SG CL500
Active Member
At lease I'm consistent!
Thanks for the replies...
I guess it's pretty much as I thought regarding electrical complexity but I am a bit disappointed to hear stories of rust, especially as I have owned cars as humble as a 12 year old Vauxhall Astra as a daily driver without a trace of visible rust...
What I have taken out of the posts so far seem to be:
It seems the CL500, being the "entry level car" if it can be called that can be devoid of some of the goodied found on the flagship models though, as it is quite loaded in itself, are there any desirable options I should be looking for on a used CL500?
Thanks again, Malc
I guess it's pretty much as I thought regarding electrical complexity but I am a bit disappointed to hear stories of rust, especially as I have owned cars as humble as a 12 year old Vauxhall Astra as a daily driver without a trace of visible rust...
What I have taken out of the posts so far seem to be:
- avoid the V12!
- Get a 2003 galvanised car if poss.
- The supercharged CL55 is much favoured over the normally aspirated model.
It seems the CL500, being the "entry level car" if it can be called that can be devoid of some of the goodied found on the flagship models though, as it is quite loaded in itself, are there any desirable options I should be looking for on a used CL500?
Thanks again, Malc
SG CL500
Active Member
options - up to you, but given you're buying second hand and hence not silly merc money, in my view:
i really like keyless go
definitely get comand, although only ever seen 1 car without
phone if needed
err, that's about all i'd bother with, get a tv if you want but doubt it will get much use. some really like distronic
basically if you want it, get a car with it fitted as very expensive to retrofit
500 is entry level to a top spec car
(apols for punctuation & brevity - have young child on other arm)
i really like keyless go
definitely get comand, although only ever seen 1 car without
phone if needed
err, that's about all i'd bother with, get a tv if you want but doubt it will get much use. some really like distronic
basically if you want it, get a car with it fitted as very expensive to retrofit
500 is entry level to a top spec car
(apols for punctuation & brevity - have young child on other arm)
television
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I would also go for the same car, my choice of extras would be
keyless go
Bose sound
Comfort front seats, much better than standard or multi contour.
Distronic if you can find one with it on.
the other option are
Garage door opener
Sun blind
Exclusive Nappa leather
Wood and leather steering wheel
" "" " " gear knob
18" 5 spoke wheels
TV tuner
Linguretronic
Refridgerated compartment in rear
Remote boot locking
Trailor coupling
Tyre pressure monitor
Multi contour back rest
This is the list from the 04 sales book
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Be patient, know what you want and be extremely fussy. There are some excellent bargains out there and I would play the field in my quest to get the ideal vehicle and if fuel consumption is not an issue, I would definitely recommend you at least try the different options. My leaning is to-wards the supercharged 55AMG simply because of the Wow factor and there will be no, 'If only' If only I had waited to buy the AMG, if only I had bought the 600?? 
The 500 is a brilliant car with plenty of horses under the bonnet, but the other two are the icing on the cake. All CL's can have any of the options and it is all down to what you want. I would get the highest specced vehicle out there 
and then live in the car. 
Good luck
John
The 500 is a brilliant car with plenty of horses under the bonnet, but the other two are the icing on the cake. All CL's can have any of the options and it is all down to what you want. I would get the highest specced vehicle out there and then live in the car. Good luck
John
television
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Be patient, know what you want and be extremely fussy. There are some excellent bargains out there and I would play the field in my quest to get the ideal vehicle and if fuel consumption is not an issue, I would definitely recommend you at least try the different options. My leaning is to-wards the supercharged 55AMG simply because of the Wow factor and there will be no, 'If only' If only I had waited to buy the AMG, if only I had bought the 600??
Good luck
John
I looked at cars for 3 months before I found the right car, it was worth the wait.
One thing to look out for is leaking struts, look under the car on all four corners at the bottom of the struts to see if there is any moist patches. these can fail the MOT if they are leaking and expensive to fix dont ask me how I know that
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The 500 is the sensible choice, but the sensible choice isn't always the right choice, if you always wonder about having had a different model.
If you're handy with a spanner - which it seems you are - and not phased by a V12 - which it seems you're not then maybe the less sensible 600 would be OK. Reason being the issues that I am aware of would affect all engine derivatives in equal measure: rust, electrics, and window de-lamination.
If you're handy with a spanner - which it seems you are - and not phased by a V12 - which it seems you're not then maybe the less sensible 600 would be OK. Reason being the issues that I am aware of would affect all engine derivatives in equal measure: rust, electrics, and window de-lamination.
recycled
MB Enthusiast
what year are we on about.
some cl600 have 6.0 v12 and some have 5.5 v12 biturbo
some cl600 have 6.0 v12 and some have 5.5 v12 biturbo
2003 is where the tasty model changes occur...
...CL600 becomes a biturbo and CL55 is upgraded from a normally aspirated engine to a supercharged V8.
Both latter variants up the ante to around 500 BHP which is pretty exciting in anyone's book. I would imageine the impressive 4.8 second 0-60 is only the beginning as these heavyweight monsters would no doubt have a midrange (on the road at motorway speeds, i.e. where it really counts) that is probably on par with any supercar....
...CL600 becomes a biturbo and CL55 is upgraded from a normally aspirated engine to a supercharged V8.
Both latter variants up the ante to around 500 BHP which is pretty exciting in anyone's book. I would imageine the impressive 4.8 second 0-60 is only the beginning as these heavyweight monsters would no doubt have a midrange (on the road at motorway speeds, i.e. where it really counts) that is probably on par with any supercar....
True enough
I usually take the view that with cars like this you may as well have the most extreme example.
If I buy a (preferable one owner) low mileage properly serviced example and keep it well maintained, garaged and use it as a second car I don't expect too many problems.
There is of course some luck involved with any purchase...
I usually take the view that with cars like this you may as well have the most extreme example.
If I buy a (preferable one owner) low mileage properly serviced example and keep it well maintained, garaged and use it as a second car I don't expect too many problems.
There is of course some luck involved with any purchase...
