A new (sort of sensible) daily... a Merc CLS Shooting Brake
Discussion
A change of circumstances with significantly more mileage (400-500 miles a week) & the possibility of MrsC hopefully getting a fully electric company car in Q1 ‘21 has seen me sell my BMW I3S and I will take on the family wagon duties for hauling dogs/holiday transport. The I3S ownership experience has been a really positive one as my first electric car & I came in to it open-minded on how things would pan out. Even through 17 months including 3 lockdowns I managed 13k miles & we were sad to see it go..
My new “steed” will be a used Mercedes CLS 350 CDI AMG Sport Shooting Brake (what a long model description
) with 2 previous owners and FSH. I had been due to collect my car yesterday although a parts issue meant that I have had to cancel my order with the first dealer (they couldn’t guarantee when I could have the car as it is a safety related part on back order with indications of 2-3 weeks at least 
) so I had to find another as I need a car within the next week. I was off out earlier today to try another car about 1 hr from home & on the face if it, it is in better overall condition with a pile of service invoices from a specialist and a Merc service print out as well (serviced annually from new). Collection day is Friday, so in the meantime here’s a picture from the selling dealers website... 
Not surprisingly, these are rare cars given they cost more new than the equivalent E Class estate and I thought the E Class looked very boxy. Out of choice I wouldn’t have chosen a black car but I was buying on condition and most in my price range were black unless travelling big distances to inspect!! I will share the full spec when I have collected the car and found everything out....
My new “steed” will be a used Mercedes CLS 350 CDI AMG Sport Shooting Brake (what a long model description
) with 2 previous owners and FSH. I had been due to collect my car yesterday although a parts issue meant that I have had to cancel my order with the first dealer (they couldn’t guarantee when I could have the car as it is a safety related part on back order with indications of 2-3 weeks at least ) so I had to find another as I need a car within the next week. I was off out earlier today to try another car about 1 hr from home & on the face if it, it is in better overall condition with a pile of service invoices from a specialist and a Merc service print out as well (serviced annually from new). Collection day is Friday, so in the meantime here’s a picture from the selling dealers website... Not surprisingly, these are rare cars given they cost more new than the equivalent E Class estate and I thought the E Class looked very boxy. Out of choice I wouldn’t have chosen a black car but I was buying on condition and most in my price range were black unless travelling big distances to inspect!! I will share the full spec when I have collected the car and found everything out....
Thanks both. It is quite a grown up car. I had initially been looking at a BMW 520D M Sport Touring of a similar age which was a few £k cheaper, although the stories of stretched timing chains put me right off, especially as you have to supposedly "drop" the engine to do a timing chain! I spotted a 250 SB at a dealer that had an M Sport and the rest will shortly be history 
I didn't need any encouragement from my car friends as it was only a matter of time before I'd convinced myself a 250 wouldn't do & I was searching for a 350 V6 
The interior quality is excellent with virtually no wear on the fittings for its age. The 19" tyres do slightly worry me in terms of cost although they can't be as expensive as the 20"s on my I reckon, but a set of winter wheels/tyres will be imminent purchase given my work patch covers in to the Peak District (& we might at some point be living there/very close by).
I think the AMG Sport is the middle one in terms of looks compared to the AMG Premium that has the shiny bits on the lower front/rear areas & would attract more attention
An interior pic taken by the dealer.. comfy “pews”.
I didn't need any encouragement from my car friends as it was only a matter of time before I'd convinced myself a 250 wouldn't do & I was searching for a 350 V6 The interior quality is excellent with virtually no wear on the fittings for its age. The 19" tyres do slightly worry me in terms of cost although they can't be as expensive as the 20"s on my I reckon, but a set of winter wheels/tyres will be imminent purchase given my work patch covers in to the Peak District (& we might at some point be living there/very close by).
I think the AMG Sport is the middle one in terms of looks compared to the AMG Premium that has the shiny bits on the lower front/rear areas & would attract more attention
An interior pic taken by the dealer.. comfy “pews”.
Edited by MrC986 on Sunday 27th June 08:05
Thanks for the positive comments everyone. The car has a good history & was locally owned to the garage I have bought it from with a good pile of recent annual service invoices from a Merc specialist (last serviced 1000 miles ago in March) as well as the main dealer print out for the first 4 years. It’s always a good sign of how someone has looked after a car to see a fitted boot mat in the advert (I once bought a car with a National Trust sticker on it & it had a wad of invoices so I look for useful clues & a good MOT history before I view a car). It’s had in the last 2 years a broken coil spring (with 4 wheel alignment check) & front top mount as well as a pipe on the rear air suspension & they weren’t shy to spend as it has matching P Zeros all round.
I do feel a bit like it’s a serious investment compared to an 07 Saab 9-3 TID 150 bhp Sportwagon I bought 6 years ago as a daily (& paid £3,850 for!) & did 50k miles in, though I’m breaking a pattern of behaviour and buying a lower mileage car in the hope I can keep in for say 4 yrs/100k miles of motoring.
My petrol-head friends seem interested in the new car (they like a bit of “car fever”). Roll on Friday for collection
I do feel a bit like it’s a serious investment compared to an 07 Saab 9-3 TID 150 bhp Sportwagon I bought 6 years ago as a daily (& paid £3,850 for!) & did 50k miles in, though I’m breaking a pattern of behaviour and buying a lower mileage car in the hope I can keep in for say 4 yrs/100k miles of motoring.
My petrol-head friends seem interested in the new car (they like a bit of “car fever”). Roll on Friday for collection
Monkeylegend said:
Lovely car.
Just be aware that Mercedes 19"alloys with low profile tyres do have a reputation for cracking very easily and can be expensive to replace, so try and avoid potholes. Quite a few people have reverted back to 18" wheels to avoid this issue.
Enjoy the car.
Thanks, I’m planning on dropping a rim size with some winters & having come from an I3S running standard 20s, I’m very good at the “pothole slalom” & treating speed bumps with respect Just be aware that Mercedes 19"alloys with low profile tyres do have a reputation for cracking very easily and can be expensive to replace, so try and avoid potholes. Quite a few people have reverted back to 18" wheels to avoid this issue.
Enjoy the car.
Collection day was last Friday so a combination of a train & a lift from the dealer & it was picked up - the dealer had agreed to replace large parts of the brake pipes (an advisory on the last 2 MOTs) & I managed to get a copy of their invoice for my records to prove this. I did 180 miles on Friday having brimmed the 80 litre tank & saw 47 mpg on a mix of roads. It certainly “wafts” along very nicely & even though it’s 7 yrs old, it has enough tech to entertain me for a while & even had some free CDs in the changer (90s 
)
Purchases so far are a set of OEM wheel centres, & a set of 18 OEM winter wheels for less than £180 that I need to collect No cleaning yet of the car as the weather has been cr*p, although it’s already been used to move some furniture.
I’ll try & get the full spec on it & some pics once I’ve removed the valeter’s buffer trails.
)Purchases so far are a set of OEM wheel centres, & a set of 18 OEM winter wheels for less than £180 that I need to collect
No cleaning yet of the car as the weather has been cr*p, although it’s already been used to move some furniture.I’ll try & get the full spec on it & some pics once I’ve removed the valeter’s buffer trails.
Comparative to my last car (an I3S), it's like the Tardis Joking apart, I've had an X3 and an X1 as well as a Saab 9-3 & 9-5 estates (& MrsC had a V70) & so far it's been good but we haven't been on one of our trips to Cornwall yet to compare it to my wife's Discovery Sport!
It's happily taken 4 Merc wheels & winter tyres earlier when I collected them - the handle on each side to fold the rear seats flat is useful but it isn't used as a proper family estate car often.
I'm enjoying the ability to cover the miles (I've done 350 miles today to add to the 550 since collection at the end of last week) & I can see why there are so many high mileage E Class around given how comfortable it is. The 80 litre fuel tank is also useful given my mileage (42 mpg on the first full tank & 41 mpg on this tank so far & I'm not doing "driving like Miss Daisy" ).
Joking apart, I've had an X3 and an X1 as well as a Saab 9-3 & 9-5 estates (& MrsC had a V70) & so far it's been good but we haven't been on one of our trips to Cornwall yet to compare it to my wife's Discovery Sport! It's happily taken 4 Merc wheels & winter tyres earlier when I collected them - the handle on each side to fold the rear seats flat is useful but it isn't used as a proper family estate car often.
I'm enjoying the ability to cover the miles (I've done 350 miles today to add to the 550 since collection at the end of last week) & I can see why there are so many high mileage E Class around given how comfortable it is. The 80 litre fuel tank is also useful given my mileage (42 mpg on the first full tank & 41 mpg on this tank so far & I'm not doing "driving like Miss Daisy"
).An update after nearly 8,000 miles/18 weeks....other than putting new discs/pads on all round 2 weeks ago (the rear pads started to click/move under braking, the rear the discs were about 70% worn & I managed to get some serious brake judder on the front about 2 months ago) the car continues to "waft" along superbly 
. We spent a week in Cornwall recently & if it wasn't for MrsC's fully expensed/under utilised Discovery Sport company car, I'd have happily taken the "Shooting Brake" as it is undoubtedly more comfy.
Mpg-wise, we're at around 40mpg on the 85 litre tank & although the stop-start does annoy me at times, it is easy to turn off with a dedicated button on the dash which makes a change compared to many modern cars where it is hidden in various menus.
In preparation for the winter, a flash sale on Black Circles saw a set of Dunlop Winter Sport 5s (245/40/18 winter) purchased as I wasn't convinced that the used set I'd bought that were manufactured in 2012 (with over 6mm on all of them) were up to it & some of my more knowledgeable friends supported my thoughts. The sale of the existing used winter tyres will help ease the dent in the bank account although the new ones should do a good couple of winters (fingers crossed). The winter tyres on 18" rims, that are the same front/rear compared to the 19s, are a relative luxury but worth the cost given I cover into the Peak District/Nottinghamshire. The only downside is that I'll need spacers on the front to clear the large discs/calipers
Now the clocks have altered, the heated seats & dynamic headlights will earn their keep....the xenon type lights have (what is now a common) ability to turn in the direction of the steering & given I drive on a lot of un-lit roads, this is a really useful feature.
I'll provide another update with the full spec when I get a chance
. We spent a week in Cornwall recently & if it wasn't for MrsC's fully expensed/under utilised Discovery Sport company car, I'd have happily taken the "Shooting Brake" as it is undoubtedly more comfy.Mpg-wise, we're at around 40mpg on the 85 litre tank & although the stop-start does annoy me at times, it is easy to turn off with a dedicated button on the dash which makes a change compared to many modern cars where it is hidden in various menus.
In preparation for the winter, a flash sale on Black Circles saw a set of Dunlop Winter Sport 5s (245/40/18 winter) purchased as I wasn't convinced that the used set I'd bought that were manufactured in 2012 (with over 6mm on all of them) were up to it & some of my more knowledgeable friends supported my thoughts. The sale of the existing used winter tyres will help ease the dent in the bank account although the new ones should do a good couple of winters (fingers crossed). The winter tyres on 18" rims, that are the same front/rear compared to the 19s, are a relative luxury but worth the cost given I cover into the Peak District/Nottinghamshire. The only downside is that I'll need spacers on the front to clear the large discs/calipers
Now the clocks have altered, the heated seats & dynamic headlights will earn their keep....the xenon type lights have (what is now a common) ability to turn in the direction of the steering & given I drive on a lot of un-lit roads, this is a really useful feature.
I'll provide another update with the full spec when I get a chance
The miles are ticking along (now over 11k in my 6.5 months ownership) and today was the first real test of what the CLS is like....the first MOT in my custodianship! Fortunately the car passed with flying colours and no advisories - I’ve mentioned previously I’d replaced all the discs and pads about 3 months ago and before I collected it, all the brake pipes were replaced as it was an advisory on the last 2 tests (I don't like advisories for obvious reasons & think a continual repeat of an item is an indication it needs doing!!).
Anyhow, I used a different MOT station to normal as I wanted a 4 wheel alignment/geo check doing by someone with the necessary “kit”. There was an invoice for a replacement front spring and a 4 wheel alignment about 12 months ago although I’d noticed a tendency to tramline on certain sections of local dual carriageway where the road is starting to be slightly rutted by the HGVs. My instinct was right as the front & rear offside “toe” was found to be out although sadly unless you start replacing certain parts on a 8 yr old car, you can’t always get back to manufacturer’s spec.
I’ve a set of Merc 18 alloys with new winter tyres ready to go on although the AMG sized front calipers have caused a challenge...wheel spacers and longer wheel bolts are needed as otherwise the back of the front wheels wouldn’t clear the calipers - it’s a job for this weekend given we are definitely seeing proper winter weather in the Midlands. I’ll get the original wheels fully refurbed whilst they are off as there is some localised corrosion on the back on the rear wheels as well as early signs of corrosion around one tyre valve.
Anyhow, I used a different MOT station to normal as I wanted a 4 wheel alignment/geo check doing by someone with the necessary “kit”. There was an invoice for a replacement front spring and a 4 wheel alignment about 12 months ago although I’d noticed a tendency to tramline on certain sections of local dual carriageway where the road is starting to be slightly rutted by the HGVs. My instinct was right as the front & rear offside “toe” was found to be out although sadly unless you start replacing certain parts on a 8 yr old car, you can’t always get back to manufacturer’s spec.
I’ve a set of Merc 18 alloys with new winter tyres ready to go on although the AMG sized front calipers have caused a challenge...wheel spacers and longer wheel bolts are needed as otherwise the back of the front wheels wouldn’t clear the calipers - it’s a job for this weekend given we are definitely seeing proper winter weather in the Midlands. I’ll get the original wheels fully refurbed whilst they are off as there is some localised corrosion on the back on the rear wheels as well as early signs of corrosion around one tyre valve.
jke11y said:
Great looking cars the SB and feel special, I had a 250 years 4/5 years back. I’m sure they all have LED ILS though, not xenons - I remember the headlights being excellent.
I'm always happen to stand corrected on the spec. of a used car....whatever the headlights are, they are good and have the cornering function. Given mine is 8 yrs old, the interior has worn well & still feels premium whereas I'm not sure about some of its fellow German competitors.Well, the CLS had its B service (aka a major) today at a Merc specialist nr where I currently work in the East Mids. Just like the first MOT recently I had done, there was some mild concern as to what they’d find, even though it’s got full main dealer/specialist history & had been to the specialist with the previous owner (a pile of receipts came with the car plus a Merc service print-out).
The standard B service was done plus the following were highlighted (some items noted as “due on a time basis” & some on wear/inspection)....replace air filter; replace fuel filter; replace poly V belt (showing signs of cracking); replace leaking turbo intake seal & adjust front wheel bearings. Some of the things I’d never have known about, but things like the poly V belt & leaking turbo intake seal would make me seriously twitch if they weren’t fixed given my 25k miles average annual mileage.
I’m looking forward to using all the mileage to the next service in 15k miles to get my £s worth from it
The standard B service was done plus the following were highlighted (some items noted as “due on a time basis” & some on wear/inspection)....replace air filter; replace fuel filter; replace poly V belt (showing signs of cracking); replace leaking turbo intake seal & adjust front wheel bearings. Some of the things I’d never have known about, but things like the poly V belt & leaking turbo intake seal would make me seriously twitch if they weren’t fixed given my 25k miles average annual mileage.
I’m looking forward to using all the mileage to the next service in 15k miles to get my £s worth from it
Well, a long overdue ownership update. I’ve had the car now just over 2 years and 34k miles (just about to exceed 95k miles and is approaching 9.5 years old).
In terms of maintenance, I’ve had the car maintained solely by MB Nottingham (a MB specialist close to my work), with the exception of a complete set of discs and pads (fitted by my local garage for convenience) and two 4 wheel alignment checks done by a good local tyre place when I first had it and then about 6 months ago. MB Nottingham have serviced the car since it came out of the main dealer network for the previous owner and it made sense to keep it with them as they will maintain the online service history, they have the required STAR diagnostic kit and I could drop the car in and catch the tram to work.
The car has been really good with the exception of a couple of niggles....the first service for me threw up a couple of oil leaks on the turbo seals which I had fixed; the air con stopped working last year the day after the hottest day of the year and needed a replacement micro switch (fortunately after we’d done our to the LM24 hrs); the rear parking camera stopped working (assumed a broken wire between the main car body and the tailgate) and lastly the power fold mirror on the driver’s side has decided to go rogue during the last winter for no reason and won’t operate properly but will sort that at the next annual service.
The car “wafts” along beautifully and whilst the mileage has dropped back as I now work from home 4 days a week, it is great to do the 170 mile round trip to work once a week which is mainly motorway/dual carriageway and it shows currently about 44 average MPG.
I had a slight skirmish with a big badger in the depths of winter which I couldn’t avoid but I managed to get the under bumper area repaired and just needed an LED side light and surround fortunately - the badger fared less well than the car but if it had been 2 feet further across the road it’d have been a big insurance bill I’m sure.
I’ve had a recent manufacturer recall from Mercedes (to change bolts on the steering rack) which it is waiting to go in for, but otherwise it is staying firmly in the specialist service network.
If you asked me whether I’d rush to sell it?.....I toyed with the idea when the fuel prices rocketed up but I reasoned the cost to change was a lot of fuel and I happened to drop my mileage as I started mainly working from home, so that answered that The car has all the comfort I need, plenty of power when you need it from the twin-turbo 3.0 V6 and is sufficiently rare that when we took it to France for the 24 hrs, that some of the locals thought it was a proper AMG and wanted me to rev the engine in traffic (I didn’t have the heart to upset them by actually trying to rev it :no: ). My dogs are equally happy in the boot of the CLS as they are in MrsC’s XC60 and the active headlights are immensely efficient in the winter murky conditions.
The black paintwork is a pain to keep clean as the car isn’t garaged and I have to keep an eye for bird poo as they love dropping their lunch on it, but that’s just a first world problem. If I had the opportunity I’d try and upgrade the radio connectivity to have an Android compatible solution whereas currently it uses the Bluetooth to stream Spotify with limited control functions.
Would I recommend it to someone looking to buy a premium estate (more a lifestyle one!)?....definitely Hopefully my next update won’t be another 2 years but if l do change it, it’d be for a GLC 250 AMG Line Premium Plus (is this the longest model name?) as we have one in the family already and it would be the natural progression for me given we live in an even more rural location now than before (even though I have winter tyres!!).
In terms of maintenance, I’ve had the car maintained solely by MB Nottingham (a MB specialist close to my work), with the exception of a complete set of discs and pads (fitted by my local garage for convenience) and two 4 wheel alignment checks done by a good local tyre place when I first had it and then about 6 months ago. MB Nottingham have serviced the car since it came out of the main dealer network for the previous owner and it made sense to keep it with them as they will maintain the online service history, they have the required STAR diagnostic kit and I could drop the car in and catch the tram to work.
The car has been really good with the exception of a couple of niggles....the first service for me threw up a couple of oil leaks on the turbo seals which I had fixed; the air con stopped working last year the day after the hottest day of the year and needed a replacement micro switch (fortunately after we’d done our to the LM24 hrs); the rear parking camera stopped working (assumed a broken wire between the main car body and the tailgate) and lastly the power fold mirror on the driver’s side has decided to go rogue during the last winter for no reason and won’t operate properly but will sort that at the next annual service.
The car “wafts” along beautifully and whilst the mileage has dropped back as I now work from home 4 days a week, it is great to do the 170 mile round trip to work once a week which is mainly motorway/dual carriageway and it shows currently about 44 average MPG.
I had a slight skirmish with a big badger in the depths of winter which I couldn’t avoid but I managed to get the under bumper area repaired and just needed an LED side light and surround fortunately - the badger fared less well than the car but if it had been 2 feet further across the road it’d have been a big insurance bill I’m sure.
I’ve had a recent manufacturer recall from Mercedes (to change bolts on the steering rack) which it is waiting to go in for, but otherwise it is staying firmly in the specialist service network.
If you asked me whether I’d rush to sell it?.....I toyed with the idea when the fuel prices rocketed up but I reasoned the cost to change was a lot of fuel and I happened to drop my mileage as I started mainly working from home, so that answered that
The car has all the comfort I need, plenty of power when you need it from the twin-turbo 3.0 V6 and is sufficiently rare that when we took it to France for the 24 hrs, that some of the locals thought it was a proper AMG and wanted me to rev the engine in traffic (I didn’t have the heart to upset them by actually trying to rev it :no: ). My dogs are equally happy in the boot of the CLS as they are in MrsC’s XC60 and the active headlights are immensely efficient in the winter murky conditions.The black paintwork is a pain to keep clean as the car isn’t garaged and I have to keep an eye for bird poo as they love dropping their lunch on it, but that’s just a first world problem. If I had the opportunity I’d try and upgrade the radio connectivity to have an Android compatible solution whereas currently it uses the Bluetooth to stream Spotify with limited control functions.
Would I recommend it to someone looking to buy a premium estate (more a lifestyle one!)?....definitely
Hopefully my next update won’t be another 2 years but if l do change it, it’d be for a GLC 250 AMG Line Premium Plus (is this the longest model name?) as we have one in the family already and it would be the natural progression for me given we live in an even more rural location now than before (even though I have winter tyres!!).MercedesClassic said:
Great update and seems to be behaving itself. I have same engine in an S211 estate and been browsing the SB models if I change. Although the alternative I am also considering is an Audi A7 as it's a hatchback, I don't need a big estate. I don't know how it would compare against a SB, I'm familiar with MB driving dynamics and like the feel.
The only Audi I had, an Allroad gave bother with airstrut so I got a refund.
I'm aware that the bigger Mercedes have a tendency to not like being parked up/unused so I try & make sure it is used regularly and for a decent run....it vies for motorway duties with our XC60 depending on the weather although a set of winter tyres awaits on 18s - I just need to work out what thickness of spacer I need given it has uprated AMG front brakes and the 18s don't quite have the necessary clearance over the caliper. The S8 would probably be better tied down than my car but mine doesn't have air suspension.The only Audi I had, an Allroad gave bother with airstrut so I got a refund.
Update time....the rear suspension started to drop recently and it has been diagnosed as the compressor for the self levelling system and a possible wiring issue - it must be a known issue as the main dealer has the part in stock (£500 for exchange!!!). Anyway the Internet has come to my assistance at £200 & I'm just waiting on my local mechanic to fit it with a Wabco part (they are OEM suppliers).
.....My research has indeed found the rear suspension compressor is a weak point for several reasons on the CLS Shooting Brake - it is sat in a plastic box that hangs underneath the car and collects water in the foam it contains which then knackers the pump. The wiring has been known to be poorly fitted at manufacture & can rub together to ultimately create breaks in the insulation around it (not very Merc like). Both the suspension pump & the wiring aren’t covered by aftermarket warranties including the Mercedes used car warranty in many instances & I'd suspect the same could happen on an E Class. Given the car has almost clicked over 100k miles/10 yrs old I’m slightly more open minded. The upshot is that my CLS can’t be driven now given it’s sat on its 4rse so I’m hoping to be back wafting along in it again soon.
.....My research has indeed found the rear suspension compressor is a weak point for several reasons on the CLS Shooting Brake - it is sat in a plastic box that hangs underneath the car and collects water in the foam it contains which then knackers the pump. The wiring has been known to be poorly fitted at manufacture & can rub together to ultimately create breaks in the insulation around it (not very Merc like). Both the suspension pump & the wiring aren’t covered by aftermarket warranties including the Mercedes used car warranty in many instances & I'd suspect the same could happen on an E Class. Given the car has almost clicked over 100k miles/10 yrs old I’m slightly more open minded. The upshot is that my CLS can’t be driven now given it’s sat on its 4rse so I’m hoping to be back wafting along in it again soon.
Edited by MrC986 on Tuesday 28th November 08:05
RicksAlfas said:
I've only had one Mercedes, a C350e. It had Airmatic all round which failed at around 30,000 miles/ 3 years. On that car the compressor is mounted behind the (not very well fitting) front inner wing lining. Water gets in to the wiring harness and migrates into the compressor and shorts it out...
I’m looking forward to getting it back as I haven’t driven it for about 5 weeks & it makes my once a week 170 mile trip to work a lot more agreeable than being sat in the fixed back bucket seats on my BMW 325ti I’ve used a few times.
So I've had to replace the undertray on the drivers side as it somehow got damaged on some debris in a recent flood but in the "good news" section I was at a car gathering a week ago & won a raffle for a "winter detailing" package with a local company.....having not had the chance for some while to lavish the car with some serious TLC as we've been renovating a house/moving it has somehow had project creep to a Stage 1 paint correction and ceramic coating package which I hope will make keeping it clean which is happening now
I'll post a finished pic in the next day or so & in a slightly back to front process the wheels can be refurbished after Christmas (but won't be ceramic coated until then).
which I hope will make keeping it clean which is happening nowI'll post a finished pic in the next day or so & in a slightly back to front process the wheels can be refurbished after Christmas (but won't be ceramic coated until then).
So, after a stage 1 paint correction package and a ceramic coating my car now looks like this.... 
I'm excited to collect it as I've never had a car "detailed" before so I look forward to it making my car cleaning a bit easier until the better weather comes as it lives outside rather than under cover.
I'm excited to collect it as I've never had a car "detailed" before so I look forward to it making my car cleaning a bit easier until the better weather comes as it lives outside rather than under cover.
p4cks said:
Superb car, I was looking at these at the weekend coincidentally so I like this thread a lot. Particularly since the detail!
Thanks. It’s come up really well with the stage 1 correction & Angelwax Genesis ceramic coating. The only problem is, as I’m sure those with a touch of car OCD know, it shows up the bits they can’t correct I.e. the b pillar covers that sadly lose their finish due to previous owners using less than ideal cleaning products or the local “scratchers” to clean their pride & joy.PugwasHDJ80 said:
Randomnly i went from an 09 Saab 9-3TID sportwagon to a CLS
Both have a unique look that i liked.
The cls went pleasingly well, but people kept driving into it. We only sold it as a growing family meant it was too small!
OP yours looks lovely when detailed!
Thanks for the comments on the detailing.....I’ve only seen mine either in the dark or under artificial lights since picking it back up but I was admiring the shining paintwork in the door mirrors as other cars passed it on the way to work today.Both have a unique look that i liked.
The cls went pleasingly well, but people kept driving into it. We only sold it as a growing family meant it was too small!
OP yours looks lovely when detailed!
I did look at an XF Sport Brake briefly as a company car for MrsC but ended up with a Discovery Sport as we were living in an area where they had lots of roads flood & MrsC spent a lot of time driving on unsurfaced roads with her work & treated it as most horsey wives do (like a skip
). Strangely I’ve also had a facelift 9-3 TID sport wagon 150 bhp for a couple of years too - it was a great car & for the miles I did (about 60k) it cost me only £2k in depreciation & was mechanically spot on. I did somewhat blow my daily car budget with the CLS but it is a lovely place to be & compliments our Volvo XC60 which is the current family hack whereas the CLS is my commuting car & for when we go out somewhere nice - I’ve even got a spare set of wheels (18s) with winter tyres ready to pop on whilst the 19s are refurbished but it does have a suitable dog guard to keep the family Terrier in the boot as he’d be straight over/into the back seats when he’s travelling with us.Today was a safety recall day...a trip to the local main dealer for not one, but two issues....the first being the bolts on the steering rack which in turn leads to needing a 4 wheel alignment check (mine was all in tolerance as I keep a close eye on my geo) & the 2nd was for a software update which I politely declined as it knocks the economy by a few mpg & I also heard another customer say the same. In the next week I’ll hope to put the 18 inch winter wheels on (should ride nicely on them!), then the MOT & finally a service in February which might include the brake fluid. The dealer interestingly said they can now change the service regime to minor, minor & then a major service so I wonder if that’s their way of trying to hold on to the service work on older cars??
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff