LUXOBARGE (sub5k) of the week/day

frozenfrozen wrote: »

not that I don't love reading about the UK's tax rates but can there be more luxobarges?

How 'bout a 750il:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/9907270

unkel wrote: »

Last NCT tested possibly as long as 2.5 years ago

No thanks!

Does the seller honestly think he can sell it for anywhere near that without test?

Ah, I was suspicious when I didn't see NCT listed. I seen dealer though so thought it would be OK, maybe he'll sell with a new NCT.

I would buy that tbh, incredible bargain.

Like any luxobarge the engine is the least of your worries. Box, suspension, multitude of sensors, airbags, etc. often make a car with a good body and engine practically an economic write off.

Hachiko wrote: »

its an interesting beast for sure, I am not looking to change my car any time soon.......but you never know :$

With a car like a CL500 a detailed service record is a must, I am pretty reassured its a fantastic car but only if it has been looked after. 5k for the one I posted looks like robbery, if it is a good example.

I don't think there is such a thing as a troublefree cl of that era.
As far as I'm aware the facelift with the newer rear lights like you linked is more reliable but random regular bills of 2k to 3k is par for the course I believe.

mickdw wrote: »

I don't think there is such a thing as a troublefree cl of that era.
As far as I'm aware the facelift with the newer rear lights like you linked is more reliable but random regular bills of 2k to 3k is par for the course I believe.

that would be a big worry, (naturally). If I thought I could run these as reliably as I could do with a 5 litre ISF i would be tempted. Clearly the age and miles is a problem. I think the newer ones I linked are more trouble free and a health check in a Merc dealer would be money well spent before a potential purchase. It certainly looks like a beast of a car.

from a usa forum

You want 2005 or 2006. They are the same cars and have all the bugs worked out. I had a 20k mile 2000 when new and it had problem after problem. Thanks for the MBZ warranty!!!! I also had a 2004 CL 500 and it was a night mare. The 04 seems to be the worst offender with the first MOST system. The 03 might be a good option but the 00-02 were not very attractive compared to the later versions. As for miles. Your asking for a heap of trouble!!!!!! The cars are so expensive to fix. I spent 15k within the first six months of owning my 2004. Got rid of it ASAP. The 2006 is a dream but is a 600 and hasn't given me a minutes trouble. Everything works and haven had any glitches. It was had a CPO inspection. You should ask the seller if he wouldn't mind if you took it to the dealer and had them put in on the rack and check things out plus put it on the STAR system to check out the electronics. Unless you can get an extended warranty I wouldn't touch one. That is why they are so very inexpensive to buy used. As for the CLK they are junk cars. Everything is hard plastic and cheap. If you can afford to buy a 2005-2006 you will get a much better life expectancy out of the car. Remember the suspension is the worst offender of problems. Make sure you get an exclusionary policy instead of some cheap warranty. Make sure EVERYTHING will be covered. Only trim items will not be. I have found that the trim breaks a lot as well. So, unless you are willing to spend money and can afford to do so DO NOT BUY a high miles MBZ esp before 2005. Best of luck. Your best bet is to lease a 2012 C 250. No worries there. I just bought my mother one and she is happier than a pig in slop and it is loaded to the nuts.

thats what I would expect too, its the height of Mercedes Engineering you are talking about. Once the car has had its regular 9k services it should keep going ...forever.

Occasional mishaps like suspenson is par for the course maybe given its age but by and large i would expect a well maintained example to be relatively trouble tree. Tyres/Petrol/discs/pads etc are a given.

Only about 60k miles in old money on it, I'm tempted.

What kind of issues would be on the Merc, suspension, electrics or is it all good?

unkel wrote: »

I wouldn't put the height of Mercedes Engineering on such a pedestal for an '02 car

Not their best era

Servicing really is fairly irrelevant. N/A large lazy V8 engines are naturally strong and if it runs well now, it will unlikely give you trouble in future (again as Big Nasty said - he has owned several old V8 petrol cars in the past and so have I)

But I'm the first to admit the buyer of a car like this has to be realistic. You'd need either a few grand of spare cash to have the car repaired or be prepared to write it off (and buy another one) if a big issue comes your way.

I was on about the 05 one, I would be looking for probably a 08+ ideally. If one propped up at a dealer anywhere near me i would be tempted to take it for a drive.

unkel wrote: »

'02 CL 5l V8 NCT end of April '16



NCT is genuine

Linky

Could be yours for a touch over €3k

That car with a few options ticked was probably about €160k new...

Suspension looks absolutely fooked on that one though....

Hachiko wrote: »

Owning a Lexus I expect nothing but perfection and reliability , I would expect a well maintained CL Merc (certainly the newer models 06+) to be equally as good and reliable as a large n/a Lexus worth similar cost from new.

I know for a fact I could go get a LS430/460 for relatively modest cost and once it has all the service records I would expect pretty trouble free motoring except the usual common maintenance like tyres, oil ,filters etc etc. I could probably throw a LS400 into that list too as a matter of fact and that is...well old. I don't really want any of them cars though.

I will agree re the large lexus. You wouldn't expect to have any silly faults even at large miles.
My cousin had a 2001 cl a good few years ago.
tbh, he could afford it and that is where my reference to the huge bills came from. He was in the uk and using merc specialists but he would tell of modules needing to be ordered from mercedes at 1200 sterling etc.
Can one be run on a budget now that they are older? Possibly but I won't be trying it.

Tbh if I was in the market for a 750i over here the last place I would go looking at one would be the place who supplies half of the countries felters with 200 quid coilovers for their Passats and Mk4 Golfs

It can be literally anything. But the symbol colour is key; red means a potentially serious issue, failed module, problem with airbags, restraint systems, braking systems, critically low oil/coolant level etc.

A yellow symbol is less serious, low washer fluid or replace the key fob battery etc.
The comfort seats are the business. Personally I think they are the best seat ever put into a production car.

Can't really comment on that model, details are sparse, but i'd put €100 on it that the mileage is north of 150,000.

Voodoomelon wrote: »

There's something up with the suspension on that CL, its riding extremely low. The 750Li also has a red critical service issue on the TFT screen. Also quite low spec for a 750.

I always look for the downsides!

The suspension is most likely airmatic or ADS which sits low when off if there is any issues. Shocks are about €1200 per corner without fitting but the ride is superb

Hachiko wrote: »

I would expect a well maintained CL Merc (certainly the newer models 06+) to be equally as good and reliable as a large n/a Lexus worth similar cost from new.

Not sure about that to be honest. CL's and S classes from that era, while they're much better than the previous, still tend to throw up bill bills with far more regularity than their jap cousins. The US merc forums are full of them.

I say this as someone who prefers the styling of the S class and the 7'er, but having owned an ls430 for over 3 1/2 years, with literally not one fault in that time, I would find it very hard to pick anything other than the LS460/600H as my next car.