SL and CL named in the 10 worst cars for repairs list
09-05-2008, 02:49 PM
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
SL and CL named in the 10 worst cars for repairs list
Best 10, Worst 10 Cars for Repair Costs
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...r-Repair-Costs
10 Most Expensive
Ranking Make/Model Maintenance Repairs Total
1 Dodge Viper $8,209 $2,114 $10,323
2 Jaguar XK-Series $5,456 $4,171 $9,449
3 Jaguar XJ-Series $5,299 $4,150 $9,449
4 Land Rover Range Rover Sport $4,910 $4,317 $9,227
5 Land Rover Range Rover $4,678 $4,317 $8,996
6 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class $5,963 $2,793 $8,756
7 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class $5,988 $2,742 $8,730
8 Land Rover LR3 $4,424 $4,213 $8,637
9 Audi RS4 $6,164 $2,442 $8,606
10 BMW Alpina B7 $6,018 $2,516 $8,534
10 Least Expensive
Ranking Make/Model Maintenance Repairs Total
1 (tie) Suzuki SX4 $2,615 $596 $3,211
Honda Element $2,518 $693 $3,211
3 Nissan Versa $2,587 $654 $3,241
4 Hyundai Accent $2,724 $569 $3,355
5 Kia Sedona $2,786 $569 $3,355
6 Honda Pilot $2,678 $703 $3,381
7 Hyundai Veracruz $2,786 $611 $3,398
8 Suzuki XL7 $2,794 $609 $3,403
9 Honda CR-V $2,708 $703 $3,410
10 Mazda Tribute $2,686 $769 $3,455
Source: Edmunds.com
* Figures assume 15,000 miles driven per year for five years
I can personally attest to the CL as an outrageously expensive car to maintain. In one calender year, I spent over $8,000 in maintenance and repairs. I think the above cost for maintenance and repairs is much much higher for the CL than what is listed. If it could fail on the CL, it did. I replaced just about every part that could fail.....at least once.
I did love the car but the ABC system is just horribly expensive and problematic. If you have a 600, tack on the intercooler pump and coil packs to that expensive list that will fail.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...r-Repair-Costs
10 Most Expensive
Ranking Make/Model Maintenance Repairs Total
1 Dodge Viper $8,209 $2,114 $10,323
2 Jaguar XK-Series $5,456 $4,171 $9,449
3 Jaguar XJ-Series $5,299 $4,150 $9,449
4 Land Rover Range Rover Sport $4,910 $4,317 $9,227
5 Land Rover Range Rover $4,678 $4,317 $8,996
6 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class $5,963 $2,793 $8,756
7 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class $5,988 $2,742 $8,730
8 Land Rover LR3 $4,424 $4,213 $8,637
9 Audi RS4 $6,164 $2,442 $8,606
10 BMW Alpina B7 $6,018 $2,516 $8,534
10 Least Expensive
Ranking Make/Model Maintenance Repairs Total
1 (tie) Suzuki SX4 $2,615 $596 $3,211
Honda Element $2,518 $693 $3,211
3 Nissan Versa $2,587 $654 $3,241
4 Hyundai Accent $2,724 $569 $3,355
5 Kia Sedona $2,786 $569 $3,355
6 Honda Pilot $2,678 $703 $3,381
7 Hyundai Veracruz $2,786 $611 $3,398
8 Suzuki XL7 $2,794 $609 $3,403
9 Honda CR-V $2,708 $703 $3,410
10 Mazda Tribute $2,686 $769 $3,455
Source: Edmunds.com
* Figures assume 15,000 miles driven per year for five years
I can personally attest to the CL as an outrageously expensive car to maintain. In one calender year, I spent over $8,000 in maintenance and repairs. I think the above cost for maintenance and repairs is much much higher for the CL than what is listed. If it could fail on the CL, it did. I replaced just about every part that could fail.....at least once.
I did love the car but the ABC system is just horribly expensive and problematic. If you have a 600, tack on the intercooler pump and coil packs to that expensive list that will fail.
09-08-2008, 02:29 AM
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2003 CL600 Renntech
You didn't warn me before I bought your CL!!!
Still love the car though. Only thing i have done is new tires and a battery. Drove it throught the Big Hole on Montana Highway 43 tonight and it was just a dream drive.
Still love the car though. Only thing i have done is new tires and a battery. Drove it throught the Big Hole on Montana Highway 43 tonight and it was just a dream drive.
09-08-2008, 11:24 AM
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CL500
What difference do it make how much it costs to repair? If you have spend 120K for a car then whats 8K every 5 years? If thats too much money then people shouldn't buy these cars if they don't have the money instead of living above their means. Let me know if anyone agrees. To me there is no better coupe then the CL500 and no better car then the CL65.
09-08-2008, 11:40 AM
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Why did you do new tires. They were brand new when the car was shipped? Did you burn them off the first week?
09-08-2008, 09:34 PM
#5
I think the differences boil down to convenience and competition.
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
What difference do it make how much it costs to repair? If you have spend 120K for a car then whats 8K every 5 years? If thats too much money then people shouldn't buy these cars if they don't have the money instead of living above their means. Let me know if anyone agrees. To me there is no better coupe then the CL500 and no better car then the CL65.
09-09-2008, 11:04 AM
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CL500
I think the differences boil down to convenience and competition.
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
09-09-2008, 01:18 PM
#7
Indeed.
There will always be people who don't appreciate a car for something that it's meant to be, no matter if they can afford it or not.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who have $0 balance in their bank account, buys a beat up used CL for $20k and don't have the money to fix it, then complain all day long about its reliability. Or there will always be those who comment on the CL's poor reliability when in fact, they don't even own one.
But hey, opinions (even the ones that we don't agree with) can exist everywhere. Perhaps these voices may somehow alert Mercedes to come up with less expensive or longer lasting parts.
I am sure that no matter what's said, the CL is always going to be one of the, if not the only, benchmarks that many cars aspire to measure up to. Mercedes just needs to continue improve this car on its shortcomings so that it gets to stay ahead of the competition.
Jon
There will always be people who don't appreciate a car for something that it's meant to be, no matter if they can afford it or not.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who have $0 balance in their bank account, buys a beat up used CL for $20k and don't have the money to fix it, then complain all day long about its reliability. Or there will always be those who comment on the CL's poor reliability when in fact, they don't even own one.
But hey, opinions (even the ones that we don't agree with) can exist everywhere. Perhaps these voices may somehow alert Mercedes to come up with less expensive or longer lasting parts.
I am sure that no matter what's said, the CL is always going to be one of the, if not the only, benchmarks that many cars aspire to measure up to. Mercedes just needs to continue improve this car on its shortcomings so that it gets to stay ahead of the competition.
Jon
I guess u r correct. I just hate it when people say that the CL is a piece of s**t when something goes wrong but at the same time they think that they are so much better then the person who they pull up to on a red light and lets say they are driving a civic. This is only directed to these people I don't want you guys to get the wrong idea but we all know the people i am talking about
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09-09-2008, 02:30 PM
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CL500
Indeed.
There will always be people who don't appreciate a car for something that it's meant to be, no matter if they can afford it or not.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who have $0 balance in their bank account, buys a beat up used CL for $20k and don't have the money to fix it, then complain all day long about its reliability. Or there will always be those who comment on the CL's poor reliability when in fact, they don't even own one.
But hey, opinions (even the ones that we don't agree with) can exist everywhere. Perhaps these voices may somehow alert Mercedes to come up with less expensive or longer lasting parts.
I am sure that no matter what's said, the CL is always going to be one of the, if not the only, benchmarks that many cars aspire to measure up to. Mercedes just needs to continue improve this car on its shortcomings so that it gets to stay ahead of the competition.
Jon
There will always be people who don't appreciate a car for something that it's meant to be, no matter if they can afford it or not.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are people who have $0 balance in their bank account, buys a beat up used CL for $20k and don't have the money to fix it, then complain all day long about its reliability. Or there will always be those who comment on the CL's poor reliability when in fact, they don't even own one.
But hey, opinions (even the ones that we don't agree with) can exist everywhere. Perhaps these voices may somehow alert Mercedes to come up with less expensive or longer lasting parts.
I am sure that no matter what's said, the CL is always going to be one of the, if not the only, benchmarks that many cars aspire to measure up to. Mercedes just needs to continue improve this car on its shortcomings so that it gets to stay ahead of the competition.
Jon
you couldn't have said it better
09-12-2008, 07:17 PM
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2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Yes, she is an expensive woman to maintain indeed. Hey at least we did better than the SL (I really don't like SL's, don't see why everyone loves them)(my dad owns a 2002 CL500). Oh, and we did better than Range Rovers (which I utterly hate). I'm suprised the Porsche Cayanne isn't on there. All the people I know that had one said it's a piece of **** (I also hate the Porsche Cayanne).
Ya, the IDEA of a computerized suspesion is great but everything goes wrong (same thing goes for airmatic). In the real world, it's not good. There is something to be said about old technology.
Btw, does anyone out there have a 2005-present 911 with the Porsche Active Suspension Managment? How is that system? Any problems with that? I think they use magnets or something for those like they do on the R8, if I'm not mistaken.
Ya, the IDEA of a computerized suspesion is great but everything goes wrong (same thing goes for airmatic). In the real world, it's not good. There is something to be said about old technology.
Btw, does anyone out there have a 2005-present 911 with the Porsche Active Suspension Managment? How is that system? Any problems with that? I think they use magnets or something for those like they do on the R8, if I'm not mistaken.
09-12-2008, 07:47 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Its all perspective.
I own both cars and my SL is of the AMG flavor.
I bought both mine used. CL in 2004 and SL55 in 2006
Both have been rock solid. My CL is just losing its extended at 75K Miles
and I will more than likely keep it 1 more year. My SL55 just replaced the I/C pump $ 250.00. It is now out of warranty. Otherwise my SL55 is flawless.
Sure tires and normal maintenance is a bit pricey. But both cars are garaged 90% of the time and look great.
If you can afford them and maintain them they will hold up really well.
And in my opinion and many others. These are 2 of the best looking cars ever made.
But like another poster mentioned. Buy a old CL that been trashed and your asking for getting your pocket picked hard. ABC, Electronics, Pumps.
It can get ugly quick.
Or owning an AMG and abusing it. Your going to pay the price. Tires alone are close to $ 2000.00 for the Michelin`s. And you can make them last 5K miles
or 20K miles. Its your choice.
I own both cars and my SL is of the AMG flavor.
I bought both mine used. CL in 2004 and SL55 in 2006
Both have been rock solid. My CL is just losing its extended at 75K Miles
and I will more than likely keep it 1 more year. My SL55 just replaced the I/C pump $ 250.00. It is now out of warranty. Otherwise my SL55 is flawless.
Sure tires and normal maintenance is a bit pricey. But both cars are garaged 90% of the time and look great.
If you can afford them and maintain them they will hold up really well.
And in my opinion and many others. These are 2 of the best looking cars ever made.
But like another poster mentioned. Buy a old CL that been trashed and your asking for getting your pocket picked hard. ABC, Electronics, Pumps.
It can get ugly quick.
Or owning an AMG and abusing it. Your going to pay the price. Tires alone are close to $ 2000.00 for the Michelin`s. And you can make them last 5K miles
or 20K miles. Its your choice.
Last edited by bltserv; 09-12-2008 at 08:01 PM.
09-16-2008, 03:17 PM
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No problems with mine
Too bad I am selling her
Rippey
10-13-2008, 02:31 AM
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2003 CL600 Renntech
Tire problem
Just kidding about the car. I think that it was represented well during the sale. I did spin the tires a little the first couple of weeks (both accidentally and semi-accidentally). I actually had a tire failure. One of the rear tires split in two on the tread face of the tire.
10-13-2008, 06:37 AM
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2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
I think the differences boil down to convenience and competition.
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
For most of us, a $8k repair bill may not be much every 5 years. But how about a repair bill that's $5k less with another vehicle? Why not spend the money on something else that actually generate interests and income?
Convenience is a factor as well. Sometimes for my CL would be at the shop for days, and it would've driven me nuts if I didn't have a back up car. For $120k, there may be other cars out there that don't require frequent repairs like the Mercedes. i.e. Porsche 911 Turbo.
Don't get me wrong, I love my CL very much. But for 2/3 of the price, my SC430 betters, and if not, does everything that the CL is capable of. Plus, it's a hardtop convertible with Toyota's bullet proof reliability. Interestingly, the SC also gets more looks than the CL.
Jon
You have got to be kidding me? The Lexus SC430 can't do a thing better than CL other than expose you to fresh air. Sure the SC is more reliable and yet everyone of them I've ever seen/drove had a flexy body, brittle ride and the handling of a 2-door LS430. A SC430 isn't half the car a CL is.
M
10-13-2008, 02:51 PM
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Just kidding about the car. I think that it was represented well during the sale. I did spin the tires a little the first couple of weeks (both accidentally and semi-accidentally). I actually had a tire failure. One of the rear tires split in two on the tread face of the tire.
10-14-2008, 01:05 PM
#16
Senior Member
You have got to be kidding me? The Lexus SC430 can't do a thing better than CL other than expose you to fresh air. Sure the SC is more reliable and yet everyone of them I've ever seen/drove had a flexy body, brittle ride and the handling of a 2-door LS430. A SC430 isn't half the car a CL is.
M
M
Cl is alway look better and faster
10-14-2008, 10:52 PM
#17
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Back when I lived in the UK and browsed the What Car listings the W140 was always the most expensive car to maintain where a value was listed. I guess it isn't surprising that the predecessor follows in the footsteps (tyre treads? 
).
I don't have a problem with expensive cars being pricey to maintain, but if the cars are shoddily built as many Mercs were in the early part of the decade then it ruins the reputation. My father had an '01 S500 and got rid of it after three years as the thing was, well frankly, an unreliable POS. Our local MB dealer couldn't figure out why the battery was draining overnight leaving the car dead and my father couldn't be bothered with it, amongst many other problems.
He has since had an M6 and an A8. I tried to get him to look at the new S550 but he wasn't interested due to his previous MB experience. He'd lost faith in the brand. All my mother's side of the family are/were MB owners (my father joked family get togethers looked like **** Staff meetings due to the number of Benzs outside!) and all had similar, niggly problems with their Benzes (CLs, SLs, Ss and Es) of that era.
).I don't have a problem with expensive cars being pricey to maintain, but if the cars are shoddily built as many Mercs were in the early part of the decade then it ruins the reputation. My father had an '01 S500 and got rid of it after three years as the thing was, well frankly, an unreliable POS. Our local MB dealer couldn't figure out why the battery was draining overnight leaving the car dead and my father couldn't be bothered with it, amongst many other problems.
He has since had an M6 and an A8. I tried to get him to look at the new S550 but he wasn't interested due to his previous MB experience. He'd lost faith in the brand. All my mother's side of the family are/were MB owners (my father joked family get togethers looked like **** Staff meetings due to the number of Benzs outside!) and all had similar, niggly problems with their Benzes (CLs, SLs, Ss and Es) of that era.
