CLS350 Shooting Brake

[unimog]

I had a CLS 350 SB when they were first launched and had 60k glorious miles in it over the almost 3 years I had it. I dont miss diesel cars, but I do miss that car.

The 350SB on its way to Mercland is a keeper. A bit higher on the miles but not unreasonable by any means, and a reputable dealer. The best spec and unusual colour scheme, you will face a double hit (6K gone plus 6K more) on what you paid out for your E class, but that 2015 car is 6K more than your current E Class all year long, and its a much rarer beast.

 

[AW8]

The AT link goes to AT homepage indicating that the car mentioned is no longer for sale.

If you have bought it....I hope you enjoy it - good luck.

I have a soft spot for CLS shooting brake but as you have highlighted it needs some money spending to sort.....even when sorted its done circa twice the mileage of your W212.

The specific X218 CLS in question would irritate me in ownership until most issues sorted......I could maybe live with the prospect of sorting something like the bonnets chips later. The aftermarket screen & installation may be the cause of the corrosion in that area.

Sure its an X218.....I like them BUT would rather have a tidy W212 than an X218 needing all that work....unless I got it for fair money !

A pair of tyres - £300 ? ...................I would want a matching set.....thats circa £350 for useable Nexens....significantly more for Pirelli or Michelin...You may get lucky with some decent part worns but legwork required. I got a great deal on my Hankook Ventus Evo 3's - Mytyres deal through ebay plus an ebay voucher code.........don't forget cots for fitting, balancing, tracking etc.

- A full service - £350 ?.............. A ? B ? maybe if assuming nothing in need over the fluids & filters etc. Maybe less if you have a tame indy but not I would budget £500 min to allow for anything found...............Bushes all good .......original exhaust & joints all sound ???

- An exterior detail & interior valet - £400 ?.........You could do this if d.i.y. route so motivated - Cost of kit and your time........ £150 -£200 might see you good on a budget

All four alloys refurbishing - £300...You mention car only had fronts done...Good luck getting full refurb x 4 for £300......I reckon £400 upwards with travel or courier costs..


- Bodywork restoration door edges, front and rear bumpers touched up - £500? If you are fussy allow £250-300 per bumper. if going for bumper off full paint. If genuinely only door edges then maybe have a go yourself but don't expect much change from £50-£75 each knackered edge or maybe £400+ each side if all 4 doors need paint & blending onto adjacent metal.



Possible needs:

- New battery - £100. ? ..Iirc I paid nearer £120 for a Varta AGM to OEM spec
- Gearbox oil change - £250 ..........Maybe £200 if a simple drain/fill.

Other.......Consider any need for aircon regas, brake fluid, coolant change etc. If its on the original rear suspension bags allow £500 for rear Arnotts or £1200 for a pair of MB bags plus pipework & connector.......sooner or later. Don't dismiss belts & brake lines etc..... not sure if the car has air all around. If it's on original front shocks keep an open mind & wallet. Engine mounts may need a look too at this mileage.

I haven't seen more info or pics of the CLS but my initial thoughts were its done some mileage....I have no idea as to the accuracy of the miles it has genuinely traveled but it looks & sounds far more tired than my 143k miler S212.

Be careful.....You appreciate the design virtues of X218 but you also seem to understand costs to sort & appreciate a tidy/sorted car.

IMHO that X218 hasn't been prepped properly.............the difference between trade and forecourt money should reflect prep cost............not just a price hike & profit !

If I changed to another E class or CLS I would want euro 6 ULEZ compliance....I coudn't afford it I would wait. I am sure you know that selling private is far more lucrative then the wrong p/x deal. Lots to be said for an honest inbetweener car to make the maths stalck up (if funds or plastic can't easily bridge the gap ! ) .....I ran a stopgap £1200 V70 a couple of years ago - kept it over a year .......Probably the most comfortable and reliable car I have ever owned - a very likeable barge ( but with the turning circle of HMS Ark Royal !

HTH

 

[jdrrco]

I was in the same boat as you. I had a 2015 E220 and saw a 2012 CLS500SB. I asked the same questions as you, but went for it and have never looked back.

The difference in ride quality, handling comfort and sheer fun in a car that, ostensibly, is the same machine underneath is staggering.

The SB is not just a stunner to look at, but brings a smile every time I drive it and has a big enough boot for an Arts & Crafts hall stand, two large dogs or a vineyard holiday's-worth of wine.

Sometimes your heart has to rule your head. In my case the payoff is 17mpg instead of 42 and £325 car tax instead of £20, but do I regret it? Not for a minute!

 

[Zero7]

Sorry to hijack this thread, my Volvo V90 lease goes back in Nov so I'm lookign for something else, not tried Merc and these really appeal to me, can anyone point me in the direction of where I can find the difference in the 2011 to 2014 generation,s I know the later has a bigger screen but is there a list of changes located anywhere?

 

[regbuser]

Having had both, in 350, differences:
Exterior
2011- more flush bumpers, sometimes chrome trim, dependent on variant
2914 - false air vent bumper trims, bigger 'air scoops'
2011 - godawful base level lights, need AMG lime for the xenons/leds, with jet washers in the front bumper
2014 - led ILS, light up the road and auto corner, auto dim for oncoming traffic
2011 - 5 star wheels on AMG line, can be tricky when they need defacing as the 'spokes become noticeably worn down
2014 - 18 multi spoke standard, nice enough
2011 - more body colour choices, such as Indium grey
2014 - fewer body colours, more centred around blacks and greys, although Cavansite blue and the red are nice.

Interior
2011 - more eclectic choice of leather colours apart from black, such as aubergine, sand/beige
2014 - black, grey, cashmere, saddle brown - black interior somewhat murky
2011 - sunroof a rarity
2014 - sunroof on prem and prem plus
2011 - small inset screen, limited comand
2014 - dash mounted 'iPad' screen, better comand
2011 - seat memo package a rarity
2014 - sear memo on prem and prem plus

Engine
2011 - EU5, appx 275hp
2014 - EU6, appx 265hp, needs adblu

Boot etc
2011 - skinny spare and useful hooks in the boot
2014 - compressor and glue, no useful hooks

The 350 pulls like a train, yet can return 45mpg. It is a motorway eater no doubt.

Look for:
Airmatic - lovely and smooth, or tighter, or even raised
Driver assistance/lane assist - yellow warning triangles and beep when someone in your blindspot
360 camera, although reversing camera adequate
Sunroof, obvs
Memo package, ditto

Or go for the very nice CLS400 coupe, 300+ hp petrol, sportier 7 pointed wheels and massaging front seats

 

[Zero7]

Having had both, in 350, differences:
Exterior
2011- more flush bumpers, sometimes chrome trim, dependent on variant
2914 - false air vent bumper trims, bigger 'air scoops'
2011 - godawful base level lights, need AMG lime for the xenons/leds, with jet washers in the front bumper
2014 - led ILS, light up the road and auto corner, auto dim for oncoming traffic
2011 - 5 star wheels on AMG line, can be tricky when they need defacing as the 'spokes become noticeably worn down
2014 - 18 multi spoke standard, nice enough
2011 - more body colour choices, such as Indium grey
2014 - fewer body colours, more centred around blacks and greys, although Cavansite blue and the red are nice.

Interior
2011 - more eclectic choice of leather colours apart from black, such as aubergine, sand/beige
2014 - black, grey, cashmere, saddle brown - black interior somewhat murky
2011 - sunroof a rarity
2014 - sunroof on prem and prem plus
2011 - small inset screen, limited comand
2014 - dash mounted 'iPad' screen, better comand
2011 - seat memo package a rarity
2014 - sear memo on prem and prem plus

Engine
2011 - EU5, appx 275hp
2014 - EU6, appx 265hp, needs adblu

Boot etc
2011 - skinny spare and useful hooks in the boot
2014 - compressor and glue, no useful hooks

The 350 pulls like a train, yet can return 45mpg. It is a motorway eater no doubt.

Look for:
Airmatic - lovely and smooth, or tighter, or even raised
Driver assistance/lane assist - yellow warning triangles and beep when someone in your blindspot
360 camera, although reversing camera adequate
Sunroof, obvs
Memo package, ditto

Or go for the very nice CLS400 coupe, 300+ hp petrol, sportier 7 pointed wheels and massaging front seats

Cheers, massively helpful, exactly what I was looking for, had 5 series and A6 before but fancy trying a merc after my V90 (which is only 1.5 years old as it's a lease deal, got all the new tech though). need an estate so the CLS coupe is off limits, got a little sorted mx-5 for track day fun.

 

[regbuser]

No probs, hope you find a cracker

 

[jdrrco]

2011 - godawful base level lights, need AMG lime for the xenons/leds, with jet washers in the front bumper
2014 - led ILS, light up the road and auto corner, auto dim for oncoming traffic

Excellent summary. However, most 2011 models did have LED ILS. Easily spotted from photos. Xenons are round, LEDs (with ILS) are square.

Personally, I prefer the 2011 DRLs. They align better with the body panels, but it's a personal preference.

Also, CLS400 is coupé only, not available as Shooting Brake.

 

[regbuser]

Ah right, thanks.

Another thing with the shooting brake, with privacy glass it is a bit of a gloomy cave.
I think the SBs also have self levelling rear suspension, but springs up front, unless you get airmatic

 

[regbuser]

And, forgot, the 2011 is 7 speed, 2014 9 speed box

 

[cp3377]

Ah right, thanks.

Another thing with the shooting brake, with privacy glass it is a bit of a gloomy cave.
I think the SBs also have self levelling rear suspension, but springs up front, unless you get airmatic

It’s odd but I didn’t notice how black hole-like my old Brake was inside (Black interior with Privacy) until I got back into it from my latest one which is Crystal Grey inside. Both are lovely places to spend time but the family do much prefer the brighter interior, and I prefer it now too (although it’s harder to clean...).

All SB’s do have read air, but there is a noticeable difference between those and the ones with Airmatic - it might take a while to find one but it’s well worth it. They do handle well too - the front suspension design is taken from the E63 estate apparently, which is why it feels more responsive than a standard E-Class.

Whatever colour inside or out, or suspension you choose, pre-or post-facelift though, as long as it has been looked after, you‘ll have a special car. And if you manage to find one with Airmatic, a high spec and the colours you love it will be even more so.

 

[Zero7]

Still looking at a few options, quite like the thought of a petrol engine and I might just be ok boot wise with the coupe, what are these like? seem to be quite rare, love the lighter colour interior but know nothing about them.

Mercedes-Benz CLS cars for sale - PistonHeads UK

Looking for a Mercedes-Benz CLS? Find your ideal Mercedes-Benz CLS from top dealers and private sellers in your area with PistonHeads Classifieds.

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[regbuser]

It's ok..

No sunroof
No airmatic
Sand interior a bit meh, and that steering wheel will be a bugger to keep mark free

 

[Zero7]

I was looking for a bit of info on what the petrol version was like, they seem to be like hens teeth. Also, I quite like the sand interior, it really lifts an interior. I had an A6 which was black on black and was a bit too dark, I really like the dark exteriors and light interiors.

I could live without a sunroof with a light coloured interior. So are these rare and what's the engines like

 

[Abb]

Petrol versions are like hens teeth and suffer from the chain tensioner issues which is well documented on here. I was in the market for a CLS and wanted a petrol (but not the AMG), gave up in the end and settled for the 350 diesel. Waited for a high specc'd one and it have to have light interior, I am a bit of a spec junkie (which is made harder when you are buying used!)

Had the car just over a year now, and it is such a nice place to be in. Glad I held out for the spec and light interior.

 

[Zero7]

Thanks Abb, thanks for the info. That is a beautiful interior, what colour is it and those seats look different to the ones I have seen, they look perforated.

 

[jdrrco]

Thanks Abb, thanks for the info. That is a beautiful interior, what colour is it and those seats look different to the ones I have seen, they look perforated.

That's Porcelain as opposed to Sand. The perforated front seats come with comfort ventilated seats, as opposed to just heated.

The Sand is lovely too and perfectly easy to live with. I used Autoglym interior shampoo on mine the other day and they hadn't got dirty at all in the last year or so since I last did it.

 

[Abb]

Thanks Abb, thanks for the info. That is a beautiful interior, what colour is it and those seats look different to the ones I have seen, they look perforated.

As above, they are porcelain, really are very very light. To be fair, the car has a ridiculous amount of options ticked for a 350 cdi, the seats are part of the package. They are nappa exclusive leather, fully dynamic, heated & cooled, even the rear seats are heated.

They are out there.....just few and far between.

 

[cp3377]

Can you stop posting those photos please - I now have seat envy... No Luxury Package on facelift cars sadly. Both yours look lovely. There are three 350 Petrols On Auto Trader and a couple of 500’s - did the 4.7 engine suffer from the same issues as the 350’s? Appreciate they are pricier.

 

[Zero7]

Awesome, just checked the spec of your car Abb, I'm going to start the search, got until the end of November so a bit of time to find one. Would prefer SB but would settle for a nice Coupe with the right spec.