I am completely and 100% split on what to buy! Keep in mind that maintenance costs do not phase me very much.

Now. There is a 2000 S500 calling my name! It has 185,000 miles but only one owner the whole time. It has scuffs on the bumpers and would need some light paint work because of the scuffs. It has the designo caramel leather package. this car ALSO has the 4-seat package with dynamic massage. The exterior paint is an almost-black mocha/coffee/toffee metallic brown that gorgeously changes colors depending on the time of day. Airmatic suspension though, not ABC. Headliner also is cloth, not suede which I would want to change.

There is also a 2002 CL55 AMG that has 135,000 miles with grey leather interior and suede headliner (because it is an AMG). The exterior is a very dark navy-blue metallic. The car has push button start AND Distronic. I have always wanted distronic.

I am a big land-yacht guy and both of these cars (at the same price) both meet my standards! Which one on earth should I get? I had a white/black base S500 and I loved it but sold it when I got my 2003 S600 that I recently squished. I know you can't really compare the 600 to a 500 or 55, but that's where I am coming from.

SO TORN!

If the s500 does not have ABC, go with that one. If you get the CL and want a car that won't break the bank, get rid of the ABC since it is really the only thing that is super unreliable on the car.

I ended up buying both, loving them... and selling both!

so you're now selling both? did you ever have any problems with the ABC in the CL?

I’ve already sold both, but I did have a little problem with the ABC suspension.

I replaced all the accumulators for good measure along with the reservoir filters and the fluid. (I always do that on ABC cars)

The car would sink in the front left, but I took the valve block off and rebuilt it. Just replacing the O-rings with some I had in a universal o-ring kit I had laying around. I have some pictures from when I did it years back, I’ll post them when I find them. It was very easy and I went into it blind with no experience or direction.... I just tackled it. It took me 1 hour.