Buying CLS 500 W219 advice needed

[AMGeed]

Those ball joints in jpg3 are in poor shape.
Have you checked the MOT and service history?
I wonder how well looked after it is.

jpg1 looks like an airmatic strut and needs replacing. MB sell remanufactured ones I believe.

If you are still interested in the car, get the faults fixed first or offer £1k less to fix the faults.

 

[Cipollini]

Yes I did, it has done 400k km, but it was serviced till 360k km.

About airmatic spring, I´ve been quoted £500 in MB, but I found it on eBay pretty cheap, what do you think about it? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-Merc...884939?hash=item340d25de4b:g:iJIAAOSw1Ptc3NzQ
There is some insanely cheap airmatic compressor too(in case I´ll need one): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/21132003...el:CLS&hash=item2816509155:g:0NkAAOSwglJdDEBc
Are they fakes, or something?

The car´s price is about £4900 and the guy doesn´t want to hear about price drop anymore.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes I did, it has done 400k km, but it was serviced till 360k km.

About airmatic spring, I´ve been quoted £500 in MB, but I found it on eBay pretty cheap, what do you think about it? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-Merc...884939?hash=item340d25de4b:g:iJIAAOSw1Ptc3NzQ
There is some insanely cheap airmatic compressor too(in case I´ll need one): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2113200304-Fit-Mercedes-W220-W211-W219-Airmatic-Air-Suspension-Compressor-Pump/172173070677?fits=Model:CLS&hash=item2816509155:g:0NkAAOSwglJdDEBc
Are they fakes, or something?

The car´s price is about £4900 and the guy doesn´t want to hear about price drop anymore.

Probably not fakes - they're just aftermarket so may be built to different standards.

 

[Terrykal]

I have seen these aftermarket compressors, only worried thing is that these parts don't have a manufacturer brand on them so I would not be very sure for their long-lasting duration.

 

[Cipollini]

They will probably won´t last like originals, but glad to know there are cheap replacements too.

Forgot to mention, the car was on the diagnostics and(if I´ll translate it right) the biggest error appeared to be:

Error code 1208 - Constant adjustment of intake camshaft of right cylinder bank in direction 'Retarded' (P0016)

Is it serious/expensive problem with camshafts?
I´ve found some materials about this failure code: https://www.ipwilmington.com/news/m...e-and-repair-on-v-6-m272-and-v-8-m273-engines




EDIT: the engine light is on too, so it looks like exactly this problem: https://jalopnik.com/for-the-love-of-god-dont-ever-buy-a-2007-mercedes-benz-1787538986
Good God, I really searched all forums for the common or expensive issues with 5.5 engines, why I didn´t heard about this? Thought I´ve found my dream car, but now I´m not sure.

 

[Terrykal]

Maybe consider once more the m113 option.

 

[LostKiwi]

Is it serious/expensive problem with camshafts?

Yes. Very expensive.

 

[Cipollini]

I will reconsider the M113 again for sure.
The weird thing is that owner showed me original invoice from MB service, the timing chain, etc. were warranty replaced at 240k km...maybe they replaced that parts for the same quality ones, not for redesigned. I have no idea why diagnostics shows the same failure again after another 150k km.

 

[Blobcat]

I will reconsider the M113 again for sure.
The weird thing is that owner showed me original invoice from MB service, the timing chain, etc. were warranty replaced at 240k km...maybe they replaced that parts for the same quality ones, not for redesigned. I have no idea why diagnostics shows the same failure again after another 150k km.

It can be quite easy to type up some paperwork...

 

[Cipollini]

100% agree @Blobcat but I checked the history in MB obviously

 

[Cipollini]

It´s curious these camshaft issues should have been solved from September 2006.
Source: http://australiancar.reviews/mercedesbenz_M273.php

The car I´m checking is 06/2007, but it has all symptoms:

• Illumination of the check engine light; and
• Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) 1200 or 1208 stored in the ME-SFI control unit

 

[LostKiwi]

It´s curious these camshaft issues should have been solved from September 2006.
Source: http://australiancar.reviews/mercedesbenz_M273.php

The car I´m checking is 06/2007, but it has all symptoms:

• Illumination of the check engine light; and
• Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) 1200 or 1208 stored in the ME-SFI control unit

A car sold in2007 may still be a 2006 car.
For example Smart roadsters were only made between 2003 and 2005. If you look hard enough you can find 2006, 2007 and 2008 examples. I seem to recall seeing a 2010 on one occasion.
The only way to be sure is to go from VIN number and Engine number.

 

[Cipollini]

I have VIN number, I can post it here if it helps.

 

[Blobcat]

I have VIN number, I can post it here if it helps.

Please do

 

[Cipollini]

Please do

Here you go, WDD2193721A116911.

 

[Blobcat]

Here you go, WDD2193721A116911.

 

[Cipollini]

Thank you. I just checked the engine code here http://www.mercedesmedic.com/check-my-mercedes-benz-for-balance-shaft-issue-by-vin-m272273/ and it should have improved internals.

 

[LostKiwi]

The big question is do you want to take the risk knowing it's had timing chain and sprockets changed once already even though it's a supposedly improved version?

 

[Cipollini]

Now I really don´t know what is bigger risk. To buy a car that has already changed chain with sprockets, or get some car from 2006 that has never changed anything yet, but maybe will need chain and gear replacement in next years(or sooner).

About that error codes 1200 and 1208, is it possible that they may indicate something else? I´m still keeping in mind that 06/2007 should be improved version.

To be fair, I really fell in love with 5.5, compared to M113 it drives much better. In case I will avoid M273 due to camshaft problems, I´ll probably consider some chipped 320CDI too.
M113 is more like fast agile relaxed highway car, while M273 made me rev the engine all the time and enjoy the car pushing me into seat. Thank God I haven´t driven any 55 AMG yet

 

[AMGeed]

M113 is more like fast agile relaxed highway car, while M273 made me rev the engine all the time and enjoy the car pushing me into seat. Thank God I haven´t driven any 55 AMG yet

If you do, thoughts of the M273 and M113 n/a will be forgotten