If I can't figure out how to make my commute home more tolerable, I may be in the market for some sort of luxo-yacht soon... so I want to pay attention to this thread.
If I can't figure out how to make my commute home more tolerable, I may be in the market for some sort of luxo-yacht soon... so I want to pay attention to this thread.
Okay, so update time. I mentioned that I was getting the cylinder 12 misfire in an earlier post. It only happened at WOT and not every time, but it was annoying when it did happen as I would have to pull over, clear the code, then carry on my way. Finally I decided to just go ahead and do the coil job. I mentioned this in another thread but will repeat here......I could have gotten by with just replacing the cylinder 12 coils in the pack on that one bank, and v12icpack.com actually outlines this process on their site as well as the cost. If you just purchase the coils they are $58 a piece, so around $120 if you DIY or $275 is you send the pack to v12icpack and let them do it. Well I thought about it quite a bit, and decided to just be proactive and do both coil packs and plugs. There is a great write up on one of the Benz forums on the process, so I followed it was a pretty painless job. While in there I noticed both valve covers were leaking enough to let oil pool in the plug wells, so I addressed that while I was in there. Costs:
2 fully rebuilt coil packs by v12icpack: 1400
24 ngk iridium plugs: 240
VC gaskets: $65
The job wasn't bad overall. I could do coils and plugs in a day now, but for my first time, and adding the VC gaskets, I would say it took me a weekend. I had to do it in sessions though since I had to send the coils off, so didn't fully track my time. I sent them off on a Friday and got them back the following Thursday (TN to CA and back). I also broke the nipple off a boost pressure sensor and had to order a replacement, but a new Bosch sensor was just $22 through autozone, so not bad at all.
After wrapping up the job I had to repair a vacuum leak I had created, but otherwise the job went well and, after a dozen or more full throttle runs, no check engine light! Next I plan to check out the ABC system because when I go over large bumps a warning flashes, which generally points to a fail accumulator. Once I dig into that I'll post another update.
This sort of tbing makes no sense until you drive one. E55 has turned me into an AMG fanboi. Not quite as problematic as a CL, blown V8, lovely interior. I get 15-20mpg and it eats tires. But there is more to life than gas mileage and this car makes every commute a pleasant one. I am so used to cars that are penalty boxes and no fun at all to be in til you cane them. This one is fun at all the time, even just sitting at a light...and when the road opens up, oh my. Nothing does the iron fist in the velvet glove better. If you have access to a shop with a lift, give one a go. Amazing how much of your own maintenence you can do on one of these with the internet and a lift...
In reply to Cotton:
Accumulator replacement isn't too bad of a job as far as DIY. Most people fear these high power luxury cars because they want to maintain them like you can maintain a 95 civic. A 95 civic isn't filled with luxury and 600ft lbs of torque. If you're mechanically inclined and somewhat resourceful I think you'll be fine. Mercedes has the most high mileage V12's on the road.
"Mercedes has the most high mileage V12's on the road."
With all due respect to everyone involved (and I'm totally enjoying getting all kinds of bad ideas and good advice from this thread), if the other V12s are from Jaguar, Ferrari, and Aston Martin then this statement is kind of like taking pride in being the highest mountain in Saskatchewan.
Stealthtercel wrote: "Mercedes has the most high mileage V12's on the road." With all due respect to everyone involved (and I'm totally enjoying getting all kinds of bad ideas and good advice from this thread), if the other V12s are from Jaguar, Ferrari, and Aston Martin then this statement is kind of like taking pride in being the highest mountain in Saskatchewan.
What about BMW?
Stealthtercel wrote: "Mercedes has the most high mileage V12's on the road." With all due respect to everyone involved (and I'm totally enjoying getting all kinds of bad ideas and good advice from this thread), if the other V12s are from Jaguar, Ferrari, and Aston Martin then this statement is kind of like taking pride in being the highest mountain in Saskatchewan.
Still the highest mountain in Saskatchewan 
Leaving aside geographical pride, I admit I forgot about BMW. My bad. Let the battle of the Teutonic titans begin!
Damn this doesn't help my itch for a clk55 amg. Although not as powerful I'm imagining lots of scary prices for parts.
Didn't top gear do a showdown between a cl600 turbo and an 850ci?
Yep. The Merc wiped the floor. However, it wasn't the biturbo, just the NA version.
I never see these around in person. I actually just parked next to a CL65 AMG at the Piggly Wiggly while making a run for Yuengling and pickle spears.
It has a lot of presence and the styling is a lot more balanced in person, in my opinion.
So, that's my CL search for the next day or two.
If they came with three pedals my searches would be more meaningful
I'm.... I'm not missing the 3rd pedal like I thought I would.
In reply to Cotton: I appreciate your calculating the cost of items. The last Mercedes Benz engine I rebuilt was the old V8 in a 450. The parts bill for that back in the late 70's was over $10,000 I spent more than a month looking for cheaper parts pricing but in the end went with dealer pricing because that was the only way (back then) I could ensure the parts actually fit..
Oh boy. I just agreed to buy a 'project' cl600. Here we go again! This one has the v12 twin turbo also. More details to come once the car is home.
I really need to stop falling into these rabbit hole threads that make me want to buy aging German super sedans.... but it feels so right.
Jay_W wrote: This sort of tbing makes no sense until you drive one. E55 has turned me into an AMG fanboi. Not quite as problematic as a CL, blown V8, lovely interior. I get 15-20mpg and it eats tires. But there is more to life than gas mileage and this car makes every commute a pleasant one. I am so used to cars that are penalty boxes and no fun at all to be in til you cane them. This one is fun at all the time, even just sitting at a light...and when the road opens up, oh my. Nothing does the iron fist in the velvet glove better. If you have access to a shop with a lift, give one a go. Amazing how much of your own maintenence you can do on one of these with the internet and a lift...
I like the SC v8 cars also. Next I'd really like to have an e55 wagon, but the resale on those seems to be stronger than the v12 cars....well the v12 cars I buy anyway.
The 2003 CL600 has landed! I have it on my lift, which was a challenge considering the completely collapsed suspension, but it didn't take long to find the source of the suspension issue, which is a busted damper hose running off the pump. I should have the hose off tonight ($329 new from Mercedes, but much much less from your local hydraulic shop), then will have a new hose made and hopefully on over the weekend. Once the hose is on I'll prime the pump (and hope it's still good), hope the car raises up, then bleed the system.
If the suspension comes back to life I'll start tackling the other issues....misfires (been there), dead cluster, trans sensor that occasionally keeps it from shifting into 5th. This car was a little more than half the price of the s600, but needs more TLC, so we'll see how it goes. I'll get some pics once I have the suspension tackled.
The cosmetic condition is actually really good. This was a one owner car, loaded with what options the CL600 didn't come with standard including parktronic, distronic, heated steering wheel, keyless go, and the sport package which includes the amg wheels and body kit. The owner always had it serviced at the dealer and spent a small fortune on that alone, so hopefully I can bring it back to life and make it into a semi reliable driver. If that happens I'll decide whether to keep the S600 and CL600, or sell one, or whatever....right now I'm just taking it one repair at a time.
Wow so you picked this one up for around $3000? Crazy not to!!
camaroz1985 wrote: Wow so you picked this one up for around $3000? Crazy not to!!
Yes, can't beat the price! I was bored one night and started searching Florida craigslist because I figured it would be a hotbed for neglected german luxury...I was right! I found this one in Ocala and it had only been listed for a day. I got additional pictures and after seeing a perfect interior and confirming that it actually ran it was a no brainer. I figured if nothing else it would be a good parts car for the s600, but after looking it over I think it's just too nice to part out.
DuctTape&Bondo wrote: another one for you Cotton, $4900 on the west coast
2002 should be an NA v12...wonder which they got wrong, the year or the engine? I'm not sure I can handle two of these things, so three might really put me in the mental ward! 
Decided to upload some pics from when it was getting loaded.
Wow...insane.
oh my
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