2004 Mercedes Benz CL 600 V12 Bi Turbo Pros and cons

Описание: Thinking about buying a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL600?

Before you jump into one of Stuttgart’s most outrageous luxury coupes ever built… let’s talk reality.

In this video, I break down what it’s really like to own a 2004 CL600—the legendary C215 chassis powered by the twin-turbo M275 V12. This car was a six-figure flagship when new, packed with bleeding-edge tech, vault-like build quality, and performance that could embarrass supercars of its day. But nearly two decades later, the ownership experience is very different from what Mercedes originally intended.

I walk through the true pros and cons of living with one of these cars today—from the intoxicating smoothness of the V12, the effortless highway pull, and the timeless pillar-less coupe design… to the complex ABC suspension system, aging electronics, maintenance costs, and what it actually takes to keep one healthy long-term.

If you’re cross-shopping one, already own one, or just love big-engine German luxury, this is the stuff no dealer listing tells you.

⸻

🚗 What I cover in this video:

• Why the CL600 was such a technological monster when new
• The twin-turbo V12 experience — power delivery, sound, and driving feel
• Interior quality and why these cabins still feel special today
• What makes the pillar-less coupe design so iconic
• Real-world reliability after 20 years
• ABC hydraulic suspension — how it works, common failures, and repair costs
• Typical M275 issues to watch for
• Electrical gremlins and aging modules
• Parts availability and dealership vs independent shop realities
• What it actually costs to maintain vs buy one cheap
• Who should own a CL600 in 2026
• Who should absolutely stay away
• My honest verdict after wrenching on and driving one

⸻

⚙️ The Good:

The CL600 delivers an experience that simply doesn’t exist anymore—12 cylinders, twin turbos, massive torque everywhere, and a ride quality that still feels bank-vault solid when the ABC system is healthy. These cars were engineered without a budget ceiling, and you can still feel it every time you shut the doors or roll onto the highway.

⸻

⚠️ The Not-So-Good:

But let’s be honest… depreciation turned these into tempting used-car bargains, and that’s where people get burned. ABC repairs can run into the thousands. Hydraulic lines age. Sensors fail. Electronics that were cutting-edge in 2004 now require serious diagnostic tools. This is not a casual commuter—it’s a flagship luxury car that still demands flagship-level maintenance.

⸻

If you enjoy complex engineering, turning your own wrenches, and owning something wildly overbuilt from the golden age of Mercedes, the CL600 can be unbelievably rewarding. If you want cheap, simple transportation… this is absolutely not that car.

⸻

👇 Drop a comment below — do you own a CL600 or are you thinking about buying one? What’s your experience been like with ABC suspension or V12 ownership?

👍 If you found this helpful, hit the like button, subscribe for more garage-level deep dives, and follow along as I continue wrenching on and driving some of the most ridiculous machines ever put on the road.