I'm about to go look at my first CL500
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
1975 Mercedes Benz 450SL
I'm about to go look at my first CL500
Hi all. New member, but long-time lurker.
I'm about to go look at my first CL500 and frankly, I'm a bit nervous. I know very little about these cars aside from whatever a cursory Google search returns from the interwebs.
The car in question is an MY2002 with 181,000 miles on the clock. Carfax is clean, the current owner has had the car for 5 years and has only ever driven it sparingly in the summer. I don't know if the car is equipped with ABC, so I'll have to ask if it is (I know the ABC can be problematic and really expensive to maintain).
But I turn to the collective expertise of the group in asking: what are the specific C215 things a noob should be looking out for before making any sort of rash buying decisions?
TIA. Cheers!
I'm about to go look at my first CL500 and frankly, I'm a bit nervous. I know very little about these cars aside from whatever a cursory Google search returns from the interwebs.
The car in question is an MY2002 with 181,000 miles on the clock. Carfax is clean, the current owner has had the car for 5 years and has only ever driven it sparingly in the summer. I don't know if the car is equipped with ABC, so I'll have to ask if it is (I know the ABC can be problematic and really expensive to maintain).
But I turn to the collective expertise of the group in asking: what are the specific C215 things a noob should be looking out for before making any sort of rash buying decisions?
TIA. Cheers!
Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 167
Likes: 22
2003 CLK500, 2008 e350
I just bought that exact car a month ago. It’s a 3 owner car, dealer serviced, with 97k miles. Yea, it is equipped with ABC. The driveline of these cars is very stout. Unfortunately, small BS stuff will drive you crazy. My rear window sun screen was stuck up. Got it to finally go down manually and will never use it again. Still trying to get the trunk to automatically go up. Changed the trunk struts and that helped the truck closing, but not the opening. Still playing with that. My drivers side door, soft close doesn’t always work. Front/rear windows won’t close until after I close the door 3 times. This happens intermittently. This is the kind of stuff that drives me crazy.
other than that, the car runs great, rides great, and the ABC is functioning flawlessly (I keep my fingers crossed).
other than that, the car runs great, rides great, and the ABC is functioning flawlessly (I keep my fingers crossed).
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 285
Likes: 27
From: Calgary Alberta Canada
2001 Mercedes CL500 2006 E350 4-matic
I have a 2001 with approx. the same mileage. I doubt you will find a car, 20 years old and with similar mileage, to be without some of the issues that rwolak mentioned. The wiring from the body to the door is another item you want to have a closer look at. Check for the green oil in the ABC and power steering tanks.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 21
Likes: 3
CL500
Don’t do it!
Don’t do it, it is a trap, you will fall in love with the looks, the comfort, the power and all the toys.
bought mine 5 years ago, never regretted it, just love the car. I had a new Honda Civic before and just hated it, no toys, bland to drive. Sold it bought CL and used the remaining money for a Mediterranean cruise.
having said that car had 70k miles when bought, now only 78, we are retired so just do not need a car if I was honest, just do not want to part with the car.
had to replace ABC pump, door wiring and new transformers in binnacle. All done by indie, ABC pump at next service was noisy so replaced by MB under warranty, replacement pump u/s so another fitted following day. Buy a car expecting to change pump then you can take that problem out of your mind during your ownership, just change filter and fluid regularly.
bought mine 5 years ago, never regretted it, just love the car. I had a new Honda Civic before and just hated it, no toys, bland to drive. Sold it bought CL and used the remaining money for a Mediterranean cruise.
having said that car had 70k miles when bought, now only 78, we are retired so just do not need a car if I was honest, just do not want to part with the car.
had to replace ABC pump, door wiring and new transformers in binnacle. All done by indie, ABC pump at next service was noisy so replaced by MB under warranty, replacement pump u/s so another fitted following day. Buy a car expecting to change pump then you can take that problem out of your mind during your ownership, just change filter and fluid regularly.
Last edited by Romeo4; Oct 26, 2021 at 12:59 PM. Reason: Spelling mustook
