Why is this Mercedes CL500 so cheap? Or are they ALL Cheap??

Imo id go the extra mile and get a 2007+ cl550

They are priced very well now and updated body and engine.

Can be had for 25k or so

 

Dave,
My Dad had an 02 CL500 and then got rid of it for an 05 S600 both had almost comically suspension issues.... Thankfully they were all covered under warranty, but it seemed like every day one corner of the car was dropped in the morning in the garage when my Dad left for work. In all honesty, it was probably a half a dozen times between the two cars in 7 years. If I recall front was more common then rear.

The CL was an awesome car besides that especially with all the windows rolled down and no B pillar. Besides the suspension the CL didn't really have any other issues, the S600 had a few electrics gremlins that always seemed to not be 100%. Both motors and trans were good, nothing like the torque of the V12!

Erik

 

It does have the hydraulic ABC suspension.

My '08 CL 63 had one ABC line crack and leak. I don't remember it being very expensive to fix. Brakes on this puppy were much more expensive.

But the CL is a fantastic car. Much better than the CLK. Original MSRPs reflect the difference, eitehr plain versions or AMG.

I would recommend the CL550 very highly. I preferred the alcantara headliner, sport everything, IWC clock, and 518 bhp of the AMG version, though.

Definitely dive them and compare.

Matt

 

I bought a used 2004 cl500 with AMG body kit in 2009 with 30K miles on it for $29000. This was a car which cost $120k out-the-door new. Thought I had stolen it, until I tried to sell it a year later, and only got 23k for it. Great car, but wow, what a depreciation lighting rod!

 

From my cloudy memory, The ABC pump/system can be rebuilt via DIY fairly cheap and easy. I think the 2002-2005 SL shares the same system.....and has the same problem. IIRC, the ABC pump is fairly easy to dissemble and replace the seals. There a couple of YouTube vids on how to do it. I love this car and the 2002+ SL. Yes, parts from the dealer can be expensive but rebuilt/used + elbow grease and it doesnt tke a mint to keep on the road. This time last year I bought a rust free 2.3 16V 190E. 4 months later and $1500 in parts, its bullet proof.

 

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/clk-class/2006/consumer-reviews/?style=100559987


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

CLK great cars. CL's too. I want a 4-seat soft top convertible that goes. CLK63 Cab. Not many. Need one, missed nice one here awhile back.
CLK's have few options, like Wayne said, W203 based. W209 is '06-09 CLK.
Xenon, heated/cooled seats, Nav, keyless go, parktronic, about it. Make sure cabrio has windscreen. 350 and 500/550 are nice, dirt cheap. Get extended, if <35k miles, look at Fidelity Platinum, trust me on this. I can hook a brudder up, and I've bought 3 policies with ROI of 220%
CL's decent, ABC crap was mostly the barge cars, not the later cars. I'd look at a 07 earliest, one bodystyle back. The 04-06's can be really spendy, esp AMG iterations. 6.3 can have issues that can be $$$, so I'd not pop without safety net.
Can't believe you have MRoadster. I had S52 99, metallic black (friggin' chemo brain, sat here for 5' trying to remember name of color) over black/gray 2-tone. Fun car. S52's cheap. S54's still cheap relatively. Wife really liked that car.
LMK how it turns out.
L

 

This is by far the best guide to Active Body Control I have seen written outside of M-B literature.
Mercedes Benz ABC System Troubleshooting Guide

Local dealer had a 2005 CL600 for under $10k and 89k miles. Even though you might be making a deal with the devil...so tempting!

 

Dave - congrats!
looks sweet.
V8?
Post up more pics, engine included pls.

 

Looks very nice and clean.

Kai

 

Very nice, DM!

 

IMO, MB really stopped making the cars they are (were) know for after 1999....these were the last of the "slab-side" W 140 platform coupe/sedans pre-Chysler era. Solid 'thunk' upon closing, double pane glass, reliable as hell with minimal electronic do-dads, smooth/silky power (v12) which never stops. I have a '99 cl600 w/c is an extremely rare car (legend has it only 16 arrived to US) as MB only made enough cars to use-up all the parts from '98 as new design came on-line circa 2000.

ABC problems avoided buying pre 1999 !
Congrats on the new ride & enjoy.

Jack

 

Congratulations, Dave!

One data point: after some 75,000 miles my ABC pump is going to need to be replaced. No warnings, but it's whining like a T-Rex. And it will be the most expensive thing my CL 63 has needed. Brakes being a close second.

Not cheap to run, but worth it.

Your CLK should be fairly bullet proof.

Matt

 

Each to his own but these strike me as boring beyond belief.