Buying Mercedes CL420 1998 R Reg

Sukki

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
37
Reaction score
3
Location
Northamptonshire, UK
Your Mercedes
GL Class/ 2007/ 320CDI
Hi all

I have been looking to buy a W140 CL500 for a while but couldnt find one.

I have found a CL420 and am about to buy her. Fallen in love!!

I was looking for some advise about buying one, particularly around what i should look out for before i hand over my cash. I know the petrol running costs are great but this isnt an issue. It was more around if they rot and how i can see it and if there is any structual issues to look out for.

The CL has extensive history, vosa history all checks out and hoi is clear. The front wings and bonnet have a little Rust which is expected and doesnt bother. The car also had some under seal too.

Can anyone help please as any advice would be appreciated.
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
What is the reg no?
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Does anyone know if this is Malcolm’s old boat?
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Is this a problem if it is?
No, if it is we know the history of it quite well. Very meticulously looked after car- if it’s ex Malcolm.
 
OP
S

Sukki

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
37
Reaction score
3
Location
Northamptonshire, UK
Your Mercedes
GL Class/ 2007/ 320CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Ohh brilliant. If its any help, the car is located in Oxenholme in Lake District.

If it isnt Malcoms, do you know what i need to look out for? Anything in particular?
 

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
Hard to tell, it’s sitting on a previous owners private plate presumably. Does the OP have possesion of the previous owner details?
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Rust, electrics, leaks. All the usual things for a car of that age. Check everything works.

One of the most difficult things to obtain will be headlamp cleaner wiper arms if they’re damaged.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,326
Reaction score
21,574
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Does anyone know if this is Malcolm’s old boat?
No that was S322AGK unless it was fitted with a private plate since.

OP if it had been Malcolm's he was a well respected member on here. From memory it was sold to a guy called Toby.

The 140 is pretty tough but as with any old car rust will be the main thing to look for. Sills, arches, subframe mounts are the usual suspects on any MB of that age.
 
OP
S

Sukki

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
37
Reaction score
3
Location
Northamptonshire, UK
Your Mercedes
GL Class/ 2007/ 320CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Hard to tell, it’s sitting on a previous owners private plate presumably. Does the OP have possesion of the previous owner details?

Ok cool. The car does come with the private plate which belonged to previous owner. I assume the previous owners name will be on the log book too. The current owner has a mechanics garage and the previous owner sold it to him as he couldnt drive anymore.

The current owner was rid of it as he doesnt have time for it anymore.

Ive been told theres rust on the front arches and bonnet but its not really baad. He said the electrics all work as they should and there is no leaks.

He did say the soft close doesnt work too. The current owner seems like a nice bloke and he knows im teavelling very far to get it and hope hes being honest with me.

All in all, the guy seems like a trust worthy person.
 
OP
S

Sukki

Active Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
37
Reaction score
3
Location
Northamptonshire, UK
Your Mercedes
GL Class/ 2007/ 320CDI
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #15
Hehhehee. Its not Malcoms then . Thats a shame as it sounds like you guys knew about the car.

I will defo look out for all the bits.

Thank you.
 

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
The data sheet might be useful to you...
 

Attachments

  • wdb1400632a415575.pdf
    111.2 KB · Views: 9

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
Hehhehee. Its not Malcoms then . Thats a shame as it sounds like you guys knew about the car.

I will defo look out for all the bits.

Thank you.
Guessing so as the one you’re getting is the R plate and Malcolms was an S, shame!
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,326
Reaction score
21,574
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
The current owner seems like a nice bloke and he knows im teavelling very far to get it and hope hes being honest with me.
Which part of the country is it in? If the seller is called Toby there's a good chance its Malcolm's. I have a Malcolm car myself :)

Engine and transmission wise the 420 is an M119 engine which is thought by many to be the best petrol engine MB ever made. I have the 5 litre version in my SL.
I think in that year it will have distributors - budget for new caps and rotors every year or two. About £200 the set and only use Beru or Bosch ones. Other than that plastic cam chain guides can get brittle and the plastic cam oilers can fail. Both show as a rattle. The cam oilers are very easy to do and metal ones are available which get around the issue permanently.
 

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
Thanks for this.

It says the paint code is blue but the car is silver. The hpi also confirms the silver too
That is strange !
I see the car also is listed DVLA wise as Silver. There is an error somewhere as it also states Dark Blue soft top fabric 5010 (code 744) !!
 


ALL MBO Club members qualify for 15% discount on second hand parts.Please see MBO Members’ Area for discount codewww.dronsfields.com
Top Bottom