CL500 doubts.

[HumberMart]

Didn't sound right. Mine has very sharp precise steering. Surprisingly so actually.

Was it a main dealer you bought the car from?

Listers Grimsby.

My 8 year relationship with them has been a bit of a roller-coaster, despite buying 8 cars from them in as many years (me and Mrs HM), however they do seem to be trying hard to maintain my loyalty at the moment.

Good to hear you're complimentary of the steering on yours, and on the short drive home, it does seem that mine must have had a significant issue due to the bush etc.

Of course it does beg the question regarding the diligence applied to (or scope of) the 100 plus point Approved Used check, prior to delivery!!

May I ask if yours uses a noticeable mount of engine oil between services?

One other 'feature' that I'm now not 100% sure of is a sort of slow response to the accelerator, especially in ECO mode, when moving away from a standstill. The car moves forward, slowly, but then to pick up some real speed, it seems that an additional level of effort is required to press the accelerator to make sensible progress, however unless you then reduce the effort quite quickly, it surges forward at too faster a pace for the conditions.

I'm aware that they often default to pulling away in second whilst in ECO, and maybe that's the issue, but it feels more like the weighting of the pedal mechanism, than a gearing issue.

Could be down to my footwear, or ever ageing foot of course, or me being a bit too uncertain of 435 bhp through the rears on frosty roads, but do you have any sense of what I mean, or is yours as smooth as ...erm ...

 

[C43AMG]

Yes I must agree with the " so called 100 + Approved used check " After I picked the car up from MB Birmingham Central I took it to my local indie for them to do a health check.

0/S/F Spring Control Arm Balljoint had Excessive Play + they had given it a MOT which passed, my indie said no way should that have passed.

 

[John]

As a cost activity to the dealer, I don't believe the <insert large impressive number here> point inspections are always done properly!

May I ask if yours uses a noticeable mount of engine oil between services?

One other 'feature' that I'm now not 100% sure of is a sort of slow response to the accelerator, especially in ECO mode, when moving away from a standstill. The car moves forward, slowly, but then to pick up some real speed, it seems that an additional level of effort is required to press the accelerator to make sensible progress, however unless you then reduce the effort quite quickly, it surges forward at too faster a pace for the conditions.

I'm aware that they often default to pulling away in second whilst in ECO, and maybe that's the issue, but it feels more like the weighting of the pedal mechanism, than a gearing issue.

Could be down to my footwear, or ever ageing foot of course, or me being a bit too uncertain of 435 bhp through the rears on frosty roads, but do you have any sense of what I mean, or is yours as smooth as ...erm ...

I only bought mine in August last year and last time I checked it had hardly used any. Am due another check soon so will report back.

On the pulling away, you could try using the paddle and dropping the car to first - see what it is like then. I find climbing hills slowly (say in traffic) is quite a bit of effort in ECO mode due to it being 2nd as you know. Sometimes I think 2nd is counter-productive because you have to over-compensate for starting in 2nd, particularly if you need a quick entry onto a roundabout for example. The other thing is you are getting a 2 ton lump moving from standstill which takes a bit of doing.

 

[HumberMart]

Thanks J E'B

From your comments on pulling away in ECO it seems you identify with my description, so that issue does perhaps sit in the 'norm for a CL500' category. Unlike the steering issue of course.

I suspect that it's far better for the dealer to avoid detecting issues pre-delivery as they would have to fund the repairs, whereas a post delivery issue becomes a warranty claim.

 

[John]

I suspect that it's far better for the dealer to avoid detecting issues pre-delivery as they would have to fund the repairs, whereas a post delivery issue becomes a warranty claim.

Yes, I've long held this suspicion as well. A "see what you can get away with leaving" and then replace under warranty at MB's cost although I know from experience that they don't always refund the dealer if they don't agree - so helpful dealers get stitched up!

 

[John]

From your comments on pulling away in ECO it seems you identify with my description, so that issue does perhaps sit in the 'norm for a CL500' category. Unlike the steering issue of course.

Missed this bit.

Yes - I do know what you mean. In fact, pulling away most of the time seems to be harder than it needs to be and at first I thought it was the gearbox being a bit pants.

I've found running it in 1st improves the situation so I use this on inclines.

Whereas, I used to drive my previous E55K in C most of the time but then that was 200kg lighter and nearly 200BHP heavier!

 

[John]

Buy a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat then!

I've just watched the Gear Top, sorry Grand Tour with Hammond driving one which I presume was what you referring to?

Great sound but not for me anymore - I did that with my previous E55K.

 

[John]

May I ask if yours uses a noticeable mount of engine oil between services?

I checked my oil today and it has used very little. Still between the top and bottom markers.

This is since August last year.

Manual states the amount it probably should use (0.8L per 1000 miles I think?).

 

[ToeKnee]

Manual states the amount it probably should use (0.8L per 1000 miles I think?).

Those stats always concern me because if you stick to a 12000 mile service interval then the engine has used up 9.6l of oil! God help anyone who doesn't keep a check on it through the year!

 

[John]

I think my previous E55K used to use around 2 litres of oil every 6 months / 3000 miles. That seemed a lot although that car was driven hard sometimes.

So yes - "within tolerance" could be quite scary!

 

[HumberMart]

3 weeks/ 1,000 miles later, here's an update on my 'new' CL500......

After a second longish run up to Scotland on Boxing Day, my concerns regarding wheel balance/steering were beginning to grow, and if the vagueness in the steering was the norm for the W216, then I wasn't sure I wanted to live with it, and started to contemplate exercising the 30 day exchange option. To me it felt like there was no toe-in, and the car was tramlining too easily.

However a few other minor issues developed; after only 2 weeks of ownership, both keys needed their batteries replacing, so said the alert, and on the way back from Scotland, the alert system became even more vocal and asked me to check the oil level. I'd also noticed the maps seemed to be 2011 vintage, and as a minimum I would have expected the inclusive 3 year updates to have been installed.

So I booked it back into the supplying dealer today, to see what they could find/cure.

Well the results seem very good; they've replaced the fob batteries, topped up the oil (just hoping it's not due to a heavy drinking habit!), updated the maps to 2015, a reported that they did find a warn/loose bush on a steering arm, plus checked and adjusted the tracking as it was out of tolerance.

I'm wary a little of the placebo effect, but it does now feel like a different car! The vague steering seems to have gone and been replaced by a more precise/responsive action, with no hint of the previous (albeit slight) vibration at 70.

They claimed that replacing the bush had also cured the road noise issue, and I was sceptical of this explanation, however it really does seem quieter when cruising down the very noisy concrete A180.

Full credit to the dealer, they seem to have excelled themselves on this occasion. Through typically, just as I arrived home, another alert advised my that the lhs rear brake light had failed!! I assumed these were LED so a little surprised, and even more so when I couldn't detect a fault when I got out of the car, and on restart it didn't repeat the alert. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on that one for the next few days.

10 days later, and I have the car booked in again on Tuesday.

The rear lamp warning was constantly nagging me, and finally I did notice an actual problem with the n/s lamp. The upper section was not illuminated, but the lower section had lit up!

So I now had 'odd' rear lights, and I assume this is a an automatic back up feature if the main LED lamp unit fails?

Strangely however the usual LED lamp comes back on when I start a journey, and switched to the lower (emergency?) one during the journey.

Also annoyingly (but not so critical) the warning regarding changing the key batteries is back every trip. Despite them replacing both batteries (twice they say). I'm beginning to wonder about the dreaded gremlins in the electrics/control units.

The best bit of good news remains, the steering is now fine, and the bush replacement certainly did the trick.

However, the slight vibration is still there. I could convince myself it's got worse, but I think I'm just becoming a bit more obsessive about it.

Reading a few other threads about such vibrations, I'm also thinking it could be down to a slightly buckled alloy. I'll discuss it with them when I take it in on Tuesday, but can see me having to take it to some Indy or tyre/wheel specialist to either solve it or convince me it's me being too sensitive!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Do not open this link John...

[YOUTUBE]VaauUTSefDU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[John]

Yeah - I heard a GT with a full Larini. Unbelievable sound. :bannana:

I still need to sit in a 12 plate to see if I get on with the seats.

Otherwise it will have to be a facelift (oh no! ).

 

[John]

I've been driving a 17 year old A190 for a couple of weeks.

It's a great little car albeit too small for me.

One big thing I've noticed? Just how great the CL is in comparison...

Nothing like a complete change of car to re-align one's expectations.

Perhaps I should have bought a beater and then changed to another car. The E55K was clearly that good that it meant I didn't appreciate the CL until driving the A.

This hasn't put me off a GT but I will be putting in more time to research and try out GTs until I am sure I want to move to one - they aren't exactly cheap to buy.

I can't change until at least later this year for job reasons as it happens so I intend to hang on to it for now.

 

[HumberMart]

11 weeks after purchase, and the CL500 has really grown on me. All the 'delivery issues' have been sorted, and it's just had a B Service.

I've got used to the bulk, and other than parking without kerbing the alloys, find it now as easy to drive as an A Class.

Only thing that I'm struggling with a little, is the climate system.

I've normally just left it all on auto with 21 set in both zones. Never found much to complain about when driving solo, however my wife complains about a 'cold draught' around her knees.

I'd been putting that down to the usual gender issues regarding thermostats and menopause type flushes, however I began to feel it myself.

So I started to try and fiddle with the air distribution, and found that there was no air coming from the centre vents, regardless of where the wheels were set.

No prob, I though, I'm sure you can set all this up through the Comand.

Despite resorting to the manual, I can't seem to access a screen that lets me do this. I think you have to rotate the controller wheel when you are over a certain icon on the screen, but can't for the life of me get to any air distribution settings, other that footwell temp, and 3 choices relating to AC distribution (diffused/focussed etc).

Please can someone enlighten me how I find the menu?

 

[John]

11 weeks after purchase, and the CL500 has really grown on me. All the 'delivery issues' have been sorted, and it's just had a B Service.

I've got used to the bulk, and other than parking without kerbing the alloys, find it now as easy to drive as an A Class.

Only thing that I'm struggling with a little, is the climate system.

I've normally just left it all on auto with 21 set in both zones. Never found much to complain about when driving solo, however my wife complains about a 'cold draught' around her knees.

I'd been putting that down to the usual gender issues regarding thermostats and menopause type flushes, however I began to feel it myself.

So I started to try and fiddle with the air distribution, and found that there was no air coming from the centre vents, regardless of where the wheels were set.

No prob, I though, I'm sure you can set all this up through the Comand.

Despite resorting to the manual, I can't seem to access a screen that lets me do this. I think you have to rotate the controller wheel when you are over a certain icon on the screen, but can't for the life of me get to any air distribution settings, other that footwell temp, and 3 choices relating to AC distribution (diffused/focussed etc).

Please can someone enlighten me how I find the menu?

I still have mixed feelings about mine. Sometimes I love the wafting and serene silence as well as the ride.

Other times it's too clinical.

I guess this is where having multiple cars comes in.

As yet, I've only found the 3 choices for distribution you mention. I was under the impression it was all controlled by the vent nurled wheels.

 

[Liquid silver]

From what you have been saying I get the feeling that you regret not buying a CL63 in the first place. Your car requirements seem similar to mine, comfort, style, and a great sound to go with it.

I bought a new GT MC Sport in Sept 2012 great car gorgeous noise but typically Italian, all about form over function. So after a year it was gone, couldn't stand having to pull over all the time to find out for instance how to load the CD from the radio, nothing was intuitive like the Merc.

I really think that the CL63 is your best option, you will be surprised at the difference to the cooking CL500.

This is the one I bought just a month ago, list price approx 120k fully optioned with tv, split screen, HK, sun roof, night vision, massage seats and a few other goodies. Car is a 2012 spec car with 21k miles and one owner and is vertically indistinguishable from new and I paid 39k for it with a full mot, new tyres, full MB A service. Go on you know it makes sense. And I'm 75 not 41.

 

[gr1nch]

That is an absolute beauty! It's the reason I started this post...
http://www.MBClub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=217528
Equally stunning depreciation!

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[John]

From what you have been saying I get the feeling that you regret not buying a CL63 in the first place. Your car requirements seem similar to mine, comfort, style, and a great sound to go with it.

I bought a new GT MC Sport in Sept 2012 great car gorgeous noise but typically Italian, all about form over function. So after a year it was gone, couldn't stand having to pull over all the time to find out for instance how to load the CD from the radio, nothing was intuitive like the Merc.

I really think that the CL63 is your best option, you will be surprised at the difference to the cooking CL500.

This is the one I bought just a month ago, list price approx 120k fully optioned with tv, split screen, HK, sun roof, night vision, massage seats and a few other goodies. Car is a 2012 spec car with 21k miles and one owner and is vertically indistinguishable from new and I paid 39k for it with a full mot, new tyres, full MB A service. Go on you know it makes sense. And I'm 75 not 41.

It's interesting to see that from the prospective of someone who has bought a GT and then switched back actually.

I do evaluate the GT sometimes and I already know the financial commitment is quite interesting. If I could buy a facelift 13 plate in the 40s, I'd be cool with that. I'm struggling with justifying spending more than that but I know I'd have to. What makes it worse is the cabin space is pretty tight as you probably know - which is tricky for me.

I caught myself looking at E63s earlier today as well...

 

[AMGeed]

I caught myself looking at E63s earlier today as well...

You know you want to John