C215's - how are they to live with?

[mercboiuk]

Some of you may remember I asked about various AMGs a few months ago. I've since ruled out the C208 and C209, as well as the W203, but I've now included the C215 generation CL in my search.

So what are these CLs like to live with?
My parents run a 140-series CL420. How does the 140 compare to the 215 in a size comparison?

Is there anything to look for when inspecting C215s? More specifically, what are the CL55 Kompressors like to drive, and how do they handle?

Are there any issues I should be aware of?
Any other advice you can give me would be greatly received.

Many thanks in advance,

Darren

 

[BaldGuy]

Pm Maff... Before all of his super cars he had a CL500 CL55 and a CL65... I think he had suspension problems and a few other gremlins.... why have you ruled out the CLK 209... I run a 500 and it scares a few people, its a great car.... sensible driving returning 28-30mpg and it also has a mental side should you wish to......most 209s are the 320 and diesel variants....

 

[mercboiuk]

Pmwhy have you ruled out the CLK 209... I run a 500 and it scares a few people, its a great car.... sensible driving returning 28-30mpg and it also has a mental side should you wish to......most 209s are the 320 and diesel variants....

I was looking at the AMG variants. I sat in a 63, and while comfortable in the front, I have to think about my friends who will be in the back. I sat in the back and I couldn't sit upright, due to the roof line (I'm 6'2). I found that you sit high in the rear seat compared to the 124 coupe I currently have. Most of my friends are around 6', which enlies the problem.
So on to the C215

Darren

 

[amwebby]

I've had my 2000 C215 for 3 years now. Problems in that time have been:

• ABC system failing due to a perished hose (understandable as the car had stood for six months prior to my purchase) £400 to fix.
• Faulty O2 sensor on one side. £250 inc labour.
• Battery drain problem caused by a seat controller, replaced at a cost of £250 inc labour.

That's it. Which ain't bad. Had "rust" (it's aluminium) fixed in the c-post, door bottoms and arches under warranty, which are all trouble spots and should be inspected. Essential therefore that the MobilioLife isn't voided.

Otherwise great car, loads of power, comfort and style. I love it.

 

[BTB 500]

That's it.

Plus maybe new cat(s) ... !

 

[amwebby]

Plus maybe new cat(s) ... !

Yeah, being pedantic I didn't want to put that on the list until it was verified. That could happen with any car I guess and I would still count the outlay on this car as minimal.

I should have also mentioned it has only required one A service in that time, which has accounted for 25,000 miles of driving. A B service is due in 3,500 miles.

Oh, and I get 25 mpg on the motorway, 18-20 around town.

 

[SG CL500]

I've found it a great and very useable car, although getting expensive (not just fuel)

Issues so far fixed:
ABC pump (about £1k)
Keyless go system failed (£? warranty)
'Rust' on rear 3/4 and C pillar (warranty - 4 mnths to fix and counting...)
Cooling fan bearing went (£700)
Crank position sensor (£400 - but part of this down to useless garage)
Wiring problem in front door (est £400)
Cat split (est £700)
Front suspension something or other needs replacing (£400)
Only 1 of the speakers works (£???)

These are the issues and prob make it sound worse than it really is - still like the car and it works well for me, servicing (if nothing's broken) is remarkably cheap all told

Mileage is the same as Amwebby's - i think we've agreed that the later 7spd boxes give much better mpg

Handling - it weighs 2 tonnes, although this is well hidden by the suspension, particularly for flowing A roads, it still won't see which way an Elise went!

 

[mercboiuk]

The particular example I was looking to buy was 2004 CL55 Kompressor with only 9,000 miles on the clock.
I've been told it has now been sold, yet it's still on the company's website. Maybe the sale will fall through so I can snap it up, but I'll still be looking for a decent one, along with a W211 E55.

Thanks for the input so far If any more can be added by owners or mechanics, it would be most help

Darren

 

[amwebby]

Forgot the crank sensor. £87 for the part. Installed by MobilioLife guy so no labour. Did I say it is important that MobilioLife is not voided?

 

[BlackC55]

The main large cost items are for the suspension. It is expensive to fix and it DOES go wrong.

 

[benztech]

Awesome car so depreciated but the parts havent come down.

I have replaced a few ABC pumps on them, its because people don not use the ABC it is very important to raise every now and then. If the struts leak fluid and the level in the resevoir goes down the highly sensitive pump draws in air and becomes u/s.

They are a great car i had a cl600 bi turbo but jogged it on and bought an E55 210

The other problem you have to be careful with is the common drain hole in the heater blocking up with leaves causing water ingress in the passenger footwell (feel the carpet and check the drain hole every now and then)
Un like one i did recentley - he had no volume on the radio, i diagnosed it to be Water ingress had flooded the cabin carpets passenger side and corroded all the juction points on the loom. The audio system is so specialists because it is D2B (fibre optic) and MB wanted to charge him somewhere in the thousands when i compared the prices.
I just cut back the damaged wires and soldered new connectors - all o.k
Happy customer.

Also if it has keyless go - always every now and then revert to the normal ignition key because the key tracks get jumbled up.

ESM get stuck in P occasionally

 

[Leemc2008]

I run a 500 and it scares a few people, its a great car.... sensible driving returning 28-30mpg

Really?!

 

[benztech]

Really?!

No lies - just facts in what i saw in my days with benz and now on my own as a mobile merc tech

 

[benztech]

Really?!

sorry mate you werent even referring to me - durrr

 

[Leemc2008]

No mate.. haha..

Referring to 500 getting 28-30mpg!

 

[SG CL500]

oh yeah - suspension (knew there was something else) - I had one of the hoses burst as it was chaffed by the rear suspension arms - another £400