Advice on the CL600?

[DSB SL AMG]

Yep 2003MY W215 mid life facelift...many cars with twin back box conversion (I did it on my old CL500) and ebay 'kompressor' signage, obviously the engine looks different and AMG clocks, best always to verify the V5, traders especially will advertise anything to sell it...

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

 

[S500al]

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

I think if it was at Bury St edmonds this year you had 2 senior moments lol as the W215 there was Mine and jackie's one.
Ours is a 03 faceloft CL600 BiTurbo and quite frankly I would say definately get one at least once in your life (they are a hilariously fast magic carpet ride).
Yes we have had to replace a coil pack (£1215) and yes we have had a pipe burst on the abc (£350 + 0ver £100 for fluid) and both were very fiddlly jobs due to limited acess).
BUT... yes I still love the car and yes I would have another.

Go for it... you only love once (and not very long if you turn the traction control off I recon)

 

[Pullman]

Very helpful

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.

Thanks Craig, What does ABC stand for? ...... Had a dealer tell me this one's got seven speeds. Was he giving me the old waffle?What year was the later face lift introduced? Thanks again, Dave

 

[Pullman]

I think if it was at Bury St edmonds this year you had 2 senior moments lol as the W215 there was Mine and jackie's one.
Ours is a 03 faceloft CL600 BiTurbo and quite frankly I would say definately get one at least once in your life (they are a hilariously fast magic carpet ride).
Yes we have had to replace a coil pack (£1215) and yes we have had a pipe burst on the abc (£350 + 0ver £100 for fluid) and both were very fiddlly jobs due to limited acess).
BUT... yes I still love the car and yes I would have another.

Go for it... you only love once (and not very long if you turn the traction control off I recon)

Two senior moments in one paragraph? - Must be a record?

 

[supermgm]

What does ABC stand for?

Active Body Control; Computer controlled Hydropneumatic suspension. Absolutely fantastic when it is working, and has been maintained. Perhaps not so when something goes wrong. Definitely something to bare in mind.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Thanks Craig, What does ABC stand for? ...... Had a dealer tell me this one's got seven speeds. Was he giving me the old waffle?What year was the later face lift introduced? Thanks again, Dave

ABC stands for Active Body Control which is the beautifully silky wafty soft "magic carpet" ride. It's an active suspension system that keeps the car level through corners and prevents any braking dip or acceleration tilt. It's great- when it works, it has lots of highly expensive parts and needs to be kept in tip top condition- it works at something like 175bar.

7 speed box absolutely NOT on the 215, was only offered with the 722.6 5-speed. Don't let that put you off, that 5 speed is a great transmission.

Facelift I think was 2003-4. Not much change looks wise but change engine wise, was when supercharger was adopted on the 55 AMG models.

 

[Pullman]

K stand for?

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 take it then that the 'K' stands for supercharger and not as I thought turbocharger. i.e. whenever I saw the word kompressor I thought that was a turbo equipped car?

Dave

 

[Pullman]

update on CL600

Saw this one yesterday ...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331906157078 ..... SRS light on ... front and rear suspension works ( up and down two levels? ).. road tested .. really nice ... small corrosion in the middle of bottom seam and OSR wheel arch ... door pillar small bubble ... working nokia phone ....no service history.. couple 2/3 inch paint scratches ... all mentioned in help/advice .... spot on guys ..... will take £6200?

Gonna see this one on Friday before Goodwood meet.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122046840316 got ABC fault ... been on ebay for quite a while and also listed auction type with a start of £5500 ( must of had a reserve ) ... no bidders... let you know Saturday ..

 

[Craiglxviii]

Saw this one yesterday ...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331906157078 ..... SRS light on ... front and rear suspension works ( up and down two levels? ).. road tested .. really nice ... small corrosion in the middle of bottom seam and OSR wheel arch ... door pillar small bubble ... working nokia phone ....no service history.. couple 2/3 inch paint scratches ... all mentioned in help/advice .... spot on guys ..... will take £6200?

Gonna see this one on Friday before Goodwood meet.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122046840316 got ABC fault ... been on ebay for quite a while and also listed auction type with a start of £5500 ( must of had a reserve ) ... no bidders... let you know Saturday ..

SRS light could be a problem. If that's a seatbelt pretensioner squib that's fired or failed, it will need replacing. Could also be the front seat microswitches but I would have the fault codes read first before even considering it.

Corrosion needs tackling now, if you can see it on the outside it might have already taken hold inside. If you search "My Cl500 project" you'll find a very interesting thread by one now ex-member here who had this and what it took for him to sort the car out paint-bubble-wise.

No service history means a full service and especially a health check of the ABC. Did you look in the reservoir and take note of the colour of the fluid? Fluid change alone will stand you £300 just for the fluid and filter. I'd suggest you'd also want to change engine oil and transmission fluid too, inc the TC. So I'd reckon £500 worth of oils...

On the second, you need to know what the ABC fault is. £5500 is WAY over the top considering that the car could have £2k worth of work and parts to fix just that one issue.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Offer 2500

 

[Craiglxviii]

Offer 2500

I offered £2k for mine, accepted £2400 and I reckon I'll be £10k out of pocket by the time I'm finished... this for a car with SRS and ABC issues known when bought. Oh and no £1200 coil packs to worry about either!

 

[DSB SL AMG]

It can be a false economy buying low priced examples with no history or faults, or abused life, even if you can do the repairs yourself these cars can easily run up massive part bills in no time...particularly if you are sourcing new bits from MB...however sometimes best to live and learn

Saw this one yesterday ...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331906157078 ..... SRS light on ... front and rear suspension works ( up and down two levels? ).. road tested .. really nice ... small corrosion in the middle of bottom seam and OSR wheel arch ... door pillar small bubble ... working nokia phone ....no service history.. couple 2/3 inch paint scratches ... all mentioned in help/advice .... spot on guys ..... will take £6200?

Gonna see this one on Friday before Goodwood meet.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122046840316 got ABC fault ... been on ebay for quite a while and also listed auction type with a start of £5500 ( must of had a reserve ) ... no bidders... let you know Saturday ..

 

[keith252]

I bought a black 2002 Cl600 almost exactly a year ago. I love the car, its quiet, smooth, blisteringly quick when you need it to be and, so far, has been reliable. Its 14 years old so needs a little care and maintenance, but if you're willing to do that there isn't much you can find that's more fun for the money. Its the first car I've had for years I actually want to drive. The guys on the forum will support you with advice and help, you'll find that invaluable. If you can get one with no ABC issues I'd recommend it.

keith

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Noted MOT advisory
Advisory notice item(s):
offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint joint for strut and is located in the cross strut (2.5.B.1a)
You mentioned seller had indicated ABS issue, Strut needs to be thoroughly checked on ramps...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122046840316[/URL] got ABC fault ... been on ebay for quite a while and also listed auction type with a start of £5500 ( must of had a reserve ) ... no bidders... let you know Saturday ..

 

[jibcl500]

I offered £2k for mine, accepted £2400 and I reckon I'll be £10k out of pocket by the time I'm finished... this for a car with SRS and ABC issues known when bought. Oh and no £1200 coil packs to worry about either!

Did you drive through Haddenham one early evening last week?

jib

 

[Craiglxviii]

Did you drive through Haddenham one early evening last week?

jib

Nooo, not unless Phil @ Welwyn Merx decided to take mine for a rather longish test drive! Not had my beast for around 10 weeks now, I'm waiting on ABC strut to be ordered bahhh.

 

[Naraic]

These cars are special.

In the 2.5 months I have had mine I have not seen another on the road.

 

[jibcl500]

Stupidly I'm searching for one to go with the C140.

Mentioned it to clive at benzworx yesterday he say NO!



jib

 

[Craiglxviii]

These cars are special.

In the 2.5 months I have had mine I have not seen another on the road.

Only 40k per year production for global sales; high sales price and high running costs pretty much guarantee rarity. Around the place recently I've seen 3, one of those was on Monday night in Newcastle, W reg with the facelifted rear lamps the git!!!

 

[JBell]

My indy looks after 2 x 500 and 1 x 600, he absolutely hates them. He has a TV spec 500 (216??) as well which he loves as it is reliable and a considerably better car all round.

I saw the 600 once and said "oooo, that's nice" his response was "don't come back if you buy one" lol