2013 Cls550, what do i do now??
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Joined: Oct 2025
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2013 Cls550
2013 Cls550, what do i do now??
Good afternoon members of MBWorld. im new to the forum and this is my first post so let me know what im doing wrong. (I probably already posted in wrong area but whatever this is a learning experience.
I have the opportunity to accquire a 2013 Cls 550. but im wondering if im better off selling it or keeping it to drive for myself? it would be a "free" car with no strings attached but i have no idea what the service history/ accidents history looks like.
it seems to drive just fine, no engine/transmission issues, but i wouldnt put it past the last owner to pass a oil change by couple thousand miles. besides some exterior scratches and dents and some interior coffe spills, it seems in pretty good condition for 99k miles.
Now my real question is what do i do now?? like what should i do to determine weather or not the car is worth it to keep? If I do end up keeping it I will probably wrap+tint+tune and ride it till it explodes (doing the maintenance ofc)
Thank you all! I look forward to hearing from you 😘
plz tho help me i have no idea what im doing 🥲
I have the opportunity to accquire a 2013 Cls 550. but im wondering if im better off selling it or keeping it to drive for myself? it would be a "free" car with no strings attached but i have no idea what the service history/ accidents history looks like.
it seems to drive just fine, no engine/transmission issues, but i wouldnt put it past the last owner to pass a oil change by couple thousand miles. besides some exterior scratches and dents and some interior coffe spills, it seems in pretty good condition for 99k miles.
Now my real question is what do i do now?? like what should i do to determine weather or not the car is worth it to keep? If I do end up keeping it I will probably wrap+tint+tune and ride it till it explodes (doing the maintenance ofc)
Thank you all! I look forward to hearing from you 😘
plz tho help me i have no idea what im doing 🥲
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 79
Likes: 32
2005 S55 AMG
Good afternoon members of MBWorld. im new to the forum and this is my first post so let me know what im doing wrong. (I probably already posted in wrong area but whatever this is a learning experience.
I have the opportunity to accquire a 2013 Cls 550. but im wondering if im better off selling it or keeping it to drive for myself? it would be a "free" car with no strings attached but i have no idea what the service history/ accidents history looks like.
it seems to drive just fine, no engine/transmission issues, but i wouldnt put it past the last owner to pass a oil change by couple thousand miles. besides some exterior scratches and dents and some interior coffe spills, it seems in pretty good condition for 99k miles.
Now my real question is what do i do now?? like what should i do to determine weather or not the car is worth it to keep? If I do end up keeping it I will probably wrap+tint+tune and ride it till it explodes (doing the maintenance ofc)
Thank you all! I look forward to hearing from you 😘
plz tho help me i have no idea what im doing 🥲
I have the opportunity to accquire a 2013 Cls 550. but im wondering if im better off selling it or keeping it to drive for myself? it would be a "free" car with no strings attached but i have no idea what the service history/ accidents history looks like.
it seems to drive just fine, no engine/transmission issues, but i wouldnt put it past the last owner to pass a oil change by couple thousand miles. besides some exterior scratches and dents and some interior coffe spills, it seems in pretty good condition for 99k miles.
Now my real question is what do i do now?? like what should i do to determine weather or not the car is worth it to keep? If I do end up keeping it I will probably wrap+tint+tune and ride it till it explodes (doing the maintenance ofc)
Thank you all! I look forward to hearing from you 😘
plz tho help me i have no idea what im doing 🥲
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 97
E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
Before you do a wrap tint tune, since you do not know the history, how about determining if the following was done or if not sure and you want to keep it for several years then maybe you want to get these done:
oil change, tranny fluid and rear diff, coolant, spark plugs, battery ( a weakening battery causes weird symptoms with various electrical systems supposedly failing and this battery is up at 13 years old assuming factory ), condition of airmatic - compressor and airbags. Also check cam magnets and cam sensors for oil leaks and replace as needed.
I'm in a 2014 with far fewer miles than yours and I had a rusted out brake fluid line and a rusted tranny oil cooler line.which took some effort to fix up. But totally worth it - I am never letting this CLS go.
oil change, tranny fluid and rear diff, coolant, spark plugs, battery ( a weakening battery causes weird symptoms with various electrical systems supposedly failing and this battery is up at 13 years old assuming factory ), condition of airmatic - compressor and airbags. Also check cam magnets and cam sensors for oil leaks and replace as needed.
I'm in a 2014 with far fewer miles than yours and I had a rusted out brake fluid line and a rusted tranny oil cooler line.which took some effort to fix up. But totally worth it - I am never letting this CLS go.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 97
E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
I do oil and rear diff plus coolant on my own. Cam magnet and sensor inspection is visual so just take plastic cover off engine. Battery is easy lots of w212 battery change videos nline. The rest i had done by my mechanic
Last edited by OBP; Nov 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,799
Likes: 3,228
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Research m278 problems on google
"m278 issues Mercedes"
tons of video on YT including preemptive maintenance etc etc
you're in a unique position where you have not paid a dime for this car and you acquired it, so you're a better position to potentially keep it and maintain it for a little bit. That being said if it's already a dud, you may wanna just unload it and sell it.
You may wanna just have some and do a PPI on it, that's a private party inspection, and a rigorous one where they inspect the cylinders and do a compression test on the engine to See how viable this car really is.
"m278 issues Mercedes"
tons of video on YT including preemptive maintenance etc etc
you're in a unique position where you have not paid a dime for this car and you acquired it, so you're a better position to potentially keep it and maintain it for a little bit. That being said if it's already a dud, you may wanna just unload it and sell it.
You may wanna just have some and do a PPI on it, that's a private party inspection, and a rigorous one where they inspect the cylinders and do a compression test on the engine to See how viable this car really is.
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 43
Likes: 8
From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 CLS550 4MATIC M157 swap, MBH Tuned
I just had to take my 2014 in after I noticed I had a coolant leak. I would check my oil and seen it was over the max line. They said something on the back of the motor hoses and some $30 cap also done the trans fluid and filter at the same time. $1700 dollars later no more coolant mixing 50-60k till the next trans service, they also did a full inspection. The mechanic borescoped my cylinder's and looked it over good. He said its a clean car, I lucked out i guess and have no scoring or oil leaks yet. Going to get BC coil overs because if the car sits for 2 days it drops on 3 sides. If I drive daily its fine and never have deflation probs. I'd say take a gamble if its free get it. I paid 12k cash for mine with just under 90k miles. I love this tanker ship of a car and the compliments I get are awesome!
Last edited by Desert_benz; Nov 24, 2025 at 09:24 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 67
Likes: 31
2011 S550 4matic
So I got mine recently, very cheap due to blown transmission. I've had to do a bunch of stuff to it, repair transmission, replace rear air bags, replace steering wheel buttons, redo front brakes and rotors (shop that previous owner used installed semi metallic pads that destroyed front rotors), vacuum check valve, air filters, fluid changes for engine and front and rear differentials. Having done it all, car is basically perfect and instead of reselling I'm keeping it. Its a very classy car, things about this I like more than my s550 4matic and vice versa. If you can learn to take care of it, this seems to be a great vehicle
Banned
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 477
Likes: 187
From: US
Mercedes SL R231
Research m278 problems on google
"m278 issues Mercedes"
tons of video on YT including preemptive maintenance etc etc
you're in a unique position where you have not paid a dime for this car and you acquired it, so you're a better position to potentially keep it and maintain it for a little bit. That being said if it's already a dud, you may wanna just unload it and sell it.
You may wanna just have some and do a PPI on it, that's a private party inspection, and a rigorous one where they inspect the cylinders and do a compression test on the engine to See how viable this car really is.
"m278 issues Mercedes"
tons of video on YT including preemptive maintenance etc etc
you're in a unique position where you have not paid a dime for this car and you acquired it, so you're a better position to potentially keep it and maintain it for a little bit. That being said if it's already a dud, you may wanna just unload it and sell it.
You may wanna just have some and do a PPI on it, that's a private party inspection, and a rigorous one where they inspect the cylinders and do a compression test on the engine to See how viable this car really is.
So true!
