Picked up a CL65 to Fix Up
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 636
Likes: 29
From: MN, USA
C43 5.4, ML320CDI, Fords
Don't even think about trying to fix. Cut your losses now, move on and chalk it up to a learning experience for yourself. I'm not saying this to be negative, this is the best advice you'll get. Been working on these cars 16 years and you're in way over your head.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,037
Likes: 1,012
From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
I bought my car for about twice what you paid, but in perfect running condition. Still i've spent 6k in parts over the last 1.5 years just keeping it that way, that's with me doing 100% of the labor myself because I'm a tech at MB, and buying parts at employee cost. Starting with a disaster car and guessing/trial and erroring your way to making it right, will be terribly expensive, and more headache than it's worth. If you were 100% capable of doing everything it needs, you might break even vs. buying a clean example. Paying someone to do it? No chance.
Not trying to be mean, just that i've done the math on my personal car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 343
From: Welwyn, Herts, UK
2006 S600
I thought you said it was missing the intercoolers and the ABC pump? They're both visible in the first ten seconds.
The engine sounds noisy, but that's probably an exhaust leak. Otherwise OK.
I would look at the basics. Take the oil and coolant filler caps off and look for oil getting in the water, or water getting in the oil.
My conviction with these cars from a lot of difficult experience is that a fundamentally sound car can be disguised by superficial problems.
Do you have an OBD2 code reader? SDS is best, but I would at the very least get one of those, plus a copy of WIS and EPC from ebay. They will help you a long way.
I wouldn't have thought it was time to throw in the towel just yet.
Nick
PS. Didn't your "mechanic" say the two intercoolers were missing? Seriously gotta question him....
The engine sounds noisy, but that's probably an exhaust leak. Otherwise OK.
I would look at the basics. Take the oil and coolant filler caps off and look for oil getting in the water, or water getting in the oil.
My conviction with these cars from a lot of difficult experience is that a fundamentally sound car can be disguised by superficial problems.
Do you have an OBD2 code reader? SDS is best, but I would at the very least get one of those, plus a copy of WIS and EPC from ebay. They will help you a long way.
I wouldn't have thought it was time to throw in the towel just yet.
Nick
PS. Didn't your "mechanic" say the two intercoolers were missing? Seriously gotta question him....
Last edited by Welwynnick; Jun 1, 2017 at 08:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 6
From: Cupertino CA
05 CL65
The mechanic told me the intercooler was missing. I can see he lied. He turned out to be a flake. He scanned the codes and gave me a verbal overview of the codes. He also turned the water pump pulley and said its really tough to move and deduced that it seized and caused the engine to overheat. He didn't give me any hard copy of the results and charged me $500 for his analysis. I asked him to send me a complete write up by email but haven't received anything. Not doing well with this at all.
I have a scanner (icarsoft MB II) and WIS, EPC on order from ebay. Should be arriving any day.
I've had some interest in the sale of the car. Got an offer for $4k from a local used parts shop and some interest from a couple of rebuilders in Los Angeles stating they will come up to San Jose with a trailer and buy it off me but nothing firm from them yet. So that is where I'm at so far.
I have a scanner (icarsoft MB II) and WIS, EPC on order from ebay. Should be arriving any day.
I've had some interest in the sale of the car. Got an offer for $4k from a local used parts shop and some interest from a couple of rebuilders in Los Angeles stating they will come up to San Jose with a trailer and buy it off me but nothing firm from them yet. So that is where I'm at so far.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 247
Likes: 23
Benz
Truly, let it go. Keeping a clean example running isn't cheap, fixing one that appears to not have been well maintained let alone missing parts is a money pit. But to each there own, I'd just take the few techs advice a few posts up. And that's just by my experience of having shops maintain the v12s I've had.
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
2005 CL65 AMG
FYI... I buy salvage from Copart every day and only purchase cars that are insurance vehicles (Seller field). We still get a few in that have engine noises, etc, but for the most part its much safer to stick to cars that are typically on the road when the damage occurs. Anything else and you need to do some research ahead of time. The company I work for is getting ready to sell the CL65 that we have through Copart. I didn't agree with the idea because you never get what a vehicle is worth selling as "clear title" or "acquisition bill of sale". Most people buying are skeptical, for good reason.
Last edited by e9coupe; Aug 8, 2017 at 01:35 PM.
