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Mercedes caters to a very specific customer: the one who has to have a Mercedes and those will tend to buy a new car as soon as the previous one goes out of warranty. If that customer strategy does not work out, there are customers who have to have more than one Mercedes.

Used car sales and market overall, in my experience, matter very little to Mercedes. Yes, there are clubs, enthusiasts and self-organized groups like this forum.

What is also very secondary to Mercedes is how these cars are built. I enjoy my CL but many aspects of its design are just backwards. I do not mean the ABC and I don't mean the ignition system.

Take the trunk as a simple example. It is intended to be cool, right? You push a button and it opens like a door on a spaceship. Except that it has a "personality", does not open all the way (not even with a new pump) and makes that weird noise which just isn't cool. It has multiple points of failure: pump, even wiring harness, struts. Overall, I'd like to rip out the pump and just have it plop open without drama.

The second, much worse example, is the ESP. I do not drift cars but I would like to turn ESP off and drive without it. You can't do that with the CL. Moreover, when ESP acts up the entire car is disabled and makes that half-brained noise and gasps for air - which is plain ridiculous. Why should a car be disabled if ESP is not working? This happens when car has been exposed to cool or humid air for a little while or just randomly. On some days, ESP acts up often enough that I have an Actron code reader which can reset codes and bring the car back to its senses. I have a brand new ESP module and brand new ancillary components and sensors. ESP design on a Mercedes is absolutely horrible. I'd like to rip out the ESP also.

If you ever wondered why MB put that half-a$$ed coolant pump in the CL, I will explain. The V12 in the CL is capable of mind-boggling 1300hp. If the coolant pump was any better, transmission would get shredded Cooling system in the CL is a joke for a car of this caliber. An absolute joke. Renntech sells an upgrade for $3K plus. Now, you can say that $3K is not a whole lot of money and it probably isn't but it is backwards that you have to put another $3K into the car after spending $140K on it. Fortunately, I got this car used for next to nothing.

Even the rims are half-a$$ed, unsightly and too heavy. I was fortunate that my CL already came with 50% lighter Carlsson rims.

Stereo system sucks. Even on the new models. Also, spare me of the overdone ambient lights.

Leather work is exemplary. Plastic feels cheap (even in new MB models).

Would I pay $140K for a new S550 or something comparable to the CL? Absolutely not. Not because I don't like the car but because many "features" are actually just plain backwards. If they rip out the ESP or provide a button to completely turn it off, I will change my mind.

Last but not least: MB has lost touch with car design. Take a look at other premium brands and MB is the most mwah. The S-Class looks good but for the life of me I don't know why C-Class is even sold with the look it has. Have you driven one? It feels like a Hyundai.

ABC is the least of an issue with MB. If you can't get over ABC, then CL is probably not the right choice for you. MB will want your money and nerves until you get in the zone with the car.

I like it and I drive it for the V12 and zero body roll.

 

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Wow......I take a few days off from the board and all hell breaks loose!!! CLK500 Twins is a chic, 2014CL600 is sharing shirtless Tinder pics from his apartment in Escondido.........I'm in way over my head!! Heading back to the R230 forum.......you fixed-roof guys roll too hard for me.

 

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Nick, Tusabes, 2014 & CL600- you're correct in what you say regarding the value and Mercedes showing very little concern for these cars once they are leased maybe twice. As someone who just searched through many CL's before making my purchase, the highest price tag you'll see on one of these is 25k and I looked everywhere. In comparison to what was available, and there is not an abundance, I believe your statement Nick regarding the repairs driving them off the road may be somewhat accurate. I thought I found the perfect one in TX, one owner, 66k on the dash and clean as a whistle. I unfortunately assumed that if someone were to keep a car this long, they must have taken care of it. Car fax and Autocheck reports showed consistent service, but with no description of the services preformed. It never occurred to me that this car would arrive with the issues it did. For me, I prefer the older models because I've always liked the sharper body lines as opposed to the rounded or curvy appearance a lot of newer models have taken on. I buy cars because I think they are beautiful, typically performance and speed are not deciding factors for me, even though they are appreciated, they've never been what draws me to a car. I'm not driving the track on weekends, I'm seeing clients. With that, body roll at 130 mph doesn't affect me because I'll never be driving at that speed. Regardless to what one may think of the conversion, as someone who has experienced this car under normal driving conditions with both set ups, you really don't notice the difference. The car really feels great. That's for anyone who wants to convert, that's how I feel about it. If you can still enjoy this gorgeous automobile without sacrificing the reliability because of one severely flawed system, then why not. Plus I have eliminated a large portion of my maintenance costs for the coming years as I'm not doing my own work and as a female, it's very easy to be seen as a target if I'm uninformed. For that reason is why I appreciate these forums and the people on them. As far as resale, as mentioned, they don't hold much value as is, so it is what it is. I may keep it and just buy something else when I'm ready.
2014 this has gone on far too long and that's not what we are here for. I felt attacked, so I pounced back, but I do agree that it is done with. Btw, "Tinder" is a dating or hook-up site I believe. Everyone just play nice now. Cars, we are here because we love our cars and want to advance them to bring out the qualities we value most.

 

CLK500TWINS, thank you for the nice post and your right. The car is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! This car is what brought me to finally buy a MB. I still love them but all I was trying to do was help you and possibly save you some money. Let cross our fingers you will have many years of trouble free driving.
Now your driving one the MOST beautifully designed MB ever built. I personally didn't like the 07-10 either, as I too thought they were a bubble. It wasn't until the facelift in 11, that I fell in love with the CL, all over again. It finally had angular line and the technology I wanted. On the last afore mentioned, forgive me for being rude but GWELLIOT is mean, plain and simple. I didn't come from that place and I want you to know that. To me it doesn't matter if your a man or a woman, your voice is just as equal. If anyone has a question or something to say (without being mean), I think they should say it but all these personal attacks were just uncalled for.


This post has change forms many times but the good thing is your car is fixed and your happy. It is still the same car as before just without suspension issues. I do hope it rides as well or better and you realize you have moved up into a totally different class of car. Drive it in good health and enjoy. Oh, I know about site, Tinder but that wasn't what he meant, the same goes for the spelling of to and too. Good luck and if you still need help we are all here.

 

Yes I agree that the 2011 facelift was an improvement from the 2007-2010 which I hated. There is still something that I like about the earlier models over even the face-lifted 2011-2015. They are gorgeous, no doubt, but there is something that feels very timeless about the original design. To me it feels like the perfect harmony of elegance and aggressiveness.

Be it a miscommunication, a misinterpretation or just the fact that we clashed in opinions and approach, like I said, I'm happy for it to be over. This is not what I, nor anyone else is here to discuss or listen to. I have no problem with GWELLIOT or anyone here for that matter. I'd like the peace to return to this thread, as it is full of useful information and opinions that people will look at for years to come; however, many will have to sort through all the non sense to find it.

I am quite pleased with the car and above all, I feel safe in it as the failing ABC did truly make me uneasy. Thank you, I hope for the same, to be able to enjoy it, trouble free for many years to come. Of course expecting the occasional visit to the shop for normal maintenance or wear and tear. She had been ignored apparently, she just needed a little TLC and someone to love her again.

 

I totally understand. That is why I ordered my 2006 CL 600 in Boudreaux and Java just the way I wanted it and put it away almost immediately. It is such a please to look at and I adore the body style. I feel the same exact way about my 2014 CL 600 Full Designo. It is a 1 of 1 made of only 55 in total from 11-14. It to me is extremely special as well and I LOVE it as much. I don't think I will be able to say that for another MB for a long time to come. Hopefully they will change the designs and I will come back to MB but for now, they are the last company I would buy a new car from. I attached my CL 600 that I had and the last one I kept and my current Designo CL and my Bespoke Bentley. They didn't come out in order and it doubled the 05, sorry.

 

The w215 is the best looking of all

 

I have to agree with Tusabes, but I really like the color on the 2014.

 

 

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I found my 2005 CL600 pics man I loved this car.

 

 

man this thread has come a long way from the original post and wwaaayyyy off topic!

 

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my point is there is a picture thread to show off your cars, or open a separate thread dedicated to this info.

 

Omg you just can't help yourself. Must you be so volatile and rude to everyone? Yes the thread is off topic because you felt the need to somehow make it about you, but that seems to be what you do on all the threads you comment on. If you need to feel worshiped there's a place somewhere for you, but it's not here as no one here owes you anything. Now if you refuse to be nice, I'm going to report you, I've had enough. If everywhere you go you have a problem, how could you possibly believe it is always someone else's fault. Don't you have a Facebook profile where you can post pictures and fish for compliments and envy?