CL500 advice.

[toffee-pie]

Hello guys / (gals)

I have a Lexus is250 and its been probably the best car I have had to date, (And I have had quite a few). Somehow I am drawn to the 500, originally I looked into a ISF but somehow like the thought of the sleepy 500 with lots of comfort and toys that I come to expect now.

Lets get straight to the point, Am I mad?



I was ideally looking for a 2005 model but cant get one near me with BOSE, I have come across a fully loaded 2004 model with 58k miles and a fresh MOT (no advisories).

Coming from a Lexus (only maintenance this needs is reaching out for a petrol pump) I am obviously worried about keeping this on the road while not making me homeless and broken.

But, I would gather with that mileage the car is relatively fresh and the v8 engine is by all accounts reliable.

I notice this is 5 speed, and 05 reg is 7 speed.. any major difference?

Also, Do these have reverse camera/parking aid? also do the mirrors fold in when the car is locked?

thanks.

wallbash

 

[toffee-pie]

A VIN check says its a 2002 car? no idea where they got the approx mileage from also.?

Check:

5

Year:

2002

Sequential number:

38270

Approx. mileage:

215,784 km

 

[m2287]

Low mileage isn't necessarily good with these, they need to be used.

It will have problems eventually. It if you are handy with a spanner they are mainly diyable.

The main problems are with the suspension but also make sure ALL electrics work. (They have parking sensors and electric folding mirrors as standard).

 

[BlackC55]

You WILL be spending money on it. If you can stomach 2-5k/year repair bills then it will one the best cars you will own.

 

[toffee-pie]

2-5k a year repair bills seems a bit much, on what basis are you making this assumption? If that's the case I would steer clear tbh. I can live with general running costs such as fuel, tyres, discs/pads etc.

I know the suspension is an issue but the car I am looking at has a clear bill of health plus a 3 month warranty. I can get it checked out by my local mechanic in southampton after I purchase it to give it a once over.

does the 2004 have a 5 or 7 speed auto box? the hpi report says 5 speed, i read all 2004 ones are 7 speed? is there any major difference?

 

[m2287]

2-5k a year repair bills seems a bit much, on what basis are you making this assumption? If that's the case I would steer clear tbh. I can live with general running costs such as fuel, tyres, discs/pads etc.

I know the suspension is an issue but the car I am looking at has a clear bill of health plus a 3 month warranty. I can get it checked out by my local mechanic in southampton after I purchase it to give it a once over.

does the 2004 have a 5 or 7 speed auto box? the hpi report says 5 speed, i read all 2004 ones are 7 speed? is there any major difference?

Probably on the basis of a new suspension pump + fitting is around £1500

An oil & filter change is over £100 just for parts

Tyres you will be lucky to get 10k out of a rear set and around £300 a pair

The list goes on

 

[toffee-pie]

I do less than 7k a year plus tyres on a lexus are not exactly cheap so it's no concern.

Oil and filter for £100 seems a bit much. I guess it needs alot if oil, but that's just once a year or so.

The suspension, I don't count on getting this repaired as it will be given a once over, plus with no advisor on the mot the suspension should be ok.?

I don't do huge miles so my main concern is to get a good one. The 500 I am eying up has documented history. Half with merc and the rest with an indie.

 

[m2287]

You really need to do come research on this model before you jump in...
Blackc55 who commented above is a Mercedes specialist (one of the most highly regarded in the country), he knows what he is talking about!

I've had one for 5 years and a really good mate of mine is a Mercedes specialist, I have done just about every common repair possible on mine...

I just needed a ball joint doing, easy job you would think.... Nope, the whole suspension strut had to come off the car and the whole lower control arm needed replacing, the part was £170 from Mercedes alone, replacing the arm was a complete pig but that's another story. I don't think I've ever paid more than £20 for a ball joint! You will find there are a lot of parts that can only be bought from Mercedes.
These were £100k new and still have the running costs of a 100k car.

You can't really tell when the suspension is going to break, you might see misting on the struts or a corner of the car sagging over a couple of days of no use but generally there are no premature signs of failure, you just get a big warning light on your dash and the car drives like a boat.

 

[merc85]

Tbf the Op is trying to do his research by asking on here about the model, I agree why is a Oil change £100 out of interest?

Oil filters are not that much and it take 8ltrs of oil?

 

[m2287]

Tbf the Op is trying to do his research by asking on here about the model, I agree why is a Oil change £100 out of interest?

Oil filters are not that much and it take 8ltrs of oil?

Mobil1 0w40 is the reccomended oil and 5L is around £40, oil filter is around 10, and you need two air filters being a v8.

 

[m2287]

Mercedes window wipers for this car are around £50, Bosch £40.
Mercedes ABC fluid £20/litre, other brands around £10/litre.
Rear camber arms are prone to failing
Front ball joints fail and the whole control arm needs replacing
Rear window control unit fails costing £350 for the unit
Heater motor fails costing around £150 for the unit
Suspension pump £1500 fitted
Suspension strut £1500 fitted
Suspension valve block £1500 fitted and there are two
Suspension accumulators £400 fitted and there are 3
ABC fluid & filter change around £200
Speedo repair £200 (very common problem)
Door hinge wiring loom £150 for each door (very common again)

That's all I can think of for now and prices are off the top of my head but I hope it helps with your decision!

 

[merc85]

Has not got tobe mobil1 though has it? as long as it meets the mb spec, and you can get oil filters cheaper the £10.

 

[m2287]

Has not got tobe mobil1 though has it? as long as it meets the mb spec, and you can get oil filters cheaper the £10.

If you want to run a £100k car on cheap oil then go for it but what's the point for the sake of £20, it costs more to fill it up with petrol!

Olly, how much do you charge for an oil/filter change on one of these?

Merc85, have you ever owned one of these?

 

[merc85]

Oil is oil as long as its got the correct spec!

Mobil 1 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mobil-New...335266?hash=item43b881fc22:g:xJ0AAMXQLQJRETnE

 

[m2287]

So what do you know about these cars, I'm actually trying to help the op out...
Ok congratulations you found oil £8 cheaper for 10L than I did!!!
Mercedes themselves recommend mobil1 for these cars, not that you would know that!

 

[nick mercedes]

The suspension, I don't count on getting this repaired as it will be given a once over, plus with no advisor on the mot the suspension should be ok.?

ABC struts and pumps on these cars are the end of them.

Much as they look lovely, CLs are well worth avoiding, especially after owning something well built from Japan.

 

[merc85]

So what do you know about these cars, I'm actually trying to help the op out...
Ok congratulations you found oil £8 cheaper for 10L than I did!!!
Mercedes themselves recommend mobil1 for these cars, not that you would know that!

Really? i thought Petronas was the preferred oil manufacturer for Mb vehicles, Help the Op out? really after you said "You really need to do come research on this model before you jump in..." After he had already asked for advice on the model.

 

[toffee-pie]

Shocked they are this bad. I'm talking about a flagship car with less than 60k miles with a documented history. I could pull a 25 year old lexus ls400 from a scrap yard and I reckon it would work fine, that too was a flagship, an old one.

 

[nick mercedes]

Shocked they are this bad. I'm talking about a flagship car with less than 60k miles with a documented history. I could pull a 25 year old lexus ls400 from a scrap yard and I reckon it would work fine, that too was a flagship, an old one.

W220/W215 were not really Mercedes finest moment car wise.

So much to go wrong, which sooner or later it always does.

 

[m2287]

Really? i thought Petronas was the preferred oil manufacturer for Mb vehicles, Help the Op out? really after you said "You really need to do come research on this model before you jump in..." After he had already asked for advice on the model.

So why in the 160k miles that Mercedes main dealerships serviced MY cl did they use mobil1?

Again do you know anything about these cars that you can help the OP with?

And yes research, you will not get the key facts on a car from 1 forum post, Google has got plenty for the op to read about.

You are very good at spouting, not so good at answering any questions asked towards you.