CL600 - update
Discussion
Hi All
Thought I'd give you a bit of an update on the CL600
Awesome car, purchased 11 months ago but my goodness, it is expensive to keep in good shape!
In March I had to have a coil pack replaced at £1400 fitted but that is nothing compared to my experience in the last month.
Early July, fault code triggered and car into limp mode. Got it home and with my OBD read the codes - Cam position sensor
No problem, Im pretty handy I thought - I will change it myself.
Bought a pattern part for £70 quid and fitted it - absolutely b
h of a job as you have to remove intercooler, piping, airbox etc etc
Anyway, changed it, started it up and took it for a run - no change - fault code triggered and running poorly
Took it to my friendly Merc specialist who suggested the pattern parts, particularly electronics, are crap and to get a genuine Bosch one.
Off to Merc main dealer, £150 later I have a genuine sensor, refitted, and.......................................
Still triggering fault code
By this time the car is actually refusing to start on occasion and when it does start, completely cuts out after 5 mins of running
My OBD reader reads live data and I can see that he signal from the cam sensor is out of spec - signal implausible
Finally beaten, I take the car (limp it) to my Merc specialist and leave it
They have been great in the past but this really tested them. The problem is that electrical issues are a nightmare to diagnose.
First they checked the wiring to the cam sensor
Then the cam pick up on cam itself
Cam tensioner to ensure timing wasnt out
Put a scope of the cam sensor to check signals
Everything checked out OK
Next they changed the Crank position sensor as the cam and crank signals are closely linked - no change
We then had a big decision to make -there were two possibilities left:
- Voltage transformer - this feeds the whole ignition system and is none to go fault on these
- ECU
The VT costs £500 whilst the ECU £1900
I opted for the VT and crossed my fingers - bugger no change!
The ECU showed no signs of damage and had previously been inspected. The car was still not starting from warm but when they distrurbed the ECU (ie tapped it) the car burst back into life
BUGGER!!
Tried all the usual ECU repair places but none of them had the drawings for the V12' ECU - Double bugger
The result is that I had to shell out for a brand new MERC ECU at £1900 inc VAT
So, I am pleased to say that the car is now fixed and running like a dream again. Has been off the road for 3 weeks and has cost me the grand total of £3450 to get sorted, what started as a engine management light and misfire!!
Delighted to have to car back but more than a little pissed off!
Still, once I got back behind the wheel this week and cleaned it, I forgave it its sins but ouch - £3.5K was a difficult pill to swallow, even for a well built company director!!
Coil packs, voltage transformer, ecu and wishbones now replaced!! What could go wrong next?? I guess the ABC at some point, although I am lead to believe that the W216 is better behaved than the W215!
Still love it though - just look at it!!
20161006_172812 by sshenton1975, on Flickr
20161006_172754 by sshenton1975, on Flickr
Thought I'd give you a bit of an update on the CL600
Awesome car, purchased 11 months ago but my goodness, it is expensive to keep in good shape!
In March I had to have a coil pack replaced at £1400 fitted but that is nothing compared to my experience in the last month.
Early July, fault code triggered and car into limp mode. Got it home and with my OBD read the codes - Cam position sensor
No problem, Im pretty handy I thought - I will change it myself.
Bought a pattern part for £70 quid and fitted it - absolutely b
h of a job as you have to remove intercooler, piping, airbox etc etcAnyway, changed it, started it up and took it for a run - no change - fault code triggered and running poorly
Took it to my friendly Merc specialist who suggested the pattern parts, particularly electronics, are crap and to get a genuine Bosch one.
Off to Merc main dealer, £150 later I have a genuine sensor, refitted, and.......................................
Still triggering fault code
By this time the car is actually refusing to start on occasion and when it does start, completely cuts out after 5 mins of running
My OBD reader reads live data and I can see that he signal from the cam sensor is out of spec - signal implausible
Finally beaten, I take the car (limp it) to my Merc specialist and leave it
They have been great in the past but this really tested them. The problem is that electrical issues are a nightmare to diagnose.
First they checked the wiring to the cam sensor
Then the cam pick up on cam itself
Cam tensioner to ensure timing wasnt out
Put a scope of the cam sensor to check signals
Everything checked out OK
Next they changed the Crank position sensor as the cam and crank signals are closely linked - no change
We then had a big decision to make -there were two possibilities left:
- Voltage transformer - this feeds the whole ignition system and is none to go fault on these
- ECU
The VT costs £500 whilst the ECU £1900
I opted for the VT and crossed my fingers - bugger no change!
The ECU showed no signs of damage and had previously been inspected. The car was still not starting from warm but when they distrurbed the ECU (ie tapped it) the car burst back into life
BUGGER!!
Tried all the usual ECU repair places but none of them had the drawings for the V12' ECU - Double bugger
The result is that I had to shell out for a brand new MERC ECU at £1900 inc VAT
So, I am pleased to say that the car is now fixed and running like a dream again. Has been off the road for 3 weeks and has cost me the grand total of £3450 to get sorted, what started as a engine management light and misfire!!
Delighted to have to car back but more than a little pissed off!
Still, once I got back behind the wheel this week and cleaned it, I forgave it its sins but ouch - £3.5K was a difficult pill to swallow, even for a well built company director!!
Coil packs, voltage transformer, ecu and wishbones now replaced!! What could go wrong next?? I guess the ABC at some point, although I am lead to believe that the W216 is better behaved than the W215!
Still love it though - just look at it!!
20161006_172812 by sshenton1975, on Flickr20161006_172754 by sshenton1975, on FlickrSimilar experience with mine, has cost 10k over last 3 years (in addition to service costs and fuel etc) to keep it running and another 3k to have body respray due to stone chips and a side scratch. Looks great now and is so addictive but i know i need to change it before another bill comes my way. What to get though is the issue, nothing comes close for looks/ performance and toys. the car is like a drug you know you shouldn't but....
They can be very expensive to maintain properly, I've just signed up for the service plan Mercedes offer for my CL65 it seemed to make sense. I'm about three months into ownership and so far no major issues. Had it serviced at Brooklands MB and no issues found on health check. I'd never buy one without a full main dealer history, far too risky.
Computer says 16 MPG over 900 miles but last Saturday I did a 350 mile round trip in speed camera strewn roads so kept to sensible speeds and got 23.4 MPG. My Phaeton is a comfortable long distance car but this is such an easy car to drive long distance, I felt I could have done the 350 miles in one go and got out the other end as fresh as a daisy
Computer says 16 MPG over 900 miles but last Saturday I did a 350 mile round trip in speed camera strewn roads so kept to sensible speeds and got 23.4 MPG. My Phaeton is a comfortable long distance car but this is such an easy car to drive long distance, I felt I could have done the 350 miles in one go and got out the other end as fresh as a daisy
Absolutely love this version of the CL. I was changing cars earlier this year and came across that model in the most amazing blue but sold before I got to even see it. Hope it behaves itself from now on. those wheels are awesome
EDIT: Found pics of the car I missed out on. Absolutely stunning. Cornetite Blue
EDIT: Found pics of the car I missed out on. Absolutely stunning. Cornetite Blue
Edited by Fas1975 on Friday 11th August 11:22
Don't worry you're not on your own. I have the 221 S class and that's being a b@st@rd but such a nice drive.
So far spent £4k this year on oil cooler change due to leak, new condenser, turbo breather and intake. Next to do is the wheel bearings which I think I will tackle myself as it doesn't look too bad on youtube vids.
Since I've bought the car I estimate nearly £10k has been spent on it in the last three years. The car is only worth £6k
So far spent £4k this year on oil cooler change due to leak, new condenser, turbo breather and intake. Next to do is the wheel bearings which I think I will tackle myself as it doesn't look too bad on youtube vids.
Since I've bought the car I estimate nearly £10k has been spent on it in the last three years. The car is only worth £6k
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Dont give me too much of a hard time.on the badging. It has AMG kit on it as standard
The only badge which is incorrect is the 65 instead of 600. badge was on the car when i bought it and I havent got round to changing it.
Only other badges are V12 twinturbo on wings which are correct!
Engine in 600 and 65 are the same - remap is only difference
Dont give me too much of a hard time.on the badging. It has AMG kit on it as standard
The only badge which is incorrect is the 65 instead of 600. badge was on the car when i bought it and I havent got round to changing it.
Only other badges are V12 twinturbo on wings which are correct!
Engine in 600 and 65 are the same - remap is only difference
hahaha!!
bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
sshenton1975 said:
hahaha!!
bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
Do you think it was remapped previously, then? If so, does it feel like it needed it?bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
sshenton1975 said:
hahaha!!
bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
I was considering placing gold foil at the base of mine to try and reflect the heat, a very helpful chap over on the MBO explained why these and the coil packs breakdown. Basically it's the near nuclear heat these engines generate that is part of the problem, the later M279 engines have these units moved to a better location.bit scared having just spent 2k on a new ecu
apparently it had been messed around with previously which is what caused the issue!
the ecu needs opening to remap these - not a simple obd remap!
ecu was tampered with and heat protection not properly replaced - overtime it overheated and cracked the board
My car was de-limited and a sensible re-map just after the Quaife LSD was fitted and rolling road results were 620 BHP which is quite enough.
There is the CL 500, in reality, probably quick enough for most and less problematic, whilst still generating enough hassle to keep things interesting !
Or, go a bit later and get a 4.7 Biturbo, 1.4 sec slower to 100 mph than the CL 600, and responds well to tuning with 500 bhp a remap away, depends I guess whether you have to have 12 cylinders, would be interesting to drive them back to back.
Or, go a bit later and get a 4.7 Biturbo, 1.4 sec slower to 100 mph than the CL 600, and responds well to tuning with 500 bhp a remap away, depends I guess whether you have to have 12 cylinders, would be interesting to drive them back to back.
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