ABC struts can be exchanged for refurbished units from some specialist companies. I used a company in Holland called 'abcspecialists' to replace the front abc struts on my Sl350. Less then half the price of buying new units and after several years of use they have performed faultlessly.
This is a rock solid video, not just because it's very informative and concise. It's because it comments on the fact that the issue often isn't buying a second hand luxury car sports car which has depreciated it's value straight into you budget, the issue is maintaining it! Not maintaining it via cheap knock off parts and missed service intervals, but, truly maintaining the car using premium OEM parts and servicing it within the specified service intervals. If you can't afford to maintain the car you're thinking of buying, then, put your ego in your back pocket and buy something that you CAN actually afford to maintain.
I just found your videos although I have seen Matt's channel for a while. Just for the information, I have owned a "03 CL600 for six years with no major expenses as yet. Anyone who drives or rides in this car is amazed by its build quality, comfort, and SPEED! It will throw your toupee into the back seat if you are not careful. Thanks for the video.
Great video! Ppl forget that even though it is a cheap car today, it was a very expensive car back in the day and still costs alot in maintenance and ppl often cant afford to run them
I go to a non franchised Mercedes garage in Scotland and that’s exactly what one of the owners said to me people buy an older Mercedes and expect it to be cheap to run
The wonders of RU-vid algorithm and linking from Matt’s channel. Great video and informative . Certainly an eye opener and a wallet opener too. Well done
Great review mate, so good to hear a real expert opinion. Completely agree with you on the running costs versus buying newer or leasing. My old Bentley makes me very happy but I know what it is. I've had a lot of fun repairing her myself (even though I'm a plumber) but I do wish I had a lift! Surprised how little you charge for servicing, great value 😊
What a cracking insight into buying a quality car, a real shame it’s not worth fixing. I had a S class 320 it had full merc dealer history, one owner with just 58k miles on the clock. I absolutely loved the car but the ABC suspension started to play up and was going to cost thousands to fix so like you say having things serviced doesn’t mean they are not going to fail.
Thanks for the feedback and sharing your experience with a low mileage model, that’s a good example that things can happen at any time and will help Others. 🙏
I'm coming up to my 1st year of owing a CL500 here in Australia. All I can say is heed the advice in this video. Obviously don't buy an utter shitbox but just do it. It's getting hard to find them at any rate. I've not had any major issues yet. First thing i did was give the ABC fluid a flush. I know I'm up for a pulsation dampener at some point.
I bet the undersides stay in good condition over there compared to ours rusting away, it’s a constant battle for us, and half the problem to parts failure. Perfect car for cruising around Australia windows down 👌
@@sprautos 100%. My indy didn't like the car at all and infact gave me a quote equal to the cost of the car to put right a weeping strut to pass rego. I took it elsewhere obviously. Your right though.... perfect summer car!
Loved my CL, replaced every strut, two ABC pumps, exhaust, steering wheel controller, battery, radiator and wheels. Sadly I was hit at 110mph on the motorway so it was written off. These cars are fantastic, you'll get 12mpg round town if you are lucky but the nods from those who know what they are makes it worthwhile.
What a shame. But a great example of that these cars do need looking after. Great respect for anyone running one and investing in them keeping them on the road.
I bought a cl600 v12 a few years ago flagship model was one of my dream cars from early 2000’s I wanted back then which was actually a cl55 in black but back then I had kids growing up and needed a house of my own so got into a mortgage instead. In 2020 I looked for a cl55 but couldn’t find one with good enough history then along came the more worrying model the v12 non turbo model which wasn’t known for its reliability as it goes but bit the bullet and went ahead and bought only reason as it was the one in time warp condition with great history and boy I enjoyed this car more and more I drove it , the early model had the cylinder shutoff technology which gave it an unbeatable 30mpg on a motorway run 👏. All in all I’d get one again as I sold the v12 after 2 years of ownership which I enjoyed but must of missed the major bad experience associated with such cars , hopefully the new owner of that car is enjoying like I did.
Great informative video, people only see a cheap purchase price and forget about the repair bills, keep up the great videos, i am sure you tube video production is both time consuming and not easy for everyone to do, great job.
The Rodeo test is key wirh the CL ABC system. I loved my CL, but it itoo went the same way as Matt's. Amazing that they had adaptive cruise control in 2000.
Great video and interesting stuff. I’ve owned a lot of MBs including many estates an SL320, a CLK500 cab and an E400 cab - all second hand some of them (including the CLK) very long in the tooth and been tempted by CLs. Perhaps I’ve been lucky, but only one of the estates was ever really any problem - otherwise no serious faults and no more expensive to own than most other cars. The CLK 500 was a joy (nothing quite like a 5L MB V8) and really not that expensive at all as long as you have full NCB, don’t have a heavy right foot and know a good independent specialist. And it’s not hard to buy well - there are always good, low mileage, well maintained examples on Autotrader. Perhaps the other point is to stick with the models without the exotic electricals, air suspension etc - the basics, a well maintained V8 and gearbox, are fundamentally reliable.
The CLK 500 is so under the radar, many don't know of its existence. Yet we can buy a good CLK 500 for less than the potential cost of putting ABC right on a CL 500 😯
Also, if you're buying an expensive second had car in the winter, make sure the A/C works. I bought a second hand S-class in the middle of December. I "tested" the A/C and it seemed to work (it was -3C outside). 4 months later when the weather warmed up, turned out the A/C didn't work (broken compressor). That'll be £2,500 please.
A serious, calm, experienced mechanic whose work and advice you could trust. I cringe at the continuous laughing on Mat Armstrong’s channel that is the polar opposite of this
Thanks for these videos so much! Your buyer's guides are 100% the best ones online in my opinion. I just got myself a 2005 CLK 55 AMG Coupe with the AMG Avantgarde Sport Package that I saved from a car lot that was ran by a bunch of people that barely spoke English and didn't know what it was. Zero corrosion, zero oil or fluid leaks, it was somebodies baby. Yes, it has 179,000 miles on it but it was not your typical high-mileage Mercedes from up here in Ohio that has a ton of rust from the salt, was not maintained, and was beaten up on. Turns out this came from Miami, Florida and was a southern car! 1 of only 247 Coupes sold into the United States for 2005, I have a question however. This has ZERO history which was the biggest fault. How can I find out as much as possible about it? It was from the help of your videos did I know what to look out for and when I found all of the new parts, all of the right care done to it, I took the gamble and got her primarily because of how rare it is. I have the money for maintenance/service and I didn't want it to end up destroyed by some idiot, especially when so few were made in this kit(Factory quad exhaust baby!!). P.S. It did pull 2 codes, one for a bad negative connection with an ABS component and the other for a Mass Airflow Sensor(Bank 1 and 2 too rich or something like that). I would've never known because it runs so well still. Not bad for an 18 year old Mercedes with high miles!
They are so beautiful, you can even repair an awful lot yourself. But parts will always be expensive. I used to own an E55 and just the flush kit for the gearbox was over £100. I never had to do any ABC work but I was well aware of the potential cost. I loved it but the constant rust war, (2003 model ) made the decision to get rid for me.
I bought a 1999 W220 S500 almost 4years ago to the day for £1000. 92k on the clock, great spec. It’s now got 108k on the clock and for the most part has not been too expensive to maintain. I replaced 1 strut with a used Arnot part which seems to work well. Not including upgrading the stereo to apple play, front and rear dash cam + adding rear DVD screens and games console, I’ve probably spent £2k in 4 years on general servicing and maintenance. It’s a gorgeous ride and offers so much luxury for the money.
I'd already done the first few don'ts with my W204 C200 but just about everything was working. There were other things that needed attention which only came to light when it was inspected by a dealer prior to having the rear subframe replaced under warranty. I fixed most of those issues myself and it passed the MoT back in September with only 3 advisories. The ABC suspension is an absolute minefield even for DIY-ers. Kent of Mercedessource did a coil spring conversion on his SL500 which is a cost-effective alternative. It is a shame that is car is going to be broken because of the repair costs but that's what the reality of the situation is.
I have always said personally old Mercedes BMWS and Audis as loverly as they are. For the average working class consumer keeping one running properly and healthy as they should be is just not economically viable so most of them end up being driven around with lots of faults until they are either unsafe/unroadworthy or blow up.
I think it is important for guides like this to be upfront and realistic. Like you say, too many people buy these old cars for a few grand thinking it'll be new car maintenance when it's actually 20 year old, high tech car maintenance. Sure a bill that makes the car not worth saving can happen, but for the most, part if people know what to expect, they'll have a much happier ownership, even if an issue rears it head. For me, the ABC system and it's costs are generally what make me shy away from the CL and SL. I have seen suggestions about converting them to standard shocks and springs but I don't know if that's a realistic thing to do, a good idea at all or if it's actually worth it for the upfront cost and the potential extra depreciation because it's now not original.
I agree with your self, I would like to keep it original, I’m going to keep my guide as upfront as possible and I see first had what goes on and it’s good info for you guys. It’s not to put people off but understand the reality of owning old luxury.
Great video 👌 Last thing I would put on the list that many buyers rarely take into consideration - fuel consumption. Average 12-13 mpg might be shockingly surprising to the current Civic owners...
Just came across this video of the CL500. I have a 2006 CL500 same silver color. My Aunt passed away and left it to me. You are correct about the maintenance. I had it for a year now and had to have the rear oil seal and the valve cover gaskets replaced. I suspect they dried out because the car did not get driven much only 13,000 miles. I also changed the ABC accumulators, ABC Fluid and filter. The only thing not working is the drivers side door soft close. Not sure I want to keep it after watching your video.
i am a mb mechanic 29 years. on that car and ones with abc you will have to replace all the hoses, accumulators, and struts. you will have to drop money replacing that system. that is why they are cheap. got my 03 sl500 for 1200 usd after abc hoses blew
Amazing car,had one for 4 years,loved it so fantastic on long journeys ,pray it doesnt go wrong because as said spares are expensive ,loved it glad i had it .
Brilliant Sam, So much to look for on all of the Benz’s,and as you say knowing the service history is absolutely vital Lots going on underneath the car as well,especially with the suspension etc😂 Cheers Sam Frank✅
I haven’t watched you before but by crikey, you can certainly put me right off buying some old expensive heap of despair! I’ve never had a new car and apart from my first, never had an old one. I’m not starting now….
Old luxury is always a gamble. Hope I haven’t put you off watching us 😂🙈 hopefully some future buyers guides will be less off putting, like to keep it real at the same time.
No, we need realistic reminders to make people think. And cars are an area where folk have completely unrealistic ideas as to how much repairs will cost. I’m just glad I know a trustworthy garage which I can rely on. I’m sure you are reliable as well! Someone told me just recently an S class windshield wiper was £99. Ouch
Wondered what happened with Matts “bargain” CL500 after your initial inspection….very expensive repairs so didn’t think he’d go for it tbh…..good to see local Stk specialist garage & good honest vdo & appraisal here so liked & subbed!!🤓👍🏼
I realised this same kind of thing very quickly after buying a V8 BMW. Lovely car to drive but it's not a cheap thing to maintain and I'm in the motor trade myself.
Good Matt, They are a nice looking motor car,and it was amazing when you got it on the lift,how rusty the suspension components were😩 You folks have a lot of salt on the roads,and it kills the cars for sure Great video Matt Cheers Frank
amazing vid and very informtive. we need more buyers guide on these new timer classics. wishing you a great new year and il be seeing you with my W140 in Feb i hope. i dont know why people saying you need to smile more, iv never seen a happy mechanic at work.
Super-informative video - always loved these, but was scared of the maintenance costs / reliability issues. One thing I haven’t heard you mention is the SBS brake control unit… as a previous owner of a pre-facelift W211, don’t these have a finite service life? That aside, £2k a year to run something as awesome as this (once sorted), is pretty good for what you end up travelling around in!
The SBC systems wasn’t fitted to the CL thankfully. It was fitted to the pre facelift 211 219 Cls and 230 sl. So one less thing to worry about on the CL. As you say the SBC system has a life span. Thanks for the kind comments all the best
Respect for this bro....awesome vlog....wow and holy sh*t....matt is in this, for a decent billing....(no profit in this old bus 🚌.....am passing on this full stop...😢😢😢
Gearbox mounts engine mounts gearbox connector plug leaking into the ecu gearbox solenoid plates central locking pumps the graphite gear breaks so you get no vacuum put a new pump it then the massage seats don’t work you have to tell the new pump it’s got massage seats via star diagnostic
This was fascinating. Much prefer styling of these old mercs compared to newer ones, but definitely an eye opener. If I had the coin I'd love an e55 estate to maintain and get as good as possible
Great videos keep them coming… nice to see how Indepth you are being my go to merc independent. feel free to do a video on mine having a A service on the 10th 👍
I've always wanted a big Merc, and the CL500 is a favourite. Thanks for the reality check: 'can you afford to run an £80,000 car...'. harsh, but true! Something very sad about seeing these amazing motors going into terminal decline. By the way, if you do figure out how to get the space saver spare wheel carrier out of a W163 I'd be very keen to hear it! Regards from France!
Fantastic video ! I have one of these, bought from original owner in 2018 at 44,000 miles, £7k. Yes one of the most expensive but I’ve had zero repairs in 5 years, just servicing!!! A cheap car will cost you much more and it’ll still be worth what you paid.
Top vid as always. W212 E63 5.5 facelift buyer guide would be perfect as looking at buying one and I’ll be bringing it to you for all its servicing 😂. Do they have an abc system? I know early M157’s suffer from timing chain stretch but other than that they’re pretty robust.
Well your in luck, our next video we are carrying out a major service on a w212 e63 but with an m156 showing what’s involved. And no they don’t have abc, they do have air matic systems though.
Guy down the road from me has one of these CL500s I see it every day on the way to work. It sat for years looked unusually low and was just generally mossy and dirty. Recently it went away for a few months and I thought maybe he sold it because of ULEZ but it came back last month looking fresh. Can only imagine what he spent on it for that😂😂
We haven’t, so far we have done the CL and a 209 clk. We’re going to work our way through the models. It’s just finding time. As customers want there cars back asap 😂🙈
Hi from South Africa, really enjoying the channel, im shocked how many of these newer cars you do are so rusty and corroded underneath, is that mainly due to salt on the roads in the UK? Very curious to know, thanks.
Bit depressing. We have one and have just carries out all the work re the advisaries plus we are awaiting a solenoid valve block having partially fixed the lh droop using kit fro XBR but other solenoids were cracked so have ordred replacements.Disappointed that failed to speak to SPR always on answering machine -but would welcome a trip to them for a final health check.-Chris contact via The Clever Coop ompany
I expect he was a jolly man before he decided to become a mechanic after putting up with the great general public who are disappointed because the way the manufacturers have made the cars Now is not really fit for purpose for instance manufacturing so that they only lasts just throughout the finance period plastic parts all over the place that disintegrate when farted at removing dashboards that is a surgical operation stupid computers where they shouldn't even be no wonder he's quite a dower individual but seems like a good guy a straight arrow
After watching that I was so depressed I had to call Samaritans lol …..and don’t even own one!!! lol 😂 in fact I don’t think I’ll ever buy a car again!!! 😂😂
Just came across your channel really good show. Why is it that parts for German cars, are so expensive. Other cars like Korean cars are much cheaper to fix. With German cars, even small plastic parts are overpriced. Is this because of the brand name . You made a comment that the car you were assessing when new was around 70k. Was the value there at the time or again the brand name
Original parts are the best no doubt but this car can be saved and all parts are available on eBay aftermarket and there are decent parts and it can be repaired for less than 1000 quid labour and parts if you go for original Merc than it's not worth it as the cars are cheap as chips
