Super Cheap Mercedes-Benz CL600 Build Is Peak Bang for the Buck

By Brett Foote - March 13, 2025

A mere tune is enough to transform the Mercedes-Benz CL600 into a supercar beating beast for mere pennies on the dollar.

When folks think about the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in general, they typically imagine a super expensive, incredibly cushy sedan – one that has set the standard for what we expect from the best in terms of German luxury, time and time again. Those willing to go back in time a bit can find used Mercedes-Benz S-Class models for reasonable money, though there are certainly some pitfalls worth considering – such as the cost of parts and maintenance/repairs. That didn’t stop the people behind the YouTube channel The Backspeed Boys from transforming this Mercedes-Benz CL600 into a tire-shredding, V-12 powered monster on a budget, however.

It all started when those folks purchased this Mercedes-Benz CL600 coupe for a mere $6,000, and it wasn’t exactly a beater, either – rather, it was a one-owner car with a clean history, which is pennies for a V12-powered luxury coupe with this sort of prestige. Heck, given how legendary its M275 engine is in its own regard, coupled with the fact that the cars it was installed in cost well over six-figures new, that alone makes the endeavor worth it. Of course, this is a used example that needs a bit of elbow grease to get it in tip top shape, but nothing major, at least.

Our hosts perform a standard oil change first, and it’s pretty clear that nobody has done this in a while. They also swap out the faded old grille with a new one, give the headlights a redo to remove years of oxidation, and tint the marker lights.

Now, it’s time to get down to serious business, and in this case, that means tuning the V12 in this Mercedes-Benz CL600. Our host goes with a Renntech tune in this case, which lifts output from the stock rating of 490 horsepower up to 625 raging ponies – and a ground-thumping 750 pound-feet of torque.

That process takes mere minutes, after which our hosts are out shredding tires in their rejuvenated Mercedes-Benz CL600, with a total cost of around $7,500 – including the price of the car itself.

As our host points out, this may very well be the most underrated car on the used market right now – sure, there are concerns about components like its air suspension, ignition coils, and other things that can potentially go wrong, but they’re so cheap that there’s plenty of room left in the budget for repairs, if needed – making a tuned CL600 perhaps the best bang for the buck option we have at the moment.