I am driving myself nuts......thinking of buying a cls55....when the cls first came out I did NOT like it.....it has been calling to me ever since.....I am thinking of trading in my 01 S500 AND my 2000 C4 Cab for this car......the power, the styling....the POWER....it is all there....but not sure if I should....I have a couple of questions for existing cls owners....why the detune from the HP on the S55 motor? Can this be cranked back up by an ECU mod? Also, on the new information center, is there a hack to make the dvd actually play dvd while driving....I have heard in Europe this is legal and you can play them while you drive?.....not for me to watch but kids, wife, etc....

Tomorrow is buy it day, and just wondering what others thoughts are on the car......read a good deal of previous posts, but it did not get me off the fence....

Thanks,

 

wow 2 cars like that ... for a cls55?
I do not understand the fascination with it, so far it hasn't grown on me yet

 

I love the CLS body style, but I am biased. I belive the DVD functions is possible. There have been many threads over at MBworld.org. There are a series of buttons on the head unit that you press which allows you to change an internal setting. I have not done this yet. The button that works DVD's is the SAT button. So if you have SAT radio in the car the DVD function will not work unless you lose SAT radio.

 

Try getting in and out of the back seat a few times and that will cure your nutiiness....keep your head down, way down.

It's not very practical, as a four door, and I tire quickly of the looks. When I first saw it at the Frankfurt Auto show 2 years ago I loved it...but now it lready seems dated...I think Lexus might have copied it and got their iteration to market first (GS 300)

Now if performance, not shape is the driver, there are many better choices out there.

 

I LOVE THE CLS!!!!! I don't know if I would trade in both those vehicles for it though.

 

burnr8,
to answer some of ur questions, here's what i know.

the horsepower difference from CLS55/E55 to S55/CL55/SL55 is due to different exhaust design. the engine is exactly the same. the dyno result on the stock CLS55 we recently experienced is quite impressive. it was 443hp and 446ft/lbs to the wheel, u do the math. if that's the case MB is understating the true HP/TQ. as a official Kleemann dealer, we have different stages tuning for the car. a simple stage I kit (pully, intake, ECU) will give u another safe 45~50hp gain same to the torque not to mention the stage II & III.

in order to play DVD u need to lose the SAT radio function. to do that u'll need to buy the Euro Command system. the US one will not work.

i've been driving mine for over a month now. the car is running better than i expected. quiet, comfortable & can be a monster if i want it to be. however, u'll have to think hard what position is ur C4 because the CLS can't replace the handling of it although u might have a nice transation between the C4 & S500. now i have second thought on the incoming M5 because i feel like the CLS is actually fitting my needs better; more city driving friendly due to low-end torque, looks better & should be more comfortable.

cnc,
the car has never marketed as a roomy 4 door sedan but a coupe. the idea of coupe is never practical. now if u have 2 extra doors on a coupe then it's very practical. depends on how u look at it. from day one MB carefully stated it's a coupe. they did that is because they need to prevent people like u from complaining. the idea might sounds stupid but the market needs it. if u need a true 4 door & 5 seater car u'll buy the E-class or S-class. i rarely carry passengers but i like the idea to have doors for them if needed yet the car looks sporty enough. at least they don't need to kick back of my seats when they go in & out.

bottomline, if u have to have a true sports car the CLS is not for u. if the rear seating room is important the CLS is not for u. otherwise there's nothing else on the market yet, period.

 

20C4S,

You're right it's not for me, and I rarely carry passengers. In many colors the car looks awkward. The GS 300 is very similar though not as big looking.

I love that AMG 55 engine..but in a G55....oh, I know, it's dated too but it's true retro!

 

thought about that too since there's no more or ever be a car like the G even better the 55. only if i had the extra cash...

 

btw, awkward is good. at least it's different design for people to get used to. when there's new design it's always exciting. do u like the 5 or 7?

 

As EX 05 E55 owner, i can tell you those engines are great, but on a hot day or after few laps on the track they have heat soak problem. epsecially if you mod you car with larger pulley! If you want more info go to MBWorld E55 section lots of intresting topics to read, Its surely very sexy and powerfull cars!

 

they're not track cars to begin with. i'd feel bad to track them.

 

the exhuast sounds like it gurggling hahaha!

 

how come even if you take TC off its still on ???

 

Buy it! You will not regret it! This is a Bad *** car, no doubt about it. The performance, sound and looks are all fantastic.

Just buy it! You will be smiling all of the time you drive it.

 

i love the cls.
but i don't know if i'd give up two already great cars for it.
after a while, everyone will have one, then you'll be feening for your big boy 500 and your pcar.
just my .02