w219 CLS 63 AMG

[Cipollini]

Hi all,

after some time I came back to this great forum. Not so long ago I was seriously interested in CLS 500/550 and I was waiting looong time for nice one to get, but unfortunately no good car appeared for sale in my country.
So I went different route and bought almost fully equipped 2010 X6 with powerful biturbodiesel and I am happy with it. But sometimes I keep my eyes on local car advertising, because of CLS obviously.
One day I saw nice obsidian black CLS 63 AMG FL and on the same day I called the guy.
Next day I sit in the car and had a ride. Cold start of the engine caused me shivers. I wanted to tell the car ´´bitch where have you been so long, you was made for me!´´ but didn´t want to look like retard
Trial ride was perfect. AT shifts smoothly, and while cruising leisurely in the town and outside the town the engine was running between 1000-1500rpm consuming 9-12l/100km of petrol.
Under throttle it´s hard to describe, completely different beast than CLS500. There´s lot of amg experts here so I don´t have to describe it. I am sure this car is almost overpowered for normal roads...but I want it. Just for the sound, acceleration, character, engine, the way it makes you smile and laugh. Hell, it´s 6.2 V8, one of the last proper respectable big engines before the world gets mad. Seems like future belongs to hybrid 1.0 3-cylinder with 12 turbos or something, unfortunately. But it´s different story.
Back to the car. Right after trial ride I was ready to tell the owner shut up and take my money now(about £11.7k), but there´s some flaws. Car doesn´t have the service book, Keyless Go and keyless start is not working, brake rotors and DVD unit need to be replaced and the engine consumes a lot of oil(according to owner about 2L on 1000km). Anyway the exhaust doesn´t smoke at all and smells normal. Emission test was ok too. Maybe some leakage?
Car has done 150k miles. I know there´s a lot of issues that need to be fixed, but I am worried I will wait for another sale of CLS 63 for years.

What do you guys think about it?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome (Back!)- that's an evil beast! Issues are nothing too bad maybe if no smoking...

 

[V6Matty]

Mostly sounds okay to me but that oil usage does seem very very high, I take it it’s not using any water as well?

 

[s5tuart]

That’s a lot of car!
Seems like you have some major bargaining cards to play with.
Disc rotors aren’t cheap.
Keyless start could be just down to the START button needs pairing to the car again. Not sure about keyless go. Flat batteries in the fobs?
DVD unit won’t be cheap
Oil useage would worry me until I knew what was causing it!
Good luck with it if you decide to get it. Lovely car!

 

[Cipollini]

Thanks all!!

About smoking. I didn´t notice any(unusual) smoke while idling and revvying. During ride I couldn´t check it unfortunately. Engine sounds normal. But I agree it´s a lot of oil. It would be the best if it was just some leakage. I´d gladly pay the price of the oil every 1000km, but the question is if the car won´t need service which will cost me fortune over time. I didn´t ask owner if the engine eats water too, but I will. But I think if it does, there shoulld be white smoke coming from tips, am I wrong?

I am not sure about further bargain. The price was originally £13.2k, but after some personal debate seller said £11.7k taking into account car issues.
All rotors with pads would cost me about £1150, DVD £100(used), Keyless entry and oil consumption- no idea. Seller says it´s normal to use this amount of oil in this engine, but I doubt. Anyway I don´t understand how it´s possible the car doesn´t smoke and sounds good.

There are always some C/S/ML/G 63 advertised, but CLS is quite rare. Don´t want to miss it but don´t want to make wrong deciision too.

Some more bad quality mobile photos added!

 

[AMGeed]

Look for another one.
Oil consumption is rather high (worn valve guides or a leak?)
Keyless Go could be an expensive fix and those pads and discs are not cheap as you have seen.
Mileage very high would put me off that car.
But the fact there is no service history would put me off completely.
Sorry.

 

[s5tuart]

Look for another one.
Oil consumption is rather high (worn valve guides or a leak?)
Keyless Go could be an expensive fix and those pads and discs are not cheap as you have seen.
Mileage very high would put me off that car.
But the fact there is no service history would put me off completely.
Sorry.

I agree. Wait to find a better one. I totally missed that it has no service history! That is a very big red flag!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Sorry I did miss the comment about service history- without that forget it

 

[A.J.]

I too would walk away from that. The additional no-no for me is the look of it, I personally hate black wheels and black privacy glass. It gives out completely the wrong message

 

[Cipollini]

Your opinions changed a looot guys Just kidding, I am grateful for all advices. You are right I will probably have to forget it, although the price is good and the chance I will find another CLS 63 in next months/years is close to lottery win.
The last chance is to find out something about it´s history at MB dealer. My friend´s friend is working there, so I will let the car checked, there´s still some chance they have the electronic history of the car and the previous owner just lost the service book.

About look, I don´t care that much. I don´t like black wheels too, I´d just use them as winter ones and buy 20´´ VII Style AMG for summer. I would also let the car wrap in some nice grey or white matte foil.


Equipment of the car, if someone´s interested:

197U OBSIDIAN BLACK
202B OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE RECORD
220 PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
231 GARAGE DOOR OPENER
242 ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE RIGHT DRIVER SEAT W MEMORY
249 INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR MIRROR,AUTOMATICALLY DIMMING
255B MB MOBILO WITH DSB AND GGD
260B AIRBAGLABEL - GERMAN/ENGLISH
275 MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
281 AMG PERFORMANCE STEERING WHEEL
293 SIDEBAG IN REAR LEFT AND RIGHT
301 ASHTRAY PACKAGE
332B INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
386 UNIVERSAL TELEPHONY PACKAGE
401 FRONT SEAT CLIMATE CONTROL
414 ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
427 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7-SPEED
433 LEFT DRIVING DYNAMICS SEAT
434 RIGHT DRIVING DYNAMICS SEAT
475 TIRE PRESSURE CONTROL
489 AIRMATIC DUAL CONTROL / AIR SUSPENSION SEMI-ACTIVE
500 ELECTRIC FOLDING OUTSIDE MIRROR
512 COMAND APS WITH DVD CHANGER
518 UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE (UCI)
540 ROLLER BLIND, ELECTRIC, FOR REAR WINDOW
551 BASIC ANTITHEFT ALARM SYSTEM (ATA)
573 CHILD SEAT MOUNTING, ISOFIX IN REAR
580A EXCLUSIVE LEATHER TRIM
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
581A EXCLUSIVE LEATHER - BLACK/ANTHRACITE
600 HEADLAMPS - CLEANING EQUIPMENT
615 BI-XENON HEADLICHT W.ACTVIE CURVELIGHT RIGHT-DRIVE
691 PRODUCT PROTECTION - BUMPER
721 BASIC CARRIER
732 CENTER CONSOLE IN CARBON GLOSSY AMG
772 AMG STYLING PACKAGE-FRONT SPOILER, SIDE SKIRT
797 AMG 19" SPOKED WHEELS WITH MIXED TIRES
809 AEJ 08/1
810 PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
863 TV-TUNER DIGITAL TO ANALOG
872 REAR SEAT BENCH HEATING LEFT UND RIGHT
881 REMOTE TRUNK LOCKING
882 SENSOR SYSTEM AND ANTITHEFT ALARM SYSTEM
889 KEYLESS - GO
97V SPEED- + LOADINDEX 96Y XL+98Y XL
985 COC PAPER EURO 4 TECHNOLOGY W. REG. CERT. PART II
A22 NEW CONVERTER GENERATION
A24 JOINT FLANGE, 4-ARM 120
A31 SOFTWARE (INDIVIDUAL)
A38 M - VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH VGS 2
A44 SOFTWARE 3
F219 MODEL SERIES 219
FC COUPE
G907 TRANSMISSION CODE VERSION 07
GA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HA REAR AXLE
K11 ADAPTIVE STOP LIGHT FLASHING
K14 CONTROL CODE FOR SERVICE INTERVAL 20000 KM
L LEFT-HAND STEERING
M156 V8 GASOLINE ENGINE M156 - AMG
M63 6.3 LITER DISPLACEMENT
O99 AMG KM/H, MP/H
R01 SUMMER TIRES
U18 AUTOMATIC CHILD SEAT RECOGNITATION (AKSE)
U72 DVD PLAYER WITH REGIONAL CODE 2, EUROPE, JAPAN
VL FRONT AXLE HALF, LEFT
VR FRONT AXLE HALF, RIGHT

 

[John Laidlaw]

As a matter of interest, what year was it?

 

[Cipollini]

2009

 

[John Laidlaw]

Thanks, I asked because of the head bolt 'potential 'issue covering engine numbers 60658 or earlier. I think 2009 puts this one right there...again without conclusive service history and in addition to this I'd run many miles from this one! Again sorry, I know what it's like being smitten then know you can't or shouldn't have it, as it will ruin your life (ah but it might be fun until then....), I digress

 

[John Laidlaw]

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/...ling-engines-in-droves-c-bblers-i-say.160002/
FYI.....low numbers but just your luck if you get one

 

[peterws1957]

Oil consumption (if accurately reported) is very high. Owners of C63's report I litre per 1000 miles so this car is using 3 to 4 times what it should be doing. This reason alone would put me off. Refurbs on these motors are eye wateringly expensive. This and the other things wrong with the car make it a no no for me. It's a fairly rare car in the UK so I can understand that there are not that many where you are! Is it difficult and expensive to import one?

 

[flowrider]

The car is only £11k, surely thats worth a punt to drive around in a 6.3 AMG and if it throws up a big bill in a year or two just sell it on at a discount. if though you are looking for a keeper then I would look elsewhere.

 

[Cipollini]

Thanks, I asked because of the head bolt 'potential 'issue covering engine numbers 60658 or earlier. I think 2009 puts this one right there...again without conclusive service history and in addition to this I'd run many miles from this one! Again sorry, I know what it's like being smitten then know you can't or shouldn't have it, as it will ruin your life (ah but it might be fun until then....), I digress

No problem and thank you for interest. I am aware about head bolt issues on M156. But If I am right, if there were faulty bolts it always failed before 60k miles or sooner. So I am more afraid about the oil consupmtion and car history than head bolts. If it was faulty it must be replaced already on this mileage.
VIN decoder shows this engine number: 156983 60 027235
I know what you´re talking about, I am disappointed. I know if this car won´t be good, I probably won´t find another.

 

[Cipollini]

@peterws1957 Oil consumption is extreme. But I don´t understand why the car doesn´t smoke at all. Maybe owner doesn´t tell exact info, but why would he lie and tell more?
Maybe there is some leakage I didn´t notice(I didn´t look under the car).
But with 1 liter of oil burned every 500km it should smoke like a steam locomotive! Not to mention it wouldn´t sound so smooth when idling.
CLS 63 AMG is even more rare here than in the UK obviously. There is always some ML, C, or S 63 for sale but actually this is the first CLS 63 I´ve seen for sale in last 2-3 years.
In fact I always loved w219 and with 6.2 under the hood it´s my dream car, although I ride more refined and fully equipped X6. I´d push the X6 down the gorge straight away if someone would give me CLS 63 Purely heart´s choice.

I was thinking about importing one too. But importing fees are quite high and you still can buy junk thousands kilometres away. Also cars after facelift are above £15k.

@flowrider Yes, I look for a keeper. That doesn´t mean I must find perfect one, but I can make car with some issues better(or best) and probably never sell.

 

[AMGeed]

If the engine doesn't smoke but is using a lot of oil, it points to a leak and it would be a big leak to use the amount you state.
Using up to 1 litre of oil every 1k miles is acceptable on an M156 engine, but this one is a lot more.

It's obvious you really want this car although what you have said points to it not being a sensible buy,
So if you have your heart set on the car, use the faults to negotiate a lower price.
The mileage is very high already, keyless go is not working and its drinking oil for fun. Then there is no service record although that can be found and printed if the servicing has been done at a main dealer. And finally, you have the threat of head bolt failure hanging over the car all the while.
Offer the guy £10k take it or leave it and see what the seller says. You are taking a big risk but that is your choice.
To be honest, a CLS55 is a far better option if you can find one.

 

[Cipollini]

Agree with you. It´s not possible that the car eats 1l of oil/500km and doesn´t smoke. Oil leak or seller didn´t tell right number. 1l on 1000km would sound better even though still above what MB stated. Must discuss with seller properly.
Btw. is it possible the car is smoking only during ride and doesn´t smoke when idling? Doesn´t make sense for me, but who knows.

Let´s be honest, CLS 63 AMG is not a sensible buy by any means Things I mentioned just made it even worse buy.
Today I gave the VIN to guy from MB and will wait. If I´ll get some better news I´ll sacrifice that £50 and let it check properly by MB service.

Why do you think CLS55 AMG is better(except reliability)? There was one for sale few months ago for about £10k but I responded late, it was sold in few days so I know nothing about it´s condition.
Some time ago I travelled in w211 E55 AMG. It was really fast and pinned me into seat under throttle, but the sound was poor compared to 63.
I know 55 can be tuned to far more HP than 63 but it´s older and has only 5speed gearbox. In stock both are equally fast, to be precise 63 is 0.2 sec faster:
https://www.auto-data.net/en/mercedes-benz-cls-coupe-c219-amg-cls-55-476hp-g-tronic-28342

https://www.auto-data.net/en/mercedes-benz-cls-coupe-c219-facellift-2008-amg-cls-63-514hp-28363