Edmunds buys a 2005 MB CL65 AMG

[kevm14]

This is awesome. Didn't Clarkson buy the lower performance version of this car, and it was terrible?

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... road-test/

$180k original price tag. They got it for $34k and it's actually in great condition with only 54k. That's just sad. I can't wait to see the chain of failures on this thing.

[Adam]

This is awesome. Didn't Clarkson buy the lower performance version of this car, and it was terrible?

Yes. It spend most of its time between filming and the actual episode in the shop. I remember something about ignition coils failing and having to spend 2000GBP on parts alone.

[kevm14]

Ok kids, it's been about 1 month, but they've driven it an impressive 5k miles. Time for the ABC system to fail.

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... art-1.html

High pressure hydraulic fluid leak. Atomized hydraulic fluid has a real penchant for catching fire easily. Theirs didn't but it could have easily if they kept driving it. It's a hopelessly complicated system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Body_Control

This article has a description of the system on a 2000 CL500: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/200 ... 500-review

Anyway, they had it fixed at the dealer. http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... art-2.html

It required hose replacement, flushing and fluid replacement. Only $1,200! I admit it's kind of funny that of all the complexity, the problem was a line/hose. If you read the comments, it is evident that the reliability of the system can clearly degrade as a function of this problem. Like many things, if you take a proactive maintenance approach to this car, some of these notorious issues can probably be mitigated.

[Adam]

What's the over/under on the next complex component failure?

I wonder if MB has recovered from their reliability issues of the first decade of this century yet. They used to be great in the 70's....

[kevm14]

I just read that CL500 article. It has a few things that have trickled down. ABC, thankfully, has not.

German V8s were still not that fuel efficient. The CL500 is almost as heavy as an Impala SS, a bit faster, but gets similar fuel economy, with similar skidpad grip. Not really blowing my mind 6 years after the Impala SS for $65k MORE money. The W215 CL did go on a big diet, at least. I actually like the W140 generation best I think. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W140

They talk about how all of the glass has a silver film to reflect sun rays. Sound familiar?

Apparently the 2001 CL would get the new Distronic adaptive cruise control (speeds up and slows down), which is pretty fancy. That 2001 would also supposedly get "keyless go" which definitely has become almost standard on everything by 2014. Even the W140 platforms in the 90s had available sonar assisted parking (also common, though the backup cameras seem to have replaced those, where available).

More on the W140 from wiki:

For details like this, the W140 is often known as the last Mercedes to be "overengineered," a Mercedes trait that was costing the company in product delays and overbudgeting. According to Motor Trend, this action reportedly caused project cost overruns and resulted in the departure of Wolfgang Peter, Daimler-Benz's chief engineer.[8] The vehicle is believed to have cost Mercedes-Benz over $1 billion to develop. For the consumer, the W140 cost a considerable 25 percent more than its predecessor, the W126.

Other W140 fancy features:
- 1995, Parktronic sonar park assist
- 1996, Brake assist under sudden panic stops (this has become pretty common, at least among higher line cars)
- 1996, Side airbags (boring)
- 1996, stability control (less impressive knowing GM had a system on the 97 Corvette, and some Cadillacs, but the previous W126 cars introduced Bosch traction control in 1989 which makes me wonder if GM's Bosch ASR system in 1993 was related)
- Power folding side mirrors (common on at least pickup trucks these days)
- Speed sensitive steering (don't make me laugh)
- Heated windshield washer fluid (GM tried this and failed: http://jalopnik.com/5060595/heated-wash ... ive-recall)
- Rain sensitive wipers (my in-law's 2002 Park Ave has this)
- Power rearview mirror, tied into seat memory (that's awesome)
- Heated mirrors (don't make me laugh, again)
- Dual zone climate control (I believe this was available in a 94 Olds 98 if memory serves, just for comparison)
- Quad zone in long wheel base cars (awesome - the VW Phaeton has that)
- Reclining and heated rear seats (awesome)
- Power rear sunshade
- Self closing trunk (snooze)
- Self closing DOORS (awesome)

[kevm14]

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... g-oil.html

Oh god. 1.5 quarts in 500 miles. Or is the electronic measuring system out of whack? Either way, this car is awesome and terrible at the same time.

I'll go out on a limb and say I know why this car had so few miles on it. I bought my CTS-V with 97k on it and it turned out to be a better car than some of the cars with far fewer miles.

[kevm14]

Now it won't start. Happened after performance testing. Play the vid.

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... art-1.html

Also check out the comments. I'll put mine here for convenience:

That strange sound reminds me of what no compression sounds like. But since this is a V12, it normally cranks very smoothly so what sounds like compression strokes (slowing down the starter) may instead be sparse ignition events. Hope it's ignition not anything with the bottom end (or head gasket). I dunno, I'm really down on the whole German philosophy of adding more and more complexity and getting it all to work, as if that's the accomplishment. Actual engineering achievement is making more with less.

[kevm14]

Now it's fine?

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... art-2.html

You have to check out the comments on the other link though. Someone (not me) suggested it needs a SBC. Gold, Jerry, gold!

[kevm14]

Only $22k for a crate LS9.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perform ... Id=1271011

Look how compact it is. Gas pedal included. Bring your own accessories. 50,000 mile warranty.

[Bob]

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/cl ... video.html

I am sure you'll appreciate this feature, although the closing action seems kind of fast!