CLS55/55k buying advice

[jayger]

Morning all!

In the next month or 2 I want to buy a CLS55.

I currently own a C5 RS6, so I know all about high maintenance costs

I have a few questions I want to ask, as it seems I can't find much when I've searched (good thing perhaps?)

Common things to check for.
I know to check the airmatic stuff, check it goes up and down. Intercooler pump? I've seen a few for sale with replaced engines, is there anything to look for specifically? Anything else specific to these?

Tuning.
It seems the 76ishmm pulley is the way to go, with MSL mapping it. What sort of costs does that have? I've seen 2k-3k quoted in places?

Steering wheel..
Unfortunately I'm not too keen on the wheel, or specifically the lack of paddles. I much prefer the newer style wheel, which comes on the facelift CLS63. How easy is that to source and replace? Or how easy is it to get paddles on the standard 55 wheel?




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[Abb]

Hi and welcome
It would appear you have done your homework and answered your own questions
I do not know the full in and outs of the technical side, but what I found and learnt (when looking and during ownership)....
Airmatic, park it on level ground and raise and lower it via the buttons on the centre console. If its not functioning correctly, the cause could be a number of things from a blocked valve at the rear, airmatic pump/compressor to the actual strut. The most expensive is the strut and the price seems to vary between £600-£1100 a corner (dependant on front?rear, brand etc), where as the pump is aroound the £200 mark.
The IC pump is quite a common upgrade to aid with regulating the temp of these cars, around £120 for an uprated Bosch or a Johnsons unit.

The M113K engine is pretty bulletproof but can suffer from oil leaks around the gasket covers/seals. Again, I do not think this is a big job, but cant be definite as I have never had it carried out.

MSL in Birmingham are very very highly regarded on this forum not only for their quality of work, knowledge of Mercedes tuning, customer service and competitiveness on price. Again not having had the map & pulley upgrade (a starting mod on these cars), I cannot help in regards to the costs involved.
Worth a trip to see the guys there if you need a little more noise from the muted sound it has. A secondary cat removal and resonator delete replaced with an X pipe will sort that, a mod which is definitely worth doing IMO.

Steering wheel, I upgraded to the CLS 63 wheel and also changed the black plastic paddles on this new wheel for the aluminium AMG ones. Wheel was purchased form Jack at Royal steering wheels and was a straight forward fit, however swapping the paddles over required some very minor alterations on the internal wiring module.
There is also a thread on here showing you how to DIY changing form the buttons to paddles on the original wheel, its not a straight forward swap but doable. There is a company which has made retrofit paddles (which are a direct swap) but only for certain models (don't know if the CLS is included).

The only other 'major' expense I can think of is the SBC braking system. It basically need a new unit when the brake pedal has been depressed so many times. Used to cost around £1500- £2k to replace, but now a Bosch unit can be purchased for around £600 from Germany, according to numerous threads on here, but again I have no personal experience of this.

Overall, they a a cracking car and when they are behaving themselves (like most I guess), but do have a look at a few as always with cars of this ilk, many can be abused or even worse neglected due to some of the maintenance costs involved!

Good luck with your search, and it worth putting up on here any potential ones you find for some advice, as well as advertising on here closer to your buying time, as members sometimes offer there cars on here.

 

[AMGeed]

The above post has covered most of the CLS55 questions you raised.
I can only add that the silver gearshift paddles can be retrofitted as a DIY to the CLS55 now.

Have a look at G-Paddles
for more info.

 

[BlackC55]

My advice would be to get it inspected before you buy. A specialist like us or a main dealer is you best bet.

They are a brave car to own......

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I've fit OEM paddles to mine, brushed aluminium off a E63

 

[Lenny63]

Aside from the mechanicals , watch out For bodywork too
Rear arches are prone to stone chipping and rusting (yes , even on a car of this heritage) , and do remember if it does require paint they are huge panels so may be more
Expensive - I'm facing into the above myself At the moment and it's
Something I wouldn't have considered an issue on this era of merc
, but there you have it ...

I do baby mine and clean it regularly -

 

[Suky Sangha]

Aside from the mechanicals , watch out For bodywork too Rear arches are prone to stone chipping and rusting (yes , even on a car of this heritage) , and do remember if it does require paint they are huge panels so may be more Expensive - I'm facing into the above myself At the moment and it's Something I wouldn't have considered an issue on this era of merc , but there you have it ... I do baby mine and clean it regularly -

I've got the same issue with stone chips on the inside rear arches. Will have this sorted out by the summer.

 

[Alps]

As Blackc55 has said, get it inspected if you can, it will save a lot of cost going forward.

A quick connect and test on STAR diagnostics can reveal a lot to someone who knows the system!

Ball joints, airmatic suspension, keyless handles, gearbox, fuel pumps are the big ticket items.

the more options, the more things to go wrong ! so check all the buttons do what they are supposed to.

 

[whitenemesis]

I'd add engine and gearbox mounts along with torque arm bushes.

Something rarely checked is the operation of the mechanical key in the driver's door and the boot. This also checks they are the correct keys!

 

[jayger]

Thanks ever so much guys!! Really appreciate that!

A couple of more questions I have thought of, once I do have one and the modifying bug hits!

Lowering:
What's the 'best' option? I see some people do it via STAR, and some via links. What's safest/most reliable?

Harmon Kardon? I quite like a good sound system. I have Bose in my RS6, whilst it's got nothing on modern systems it had pretty good bass and quality. What's the HK stuff like?

Again, thanks a lot!


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[whitenemesis]

The Renntech lowering module is the best option but pricey. Olly at PCS has fitted a few.

The amp in the UK is ok but the speakers could be better. Have a word with the guys at Comandonline, they upgrade these systems all the time.

 

[Lenny63]

Links or STAR are both low cost options for lowering

Links will be more fiddly To get right speaking from experience

 

[AlanD]

My advice would be to get it inspected before you buy. A specialist like us or a main dealer is you best bet.

They are a brave car to own......

Ahahaha .. (nervous laugh) ..

Yes, they can be! You sure don't want an unloved one. I'm 6 months in and only just getting on top of the bits the last owner(s) were kind enough to leave. Electric niggles with COMAND and batteries will be the death of me if my last efforts make no difference .............

Helps to be near to Olly too

 

[AlanD]

I'd add engine and gearbox mounts along with torque arm bushes.

Something rarely checked is the operation of the mechanical key in the driver's door and the boot. This also checks they are the correct keys!

Oohhh .. I've checked them. Lots. And lots.

Top tip - mind when you open the door with them on a flat battery. The window won't have moved down, so don't slam it shut as the glass will be against the outside of the seals!

 

[ftb]

Oohhh .. I've checked them. Lots. And lots.

Top tip - mind when you open the door with them on a flat battery. The window won't have moved down, so don't slam it shut as the glass will be against the outside of the seals!

In this case just apply positive pressure to the top of the glass while closing the door and you'll be absolutely fine. Been a thing with coupes for decades.