CLS320 cdi Buying advise, known issues, tips etc

[st4]

is this the engine bearing problem ?

Yep, £2000 plus.

I've never had a car with an engine problem before, so this is all new territory for me!!

yes, you'll know it if you hear it. And, since thursday it's got louder and, to make it worse, the engine is rattling generally, like a 4 pot diesel rather than the refined sound of a normal V6. Don't know what this new sound is all about, but hopefully MB Oxford will and the warranty will cover it!
Should've kept my 211..... I can honestly say my "CLS dream" is over. Shame.

Me too, although you're probably a fair bit older than me. My 6pot "fast" Mercedes dream is over and an illusion shattered. It cost me a fair bit to buy this car and I really wish I hadn't and kept my trusty E220cdi.

 

[IATM]

how many other people on this forum have had this bearing issue ?

 

[bpsorrel]

That's the way I feel right now. The car actually has a few other minor issues too, which on their own wouldn't bother me so much, but combined with the tractor engine I have now, have really started to make me dislike this car.

And, with a ratio of 3 bad out 4, MB are not doing well. I may well never buy another after this one.

 

[st4]

how many other people on this forum have had this bearing issue ?

Crockers and Wobbly.

I'd say about 5% of V6 CDi owners. Enough for it to be known about and a concern.

If you can't do "unreliable cars" do yourself a favour, don't buy one.

 

[steve333]

how many other people on this forum have had this bearing issue ?

None (afaik),don't let the problems you are reading about put you off too much but instead keep them at the back of your mind as something to be aware of,there are by far more good ones than bad so just be careful when choosing one,make sure it has full history then keep everything you've got two of crossed

 

[st4]

That's the way I feel right now. The car actually has a few other minor issues too, which on their own wouldn't bother me so much, but combined with the tractor engine I have now, have really started to make me dislike this car.

And, with a ratio of 3 bad out 4, MB are not doing well. I may well never buy another after this one.

I've had two, one brilliant reliability wise, one a really pain.

The difference with my 1st Merc is that it was a long established model with a proven engine and transmission. My V6CDi is not. I'm now at least much more aware of the need to buy a good established model, not the first of a new engine range.

I think I may try another Merc and if its like this one, its BMW or Audi time.

 

[bpsorrel]

You know it was only based on how good my 211 was that I decided to buy a CLS.

IBut that car was exemplary. Never a moments worry and never off the road with a fault in just over 3 years. I was mad to change it, despite how much I wanted a CLS, I was foolish and regret it now.

 

[IATM]

You know it was only based on how good my 211 was that I decided to buy a CLS.

IBut that car was exemplary. Never a moments worry and never off the road with a fault in just over 3 years. I was mad to change it, despite how much I wanted a CLS, I was foolish and regret it now.

which 211 did you have mate

 

[st4]

You know it was only based on how good my 211 was that I decided to buy a CLS.

IBut that car was exemplary. Never a moments worry and never off the road with a fault in just over 3 years. I was mad to change it, despite how much I wanted a CLS, I was foolish and regret it now.

Can you buy it back?

 

[steve333]

You know it was only based on how good my 211 was that I decided to buy a CLS.

IBut that car was exemplary. Never a moments worry and never off the road with a fault in just over 3 years. I was mad to change it, despite how much I wanted a CLS, I was foolish and regret it now.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing,maybe(with a bit of luck)your car will be sorted(under warranty)& won't give you any more problems.

 

[bpsorrel]

,make sure it has full history then keep everything you've got two of crossed

I did that. My CLS has a fantastic MB history. Every service, on time and the last one, a major service costing over a grand just 2000 miles ago! I can only assume a previous owner thrashed the f*ck out of it and I'm now paying the price (well MB hopefully are to begin with...LOL).

 

[bpsorrel]

Can you buy it back?

No! They sold it within 2 days of me trading it!! See how sought after good S211s are? I'm an idiot...

 

[st4]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing,maybe(with a bit of luck)your car will be sorted(under warranty)& won't give you any more problems.

I used to say that to myself....

I think David Powell hit the point in my manifold thread, "a bad car is a bad car"...

Barry and I have pups. Shame, as owners go, there will not be many more proud and enthusiastic owners of these cars like Barry and me.

 

[bpsorrel]

You said it Steve! Still, touch wood, my Saab is going like a dream. The beauty of being the first owner, eh!!
(maybe I should buy a NG 2012 Saab 9-5 for peanuts http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classi.../postcode/lu74qe/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p and trade the CLS to a dealer....)

 

[steve333]

I did that. My CLS has a fantastic MB history. Every service, on time and the last one, a major service costing over a grand just 2000 miles ago! I can only assume a previous owner thrashed the f*ck out of it and I'm now paying the price (well MB hopefully are to begin with...LOL).

Had it been a demonstrator from new do you know Barry?

 

[bpsorrel]

Had it been a demonstrator from new do you know Barry?

No, two former owners, the last was the owner of the Renault dealership I got it from, but he only had it 6 months and had the mega service done at MB Stratford-upon-Avon...

 

[steve333]

No, two former owners, the last was the owner of the Renault dealership I got it from, but he only had it 6 months and had the mega service done at MB Stratford-upon-Avon...

That puts one theory out of the window,strange the last owner only kept the car 6 months(maybe he knew something).

 

[bpsorrel]

Maybe.....but as a trader he probably bought it to run around in (he has a Porsche Carrera as well) for a while, but also "on sale".

But, on the plus side, Olly gave it the thumbs up (at least until the bearing reared it's ugly head after the oil change!) and there were no anomolies on Star...so, who knows. Maybe after the bearing (and whatever is causing the loud diesel clatter) are repaired, the car will be good....we'll see...

 

[st4]

I did that. My CLS has a fantastic MB history. Every service, on time and the last one, a major service costing over a grand just 2000 miles ago! I can only assume a previous owner thrashed the f*ck out of it and I'm now paying the price (well MB hopefully are to begin with...LOL).

Mine came with a dealer warranty etc and sourced from a main dealer. The myth they only stock the good cars. Load of balls. Corneds came from the same dealer group and that can't even keep water out the boot. Mine rusted, and broke down twice within dealer warranty which covered over £1500 costs. Mine had a good service record with new tyres (budget on back though) with the vital ATF change.

No! They sold it within 2 days of me trading it!! See how sought after good S211s are? I'm an idiot...

****. Gutted.

You said it Steve! Still, touch wood, my Saab is going like a dream. The beauty of being the first owner, eh!!
(maybe I should buy a NG 2012 Saab 9-5 for peanuts SAAB 9-5 AERO 2.0 TTID LOADED 2012 and trade the CLS to a dealer....)

I too think about a 95, not my thing, prefer a back wheel drive car but they are a lot of big car for the money and the best recent big Saab. I do get why you'd want one.

Had it been a demonstrator from new do you know Barry?

Demo's do get thrashed, it transpires mine was a company car, then had 3 subsquent keepers, perhaps they knew something I don't.

 

[steve333]

Maybe.....but as a trader he probably bought it to run around in (he has a Porsche Carrera as well) for a while, but also "on sale".

Could be but the fact he seems to keep cars for not very long makes you think he has some "fun" in them then sells them on without little(if any) loss