My First...

[josoro505]

It's a 2002 CL500 Sports with 132k miles. I purchased it yesterday. I love it.

I am hoping forum members with vastly more MB experience than I will be willing to assist me with my many queries.

I do enjoy DIY mechanicing, I am not independently wealthy. I am resourceful when it comes to locating information on the Web, and I will obtain the appropriate Haynes manual as well as other repair books and tools.

This leads me to my first question: what tool set is most recommended?

Cheers

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

In most cases a decent diagnostic machine that can read Mercedes specific codes - although not sure if you have OBD2 being 2002.

Regular maintenance is key to longevity- especially of the suspension system

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, sounds like a nice motor, pics when you can, please.

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome

 

[mioba]

Hi, welcome to the forum, nice motor. If you like DIY mechanics why ask for recommrnded tools.

Good torque wrench, Halfords-life spanners and ratchet set,..... actually forget it, my tool set grows all the time, the more you want to do, the more you buy, it really is how long is a piece of string.

 

[Srdl]

Hello and welcome

 

[bembo449]

Cl500 sports ??? Welcome aboard , a few cl500 owners here , me inc and a wealth of knowledge/ experience to hand

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Welcome!

You’ve joined the right forum there is a wealth of information and very helpful members

 

[josoro505]

Cl500 sports ??? Welcome aboard , a few cl500 owners here , me inc and a wealth of knowledge/ experience to hand

That's good to read. Recently I encountered some nightmare issues: It began when the car stopped reacting to the key fob- no trunk, no unlocking, or locking. Then, wehen I used the mechanical key to enter, the alarm sounded but the fob would not disengage once inserted into the ignition. The first time this happened, I used the spare fob to start the car and figured I needed new batteries in the other fob. I replaced all four batteries--just to be safe. Several days later, it happened again. This time I remembered I had done something out of the oridinary before exiting the car: I closed the side view mirrors using the button on the door. Well, I figured, "Why not give it a try?" and pressed the button again. Voila'! The car started. This happened on two more random occasions.
The last time it happened, not even pressing any button helped. I resigned to a tow and while waiting for the truck, I tried the ignition on a whim and it started. So, I drove home. My mechanic suspected the problem was within the anti-theft system and he said I would have to take it to the dealer because those kinds of parts are held hostage...joking. So, I drove it to the dealer the next day.
The dealer didn't get to examine the car while in its "locked" mode, but later did manage to get an error code-- faulty ignition. So they replaced that.
Now, the doors do not lock. Only by using the mechanical key will the driver's door lock. Not by the button on the dash board either. Also, the driver's window intermittantly works. Right now, it is down. I drove it (I picked it up today after being in the shop for 2 weeks) and tested the button all the way home. The passenger side window functioned...until I opened the passenger door when there was no key in the ignition--it went down and will not rise again.
This story is becoming convoluted and confusing; I hope you all are able to keep track of what I'm describing.
So, the windows are down: I will try them later when the ambient temperature cools- maybe the motor will react better when it's colder. And, the pump for the pneumatic door locks is overtaxed because of a leak on the passenger side lock acuator (they also found some corrosion there).
I understand the car is 20 years old. It is becoming more expensive with every service. I would like to think I am capable of some mechanicing, but who am I kidding? This kind of work seems far over my pay grade.
Any advice or words of enfcouragement?

 

[grahamcol]

My advice would be to forget general garages and also main dealers. You are much better off with a specialist Mercedes independent. Doubtless others will be able to recommend one according to where you live.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Whereabouts are you ? Someone may be able to recommend a good independent specialist local to you.

 

[Srdl]

Whereabouts are you ? Someone may be able to recommend a good independent specialist local to you.

The use of “trunk” and spelling of “liter” suggests not in the UK

 

[Blobcat]

The use of “trunk” and spelling of “liter” suggests not in the UK

 

[josoro505]

So, the problems with the windows and door locks turned out to be coding issues. The fortunate thing about filling out online surveys is if one is brutally honest they may get a response from the service manager, the second in command at the dealership. That is what I did; I filled out a detailed survey expressing my dissasisfaction with the progress of my repairs and this prompted the service manager to investigate further with a second technician who found the coding issues resolvable within a few hours. I asked why the issue was not initially realized and the manager simply replied, "Lack of epxerience." This may be; however, I suspect the original service rep was all too willing to go ahead and charge me an additional $2800 to fix the windows and $2500 for the door locks. (How much is that in Euros?)

I looked around my area (in California) for expert advice, but Google pulls up the same garages and dealerships. I figure as long as I continue haranguing the higher-ups at Fletcher-Jones I can expect a modicum of respect and coutesy.

I'm now facing the issue of the air conditioning being in a default "on" position prior to starting the car. I can turn it off once started, but it reverts to on before re-starting. I tried holding the power button for 10 seconds (how many is that in Euros?.......) but that didn't work. Is there a "code" I need to apply in order for the air conditioning to react as it used to which was to remain in the "off" position and only turn "on" after pressing the power button?

Thank you all for your kind and supportive responses. There's another MB forum which has yet to respond once despite nearly 200 views. (Probably rude Americans .)

 

[Blobcat]

So, the problems with the windows and door locks turned out to be coding issues. The fortunate thing about filling out online surveys is if one is brutally honest they may get a response from the service manager, the second in command at the dealership. That is what I did; I filled out a detailed survey expressing my dissasisfaction with the progress of my repairs and this prompted the service manager to investigate further with a second technician who found the coding issues resolvable within a few hours. I asked why the issue was not initially realized and the manager simply replied, "Lack of epxerience." This may be; however, I suspect the original service rep was all too willing to go ahead and charge me an additional $2800 to fix the windows and $2500 for the door locks. (How much is that in Euros?)

I looked around my area (in California) for expert advice, but Google pulls up the same garages and dealerships. I figure as long as I continue haranguing the higher-ups at Fletcher-Jones I can expect a modicum of respect and coutesy.

I'm now facing the issue of the air conditioning being in a default "on" position prior to starting the car. I can turn it off once started, but it reverts to on before re-starting. I tried holding the power button for 10 seconds (how many is that in Euros?.......) but that didn't work. Is there a "code" I need to apply in order for the air conditioning to react as it used to which was to remain in the "off" position and only turn "on" after pressing the power button?

Thank you all for your kind and supportive responses. There's another MB forum which has yet to respond once despite nearly 200 views. (Probably rude Americans .)

Confused as to why you’d want the AC permanently off (especially in California…)