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As with anything W215... "while youre in there" always seems to win.
Im grateful to Stitcht Interiors for their attention to detail. When they were reassembling the interior they realized that my soft close function was not working and the Door Lock Actuator was actually cracked.
He informed me that he could definitely perform the repairs and found a repair kit for the actuator so I wouldnt need an entirely new latch (if one could even be found). He also traced the soft close issue to the door hinge wires having been previously repaired and having failed.
Car should be ready soon but I cannot pick up until next week.
repair kit: https://ebay.us/m/fCnEfC
Also, im slowly piecing together a set of 19” CL65 wheels. I still need one front wheel. 🙃
car is back and better than ever. Having bluetooth and a backup camera is game changing.
car going back to Modern Masters in a week so we can revise the V-Tech tune and get some maintenance out of the way and really make it the ultimate daily driver!
I dropped the car off at Modern Masters on 06/08 to fine tune the V-Tech Tune and do some maintenance while Im away for summer holiday.
Gave them a small to do list also.
ABC Accumulators and Fluid flush
Driver's door lock inop
TPMS Fault
Windshield Washer Fluid Leak
Rear View Mirror Replacement
Looking forward to getting her back fresh and getting some miles on her!
Hope to get the factory wheels refinished when I get her back and to try my hand at a DIY Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating.
I sourced 3 CL65 wheels so far but the more I move them around the garage, the more I realize that they are really heavy and will likely take away from the driving experience instead of adding to it. If anyone is interested I have 1 front and 2 rear wheels I'd be willing to sell.
Coming along nicely! I did notice your first TCU tune was calibrated for "brown top" solenoids, not sure if MKULTRA rectified that with the SLR tune, but CL55 AMG's come with blue-top solenoids from the factory... in case your transmission doesn't behave quite right still.
I'd be interested in your wheels, I'll shoot you a DM!
Carbon fiber looks fantastic.
I forgot if I've ever mentioned this to you, but you may want to take out the trunk lining before a big rain, so you can check for leaks. Water leaks into the trunk from all 3 brake lights if the seals let go, and that'll cause many problems. My cl55 has had 0 leaks, but my cl65 leaked from all 3 lights, as well as from a joint in the actual body panels near the gas cap. Killed the trunk lift pump and stereo.
Coming along nicely! I did notice your first TCU tune was calibrated for "brown top" solenoids, not sure if MKULTRA rectified that with the SLR tune, but CL55 AMG's come with blue-top solenoids from the factory... in case your transmission doesn't behave quite right still.
I'd be interested in your wheels, I'll shoot you a DM!
Carbon fiber looks fantastic.
I forgot if I've ever mentioned this to you, but you may want to take out the trunk lining before a big rain, so you can check for leaks. Water leaks into the trunk from all 3 brake lights if the seals let go, and that'll cause many problems. My cl55 has had 0 leaks, but my cl65 leaked from all 3 lights, as well as from a joint in the actual body panels near the gas cap. Killed the trunk lift pump and stereo.
According to TJ my year CL55 had Brown Tops in it. I actually upgraded to Blue Tops when Modern Masters had the Conductor Plate out at some point and redid the tune.
For cruising around the trans is fine. I actually drive around in C - comfort most of the time. The trans still gets jumbled up if I want to get on it quickly sometimes. I find that its way more responsive to drive in M mode when I to really get on the car.
Thanks for the tip on the trunk leaking! I'll have a look. I havent noticed any moisture back there but better safe than sorry. Really dont want to have any issues with the electronics.
Has the theme of "two steps forward, one step back" caught on yet?
This time around Im "one step forward, three steps back"
I took the car to Modern Masters over the summer while I was on Vacation. I figured they could do some maintenance while I was gone and have the car back when I returned from overseas.
They were able to replace my accumulators and flush the ABC fluid, Got some fresh spark plugs in the car and thats about it.
I was hoping they would fix a failed door lock actuator but the part is no longer available, they replaced two TPMS sensors but my error light is still on, my windshield washer fluid was still leaking and they didnt touch the car until long after I returned from my vacation so I just wanted it back in my garage.
Pending issues:
Failed Drivers Side Door Lock Actuator
Leaking windshield washer fluid (leaking from headlight nozzles)
TPMS Error
A local specialist shop claims that they can "fix issues other shops cant" and are regarded pretty highly... I took the car to them after telling them my woes.
"the part is not available, we cant fix it". They still charged me diag.
I found a used actuator on ebay, they agreed to install it without a warranty. I figured since it was going to be a while until the part arrived, they could replace the front lower control arms they noted had excessive wear where the strut mounts to the control arm. I told them to go ahead and replace the lower control arms.
I got a call two days ago after dropping off the used actuator that the owner gave the techs a hard time about accepting a customer supplied part so I was to pick up the car and they would show me how to repair the issue on my own.
I got a call today telling me that even though I approved the lower control arm repair and they got the parts, they couldnt complete the repair because the bolts that hold the struts to the lower control arms are seized and they dont want to risk damaging the struts in the process (also on my own...)
So much for repairing issues other shops cant. They also managed to lose the drivers door upper speaker cover and told me to source a replacement and send them the invoice so they can credit back the cost to my card... NOT VERY HAPPY.
Plan of action:
Replace door lock actuator myself after rebuilding used Ebay actuator
Soak the hell out of lower control arm bolts and loosen them eventually over the winter and replace control arms on my own.
Cap off headlight washer system and fix leaking washer fluid issue
Code Out TPMS system and delete system from car
Find replacement speaker cover grill.
After all this is done, I need to get the car back to my upholsterer who was nice enough to install my Kenwood headunit but forgot to hook up my cabin microphone... (see a trend here??)
Over the past three weeks I've been very tempted to post the car for sale. I've actually sent this thread to a number of for sale posts on FB Marketplace offering the car as a partial trade on a 99-04 Ford Lightning. I dig the W215 ALOT and the work performed was all done with the intention of growing old with this thing but if I keep hitting dead ends at every turn, I'd rather just buy something that'll have support moving forward and take the loss and save myself the headaches.
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
I found this thread from FB marketplace. I have a heavily modified 2004 E55 with 210K miles that I recently inherited. It has a bunch of stuff, but not nearly extensive as your CL55, but has been incredibly reliable for the 10+ years my father owned it. It has a pulley, ecu tune, headers, radiator and all sorts of stuff that I can't even remember. It dynos at 480WHP/525TQ, or at least it did 9 years ago when he dynoed it. The reason I even bring any of this up is...the damn thing is dead reliable. The aftermarket headers have a crack in them so I'm going to replace those, but there hasn't been a single engine issue aside from maybe a little valve stem thing that causes some oil burning that we'll need to take care of. That's what I'm surprised to see all of the issues you've faced..
I love this car, but would like a coupe. I saw yours on FB and have read this thread with interest, and have been dismayed by all of the hurtles and hassles you've faced. I'm wondering if you're just asking too much from the M113K, or if you've just been unlucky? My E55 is almost undrivable in all but the best of situations because of how powerful it is, and yours has 200WHP more. I have a (supposedly) 480 Crank HP W212 E400 that feels half as powerful as my Dad's old E55, but it can at least put the power down because it has AWD. I see the love and effort you've put into your car and it seems like it would be a hoot to own, but is a C215 chassis with this same motor that much more unreliable and hard to find parts for than my W211? Really enjoyed watching your journey BTW.
I found this thread from FB marketplace. I have a heavily modified 2004 E55 with 210K miles that I recently inherited. It has a bunch of stuff, but not nearly extensive as your CL55, but has been incredibly reliable for the 10+ years my father owned it. It has a pulley, ecu tune, headers, radiator and all sorts of stuff that I can't even remember. It dynos at 480WHP/525TQ, or at least it did 9 years ago when he dynoed it. The reason I even bring any of this up is...the damn thing is dead reliable. The aftermarket headers have a crack in them so I'm going to replace those, but there hasn't been a single engine issue aside from maybe a little valve stem thing that causes some oil burning that we'll need to take care of. That's what I'm surprised to see all of the issues you've faced..
I love this car, but would like a coupe. I saw yours on FB and have read this thread with interest, and have been dismayed by all of the hurtles and hassles you've faced. I'm wondering if you're just asking too much from the M113K, or if you've just been unlucky? My E55 is almost undrivable in all but the best of situations because of how powerful it is, and yours has 200WHP more. I have a (supposedly) 480 Crank HP W212 E400 that feels half as powerful as my Dad's old E55, but it can at least put the power down because it has AWD. I see the love and effort you've put into your car and it seems like it would be a hoot to own, but is a C215 chassis with this same motor that much more unreliable and hard to find parts for than my W211? Really enjoyed watching your journey BTW.
I think the misfortunes I've had were the direct result of either me trying to DIY some jobs that went past my pay grade or shops over promising and under performing.
I've had some interest in the car but nothing concrete. I have an alternative long term maintenance solution that has popped up so if the car sticks around, it should be smoother sailing going forward.
Still driving the car about 3 times a week and loving every second of it.
A TON of people showed interest in the car... one person stepped up and the car is now on the way to Florida.
Funny enough, I didnt think the car was going anywhere and I went through FCP euro to replace the plug wires and 02 sensors since they were under warranty and the car ran better than ever in the last couple hundred miles I got to enjoy it. At least I have a decent balance in my FCP Euro account to help with maintenance on the CL's replacement.
I still really really enjoy the M113K engine and 722.6 transmission. I have a feeling this one be my last rodeo with this engine...
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
