Cl500

[m2287]

Hi there, this is my first post on here!!!!

Well I have an 2002 SLk 230, I also have a baby coming in approximately 3 weeks!

For this reason, I am looking to get a car (still Mercedes because i LOVE them) with more seats.

I like the look of the cl500 but i cant find any information about if I can put a baby seat in the back of one of these, and if I can, if it has to be a Mercedes one (Im not sure if it has rear airbags?).

Any help whould be really appreciated, im not clued up on baby seats at all.

Thankyou, Aidan

 

[lynall]

Do a lot of research on the cl iirc model type w215 first as they have lots of issues.

Welcome to the site this is the best one, other one is pretty good to



Lynall

 

[amwebby]

They are wonderful cars and my biggest problem is figuring out what I am going to replace it with.

Issues before 2003 were rust in door bottoms, wheel arches and three quarter pillar. I had all of these in my 2000 car but Mercedes fixed it under Mobilio Life. Post 2003 the build issues that caused the rot were addressed and I haven't heard of any models post 2003 with rust.

The other big issue is the ABC. Mine only had seals in the pump go due to the car being laid up for a year prior to my purchase. I've never had another issues in 40k+ miles.

Make sure it has a full MBSH from the fifth year onwards so your Mobilo Life is still current and you shouldn't have any problems.

The accessories brochure shows child seats for this model so I'm sure others would fit. The MB one has Automatic Child Seat Recognition, automatically disabling the front passenger airbag.

There are side airbag units in the rear.

 

[st4]

With a baby I'd really consider an estate or saloon car. An S class (220 of the same era) would cost less and give the same interior + comfort. A 211 E class is also not to be sniffed at and is on the whole a reliable model.

 

[m2287]

thank you all for your fast replies....

The reason im looking at a coupe and not a saloon is that we have another car which is more "baby friendly" I just want something that I can still have my fun in on the way home from work, but can still be used to carry me, my partner, and my baby on the odd occasion.

Rust isnt really a problem for me as a very good friend owns a body shop.

Im guessing that since it has rear side airbags, id need a mb child seat in order to turn the airbag off?

Also I have heard that as your child reaches a certain size, you need to buy a fixed seat which essentially screws in underneath your normal car one, does anyone know if there is truth in this and if its possible to do it in this car?

Thanks again

 

[amwebby]

Remember that the "rust" is actually aluminium oxidation, the majority of panels in the CL being of this material or composite. Fine if your friends bodyshop does aluminium welding but far better to have MB fix it for free.

 

[Mr E]

Im guessing that since it has rear side airbags, id need a mb child seat in order to turn the airbag off?

I don't believe there are any known issues with correctly-fitted child seats and side airbags, so there is normally no facility to turn them off. Issues have been recorded where seats have not been fitted correctly, or where the passenger has been leaning asleep against the door.

Knowing how hard it can be to fit a child seat correctly (which would include making sure the buckles were correctly located, etc), I personally wouldn't go for a coupe at the mo.

I think the other mechanism you referred to is known as Iso-Fix - industry standard fixings that a seat clips into. Not a legal requirement.

 

[Ade B]

I have a C124 coupe and a none isofix child seat - no problems (and no airbags)..

2 doors makes getting the seat in and out a bit more of a faff (which has happened 3 times in 18 months) but dropping the rear window and pushing the front seat forward gives plenty of room for thrashing about on a 124.

I don't subscribe to the baby panic which encourages people to buy a people carrier and roof box just to fit the crazy £800 buggy system in. Our coupe and Maclaren Techno XT have been fine.

Only downsides would be that the passenger seat needs to be fairly far forward to avoid being kicked in the back repeatedly (Junior B thinks this is fun) and 4 month pregnant Mrs B is now borderline in terms of the flexibility required to clamber about in the back to strap the little one in. He climbs in himself if asked but its quickest to plonk him in and lock down standing in the footwell.

There are more convenient cars out there, but I wouldn't be put off by the baby seat issues.

Running costs are another thing


Ade