New member, first Merc

[ace275]

Hi all.

Just picked up my first Merc over the weekend. Previously owned a Daimler Super V8 and a XJ8 4.2 N/A, but haven't had a V8 in a while and needed to scratch that itch once again. Anyway, I won an eBay auction for a 2000 CL500 with 97,000 miles
Got the boat over, train to the guys house in Wolverhampton, picked it up, made a quick stop at the British motor museum then up to Cairnryan and got the boat back home (Belfast, NI)

Car seems to be average condition, however it was fairly cheap. The paint was particularly poor, almost flat but I gave the paintwork some attention with compounds and polishes and it's lifted it back very well. Likewise, the interior was all greasy and stank, but a few hours got it nice and clean too, though I still have to do the carpets and source some trim.

Engine, Gearbox and ABC are working very well

Issues I have to address: (Tips welcome!)

-Aircon dosen't work (No gas in lines)
-High Horn works, but not Low Horn (Going to replace pair)
-Windscreen washers don't work. Wipers react to push ok, but no voltage to pump. Going to check fuses.
-Rear left suspension seriously needs some bushings. Very unsettled over bumps. (Any recommendations for a complete rear arm set?)
-Needs a good service, engine and ABC oils are black
-Source a set of 18" Mercedes wheels
-Source a satnav disc so the radio isn't in German, but I might replace the system with a Android double din, rewire the speakers and redip & laquer the centre console in walnut to match
-Small exhaust blow somewhere

Oh, and there are 4 Stalks. I know the three on the left do Steering wheel/Lights&Wipers/Cruise, but there's a thin one in the right. Haven't figured it out yet.

And thanks to @renault12ts @mattk1 @Flyinspanner for pre-purchase advice

Dave

 

[Bogus7430]

Great purchase and love the work done so far.. Looking forward to more updates...

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[MissyD]

Hello and welcome, looks like plenty of room on the boat

 

[Flyinspanner]

Sat nav disc won’t affect the language, the choice is on the dash menu selected by the steering wheel buttons.

Search online for a cl500 owners manual.
Has it all in there

 

[Smart320]

Once you've had a V8 you miss them, had a couple , V8 discovery then a V8 XJR nearly twenty years ago an finally bit the bullet and bought the SLK earlier this year, am still smiling.
Your new purchase sounds as if after a bit of TLC it will be great, looks a really nice colour and will polish up very nicely. Also looking forwards to the updates.

 

[ace275]

View attachment 87973 Sat nav disc won’t affect the language, the choice is on the dash menu selected by the steering wheel buttons.

Search online for a cl500 owners manual.
Has it all in there

I've been in that menu and selected English, and everything on the screen on the dash with the clocks is on English. It's just the Command system that's in German, and I'm unable to select languages as it's greyed out/unavailable

I done a bit of reading up on it, and some posts claimed the satnav discs carried the additional languages for command for the disc region. Either way I'm not too fussed, the cd changer is jammed and it dosen't have Bluetooth or aux, so might have to go anyway

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

 

[ace275]

Hello and welcome, looks like plenty of room on the boat

The boat over was fully booked, but the return was maybe 70% capacity. The Cairnryan is often not at full capacity as it sails every 2 hours and is a relatively short crossing.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

 

[MissyD]

View attachment 87973 Sat nav disc won’t affect the language, the choice is on the dash menu selected by the steering wheel buttons.

Search online for a cl500 owners manual.
Has it all in there

couldnt resist... I hope your wearing something under that data sheet

 

[Flyinspanner]

ABC fluid needs a flush and change. Also the 3micron filter.
It should be clear pale green!

Unsettled ride could be the subframe bushes, I had that, got them all done and felt much more planted after.

Horns? Are they speed sensitive? Maybe try at 60mph on a quiet road?

The stalk on right is LINGUATRONIC. ( I haven’t got that so don’t know much about it- again look up a user guide/manual online).

 

[Flyinspanner]

If you do go the android route and ditch comand look up the thread renault12ts put up. And check out other threads.

You would need to get the centre console from a ‘facelift’ model worth the widescreen aperture to fit an Erisin or Xtrons unit.


Ps that metallic purple is a lovely colour, saw one in a dealers last year looked amazing in the sunshine.
I also prefer the pale interiors, makes the cabin a much nicer place to be, bright and airy - so double thumbs up from me

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, Ace.

 

[ace275]

If you do go the android route and ditch comand look up the thread renault12ts put up. And check out other threads.

You would need to get the centre console from a ‘facelift’ model worth the widescreen aperture to fit an Erisin or Xtrons unit.


Ps that metallic purple is a lovely colour, saw one in a dealers last year looked amazing in the sunshine.
I also prefer the pale interiors, makes the cabin a much nicer place to be, bright and airy - so double thumbs up from me

Yes I love the colour, it's one of the colours I considered for my other car, Turbo MK1 MX5, but I'm just having it done original red again (following new rear quarters). Would have preferred cream leather, but the grey is nice too. Also find black just too dark.

Fairly happy to attempt cutting and fibreglassing this centre console. I'd rather not shell out £200-£250 on the newer one when I'd have to use a fitting kit anyway, when I could try my luck at this one first. I'll probably only keep this car 6-12 months, so don't want to throw too money at anything it dosen't really need, but admittedly yeah the facelift console would be an earlier installation. I work with electronics in work, and have used composites and skinned carbon before, so should be ok refinishing the original console and having it dipped in matching walnut.

Though, I might change the exhaust and forget about the radio altogether [emoji23]

Edit-

Actually, do you mean these?
Android 9.0 Car Stereo GPS DAB+ Wifi SWC Mercedes Benz S/CL Class W220 W215 S500 | eBay

If that's a straight fit into the facelift centre console, other than wiring, yeah that might actually be the way to go! A double din does look a little lost when fitted with all the space around it

Cheers!

 

[Flyinspanner]

Sat nav disc slot is on the head unit, so pop it out and see what you’ve got in there.

The 6 disc CD changer is in the boot LHS under the carpet, they can respond to a good clean out as they get dusty/gummed up. Failing that a replacement fibre optic disc unit from similar year should be ok, the W220s and other W215s should all be ok. eBay.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Exhaust: people seem to like removing the front resonators and fitting an X pipe for a better sound.

When I got mine it had had rear silencers deleted, sounded lovely on start up, but had horrible droning around 1500-1800 rpm which is where you spend a lot of time driving normally.
Had to refit them for my sanity.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hello and welcome to you. What a difference your efforts have made.

 

[ace275]

Sat nav disc slot is on the head unit, so pop it out and see what you’ve got in there.

The 6 disc CD changer is in the boot LHS under the carpet, they can respond to a good clean out as they get dusty/gummed up. Failing that a replacement fibre optic disc unit from similar year should be ok, the W220s and other W215s should all be ok. eBay.

You should have seen some of the interior with buttons gummed up, I had to removed the switches on both seats, dismantle them and clean them out as the kept jamming. Full of muck and crud. I imagine the cd changer will be the same, but seems the front cover is missing off it too. But it'll all come out if I'm going Android route anyway.

There is no disk in the command dvd slot, it's empty currently.

 

[ace275]

Ordered a set of 18" 5 spoke wheels

Need a refurb, plan to have them redone silver with a polished lip

 

[renault12ts]

ABC fluid needs a flush and change. Also the 3micron filter.
It should be clear pale green!

Unsettled ride could be the subframe bushes, I had that, got them all done and felt much more planted after.

Horns? Are they speed sensitive? Maybe try at 60mph on a quiet road?

The stalk on right is LINGUATRONIC. ( I haven’t got that so don’t know much about it- again look up a user guide/manual online).

Not speed sensitive.

 

[renault12ts]

Yes I love the colour, it's one of the colours I considered for my other car, Turbo MK1 MX5, but I'm just having it done original red again (following new rear quarters). Would have preferred cream leather, but the grey is nice too. Also find black just too dark.

Fairly happy to attempt cutting and fibreglassing this centre console. I'd rather not shell out £200-£250 on the newer one when I'd have to use a fitting kit anyway, when I could try my luck at this one first. I'll probably only keep this car 6-12 months, so don't want to throw too money at anything it dosen't really need, but admittedly yeah the facelift console would be an earlier installation. I work with electronics in work, and have used composites and skinned carbon before, so should be ok refinishing the original console and having it dipped in matching walnut.

Though, I might change the exhaust and forget about the radio altogether [emoji23]

Edit-

Actually, do you mean these?
Android 9.0 Car Stereo GPS DAB+ Wifi SWC Mercedes Benz S/CL Class W220 W215 S500 | eBay

If that's a straight fit into the facelift centre console, other than wiring, yeah that might actually be the way to go! A double din does look a little lost when fitted with all the space around it

Cheers!

He does mean that. Though a chap on one of the US based forums had difficulty with the switches along the top being different...suggested something to do with canbus.

 

[renault12ts]

Ordered a set of 18" 5 spoke wheels

Need a refurb, plan to have them redone silver with a polished lip

The Wheel Specialist on Balmoral Road is recommended...by me. Those wheels are aftermarket...btw.