03 cl500 better than 04? or the other way around?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 4
03 cl500 better than 04? or the other way around?
I do not know what all of the differences are, but is the 5 speed transmission better/more reliable than the 7 speed?
Anything I should be aware of?
I am looking at an 04 cl500 now with 50k miles on it.
And I will continue my search for a cl until I find my baby!
Thank you for any help and advice.
Anything I should be aware of?
I am looking at an 04 cl500 now with 50k miles on it.
And I will continue my search for a cl until I find my baby!
Thank you for any help and advice.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 22
From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
The 03 and 04 were pretty much identical.
The 04 came with the Tire Pressure Minitoring System as well as Sirius as an option. Navigation on the 04 was DVD as opposed to CD.
Also, the 04 had its fiber network running the MOST protocol vs the 03's D2B protocol.
The 04 came with the Tire Pressure Minitoring System as well as Sirius as an option. Navigation on the 04 was DVD as opposed to CD.
Also, the 04 had its fiber network running the MOST protocol vs the 03's D2B protocol.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 22
From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,340
Likes: 22
From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
I believe you are right after doing a little research. It appears the 2004 W215 (NON AMG) model did in fact come with the 7 Speed while the CL55 AMG retained the 5 Speed.
If memory serves me correct there were early issues with the 7 Speed tranny most notably being "clunky".
It is a fact that the 5 Speed transmission (722.x) were tanks.
If memory serves me correct there were early issues with the 7 Speed tranny most notably being "clunky".
It is a fact that the 5 Speed transmission (722.x) were tanks.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 192
Likes: 4
From: Western New York, USA
2004 CL500
I believe you are right after doing a little research. It appears the 2004 W215 (NON AMG) model did in fact come with the 7 Speed while the CL55 AMG retained the 5 Speed.
If memory serves me correct there were early issues with the 7 Speed tranny most notably being "clunky".
It is a fact that the 5 Speed transmission (722.x) were tanks.
If memory serves me correct there were early issues with the 7 Speed tranny most notably being "clunky".
It is a fact that the 5 Speed transmission (722.x) were tanks.
. It can also be shifted manually, but why bother 
Trending Topics
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Mercedes CL500
We have an '04 and it has been a maintenance nightmare from day one. We bought it used with 66k miles and now has 96k. In the 3 yars we have owned it, we have paid over $4500 in repair/maintenance costs. Never again.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
What issues did you see? $4,500 in repair/maintenance for that stretch is very low for the CL.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Mercedes CL500
Failure of the ABC pump
Failure of all four tire pressure sensors
Failure of front drive shaft flex disk (replaced both front and rear)
Failure of noisey harmonic balancer (may not be correct name, don't remember)
Replacement of leaking valve cover gaskets
Replace spark plugs ($531.00)
etc, etc, etc
Failure of all four tire pressure sensors
Failure of front drive shaft flex disk (replaced both front and rear)
Failure of noisey harmonic balancer (may not be correct name, don't remember)
Replacement of leaking valve cover gaskets
Replace spark plugs ($531.00)
etc, etc, etc
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Failure of the ABC pump
Failure of all four tire pressure sensors
Failure of front drive shaft flex disk (replaced both front and rear)
Failure of noisey harmonic balancer (may not be correct name, don't remember)
Replacement of leaking valve cover gaskets
Replace spark plugs ($531.00)
etc, etc, etc
Failure of all four tire pressure sensors
Failure of front drive shaft flex disk (replaced both front and rear)
Failure of noisey harmonic balancer (may not be correct name, don't remember)
Replacement of leaking valve cover gaskets
Replace spark plugs ($531.00)
etc, etc, etc
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 7
From: CA
AMG C63s Coupe
I usually spent about $4k/year on service/repairs for my CL55. If you spent just $4k for 3 years owning this car you should consider yourself lucky
When I was shopping for CL65 I had a chance to look at one dealer maintained car -MY05 whose owner spent $66k in 6 years, half of which was covered by warranty.
Back to the topic, prior to owning CL55 I had 04 CL500 and also experienced issues with the 7 speed transmission. Cost me $1500 at the stealership
When I was shopping for CL65 I had a chance to look at one dealer maintained car -MY05 whose owner spent $66k in 6 years, half of which was covered by warranty.
Back to the topic, prior to owning CL55 I had 04 CL500 and also experienced issues with the 7 speed transmission. Cost me $1500 at the stealership
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA
CL55, SL500, E350
My record would be year 2010 where I spent $8,985 for the 05 CL55 with only 4850 miles driven (I've average about 5K miles a year on this car). It could have been a little bit less if I was not nitpicking about it. It's around $3,500 to $4,000 yearly on other years and only around $1,300 so far this year (fingers crossed).
3 years, 30K miles and $4,500 ... I've spent that much on my CL55 ... then I woke up!
Back to the OP, the 2004 was also heavier than 2003 but the NAV DVD based alone was worth it.
3 years, 30K miles and $4,500 ... I've spent that much on my CL55 ... then I woke up!
Back to the OP, the 2004 was also heavier than 2003 but the NAV DVD based alone was worth it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 106
Cars
03 over an 04 for sure, experienced the problems first hand
I just sold about a year ago an 04 that I sunk 15k into and it only had about 40k miles. I took a bath and got rid of the POS. The tranny on the 04 and up is HORRIBLE, I had to replace the module in the tranny itself and it still shifted like hell. Hard, was always hunting where to shift. Plus the 04 is a one year only fiber optics system and is nothing but hell. My car would do the craziest things. Sometimes I had a radio, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I have Navigation, sometimes I didn't. Some I had a phone and sometimes I didn't. I finally unloaded it and took a bath but it was a lesson well learned. The 03 is the perfect answer. Stay away from any 04. Ask any service adviser he will be more than happy to tell you which one is the best. Good luck.
