Hello Everyone,

I always told myself that I would never buy a Mercedes-Benz made after the year 1995.

However, recently, I have been browsing for fun and have been spotting some, unreal to me, deals.

I have found several 2000 CL500s, one of my favorite newer cars for about $15,000.

Are these cars so unreliable that they are worth less than 20% of what they cost brand new? What has made these cars loose their value so fast?

__________________
2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

HIGH & frequent repair costs $$$$$

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

OP: In case you haven't noticed, the current economy sucks. You can basically buy any high end car you want for chump change right now.

There is no demand, and so prices are falling like a rock across the board. You can buy a 2005 E55 for like $28k now, with a year or two of warranty left. How about the new 2006 E60 M5? Well $40k's buys you a nice one. Hell, $30k buys you a nice 2003+ R230 SL500 sport.

Everyone is taking a bath on cars, and it's definitely a buyers' market. That is, assuming you can get a loan, since they're denying even most people with 700+ credit scores and good income. It's a bloodbath.

The 220 and the 215 are two of most unreliable and stupidly most expensive to maintain models in the Mercedes family.

The early W211 also falls in this category. Want a reliable newer Mercedes? Get a face lifted W211 or get a W221. With the economy as it is going, they should be cheap to buy sooner than later.

__________________
A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

I love the look of the CL500, too. It's a blast to drive, but I was scared away by the high cost of maintaining it. That's a shame. I've seen CL600 selling for dirt cheap. That's got to be REALLY expensive to keep running.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

They are old cars now, almost 9-10 years old.

Still thats my favorite CL, I'd go for a 2003+.


They look so nice I wouldn't have a problem fixing it. Cheaper than a Ferrari or Porsche!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200