CLS500 or E500 or even 320cdi

[inflames]

Hi all, i am currently in the market to replace my car. It started about six months ago i started off wanting a w211 E55 AMG, but my wife focus decided it was going along with the plan and i needed to replace that before i changed my car. To be honest her focus done well in the 8 years that we owned the car, passed every MOT with out any issues but over the last year a lot of small issues and jobs needed to be done and the wife needed a larger anyway. So that ate into my budget.
I never got the chance to test drive a E55 AMG, so i am glad i don’t know what i am missing???? Sense starting my search for a car for myself i have also been considering the CLS w219, i have always loved the styling of these and now i have test driven a coupe i like them even more. About 3 weeks ago i took a out 2007 CLS500 (388bhp) version and loved it. Shame the history was a little patchy, the air con wasn’t working, the car creaked and was over priced. The dealer got back to me yesterday actually informing that the air con was now fixed and the car required a lower ball joint. He then added he would be putting it up for a 3 day auction if fancied it?
I missed out on a 2008 CLS500 (388bhp) in the last few seconds on a auction. That was very nice and who ever brought it got a excellent car. I decided to have a look at the diesel versions as they are regularly available, so i took out a E320cdi and CLS320cdi. I was fairly sure the CLS had been remaped and i really liked that but i only do about 10k miles a year so i would rather have a petrol and they don’t have that V8 sound! I would also like to be able to tick the V8 box on my car’s i have owned list before they are no longer made. Now i haven’t tried an earlier 500 (306bhp), would i be disappointed comparing it to the 388 version?
I have been thinking it over, the diesel will cost less to run, by about £1000 a year but a diesel can eat that saving up if anything goes wrong. A 500 will cost more on fuel, but will alway have that sound and will it be worth more in future as diesels become even more unpopular. I know the 500 has airmatic suspension and that could be costly. It appears that the 320cdi's and 500’s (306) are roughly about the same to buy at the moment making this decision that little bit harder. the 388bhp 500 are at my higher end.
If it help i have a budget of 5k-6.5k can stretch to 7k for the correct car. My daily commute is between 20-30 miles depending if its a gym day or not. Its mostly single carriage way nation speed limit road and only about 1.5 miles of stop start traffic close to home. Just wondering what people who own these cars actually think?

 

[Milton7]

How deep are your pockets? These cars cost @50k plus new and repairs costs are commensurate. If you are strapped for cash will you have problems if you have a couple of big bills? At that age it’s going to be a gamble and I would wait for a one owner FSH cherished car and be prepared to pay a premium.

 

[inflames]

I certainly would not say i have massively deep pockets, but i alway have money put to the side in savings to cover unexpected repairs or emergences and i also happen to be capable of doing a lot of the work myself. But there are always those jobs i can’t do.

 

[Londonscottish]

I ran a pre-facelift S211 E500 (5.0) to 140k+ and another member on here now has it. Very good car, very few things went wrong with it in the 7 years I had it.

I have now had pre-facelift S212 E500 (5.5) since March last year and it hasn't missed a beat.

The the 5.0 is now slouch, has great midrange and top end and sounds great. The 5.5 does give it noticeably more grunt and it is marginally better on fuel.

If you're challenged on budget you could look out the half-way house - the facelift 211 which came with the later 5.5 engine and a number of other improvements.

 

[moog999]

I certainly would not say i have massively deep pockets, but i alway have money put to the side in savings to cover unexpected repairs or emergences and i also happen to be capable of doing a lot of the work myself. But there are always those jobs i can’t do.

You'll be fine. It's only nuts and bolts.

Anything a bit more complex (gearbox service is one) can be done by a good specialist for not much cash.

 

[John]

In all honesty, you've summed up well the situation with all the prospective motors you mention in your post.

All I would say is, don't discount an E55K.

As you have ruled out the oiler, all you have left are a collection V8-based Mercs which will more than likely have Airmatic and will actually cost very similar money to run in all respects.

The E55K is the last of the "cheap brakes AMG" club in the E Class territory and because most are pre-23/03/2006, you will have £300 odd vehicle tax as opposed to anything after with £535 I think it is now. Not a huge saving but one nevertheless when you are looking at the pricing level you are.

Your prospective E500 wont save you thousands over an E55K.

It's largely down to how the vehicle has been looked after / history / condition and luck!

Find a decent E55K on here which has been loved and it could either be within budget or just beyond.

Then you will never be left wondering what if and I suspect you already have a pretty good idea what you will be missing out as this > "I never got the chance to test drive a E55 AMG, so i am glad i don’t know what i am missing????" sounds more like you trying to convince yourself!

Take it from someone who ran one for 5.5 years - it's well worth it!

 

[Nat]

At 10k miles a year, I'd opt for a petrol. I love the CLS and on my 2nd one with the first been a 2005 500. Oddly enough my current 55 isn't that far off mpg than the 500.

The hardest decision you'll need to make, is what colour

 

[AMGeed]

I'd concur with all that has been mentioned so far, only to add I would be looking for an E500 within your budget unless you can raise another £2k towards an E55. The running costs are very similar, but the perfomance when pushing on is far different. I would also have a slush fund of £1500 - £2k for unexpected failures of the SBC pump and/or airmatic.

Alternatively, a CLS500 could be found within budget too, remembering it will only seat 2 in the rear against the 3 in an E class.

 

[inflames]

At 10k miles a year, I'd opt for a petrol. I love the CLS and on my 2nd one with the first been a 2005 500. Oddly enough my current 55 isn't that far off mpg than the 500.

The hardest decision you'll need to make, is what colour

Black would be my first choice, but keeping a black car looking clean is hard work, shows up everything, but there is something a black Merc. Majority of them are silver and i would be more than happy with that.

 

[renault12ts]

How deep are your pockets? These cars cost @50k plus new and repairs costs are commensurate. If you are strapped for cash will you have problems if you have a couple of big bills? At that age it’s going to be a gamble and I would wait for a one owner FSH cherished car and be prepared to pay a premium.

CLS and E class are run of the mill Mercedes...except for the big engine in the 500s. As such...are they that expensive to run? I would suggest the 500 has a more reliable engine than the 320cdi. All the rest is the same.

 

[Yugguy]

I think this myth of diesels being more expensive to maintain than petrols is just that, a myth. I've not come across it in 31 years of cars of all different types.

 

[renault12ts]

I think this myth of diesels being more expensive to maintain than petrols is just that, a myth. I've not come across it in 31 years of cars of all different types.

Maybe, but in my 42 years of motoring the only diesel I had was more expensive to run.

 

[Yugguy]

Ah well you've not had a big enough representative sample.

 

[merc85]

I wouldnt discount a nice e320 cdi, especially a I6. I loved mine, never missed abeat either, did everything well and achieved over 50mpg alday long.
Smooth powerful and reliable.

 

[SW18]

Whilst many find the 320cdi to be reliable, is it not the case that some owners have suffered problems with injectors, turbos, ‘black death’ etc? The E500s should be very reliable, with the older 5.0 M113 being renowned for this. The only downside is the cost of replacing the 16 spark plugs though it could be a DIY task to save the several hours labour cost. The later 5.5 M273 has only 8 plugs, and may be a touch less thirsty too, but then it has the £535 tax issue mentioned earlier, which does hurt a bit.

On the question of mpg, I get a touch under 27mpg but from mostly long-distance trips (and that would go up a bit if every trip didn’t start with a slow trek through London). I’d guess that your commute would get you 25mpg or so whilst the 320cdi might get 40mpg or more? It all seems a bit swings and roundabouts in cost terms, maybe the 500 would come out a touch more expensive but they are usually very well specced and IMO do feel a bit special to drive. Of course the E55k could be great too, so little money for one of the torquiest motors ever put in a family car... Presumably they are heavier on fuel though and that might be a struggle if driving 10,000 miles per year.

 

[E55BOF]

I have a pretty presentable 2003 E500 estate, five-seater in silver with a blue interior, on 89K miles, I need to sell. I don't want a lot for it. I can't PM you (too few posts), but if you might be interested post an email address and I'll be in touch.

 

[Nat]

Black would be my first choice, but keeping a black car looking clean is hard work, shows up everything, but there is something a black Merc. Majority of them are silver and i would be more than happy with that.

Fair points especially about keeping them clean.

My first CLS was black while my current one is silver, although my CLK convertible, ML and MT10 (motorbike) are all black. Don't dismiss the latter CLS350 petrols either as there not far behind the early 500's power, but you'd be hard pushed to hear a greater sound than a V8 for 10k miles a year

 

[inflames]

I have a pretty presentable 2003 E500 estate, five-seater in silver with a blue interior, on 89K miles, I need to sell. I don't want a lot for it. I can't PM you (too few posts), but if you might be interested post an email address and I'll be in touch.

Thanks, i shall keep that in mind as i don't really need an estate.

 

[inflames]

Well i am off work next week so i will be able to travel a bit further to find a car. One of my friends has been sending me links to W210 E55's as the price of the W211 E55's are just out reach.

 

[SingleE500mike]

I have now had pre-facelift S212 E500 (5.5) since March last year and it hasn't missed a beat
The 5.5 does give it noticeably more grunt and it is marginally better on fuel

Good to see another S212 E500 owner on here!
I get up to 33mpg so far on a long run....