Facelift CLS 320/350 CDI buying - problems/issues

[petarg]

Hi all,

First post on the forum - as a newbie looking at buying a 2008/09 CLS 320 or 350 CDI and looking at possible issues if I do.

Presuming both 320 and 350 carry the same V6 3.0 642 engine?
If they do, do all faults mentioned at http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/124011-cls-problem-8.html post here still apply, or have any been taken care of for 08/09 age cars:

'The v6 642 engine is starting to show its faults now, front main bearing knocking, import shut of motors seizing, crank sensors failing, teeth wearing off the balance shaft needing major strip down, started out well but showing its faults now.'

Does the same apply to 7g valve body issues - are these to be expected (or at least accounted for) in 2008/09 models as well?

One final question (as if not enough already) - my ultimate colour combination would always involve cashmere/beige interior yet 90% of cars for sale are black - is it just me having an unusual taste, or do beige versions exist in large numbers but sell out faster (or command a premium price)?

 

[steve333]

Hi all,

First post on the forum - as a newbie looking at buying a 2008/09 CLS 320 or 350 CDI and looking at possible issues if I do.

Presuming both 320 and 350 carry the same V6 3.0 642 engine?
If they do, do all faults mentioned at http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/124011-cls-problem-8.html post here still apply, or have any been taken care of for 08/09 age cars:

'The v6 642 engine is starting to show its faults now, front main bearing knocking, import shut of motors seizing, crank sensors failing, teeth wearing off the balance shaft needing major strip down, started out well but showing its faults now.'

Does the same apply to 7g valve body issues - are these to be expected (or at least accounted for) in 2008/09 models as well?

One final question (as if not enough already) - my ultimate colour combination would always involve cashmere/beige interior yet 90% of cars for sale are black - is it just me having an unusual taste, or do beige versions exist in large numbers but sell out faster (or command a premium price)?

Hi,welcome to the forum,keep the above mentioned possible problems in mind when viewing but by & large the cls v6 diesel/7g box are proven solid combinations,as for the colour black/black leather or silver/black leather are on probably 80% of all cls & when it's time to sell will be easiest to shift,good luck & take your time finding a good one

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hello and welcome to you.

 

[mobeyone]

Plenty on the forums, the v6 diesel is a great engine but like any engine can have its problems.

Early 7g boxes can be problamatic, valve body and the electronic transmission plates seem to be a common problem and manifest around the 80k mark, the boxes need fresh oil and apparantley there is a revised tranny plate? or valvebody? the later 7g does seem to be a lot better.

The bearing issue is vague imo, not much about this bar a few threads dotted around various forums and again nothing definitive like the inlet shut off which..... is a problem but there is a replacement seal that you are suppoused to change on the intake pipe, that said it has been reported that oil still does manage to seep past this leak onto the motor, the manifolds will most probably be dirty and will need changing. You will more than likely have to change this at some point, I am going to change mine along with some other jobs later this year.

Turbo maybe an issue if the car has had a easy life, the bearings can sieze or the actuator plays up needing replacement, the car has ample power and its effortless when pushed. Pottering around does not help and the car needs a good run on a regular basis.

On its day, its a great combo but like most cars these days it does have its problems.

*** will be on his way shortly))

 

[st4]

Right on cue.

Do yourself a favour. Buy a BMW 530d. That is all

I'm on manifold number two, IPS motor number three. All this would add up to over £2000 but the warranty caughed up for the IPS motor two, 40k miles later, the manifold needed done and IPS changed....

I've not had the engine bearing go, and now given the age of my car, I don't see it happening. Hearsay has it that it was a faulty batch of bearing shells.....on a later CLS belonging to the established member BPSorrell this bearing went, as did it go to Wobblys car and crokcers car, but these were earlier examples from the 2005-2006 era. All these people, like me, were members before these faults happened, so the lynch mob can't come and say we are bitter and twisted car forum whiners who joined because these happened and therefore every other V6CDI in the land is wonderful and fault free....

7g wise. I've personally not had the valve block go. My 7g has improved since the turbo was repositioned after a boost leak as it makes full power and the manifolds are new. Some report clunks from cold and others 2 into one. I've driven several examples of different 7g cars from 59 reg CLS's to my 2005 E320cdi and all have had some form of shifting issue. Not terminal roadside failures, nope, thats been the collapsed spring and buggered wheel bearing, but the 7g is a niggly thing. Live with it, software updates DO cure the 2 into 1 lurch....

From further research on 7g if you get the adaptations reset and it fiddled around with by someone who knows what they are doing, they can be wonderful. I am about to find out as mine is off to get ****ed around with adaptations reset and all the fluid drained out, there is a way....

Turbo acutators have been known to fail, there is a place IIRC that can fix them, but otherwise its new turbo time, I would not expect change from £1500. Its quite rare though like the bearings one, but bearing failure won't give you change from £2000....

The 7g valve body and IPS motors (which I read mainly in early cars) are cheaper fixes at low £1000-£1200 and maybe £500 all in for the IPS. The manifolds on later cars are different, thats what is fitted to my car.

Crank sensors can fail do so I have heard, but really not often and I have not heard the balance shaft one either.

IPS motors and valvebodies, the others will be a bad luck case.

 

[blue gnome123]

Hi

Unfortunately Steve seems to have a friday afternoon car and this seems to be tempering his opinion. Look at the recent poll on the V6 cdi engine and 44 of us silent majority seem to be very happy with our and 4 weren't. For an internet forum that's a big positive.

I've had my '08 S211 320cdi for two years and had a 15A fuse blow. Nothing else!

 

[st4]

Hi

Unfortunately Steve seems to have a friday afternoon car and this seems to be tempering his opinion. Look at the recent poll on the V6 cdi engine and 44 of us silent majority seem to be very happy with our and 4 weren't. For an internet forum that's a big positive.

I've had my '08 S211 320cdi for two years and had a 15A fuse blow. Nothing else!

That's a 10% rate who aren't. Not a tiny minority.

 

[petarg]

Right on cue.

Do yourself a favour. Buy a BMW 530d. That is all

Lol - did have a quick look at their reliability issues as it was a candidate - BMW guys say 'just buy an Audi or Merc' if you want reliable

IPS motors and valvebodies, the others will be a bad luck case.

Is there a more permanent fix/updated part for any of these two - or is it to be treated a consumable item and that's that?

Re: the interior colour - is black really more sought after & easier to resell? The car may end up being sold in Australia in a few years time, so that would be something to keep in mind.

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Here's the poll for the 3.0 V6 CDi engine; http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/128191-v6-320-cdi-engine.html

My own personal experience of the engine and the gearbox in my 57 plate E320 CDi has been flawless, no problems whatsoever.

The vast proportion of owners on here appear to be have little problems, it seems to be that if you get a duff one then it can descend into a costly exercise in car ownership.

Which is the same for every other car maker in the world...

Have you test driven the CLS yet?

 

[st4]

Lol - did have a quick look at their reliability issues as it was a candidate - BMW guys say 'just buy an Audi or Merc' if you want reliable

Is there a more permanent fix/updated part for any of these two - or is it to be treated a consumable item and that's that?

Re: the interior colour - is black really more sought after & easier to resell? The car may end up being sold in Australia in a few years time, so that would be something to keep in mind.

Thanks for all the feedback!

The manifold and turbo seals are different on later engines i believe. A 2008/9 car should be ok but use the word should. Re the valve block not sure on that one.

As the rest of the car goes the CLS is a brilliant fun big car

 

[Seamster15]

LOL my BMW E60 is on its third manifold....

 

[Deleted member 37751]

LOL my BMW E60 is on its third manifold....

Someone must have slipped a Mercedes V6 diesel engine in when you weren't looking.

 

[redbaron]

All cars go wrong... forums tend collect 99% of those with a bad one.. but only the petrol heads with a good car... Have run 5 and seen many more with 7g box and 320/350 engine all have been pretty much bomb proof. Yes the odd valve body goes.. yes the odd flap packs up as a whole they are decent... ALL MODERN TURBO ENGINE WILL GO WRONG... You want reliable buy an early seventies pre emissions crap yank..

 

[blue gnome123]

Redbaron....sorry the voice of reason has no place on internet forums

Tony

BTW - how long is the name of your X1!

 

[redbaron]

BTW - how long is the name of your X1!

It is quite japanese style long really... X1 sDrive 18d SE

Oh and for reliability freaks it is on clutch/flywheel 2 and suspect 3 isn't far away.. and the privacy glass had to be changed by the dealer as there were machine marks in the glass... and the door seals whistled at 90mph...

still does 60mpg on a longer run and hasn't rusted though.....

 

[blue gnome123]

You want reliable - our normally aspirated Honda Accord 2.4 EXGT (short for Japanese name). Never a problem even with 7.5k revs.

Not very German though! Your BMW doesn't sound too reliable.

 

[mauno]

what about Trabant 601?

 

[petarg]

Thanks all - have not driven one yet, that's up for when this car is fixed so it can drive me to it. Was actually about to carry on with Jaguar XJ ownership, getting a 2008 X350 (most are diesels sadly, and diesel in my books is a German character trait). Missus then saw a CLS the other day and reminded me it now is what the Jaguar X300 was when I bought it - the slickest looking set of (decent price) wheels out there, both timeless and contemporary, so a CLS it is (for now )

Does there happen to be a post somewhere on how to test/inspect for those common faults before buying, can the manifold/motor state be examined visually?

Much appreciate everyone's time btw!

 

[st4]

No, when it happens you just get reduced power and then it gets fixed. No onslaught, just failure.