Nice looking CL500 - why are they so cheap?

[Sp!ke]

Spotted this CL500 tonight and thought it looked like a hell of a lot of car for the money.. a lot better value in fact than current SL500 prices.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/923944.htm

Are they complete money pits or something? Why so cheap?

 

[stats007]

CLs have always had a huge depreciation. Corrosion and ABC issues aside they're bargains.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I reckon a lot of it has to do with the fact that who is brave enough to buy one? Under warranty bought with company money is one thing, shelling out your hard earned on an 8 year old one is another.

It has quite a limited appeal in my opinion, perceived high running costs and a fixed roof and 2 doors make sure it's off most peoples short list.

I love them and agree that they are a fantastic bargain, they still look like 50 grands worth to me! But I wouldn't want to fix one!

 

[C240Sport97]

I like this one (expensive though):

http://www.prestigecarsltd.com/vehicle-details.asp?Make=43&ID=836226

 

[amwebby]

I like this one (expensive though):

http://www.prestigecarsltd.com/vehicle-details.asp?Make=43&ID=836226

Having driven both I wouldn't buy a V12. They are nose heavy and the neutral handling of the V8 is compromised and the extra power gain is the same as the CL55 offers.

Mercedes-Benz have dealt with the corrosion issues on my 2000 CL500 under warranty and the only problem I have had with ABC in 2 years of ownership and 30,000 miles of driving was a rubber hose that needed replacing.

I certainly don't need more power, the standard V8 has plenty but, if I did, I'd go for a CL55

 

[stats007]

I imagine in the 7 years prior to your ownership it has been recalled or at least had a new pump and or struts.

 

[amwebby]

Not according to the Mercedes-Benz service history. There were two years where it wasn't serviced by Mercedes-Benz so it's possible though.

Edit: Not sure if recalls show on a service history?

 

[stats007]

Is that the history that came with the car or a printout from the dealers who have had it? It's very easy to 'lose' paperwork. I looked at one that had had MB bodywork done for a minor accident yet the seller knew nothing of it as it had been rectified by a previous owner.

 

[amwebby]

Every time I take it into Mercedes-Benz they look up the history and give me a printout. When the hose went on the ABC unit they looked it up to see if the pump had been replaced by them, which it hadn't.

Which has reminded me that when they did call it in for a recall to fix something on the instrument cluster, they did have a history of recalls and the attendant work done for the car.

 

[stats007]

Has it only ever been serviced by the same dealer? Only mention this as before the MB computer was centralised you had to speak to each individual dealer that had worked on it. Then there's the issue of using specialists to fix expensive problems without record.

Obviously replacing these items is a bonus so should be in any service history and a selling point. Having spoken to a seller of an SL55 recently he had no knowledge of any TSBs / recalls etc or work done to the car so walked away.

 

[amwebby]

No, it was originally serviced in Leeds, now in Essex. In Essex they pulled up the full history and it included not only services but work done to the car in Leeds.

As I say, there are two years immediately prior to my ownership when the independent that I bought the car from serviced it. The owner of the independent used the car as his personal car. I will contact them to find out what work they have done as you have raised a valid question that I would like answering for my peace of mind, but I have no records from them other than service records.

 

[mattc]

I really like that colour combo. There are quite a few of them around here and I always have a good gawp but then I am a sucker for big coupes.

 

[C43AMG]

When i was checking CL55 Wolverhampton, i got the full history from MB there and MB in Blackburn. That had new ABC Pump and hoses + a couple of Struts,

 

[popuptoaster]

I'll wait till they are 30 years old (if any of em are still going) and buy one for 500 quid i think.

 

[trapperjohn]

OK I guess someone has to ask, ABC Unit? From the thread it has a pump and pipes so - suspension then?

 

[Adam230K]

the extra power gain is the same as the CL55 offers.

Disagree there. You can budget for a chip if your going to buy the Bi-turbo and it will raise the BHP by 100 at bare minimum.

Forum member Maff had a CL65 at 730bhp just by remapping it, no other mods. His car was then shown in runs against a almost-700bhp porsche RuF where both cars are exactly equal.

Different league to the CL55. But i do agree however that the extra power is possibly useless in the UK.

 

[BlackC55]

Active Body Control

 

[amwebby]

Disagree there. You can budget for a chip if your going to buy the Bi-turbo and it will raise the BHP by 100 at bare minimum.

Forum member Maff had a CL65 at 730bhp just by remapping it, no other mods. His car was then shown in runs against a almost-700bhp porsche RuF where both cars are exactly equal.

Different league to the CL55. But i do agree however that the extra power is possibly useless in the UK.

I was comparing the CL600 with the CL55, a chipped CL65 is something else again. Still more power than you need and nose heavy handling though...

 

[alanuk400]

I imagine in the 7 years prior to your ownership it has been recalled or at least had a new pump and or struts.

Is that not better for the owner now, I got access to the recalls on my S500 which is not shown on the service book

[FONT=&quot]26/03/2003 Intake air temperature sensor fault (513 miles)
16/09/2003 Front seat cushion frame noise (5040 miles)
24/10/2003 Fuel pump relay fault (5459 miles)
20/08/2004 Service measure P007 - Replace boot springs (9923 miles)
25/08/2005 Automatic transmission leak (23926 miles)
05/04/2006 Suspension pump faulty - replaced (38392 miles)
18/10/2006 Service measure P034 - Replace alternator regulator (48966 miles)
Front bottom ball joints replaced (same mileage)
26/01/2007 Front strut top mounts damaged - struts replaced (52495 miles)
23/09/2008 Bonnet corroded/oxidized - Repair (83311 miles)[/FONT]
Last claim by myself, so I asked for a copy because nothing is put on the service book, it is kept by Mercedes and the person who gave me the list said I shouldn't really have have it.

Alan

 

[jaymanek]

Thats not especialliy cheap... I sold a nicer silver/black one for less than 8K just a couple of months ago.

There is just SO much that can and does go wrong.. they will never be a W126 of the future.. people will just chuck them in the bin..