Just Is

I'm looking to get into a 2006 600 and am wondering which options may have been included on the 2006 vs other years? I want the ventilated seats, push button, and massage seats. Test drove a CL500 today (just to get a feel for the weight/size/suspension) of the w215, and it had none of these options. Were those options standard for the 600? Are there any other options the 2006 would have that the 03-05.

Also, I think I recall reading that the 2004s had some sort of mechanical failure that the 03, 05, and 06 don't. Can anyone refresh my memory as to what that is?

I plan on doing maintenance myself. I own a couple w208 CLK430s and just swapped a 2003 AMG 5.4 into one. I've read about the ABC and coil pack woes, but (perhaps foolishly) I am not deterred.

ItalianJoe1

I don't think there's much difference in available options, the 04+ cars have the newer dvd bases navi which is nice. I have an 03 600 with every option and it has all that stuff. But if you get a 500 that wasn't well optioned it would not have massage seats. I did have a previous 03 600 that didn't have keyless go, so that's still an option. But on a 600 the seats are all ventilated and massaging I believe.

tusabes

The ventilated seats have a higher quality leather that's softer
The biggest difference as noted are the 2004-06 cars have DVD based navigation that can be updated with current maps
But the 2003 is the only year with a glovebox audio input jack

Mechanically they are identical - never heard of a problem with the 2004s

Just Is

Good insight from both of you. I'm glad you mentioned the aux port. That's something I forgot to put on my list. I have one in my 2000 clk and really wanted that feature in the CL... Is there a way to install one using the stock head unit for the 2004+ ? I can't stand aftermarket head units.

Follow up question: when people convert them to coil overs, do you run into problems controlling the car at speed? To elaborate, I'd plan to give it a tune and worry that the lack of a sway bar on the coil over set up would help introduce me to a concrete barrier...

HangtimeDMV

iHave the coil suspension and it works perfect. Not a pain in the *** like the ABC suspension

tusabes

What some people do is get control arms and the sway bar from an airmatic S class as they swap right in when doing a coilover conversion

Just Is

Sounds manageable. How would you compare the ride to the ABC? Can't be as smooth, but pretty close?

Do the seats hold up pretty well? It seems like all CLKs will have the stitches rip after regular use.

Any other tips/owners advise that doesn't get discussed as frequently as the abc and coil packs?

ItalianJoe1

Everything interior is higher quality than a CLK. I haven't seen one with leather pulling apart, most of the ones I've seen are in very nice shape but it's always possible if the previous owner was rough on them, you could see some wear and abuse.

I would suggest, if you're willing to handle the work yourself, to keep the ABC. Yes it requires some maintenance, but if it's looked after it won't be a problematic system and when working it's like nothing you've ever dealt with. Controlling the body motions on a 4500lb car makes it feel far more agile and stable than seems possible, which just isn't possible on a non-hydraulic suspension. It would destroy the character of the car IMO.

Jack_88

If you plan on driving fast at all, plan on keeping the ABC. I wouldn't expect swapping out the suspension would do the handling any favors, never mind I would suspect it's less able in panic maneuvers as well.

The 2003 model has a more traditional wiring system, where in 2004 they switched to the MOST Bus set up. I'm not sure of any other differences, beyond what's been mentioned.

tusabes

The clk has that seat stitching issue due to the stressed stitch location , the s class does not have that problem

Just Is

Yeah, keeping the suspension is the goal depending on the frequency of component failures. I'm hoping to find a 60k mile car (or somewhere in that range). Not too low that the ABC system was rarely used, but not too high either. That seems to be the recommendation I see on these forums.

I think that's might be the "issue" I was referring to in my original post. Something about MOST bus and CAN bus? I honestly don't know a thing about either system, which makes me lean even more towards 2003...

That makes sense.

Next question: Wasn't there an aftermarket option for coil packs? I distinctly remember $800 coil packs on O'reilly's with warranty, but now they aren't listed (perhaps they wised up?).

In case any lurkers are reading this thread and also considering a CL, post #3 in this one appears to be a goldmine of info: https://mbworld.org/forums/cl-class-...ml#post6685165

Jack_88

The MOST Bus allows for high capacity data transfer, and is generally considered both easier to diagnose and more reliable than the CAN Bus system it replaces. That said, I don't suspect you'd have a lot of problems with either of them.

tusabes

Advance auto still has the lifetime warranty coils and they often have 30-50% off online coupons

Just Is

Gotcha. Does that require a different diagnostic tool?


Awesome. The one I saw at O'reilly's was $800 w/ lifetime, but this works too!


I spoke with a friend of mine who owns a SL65. In regards to the AUX port on 2004-2006 CL models, he showed me this adapter:

http://shop.dension.com/en/gateway-500

I checked compatibility and it looks like it would work with the COMAND Version 1 and Version 2. Either of you have experience with one of those (or similar product)? Apparently you can find them used for $300ish.

fireman685

What he said about driving fast. I've never driven a car that felt so good over 100 mph. I don't know what happens but to me it just smooths out the faster you go. I don't make a habit of driving that fast but 120 mph feels incredibly stable.

ItalianJoe1

The stability is something a conventional suspension just can't do. The car lowers at high speed, which is impossible without air suspension or hydraulics. It can also adjust damping on the fly due to the nature of the ABC system, making the car stiffer as conditions dictate, something else you lose when converting to conventional struts on this car.

I'd keep the ABC or look for a different car. What's the point of keeping an awesome car like this and not letting it feel and drive like it was meant to be. Unless you're stripping it down to be a racecar or something, i'd maintain the ABC and just see it as the cost of doing business in a car of this class.