Found a CLS, too good to be true?

[MrManual]

Newbie here so please let me know if I’ve posted in the wrong place but what do we think about this?

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

The steering wheel and gear lever look like they need a good clean but other than that? MOT history looks questionable as it had no MOT in 2020 and for some reason it’s done barely 100 miles in 1 year!

Has this been clocked?

 

[Gazwould]

More like 79 miles in the last 3.5 years !

 

[Spider10]

The last v5 was issued on the 02 oct 2011 and was for sale on the 21 Nov 2018 mileage of 75,000 at £6k
Tax expired 01 dec 2019

 

[Rich764089]

The last v5 was issued on the 02 oct 2011 and was for sale on the 21 Nov 2018 mileage of 75,000 at £6k
Tax expired 01 dec 2019

Interesting!

 

[Spider10]

The owners can't be confirmed its coming up as a?

 

[MrManual]

The last v5 was issued on the 02 oct 2011 and was for sale on the 21 Nov 2018 mileage of 75,000 at £6k
Tax expired 01 dec 2019

How did you find this information out? Thank you for finding this out, I’m guessing this would be one to stay away from?

 

[Spider10]

Its available on total car check free

 

[Petrol Pete]

Who lists a car for sale and posts detailed photos without first at least cleaning the gunk of a thousand unwashed Cnut hooks off the steering wheel ? . What else might have been missed ?

 

[W1ghty]

The engine bay shot looks like the car has air suspension , this could be a considerable extra risk/cost on a 2005 car (unless this is something you are aware of ) ?

 

[davymead]

Who lists a car for sale and posts detailed photos without first at least cleaning the gunk of a thousand unwashed Cnut hooks off the steering wheel ? . What else might have been missed ?

Quite. Being at a supposed dealer it wouldn’t inspire me to go look I must say.

 

[E55BOF]

Nothing in the MoT history would put me off, and it's a lovely colour combination. I'm sure it does have Airmatic, so you take your chances with that. The engine and gearbox are pretty bombproof. It's been more-or-less standing for four years, and now somebody's bit the bullet and sold it to a dealer, but that wouldn't necessarily put me off either. The manky steering wheel doesn't help, but if the service history is decent, and it drove OK and sits level, if I wanted one I'd go and see it.

 

[Phil1968]

The M113 5.0 V8 is pretty bulletproof. The common things that give trouble are the cam cover gaskets leaking (once done will last another 10 years), window regulators & air suspension. Don't let the air suspension put you off, a good indy can sort it with aftermarket parts at a not unreasonable cost. It would be wise to get a pre-purchase inspection done, that'll cost anywhere between 130 to 200 quid. The low mileage is in it's favour. Mine's been reliable the last 6 years. Oh & be aware the annual RFL is currently £590.

 

[unclebuck]

Mmm thats a nice winter project........

 

[W1ghty]

Mmm thats a nice winter project........

Stop it buddy , you haven’t finished yours yet

 

[Rich764089]

Bid on a similar car today at an auction. 2008, 69k miles, 10 service stamps, excellent condition... but no MOT.
Went for £5.5 to trade, as a point of reference.

 

[Spider10]

The M113 5.0 V8 is pretty bulletproof. The common things that give trouble are the cam cover gaskets leaking (once done will last another 10 years), window regulators & air suspension. Don't let the air suspension put you off, a good indy can sort it with aftermarket parts at a not unreasonable cost. It would be wise to get a pre-purchase inspection done, that'll cost anywhere between 130 to 200 quid. The low mileage is in it's favour. Mine's been reliable the last 6 years. Oh & be aware the annual RFL is currently £590.

Road tax is £340 PA its a 2005

 

[Phil1968]

Road tax is £340 PA its a 2005

Bugger, yes you're right the change was after March 2006. All the more reason to buy it

 

[E55BOF]

OP, see my post #11. It's a good-looking, classy car with decent performance. I'd go and see and drive it, and if it's OK, and the service history is good, haggle a bit and get it bought...

Bear in mind, though, that it's a complicated car and was expensive new, and expensive cars retain high running costs even when they're old. Be prepared for that, and don't expect to run it on a shoestring; you might be lucky, you might not. If reliability and low running costs are essential, buy a Toyota or a Honda...

 

[Gbrowncls55]

The engine bay shot looks like the car has air suspension , this could be a considerable extra risk/cost on a 2005 car (unless this is something you are aware of ) ?

I think all 500s have airmatic. shouldnt be a worry at that mileage.

 

[Gbrowncls55]

Very nice colour combination good mileage and a lot of potential, with a good deep clean and deatail, to be a nice car. The 113 n/a engine is a wonder of power and silence. Loved the 211 E500 i had for 6 years. Its a rather unusual spec with no heated seats but with keyless go. I love keyless go but the door handles do fail on a pretty regular basis at about £200 a time.