Was I tucked up on this cheap Mercedes CL500?

[@nekite1]

Will definitely get some tickets for this. As somebody who worked in education supporting young people with learning difficulties for a long time, I think this is a very worthwhile cause. Just bought some tickets.

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@JAYPCARS]

I picked one up a few months back for £400, it was wrapped in a horrific black and gold ensemble with a couple weeks left on the MOT. After unwrapping it, I can see why they wrapped it, nothing like the paintwork on yours! Fitted new handbrake shoes, rear pads and discs and got it MOT'd. Equivalent of £154,000 in todays money!

[@zeeus13]

I have been watching your progress with this! I am going to pick one up on Monday (fingers crossed). Looking forward to watching the road trip video!

[@JAYPCARS]

@@zeeus13 Thanks man!

[@alanedwards3180]

Wahoo,a bonus Sunday video. Good to see the regular content back james .

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks Alan!

[@OldCarsNewVan]

I don't think you've been done over at £2200 even with that fault - beautiful car - quite tempted 🤣

[@ChopsGarage]

Well could be yours

[@OldCarsNewVan]

@@ChopsGarage it's a good job I've had a few wines 🤣 entered the comp🙃

[@alanthomson1227]

@@ChopsGaragelooks like a bargain for some lucky buyer . I had a smaller supercharged Mercedes for five years + , never needed so much as a bulb or wiper blade . Sailed through MOTs , only changed it as I was scared of things s out to happen , main,y paranoia on my part . Wish I’d kept it as a secret car .

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Yes, the old "I've spilt a bit" ruse, love it.

[@ChopsGarage]

lol

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@ChopsGarage that brera s is going bud, 2895,big loss, subframes had it, timing chain, windows, probably about 3k loss, never mind the work...

[@ChopsGarage]

@@roystonvehicles9129 bummer , what you have sold it or it's up for sale?

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@ChopsGarage put it up, stressing the rusty subframe, day one a guy was mad keen, 2895,autotrader says 11k (!) bought it from Co part in lock down, 5k plus fees, plus delivery, absolute nightmare, sometimes this job is like walking around with holes in your pockets mate(!)

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@ChopsGarage I could have swopped out the subframe, but then it's chain and I've got enough on atm.

[@colinallen39]

Nice looking motor James , always enjoy your videos

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@albertsmith1048]

A gearbox service next?. Lovely old motor, sheer luxury.

[@davidives7204]

Stunning looking Motor

[@Garffey]

Must admit James I expected you to loose at least one limb with the CL! 😁As people say, buying a big flash car ain't a problem just make sure you have a budget to match!....Glad to see you got the mot without too much hassle.

[@richardskinner6804]

Big respect to you for supporting them , definitely but tickets

[@ChopsGarage]

Many thanks

[@parkecorepersonaltrainingp2601]

There great cars I have had done for the past two year and love it. ❤. Great vid

[@Barbarapape]

I would say that with a new power steering pump not a refurbished one and the scuffs seen to, you will have very nice long distance cruiser. Never fit reworked pumps, they just don't last. Even after a clean MOT this should still be a nice little earner as Arthur would say.

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@marklawrence2417]

I would have gone refurbished, they don't make new pumps so the seals are already old! I did have one of these for 5 years back in the day - amazing car with 4 proper seats. Mine was a pre face-lift so was prone to more electrical gremlins. Still have a huge soft spot for them...

[@Barbarapape]

@@marklawrence2417 A very good point, any OEM parts will be old stock, and non OEM parts are best avoided. I have owned two AMG 63 estates and realy liked them, but as they age the gremlins start.

[@Breezey1983]

Lovely old beast that, not seen one on the road in ages

[@JohnHoganN8]

People will be hankering for the analogue experience. These tablets stuck on the dashboard get tired really quickly.

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes bloody fiddly

[@adzy166]

Spot on. Tablet dashes are hideous.

[@CL500MBZ]

In the USA prices are starting to climb for good condition cl500. This is the time to buy. Makes a great daily driver.

[@DavidBrown-bs7gg]

Had one of these, in CL65 form. was epic

[@cdmotorslogisticsltd]

Beautiful car James.👍

[@debbytickhill5586]

The front wings are plastic so don't rust, the rest of the body is aluminum. The abc suspension is amazing when working properly if you go fast enough it will actually lean into a corner, I paid 2k for mine and had it 18mths before selling it for 2k, the fluid for the suspension is expensive though

[@jeremywentworth1833]

I know someone who bought CL500 in 02 and it cost £87,000 looks adsatly the same .i remember ut waa the 1st car id seen with a TV which could only be seen from the passenger side unless car isnt moving then Driver could watch. I can even remember what was on Richard & Judy on Good morning. Same fella still has it as well as a 19plate E400d coupe.

[@SPGDetailing]

Alex from Legit street cars has done a whole series trying to fix his ABC system.....he is a highly skilled Mercedes tech and it took him a LONG time to get it sorted, along with massive expense. I hope you fare better but I'd fear the worst.

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes not cheap

[@Nicknofish]

Nice one chops, proper motor. Cheers.

[@ChopsGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@trevorjarvis3021]

Wonderful looking, big motor. 😊

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes indeed!

[@martynm.449]

Would love a CL500. It sounded beautiful when it fired up.

[@ChopsGarage]

It does for sure

[@Fireman9ify]

At 2200 i think its a decent deal, he must have looked after the car because Mercs of that era tended to be rusty around the back arches and windscreen

[@johnosullivan2017]

Lots of electrics in the boot, so they can go if it's stood outside every winter. You got the M113 V8, much simpler than the later direct injection turbo V8s.

[@stephenrichards5386]

Have a look at SPR video going through Matt's CL500

[@liamegan4303]

Hi Mate. I ❤️ these cars, bro. This one is so clean. But i think you didn't do badly with this one, even with the leak being done. Great idea to Raffle it. At least we all can get a chance to own it, and for a brilliant cause. That Top- Don is very impressive 👏👌. Keep up the great work, mate. Lovely intior, and it has all the bells and whistles. Only for im in Ireland, i would buy it from you in a second, lol 💯🚗🏁🇮🇪

[@ChopsGarage]

Many thanks

[@chrisblay]

A lot of them were executive company cars back in the day.

[@ChopsGarage]

I bet

[@henrykravitz468]

Paying £2200 for that car isn't bad James. Great way to support a non-profit organization.

[@KevinSimpson_576]

You’ve got to love a pair of ditch finder on a rear wheel drive V8😅

[@seanODonnell-br8ws]

Great Looking Oldskool Car👌I'm Sure These Have A Built In Transponder, Where You Can't Drive Past A Fuel Station🤔😀 Great Cause Again James. Will Be Purchasing Some Tickets. Keep Up The Excellent Content👌👍

[@italianjob-vx6hp]

It's a beauty!

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@ultimaetsolder]

Its a not honda civic lol but not everyone is in poverty. Beautiful!

[@ChopsGarage]

lol

[@tardeliesmagic]

Avoid Mercs older that 15yrs, it'll be agro. I got the JS2000, had a flat battery on a 1.3L car & it started with ease! Didn't even use the boost button function. Worth getting a JS jump starter,you never know! It's light,small & takes no room to store....lasts 6 months roughly before a re charge is needed to top it up.

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes keep little one in bag for phone charging emergancy

[@michaelmansfield-corbett96]

I had a same era S class. It was the best worst car I ever had. In 2003 I spent £1,000 with the dealer in a year plus £2.5K of paintwork due to rust under warrenty, and I didn't even get it serviced. I shipped it in for a glorious Audi A8 and didn't look back. Good luck mate. Don't worry about the cost. It's all expensive😆

[@ruk2023--]

Back then Mercedes must have spent an awful lot of money on designing real wood that looks fake back. It's a very well optioned car. Anyone who paid for vented seats in 2003 has paid for all the toys.

[@ChopsGarage]

Interesting cheers

[@bmwman1981]

It’s real veneer I has the same dash as the w220 sclass which had real wood

[@ckm-mkc]

A friend had one of these, they are huge. He looked ridiculous in it as he was quite short.... Sold it & bought a GT-R instead - got rid of that as it was a geek magnet.

[@ChopsGarage]

I bet

[@gwengo4167]

Nah, you weren’t done over. Not for that price. What you could potentially get for it. It’s in mint condition and obviously been looked after. Great cause as always. Just got myself some tickets 🤞🏻🤞🏻

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers mate

[@Scot-land]

Beautiful car

[@ChopsGarage]

It sure is!

[@AndyfromSurrey]

Tickets bought. Quite fancy running around in that V8 😂

[@jonp5641]

Are Nankangs any good?

[@ChopsGarage]

Id say not as good a the top brands but far better than budget

[@martinjackson565]

New power steering pump from Merc’s was £1500 years ago

[@greengoblin144]

Great video. Obviously I'm entering the raffle desp8te having nowhere to put it!

[@ChopsGarage]

lol, cheers

[@stephenrichards5386]

Easy to do with the Merc 500

[@Millennial_Manc]

SPR autos Mercedes specialist channel did a detailed video on issues with this car just like this one a couple of months ago

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@sneakpeak3855]

Ive been watching you and Joe for a while.. Im a beginner motor trader been going westbury bought 8 cars sold 5 in the past 2 months!! I had my first bit of bad news with a mini countryman i paud £3500 for out the door.. needs AUX belt and or water pump pulley + smoke coming from engine ( manifold ) 68k miles 2012 Cooper SD It was so wierd because i watched your video the night before on minis being bad used cars ( gutted really being someone who only stocks 3-5 cars at once!!

[@ChopsGarage]

Yes hurts more when volumes small

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Brilliant car James 👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@michaeloconnor7849]

If you keep it you will be the last owner of that, you may not wish to be but you will. The good news is that you will have an amazing time right up until it kicks the bucket, excellent choice hope you have a lot of fun with it.

[@ChopsGarage]

What is going to die then, I believe the engines are tough

[@stevie007]

👍👍

[@davidclarke9767]

The guy that High Peak motors go to with Mercedes in Cheshire, he did a video of one of those V8 Mercedes that High Peak bought for a couple of grand and said it wasn't economically viable to repair everything, as he said they can be one big money pit.

[@simonbailey2151]

Correct, that was the channel SPR Autos Mercedes Benz Service & Repairs. James should maybe have a look at their video.

[@bmwman1981]

That’s real wood veneer on this year later ones had the fake stuff

[@juliandone15]

I nearly bought one last year with the AMG exhaust..... The guy wanted £1200. There were ABC faults and interior trim defects but it was an excellent driver and just over 100k. It would have been brilliant for Beckys wedding. But I hesitated and it went elsewhere 😢

[@kevincross9206]

What a lovely car, great raffle prize 👍🏻

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@watm80]

Love a CL

[@adzy166]

“Alright Joel, fancy a new motor?” ;-)

[@paramedicchrisbookseries]

A bonus watching .❤

[@royfarley2601]

Lovely car that would sell easily here in Australia, where V8s are common.

[@ChopsGarage]

And fuel is cheap!

[@felawes]

Fabulous car, but needs to have had military grade servicing. And definitely not left unused for a period.

[@ChopsGarage]

Its funny how people love the mega low miles isnt it, Id rather have used every day

[@nekite1]

Oooh, that's a nice car.

[@ChopsGarage]

Isn't it

[@Mikemetalic]

Check out Legit Street Cars videos on his CL 500. He had loads of problems with his hydraulic suspension system. He's done several videos on trying to fix it. It looks like a complete nightmare.

[@GrrMeister]

*Try the Sat-Nav probably shows **_Roman Roads_** !*

[@roystonvehicles9129]

Had a sigma in stock, nearly 700 quid tax as post 56 plate, didn't stop people tho, plenty of interest, at the other end of the scale got people arguing about 150 tax cars, had a 208 last week, free tax and they were lovin that, 55 quid back in the 80s for 6 mths is actually worth 210 quid now, so any car then was 400 per year in real terms, nobody moaned then....

[@ChopsGarage]

Tax is tax people go on about it every vid but if it bothers you drive a i10

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@ChopsGarage a clio was due to go today bud, they're putting it off now till Friday coz they don't want to loose a mth on the tax (!)

[@roystonvehicles9129]

@@ChopsGarage sold a big volvo s 80 auto the other day, they didn't moan about the tax (395) but not many people want to sign up for a dd at say 35 a mth these days.

[@scousepie2]

I was going to enter the Draw but the website is harvesting my data.. so I will give it a miss..!!!

[@melvinphillips786]

My 2000 model came with original bill of sale for £91000

[@ChopsGarage]

Holly molly!!

[@melvinphillips786]

Yep, they were not cheap! Can't recall the Ferrari model at the time, but it was only £15k more.

[@lexrus7786]

Ive been watching a channel called spr i think its called, a mercedes specialist up north, and ive got to say, these mercs are money pits, even at very low mileage they have big issues

[@stephenrichards5386]

James, you got a bargain. High peak auto just (6 mths) bought one £1500. It's a wreck compared to yours

[@Billy-ym1uv]

What proportion of ticket sales goes to good causes?

[@ChopsGarage]

As a rule 25% but if the raffles over perform, as shown in prev videos, I give more.

[@derekfleming3095]

Chops, is there an alternative prize in the raffle ?

[@ChopsGarage]

Sure I'll update with alternative £4k cash

[@gerardphillips7507]

I wonder what the road tax is on that Mercedes?

[@trevorjarvis3021]

Would be interesting to know!!

[@ChopsGarage]

lol

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

About 1% of it's original cost, so inconsequential l'd imagine.

[@stuartarnold9224]

£415 ayear

[@1maico1]

The new rate is £415

[@whyldsteve]

YES!!

[@ChopsGarage]

Glad you are pleased lol

[@audibell]

Nice cars

[@TravelHonestly]

Stunning cars but the ABC system killed it. Beautiful car though. Loved mine but an absolute money pit.

[@iangriffiths985]

Drips because he spilt it filling but the bottle was empty, aye right

[@H8XME]

I would have purchased the car the easy way!! But had take my chances in the competition 🎉🙏🙌😅

[@ChrisDixon-jk6wp]

Had a fully loaded factory extra packages in our family from new years of luxury travel from a young adult when my dad owned it in 03 and the amount of love for the car so not a problem unfixed and fully suvice main dealership and I was lucky enough to have been given the car as he was able to afford his dream car sounding bentley continental so in 2019 his beloved cl 55 at 75000 miles on a 53 plate was given to me and I will never forgive myself for the sale of it in 2023 when I brought my dream car a 911 2001 and a very large difference in price but the cl is the better car in a lot of ways than you will admit to your friends and the only time I will be happy with my decision is because of the amazing feeling that you get from the 911 and the incredible performance that needs something special to challenge you in a very high quality turned race car on the road but if I could find a good condition cl I would buy it ASAP but it is so hard to find a very good example

[@stephenrichards5386]

If you have to top up any reservoir it's got a fault

[@ChopsGarage]

Washer bottle 😂

[@stephenrichards5386]

@@ChopsGarage 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I lived in SW France for 19 years and never topped up my windscreen washer bottle. The cars were serviced every year and the bottle was topped up by the mechanic 😅

[@nickmoore2301]

Co2 emissions on the DVLA website are 299 g/km. That's £735 a year toad tax 😂 They really want these old cars off the road 😳

[@vornamenachname5589]

That's a lot. My S500 with the same engine is 300 euros here in Germany. Only newer cars are taxed based on Co2.

[@ChopsGarage]

Nope these are not that much due to the age

[@nickmoore2301]

​@@ChopsGarage Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 Band M over 255 g/km £735 or £761.25 if paid monthly by Direct Debit. This information is taken directly from the DVLA website.

[@ChopsGarage]

@@nickmoore2301 Nope £415.

[@iangriffiths985]

@@nickmoore2301 that's wrong, its 400 quid, 22nd March 2006 the cutoff for 700 quidders

[@LegacyEuropa]

Lovely car. Huge risk so i've heard.

[@montykash3770]

Did previous owner know…….100%!

[@nickhaag7803]

£735 tax per year is the killer for cars of this age. Crazy money.

[@ChopsGarage]

This one's a lot less 400 odd

[@ianglover3642]

No seat belt butler's unfortunately, like the CLK has!

[@ChopsGarage]

Would not want those only ever break

[@stephenjones9153]

One thing i can not understand is how come all these luxury Gas Guzzlers are ULEZ Compliant especially when it kicks out almost ⅓KG of CO² every Km, absolutely crazy. It's definitely look after the Rich people and Stuff everyone else. I was looking at a 2009 Lexus 5Ltr V8 Limousine the other day and it was ULEZ compliant aswell even tho it only does around 18MPG and highest CO2 rating yet my little Toyota 1.4Ltr Diesel does 60MPG virtually no emissions and yet is not ULEZ Compliant 😢 our government is definitely a piss taking bunch of im alright jack stuff everyone else. Sorry for the Rant .👍 👍 .

[@ChopsGarage]

Mad isn't it! I guess they just set a cut off date. Does give great opportunity to stick it to them driving your great lump in. My 6.6 Firebird on 10 gallons to the mile is too lol

[@Brian-om2hh]

Old Mercs and BMW's are almost always more trouble than they are worth....

[@ChopsGarage]

Add to that anything really at 2003 unless its a nice simple Toyota

[@highpath4776]

Raffle- and are you going to be Shirt Sponser for the team ?

[@ChopsGarage]

No not sure if they do that

[@mikesheldon222]

You should not jump start this car or play around with it if ABC if you don't know what you are doing. Also,it has the wrong battery in the back.

[@jeremycanning8934]

LOL. If it had to be topped up then it has a leak.

[@tycorcoran4490]

Oh no! You are not a nice man! Oh yes you are. What a lovely toy

[@ChopsGarage]

Lol cheers

[@brianbickle7395]

I may have massively overspent 😊

[@ChopsGarage]

Loo

[@brianiswrong]

£70'000 in 2003 is equivalent to £138"000 today

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@renorti1]

should get £2500 for that with the fault fixed

[@ChopsGarage]

I'd lose money then lol , pumps £600 alone

[@highpath4776]

25percent of a lot is quite a bit

[@ChopsGarage]

What are we referring to here

[@jonss1948]

They are a nice vehicle but I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot, sterilized, barge pole, because parts are prohibitively expensive and the cost of fitting those parts ie Labour charges are monumental. Those are a couple of reasons their value drops like a bucket of cement.

[@ChopsGarage]

Why would labour rates be any higher, surely an hourly rate with your normal guys is the hourly rate, unless you are mad enough to go to main dealers

[@jonss1948]

With later model Mercedes' there is a level of expertise required that is sometimes beyond the scope of many regular Mechanics. I would never take any vehicle to a Dealer because they're scam merchants that just want to upsell but if you have a mechanic with the knowledge and capability then go for it. Although, my point about parts, still stands.

[@bluescribbler]

There are usually specialists who know their stuff In milton keynes we have AutoClass. They are amazing

[@glenjones6980]

​@@ChopsGarage Talking as a customer and also as a transporter driver my local Merc dealer is brilliant. Labour rates are reduced by 50% for cars over 10 years old. Took my E Class for a gearbox fault and they did the '50 point check' thing, a mile after leaving a bracket failed in the front suspension, it's not a part covered by the 50 point check. Two lads came out, had a look, ran me back to the dealer, priced the part, went back to fix it and brought the car back to me at the showroom in under an hour. No call out, no labour charge and the part was less than £30.

[@1maico1]

@@jonss1948 Depends on the part. A new Bosch alternator for this car is £251, MAF sensor £115, Bosch fuel injectors £58 each, Denso or Bosch lambda senor £48, ABC suspension struts £870 each. All from Autodoc

[@guy4469]

Rishi sunak loves these the tax is £300 a year its old .Put this in SPR in stockport i dare you .

[@ChopsGarage]

Dirt cheap for that engine size

[@1maico1]

£415

[@danielsellers8538]

Another raffle price James

[@ChopsGarage]

Cheers

[@reece4884]

Completely irrelevant but every time James says “Petey” it reminds me of the film dumb and dumber where Jim Carey taped a dead parrots broken neck and sold it to a blind boy who named it “Petey” Ok back to the normal comments below 👇

[@ChopsGarage]

lol

[@GrrMeister]

*Road Tax £415 a Year !*

[@ChopsGarage]

Bargain hey vs other big engine stuff , a auto Focus can be £200 plus

[@brenglover72]

Some diesel Audi / Volvo and petrol engine mondeos are £735 a year.....

[@Albebacck]

This cl’s are the definition of a money pit. They will bankrupt u fast.

[@ChopsGarage]

Old cars are

[@markrichardson3566]

Those high end cars are done at 120k

[@ChopsGarage]

lol, again lol Im in a 2006 Rangie with 150k, still going strong.

[@markrichardson3566]

Sorry,it's a parts car ❤

[@ChopsGarage]

lol!!! now this is brill! Its MOT,d and you just say me bombing it around and you say its parts car lol

[@harpo7226]

There is no such thing as a cheap cl500. Even if you buy it for £1.

[@ChopsGarage]

Lol