Mercedes CL500: Good or Bad

Monkey face

I am thinking of buying a CL500 (00-06 edition) and am looking for some advice. Does anyone have one of these cars and can advise me on if they are worth buying?

I have seen prices vary drastically from 9k -30k. What type of price should I realistically be looking at for a 00-04 version?

Any advice on the above or other pro's or cons with the car is much appreciated.

Absurdum

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055934224&highlight=caddyman

and

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055981087&highlight=caddyman

what recession?

I love the CL :P definitely go for the 2003- facelifted model, they are so much nicer and the Sat Nav/DVD unit just look way better. The above links from boards werre pretty useful with regards to CL's, I read them a while ago.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/CL-Class/COUPE-AU/201027198751145/advert?channel=CARS

something like that would be perfect. face lifted and low mileage. I wanted one last year, and I still saw some of the same cars sitting there lately when I looked again. That's why there's such a rediculous price variations, some of the ones that have been sitting there for ages have just not adjusted their prices accordingly and therefore they'll still be there for a long while yet. ha.

Monkey face

Thanks guys. This is really helpful. That is a beautiful car what recession and the mileage is very low but 18k for a 03 is still 18k for an 03; there has to be some better deals around. Can you recommend any particular sites or dealerships that I might get a good deal for this particular car? I have been to carzone and cbg etc.

I am also thinking of attending a “prestige auction” (not my words) next week were they may have a couple of these knocking around...but I reckon that could be a dodgy bit of business. The guy at the auction was saying the guide price for a 04 CL500 fully loaded was 12-14k. Worth the risk in your opinion?

what recession?

Monkey face wrote: »

Thanks guys. This is really helpful. That is a beautiful car what recession and the mileage is very low but 18k for a 03 is still 18k for an 03; there has to be some better deals around. Can you recommend any particular sites or dealerships that I might get a good deal for this particular car? I have been to carzone and cbg etc.

I am also thinking of attending a “prestige auction” (not my words) next week were they may have a couple of these knocking around...but I reckon that could be a dodgy bit of business. The guy at the auction was saying the guide price for a 04 CL500 fully loaded was 12-14k. Worth the risk in your opinion?

If it's Merlin, I wouldn't get too excited. Everyone there goes crazy and bids more than the dealer prices, hah. There's always risks with buying at auction, in the prestige auction last month there was physical/cosmetic damage to almost half the cars and although that was reflected in the price, I can only imagine how many internal problems there could be with some cars there if the owner's made no effort to repair that damage. There's no warranties with any of the cars at auction, and the price rarely reflects that. I'd buy from a dealer if possible, you probably wont get it that much cheaper at auction anyway.

And to be honest, look past the dealer's prices. If you think the one I linked is worth 13k, then offer it - they wont be having too much interest in it being a 5 litre, and it costs nothing to offer!

Monkey face

That is very true; there is no harm in asking. I have been told that I should expect to pay at least 20% below the asking price with this caliber of car. Do you drive a CL500 yourself?

I have whittled it down to 2 cars now. The CL500 and maybe a 6 series BMW (they seem pricy as well) although I am yet too drive a 6 series and the interior looks a bit tacky but I have heard they are a lovely car. This particular CL500 at the auction is very nice if you want to check it out. The mileage is decent as well. If I got it for 12 I think I would be pretty happy. But then again it is an auction.

what recession?

No, I just drive an e-class. Also, would you consider an SL? Totally love them, and they're more along the same lines as the 6-series price-wise. Assuming you don't want 4 seats, they're really nice! The 6 series is definitely one of my favourites, although the interior is kind of tacky, but that wouldn't put me off.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055867465

If you look at that, I posted a list of Merlin Prestige Auction results a few months ago. There's a 2004 CL500 with 33km on the clock, sold PROVISIONALLY at 18.5k, so that means they may not have even gotten it. Can't see you getting one for 12k to be honest, as the one in Merlin next week is very nice. There's no such thing as a bargain at auction!

what recession?

here are some of the results from the most recent prestige auction if you want to compare them to dealer prices:

(minor/serious damage to some)
2006 CLS350 - £22,2000- PROV SALE
2002 Cayenne 4.5S (satnav) - £7,400 - PROV SALE
2004 320d Msport 4door - £8,100 - NO SALE
2006 535D Msport - £19,100 - NO SALE
2005 CLK320i Cabio Sat Nav - £9,200 - NO SALE
2007 E200 auto - £17,200 - SOLD
2005 BMW X5 3.0d passeng - 121km - £11,500 - PROV SALE
2006 Audi A6 2.0tdi - £23,500 - SOLD
2007 Golf 2.0gti DSG - 30km - £14,400 - PROV SALE
2004 520i SE - 75km - £7,300 - SOLD
2004 C180 - 76km - £5,500 - PROV SALE

---

no damage
2006 S350 - 127km - £23,500 - PROV SALE
2007 X5 Comm - 82m - £16,600 - PROV SALE
2003 Mini Cooper 1.6 - 77m - £6,200 - PROV SALE
2004 X5 3.0d (kahn wheels, bulbar, body kit, etc) - 106m - £11,000 - NO SALE
2007 X5 3.0d NEW model passeng - 27km - £33,000 - NO SALE
1989 Mercedes 420 coupe - 100m - £1,600 - NO SALE
2005 S60 2.0T - 98km - £6,800 - NO SALE
2006 Mini Cooper Cabrio 1.6 - 35m - £9,700 - NO SALE
2005 320D coupe - 46m - minor damage - £9,300 - NO SALE
2004 C180 petr - 100m? - £5,300 - NO SALE
2007 S320d - 21km - £37,500 - PROV SALE
2007 Mini Cooper S - 42k - scratches - £12,100- SOLD
2003 Range Rover 3.0d - 101m - £12,800 - PROV SALE
2007 520d SE - 79m - £17,100 - PROV SALE
2004 320CD Coupe - 52m - UK REG (2k VRT) - £7,900 - NO SALE
2004 Saab 9-3 2.0t Aero Cabrio - 100m? - £8,000 - NO SALE
2008 C220 Elegance AMG kit - 125m - £24,000 - SOLD
2005 A4 Cabrio 1.8t - ?m - £13,100 - PROV SALE
2005 Range Rover Sport 2.7 - 100km - £21,600 - PROV SALE
2005 ML270cdi Comm - 51m - mileage discrepancy - £7,800 - NO SALE
2008 S500 5.5 - 56m - minor scratches/cracked bumper - £47,000 - PROV SALE
2008 CL500 5.5 - 23km - door/bumper repaired - £71,000 - PROV SALE
2008 Audi R8 - 23m - £76,000 - PROV SALE

Monkey face

I have to say I find this fascinating, it’s like Vegas…the house always wins type business. I think you would have to really know your stuff and get a bit of luck in order to get a good deal with these guys; they seem to have it wrapped up pretty nicely.

So after you purchase the car you need to give these guys 5% of the cost of the vehicle or do they just take your €500 deposit? Does this come off the price of the car in this case? Is it an English company as all the prices were in sterling and some of the plates were UK? I can only imagine the hidden costs involved.

I would love an SL. My brother used to drive the older generation SL (1996) and it was very nice. The newer generation seem to have held there value well. I haven’t really seen what I would consider a bargain for one anywhere. That is the main thing really at the moment. I am buying at a time when it is not unacceptable to expect a bargain of some degree particularly with these big cars.

I still really have my heart set on the CL and I am not a massive fan of the S.

what recession?

You have to give Merlin 5% of the auction price as commission, the 500 entry deposit is kept and deducted from the total you owe. No, it's Irish and most of the cars will be Irish, most of them are finance reposessed, so I can only imagine the reasons behind there being UK reg'd cars there.

Yes, the SL held their value relatively well, compared to the CL anyway haha. You'll still pick up a 2005 one for aroyund 30k or under, which isn't much more than a CL anyway.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/SL-Class/350-DVD,/201022198263688/advert?channel=CARS

All the prices have huge variations, like the CL's, so you'll just have to bargain if you want one!

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/6-Series/630-630I/201010197221621/advert?channel=CARS

that's not too bad for a 6, if you are looking for one. Don't know what kind of budget you're working with. I hate the fact that the cabrio's have soft roofs, that's why I'd buy an SL over one to be honest.

Caddyman

Go for the CL500, I promise you'll not regret it!
I bought mine last month and its been a joy to own and drive so far.

The only advice I would give you is to only buy from a dealer and get as long a warranty as you can as to fix something on these cars is big money, for parts and labour. Also make sure its got the full Merc main dealer service history or you will get it hard to sell it again and you will also lose the 30 year rust warranty,it also must not have been crashed to keep the rust warranty.

Good luck with the search............:cool:

Monkey face

That SL is beautiful; I have seen them for as little as 23k which is excellent. I still think the 6 Series is very expensive for what you are getting. They also seem to lack that certain je ne sais quoi unlike this beauty for example. This is a particularly nice one and the price is not bad. If I could get this for maybe €16,500 I would be pretty happy with that is has to be said. I actually just contacted the guy there. I have only ever owned BMW and Volvo, is there any general rules about Mercs I should know. I know the suspension can be a bit dodge with the CL.

I basically have around 20k cash plus a Volvo C70 worth realistically 4k now. So I can get something nice although I would rather get something nice and not have to spend all of that.

what recession?

To be honest, mine is 3 years old and I've yet to have a problem. *touch wood*

That CL is nice, but when there are others with 30/40k miles on the clock, why bother taking one with 100k miles and no warranty? I'd rather take the 2003 one I linked at the start and try get it for 13/14k. They're exactly the same as far as I can see. Same wheels, same interior, both facelifeted model - except the 2003 one has a third of the mileage! Don't settle, it's a buyer's market when it comes to these beasts, try your hand with every one of them for sale with a low offer!

the C70 is such a nice car, the new model especially!

Monkey face

Well my C70 is an 02 with around 75k miles. I just called the garage of the link that you sent me and they reckon they could give me 1250-1500 trade in off the value of the car. But I think I would just sell it separately for considerably more. I asked could I come see the car but he said it was in Tipperary at the moment with a Mercedes specialist....so that doesn't sound good. I think I am going to start a thread with peoples good and bad experiences with Merlin’s auctions. It would be interesting to see the success to screwed ratio. I get what you are saying about a buyers market. There are deals to be had, that's for certain.

Chriscl1

Monkey face wrote: »

They also seem to lack that certain je ne sais quoi unlike this beauty for example.

my father in-law went to look at that and took it for a spin. seemed quite taken with it.

galwaytt

Monkey face wrote: »

.... but he said it was in Tipperary at the moment with a Mercedes specialist....so that doesn't sound good.

Why is that not good ?
Maybe he cares for his car properly ?

Gumbo

galwaytt wrote: »

Why is that not good ?
Maybe he cares for his car properly ?

could it be this one?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1145841

Edit maybe not, seems to be different.

johnwise

Back in 2005 I had a 2002 cl500 for 12 months....Fabulous car to drive but can develop a few faults . Watch out for air suspension issues. There is a button on centre console to raise or lower it slightly. Ensure that this works on both sides of car at same time. Also the dash clocks are prone to early failure. They have a very big appetite for fuel if you drive it fast but it is not a car to buy if you are on a budget. Great car that I would recommend but as other posters have said bide your time and buy a low mileage example with a full service history because anything else will cost you money in the long run. Best of luck .