Saving an old CL600
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 5
2003 CL600
Saving an old CL600
Hey guys. I found this 03 CL600 on marketplace a few weeks ago and decided to pick it up. Grip Grip posted about it a while ago. This thing is a missile but it's in really, really rough shape. Had to drive it home with the interior taken apart. The main seal is leaking heavily and there seems to be an oil leak coming from the oil cooler thermostat. AC isn't working. I pulled the transmission and lowered the subframe today and confirmed the main seal leak, but the ac compressor clutch doesn't engage when I apply power to it and it seems that the oil cooler thermostat can't be remove without taking off the bracket for the compressor and PS pump. I'm considering just pulling the whole motor at this point and going through it. I did get the oil cooler lines off but the seals seem to be okay? They're stained but not misshapen. Not too keen on reusing them but the replacements I ordered are way too big.
I guess what I'm asking is does anyone have experience with taking apart this motor? Do the oil cooler thermostats tend to leak where it meets the block? Is there anything I should look for while the transmission is out? I've never seen an AC clutch like this, can the compressor be removed with the motor this in the car? Lastly, I had to take the intercoolers off, the coolant looked pretty nasty and the cap looks like it's spent some time at the bottom of the ocean. Is the cap important enough to bother with this and is there a method to bleeding them?
Thanks in advance.
I guess what I'm asking is does anyone have experience with taking apart this motor? Do the oil cooler thermostats tend to leak where it meets the block? Is there anything I should look for while the transmission is out? I've never seen an AC clutch like this, can the compressor be removed with the motor this in the car? Lastly, I had to take the intercoolers off, the coolant looked pretty nasty and the cap looks like it's spent some time at the bottom of the ocean. Is the cap important enough to bother with this and is there a method to bleeding them?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by argilla11; Mar 20, 2020 at 10:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 5
2003 CL600
Nah, I'm going ***** deep on this one. I got new orings from the dealer, installed the main seal, and omitted the compressor clutch connector and threw it back together. Still leaks a little oil from the oil cooler thermostat but everything else works now. I'll pull the motor when I have a little more time to spare.
That being said, this thing is a major pain in the *** to work on.
That being said, this thing is a major pain in the *** to work on.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 5
2003 CL600
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Beautiful car. Owning a CL600 was like dating a supermodel with a bad drug addiction. Beautiful but oh so costly. Had it not been for all the money thrown at the ABC system, the car could be reliable.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 5
2003 CL600
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
One of my main draws was the yellowspeed coilovers the previous owner put in, it's a bit stiff now but once I get some sway bars in here I think it should ride nice. Handles surprisingly well even without sway bars but I'd like to dial back the coilovers. I usually try to get ahead of all the problems on my cars. Gonna keep this ***** in rehab
