Advice on the CL600?

Pullman

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Messages
408
Reaction score
115
Location
ESSEX
Your Mercedes
1981 500SL_1999 500SL_(2002 CL600 sold) 2003 500SL
Help and advice on common problems/faults that occur on the CL600. Just toying with the idea at moment. Viewing a couple. I blame Dave for this after hearing his V12 at Bishops Stortford. What would be a good price for 2000ish with less than 70000ish on the clock? thank you, Dave
 

SJMaxwell

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2003
Messages
601
Reaction score
89
Location
Gillingham
Your Mercedes
2016 SL63
Very expensive coil packs are a common failure I believe, and just about any work in the engine bay is a PITA due to the lack of space!!
 
Last edited:

Naraic

Moderator
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
10,686
Reaction score
1,274
Your Mercedes
2005 CL500.
Like all Cls you will have to spend on the ABC at some time or other. At the very least check that the suspension goes up and down as it should on the button. Also check that the car is level all round.

Look out for corrosion around the bottom of the C pillars and the doors.

Look for full functioning seats (massage etc) as a desirable option.
 
Last edited:

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
About £6-7k. Big problem on these though are the coil packs, there are two of them and they're £1k a pop.

Speaking as someone with a 2000 CL500 that has experienced several issues, go and buy an MB-specific code reader before you view, then make sure you plug in and read any fault codes while you are viewing. I wish I'd done this, it would have saved me muchos problems...

It is commonly held that the number behind the class name on the back of an MB is its engine size. This is not the case, it is actually the standard cost for that car to repair any one thing that has broken or failed. For mine it's £500 (I need one strut and one pipe- and it's £1k); for yours it'll be £600. Remember you're buying a £90k car for under £10k, but it'll come with £90k running costs.
 
OP
P

Pullman

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Messages
408
Reaction score
115
Location
ESSEX
Your Mercedes
1981 500SL_1999 500SL_(2002 CL600 sold) 2003 500SL
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
BTW it was at Bury St Edmonds not Bishops Stortford ...... DOH another senior moment lapse ........... Not looking good at the moment on problems and faults ...... I am still gonna view but terrified of money pit. Thankyou
 

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
OK so W215 in general:

You have the following common problems-

Seats- the front seats have SRS interlocks involving microswitches. These can fail, repair is possible cheaply but is fiddly.

Interior- it's a pretty solid car interior wise, keep an eye out for rattly bits of trim that has had clips knocked off.

Door mirrors- folding mirrors can fail due to stiffened wires.

Doors- soft closing can fail due to broken wires in the door harness.

ABC- this is the real pi$$er. The pump is €550, struts are between $550 and £900 (deliberate mixing of currencies, dependent on your model year as to which p/no you need); accumulators are £300 and valve repair kits are £50 (from me, as I have now started making these). However it IS worth it as ABC is just such a silky smooth ride. The key to it is to change fluid & filters religiously every 2 years and monitor the struts for leaking or misting. One is bad, the other is OK.

Engine & powertrain- you might need the pilot bushing replaced in the transmission, aside from that it's pretty bulletproof aside from the coil pack issue only on the V12.

All in all the 215 is a beautiful car only possessed by those of magnificent and undeniable taste, good looks and raw animal magnetism. It has a few faults but in return you get 15 foot and 2 tonnes of undiluted elitism.
 

DSB SL AMG

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
1,873
Reaction score
6
Location
Cheshire
Your Mercedes
300SL (R129 1992 Pre-Facelift), Volvo V70 D5 SE Auto
I had a W215 CL500 2000MY and loved it, ABC is a sublime ride, you definitely feel special driving around in one of these...had the car 2 years no major issues...

All potential W215 concerns are covered above but take your time, find a good cherished private example with full history + lots bills....as always for piece of mind get any car into a local recommended MB indy for inspection before you part with your hard earned, they normally charge 1-2hrs labour, this will give you piece of mind and potential money pit avoidance + they can read any stored DTC on STAR for you.

BTW it was at Bury St Edmonds not Bishops Stortford ...... DOH another senior moment lapse ........... Not looking good at the moment on problems and faults ...... I am still gonna view but terrified of money pit. Thankyou
 
Last edited:

Naraic

Moderator
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
10,686
Reaction score
1,274
Your Mercedes
2005 CL500.
Ahem...nearly 16.5 feet!! But you are correct about the animal magnetism.
 
Last edited:

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
vdozbiturbo

smiles and tears, but careful attn to detailed maintainance is the key. i do a yr on oil and filter even if only 3k miles, i always interview the filter .i am nuts about any oil leak.(dont have any on my cars .. at the mo !!! kept covered in garage on front and rear ctek. keep tank mostly full , hope to avoid baffles breaking. not ,i believe an issue on yr model ?.
big ,big smiles on a warm dry day.. but not thrilled with suspension that can, does go wrong allowing the wheels to dissappear up into the wheel arches or wrecking the front arches. always park wheels straight for that reason. i keep the ABC up to date v oil and filters, but it is still not an uncommon failure. as i understand it even the oil only gets filtered AFTER all the crap has been thru the system, nice for valves and wallet. it sure does keep the car planted tho, but if i was replacing it i would rather have the peace of mind of coil suspension .i dont believe that benz think about customer maintainance costs/hassles after 5 yrs. and that is where this site and a few like it are great,if you are a practical chap , do yr maintainance and dont get really unlucky , then you can get to enjoy these cars if none of the above lease or buy bangers ...
 

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
Ahem...nearly 16.5 feet!! But you are correct about the animal magnetism.

Well what's 18" between friends? I had 5m in my mind for some reason :p

Regards the ABC, filters and fluid. Yes jl you're right that the fluid is only filtered on return to the header tank. Thus it is really important to keep the system pristine. If you're approaching 100k I would suggest having your valve blocks torn down, cleaned and rebuilt, these are the most likely points for gunk to be trapped and later released causing problems.

Worth noting that Pentosin have a 2000MY car with around 100k on it, fluids and filter have been changed every 20k/ 2 yrs and the car has never had an ABC issue. Keeping that fluid clean and fresh is the only way to go.
 

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
Nope, sod someone has beaten me to it!!!
 

V6Matty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
9,260
Reaction score
4,063
Location
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Your Mercedes
S212/2010/E350 (His) W246/2016/B200 (Hers)
I'd say have a 55k instead of the 600, I'd have this one in a heartbeat if I'd not just done so much work to the house and now out of cashola LINK
 

silver CL55

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Messages
621
Reaction score
3
Location
Hamilton, Scotland
Your Mercedes
W216 CL500 2008. R230 SL350 2005
An 02 model (as shown) will not be a 55k, just 55 non supercharged.
Advert is wrong.
55k came out in 2005.
360 bhp as opposed to nearly 500 bhp
Notice no k on the badge and no quad exhaust.

I'd say have a 55k instead of the 600, I'd have this one in a heartbeat if I'd not just done so much work to the house and now out of cashola LINK
 
Last edited:

V6Matty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
9,260
Reaction score
4,063
Location
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Your Mercedes
S212/2010/E350 (His) W246/2016/B200 (Hers)
are you sure the 55k wasn't out earlier than that, I would have sworn it was earlier than that, noe CL55's have k on the badge
 

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
Still twin exhaust only...

Supercharger was introduced in 2003 btw.
 

V6Matty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
9,260
Reaction score
4,063
Location
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Your Mercedes
S212/2010/E350 (His) W246/2016/B200 (Hers)
true, and your right 2003 for the introduction of the 55k. called the guy out of interest and he's got a 55k for sale as well but it looks like it's not the one in the advert doh
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
Well what's 18" between friends? I had 5m in my mind for some reason :p

Regards the ABC, filters and fluid. Yes jl you're right that the fluid is only filtered on return to the header tank. Thus it is really important to keep the system pristine. If you're approaching 100k I would suggest having your valve blocks torn down, cleaned and rebuilt, these are the most likely points for gunk to be trapped and later released causing problems.

Worth noting that Pentosin have a 2000MY car with around 100k on it, fluids and filter have been changed every 20k/ 2 yrs and the car has never had an ABC issue. Keeping that fluid clean and fresh is the only way to go.

very interesting to know that ,have done mine once its under 38k miles from new .warmed it up first on good run. hope many,many more miles .i never saw any discoloration at all
 

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
That sounds promising, shows at least that it's not being worked hard or stressed.
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
That sounds promising, shows at least that it's not being worked hard or stressed.

yup .i enjoy a quality ride but my days of tearing about are done, so in theory its not going to get stressed.
 


Comand (Europe) Ltd are the leading specialists in supplying and fitting Comand, Linguatronic, Media interface kits, UHI phone, IPod interfaces and much more.
Top Bottom