Do I buy a CL500?

[mattb]

Hi Guys,

I am a new member here, I have moved over from the Skyline GTR forum, hopefully you won't hold that against me too much

I have owned a Skyline for just over 6 years and have decided that I want something more civilised and easier on the back! I have decided that a 2000+ CL500 or CL600 fits the bill but I know next to nothing about them.

My primary concerns are maintenance costs and reliability, general running costs are not a problem as they will be roughly the same as the Skyline if not a little cheaper... Unfortunately coming from the world of Nissan I am not used to cars breaking or becoming unreliable. It seems from my brief reading that rust and general electrical problems seem to be the most common ailments on MBs nowadays, would this be right?

My budget is around £20k and I have seen a number of low(ish) mileage CL500s ranging from 2000 to 2002 models available on autotrader. Are these cars worth considering or is my budget simply too low. If I look on Autotrader now I can find a Skyline GTR for £8k but I wouldn't recommend anyone buys it!!

Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Matt

 

[television]

As you say, lots around at £20k, very nice cars,best value on the market.
The 500 in my view is fine and fast enough, try and get the facelift version if you can,2002 possibly. The main reason these things come onto the market is you had to be rich to buy one new, the doors are very long and not good in Tesco's car parks, almost the same spec wise as my SL, go for it super cars. Try and get one with the extra's like Distronic and comfort seats,it worth it.

Malcolm

 

[stats007]

Lovely cars but a few things to watch out for - namely corrosion on the 'C' pillar, the ABC pump and seat electrics.

I've toyed with the idea a few times but the prices just keep dropping - not sure if they've bottomed out just yet above the old C140.

There are a lot out there so take your time. Personally I'd avoid the V12 - the NA CL55 is a better car if you can afford it. 500 has plenty of power and will return 28mpg at 80mph. Some cars have the rare cylinder cut-off to run on half the number of cylinders a la hemis but no real need.

 

[mattb]

Thanks a lot guys.

I have seen the CL55 but I think they are just out of my budget unfortunately. Luckily I have had the power thing with the Nissan. I am now looking forward to silence, comfort, speed, heated seats and an auto gearbox.

What are peoples' opinions on using non-MB garages for servicing. In the Nissan world there are so many well respected non Nissan garages around, it is better to go with them and save the cost!

Finally would anyone be able to give me or point me in the direction of costs for consumables like brake pads/discs, exhausts, servicing and servicing intervals for a CL500.

thanks again

Matt

 

[Parrot of Doom]

For consumables I'd stick with Mercedes parts counters, brake discs will be a little bit more expensive but filters etc will all be nice and cheap.

Plenty of independant Merc garages around, lots of knowledge on here and somebody will be able to recommend one near to you. Labour rates are less than half what the dealer charges, and IMO you get much better service.

 

[television]

Thanks a lot guys.

I have seen the CL55 but I think they are just out of my budget unfortunately. Luckily I have had the power thing with the Nissan. I am now looking forward to silence, comfort, speed, heated seats and an auto gearbox.

What are peoples' opinions on using non-MB garages for servicing. In the Nissan world there are so many well respected non Nissan garages around, it is better to go with them and save the cost!

Finally would anyone be able to give me or point me in the direction of costs for consumables like brake pads/discs, exhausts, servicing and servicing intervals for a CL500.

thanks again

Matt

For the best part I think you can ignore the exhaust, pads like Mintex (OE) or EBC will cost you £135 for all four wheels, and very easy to fit, service intervals are around 13k. If you say where you live there are plenty of good indies out there.
They will always be one of the all time great cars, and I mean it ,Get one with all of the goodies as it cost no more to buy.

malcolm

 

[stats007]

Cats are very expensive so make sure they're OK - depending on where you're based a main dealer franchise like Tony Purslow will offer 40% off of labour costs for cars 6 years old - get a good specialist to do everything outside of a stamped service IMO.

Service intervals are on an ASSYST scheme where the car tells you what type (A or B) & when - usually around 12000 miles or two years depending on how the car has been driven.

 

[Bassman]

Hi Matt
Bassman here - also moved over from the GTR forum and Skyline ownership this time last year.
Spooky really as I am also considering either a CL500, CL55 or some such like now my wife has decided to purchase the primary family transport. The C43T I have had for the past 10 months has been a superb combination of the GTR's performance (I had a Stage 1 R32) and my old Subaru Legacy's accomodation.
As for specialists, I'm not sure whereabouts you live but the place that was recommended to me in Aldershot has been very good.

 

[mattb]

Hi Bassman,

Small world or what eh? I certainly remember you, didn't realise you had gone the MB route though.

I live in Corby in Northamptonshire. There are plenty of MB dealers around here but not sure about specialists. Looks like I have picked a decent car to upgrade from. Although as stats007 said the pricing are yet to bottom out so I may wait until the middle of the year and see if I can pick up a CL55.

Matt

 

[NorthDownsMerc]

Stick with MBZ dealer serviced models, and keep up the dealer servicing if you want to avoid any future rust issues (see Mobilife).

Bear in mind that although the CL is "low-tech" compared to the Skyline (cubic capacity vs turbo trickery), servicing costs escalate for consumables because of the quantity & size. For example the 500V8 engine has 16 spark plugs, each around a tenner (ish) and will take the dealer the best part of a couple of hours to replace....and will leave you with a bill of £400+.

You'll also be on Regular unleaded on the CL rather than Super, so that'll save you a bit too (unless you remap upwards of course !).

Rich

 

[stats007]

You can buy Iridium plugs for £6.50 each if you get 16 and replace them yourself in an hour. I also only ever use Shell V-Power - it does make a difference to mpg and power on the M113 engine.

 

[nick-E55]

I would suggest it's worth you taking a look at the AMG E55 saloon. Hard to beat the combination of comfort, performance, reliability etc, and super-smooth in auto, but has manual button on s/wheel too, and they work exceptionally well. Somewhat cheaper than the CL55 too.

Cheers
Nick

 

[stats007]

Cheaper for a reason - the W210 IMO is one of the ugliest cars Mercedes have built for a long time - then there is the very real issue of major panel corrosion. On the other hand the W215 CL must be one of the most elegant cars; the interior is on another level. As always you get what you pay for.

 

[nick-E55]

Cheaper for a reason - the W210 IMO is one of the ugliest cars Mercedes have built for a long time - then there is the very real issue of major panel corrosion. On the other hand the W215 CL must be one of the most elegant cars; the interior is on another level. As always you get what you pay for.

Having paid 80k for my last car, a 997S cab, i would disagree with your final comment. Agree that the CL is better looking... but the E55 "ugly"?

 

[Blobcat]

Having paid 80k for my last car, a 997S cab, i would disagree with your final comment. Agree that the CL is better looking... but the E55 "ugly"?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if we all liked the same thing there would only be one car I was parked beside a 208 CLK & a 211 E in Lichfield last week. I still prefer mine & I think it is ageing well.

 

[nick-E55]

Beauty in the eye of the beholder, etc... agree... some thought Margaret Thatcher was a turn-on

 

[stats007]

A 997 Cabriolet? Now I know why you have a W210 .

Edit:

Reading another thread it seems you have a W211 E-class Nick - somewhat different to a W210 and much more expensive than the CL we're discussing here.!

 

[nick-E55]

it was either that or SL55 , but i can squeeze the kids in the back of the 911.... if they fold themselves into a small ball. SL55 is better looking, but somewhat "middle-aged"

 

[stats007]

911s are great drivers cars - I'm looking at buying one at the moment - but as you say the interior leaves a lot to be desired for the money. The only problem with the cabriolet was the prototype:

 

[television]

911s are great drivers cars - I'm looking at buying one at the moment - but as you say the interior leaves a lot to be desired for the money. The only problem with the cabriolet was the prototype:

Is that pic the new 911,I like the colour.

Malcolm