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It's been a number of years since I got rid of my '04 CLK and now am thinking about picking up a used '08 CLS 550 with the following options:
SPORT PACKAGE, P1 PACKAGE, LEATHER INTERIOR, WOOD TRIM INTERIOR, NAVIGATION, HARMAN KARDON SOUND SYSTEM, KEYLESS ENTRY AND KEYLESS START FUNCTION, HEATED & VENTILATED FRONT SEATS, SUNROOF, REAR SHADE, ELECTRONIC TRUNK, XENON HEADLIGHTS, TRACTION CONTROL, AMG ALLOY WHEELS
Car has 75,000 miles and asking price is $23,900. Is this a good deal? What kind of things could I expect with a benz with this type of mileage? I know buying a used car is a gamble regardless of make. Even brand new cars can be headaches but I'm hoping to get some replies based on the experience of you members. Stay away or pull the trigger? Thanks in advance
common w219 issues:
*AIRMATIC adds maintenance, airbags dont last forever: dont be shocked when u blow a air-strut.
*Serpentine Belt Tensioner (this got me in my CLK...wont let it happen in the CLS)
* Center speaker blowing out (disconnect and move on!)
i had a w208 CLK, then a w220 s500 and the s500 taught me about AirMatic.
the CLS is a fine Automobile!!!
the price is good, I know people who spent twice ...
I have a used 2007 CLS 550 with 12,000 miles (20,000 kms) It is a Canadian car and therefore with the exchange it is about the same price you are looking at. It has new Vossen CV3 wheels. Let me know if you want more info!
I bought my 09 with 80k miles. Since then I have replaced the duovalve (heater valve), drivers window regulator and drive shaft. I recommend an extended warranty. The driveshaft was covered by my warranty but the other items were not.
You may not have a problem in So. Cal. but the "dogleg" forward of the rear wheels (until 2011) is a dirt deflector for whatever the front wheels kick up. I live in New England and the paint on my 2 has been sand blasted. Not pretty. See photo.
Also, get a compression check. Many M273 engines have valve guides with inadequate heat treatment. The hardness is not sufficient to resists wear and leaks develop.
Other than that, my car has been a dream. Very comfortable and a blast to drive.
Thank you for the part numbers konigstiger. My closest local dealer claimed there were no such items available.
In my case, the car has been in New England for most of its life and has never had the protective film applied. The damage is done although, when it is freshly waxed, it's hard to notice it. I need to somehow fix the abraded area before applying the film. Otherwise, it's like putting lipstick on a pig. Nobody wants to paint it.
I recently purchased an 08 CLS 63 AMG with the Performance Package.
Right off the bat I replaced the drivers exterior door handle (Keyless go did not work on that door) and also had to repair broken wire in the trunk (Trunk would stop half way upon open and close function)I took it to dealer and the two repairs were over $1000.00
The Performance Package brakes are very expensive to replace and I cant wait to get the bill for that.
The car is great and for that the repair numbers are high.
I've heard the brakes on the performance pkg CLS are big bucks. $800 for 1 front rotor?
The keyless go issues are common to all CLS, not just the AMG version.
The valve guide hardness is also not an AMG engine problem. This is one "gotcha" that you can't identify until a compression measurement.
Anyway, you will not pry my CLS out of my hands!
Thank you for the part numbers konigstiger. My closest local dealer claimed there were no such items available.
In my case, the car has been in New England for most of its life and has never had the protective film applied. The damage is done although, when it is freshly waxed, it's hard to notice it. I need to somehow fix the abraded area before applying the film. Otherwise, it's like putting lipstick on a pig. Nobody wants to paint it.
Rick H
Ditto on my '08. It burns me every time I wax the car and the chipped up area. Oddly my driver's side is at least twice as bad as the passenger's. I would have assumed equal destruction.
Mine are pretty equal.
I have a local detailer who will get my car soon for the spring cleanup. He said he has a body shop now who can fix the abraded areas and match the paint very closely. And much lower cost than the $4k the local dealer body shop wanted.
I thought all older CLS came with the protection film? Did you guys remove them? Bad move if you did.....
We did. I took mine off with a hair driver. I also removed any resemblance of mud trim so I could get full chippage around my wheel well. I also took my hood off so folks could admire my engine.
We did. I took mine off with a hair driver. I also removed any resemblance of mud trim so I could get full chippage around my wheel well. I also took my hood off so folks could admire my engine.
I thought all older CLS came with the protection film? Did you guys remove them? Bad move if you did.....
There is no way Mercedes delivered these cars with protective film on the dog leg. That would be admitting that they delivered a body design flaw.
Protective film on the nose and leading edges is an option most dealers offer since that takes the brunt of stone chipping, but, an option.
The offer of protective film kit was made available after the problem manifested itself and was simpler than a recall, for Mercedes anyway.
I stand corrected!
But still not delivered on new cars.
I had searched this topic with every possible key word and found nothing.
I still would be hesitant to apply the film kit on damaged panels. It's paint time or, even better, time for a newer CLS!
Have you read the thread, my 06 cls500 had them and others are referencing them through 08, attachments show EPC confirmation through 2011. If for some reason they were removed causing paint damage of course I agree repair needs to be performed then OEM protective film should be applied. Bottom line, 06-11 were delivered with protective film from factory.
Last edited by konigstiger; 03-20-2015 at 02:49 PM.
02-03-2015, 02:08 AM
