Noob question: CL500 ABC suspension, etc.
02-08-2007, 07:56 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Noob question: CL500 ABC suspension, etc.
Hi all,
This is my very first post in this forum and I would appreciate any help on this matter regarding a 00' CL500 I recently purchased.
I was able to find a decent deal on a lower mileage car (48k miles) with one year left on its Starmark warranty. As far as I can tell, the car has been maintained wonderfully with 99% of functions in good, working order.
Two issues though, have appeared to be more problematic than anything else.
1. When I was lowering the active suspension, the car lowers and rises smoothly. However, I could hear some squeaking and very little clunking noises coming from the front suspension as the car lowered itself. Is this noise consistent with the age of the vehicle? Or should I be worried about the ABC pump that may fail soon?
2. The driver side seat's headrest would not lower itself but it can still go up.
3. Must I continuously press on the memory function until the seat setting goes back to its pre-set position? I find this odd as the seat stops moving itself unless I keep pressing the memory button until it reaches the desired position.
I noticed that these cars are not exactly 100% trouble free when it comes to minor issues. With the Starmark warranty in effect, may I simply have the dealer replace/fix these problems for free? Or would there be any deductible that I need to pay?
Does anyone have any insight regarding any DIY quick fix to these issues?
Thank you very much in advance.
Jon
This is my very first post in this forum and I would appreciate any help on this matter regarding a 00' CL500 I recently purchased.
I was able to find a decent deal on a lower mileage car (48k miles) with one year left on its Starmark warranty. As far as I can tell, the car has been maintained wonderfully with 99% of functions in good, working order.
Two issues though, have appeared to be more problematic than anything else.
1. When I was lowering the active suspension, the car lowers and rises smoothly. However, I could hear some squeaking and very little clunking noises coming from the front suspension as the car lowered itself. Is this noise consistent with the age of the vehicle? Or should I be worried about the ABC pump that may fail soon?
2. The driver side seat's headrest would not lower itself but it can still go up.
3. Must I continuously press on the memory function until the seat setting goes back to its pre-set position? I find this odd as the seat stops moving itself unless I keep pressing the memory button until it reaches the desired position.
I noticed that these cars are not exactly 100% trouble free when it comes to minor issues. With the Starmark warranty in effect, may I simply have the dealer replace/fix these problems for free? Or would there be any deductible that I need to pay?
Does anyone have any insight regarding any DIY quick fix to these issues?
Thank you very much in advance.
Jon
02-08-2007, 10:44 PM
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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2003 CL600
#1. If its still under warranty, you might as well take it in and have them take a look at it.
Dont know about #2
#3. yes you have to keep holding the button until all functions are moved to the memorized setting. I found that wierd as well.
Dont know about #2
#3. yes you have to keep holding the button until all functions are moved to the memorized setting. I found that wierd as well.
02-09-2007, 07:09 PM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Irvine, CA.
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Welcome CL500 Newbie
Baby ///M3 Jon
How much did you get the CL500 2000 For ?
48K Miles. That is low for a 7 Year old car.
Do you have bubbles in the glass on the right and left front
door glass. Right on the edge at the seal to the back glass ?
Tiny little ones between the sheets of glass.
Get the dealer to run the service history for you.
See if it has already had the ABC pump replaced.
You should be fine once its replaced with the O-Rings
in the system the first time. More than likley your car has had
the ABC Pump replaced already.
This car and model year seem to have an issue with the
front end ball joints and some minor creeking up front.
At least mine sure does and others I have talked to here.
Nothing major unless it gets loud when driving normally.
Ball joints replaced will fix that if its getting too loud.
Push up and down on the front end. Just a little noise or squeek ?
No big deal. Normal.
Take it in and get that headrest fixed. Warranty.
Hold the button till its finished. Normal on the seat memory.
DIY:
Not a whole lot of DIY on these cars. Oil Change. Tire rotate.
Make sure you rotate tires on this boat. It will eat them up
and cup them if you dont, quick. Every 4K miles is good.
Change the tailights. Then it will look like a 2003-2006.
E-Bay.. $ 350.00.
Check your VIN# for the Dash Cluster Recall !!!
Search arond in here for the recall notice and the serial numbers effected.
Other than the ABC and the few electronic quirks.
My 2000 has been dependable. I am coming up on 60K Miles.
Welcome to the board ! Enjoy your CL500.
How much did you get the CL500 2000 For ?
48K Miles. That is low for a 7 Year old car.
Do you have bubbles in the glass on the right and left front
door glass. Right on the edge at the seal to the back glass ?
Tiny little ones between the sheets of glass.
Get the dealer to run the service history for you.
See if it has already had the ABC pump replaced.
You should be fine once its replaced with the O-Rings
in the system the first time. More than likley your car has had
the ABC Pump replaced already.
This car and model year seem to have an issue with the
front end ball joints and some minor creeking up front.
At least mine sure does and others I have talked to here.
Nothing major unless it gets loud when driving normally.
Ball joints replaced will fix that if its getting too loud.
Push up and down on the front end. Just a little noise or squeek ?
No big deal. Normal.
Take it in and get that headrest fixed. Warranty.
Hold the button till its finished. Normal on the seat memory.
DIY:
Not a whole lot of DIY on these cars. Oil Change. Tire rotate.
Make sure you rotate tires on this boat. It will eat them up
and cup them if you dont, quick. Every 4K miles is good.
Change the tailights. Then it will look like a 2003-2006.
E-Bay.. $ 350.00.
Check your VIN# for the Dash Cluster Recall !!!
Search arond in here for the recall notice and the serial numbers effected.
Other than the ABC and the few electronic quirks.
My 2000 has been dependable. I am coming up on 60K Miles.
Welcome to the board ! Enjoy your CL500.
02-13-2007, 12:26 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thank you both for the friendly advices.
Excluding tax, document fees and minor dealer surcharges, the car came out to be $29,800 with a couple more months of Starmark extended warranty in effect.
I haven't driven the car in the past couple of days as the weather has been horrible here in Southern California. I will examine and look out for bubbles on the glass surface as soon as I have a chance.
Based on the answers you provided and the problems I am experiencing now, I believe that chances are, I may have to bring the car to a dealership to have the ball joints checked up. Hopefully, the ABC pump has already been replaced/fixed in the past. But I'll double check with the dealership just in case.
Thanks again. I appreciate your advices.
Jon
Excluding tax, document fees and minor dealer surcharges, the car came out to be $29,800 with a couple more months of Starmark extended warranty in effect.
I haven't driven the car in the past couple of days as the weather has been horrible here in Southern California. I will examine and look out for bubbles on the glass surface as soon as I have a chance.
Based on the answers you provided and the problems I am experiencing now, I believe that chances are, I may have to bring the car to a dealership to have the ball joints checked up. Hopefully, the ABC pump has already been replaced/fixed in the past. But I'll double check with the dealership just in case.
Thanks again. I appreciate your advices.
Jon
02-13-2007, 01:38 AM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Jon from Club Lexus, what's going on? That is a pretty good price. I sold my CL last year with no waranty left and 30k more miles for $27,500. Starmark covers most things, but not all like the original warranty did. There should be no deductible...and also, if you bought the car from a dealer, DO NOT tell your dealer, that would void the Starmark warranty.
02-13-2007, 02:50 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Hey how is going there? I thought your name sounded familiar when I saw it here. 
Thank you very much for the heads up. It may just save me a lot of pain and hassle with the dealer down the road.
What you said brings up an interesting point though. Starmark actually honors its warranty when it's being transferred to another from a private party, but not from a dealer? I wonder what the rationale is for this practice.
Jon
Thank you very much for the heads up. It may just save me a lot of pain and hassle with the dealer down the road.
What you said brings up an interesting point though. Starmark actually honors its warranty when it's being transferred to another from a private party, but not from a dealer? I wonder what the rationale is for this practice.
Jon
