01 Cl600 - Model Year Problem?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 348
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From: Lost Wages, NV
2001 Lorinser Edition CL600 (SOLD)
01 Cl600 - Model Year Problem?
Didn't know until today that 01 was the first year of production for the CL600. What a dummy! Well, that explains everything, as I already knew why you never buy the first year of any vehicle; the myriad of electrical/computer problems I've experienced with the damn "CHECK ENGINE" light going on, now 3 times in a row in the last month. My service advisor tells me the light came back on today and they can't figure out what's wrong because no computer code shows it's misfiring. This, after having it in the shop for almost 2 weeks. All we know is that it's misfiring and is only running on 11 instead of 12 cylinders. Again, I am left without my chariot for not just another weekend, but New Years Eve. This is the sh*ts!
Have other 01 600 owners experienced this as well or do I just happen to be the unlucky owner of a lemon???
Have other 01 600 owners experienced this as well or do I just happen to be the unlucky owner of a lemon???
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Boston
NSX
Originally Posted by CLFREAK
Didn't know until today that 01 was the first year of production for the CL600. What a dummy! Well, that explains everything, as I already knew why you never buy the first year of any vehicle; the myriad of electrical/computer problems I've experienced with the damn "CHECK ENGINE" light going on, now 3 times in a row in the last month. My service advisor tells me the light came back on today and they can't figure out what's wrong because no computer code shows it's misfiring. This, after having it in the shop for almost 2 weeks. All we know is that it's misfiring and is only running on 11 instead of 12 cylinders. Again, I am left without my chariot for not just another weekend, but New Years Eve. This is the sh*ts!
Have other 01 600 owners experienced this as well or do I just happen to be the unlucky owner of a lemon???
Have other 01 600 owners experienced this as well or do I just happen to be the unlucky owner of a lemon???
And that "don't buy the first model" rule... it only applies some of the time. I have a first year Honda and a first year Lexus. Both have been trouble free. I don't understand why MB cannot be the same. They used to set the world standard for reliability. Back in 1990 when Lexus and Infiniti were making their debut, JD Power had ranked MB as the MOST reliable mark by a LOOOONG shot... then came Toyota/Lexus way down, followed closely by Honda/Acura. What happened to those glory days for MB and why with their vast engineering resources they cannot claim a top spot anymore is beyond me. They can make distronic, they can't seem to make all 12 cylinders fire.
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 2
From: Henderson, NV
2008 GMC Sierra
I had to take my CL in for the Check Engine light, they (German Motors) said there was a misfire in #2 cylinder. They gave me a can of Chevron fuel treatment and told me to buy Chevron gas also. I let the fuel get too low and that may have instigated the situation. I now will keep the fuel on the full side, I just had to see when the the reserve light came on. I drove the car on the hard side that night and the light came on again, then it went off and has not come back on since. Mercedes says not to use such products but I don't see why not.
Some of the problem with fouling the spark plugs may be in the fuel saving "shut down" of the engine's left bank, I may have them reprogram the car to eliminate this.
I feel sorry for you having the car in the shop but don't look to me for too much sympathy<G>...they (FJ Service Center) had my CLK in their shop 3 times for an entire month each time! TOTALING 3 months before they got it right! Recently they "gouged" me for $29.93 when I had the CL600 in for the Parktronic and a Mercedes oil leak campaign, they replaced one sensor for the Parktronic. They said the charge was for shop supplies and not covered by the warranty. After I complained, the service manager just said was he was "sorry I felt that way". They finally reversed the charge and THEN told me the charge was NOT part of standard practice. They also said the charge would fluctuate up to $50.00. I told him to tell their service writers not to charge the customers this ridicules charge, he seemed surprised (like he didn't know) but said he would.
Ed
Some of the problem with fouling the spark plugs may be in the fuel saving "shut down" of the engine's left bank, I may have them reprogram the car to eliminate this.
I feel sorry for you having the car in the shop but don't look to me for too much sympathy<G>...they (FJ Service Center) had my CLK in their shop 3 times for an entire month each time! TOTALING 3 months before they got it right! Recently they "gouged" me for $29.93 when I had the CL600 in for the Parktronic and a Mercedes oil leak campaign, they replaced one sensor for the Parktronic. They said the charge was for shop supplies and not covered by the warranty. After I complained, the service manager just said was he was "sorry I felt that way". They finally reversed the charge and THEN told me the charge was NOT part of standard practice. They also said the charge would fluctuate up to $50.00. I told him to tell their service writers not to charge the customers this ridicules charge, he seemed surprised (like he didn't know) but said he would.
Ed
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 934
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From: Boston
NSX
The program on the bank shutdown on cruise (where 6 cylinders are shut off during cruise) has been revised. The shutdown time is less now, so that the plugs don't foul. This is an update done on the V12, anyone that has not had this done and has an issue may want to ask their dealership about it.
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 2
From: Henderson, NV
2008 GMC Sierra
CLFREAK,
Mine is going back into the shop on Friday, the missfire returned. I'll take it to German Motors, they seem like an honest group and real friendly. I'll ask about the shutdown program, will let you know what happens. Is yours out of the shop yet?
Ed
Mine is going back into the shop on Friday, the missfire returned. I'll take it to German Motors, they seem like an honest group and real friendly. I'll ask about the shutdown program, will let you know what happens. Is yours out of the shop yet?
Ed
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 348
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From: Lost Wages, NV
2001 Lorinser Edition CL600 (SOLD)
Nope, still stuck after calling today over @ Fletcher! Now, I find out it's a vacuum leak (which is why the check engine light keeps coming on after every 15-20 miles) and am told it's like looking for a needle in a haystack, so, process of elimination. Paranoid as I am and hate to think this way, but I now wonder if some ******* somewhere along the long road of being in and out of shops the last 6 mos. did this just to bill more hours of service!!!!! Despite the big names, you just never know. Anyone else experince this vacuum leak thing?
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 2
From: Henderson, NV
2008 GMC Sierra
I just got mine back and they say they want to change the spark plugs in cylinder #2. The coil checked out within specks. The extended warranty does not cover the plugs, they are $10.00 each and if I change them all the labor is $850.00....$1,100 to change plugs...YIKES!
I wonder how hard it is to change them?
Ed
I wonder how hard it is to change them?
Ed
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From: MD
I'm currently considering a CL500/CL600 ('01-'02) or CL55 ('03), but from the amount of research that I have performed, it seems as if these cars are prone to electrical gremlins. Is this the general consensus?
Would a CL Owner be in the best position to just acquire a MB extended warranty?
Would a CL Owner be in the best position to just acquire a MB extended warranty?
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Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 2
From: Henderson, NV
2008 GMC Sierra
lexlyf,
Do not even concider owning it without an extended warranty, unless you're name is Donald T.
When I was offered the extendo I went for the best I could possibly buy, looks like I made a goods choice.
Regards,
Ed
Do not even concider owning it without an extended warranty, unless you're name is Donald T.
When I was offered the extendo I went for the best I could possibly buy, looks like I made a goods choice.
Regards,
Ed
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 433
Likes: 9
From: Phoenix, AZ
2007 CL600
Originally Posted by sped
lexlyf,
Do not even concider owning it without an extended warranty, unless you're name is Donald T.
When I was offered the extendo I went for the best I could possibly buy, looks like I made a goods choice.
Regards,
Ed
Do not even concider owning it without an extended warranty, unless you're name is Donald T.
When I was offered the extendo I went for the best I could possibly buy, looks like I made a goods choice.
Regards,
Ed
I agree. I love my '04 CL, but it has had it's share of electrical problems. Last week my command was replaced because it kept shutting down.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 58
Likes: 2
CL600 misfires suck. They have DTBs for removing the coil packs on the effected bank and checking the red boots for "smoldering" if in that cause you would get/have to buy a new coil pack/ignition module and replace the red surpressor boots. Or it could be leaking oil out of the intake elbows which is caused by oil sludge in the pcv and blows oil back up into the intake. God I hate chasing V12 misfires . . . 
