Used Mercedes...

[1quikgt]

Wife and I are looking into picking up a Mercedes cls 500. Since some of you guys are into the European cars figured I’d ask about them here. What’s the reliability like on these and what should I be looking for problem wise?

[Screw]

Maybe Laffs will chime in

[CON VERT]

Hopefully Das 5.0 , chimes in, he was with Benz for 30+ years !

[1quikgt]

Maybe Laffs will chime in

Made the post hoping he would lol

[Laffs]

I'm no expert, but I'll speak to what I know.

So 500 like the early 2005/06 cars? W219 Chassis. You'd want to look out for airmatic failures, the air suspension is fairly costly to replace. Also those early cars with the 722 transmission had some valve body issues if I recall correctly, so want to see if that's been addressed. We had a similar year CLK500, that car was plagued with transmission and sensor issues. I don;t offhand know of any other poison pills with those cars.

If you are looking at a 10+ year old german car, get something with good service records and have a PPI done at a knowledgeable shop. If it's been well maintained it will treat you right, if it's been neglected and hacked run don't walk away.

Have had much better luck with 2011+ Benz cars than with prior years. Even under warranty much fewer issues.

[1quikgt]

500/550 is what we’re looking at. Still trying to get a hang of all the models these German manufacturers have lol. BMW and Cadillac are options as well. Just looking for some type of luxury sedan for a weekend cruiser.

[Screw]

We were looking at C class as well 11-14 or maybe get the Mrs GLK suv w/Amg package & trade the boring Rav4 . I’ve talked to a few owners and they seem pretty happy with them .

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[Laffs]

500/550 is what we’re looking at. Still trying to get a hang of all the models these German manufacturers have lol. BMW and Cadillac are options as well. Just looking for some type of luxury sedan for a weekend cruiser.

CTSV

[1quikgt]

Would love a CTS-V. Wife’s pregnant again which is the whole reason for the switch to 4 doors. Don’t know if I can stretch the budget far enough right now.

[Screw]

C-class are nice w/Amg package:)

[1quikgt]

Yes they are. So hard to decide, want them all haha.

[Laffs]

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/trenton-on/2011-taurus-sho-awd-super-clean-8995-cert-warr/1348255593?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Oliver47]

I will always, always buy used trucks (https://cartruckcity.com/). No matter how much I've got, until I am so well off that I can afford the car of my dreams brand new.

Why? Becuase there is always something better, used. Why spend a load of money on a brand new mass produced run of the mill car when the saving from buying used buys you something more special and gives you the change to run it?

[ZR]

Unless under extended warranty, almost all I know who purchased a used BMW, Jag or Audi have regretted it shortly there after. Latest victim, used X5 that experienced the all too common water pump failure shortly after purchase and a year later engine leaks from every orifice it's possible for oil to run out of, all this at under 70k. Depreciated value at trade after two years was abysmal. Not much exp with used Benz.

[ZR]

Forgot about the Benz diesels, big pill to swallow when the engines coked full of soot n needs complete top end pulled to service.............get you some of that bill.

[Das 5.0]

Yes have the service history checked but also those cars had allot of suspension issues that I paid for as a field rep. Beautiful cars to drive but personally wouldn’t own one without warranty and MB can come with a 7 year 160 k warranty.

[Harbinger]

Stay away from used euro cars. They become endless money pits.

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[N89]

My experience with MB as been great, right now we own a 2015 ML350 bluetec and a 2010 SLK350.
I’ve also owned many other models in the past and will definitely get another one when my wife decides to upgrade the ML.
Just make sure you buy the best car you can afford with the lowest km’s, also make sure the service history is good.
I think this cars get a bad rep because they are expensive to maintain so most people cheap out on maintenance, but if you find a good one you will enjoy it, they really are a pleasure to drive.

[Darkhorse]

One of the sad things about high end German cars is.........they WILL strand you at least once..........and you WILL buy another one. lol.

What I've seen is that they either have a million problems, or some people get the one that is never maintained and it still clicks along 300,000 kms. There is no inbetween.

The CLS are super sweet cars. AMG

[Laffs]

One of the sad things about high end German cars is.........they WILL strand you at least once..........and you WILL buy another one. lol.


This painfully true. My dad was a GM/Cadillac guy my entire adolescence. At one point we had Escalade/CTSV/SRX garage. Never ONCE did one of those strand him, fail to get him where he needed, or even incur much maintenance. Then one day he decided to go with the Teutons as a treat for himself and picked up an MB-AMG. HVAC controls failed 3 times, cam sensors failed leaving him stuck at roadside 2 times, and he had to pay $5000 to have the brakes done at like 40,000kms.

He has owned nothing but Mercedes since that car...

[1quikgt]

As sweet as it would be to pick up a Benz we’ve moved on from that idea and have narrowed it down to a ctsv or a Charger srt. More expensive up front but hopefully cheaper in the long run. Let the saving begin.