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Hello all, newbie here. Never owned a Mercedes, but it's time. I've had many sports cars, but never luxury. It's time for both, hence an AMG Mercedes.
I have had my eye on a 2003 CL55 AMG with 108k on it. Its at a local car lot that sells BMW and Mercedes vehicles. Mostly high end stuff. I got the owner to come down to $10500 from $12k. The car is very clean, but I'm sure it's had its issues being g a 14 year old car. Has a clean carfax and has had service. Here are a few pics. I was also thinking of having it inspected by a reputable Mercedes shop for a small fee.
I've never owned a Mercedes. I work on my own cars. I've done some restoration on different cars, but never anything foreign. So I'm pretty handy.
My cousins have had nothing but Mercedes vehicles for 40 years and won't buy anything else. They travel to Vegas once a month in the past 30 years and Mercedes have never left them stranded on thier 450 mile trip to the desert, ever.
So I'm leaning towards getting an AMG Mercedes, because I love the performance and looks. Tell me what you guys think of this car. It has had quite a few things replaced in the past which I can list. Most stuff was replaced at 45k, including all the struts and pump.
This case sounds a lot like how I found my 06 CL55 AMG with 112k miles (these engines break in at 100k miles) on the clock. It was completely stock. Prior to purchase, I knew there were going to be issues with the ABC suspension. This is to be remedied with an easy to install $900 YellowSpeed adjustable height and dampening coilover kit, a W220 power steering pump and front sway bar. This CL your looking at had all the ABC struts replaced, along with a bunch other items. The oil stain under the engine is most likely the cam cover gaskets. This is a do it yourself job and fresh one step colder plugs can go in at the same time. The 03-06 CL55 AMG is a bargain rocket ship with nearly 500 hp. I'd purchase it and do what's been done after I purchased my 112k mile $14,000, 06 CL55 ($120,000 new). Mods: 77mm blower pulley, tandem intercooler, Bosche 10 i/c pump, Eurocharged Stage 3 tune, DTK V3 transmission control module, K&N drop in air filters, belt wrap kit, Kleeman midlength headers to 200 cell sport primary cats, deleted and coded out secondary cats, X-pipe, stock resonators and mufflers. Split cooling isn't necessary due to the CL's large stock intercooler (larger than the E55). These mods yield approx. 625 at the crank. A 82mm throttle body will bring it to dyno proven 650. Long tube headers; another 15-20. All this was relatively affordable in parts and labor. Yellow Speed Sport coilovers go in a few weeks along with a W220 power steering pump and front sway bar. A LSD with 2.85 gears and 82mm TB will go in after Yellow Speed coilovers. As is, this car has decimated many domestic and imported muscle on the street and open road. Do it.
Last edited by principledchiro; Mar 25, 2017 at 08:10 AM.
This case sounds a lot like how I found my 06 CL55 AMG with 112k miles (these engines break in at 100k miles) on the clock. It was completely stock. Prior to purchase, I knew there were going to be issues with the ABC suspension. This is to be remedied with an easy to install $900 YellowSpeed adjustable height and dampening coilover kit, a W220 power steering pump and front sway bar. This CL your looking at had all the ABC struts replaced, along with a bunch other items. The oil stain under the engine is most likely the cam cover gaskets. This is a do it yourself job and fresh one step colder plugs can go in at the same time. The 03-06 CL55 AMG is a bargain rocket ship with nearly 500 hp. I'd purchase it and do what's been done after I purchased my 112k mile $14,000, 06 CL55 ($120,000 new). Mods: 77mm blower pulley, tandem intercooler, Bosche 10 i/c pump, Eurocharged Stage 3 tune, DTK V3 transmission control module, K&N drop in air filters, belt wrap kit, Kleeman midlength headers to 200 cell sport primary cats, deleted and coded out secondary cats, X-pipe, stock resonators and mufflers. Split cooling isn't necessary due to the CL's large stock intercooler (larger than the E55). These mods yield approx. 625 at the crank. A 82mm throttle body will bring it to dyno proven 650. Long tube headers; another 15-20. All this was relatively affordable in parts and labor. Yellow Speed Sport coilovers go in a few weeks along with a W220 power steering pump and front sway bar. A LSD with 2.85 gears and 82mm TB will go in after Yellow Speed coilovers. As is, this car has decimated many domestic and imported muscle on the street and open road. Do it.
Thank you for the inspired confidence. But these next pics may change your mind. I got the car down to $10,000. These guys wouldn't budge anymore. It was originally at 12k. It has 108k miles.
What's with the oil fill cap? Evidence of water in oil or dirty?
The blower pulley and bearing should be replaced with 77mm pulley with beltwrap kit. If they won't budge lower than $10k, tell them to include a 1 year warranty that covers all components of drivetrain.
Last edited by principledchiro; Mar 25, 2017 at 01:30 PM.
What's with the oil fill cap? Evidence of water in oil or dirty?
The blower pulley and bearing should be replaced with 77mm pulley with beltwrap kit. If they won't budge lower than $10k, tell them to include a 1 year warranty that covers all components of drivetrain.
Yeah, doubt they will do that. I avoiding the car all together. That oil cap shows me that head gaskets are going south.
These motors don't blow head gaskets..unless severely overheated. What you saw with small amount of "milky"residue on oil fill cap is normal for moisture present in the atmosphere within the crank case that precipitates its water moisture under normal running temperatures. $10k is a decent price for an 100k mile 2003 CL55 AMG. The blower bearing and upgraded 77mm pulley is necessary, relatively inexpensive, and a 45 minute DIY job worth 50 horses and nearly 100 lb/ft torque with an inexpensive Eurocharged box tune. Well, someone else will snap her up and blow a Hemi Challengers doors off.
These motors don't blow head gaskets..unless severely overheated. What you saw with small amount of "milky"residue on oil fill cap is normal for moisture present in the atmosphere within the crank case that precipitates its water moisture under normal running temperatures. $10k is a decent price for an 100k mile 2003 CL55 AMG. The blower bearing and upgraded 77mm pulley is necessary, relatively inexpensive, and a 45 minute DIY job worth 50 horses and nearly 100 lb/ft torque with an inexpensive Eurocharged box tune. Well, someone else will snap her up and blow a Hemi Challengers doors off.
old thread but figured this may help someone in the future. that milky substance happens a lot on dodge/chrysler engines of this era (keep in mind the same people owned MB) and isn't always indicative of a major issue
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