CL 65 Update!
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
CL 65 Update!
Hey Gang!
The Beast has hit the dealership!
For those of you following the past discussions, it's finally arrived....more pics to follow once I get down there....this day job is interfering with my driving fun!
D.
The Beast has hit the dealership!
For those of you following the past discussions, it's finally arrived....more pics to follow once I get down there....this day job is interfering with my driving fun!
D.
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From: Kenilworth, il usa
GT63S ePerformance 4dr, '25 Bentayga Black Ed.(wife), Wrangler and 250 MLB(kids)
Love these wheels,they compliment the car much,much better then the '08 model,eliminate any need for aftermarket rims.
What about the steering wheel,is it with paddles or still with buttons (if not all weather)?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,137
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From: Sherman Oaks, CA
06 CLS55 w/ P030, 05 Jag S Type R, 05 TBird-68 Dodge Charger R/T-440 w/4speed I'm original owner
I don't know how you get any sleep with that beast in your garage.
No alcantara steering wheel with the 030 on a CL? Looks like wood.
Lets see some hi def pics.
Enjoy.
No alcantara steering wheel with the 030 on a CL? Looks like wood.
Lets see some hi def pics.
Enjoy.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
Update!
Thanks all for the kind words...I appreciate all the comments! 
The Beast is now home and in the garage while I re-fuel and get ready for some driving after lunch....it's awesome, as you might expect and I will post some further impressions after the giddiness as passed!
Yes, it's a wood steering wheel with shift paddles (I wanted to try something different this time around). No, I did not do the CF interior or the rear diffuser (same reason). Yes, it's heavy and you can feel it, but the torque is intoxicating. No, we don't have the mountain roads in WI, so it's more point and shoot driving here, ooops, overshot the off ramp by 1/2 mile, dang!
More to follow...soon!
D.
The Beast is now home and in the garage while I re-fuel and get ready for some driving after lunch....it's awesome, as you might expect and I will post some further impressions after the giddiness as passed!
Yes, it's a wood steering wheel with shift paddles (I wanted to try something different this time around). No, I did not do the CF interior or the rear diffuser (same reason). Yes, it's heavy and you can feel it, but the torque is intoxicating. No, we don't have the mountain roads in WI, so it's more point and shoot driving here, ooops, overshot the off ramp by 1/2 mile, dang!
More to follow...soon!
D.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: CA
2010 CL65
Doctor, am living vicariously through you as I await my 65, so look fwd to your impressions....
Which tires on your 65? Any impressions re: traction on dry, uneven pavement? My sense is AMG continually refines the throttle response on 65, even MY09 vs MY08....my last test drive of an '08 CL65 (w/Yokos) left me rather impressed w/trac of CL65 chassis set-up/throttle resp on dry, uneven pavement...
BTW, enjoyed a spectacularly fun, uninterrupted drive in my usual mtn twisties route today AM....and ran across (again) a guy who drives a blk/blk CL63 030 and seems to share my wkend twisties addiction.....amusing that in a region littered w/599s, Scuds and SL63 030s, the car I most often run across in wkend twisties is an AMG CL....
Which tires on your 65? Any impressions re: traction on dry, uneven pavement? My sense is AMG continually refines the throttle response on 65, even MY09 vs MY08....my last test drive of an '08 CL65 (w/Yokos) left me rather impressed w/trac of CL65 chassis set-up/throttle resp on dry, uneven pavement...
BTW, enjoyed a spectacularly fun, uninterrupted drive in my usual mtn twisties route today AM....and ran across (again) a guy who drives a blk/blk CL63 030 and seems to share my wkend twisties addiction.....amusing that in a region littered w/599s, Scuds and SL63 030s, the car I most often run across in wkend twisties is an AMG CL....
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
Thanks all for the kind words...I appreciate all the comments!
The Beast is now home and in the garage while I re-fuel and get ready for some driving after lunch....it's awesome, as you might expect and I will post some further impressions after the giddiness as passed!
Yes, it's a wood steering wheel with shift paddles (I wanted to try something different this time around). No, I did not do the CF interior or the rear diffuser (same reason). Yes, it's heavy and you can feel it, but the torque is intoxicating. No, we don't have the mountain roads in WI, so it's more point and shoot driving here, ooops, overshot the off ramp by 1/2 mile, dang!
More to follow...soon!
D.
The Beast is now home and in the garage while I re-fuel and get ready for some driving after lunch....it's awesome, as you might expect and I will post some further impressions after the giddiness as passed!
Yes, it's a wood steering wheel with shift paddles (I wanted to try something different this time around). No, I did not do the CF interior or the rear diffuser (same reason). Yes, it's heavy and you can feel it, but the torque is intoxicating. No, we don't have the mountain roads in WI, so it's more point and shoot driving here, ooops, overshot the off ramp by 1/2 mile, dang!
More to follow...soon!
D.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: CA
2010 CL65
MBZ, you raise a great point about the 65 vs 63 exhaust note....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose
).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....
BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose
).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 277
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From: MI
2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS
MBZ, you raise a great point about the 65 vs 63 exhaust note....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....
BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose
).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,137
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From: Sherman Oaks, CA
06 CLS55 w/ P030, 05 Jag S Type R, 05 TBird-68 Dodge Charger R/T-440 w/4speed I'm original owner
Dr.--Beautiful pics; hope you keep this baby out of the snow
With regards to exhaust--
The only negative observation of the AMGs is that it's too well insulated from the roadway. With windows and moon roof closed, you feel you’re in a moving living room. Just a little too quite.
The 09 SL 63 with the top down is damn outright ear piercing when hammered.
Just my $ .02 observations.
With regards to exhaust--
The only negative observation of the AMGs is that it's too well insulated from the roadway. With windows and moon roof closed, you feel you’re in a moving living room. Just a little too quite.
The 09 SL 63 with the top down is damn outright ear piercing when hammered.
Just my $ .02 observations.
Last edited by m_berman; Jul 27, 2008 at 11:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
Doctor, am living vicariously through you as I await my 65, so look fwd to your impressions....
Which tires on your 65? Any impressions re: traction on dry, uneven pavement? My sense is AMG continually refines the throttle response on 65, even MY09 vs MY08....my last test drive of an '08 CL65 (w/Yokos) left me rather impressed w/trac of CL65 chassis set-up/throttle resp on dry, uneven pavement...
BTW, enjoyed a spectacularly fun, uninterrupted drive in my usual mtn twisties route today AM....and ran across (again) a guy who drives a blk/blk CL63 030 and seems to share my wkend twisties addiction.....amusing that in a region littered w/599s, Scuds and SL63 030s, the car I most often run across in wkend twisties is an AMG CL....
Which tires on your 65? Any impressions re: traction on dry, uneven pavement? My sense is AMG continually refines the throttle response on 65, even MY09 vs MY08....my last test drive of an '08 CL65 (w/Yokos) left me rather impressed w/trac of CL65 chassis set-up/throttle resp on dry, uneven pavement...
BTW, enjoyed a spectacularly fun, uninterrupted drive in my usual mtn twisties route today AM....and ran across (again) a guy who drives a blk/blk CL63 030 and seems to share my wkend twisties addiction.....amusing that in a region littered w/599s, Scuds and SL63 030s, the car I most often run across in wkend twisties is an AMG CL....
Throttle response will not disappoint you...the 65 sounds are NOT as visceral as the 63 plain and simple...I do miss that, but it's the only thing...though the dinner group was appropriately impressed upon fire-up and a few revs
You are in a particularly difficult spot...able to afford either one with overlap between the two, but clearly personality differences of the two cars are there....when is your ETA???
D.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
It's beautiful enough that you've got me thinking about getting back into "black". Yours is very stunning, particularly with the 030 wheels - it makes all the difference. A few questions: I assume your ML63 has a similar thick leathery steering wheel that my CL63 has. Are you at all concerned about the lack of grip with the wooden wheel? Exhaust sound wise, how does the 63 compare to the 65? Is it my imagination or have the 65 engines been getting a bit throatier over the past few years? Also, don't let that "day job" thing get in your way - Enjoy!
get the thicker leather sports wheel. The 040 Black is beautiful, but I really wanted the obsidian black, but no go..sigh..another long story....there are a couple of minor blemishes that the body shop will fix when they can pry it out of my hands..my detail guy at the shop said it arrived in rough shape despite the protective films 
..don't expect these babies to be perfect in finish, esp in black...The 65 does sound better to my ear in this model year 09 than last...it may be just wishful thinking...the 63 does rumble, this 65 is more refined as others have stated...but step into the throttle on road the heaviness disappears and you get warped into lightspeed...you will love it!
D.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
MBZ, you raise a great point about the 65 vs 63 exhaust note....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....
BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
Still struggle w/the juvenile appeal of the 63's exhaust note vs the 65's more elegantly intimidating exhaust note....what really makes me appreciate the 65 exhaust note is the sense of understatement....on a few high-speed urban fwys in CA, the 63's just-adequate tq is glaringly apparent....that's when louder/more boisterous exhausts like 63 become mockable (as do cf rear diffusers on a nearly 5000lb car, I suppose
).....and 65's understated, effortless tq deliv makes 63 seem like an overpromising, underdelivering poseur in 70-100+MPH bursts....BTW, after much experimentation, have found that, at least on CL63, enjoy exhaust note best w/windows&roof closed, to elim extraneous road/wind/environmental noise....my sense is these cars often sound best from standpoint of either bystanders or drivers of fellow cars (have had chance to drive alongside&behind CL63 030 on a fast fwy....even when in a sealed-up CL, that car sounds amazing when accel'g, esp when downstream from exhaust music)....
Truly a difficult choice.....65 kills 63 on high-speed, dry fwys, but 63 is slightly more precise, exuberant in mtn twisties....two amazing, addictive supercars IMO....
BUT that 65 ride up to the Lake today convinced me it was the right choice! The 65 exhaust note is better I think this year...HOW about BOTH??? One 63 for the mountain runs and one 65 for all the rest of your driving???
D.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
Well, judging by your palate of comments regarding "your" car--all highly derivative of general talk on media and forums, and not a single real owner concern or comment, such as a menu program glitch or tip on what to clean the interior, etc--it is plain simple to me that you not only have never owned a CL, but most likely have not been inside a new Mercedes Benz. I fully believe though, you have been alongside&behind a CL63 030 in traffic. So I have one thing for you: stay in awe of others owning these cars here, and apare us the comments, unless they are preceded by; "I think, if I were to own this car..."
Ferri, WSH has been spot on in his/her (?) PM comments to me about the CL...I believe WSH is the real McCoy here...WSH never keeps the cars long enough for glitches to annoy anyway!!!
D.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Madison
CL 65 '09, ML 63 '09. The wife's: 09' SL 63 & S550.
Dr.--Beautiful pics; hope you keep this baby out of the snow
With regards to exhaust--
The only negative observation of the AMGs is that it's too well insulated from the roadway. With windows and moon roof closed, you feel you’re in a moving living room. Just a little too quite.
The 09 SL 63 with the top down is damn outright ear piercing when hammered.
Just my $ .02 observations.
With regards to exhaust--
The only negative observation of the AMGs is that it's too well insulated from the roadway. With windows and moon roof closed, you feel you’re in a moving living room. Just a little too quite.
The 09 SL 63 with the top down is damn outright ear piercing when hammered.
Just my $ .02 observations.
This baby will NEVER see snow...we got 100" this winter and that's what the ML63 is for! I don't think the CL 65 would even MOVE in 1/2" snow anyway with its OEM tires...it is quiet, but NOT silent...I've had the noisy road rockets and craved some quiet power for my "Bermuda triangle" driving of Madison -->Wausau --->Fish Creek ---->Madison, repeat...The SL seems so...small...to me now after the CLs....it's not for everyone, but man, it's darn near perfect for me!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
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From: CA
2010 CL65
My freshly minted copy is with Yokos as well...traction on the two days of dry roads was perfect, BUT I was being gentle with the break-in phase, despite the urgings of my BMW dinner companions last night to "let her rip"...my inner juvenile REALLY wanted to smoke up their driveway, but my wife was reminding me to behave...again...
Throttle response will not disappoint you...the 65 sounds are NOT as visceral as the 63 plain and simple...I do miss that, but it's the only thing...though the dinner group was appropriately impressed upon fire-up and a few revs
You are in a particularly difficult spot...able to afford either one with overlap between the two, but clearly personality differences of the two cars are there....when is your ETA???
D.
Throttle response will not disappoint you...the 65 sounds are NOT as visceral as the 63 plain and simple...I do miss that, but it's the only thing...though the dinner group was appropriately impressed upon fire-up and a few revs
You are in a particularly difficult spot...able to afford either one with overlap between the two, but clearly personality differences of the two cars are there....when is your ETA???
D.
Indeed, two great cars, 65 and 63 030....but I'm a minimalist; rarely have more than one car in my garage at a time....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: CA
2010 CL65
Perhaps I should refer Ferri to my MB salesman for an affidavit re: my CL leasing/trade-in habits.....
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 972
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
10-17-2005, 06:13 PM #1
WSH
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: CA
Vehicle I drive: CL63 030
Posts: 857 SL55PP vs SL65: Steering, handling and traction?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would appreciate any input from those who've driven '06 SL55 w/Perf Package vs SL65, esp in terms of steering precision, handling in mountain curves and traction (dry and wet, off-the-line and in mid-range spurts). Any comparos of 55 vs 55PP on these criteria would be great as well.
Haven't had chance to drive SL65/55PP yet, but had 2 SL55s in past which I enjoyed greatly; currently drive TurboS Coupe (love the TurboS for its precise steering, great traction and 800-odd lbs less wt than SL but not a fan of the turbo lag; and P's small gas tanks are annoying for commuter duty). Would be using cars for daily urban commuting and wkend mtn twisties in CA.
Thx.
