Cheap Mercedes-Benz CLS AC Compressor

The CLS W219 ran from 2004 to 2010, and the C218 generation replaced it from 2011 onwards, so a 2008 and 2012 car are from entirely different generations with different engine families and ancillary layouts. Engine code is the key detail here — even if two compressors look similar, the mounting points and refrigerant connections can differ across that 2010–2011 generation boundary. Give your engine code (found on your V5 or a VIN check) to the breaker and ask them to match it specifically, rather than going on year alone.

The W219 was facelifted in 2008, and while the engine codes available carried over, there can be ancillary and mounting changes mid-production that are not always obvious from the outside. Because mid-run changes of that kind are exactly what breakers track against registration numbers, confirm with the breaker against your reg rather than assuming a pre-facelift compressor drops straight in. Your engine code is the single most useful thing you can supply alongside your reg.

Trim level and badge name on their own do not affect AC compressor fitment — what actually matters is the engine code underneath, because the 350 and 500 badges cover different engines with different compressors. A CLS 350 petrol and a CLS 500 will almost certainly need different compressors, but that is down to the engine, not the trim designation. Pull the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check and give that to the breaker — it removes any ambiguity.

No — fuel type determines the engine fitted, and diesel and petrol engines use different compressors with different drive arrangements and mountings, even within the same model year and generation. Never assume a compressor is interchangeable just because the cars share a year or a body. Always supply your engine code to the breaker so they can pull a compressor from the correct donor vehicle.

The AC compressor is driven off the engine rather than the gearbox, so in most cases gearbox type does not directly affect compressor fitment. That said, your engine code remains the essential detail because different engines within the same generation take different compressors. Confirm with the breaker against your registration if you have any doubt, as they can check the specifics of your exact vehicle.

The C218 ran from 2011 to 2018 and received a facelift in 2014, so both cars sit within the same generation, which is a good starting point. However, whether a pre-facelift compressor crosses the 2014 facelift boundary without issue is something to confirm with the breaker against your registration, as ancillary and mounting details can change mid-production in ways that are not always documented. Supply your engine code alongside your reg for the clearest answer.