I'm a teen looking for a cls and I found a listing of a nice CLS 500 from 2006. With 117k miles. Has ABS light on and stiff steering. Is this super hard and expensive to fix? I heard that the 06 models aren't the best because of the electronic brake system thing. I think they had a recall. The guy wants $4500. Is it worth it? Thanks

Are you able to do work yourself? If not, then I would advise you to look at another car. Components are becoming more expensive and if you need someone else to do all the work, you might be in for a financial surprise. Also don't forget that its an 18 year old car, which might need a lot of maintenance. Check my build thread to have an understanding on what you might expect (link is in my signature).

The brake thing that you mention is called the SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) and has received extended warranty from Mercedes. For me this system is the only negative thing I can mention on the CLS.

Ok thanks. I was planning to do work on it because I'm 15. I have a lot of time. I did a lot of research and saw that it could be the speed sensor. I randomly low balled the guy for 4.5k( listed for 6.5k) and he accepted my lowball. I replaced one of the speed sensors on my brother's 03 s430. Wasn't too bad. So maybe that's all that's wrong? But I really appreciate your response.

Hard to say with limited information. If you are going to work in it, also invest in a good scanner, so you know what is happening. It can be as easy as a wheel speed sensor, but might be something totally different.

Stiff steering might be a faulty steering rack, a new one will set you back probably around 1.5k-2k without labor, can also be the power steering pump etc etc.

Philmav,
I took delivery of my 2006 CLS 500 in April of 2005. It is 19 years old and has 63,000 miles. It has been an awesome car and I hope to keep it forever. I'm 78 years old and can afford to but any car I want, but i don't want a new one, I just want this one. It's Iridium Silver with gray leather interior, and it looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Someone stopped me in the parking lot one day and asked if it was a new car. It's styling is so much better than the new, round, marshmallow looking designs with its nice shadow lines on the sides. I kept a list of repairs over the years and it is less than $1000/year over the 19 years. Super reliable, comfortable, quiet ride, excellent handling and plenty of power. Don't listen to any criticisms about electric brakes. I don't feel any difference between them and any other braking system and have never had any issues.

Great to hear youve kept your cls for so long, I recently got a 2007 cls 350 amg just because of the shape and also want to keep it permanently, more now that I own one than when I was looking.