Used car buying guide: Mercedes-Benz CL

From driver-assisted safety features such as the Electronic Stability Programme, Brake Assist and Acceleration Skid Control to luxurious features such as an almost entirely leather-wrapped cabin, wood inserts, Mercedes-Benz Designo stone trim, a tyre pressure monitoring system (unusual back then) and even keyless entry. The car truly made you feel important. 

The CL was apart of racing history too: the CL 55 AMG was used as the official Formula 1 safety car for the 2000 season, and Mercedes celebrated this by building just 55 limited-edition versions of the car, calling the vehicle the Formula 1 Edition. Only a handful were sent to the UK.

Some Formula 1 Editions included exclusive equipment such as internally vented ceramic brakes, sporty racing seats, a special AMG steering wheel and the centre console signed with the wording ‘F1 Limited Edition’, although UK variants unfortunately didn’t receive all of these unique features

What we said then

14 June 2000: “The ride quality’s superb. The CL 500 simply isolates its occupants from just about every road irregularity. But there’s the slightest hint of fragility in the new car’s construction that’s totally at odds with the “tough as nails” Mercedes image. This aside, the new CL 500 acquits itself brilliantly in almost every area. Superb straight-line performance blends with a fine chassis – in non-Sport mode – to create a supremely refined super-coupé.”

An expert's view

Stuart Tarrant, owner: “I bought my CL 500 at a year old and kept it for over 100,000 miles. I’ve bought other Mercs since but I haven’t been as impressed by them as I was by this one. It was lovely to look at and sit in and it was so smooth, especially on the autoroutes. It wasn’t faultless, though, and it cost a fortune in petrol and servicing. Be careful, because a bad one can be a real money pit.”

Buyer beware

Engine: Some of the V12s were susceptible to oil cooler O-rings failing, causing the vehicle to leak oil. Check the engine number for balancer shaft problems and watch out for an oil weep from the rubber bung on the back of the rocker cover. Early versions of the V8 and V12 suffered from water in the fuel caused by fuel tank condensation.

Transmission: The speed sensor can play up on autos, causing the gearbox to hold on to gears. If this occurs, the engine management light should come on. There’s a repair kit for later gearboxes but older ones may need a new valve body.

Bodywork: A sign of good servicing is that the rainwater drain holes are clear; blockages can let water into the cabin and disrupt the electrics and ECUs. Look for signs of rust around the rear wheel arches, door bottoms, rear windscreen surround and lower edge of the bootlid.

Air conditioning: The C215-generation CL can sometimes experience air-con failure due to water damage of the evaporator temperature sensor.

ABC suspension: The CL’s biggest problem is its Active Body Control suspension. Basically, a pump sends oil around the car’s four interconnected dampers, varying the pressures in each to maintain a stable ride and improve body control. At high speeds, it lowers the car by up to 25mm, too. It’s a brilliant but unreliable piece of kit and costs a fortune to put right. Owners report many issues with the ABC suspension system, so be sure to check the suspension before making a purchase because this will be a costly repair.

Parts costs: The C215 is not exactly a new car, so Mercedes will most likely not have spare parts for it just laying around. If issues do arise, it could be hugely costly to the owner, with the possibility of extremely long waiting periods for parts, if the parts can be found at all. Minor issues with the car may be unfixable rendering the car useless.