING! The engine is rated at 512 HP but they are very conservative with most putting out 540 bhp from the factory. I am already looking at a remap to take it to over 600 HP and close to 900 n/m torque!
So the pictures! Forgive the crappy phone pics but you get the idea:
It is actually a 10 year old car - made in the first year of production 2006 (reg. Jan 2007)but I think it looks great! Original invoice was £120K - I paid £20K. Thats make it pretty good value in my eyes.
Spec is amazing - includes massage seats, hot and cold, distronic cruise, infrared night display, digital TV, electric everything, soft close doors and boot , the list goes on
Plus it does 0-60 in 4.2 secs and 0-100 in around 9.8.......the way it picks up from 30mph to 100mph is amazing. Feels so much quicker than the M5 but I guess this is the torque effect. In reality I suspect they are quite well matched against the stopwatch but they do it in very different ways!!
The gearbox is an auto but with paddles you can switch if you want to. To be honest, I dont bother - the torque just carries you away!
So, hope you like. Im not going to mess around with this at all - wheels, suspension, exhaust etc are all as I would like. The only thing I have to consider is that 100HP+ remap!
Cheers for reading
Simon
New car time for me!
I purchased an E60 M5 3 years ago, having previously enjoyed a W215 Merc CL600 Biturbo. The Merc was lovely and torquey and came with all the toys but was getting a little long in the tooth and to be honest I missed a little driver involvement.
The hunt was on for a nice E60 M5 - I had heard all the horror stories and was very careful about my selection. In the end I settled on a '55 plate M5 showing 68K miles. Initially when I viewed it I was ready to run a mile as the service history was missing. However a quick call to BMW revealed it had spent most of its life under extended warranty and had literally just (1000 miles ago) been fitted with a brand new engine at a cost of £18,000 courtesy of BMW!
So effectively I was buying a 1000 mile M5 - new clutch, SMG pump and flywheel was also included!
I loved the car and over the years subtly improved/personalised it adding H&S springs, BBS reps, spacers muffler delete etc.
There were a few niggles but I did everything myself DIY- new disks all round, ionic control unit, 2nd hand throttle actuators - common stuff.
I bought the car for £14K and pretty much got that back when I came to sell it so overall depreciation has been almost zero
And
That
Sound!!!
Press the M button and unlease all hell from the V10 - if you havent tried on, you must!
A few pics of how it was when I finished with it
So I used the M5 as my daily for almost 3 years and it rarely put a foot wrong. However, I started to think that, at nearly, 100K miles by now that it was only a matter of time before some potentially big bills were to come my way. Plus I was starting to get a bit tired of the need to rev the nuts of the car to make good progress.....I must be getting old
So the hunt was on for something new and exciting. Had to be 500 HP plus as this is what I am used to!!!! Didnt fancy the M5 as I can't get on with the looks. I had a look at the XKR but just not practical with 2 under 5s in the family.
The short list was therefore a new shape CL63 or 600 or a C6 RS6
I saw a couple of RS6s but a really nice one is still the best part of £30K and again, in my eyes, it is starting to date now
So my heart said W216 CL with a big engine and the hunt was on!
I saw quite a few CL63s but none that I really gelled with. I like a car to be mint and none of the ones I saw in my budget were quite right. Eventually I started looking at 600 Biturbos again - now most of them are horrible to look at without the AMG spec but I found one which had been really nicely upgraded - quad exhausts from CKS, lowered slightly, 63 wheels, full AMG bodykit. Went to see it and was completely sold there and then.
The torque is AMAZING! The engine is rated at 512 HP but they are very conservative with most putting out 540 bhp from the factory. I am already looking at a remap to take it to over 600 HP and close to 900 n/m torque!
So the pictures! Forgive the crappy phone pics but you get the idea:
It is actually a 10 year old car - made in the first year of production 2006 (reg. Jan 2007)but I think it looks great! Original invoice was £120K - I paid £20K. Thats make it pretty good value in my eyes.
Spec is amazing - includes massage seats, hot and cold, distronic cruise, infrared night display, digital TV, electric everything, soft close doors and boot , the list goes on
Plus it does 0-60 in 4.2 secs and 0-100 in around 9.8.......the way it picks up from 30mph to 100mph is amazing. Feels so much quicker than the M5 but I guess this is the torque effect. In reality I suspect they are quite well matched against the stopwatch but they do it in very different ways!!
The gearbox is an auto but with paddles you can switch if you want to. To be honest, I dont bother - the torque just carries you away!
So, hope you like. Im not going to mess around with this at all - wheels, suspension, exhaust etc are all as I would like. The only thing I have to consider is that 100HP+ remap!
Cheers for reading
Simon
bmthnick1981 said:
Yes the cl65 AMG. Mental bit of kit with 600bhp and 700lb ft standard!
Lovely car OP always loved the shape of these and coupled with the engine it must be fantastic.
Thanks guys - yes the 65 AMG rated at over 600hp!Lovely car OP always loved the shape of these and coupled with the engine it must be fantastic.
If I go for the remap my car will be putting out similar power.....
jke11y said:
interstellar said:
bmthnick1981 said:
interstellar said:
Is the car a CL600 then with the 5.5 engine or the CL65 with the 6.0?
The clue is in the thread title. CL600. It looks awesome.
hi all
thanks for all the positive comments! The Merc really is a monster and fantastic value for money.
I have been in contact with a company called MSL who do Merc remaps and have been promised an extra 100 hp taking me up to 600!
Two months in now and all has been well apart from squeaky front wishbones which were replaced by the dealer. Apparently its a common Merc problem?
The wet weather recently has been challenging - the rear spins up with fhe slightest touch of the throttle as the turbos spool up. All thd torque can bedifficult to get down onto the road unless roads are bone dry.
Dont really miss the M5 to be honest!
thanks for all the positive comments! The Merc really is a monster and fantastic value for money.
I have been in contact with a company called MSL who do Merc remaps and have been promised an extra 100 hp taking me up to 600!
Two months in now and all has been well apart from squeaky front wishbones which were replaced by the dealer. Apparently its a common Merc problem?
The wet weather recently has been challenging - the rear spins up with fhe slightest touch of the throttle as the turbos spool up. All thd torque can bedifficult to get down onto the road unless roads are bone dry.
Dont really miss the M5 to be honest!
layercake said:
Lovely example, out of interest where did you find it? I've done a search and can only find CL500's not many 600's out there
hi, it turned up on Autotrader - I was originally looking at the 63 but the 600 with the AMG kit is even nicer for me - the torque of the biturbo is immense!
aspirated said:
Here you go with your stupid logic again. This would cost far more to run/maintain than any of the cars you mentioned would cost in depreciation alone, and I'm pretty sure the OP would agree.
Car looks amazing OP
Thanks chap - youre right, they are expensive when they go wrong!Car looks amazing OP
Notice you drive a Golf 😉😉
Fact is the CL just makes you feel SPECIAL
My wife has a Golf and whilst it is undoubtedly quick., comfortable, does everything etc, it is nothing compared to a 120£k Merc!
Not only is the power unbelievable, but the comfort, ride and toys are amazing
Everyone likes to look at the car - I get admiring looks at the lights everyday and it just makes me feel warm inside!!
Remap to 600bhp is next on the cards - that is when my new coil pack £1000 is fitted!
My wife has a Golf and whilst it is undoubtedly quick., comfortable, does everything etc, it is nothing compared to a 120£k Merc!
Not only is the power unbelievable, but the comfort, ride and toys are amazing
Everyone likes to look at the car - I get admiring looks at the lights everyday and it just makes me feel warm inside!!
Remap to 600bhp is next on the cards - that is when my new coil pack £1000 is fitted!
Purso said:
Well done Simon great choice such a lot of car for the money and a stunning example!!! Have considered one of these many times but never happened for a variety of reasons one being fear of maintenance. Hopefully your ownership prives me wrong. Out of interest what is the distronic cruise?
Distronic cruise is cruise control which automatically.adjusts to traffic. As you approach a car, the inbuilt radar slows the car and then speeds up again when the car in front movesIve actually had both!
Car history went:
E39 M5
W215 CL600
E60 M5
W216 CL600
Loved the W216 and they are really cheap now - still a great looking car. However the W216 is about a decade more modern in terms of tech and just looks "right"
They both have the same amazing engine!
The W215 is more fragile particularly in terms of ABC suspension
Cheers
Car history went:
E39 M5
W215 CL600
E60 M5
W216 CL600
Loved the W216 and they are really cheap now - still a great looking car. However the W216 is about a decade more modern in terms of tech and just looks "right"
They both have the same amazing engine!
The W215 is more fragile particularly in terms of ABC suspension
Cheers
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