Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Registered from 1997 to 2014.
About this model
The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is a line of grand tourers which are produced by German automaker Mercedes-Benz, produced from 1992 to 2014. The name CL stands for the German Coupé Luxusklasse (Coupé-Luxury). It was considered by Mercedes as their premier model.
From the Wikipedia article Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2002 5.0 petrol. 59 of 307 tests failed, 19%.
Better than 91% of 2002 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 558 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 44% | 26 |
| Tyres and wheels | 34% | 20 |
| Lights and electrics | 32% | 19 |
| Brakes | 20% | 12 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 15% | 9 |
| Body and structure | 14% | 8 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
Where it stands out against its peers
- Tyres and wheels: failed more often than 97% of 2002 cars — 34% of its 59 failed tests, where an ordinary 2002 car has 12%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 44% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Tyres and wheels — 34% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brakes — 20% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Lights and electrics — 32% of its failures
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Seat belts and airbags — 15% of its failures
- Body and structure — 14% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 20% of its inspections, against the 30% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80k miles | 19% | 25% | 54 | |
| 80–100k miles | 20% | 27% | 51 | |
| 100–120k miles | 19% | 28% | 63 | |
| 120–140k miles | 18% | 29% | 60 | |
| 140–160k miles | 20% | 30% | 30 |
258 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.