Inspection of a 02 CL 55 AMG (NA) in Leominster, Herefordshire

[Cosmin_M]

Hi All,

I found an interesting car in Leominster, Herefordshire, black interior on a decent grey shell, all the cats on the car, last owner for a couple of years. In the original add it was stated that the valve block is not holding pressure (sagging on the back when parked for a while) and that there is a small oil leak on the front of the engine. I was thinking that all in one that is a fair car so I really wanted to go and see the car. Unfortunately after talking with the current owner it looks like the car dumped most of the hydraulic oil so it's undrivable atm. The owner did not drive the car once he noticed the car lost hydraulic oil.

So I am looking for someone in that area that can take a look at the car, provide an estimate and probably perform the work. Any suggestions ? Also feel free to drop any thoughts you might have regarding this possible purchase.

Thank you in advance for your time,
Cosmin

 

[Cosmin_M]

I am also trying to figure out what exactly is different on the AMG models compared to the regular one, other than brakes and exhaust. I can find some info on the CL55K but I can't seem to find anything on the AMG NA model, not even the MB brochure

 

[MBDevotee]

As far as I know the leather / seats were different, exhaust would have been too. I think the engine is somehow different (5.5 litre not 5.0) but others will know better.

Suspension, brakes, all that kind of thing will have been uprated.

You gain some oomph but lose that "waftiness" of a CL - each to their own, but I think one of the CL's attractions is it's refinement and the 5.0 is pretty darn quick so not sure it needs much more power - even the CL55 isn't going to surprise any Ferraris!

 

[peterws1957]

Unless it's at a less than rock bottom price I wouldn't be touching it. I would suspect that a specialist would only give a quote if the car was uplifted to their garage and then you're already into transport costs etc. Then you have the oil leak to deal with. Is there a reason why the seller won't fix it? Cost I would suspect. There have been some really nice early CL55's for sale over the past 12 months. If I was in the market I would be waiting for a well sorted one to turn up. A cheap CL can turn very expensive very quickly. I know this doesn't answer your question though!

 

[DSK]

The best you could hope for would be to pay a garage to go to the car and take a look as best they can. (As mentioned, for a pre-purchase inspection etc, the car needs to be at the independents).

IIRC the AMG had better brakes, wheels, exhaust, suspension, interior and body styling, with an extra 50 odd bhp over the standard CL500. Personally I think, the CL55 is a great buy as its hard to sell as the CL55 Kompressor is the jewel and this pushes the NA engine CL55 into CL500 money.

 

[Cosmin_M]

The numbers are: 140k miles, last owner for 7 years, 2000 pounds. It is hard for me to say what is (bellow) rock bottom price.

The message currently displayed is 'Active body control ABC Drive carefully'.

Now my biggest concern is that, from what I understand from the current owner, the ABC system was never flushed in the last 7 years. Some might say that this alone requires all the elements in the ABC system to be replaced in order to have a reliable/dependable car. This will be my second car and one of my best friends is the mechanic that will work on the car so I can afford being a bit more 'adventurous'.

I'll go and see the car tomorrow and provide an update.

Thank you for the replies!

 

[Cosmin_M]

Unless it's at a less than rock bottom price I wouldn't be touching it. I would suspect that a specialist would only give a quote if the car was uplifted to their garage and then you're already into transport costs etc. Then you have the oil leak to deal with. Is there a reason why the seller won't fix it? Cost I would suspect. There have been some really nice early CL55's for sale over the past 12 months. If I was in the market I would be waiting for a well sorted one to turn up. A cheap CL can turn very expensive very quickly. I know this doesn't answer your question though!

You are correct, a specialist is only willing to provide an estimate after they see the car and the current owner did not get things fixed because of the cost. Also it looks like my closest Mercedes specialist is not considering to rebuild or install a rebuilt valve block...

 

[DSK]

The numbers are: 140k miles, last owner for 7 years, 2000 pounds. It is hard for me to say what is (bellow) rock bottom price.

The message currently displayed is 'Active body control ABC Drive carefully'.

Now my biggest concern is that, from what I understand from the current owner, the ABC system was never flushed in the last 7 years. Some might say that this alone requires all the elements in the ABC system to be replaced in order to have a reliable/dependable car. This will be my second car and one of my best friends is the mechanic that will work on the car so I can afford being a bit more 'adventurous'.

I'll go and see the car tomorrow and provide an update.

Thank you for the replies!

If the rest of the car check out, then its just a case of knowing how serious the other known issues are. I like the fact the last owner has had the car for more than 5 minutes as it shows he's liked it enough to keep it and probably stayed on top of service items at least in that period.

As second car, why not, if you have the time and resources, after all an AMG is an AMG and a CL always looks beautiful and would happily put many new cars to utter shame in terms of quality and comfort.

 

[DSK]

I see you are in Nottingham. There are a couple of independents worth jotting down.

I use MercServe located in Basford.
@V6Matty - uses another reputable one located around the Colwick way IIRC.

 

[MBDevotee]

I wouldn't touch it - but that's just me.....

My logic is - these non Kompressor models aren't significantly nicer to drive / own etc, nor THAT much faster - but things like exhausts brakes etc cost a lot more. Prices are therefore similar to a CL500.

A reasonable CL500 on an 02 plate with those miles on can be bought for £2000-4000 so this car needs to owe you about that or just over when it's all fixed.

If you pay £2k for it and the repairs cost £2k (pure guess) that's ok - however a car you can't test drive would ring massive alarm bells on one of those - there is just SO much to go wrong very expensively.....

If I were buying one, I'd only consider it after an indie had given it a full once over - and that can't really be done on this one......

Just my twopenneth....

 

[Cosmin_M]

I see you are in Nottingham. There are a couple of independents worth jotting down.

I use MercServe located in Basford.
@V6Matty - uses another reputable one located around the Colwick way IIRC.

I had a very good call with MercServe, thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Craiglxviii]

The oil leak is almost certainly a leaking rocker box seal. Happens on the M113, it’s a liquid gasket and only lasts a few years. £50 fix at an Indy (15-20 minute job).

ABC; if the pump hasn’t seen fresh fluid in 7 years, you will certainly need both the valve blocks torn down and rebuilt (say £3-400) and you’ll likely find the pump needs replacing (£600) plus a strut or two (£300 each). You may also find corrosion on some of the lines, between £80-300 each dependent on which one (there’s only one £300 line).

If the ABC warning is red, it’s not necessarily terminal. My car sees a red warning on engine start if it’s been sat for a day, it goes away as soon as the ride height is bumped up and down. Red means, car too low or pump pressure <80bar. White means pump pressure <> 80-120bar.

Difference between AMG/ nonAMG and Kompressor vs NA. AMG models got updated brakes and different interior trim options, plus 50bhp dependent on the engine option.

 

[Cosmin_M]

I wouldn't touch it - but that's just me.....

My logic is - these non Kompressor models aren't significantly nicer to drive / own etc, nor THAT much faster - but things like exhausts brakes etc cost a lot more. Prices are therefore similar to a CL500.

A reasonable CL500 on an 02 plate with those miles on can be bought for £2000-4000 so this car needs to owe you about that or just over when it's all fixed.

If you pay £2k for it and the repairs cost £2k (pure guess) that's ok - however a car you can't test drive would ring massive alarm bells on one of those - there is just SO much to go wrong very expensively.....

If I were buying one, I'd only consider it after an indie had given it a full once over - and that can't really be done on this one......

Just my twopenneth....

Yes, the non Kompressor models aren't significantly nicer to drive and clearly more expensive to own. I am still trying to understand what component of ABC it shares with the CL500 and what is customised by/for AMG. I would even add another big concern regarding the body kit, that is extremely rare and I can only image what will happen on a low speed accident involving the front bumper.

Why I like this particular car/model:
- last owner for 7 years
- there were only 2217 produced, compared to 32224 CL500
- I am not into tuning cars, so whatever exhaust noise AMG decided as appropriate, will do for me, same for brakes. I do like a little noise and good brakes though.
- It has Trip Tronic, useful ? I don't know but it's nice to know that it is a full option car
- it has the catalytic converters/stock exhaust

'De gustibus non est disputandum',
Cosmin

 

[Cosmin_M]

The oil leak is almost certainly a leaking rocker box seal. Happens on the M113, it’s a liquid gasket and only lasts a few years. £50 fix at an Indy (15-20 minute job).

ABC; if the pump hasn’t seen fresh fluid in 7 years, you will certainly need both the valve blocks torn down and rebuilt (say £3-400) and you’ll likely find the pump needs replacing (£600) plus a strut or two (£300 each). You may also find corrosion on some of the lines, between £80-300 each dependent on which one (there’s only one £300 line).

If the ABC warning is red, it’s not necessarily terminal. My car sees a red warning on engine start if it’s been sat for a day, it goes away as soon as the ride height is bumped up and down. Red means, car too low or pump pressure <80bar. White means pump pressure <> 80-120bar.

Difference between AMG/ nonAMG and Kompressor vs NA. AMG models got updated brakes and different interior trim options, plus 50bhp dependent on the engine option.

Having the CL500 suspension would be one of the great news.

2k in ABC repairs is something I can live with. 150 - 200 monthly in maintenance, same as the cheapest PCP deal possible. Yes, I can live with that.

Thank you!
Cosmin

 

[MBDevotee]

Yes, the non Kompressor models aren't significantly nicer to drive and clearly more expensive to own. I am still trying to understand what component of ABC it shares with the CL500 and what is customised by/for AMG. I would even add another big concern regarding the body kit, that is extremely rare and I can only image what will happen on a low speed accident involving the front bumper.

Why I like this particular car/model:
- last owner for 7 years
- there were only 2217 produced, compared to 32224 CL500
- I am not into tuning cars, so whatever exhaust noise AMG decided as appropriate, will do for me, same for brakes. I do like a little noise and good brakes though.
- It has Trip Tronic, useful ? I don't know but it's nice to know that it is a full option car
- it has the catalytic converters/stock exhaust

'De gustibus non est disputandum',
Cosmin

Ok

Why I like this particular car/model:
- last owner for 7 years
Yes - agreed that's good - however why is he selling? Does he know the real cost of fixing this baby....?


- there were only 2217 produced, compared to 32224 CL500
Yup - can't argue


- I am not into tuning cars, so whatever exhaust noise AMG decided as appropriate, will do for me, same for brakes. I do like a little noise and good brakes though.
I drove a CL500 - wonderful, but whisper quiet - so yes to the exhaust if that's what you like - the brakes on the CL500 were "take your face off" powerful - only way to stop quicker involves the back of a truck.


- It has Trip Tronic, useful ? I don't know but it's nice to know that it is a full option car
Tiptronic is standard on both CL500 and CL55


- it has the catalytic converters/stock exhaust
Ok - might be a positive, might not - depends on the state of the cats.


If you buy it, buy it in the open and complete knowledge it might be a bargain, or ruinous - it's all going to come down to what you find when you start the work - and once you start the work, do you then stop if you find something horrific?

Eyes wide open, know the risk - accept that risk and it may just pay off for you.....

What bodykit? got any photos?

Have you posted to get the VIN checked out to see what options it DOES have?

 

[Cosmin_M]

@MBDevotee

- reason for selling, I will not go there. How much is it to repair, not even a mechanic can tell while looking at the car.

- I also drove a CL500 a couple of times last year. Can't complain about the brakes either but I don't mind anything extra on stopping power.

- I do apologies, I I was referring to 219 Distronic (DTR) not Trip Tronic

I have checked the option list based on the VIN online. That is where I have confirmed that it's not a 'rebadged' CL500 and that the Distronic is there not just the fancy star.

I have attached a picture of the car.

 

[MBDevotee]

Don't think that's a bodykit (more knowledgeable peeps be along in a mo) - that looks standard CL55 to me.

Distronic - that's another matter - very nice option - likely to have others then as that wasn't cheap.

Post the VIN in the VIN thread and get the full build

 

[Cosmin_M]

Don't think that's a bodykit (more knowledgeable peeps be along in a mo) - that looks standard CL55 to me.

Distronic - that's another matter - very nice option - likely to have others then as that wasn't cheap.

Post the VIN in the VIN thread and get the full build

Yes, that is a standard CL55, different to a CL500, considerably more expensive to fix if involved in a crash ?

 

[DSK]

The AMG models had the AMG body styling, bumpers, side skirts, wheels etc over CL500.

The body looks alright and nice on the pictures, very nice!

 

[MBDevotee]

Yes - from that pic the condition looks good - I think this one's a hard call.

I expect there are a few in breakers around the country, but not half as many as CL500's - so you might be looking at a huge bill if you have even a relatively low speed shunt.

I would say even at 20mph the insurer would write off.