The Joys of owning a Mercedes!

[Deadeye-Detailing]

Myself and Mercedes seemingly don't get on!

I bought an S350 that just had issue after issue, full Mercedes history too. So that just went back to the dealer. As many of you know I searched high and low for a CL63 AMG and I think I looked at every single one for sale, finally going to the one at Romans of St Albans.

Since leaving the forecourt it just had issue after issue, so far ive done the following.
3x coil packs New plugs
2x intake gaskets
Oil breather
Abs sensor
Center bearing in the prop
Gearbox service
2x new rear tyres
Relay inside the pre fuse box that Mercedes doesn't sell or even list despite it having a part number (got one from a breaker, then got a standard one same spec from amazon thanks to my brother who was director of electronics at TVR, it cost £6.58 compared to Merc who wanted 695 + vat for the full unit!)
Air con re gas

To be done the week after next

2x engine mounts
AUX belt
Ambient air temp sensor
Fit new amp
New discs and pads
Cure an annoying rattle inside the steering wheel

Jobs to investigate

1- Why the rear camera sometimes works and sometimes it doesn't! Driving me mad that one!

2- find someone who can repair or replace bolster air bags (does anyone know anyone?)

3- get prices for head bolt replacement

4 get prices for SLS black series lifters and new cams.


The engine light came on again today!

Scanned it and it said something along the lines of " formulation for left cylinder bank out of parameters and "formulation for right cylinder bank out of parameter" (i cant remaner the exact wording, I have zero idea what that means so simply deleted them as I can't see how both could be out at the same time.

But for all its faults I absolutely love it its a great drive, great to look at, great on the motorway, although I hate the fact the distronic etc auto shuts off whenever it feels like it!

Even though I have many other cars at my disposal, including a Gallardo and a brand new 992 C4s this is the one I go to! Work that one out!

I have some questions as well. The ambient air temp sensor is way out. At 7.15 this evening apparently it was 32 deg! I'm seeing conflicting evidence whether or not this has any part to play in the engine performance? Some say it does, some say it simply shows you the outside temp on the dash. Re the rear camera, ive heard of people saying there is a dody wire somewhere in there that can make bad contact, this makes sense as I give it a bang and it sometimes comes on, does anyone know where I should be looking.

I know this seems excessive for what was already an expensive used car I have no doubt in my mind the dealer Romans of St Albans would of sorted it for me, however, I only trust a very few people to work on my cars so simply paid for it myself. Yes, I could of probably got the newer 5.5 turbo d model cor the money I have in it now, but the 6.2 V8 is the one ive always wanted.

I think the moral of the story is if you want a car like this then you have to be prepared to have big money in it, if your strea hing yourself to buy ot simply dont. Id also reccomend one from a true enthusiast who has never had it serced by a main dealer rather a specialist for the AMG cars.

Once ive compleated the above its off for a Audo build, nothing drastic, just a nice upgrade cor cleaner crisp audio.

I ggenuinely hamd on heart think cars such as this should be kept in tip top condition. Yes you ould buy a much newer less miles performance car cor the type of money i now/will have in it but where is the fun in that. There are only 12 CL63 AMG for sale i the UK right now. And soon all big engined cars will be history. We need to keep the vibe alive people.

If i ever see a CL65 at the right money and spec cor sale ill probaly buy that too to add to my mysery! Also on the look out for a nice s63 ang in the next few months.

If anyone does know anything re the air temp sensor and also tve seat bolster fix it would be greatly appreciated ( i cant believe know one has experience of fixing these seats)

All i can off you is a tip of my hat or a discount on my Detailing company or even detailing advice in return!

I also need someone to talk me out of lowering it and adding some wheels!

 

[Wighty]

Nice write up buddy , sorry about your painful start to ownership. I wonder if another top tip for someone buying a CL would be to try and get it from MB , if only because the MB Tier 1 warranty would have covered for some of those problems (at least in its first year )

 

[grayb]

About 8 or 9 years ago, we bought a 996 Turbo. For the first four years, it seemed to eat money - the first two years cost more in repairs than the previous 9 years of two AMGs and an XJR altogether. Then it settled down and was as good as a 16-year-old car can be. Sometimes we are just unlucky...

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

Not slagging it off and some of them bits didnt NEED doing i just did them for piece of mind. Im sure the dealer would of stood on for the bits that needed doing however i only trust a few people to work on my cars so just went for it!

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

Still to need to find someone for the bolsters as im not having much joy findong anyone

 

[mioba]

I assume you had all those things done by the selliung dealer under warranty, that a lot of dosh to throw at a new motor....

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Still to need to find someone for the bolsters as im not having much joy findong anyone

d:Class are the people I use for all upholstery work.

Looks like you have a self adaption fault, so you either have an air leak or the engine hasnt been taught in post manifold gasket repair.

 

[LostKiwi]

I seem to recall several of us on here said don't do it.....

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

I seem to recall several of us on here said don't do it.....

Yeh but wheres the fun! I lokked at loads and they all had faults. So i went inti this knowing i needed to spend money. Its drives fantastic, and as stated most things have been done for my own peace of mind.

 

[mioba]

You know what they say, no risk no fun.

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

d:Class are the people I use for all upholstery work.

Looks like you have a self adaption fault, so you either have an air leak or the engine hasnt been taught in post manifold gasket repair.

The dynamic side of things works fine. The 2 leg bolsters on the drivers seat inflate but then deflate.

The passenger seat side bolsters infate then go down and then cant be re inflated ths dial goes up then jumps straight back down

 

[Bay Leaf]

Myself and Mercedes seemingly don't get on!

I bought an S350 that just had issue after issue, full Mercedes history too. So that just went back to the dealer. As many of you know I searched high and low for a CL63 AMG and I think I looked at every single one for sale, finally going to the one at Romans of St Albans.

Since leaving the forecourt it just had issue after issue, so far ive done the following.
3x coil packs New plugs
2x intake gaskets
Oil breather
Abs sensor
Center bearing in the prop
Gearbox service
2x new rear tyres
Relay inside the pre fuse box that Mercedes doesn't sell or even list despite it having a part number (got one from a breaker, then got a standard one same spec from amazon thanks to my brother who was director of electronics at TVR, it cost £6.58 compared to Merc who wanted 695 + vat for the full unit!)
Air con re gas

To be done the week after next

2x engine mounts
AUX belt
Ambient air temp sensor
Fit new amp
New discs and pads
Cure an annoying rattle inside the steering wheel

Jobs to investigate

1- Why the rear camera sometimes works and sometimes it doesn't! Driving me mad that one!

2- find someone who can repair or replace bolster air bags (does anyone know anyone?)

3- get prices for head bolt replacement

4 get prices for SLS black series lifters and new cams.


The engine light came on again today!

Scanned it and it said something along the lines of " formulation for left cylinder bank out of parameters and "formulation for right cylinder bank out of parameter" (i cant remaner the exact wording, I have zero idea what that means so simply deleted them as I can't see how both could be out at the same time.

But for all its faults I absolutely love it its a great drive, great to look at, great on the motorway, although I hate the fact the distronic etc auto shuts off whenever it feels like it!

Even though I have many other cars at my disposal, including a Gallardo and a brand new 992 C4s this is the one I go to! Work that one out!

I have some questions as well. The ambient air temp sensor is way out. At 7.15 this evening apparently it was 32 deg! I'm seeing conflicting evidence whether or not this has any part to play in the engine performance? Some say it does, some say it simply shows you the outside temp on the dash. Re the rear camera, ive heard of people saying there is a dody wire somewhere in there that can make bad contact, this makes sense as I give it a bang and it sometimes comes on, does anyone know where I should be looking.

I know this seems excessive for what was already an expensive used car I have no doubt in my mind the dealer Romans of St Albans would of sorted it for me, however, I only trust a very few people to work on my cars so simply paid for it myself. Yes, I could of probably got the newer 5.5 turbo d model cor the money I have in it now, but the 6.2 V8 is the one ive always wanted.

I think the moral of the story is if you want a car like this then you have to be prepared to have big money in it, if your strea hing yourself to buy ot simply dont. Id also reccomend one from a true enthusiast who has never had it serced by a main dealer rather a specialist for the AMG cars.

Once ive compleated the above its off for a Audo build, nothing drastic, just a nice upgrade cor cleaner crisp audio.

I ggenuinely hamd on heart think cars such as this should be kept in tip top condition. Yes you ould buy a much newer less miles performance car cor the type of money i now/will have in it but where is the fun in that. There are only 12 CL63 AMG for sale i the UK right now. And soon all big engined cars will be history. We need to keep the vibe alive people.

If i ever see a CL65 at the right money and spec cor sale ill probaly buy that too to add to my mysery! Also on the look out for a nice s63 ang in the next few months.

If anyone does know anything re the air temp sensor and also tve seat bolster fix it would be greatly appreciated ( i cant believe know one has experience of fixing these seats)

All i can off you is a tip of my hat or a discount on my Detailing company or even detailing advice in return!

I also need someone to talk me out of lowering it and adding some wheels!

What year is this car and how many miles has it covered.

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

2009, 86,000 miles and i love it!

 

[Bay Leaf]

You've got a lot of problems there on that mileage, and indeed the year. Here's me thinking that Mercedes cars were robust and reliable. Personally I think it's been thrashed and badly maintained by previous owners. But if you'r happy with my friend, go for it.

 

[Deadeye-Detailing]

You've got a lot of problems there on that mileage, and indeed the year. Here's me thinking that Mercedes cars were robust and reliable. Personally I think it's been thrashed and badly maintained by previous owners. But if you'r happy with my friend, go for it.

Had a good look through the history last night and its actually very good. Im just fussy!