I can never forget first seeing one... rolling slowly over the big suspension bridge over the Thames, forgot its name. An Almandine Black CL600, prefacelift (this was 2003), with the AMG kit including the imposing quad exhausts. I was a kid and thought it was the coolest looking car ever. Some dude was inside it talking on the phone lol. The paint colour, in the light drizzle of that afternoon, glittered subtly brown like Coca Cola. I loved it, and wanted one instantly.
Yes, I had a similar experience with these cars, but I saw the F1 Safety Car and thought, I want one of these cars. If I ever make enough money I want one. It took me until the year 2019 and I couldn't find one of the F1 Safety Car versions, but I found a 2003 CL 55 AMG Kompressor, owned by a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief. Master Chief's are some of the most meticulous, detail oriented people I have ever known and this man did not disappoint, in that regard. He had every single piece of paper on the car from the moment it came off the ship from Germany. I got every single written record on the car, not only in paper, but on CDs as well. Also, he gave me the Mercedes Benz Mechanic's DVDs for repairing the car. The man was a fantastic owner of the car and it had been maintained perfectly, to the point that I could literally have eaten from the chrome thresholds, from either the driver's or passenger's side of the car. It had a perfect Carfax report and a perfect pre-purchase inspection by a Mercedes dealer. What more could I have asked for in a used Mercedes Benz car that was literally my dream car from the early 2000's? If you are ever looking for one of these cars, just make sure that you look for one with all of the maintenance records and that has been maintained, especially the ABC, hydraulic suspension system. If there is a weak point of these cars, that's the one, the ABC suspension. If it has been maintained correctly, then you'll be OK, if not, you could end up paying a lot of money to repair or replace that ABC suspension system. Still, they are amazing cars and so nice to drive. They're comfortable, quick, fast and stop so well. The going fast is great, but stopping is incredibly important too and these cars will stop. Cross drilled rotors, front and back, with 8 piston front calipers make stopping a very controlled situation. I love my 2003 CL 55 AMG and if you like driving a powerful, yet comfortable car to drive, these cars will satisfy your desires.
I love my 2003 CL 55 AMG. It's attractive, quick & has a nice top end, if you get rid of the 155 mph limiter that Merc puts on all their cars. My car has been (knock wood) reliable from day one. My wife has a 2009 CLK 550 which is also a nice car, though my CL 55 AMG is far more comfortable. Good review, basically. Oh, I forgot the best part, being a 60 year old guy in the States, I get the joy of blowing off the many kids driving Mustangs, Chargers, Challengers, etc. They get this very shocked look on their faces as I pull away from them at a stop light. It's a thing of beauty for me.
amazing i love this comment section, im driving a 2003 Mercedes s600 i have it amg spec out , quad exhaust 19 inch wheels etc, People never know what the car is until i literally blow past people and they are like what is under your hood? you and your wife got two Gems , I would love to see your cl 55 that’s actually what i wanted
@@uzzle21 , it truly is funny to see the looks on kids faces as a middle aged couple blow past them in what is a rather boring looking older car. I know exactly how you feel, Antonio. Such fun! Enjoy your beautiful car, Sir!
You are absolutely correct, AhEmGee. I understand that some people prefer having the saloon, those 2 extra doors makes them happy. For me though, I prefer the coupe. And as AhEmGee stated, the coupes have always been better looking than the saloons, full stop.
Ive owned a couple of cl500s, not the cl55s or Cl600 but i must say they are brilliant cars, and in my opinion look lovely still to this day, you cannot cmpare to the s class, which cost peanuts and are as common as fiestas and rust like mad!! I think the cl was one of the best looking mercs ever made, very cool in every way!
So you don’t like one thing that made old mercedes coupes legendary and one of the most beautiful cars ever, the way C pillar goes into the body? Google 280se coupe, same design, gorgeous... but I guess beauty is in the eye of the one looking so just personal opinion
Zmija Jazmi yeah, that’s one of my favorite features of the cl. When you put all the windows down it looks so classy. Oh and I love how rare they are. I’m here in Northern California and if you’re lucky. You’ll see one maybe once a month. I use to have a 99 bmw 5 series and they where everywhere. Only thing I wish it had is fold down rear seats. Thought about cutting a hole but later found out the gas tank lives back there.
I own an '03 and I believe they designed the c pillar of the C215 to emulate the c pillar of the W111 coupé. Personally I've always thought that at certain angles it's not particularly attractive.
CL is the "big daddy" like you said, a Mercedes tour de force GT which is a statement car class. If you don't have kids - get the CL. (If you like the styling and I do)
LE544 but the back seats are usable. I’ve had four adults in my cl with the driver seat a little forward but I can totally drive 300 + miles just fine. No complaints from the back at all. Just a little hassle for the rear passengers to get in and out.
@@300zVinh Yeah ok you got me ,,,I agree,,,I just mean't compared to a four door sedan ,,,and most CL back seats are rarely used from what I have seen...
I have one with only 40000 miles and I absolutely love it, a fantastic cruiser with brutish power and in my opinion stunning looks, what more could you ask for.
@@alectucker2372 haha i sold that one bought another stock CL some mods came in the mail the other day so im stoked to getting on that but ill try to post the new one with it
Your views on the car's styling are tragically misguided. I had a CL and I have never had a car so many people came up and asked about. The majority think it's utterly stunning, and I certainly do.
Yeah his styling taste are a bit off , I knew it was bad when he said this CL and the sc400/soarer looked weird, the 2 most beautiful elegant coupes 🤦♂️
The CL is the prettiest modern era Benz, period. Sleek without discomfort. Enough power to be entertaining. Decent handler. Just be prepared for repairs and get a good look over by a Benz shop that knows before taking it home.
@@RUS38 To be fair, I was talking about 10 grand euros, for a normal 500. Enter exchange rates, and the 55 premium, and maybe the difference is not that large :-)
Why - because 2 DOOR HARDTOP - that is what the design is - an enduring style legend - ITS NOT oddball - been around for a very long time - the Gentleman's hot rod, I have the 03 CL55 , because it is this. had an E31 (BMW 8 series ) bmw 2 door hardtop - the best of both worlds , a back seat , roll all windows down, open roof, and you get close to an SL with out the top issues , and a back seat. The lines on it are superb, as well as the SL of the time, the apex of the brilliant Bruno Sacco designs. again sharing the look of the SLR Mclaren. a time when cars were designed to have curves and beautiful flowing lines. the line at the bottom of the c pillar is actually a huge design feature - different materials all over- composite front fenders , aluminum hood , composite trunk, aluminum rear fenders - i think the middle roof shell is steel.
I own a CL500 as I personally think Bruno Sacco did a polished job on the styling. These cars drive nicely benefiting from a well sorted chassis and you are quite correct they just don't feel as big as they actually are. For an older 'gentleman' who prefers to whaft around rather than cane it, the CL500 is a very fine car and I shall be enjoying mine for the foreseeable future. I just need to get the garage extended. The major plus, is that second generation CL's (1999 - 2006) represent exceptional value in the current market.
The C126 is notorious to be a Bruno Sacco design but not the generations further. The C140 is a design attributed to Olivier Boulay and the C215 to Peter Arcadipane, despite Sacco was still Design headmaster at that time.
When I bought mine 2 years ago there were about 20 for sale, now your lucky to find one for sale. There are only 120 on the road (36 on sorn) in the UK, that's makes them rare and hopefully the price will start to rise soon! The only rust will be underneath, the body is aluminium, magnesium (door skins!!), and a composite compound so no rust there. Everyone keeps on about the upkeep on these with the ABC suspension, it's cheap trust me, most expensive are the struts at around £600 each. Although my driver's mirror auto dimming just gave up on me, Merc want £290 just for the glass!! Got a normal one for £34 Extra power is easy to come by if you want it, throw a grand at it and you've got 600+bhp!! Mines at 680bhp Love mine will never sell it...
Endaf Evans same here brother. I’m gonna try and keep her as long as I can. Took out all the abc components on mines and replaced it with aftermarket air suspension. It rides a little firmer than abc but I never have to worry about abc again. From all the research I’ve done. It’s way more worth it to convert over to air or coil overs. If I ever have to replace a bag , it’s only $70 and it’s really easy to replace yourself.
I bought a CL55 a year ago. I've got its baby brother, the CLK with a 3.0 V6 CDI for daily use. The CL is so different in every respect to the CLK, even though from the front they look similar. And yes, I found the look of the C pillar and the "pagoda" rear window odd at first. Kinda grows on you. Regrettably my CL55 needs work on it, (never buy a cheap CL) The dreaded suspension issues of course, coupled with a lack of maintenance and repair in the last few years. Electronics are a nightmare on these cars, and the previous couple of owners attitude was just to ignore any electronic faults instead of having them repaired. That engine tho........ soo sweet, effortlessly powerful and cruising on the motorways is just a dream.
I own a CL55 Kompressor, with a smaller supercharger pulley + software. It does 100-200kmh in 8.75s GPS (10Hz). But it really flies after passing 200kmh and does well over 310kmh GPS.
@Richard Hoogewerf, incorrect I'm afraid the roof and quarter panel are all aluminium the floor, firewall and a section of the A pillar are steel the rest of the car is aluminium, plastic and magnesium. It's significantly lighter weight than the S Class and any other CL, despite being heavy this generation of CL was definitely the closest to the Coupe Lightweight monkier. A lot of the really expensive construction methods on the C215 were dropped for the C216 and C217 S Coupe. The C215 is peak CL for sure (but with only three generations to choose from it's not a massive choice).
I understand that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and subjective, however JayEmm you are wrong about this CL style. The CL 215 is stunning. Absolutely gorgeous this one is. The ultimate trans continental cruiser. Plenty of power, especially the CL55(supercharged version) and/or CL600 Biturbo. Both around 500HP. Effortless with all that power and also very comfortable. Feel relaxed and fresh even after a longer trip
v12 - save on fuel and invest those money + ton of money for simple job under the hood as almost any job will require engine out, almost no space inside with v12. V8 is easy to work, individual coils.
Great cars and an honest reviw. I am on my second CL600 having had a 2001 with the 5.8 V12 , this type had the cylinder shut off system. Unfortunately this developed the oil cooler from hell fault. Basically top end strip as on these cars the second oil coiler was in the V of the block. Sold this car honestly on E Bay then after much research brought a CL600 2004 Bi Turbo faster than the AMG V8 and much smoother and more refined . It had already had new Coil packs £1200 per bank (24 plugs) and a new ABC pump at £2000 plus fitting and new spheres. So far various minor issues but what a vehicle to glide around in on a sunny day with all the windows down and the sunroof open. Maximum 23/25 to the gallon on a run around town about 11 in a traffic jam I once got 8. But I love it when I want to save fuel I drive my old Ford Focus as somebody else commented only buy a good one and know somebody who can fix the c215 .
In all honesty, the 55 is marginally quicker from a standstill, but only by 10ths of a second on the quarter mile. I tried both the 600 and 55 and I loved the stupid character of the 55 which is in contention with what the car is! Either way they are great cars to own if you can stomach the bills!
Finally my car gets reviewed it's the funny feeling to see you own car on TV so to say😂 But I have forgotten to mention if you design features of this car for example the pilorless Windows and the door hinges Nice video keep the good work up
If I were in the position to have a daily and garage space for "something special" that I changed every 6 - 12 months and used at weekends then I would have one and just keep my fingers crossed no big bills came within that 6 - 12 months.
30mpg is the Holy Grail for 113k owners - maybe not completely impossible but *everything* would need to be in your favour - and you'd need to really want that number. I saw 28.5mpg in my CLS55 - and that was a warm day of motorway driving with the sort of traffic that flowed perfectly but never exceeded 65mph. I can't imagine better circumstances...
Recently completed a cross country trip, 4K miles. Got 23 mpg driving at or above the 70 MPH speed limit. Effortless cruising in a CL500. Didn't need or want the CL55 or CL600 after discussing with a Benz mechanic. My only complaint is MB should have hard piped the ABC plumbing instead of running hoses, as the suspension hardware is the bane of this generation CL and S class.
It’s the front lights that dates it , ppl buy it because it’s a gorgeous looking merc coupe, currently looking for the shape after, to keep, for a very long time . CL500 4.7
Seems to me, Jayemm just doesn't get this car. This is a car Merc has built for an elite class of customers since the 500 SEC (w126) of the '80s and the S500 coupe (w140) of the '90s. They have always been more expensive than the equivalent sedans and have always been built to cruise indefinitely at continent-crushing speeds. And, yes, this CL55 and its swoopy roof do look beautiful to me from all angles...!
Yes always been a special car, bought a 1 owner 2004 CL500 (35'000 miles, paid £11250) and thought I'd keep it for ages but traded it in for a GTi after a year (lost a shed load of money)
We've all been there mate. If I told.you how much I lost on my Z4 after just 8 months of ownership your head would swim. I'm talking deep into five figures...
That car was way ahead of its year, and the reason why the windows have no pillar and the line comes together in a harsh way was actually a design on purpose to give the water from rain a track to go to from the top of the car to the bottom without blurring your eyesight looking through the rear glass. It was also a design to give the car a little more unsubtle edge being that it is a remembrance of the SL body but larger and able to carry an extra two bodies in the back../ its entire purpose was design for being a weekend car for two couples staying in a country club or getaway for the weekend, not ever designed to be a daily driver. More like a 3rd family car for when dad needs to blow some steam off from work or the wife and go golfing hence the small but perfect trunk for clubs or a weekend bag or two or three. It was designed for a wealthy man of the 40-60 year old bracket Witt lots of cash and a taste for the most modern utility at the time of its engineering. Technically it’s over engineered and Mercedes made zero profit on this car because of the quality of craftsmanship and the technology features that almost no car had in its era.
The one feature this car missed was the back-up camera, which is now standard on all US vehicles. And I don't think the cassette player has ever been used since it was obsolete at least 5 years previous.
In most cases, people want ta shiny finish. So it gets painted and polished. Another reason is that all cars should look the same and that the painting on it saves it from fading out in the sun for a while. Leather in normal cars is also full of chemicals and it feels od because they make it also heat, scratch, fire and fluid "resistant" which makes it at the end feel like artificial leather comparing to good furniture with the same type of leather but untreated.
@Martin Svensson Doesn't look like any wood I've ever seen outside of a car. Same is true of most wood in cars. One example I can think of that is different is the wood in a Volvo V90, which actually looks like wood. A lot of it is probably down simply to 'what people want' - and wood in cars has often been highly polished, etc. and so that's what people associate with 'wood in cars'. Maybe it was meant - in the old days - to look like the kind of wood furniture the money'd had in their drawing rooms, I wouldn't know. Still looks like fake wood, though.
Nice review. I think the CL is a lot of car for the money when buying it used as long as you get one in good shape and it has been maintained properly. I like the styling and the fact that there aren’t that many out there. It is kinda in a class by itself.
I own a CL 55. It's a great car. Admittedly the face is not the most attractive but that said the cabin is fantastic and the smoothness and raw power is great too. They are expensive but overall I'm happy. It's a quirky and cool car. Destroys most cars too!
Owned an 04 and 05, CL55 and CL600 sport for about 4.5years each. Love em both. Styling, interior, design, rarity, power, smoothness and of course the pillar less design. The downside is parts are really expensive if you want to keep it oem (which i did) and they are pretty pain to work on especially the V12 (turbo cooler lines, motor mounts...). Abc is fantastic when it works. $3500 tune ups on the V12 don’t help. Love the car and video, thank you.
I hope you can answer me this: Is the suspension on a CL 55 much stiffer than on a CL 600? I just bought a CL 55 AMG, and it rides harder than I thought (not uncomfortable, it`s not jumpy or really harsh). My friend drives a C216 CL 600 and it is a good bit softer and more comfortable.
@@DEEuroworks I`ve heard that these spheres can lead to a stiffer suspension. But, how I feel about the suspension is highly subjective, and I may need to find another CL 55 AMG to compare mine to. According to the EPC, the AMG has different ABC struts compared to the non AMG models.
@@DEEuroworks yes, that's what I've read. But the ride isn't rough or bouncy, just relatively stiff. I just expected it to be softer. But getting behind the wheel of another CL 55 AMG near me is gonna take some time, these aren't common cars anywhere
You’re crazy if you think a S class looks better than the CL. At least in these years. I never once lusted for a S55 the same way I did over a CL55. I wish I still had mine, sold it, thinking of buying another one. And every time I pulled up next to a S55, bet who’s looking at who. You just don’t see these cars. With just a little modification and tasteful mods, these cars can be gorgeous IMHO.
Coming from a 90s Supra, a couple E39 M5's, GT-R and F430: I always really liked the exterior and interior of these. I've never minded the faux convertible-look around the rear pillars, and I especially thought the face was cute. I don't like autos (why I sold the R35 within 8 months after getting it first month it was on sale) but if you had to have an auto I'd like this. I would have liked to spec one in sky blue metallic, butter-colored interior with birds' eye maple trim. I don't like the AMG wheels but that's fine as you're hardly forced to take them. And curse you for talking up these old bargains but yes, a hell of a lot of car for the money, even if you include the repairs and operating costs. I'd take an E38 over an S for the cross-Europe road trips and airport runs I think, but would do so knowing I was getting second best.
JayEmm. Enjoy your posts!!! But, why focus on that little nit, the seal between the roof and the body. Focus on the lines. This version of the CL is a modern beauty from Benz. Add the 55 AMG, and the Lorinsor package, it is a beautiful Beast!! Only my S65 AMG is a little smoother, Faster! Fastest production sedan in the world, circa 2006! The Granddaddy of Beasties!! Haha Ha! Smiles! Which one to I drive today? Hmmm? :)))
That is a great review. However, I wouldn't agree with you regarding the looks and your general opinion about the C215 CL. I think the C215 coupe is one of the most beautiful mercedes ever built. I do own a CL 55 AMG V8 Kompressor with a rare DESIGNO interior. The car is factory standard and well maintained. Since especially only 4163 vehicles, of the 55 AMG V8 Kompressor, were (hand-) built in total in a manufactory, I personally think that the C215 CL, and especially the AMG versions, is that special to become a future classic car. Some technology is still pretty unique
I had a Mercedes cl600 for 3 years. I loved that car, it was classy, fast and stylish, but i did not love the ABC suspension system one bit. When it was working it was one of the best handling cars around for its size. However when the system played up or broke it was the most expensive and dangerous handling car I have ever driven. I found my self constantly waiting for the dash ABC light to come on and constantly waiting for the distinctive ABC oil smell 😕 My cars ABC was perfect for the first two years then it went bad at every opportunity. I am a very mechanical hands on guy, I have rebuilt many things, however this bloody ABC thing🤬 I rebuilt the solenoid blocks and piping act, but it would work for a while and then "ping" light on dash again. The car would drop in height and would wallow like a wallowing thing and was dangerous indeed. On a car this expensive when new the ABC system certainly was a crappy system. I got rid of the car because after 3 years because the ABC system was outrageous. In fact I scrapped it, shame really because everything was perfect with the car, but that god dam ABC system 🤬🤬🤬🤬
@@MrIFARI mate I know alot about various cars and there various systems including the ABC systems. I know my way around many many cars, from rebuilding various exotic engines to complex running and suspension systems. So I am not that man you were thinking I was. Checking the fluid has zero to do with the ABC problems I experienced. I even did how to write ups for two of the CL forums. Write ups on how to rebuild the valve blocks, write ups on how to change and prime the ABC pump ect. So Iike I said, I know them. There are two types of CLs, the ones with problematic ABC systems and the ones that will have it soon.
I had pleasure of owning a Cl600 Facelift, With speedriven intercoolers,downpipes & tune 700hp kit i got 19mpg on average. Sounds amazing on start up, Beautiful car however i share your oppion on the rear roof rear window really let the design down. Pillarless windows tho..Incredible door hinges really is a stunning coupe more you look around it more attention to detail you find, that just isnt there on a E class or S class The c215 is a heavy beast n wears everything quicker then a w211 But CL are build to rival no other they are truly special
These are an incredible amount of car for the money, if you can afford the upkeep (and as there's one on Autotrader for £6,500 on 100k miles, you can factor in the upkeep costs and it's still pretty cheap). Purely personal, but I have a visceral loathing of grey interiors - a miasma of blandness. Great video, James.
Hard to find, but a cool car. One of the first serial production cars to eclipse 600 horsepower. I rode in one in 2005, dark blue over sand leather and unpolished wood Designo trim.
@@SeemplesCL55, what year CL55 do you have? I've got the 2003 CL55 AMG & supposedly it has 493 bhp* with 516 ft-lbs of torque. I have done away with the 155 mph limiter & I was told anyway, a "slight" boost improvement to *performance. The asterisk is to note that I'm unsure of what performance improvement may have been added with the computer tuning I had done. I would be afraid of turning up the performance too much since the car wasn't engineered for much more than what it had from the factory. Presumably you've had your car tested on a dyno to ascertain its horsepower at 630 bhp? Just curious. Also, have you really noticed the boost in bhp over the original? Again, I'm just curious. At my age, which is 61, I'd like my CL55 to be my last car & drive it until I am no longer able to drive, which explains why I'm less than enthusiastic about trying to gain as much as possible in performance. Regards!
Cool car to see on the road; CLs have always been a head turner for me. But I’ve no desire to own one and definitely not to maintain one. Maybe they’re better suited for the older gentleman...
I love everything about the looks apart from the small quad headlamps, they just remind me of the much cheaper in the range C180 coupe of the same time. Also I'm not a fan of the way the wood trim curls over the edge of the centre console. Other than that I'd definitely have one.
I love these cars, they are very elegant in my opinion. However what I don't like is the suspension on these which is a nightmare to fix if it goes wrong.
This one is a cool car, however very rare already and old. Would be interesting to see the review of the next CL - C216. Which is still not so old, relatively modern and actual and at the same time you can still find low mileage car for a good price.
I love the CL. My uncle had the next gen CL550, gorgeous car. Love the pillarless design. He regrets selling it every day lol. Now he has a brand new S550 from MB of Calabasas, and a brand new Bullitt Mustang from The world Famous Galpin Ford dealership here in the San Fernando valley.
Having owned a CL55 Kompressor for 14 years and thankfully the original owner paid for many extra 'services'. So I'm left with a standard car (no), lightenined by 265Kg with a big belt conversion on the supercharger to produce 645bhp and the figures change.... These cars can be tuned to near 900bhp without a gearbox change! I don't believe the reviewer understands that much about the potential of the vehicle.....
I love the looks of CL, i think it's a beautiful looking car and have toyed with buying one many times but it keeps coming down to the fact the roof doesn't come off, maybe one day. I have owned a tuned SL55 and before that a CLK500 convertible, next spring i have decided on an SLK55, it would be great if you could review one of those.
The CL is by far the very best car ever built and not at all comparable to a common S class. Is was undeniably the trendsetter for the design and technology in many of todays cars. But Jay finds it 'oddly ohkay'. Lol !
Its funny, because the CL's looks are the main thing I like about it. To me the S class looks like a boring sedan while this looks like an almost exotic super GT. It has a presence
I think I would buy one (but probably the latest generation) if I just wanted to treat myself, you know, spend money, get something really fancy just for the pleasure. It's not a type of car that makes any sense other than the subjective experience of owning, driving, HAVING it, knowing that you have it and feeling damn good about it. I think it's nicer than the S-class when you just want to drive it yourself or with one passenger - the smaller interior 'wraps around you' and envelops, cocoons you, whereas in the S-class you would probably 'get lost' in the cavernous interior and potentially feel weird with no rear passengers. It's the same thing I think when comparing the 3 series to the 5 series - the 3 felt *just right* when I sat in it whereas the 5 felt a bit unneccessarily large. I think cars like the 5 series feel just right when cruising on autobahn or just on long stretches of road with higher speeds AND/OR when travellling with more people. I get this eperience from my Opel Omega - it feels a bit too wide, too long when I'm just driving myself around town but when I get people in the back or just get on the freeway the big boat suddenly makes sense. So bigger cars like the S-class have to feel this way even more.
This is more luxurious and the SL is more sporty. But neither is truly sporty. Edit: don't forget this has rear seats. And not a 2 + 2 but four real seats. Lacking the complex folding roof there's less to go wrong too
I have to finally disagree here with you, the cl is so much better looking than the s class. I had a peach of a cl500 c215 then moved to a cl63 Amg 216 So much more car than the S and so much more road presence, big Merc coupes are just class!
I would argue about the looks. The S-class from that era has aged incredibly badly, on the inside it looks like business as usual, but on the outside it now looks like a cheap shadow of a luxury car, think Kia Opirus or the Lancia Thesis. The CL, especially the rear window, the B pillar and pillarless design makes it look like some actual art and design went into it. Not just "err, lets make a sedan like last time, but lets make it with rounder edges and lighter lines than last time."
Call me crazy but I think it's looks are one of it's selling points. Love that odd b-pillar.
Indeed :)
c pillar
There is no b-pillar
100% agreed
1000% agreed
I can never forget first seeing one... rolling slowly over the big suspension bridge over the Thames, forgot its name. An Almandine Black CL600, prefacelift (this was 2003), with the AMG kit including the imposing quad exhausts. I was a kid and thought it was the coolest looking car ever. Some dude was inside it talking on the phone lol. The paint colour, in the light drizzle of that afternoon, glittered subtly brown like Coca Cola.
I loved it, and wanted one instantly.
Nice description. I can tell you are a car lover.
Yes, I had a similar experience with these cars, but I saw the F1 Safety Car and thought, I want one of these cars. If I ever make enough money I want one. It took me until the year 2019 and I couldn't find one of the F1 Safety Car versions, but I found a 2003 CL 55 AMG Kompressor, owned by a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief. Master Chief's are some of the most meticulous, detail oriented people I have ever known and this man did not disappoint, in that regard. He had every single piece of paper on the car from the moment it came off the ship from Germany. I got every single written record on the car, not only in paper, but on CDs as well. Also, he gave me the Mercedes Benz Mechanic's DVDs for repairing the car. The man was a fantastic owner of the car and it had been maintained perfectly, to the point that I could literally have eaten from the chrome thresholds, from either the driver's or passenger's side of the car. It had a perfect Carfax report and a perfect pre-purchase inspection by a Mercedes dealer. What more could I have asked for in a used Mercedes Benz car that was literally my dream car from the early 2000's?
If you are ever looking for one of these cars, just make sure that you look for one with all of the maintenance records and that has been maintained, especially the ABC, hydraulic suspension system. If there is a weak point of these cars, that's the one, the ABC suspension. If it has been maintained correctly, then you'll be OK, if not, you could end up paying a lot of money to repair or replace that ABC suspension system. Still, they are amazing cars and so nice to drive. They're comfortable, quick, fast and stop so well. The going fast is great, but stopping is incredibly important too and these cars will stop. Cross drilled rotors, front and back, with 8 piston front calipers make stopping a very controlled situation.
I love my 2003 CL 55 AMG and if you like driving a powerful, yet comfortable car to drive, these cars will satisfy your desires.
Great description. You can pick them up now for around 10k. That's a huge amount of car for that price but of course will come with pricey bills
A kid at the time BUT you knew !
I love my 2003 CL 55 AMG. It's attractive, quick & has a nice top end, if you get rid of the 155 mph limiter that Merc puts on all their cars. My car has been (knock wood) reliable from day one. My wife has a 2009 CLK 550 which is also a nice car, though my CL 55 AMG is far more comfortable. Good review, basically. Oh, I forgot the best part, being a 60 year old guy in the States, I get the joy of blowing off the many kids driving Mustangs, Chargers, Challengers, etc. They get this very shocked look on their faces as I pull away from them at a stop light. It's a thing of beauty for me.
What a guy.
amazing i love this comment section, im driving a 2003 Mercedes s600 i have it amg spec out , quad exhaust 19 inch wheels etc, People never know what the car is until i literally blow past people and they are like what is under your hood? you and your wife got two Gems , I would love to see your cl 55 that’s actually what i wanted
@@uzzle21 , it truly is funny to see the looks on kids faces as a middle aged couple blow past them in what is a rather boring looking older car.
I know exactly how you feel, Antonio. Such fun! Enjoy your beautiful car, Sir!
Enjoy the Silence my friend 😊
@Jim Bob I do indeed.
The S Class is a boat on wheel's, the CL Class is beautiful. I've owned and run both....CL for me anytime!
I agree, just beautiful car. I like it more then the new models.
They weren't so old when I had one, if you can find a good low mileage one and make sure it has good service records...then go for it.
Not keen on the looks??? What?? The C215 is one of the best looking cars in the history of Mercedes.
S Class Coupe/ CL definitely have always been better looking than the saloon, and always rarer.
You are absolutely correct, AhEmGee. I understand that some people prefer having the saloon, those 2 extra doors makes them happy. For me though, I prefer the coupe. And as AhEmGee stated, the coupes have always been better looking than the saloons, full stop.
Put the windows down and open the sunroof and you practically have a convertible. Pillarless coupes are fantastic.
Ive owned a couple of cl500s, not the cl55s or Cl600 but i must say they are brilliant cars, and in my opinion look lovely still to this day, you cannot cmpare to the s class, which cost peanuts and are as common as fiestas and rust like mad!! I think the cl was one of the best looking mercs ever made, very cool in every way!
So you don’t like one thing that made old mercedes coupes legendary and one of the most beautiful cars ever, the way C pillar goes into the body? Google 280se coupe, same design, gorgeous... but I guess beauty is in the eye of the one looking so just personal opinion
Zmija Jazmi yeah, that’s one of my favorite features of the cl. When you put all the windows down it looks so classy. Oh and I love how rare they are. I’m here in Northern California and if you’re lucky. You’ll see one maybe once a month. I use to have a 99 bmw 5 series and they where everywhere. Only thing I wish it had is fold down rear seats. Thought about cutting a hole but later found out the gas tank lives back there.
it's the coupe version of the s-class and i think it was made to compete with other high end coupes of the time such as the bentley continental
Preceeded the Conti GT and it;s still a better car against even the new version...
In the summer,the pillarles coupes are such a mega experience...love them. The CL reminds me somehow of the 70's 280SE Coupe.
the back window is shaped the same
I own an '03 and I believe they designed the c pillar of the C215 to emulate the c pillar of the W111 coupé. Personally I've always thought that at certain angles it's not particularly attractive.
Would own a CL55, love the pillarless shape & interior
CL is the "big daddy" like you said, a Mercedes tour de force GT which is a statement car class. If you don't have kids - get the CL. (If you like the styling and I do)
They are a classic timeless design ,,the supreme autobahn cruiser for people who don't need a back seat.
LE544 but the back seats are usable. I’ve had four adults in my cl with the driver seat a little forward but I can totally drive 300 + miles just fine. No complaints from the back at all. Just a little hassle for the rear passengers to get in and out.
@@300zVinh Yeah ok you got me ,,,I agree,,,I just mean't compared to a four door sedan ,,,and most CL back seats are rarely used from what I have seen...
Why would you buy one ? To show everyone that you don't need a back seat...
(Even though there is one..)
I have one with only 40000 miles and I absolutely love it, a fantastic cruiser with brutish power and in my opinion stunning looks, what more could you ask for.
Im in love with mine 😍 mine shoots flames lol the sound and power takes me to heaven
@@moea6136 post a video of the flames I wanna see
@@alectucker2372 haha i sold that one bought another stock CL some mods came in the mail the other day so im stoked to getting on that but ill try to post the new one with it
Your views on the car's styling are tragically misguided. I had a CL and I have never had a car so many people came up and asked about. The majority think it's utterly stunning, and I certainly do.
Yeah his styling taste are a bit off , I knew it was bad when he said this CL and the sc400/soarer looked weird, the 2 most beautiful elegant coupes 🤦♂️
He’s got some weird ass opinions, I’m not convinced he’s being genuine
The CL is the prettiest modern era Benz, period. Sleek without discomfort. Enough power to be entertaining. Decent handler. Just be prepared for repairs and get a good look over by a Benz shop that knows before taking it home.
10 grad will get you a nice one.....and another 10 grand for maintaining it for 3 years....but it still looks incredibly elegant!
Vlad Mares most high end cars will cost 10k over 3 years, it’s not a lot. My Audi S3 has cost nearly that over that time
Depending on where you live. In Australia 10 grand will get you a quarter of the car :)
@@RUS38 To be fair, I was talking about 10 grand euros, for a normal 500. Enter exchange rates, and the 55 premium, and maybe the difference is not that large :-)
@@vladmares8128 $22.5k euros is what I can get for my 500 if I decide to sell it:)
@@vladmares8128 in the states the cl55 (for a good example) will go for $18-25k or so. A cl500 around $10-15 or so.
13:50 that interior side profile view is so classy. They don't make them like that these days
I think the styling is wonderful and far less taxi-like compared to the S class.
I owned a pre-facelift CL55 AMG, which was naturally aspirated. I loved it. It was too expensive, but it was amazing.
Why - because 2 DOOR HARDTOP - that is what the design is - an enduring style legend - ITS NOT oddball - been around for a very long time - the Gentleman's hot rod, I have the 03 CL55 , because it is this. had an E31 (BMW 8 series ) bmw 2 door hardtop - the best of both worlds , a back seat , roll all windows down, open roof, and you get close to an SL with out the top issues , and a back seat. The lines on it are superb, as well as the SL of the time, the apex of the brilliant Bruno Sacco designs. again sharing the look of the SLR Mclaren. a time when cars were designed to have curves and beautiful flowing lines. the line at the bottom of the c pillar is actually a huge design feature - different materials all over- composite front fenders , aluminum hood , composite trunk, aluminum rear fenders - i think the middle roof shell is steel.
I own a CL500 as I personally think Bruno Sacco did a polished job on the styling. These cars drive nicely benefiting from a well sorted chassis and you are quite correct they just don't feel as big as they actually are. For an older 'gentleman' who prefers to whaft around rather than cane it, the CL500 is a very fine car and I shall be enjoying mine for the foreseeable future. I just need to get the garage extended. The major plus, is that second generation CL's (1999 - 2006) represent exceptional value in the current market.
The C126 is notorious to be a Bruno Sacco design but not the generations further. The C140 is a design attributed to Olivier Boulay and the C215 to Peter Arcadipane, despite Sacco was still Design headmaster at that time.
When I bought mine 2 years ago there were about 20 for sale, now your lucky to find one for sale. There are only 120 on the road (36 on sorn) in the UK, that's makes them rare and hopefully the price will start to rise soon!
The only rust will be underneath, the body is aluminium, magnesium (door skins!!), and a composite compound so no rust there.
Everyone keeps on about the upkeep on these with the ABC suspension, it's cheap trust me, most expensive are the struts at around £600 each. Although my driver's mirror auto dimming just gave up on me, Merc want £290 just for the glass!! Got a normal one for £34
Extra power is easy to come by if you want it, throw a grand at it and you've got 600+bhp!! Mines at 680bhp
Love mine will never sell it...
Endaf Evans same here brother. I’m gonna try and keep her as long as I can. Took out all the abc components on mines and replaced it with aftermarket air suspension. It rides a little firmer than abc but I never have to worry about abc again. From all the research I’ve done. It’s way more worth it to convert over to air or coil overs. If I ever have to replace a bag , it’s only $70 and it’s really easy to replace yourself.
I bought a CL55 a year ago. I've got its baby brother, the CLK with a 3.0 V6 CDI for daily use. The CL is so different in every respect to the CLK, even though from the front they look similar. And yes, I found the look of the C pillar and the "pagoda" rear window odd at first. Kinda grows on you. Regrettably my CL55 needs work on it, (never buy a cheap CL) The dreaded suspension issues of course, coupled with a lack of maintenance and repair in the last few years. Electronics are a nightmare on these cars, and the previous couple of owners attitude was just to ignore any electronic faults instead of having them repaired. That engine tho........ soo sweet, effortlessly powerful and cruising on the motorways is just a dream.
It's always a special occasion seeing this generation CL on the road... particularly in bi-turbo V12 flavour. Love it.
I own a CL55 Kompressor, with a smaller supercharger pulley + software. It does 100-200kmh in 8.75s GPS (10Hz). But it really flies after passing 200kmh and does well over 310kmh GPS.
The cut line of the roof is to separate the steel of the roof from the aluminium of the quarter panel
@Richard Hoogewerf, incorrect I'm afraid the roof and quarter panel are all aluminium the floor, firewall and a section of the A pillar are steel the rest of the car is aluminium, plastic and magnesium.
It's significantly lighter weight than the S Class and any other CL, despite being heavy this generation of CL was definitely the closest to the Coupe Lightweight monkier.
A lot of the really expensive construction methods on the C215 were dropped for the C216 and C217 S Coupe. The C215 is peak CL for sure (but with only three generations to choose from it's not a massive choice).
@@ukwan well since mine is rusted at that cut line, I'm pretty sure the roof is steel
Iconic car!! Just beautiful.
A Sleeping beast . In a few years, one in good condition, will worth a fortune.
Stunning car that is timeless.
Just the brilliant but expensive to fix abc suspension scares me off .
I have an '03 CL55 in bright silver metallic that only has around 30,000 miles on it. Excellent motorcar !!
I understand that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and subjective, however JayEmm you are wrong about this CL style. The CL 215 is stunning. Absolutely gorgeous this one is. The ultimate trans continental cruiser. Plenty of power, especially the CL55(supercharged version) and/or CL600 Biturbo. Both around 500HP. Effortless with all that power and also very comfortable. Feel relaxed and fresh even after a longer trip
v12 - save on fuel and invest those money + ton of money for simple job under the hood as almost any job will require engine out, almost no space inside with v12. V8 is easy to work, individual coils.
Great cars and an honest reviw. I am on my second CL600 having had a 2001 with the 5.8 V12 , this type had the cylinder shut off system. Unfortunately this developed the oil cooler from hell fault. Basically top end strip as on these cars the second oil coiler was in the V of the block. Sold this car honestly on E Bay then after much research brought a CL600 2004 Bi Turbo faster than the AMG V8 and much smoother and more refined . It had already had new Coil packs £1200 per bank (24 plugs) and a new ABC pump at £2000 plus fitting and new spheres. So far various minor issues but what a vehicle to glide around in on a sunny day with all the windows down and the sunroof open. Maximum 23/25 to the gallon on a run around town about 11 in a traffic jam I once got 8. But I love it when I want to save fuel I drive my old Ford Focus as somebody else commented only buy a good one and know somebody who can fix the c215 .
In all honesty, the 55 is marginally quicker from a standstill, but only by 10ths of a second on the quarter mile. I tried both the 600 and 55 and I loved the stupid character of the 55 which is in contention with what the car is! Either way they are great cars to own if you can stomach the bills!
Finally my car gets reviewed it's the funny feeling to see you own car on TV so to say😂
But I have forgotten to mention if you design features of this car for example the pilorless Windows and the door hinges
Nice video keep the good work up
If I were in the position to have a daily and garage space for "something special" that I changed every 6 - 12 months and used at weekends then I would have one and just keep my fingers crossed no big bills came within that 6 - 12 months.
I was once next to black very black CL Brabus the road presence was off the scale all I could think of was if Bielzebub drove a car this would be it
The C pillar sitting "on top" of the wing is the classic styling of Mercedes' largest Coupés. Check out the W111 Coupé.
This generation CL is the best CL made in any of the three generations, so under appreciated as a daily it's just sublime.
This is literally the least reliable a class coupe btw. Not the best.
Maybe you like the styling the most?
30mpg is the Holy Grail for 113k owners - maybe not completely impossible but *everything* would need to be in your favour - and you'd need to really want that number.
I saw 28.5mpg in my CLS55 - and that was a warm day of motorway driving with the sort of traffic that flowed perfectly but never exceeded 65mph. I can't imagine better circumstances...
Recently completed a cross country trip, 4K miles. Got 23 mpg driving at or above the 70 MPH speed limit. Effortless cruising in a CL500. Didn't need or want the CL55 or CL600 after discussing with a Benz mechanic. My only complaint is MB should have hard piped the ABC plumbing instead of running hoses, as the suspension hardware is the bane of this generation CL and S class.
It’s the front lights that dates it , ppl buy it because it’s a gorgeous looking merc coupe, currently looking for the shape after, to keep, for a very long time . CL500 4.7
Seems to me, Jayemm just doesn't get this car. This is a car Merc has built for an elite class of customers since the 500 SEC (w126) of the '80s and the S500 coupe (w140) of the '90s. They have always been more expensive than the equivalent sedans and have always been built to cruise indefinitely at continent-crushing speeds. And, yes, this CL55 and its swoopy roof do look beautiful to me from all angles...!
My childhood dream car in this particular colour and the perfect example of why you shouldn't buy the cheapest one available.
The C215 is not a car which Mercedes tried to save money producing, in fact, they were not profiting from them due to production costs..
Did over 100k miles in mine, absolutely loved it!
Yes always been a special car, bought a 1 owner 2004 CL500 (35'000 miles, paid £11250) and thought I'd keep it for ages but traded it in for a GTi after a year (lost a shed load of money)
We've all been there mate. If I told.you how much I lost on my Z4 after just 8 months of ownership your head would swim. I'm talking deep into five figures...
That car was way ahead of its year, and the reason why the windows have no pillar and the line comes together in a harsh way was actually a design on purpose to give the water from rain a track to go to from the top of the car to the bottom without blurring your eyesight looking through the rear glass. It was also a design to give the car a little more unsubtle edge being that it is a remembrance of the SL body but larger and able to carry an extra two bodies in the back../ its entire purpose was design for being a weekend car for two couples staying in a country club or getaway for the weekend, not ever designed to be a daily driver. More like a 3rd family car for when dad needs to blow some steam off from work or the wife and go golfing hence the small but perfect trunk for clubs or a weekend bag or two or three. It was designed for a wealthy man of the 40-60 year old bracket Witt lots of cash and a taste for the most modern utility at the time of its engineering. Technically it’s over engineered and Mercedes made zero profit on this car because of the quality of craftsmanship and the technology features that almost no car had in its era.
The one feature this car missed was the back-up camera, which is now standard on all US vehicles. And I don't think the cassette player has ever been used since it was obsolete at least 5 years previous.
I'm still confused as to why car manufacturers put wood in cars and then treat it (however they do that) so that it looks like plastic.
In most cases, people want ta shiny finish. So it gets painted and polished. Another reason is that all cars should look the same and that the painting on it saves it from fading out in the sun for a while. Leather in normal cars is also full of chemicals and it feels od because they make it also heat, scratch, fire and fluid "resistant" which makes it at the end feel like artificial leather comparing to good furniture with the same type of leather but untreated.
The wood also needs to be treated in a way that prevents it splintering and flying apart in the event of an accident.
@@marcnobel3938 Interesting answer, thanks.
@Martin Svensson Doesn't look like any wood I've ever seen outside of a car. Same is true of most wood in cars. One example I can think of that is different is the wood in a Volvo V90, which actually looks like wood.
A lot of it is probably down simply to 'what people want' - and wood in cars has often been highly polished, etc. and so that's what people associate with 'wood in cars'. Maybe it was meant - in the old days - to look like the kind of wood furniture the money'd had in their drawing rooms, I wouldn't know. Still looks like fake wood, though.
@@Dez456 Interesting, thanks. Mind you, Volvo can manage to make their wood look like wood.
Nice review. I think the CL is a lot of car for the money when buying it used as long as you get one in good shape and it has been maintained properly. I like the styling and the fact that there aren’t that many out there. It is kinda in a class by itself.
...and my other beef was the windows defoliating at the edges...double glazed.
I own a CL 55. It's a great car. Admittedly the face is not the most attractive but that said the cabin is fantastic and the smoothness and raw power is great too. They are expensive but overall I'm happy. It's a quirky and cool car. Destroys most cars too!
I bought a 2003 CL55 AMG brand new. Loved that car!
At what point in time mileage did abc system give you trouble. Since you're first owner?
@@trutube5955 I actually traded it in, along with my Range Rover, in 2006...so, I never had any issues.
Owned an 04 and 05, CL55 and CL600 sport for about 4.5years each. Love em both. Styling, interior, design, rarity, power, smoothness and of course the pillar less design.
The downside is parts are really expensive if you want to keep it oem (which i did) and they are pretty pain to work on especially the V12 (turbo cooler lines, motor mounts...). Abc is fantastic when it works. $3500 tune ups on the V12 don’t help.
Love the car and video, thank you.
I hope you can answer me this: Is the suspension on a CL 55 much stiffer than on a CL 600? I just bought a CL 55 AMG, and it rides harder than I thought (not uncomfortable, it`s not jumpy or really harsh). My friend drives a C216 CL 600 and it is a good bit softer and more comfortable.
@ yes definitely 600 is smoother. 55 should be pretty smooth as well, check for worn components.
@@DEEuroworks I`ve heard that these spheres can lead to a stiffer suspension. But, how I feel about the suspension is highly subjective, and I may need to find another CL 55 AMG to compare mine to.
According to the EPC, the AMG has different ABC struts compared to the non AMG models.
@ if the spheres are bad it usually becomes really rough the ride, bouncy usually, sometimes you will get the abc light while hitting bumps.
@@DEEuroworks yes, that's what I've read. But the ride isn't rough or bouncy, just relatively stiff. I just expected it to be softer. But getting behind the wheel of another CL 55 AMG near me is gonna take some time, these aren't common cars anywhere
I have exactly this model. It’s magnificent.
I totally missed this review until now. Amazing car love the CL gran tourers.
I have 2003 cl 55 amg and 2004 s55 amg hmmmm 🤔 I love them both 😁
You’re crazy if you think a S class looks better than the CL. At least in these years. I never once lusted for a S55 the same way I did over a CL55. I wish I still had mine, sold it, thinking of buying another one. And every time I pulled up next to a S55, bet who’s looking at who. You just don’t see these cars. With just a little modification and tasteful mods, these cars can be gorgeous IMHO.
You just don't get it... the 99 - 06 CL looks GREAT! That is why I'd prefer it over the S-Class...
Always one of my fav Merc generations & one of my fav now-modern-classic derivatives
Coming from a 90s Supra, a couple E39 M5's, GT-R and F430: I always really liked the exterior and interior of these. I've never minded the faux convertible-look around the rear pillars, and I especially thought the face was cute. I don't like autos (why I sold the R35 within 8 months after getting it first month it was on sale) but if you had to have an auto I'd like this. I would have liked to spec one in sky blue metallic, butter-colored interior with birds' eye maple trim. I don't like the AMG wheels but that's fine as you're hardly forced to take them. And curse you for talking up these old bargains but yes, a hell of a lot of car for the money, even if you include the repairs and operating costs. I'd take an E38 over an S for the cross-Europe road trips and airport runs I think, but would do so knowing I was getting second best.
JayEmm. Enjoy your posts!!! But, why focus on that little nit, the seal between the roof and the body. Focus on the lines. This version of the CL is a modern beauty from Benz. Add the 55 AMG, and the Lorinsor package, it is a beautiful Beast!! Only my S65 AMG is a little smoother, Faster! Fastest production sedan in the world, circa 2006! The Granddaddy of Beasties!! Haha Ha! Smiles! Which one to I drive today? Hmmm? :)))
One of the most slept on cars ever!
Can kind of see where your coming from with he "s-class" look towards to rear.. still an amazing looking car !
How can you not like the lines of the CL?I think its timeless
That is a great review. However, I wouldn't agree with you regarding the looks and your general opinion about the C215 CL. I think the C215 coupe is one of the most beautiful mercedes ever built. I do own a CL 55 AMG V8 Kompressor with a rare DESIGNO interior. The car is factory standard and well maintained. Since especially only 4163 vehicles, of the 55 AMG V8 Kompressor, were (hand-) built in total in a manufactory, I personally think that the C215 CL, and especially the AMG versions, is that special to become a future classic car. Some technology is still pretty unique
I had a Mercedes cl600 for 3 years.
I loved that car, it was classy, fast and stylish, but i did not love the ABC suspension system one bit. When it was working it was one of the best handling cars around for its size. However when the system played up or broke it was the most expensive and dangerous handling car I have ever driven. I found my self constantly waiting for the dash ABC light to come on and constantly waiting for the distinctive ABC oil smell 😕
My cars ABC was perfect for the first two years then it went bad at every opportunity.
I am a very mechanical hands on guy, I have rebuilt many things, however this bloody ABC thing🤬 I rebuilt the solenoid blocks and piping act, but it would work for a while and then "ping" light on dash again. The car would drop in height and would wallow like a wallowing thing and was dangerous indeed.
On a car this expensive when new the ABC system certainly was a crappy system.
I got rid of the car because after 3 years because the ABC system was outrageous. In fact I scrapped it, shame really because everything was perfect with the car, but that god dam ABC system 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Does the SL also have the ABC?
@@000GunterGabriel000 oh yes
How often did you check the Pentosin fluid levels of the ABC and top it up when needed?
@@MrIFARI mate I know alot about various cars and there various systems including the ABC systems.
I know my way around many many cars, from rebuilding various exotic engines to complex running and suspension systems. So I am not that man you were thinking I was.
Checking the fluid has zero to do with the ABC problems I experienced. I even did how to write ups for two of the CL forums. Write ups on how to rebuild the valve blocks, write ups on how to change and prime the ABC pump ect. So Iike I said, I know them.
There are two types of CLs, the ones with problematic ABC systems and the ones that will have it soon.
@@minatormyth What problems did you have with the ABC - specifically?
I had pleasure of owning a Cl600 Facelift, With speedriven intercoolers,downpipes & tune 700hp kit i got 19mpg on average. Sounds amazing on start up, Beautiful car however i share your oppion on the rear roof rear window really let the design down. Pillarless windows tho..Incredible door hinges really is a stunning coupe more you look around it more attention to detail you find, that just isnt there on a E class or S class The c215 is a heavy beast n wears everything quicker then a w211 But CL are build to rival no other they are truly special
These are an incredible amount of car for the money, if you can afford the upkeep (and as there's one on Autotrader for £6,500 on 100k miles, you can factor in the upkeep costs and it's still pretty cheap).
Purely personal, but I have a visceral loathing of grey interiors - a miasma of blandness.
Great video, James.
Much, much prettier than an S class, and way less stodgy.
Car enthusiasts really don't care about the entertainment center in the car ! To make their own entertainment with the car itself !
I’d consider buying a CL (maybe even the 600 or 65)...what am I thinking?
As much as I love the S55 AMG, now having the S65 Beast Benz, I would opt for the CL65 in a New York second! :)
Can you do the Merc CL65? I know it's a similar car, but the power will speak for itself.
Hard to find, but a cool car. One of the first serial production cars to eclipse 600 horsepower. I rode in one in 2005, dark blue over sand leather and unpolished wood Designo trim.
Correction, you can't do amy tuning on the V12, only the V8 with a Kompressor hits the real numbers....
@@SeemplesCL55 what do you mean? So guys have cl65 AMG with over 700 hp and more
@@bernardwarr4187 Yes! I have a CL55 with 630bhp and know of other vehicles with the AMG 5 speed box running 750bhp plus.....
@@SeemplesCL55, what year CL55 do you have? I've got the 2003 CL55 AMG & supposedly it has 493 bhp* with 516 ft-lbs of torque. I have done away with the 155 mph limiter & I was told anyway, a "slight" boost improvement to *performance. The asterisk is to note that I'm unsure of what performance improvement may have been added with the computer tuning I had done. I would be afraid of turning up the performance too much since the car wasn't engineered for much more than what it had from the factory. Presumably you've had your car tested on a dyno to ascertain its horsepower at 630 bhp? Just curious. Also, have you really noticed the boost in bhp over the original? Again, I'm just curious. At my age, which is 61, I'd like my CL55 to be my last car & drive it until I am no longer able to drive, which explains why I'm less than enthusiastic about trying to gain as much as possible in performance. Regards!
as a owner, i must say this video was very refreshing. I thank you
I want to own a CL65 AMG with that bi-turbo V12, but you don’t see many around and running costs might be 💸
Cool car to see on the road; CLs have always been a head turner for me. But I’ve no desire to own one and definitely not to maintain one. Maybe they’re better suited for the older gentleman...
This man is triiiiiiiipin son, this is one of the most beautiful cars ever made
I love everything about the looks apart from the small quad headlamps, they just remind me of the much cheaper in the range C180 coupe of the same time. Also I'm not a fan of the way the wood trim curls over the edge of the centre console. Other than that I'd definitely have one.
I am currently looking into a black cl55. I now have a 2000 Mercedes e320.
I love these cars, they are very elegant in my opinion. However what I don't like is the suspension on these which is a nightmare to fix if it goes wrong.
My Benz mechanic recommendation is to replace the ABC juice every 2 years, which hardly anyone does.
This one is a cool car, however very rare already and old. Would be interesting to see the review of the next CL - C216. Which is still not so old, relatively modern and actual and at the same time you can still find low mileage car for a good price.
Just wanted to know which is the best the 600 the 55AMG or the 65AMG?
I love the CL. My uncle had the next gen CL550, gorgeous car. Love the pillarless design. He regrets selling it every day lol. Now he has a brand new S550 from MB of Calabasas, and a brand new Bullitt Mustang from The world Famous Galpin Ford dealership here in the San Fernando valley.
I'd definitely have a face lifted cl65 amg if the budget ever allows.
Great going through all your older videos. Class. Thanks.
I could of got the 500 hp one for £2k around 5 years ago kicking my self now there worth over £12k 😭
I would rather have the SL of that era than the CL class, I agree the side profile didn't look cohesive but what a bargain at 10K now.
The SL600 had/has bags of feel-good factor, until the ABC quits out on you
Having owned a CL55 Kompressor for 14 years and thankfully the original owner paid for many extra 'services'. So I'm left with a standard car (no), lightenined by 265Kg with a big belt conversion on the supercharger to produce 645bhp and the figures change.... These cars can be tuned to near 900bhp without a gearbox change! I don't believe the reviewer understands that much about the potential of the vehicle.....
i think it looks way nicer than the s class
Personally I love this type of car, power and luxury for less money than a Ford Focus… what’s not to like 👍
I love the looks of CL, i think it's a beautiful looking car and have toyed with buying one many times but it keeps coming down to the fact the roof doesn't come off, maybe one day.
I have owned a tuned SL55 and before that a CLK500 convertible, next spring i have decided on an SLK55, it would be great if you could review one of those.
Fantastic review on a unique car... U NEED MORE SUBS!!!!
Thankyou
The CL is by far the very best car ever built and not at all comparable to a common S class. Is was undeniably the trendsetter for the design and technology in many of todays cars. But Jay finds it 'oddly ohkay'. Lol !
Its funny, because the CL's looks are the main thing I like about it. To me the S class looks like a boring sedan while this looks like an almost exotic super GT. It has a presence
I think I would buy one (but probably the latest generation) if I just wanted to treat myself, you know, spend money, get something really fancy just for the pleasure. It's not a type of car that makes any sense other than the subjective experience of owning, driving, HAVING it, knowing that you have it and feeling damn good about it. I think it's nicer than the S-class when you just want to drive it yourself or with one passenger - the smaller interior 'wraps around you' and envelops, cocoons you, whereas in the S-class you would probably 'get lost' in the cavernous interior and potentially feel weird with no rear passengers.
It's the same thing I think when comparing the 3 series to the 5 series - the 3 felt *just right* when I sat in it whereas the 5 felt a bit unneccessarily large. I think cars like the 5 series feel just right when cruising on autobahn or just on long stretches of road with higher speeds AND/OR when travellling with more people. I get this eperience from my Opel Omega - it feels a bit too wide, too long when I'm just driving myself around town but when I get people in the back or just get on the freeway the big boat suddenly makes sense. So bigger cars like the S-class have to feel this way even more.
Abc suspension is not reliable
I have cl500 2001 beautiful car but it likes petrol stations
Not sure why you would buy this over an SL? Surely the SL ticks the coupe box whilst also being a drop top, all I can think of this has a bigger boot.
This is more luxurious and the SL is more sporty. But neither is truly sporty.
Edit: don't forget this has rear seats. And not a 2 + 2 but four real seats. Lacking the complex folding roof there's less to go wrong too
One of Mercedes best looking cars and such a bargain - I bought a CL55 a few months ago - it’s great!
A future classic. Great review.
I have to finally disagree here with you, the cl is so much better looking than the s class.
I had a peach of a cl500 c215 then moved to a cl63 Amg 216
So much more car than the S and so much more road presence, big Merc coupes are just class!
Coupé are the pinnacle of Mercedes styling, especially today with the C Coupé and E Coupé, and of course S Coupé (whilst it's still available).
I would argue about the looks. The S-class from that era has aged incredibly badly, on the inside it looks like business as usual, but on the outside it now looks like a cheap shadow of a luxury car, think Kia Opirus or the Lancia Thesis. The CL, especially the rear window, the B pillar and pillarless design makes it look like some actual art and design went into it. Not just "err, lets make a sedan like last time, but lets make it with rounder edges and lighter lines than last time."