[W126 Coupe] S500/CL500

[Mister McGoo]

I don't know the CL's but I do know the W140 had some issues that can lead to personal bankruptcy, depending on how sensitive your bank account is.  One particularly bothersome problem (generally for all M-B's mid-nineties) is the biodegradable wiring harness.  That manifests itself with intermittent shorts in electrical circuitry that defy tracing.  After you spend a few thousand on fixing and replacing things that aren't the problem, you finally break down and replace the main wiring harness.  The insulation cracks and flakes off the wires, often inside bundles unseen.   The 140's are nice comfortable cars, bags of luxury and beautiful to drive.  
Just confirm that the wiring harnesses have been replaced.  If not, it's overdue.  And because it doesn't raise its ugly head for a few years, it's not under warrantee.
-Al


From: Mark at BurkhardtLeitnerInc.com
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 17:23:08 -0500
Subject: [W126 Coupe] S500/CL500
















Hi Everyone,

I’m thinking about buying a 95-96 S500 Coupe or an
03-04 CL500 as a daily driver; to reduce the miles [240,000 of them] that I’m
putting on my 91 SEC.

I realize I won’t get the nearly daily compliments I receive
with the 560, but so be it.

I always store the SEC in the winter, but I probably will
drive which ever ‘Newer Coupe” I find.

 

Does anyone have any experience with one or both of these.

I’m wondering about comparative:

                Maintenance
costs

                Comfort

                NVH
[noise, vibration, harshness]

                Future
values

                Insurance
costs

                Winter
handling [I would use Blizzaks]

                and,
any other considerations anyone can suggest

 

A friend of mine who has had both,  suggested skipping
the 140 series and going to the CL; but I am interested in other opinions from
the group as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

Mark







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