Hi guys. I've been looking at w221 S550's but recently saw this '13 CLS 550 with 110k miles, and was wondering how is the reliability on these? Are they well built like the S550's? The air suspensions need to be replaced every 100k miles or so? I'm coming from Audi, and for some reason they used lots of cheap plastics for certain parts, so I ran into lots of small to medium issues. I'm reading Benz is built way better then Audi, so I'm looking to jump ship. Thanks in advance.

Is the airmatic optional on these, unlike the S550? I'd rather have no airmatic for sure.

Not 100% sure, but don't believe the air suspension was an option and have seen numbers like 225-250K on reliability. Hopefully another member can clarify! I also came from the world of Audi, but have also found some areas on small plastic parts that could have been designed a little better on my 2012. Did a write up on the mirror triangle (little sail panel piece) on the front doors - https://mbworld.org/forums/cls-coupe...e-removal.html

Good luck!

All CLS550s have airmatic. CLS400s have spring/struts.

I bought my 14 with 97 k I currently have almost 117k no issues mechanically, my suspension was acting strange and when I start it, the car adjusted back to normal automatically. Has happened maybe 3 or 4 times where the car looked lowered in the back like I’m not sure what it is and will have looked at this weekend when I get my spark plugs changed. But no issues with the engine. I just tuned and added 3 in catless downpipes Down to the muffler and a couple other things like asv, cold air intake. We shall see the reliability now with the tune but I have a beater now so I won’t be driving as much. But this car has been awesome for 20k miles so far. I’m very meticulous about services and everything and I think that has a lot to do with it

Sounds like you got a leak on an air spring. You can spray some soapy water on each or maybe even leave a door open (if it like a RR) to isolate which spring.

How big of a difference is the air suspension? I have the 400 and I'm pretty sure it has the sport suspension, so how does it feel in comfort? Would be cool to have an option that could raise the height of the car, but it seems to unreliable as many people say on these forums and the repair costs if not under warranty can be in the thousands.

Depends what u are after and what you want. For the track reliability/running costs springs are better.

For a GT road car, I would guess it is a completely difference class of car. It's almost fully automatic, as the air springs are adaptive, and the shocks are also adaptive. It's what rolls, bentleys, range rovers, high end jaguars, and s-classes would run.

Thanks for the tip! I will do and get back and update my results

here’s the thing FOR ME, I ride my car in sport trans and sport suspension all day probably 90% of the time and I love it !!! ..... that’s me, I know others that ride in eco most of the time , I can’t stand it and therefore like I said it’s always in sport mode. But the other 10% of the time when some one else is in my car with me whether a coworker, my kids, my wife or my mom its so nice to have the comfort mode and eco mode to tame it down for others, def a lot squishier but after I think you hit 80mph it automatically drops it into sport suspension I love it and I think it’s huge even though it’s only about 10% of the time I use those options. My .02

Sounds like a bad strut or 2. If one is bad the other will drop the height to compensate when parked and refill when you start the car. Mine went out on my 13' at 70k Lots of potholes and poorly paved streets. Rebuild Master Tech in FL. is great. They will rebuild them for $575 plus ship. I got Next day ship for $70 and they take 3-4 days to rebuild and they give you a 1 year warranty or you can order from mb parts live for $900 plus core but they still only have 1 year warranty. You will get the part faster and my indy dropped it in for $100

I like the fact that you can choose depending on your mood or situation and you have the option to raise the car up which works great for letting people out at curbs or parking head on with those concrete slabs. Parts prices have gone down recently too Thankfully. It used to be like 2k per strut with labor.