The wisdom of running a ‘cheap’ W216?
Discussion
Yet another prospective CL buyers thread… In these days of increasing hybridisation, I’ve been contemplating buying a NA V8 before they’re banned completely from the roads, however my car usage profile has made this something of a non-starter.
A recent change of job and new anticipated annual mileage of 6-8k means that I can now consider revisiting a V8 as a daily hack. I walk to work, so the car might get the odd run out to the shops during the week, as well as undertake a regular 250-mile round motorway trip once a fortnight.
I’ve set a nominal budget of £10k (I don’t want to take any finance on a new car), and can’t help but notice that this would snare an early W216 CL500 – Probably a 06-07 car with sub 115k on the clock and the factory AMG bodykit fitted, which would appear to fit my NA V8 cruiser requirements.
I realise these were £100k+ cars when new, so won’t have 2.0 TDi running costs, but I’d be willing to spend a few thousand per year servicing & maintaining it, if need be.
This being the background:
Can anyone offer any ownership insights? (Especially in terms of running a CL500 with 100k+ on the clock).
Would it be worth dipping further into my savings for the 4.7 TT V8 10-> facelift car? (£13-14k+ for a 100k+ miler)
How do they cope with sitting dormant for up to a week at a time? (I know these sort of cars – like the Continental GT / VW Phaeton - have x2 batteries fitted, which seem to drain quickly when left unattended?)
Is the ABC suspension on the W216 more reliable than the W215, as the ‘internet’ suggests?
Any recommendations for spares / maintenance support? I don’t mind doing some spannering (maybe changing a coil pack etc), but would farm bigger jobs out.
It’d be left on a city centre street – I appreciate it’s a big car, but parking isn’t too bad near me and insurance quotes seem to reasonable – Just interested whether people feel it might attract lots of negative attention, or hopefully be seen as just an old barge by the ne'er do wells? (Completely subjective query, I know!)
I also looked at the C207 E500 coupe as an alternative (same M273 lump as the CL500), but hear that the ride/ refinement isn’t a patch on the CL, plus the interior isn’t as ‘special’. (Unsurprising given the cost difference).
Personal experience / thoughts / opinions on the above most welcome!
A recent change of job and new anticipated annual mileage of 6-8k means that I can now consider revisiting a V8 as a daily hack. I walk to work, so the car might get the odd run out to the shops during the week, as well as undertake a regular 250-mile round motorway trip once a fortnight.
I’ve set a nominal budget of £10k (I don’t want to take any finance on a new car), and can’t help but notice that this would snare an early W216 CL500 – Probably a 06-07 car with sub 115k on the clock and the factory AMG bodykit fitted, which would appear to fit my NA V8 cruiser requirements.
I realise these were £100k+ cars when new, so won’t have 2.0 TDi running costs, but I’d be willing to spend a few thousand per year servicing & maintaining it, if need be.
This being the background:
Can anyone offer any ownership insights? (Especially in terms of running a CL500 with 100k+ on the clock).
Would it be worth dipping further into my savings for the 4.7 TT V8 10-> facelift car? (£13-14k+ for a 100k+ miler)
How do they cope with sitting dormant for up to a week at a time? (I know these sort of cars – like the Continental GT / VW Phaeton - have x2 batteries fitted, which seem to drain quickly when left unattended?)
Is the ABC suspension on the W216 more reliable than the W215, as the ‘internet’ suggests?
Any recommendations for spares / maintenance support? I don’t mind doing some spannering (maybe changing a coil pack etc), but would farm bigger jobs out.
It’d be left on a city centre street – I appreciate it’s a big car, but parking isn’t too bad near me and insurance quotes seem to reasonable – Just interested whether people feel it might attract lots of negative attention, or hopefully be seen as just an old barge by the ne'er do wells? (Completely subjective query, I know!)
I also looked at the C207 E500 coupe as an alternative (same M273 lump as the CL500), but hear that the ride/ refinement isn’t a patch on the CL, plus the interior isn’t as ‘special’. (Unsurprising given the cost difference).
Personal experience / thoughts / opinions on the above most welcome!
Hi man. Was just updating my thread when yours came in. I've no personal experience of this model but the older with ABC is similar to the setup in my R230 SLs. My SL500 pump leaked fluid, SL55 has been perfect. Overall I'd avoid and go for the newer model.
There's a few guys in reader's cars have them and love them. Also in barge thread someone posted a gorgeous CL500 fully loaded for I think £7k.
As for the twin turbo that's up to you but is it really worth double? Can be tuned to 550 bhp though IIRC.
Please keep us posted.
There's a few guys in reader's cars have them and love them. Also in barge thread someone posted a gorgeous CL500 fully loaded for I think £7k.
As for the twin turbo that's up to you but is it really worth double? Can be tuned to 550 bhp though IIRC.
Please keep us posted.
You'll have researched it and know better than me but that later shape you're looking at might have the superior Airmatic setup. Better than the fluid based ABC systems but I could be in error as I know more about R230 SL systems.
Happy hunting, that barge thread was only posted this morning so fresh for the buying hahahaha.
Happy hunting, that barge thread was only posted this morning so fresh for the buying hahahaha.
Found the link in case you'd trouble. Please buy it hahaha I love it. Maybe not my first choice in colour combinations etc and the wheels a bit plain but that probably suits your under the radar brief.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
MercedesClassic said:
Found the link in case you'd trouble. Please buy it hahaha I love it. Maybe not my first choice in colour combinations etc and the wheels a bit plain but that probably suits your under the radar brief.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
Seven grand! if only I could afford my own petrol station...https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/mercedes-c...
Re your earlier post about tyres for your S211, when I bought my W220, nearly 18 months ago, the tyres were smashed to bits, and were changed for a set of Nexen N feras' Just under 400 quid for the lot fitted, 225/45 x 18 front, 245/40 x 18 rear.
I knew they wouldn't last long because most of the suspension bushes were knackered and the tracking was all over the place, so had decided to refurb all the worn components replaced over the next few months and didn't want to put a decent set of tyres on that would just get ruined while the refurb was ongoing.
The Nexens actually wore quite well, I do high miles, (35,000 since I bought the car) the fronts eventually wearing on the inside edges, and have just been changed for a pair of Dunlop Sport Maxx 245/45 x 18, which are my prefered tyre. They're much quieter than the Nexens and give a noticeably better ride, the rears are going to be changed when they've done another few thousand miles as they've worn very evenly and still have a few mill of tread on.
Took me 3 months of inner debate / scouring the usual places, but I collected this the other week:
It's a late '07 CL500 specced with the AMG kit & wheels - In terms of options: HK Stereo / Distronic Plus / Multi Contour (massage) seats / Linguatronic / Keyless Go / Sunroof. Needs a good polish/ wheel refurb, but I reckon it'll scrub up okay.
98k on the clock with a FSH and only 3 owners prior to me.
Few issues - Distronic Sensor needs calibrated (which has disabled cruise control along with it), and there's a leak on the multi contour seats so they don't work either. (Any suggestions for fixes which don't involve a visit to a MB main dealer most welcome).
I've been enjoying ownership over the past 5-600 miles I've covered in it - Silky smooth to drive, with a nice V8 woofle allowing it to get a move on when it needs to. The W216 has a bit of a rep as an "old man's car", but the AMG kit helps a bit (I'm 42
)
I expect it'll break next week and I'll be a man full of regrets, but at the moment I'm a bit in awe of the thing...
It's a late '07 CL500 specced with the AMG kit & wheels - In terms of options: HK Stereo / Distronic Plus / Multi Contour (massage) seats / Linguatronic / Keyless Go / Sunroof. Needs a good polish/ wheel refurb, but I reckon it'll scrub up okay.
98k on the clock with a FSH and only 3 owners prior to me.
Few issues - Distronic Sensor needs calibrated (which has disabled cruise control along with it), and there's a leak on the multi contour seats so they don't work either. (Any suggestions for fixes which don't involve a visit to a MB main dealer most welcome).
I've been enjoying ownership over the past 5-600 miles I've covered in it - Silky smooth to drive, with a nice V8 woofle allowing it to get a move on when it needs to. The W216 has a bit of a rep as an "old man's car", but the AMG kit helps a bit (I'm 42
)I expect it'll break next week and I'll be a man full of regrets, but at the moment I'm a bit in awe of the thing...
fluoxetine said:
Took me 3 months of inner debate / scouring the usual places, but I collected this the other week:
It's a late '07 CL500 specced with the AMG kit & wheels - In terms of options: HK Stereo / Distronic Plus / Multi Contour (massage) seats / Linguatronic / Keyless Go / Sunroof.
That's magnificent. And you're right about the AMG kit - it really resolves the styling well.It's a late '07 CL500 specced with the AMG kit & wheels - In terms of options: HK Stereo / Distronic Plus / Multi Contour (massage) seats / Linguatronic / Keyless Go / Sunroof.
What engine is in it BTW? The 5.5 n/a V8 or on of the later smaller turbo'd ones?
Thanks for the kind comments - Rightly or wrongly, I've always seen the C216 as a bit of step up from the 6 Series - More of a DB9 / Continental GT rival, especially in CL600 / CL63 / CL65 form.
My one has the 5.5 litre NA V8 under the bonnet - The later 2010 -> facelifted cars got the 4.7 V8 TT, which benefited from an additional 47 bhp but had oodles more torque. (Apparently they remap to 510bhp, too).
I looked at a few 4.7 cars, however it's a big jump in price, and I couldn't justify the extra £5-6k over my car to get into one.
My one has the 5.5 litre NA V8 under the bonnet - The later 2010 -> facelifted cars got the 4.7 V8 TT, which benefited from an additional 47 bhp but had oodles more torque. (Apparently they remap to 510bhp, too).
I looked at a few 4.7 cars, however it's a big jump in price, and I couldn't justify the extra £5-6k over my car to get into one.
I bought a later 4.7 just recently and bloody love it. I feel like a king when driving it. It's certainly no sports car but can still cover ground very rapidly.
Had an A8 before which I think was probably a better overall car but never felt as special as the mighty Merc. Cannot think of another car that gives as much bang for ones buck.
Had an A8 before which I think was probably a better overall car but never felt as special as the mighty Merc. Cannot think of another car that gives as much bang for ones buck.
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