Mercedes-Benz CLS 218 Coupé 500, 408 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (2011–2014)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Mercedes-Benz CLS C218 (2010-2017): known problems and buying guide

  A middling buy. The diesel has the fewest known faults, while Airmatic and the petrol timing chains are costly to fix.

• Gearbox guide Mercedes 7G-Tronic (722.9) 7-speed automatic: problems, costs and what to check

  Buy only with fluid records and a clean full-system scan, and avoid any car that has run in limp mode or judders at a steady speed.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. M278 V8 (CLS 500): start the engine cold and listen. A rattle lasting 3 to 7 seconds points to worn tensioners. Ask for a record of a timing chain and tensioner job. Bad result: the rattle, or no job above 130,000 km. A scanner is not needed.
2. Airmatic: after the car has stood overnight, look for a corner that sits lower than the others, and watch for the Airmatic warning. A scanner reads the air pressure and runs a leak test. Bad result: a leak, a failing compressor or a sagging corner.
3. Recall: ask a Mercedes-Benz dealer, by VIN, whether the bulkhead clips from the 2015 engine-bay seal recall are fitted. The recall covers some petrol cars built July 2012 to December 2014. Bad result: no clips fitted.

From the gearbox guide

1. Read the shift pressure data with XENTRY or an equal Mercedes scanner. Bad result: pressure deviations above 0.5 bar, or adaptation values above 30 percent. Those point to valve body wear.
2. Read the full gearbox fault memory with a full-system scanner. An engine-only OBD2 reader does not show it. Bad result: speed sensor codes P0717, P0718, P0722 or P0793, or any stored limp mode.
3. Test drive cold and warm, and pull away from a stop. Bad result: stuck in 2nd, slipping between 1st and 2nd, or limp mode at about 48 km/h (30 mph).
4. Hold a steady light throttle at about 60 km/h. Bad result: a shudder or hum. A scanner shows converter slip; 5 to 25 rpm is normal, and above about 80 rpm points to clutch wear.
5. Ask for the fluid invoices and check the fluid. Bad result: no change after about 80,000 km, dark brown or black fluid, a burnt smell, or a fluid other than the one for the build. A wrong fluid can cause code P0741. Red-amber is the correct colour.
6. Ask a dealer whether bulletin LI27.20-P-055758 applies to the car's VIN, and whether it was done. Bad result: lock-up codes FC 2783 or FC 0741 still stored.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions