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My love for the CL goes back nearly 20 years. I was fortunate to have an 2001 Aegean Blue Pearl CL Type-S back in high school. It was honestly too much car for a 16 year old at that time, but there was no doubt that I loved it. Here's an actual picture of the car after being cleaned for prom
In 2008 I made a very dumb decision and traded it in for a 2004 TL. While the TL eventually turned into a great looking car, I never truly fell in love with it. I kept modifying it, hoping I would make it cool enough to not regret the purchase, which sadly never happened.
The TL treated me well for 7 years, but I decided to part it out and scratch the itch of owning a S2000. I had been wanting a S2000 since I was 14, but told myself I wanted to accomplish some things in life before buying one. I bought one in 2015 and still have it to this day. Here's a progress thread if you're interested: https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...thes2k-933421/
About 5 years ago I started thinking about finding another ABP CLS, but I knew I wanted a factory 6-speed. After experiencing the thrill of rowing through the gears in the S2000, and the fragileness of the automatic transmissions from the early 2000s, I was fully set on only buying a manual. Poking around here on Acurazine told me that less than 300 ABP manuals were produced, so it was a slim chance I'd find one.
I found one in April 2020, but the timing wasn't right, as my daughter had been born the same month and I wasn't sure if the whole 'Rona pandemic would affect my employment. After I passed on that car, it took me until earlier this month, a full 3 years later, to find a factory ABP CLS6. Equipped with Navigation, this is one of 68 in this configuration. I messaged the owner instantly, told him my history and love of the platform, and agreed to drive nearly 12 hours one way to Mississippi to pick it up. Luckily the owner was awesome and drove the car 3 hours closer to cut down on my round-trip time.
After a brutal drive home from Alabama, we made it home. The car is cosmetically rough, with rust, faded paint, cracked windshield, gnarly rear fender damage, and more BUT everything works. Moonroof, A/C, heat, navigation, heated seats....it all works. The car has a CEL on for an O2 sensor, but under the engine is bone dry. It's going to be a long road, but I'm looking forward to bringing this car back to it's former glory. I truly believe this vehicle is underrated and under valued, especially for how many were produced.
The car is rather complete. No major pieces are missing, just well worn. All books and manuals, along with the full Service Manual, were included.
The previous owner was an absolute gentleman and included some extra OEM parts, including a full OEM moonroof assembly, full-size spare, and A/C compressor, along with the items below.
Sadly the CL sits outside, but it was cool to have it in the garage for one night with the S2000.
To be honest with you...I'm in way over my head I'm not very mechanically inclined and I don't have body/paint repair experience, but the car needed to be saved, and this ended a 5+ year search.
So what's next? I need to get it titled I still don't have a plate on it, so it's just sitting. I want to get maintenance up to date, then I can start cleaning it up.
-Replace both O2 sensors
-Oil change
-New spark plugs
-Transmission fluid flush
-Radiator fluid flush
-Replace timing belt
-Replace steering wheel (picking up one this weekend)
-Replace windshield
-Restore headlights, but eventually replace
-Repair rear quarter
-Full repaint
-RL calipers
-18x8.5 A-Spec wheels
-Suspension overhaul
-Interior overhaul
Don't expect fast progress, but it'll happen If you have any OEM CL parts, please let me know. The car is complete, but after 294k miles and nearly 20 years, some items are simply worn out.
Two beautiful cars, damage aside, in an exquisite looking garage. The original CL you had looks absolutely amazing, though, I personally think not having the spoiler on these cars doesn't look good. So I'm glad to see that this one has it.
I, too, really want an S2K. I'd drive it until the motor blew, and then J swap it. I've seen pics of J swapped S2Ks, and they just look like they're made for a J series. But who knows what will be my next project. I really want a 3 cylinder, specifically a Cappuccino, but those just keep going up in price. So I guess I have to settle for Geo Metro. Or maybe a Suzuki Samurai? It'd be hilarious hauling a big motor in a tiny truck.
As for the 3G TL, I know what you mean, same for 619rcr. Mine is just a daily so that I don't have to always drive my 'racecar' CL-S. Motor blows up? I can just swap it and drive the TL. 6 speed swap? Drive the TL. But the TL doesn't really capture the same feeling that the CL has. I'm not sure what it is honestly. Either way, TL will be getting some love soon before heading down to Florida for a vacation.
I look forward to seeing what you do. I might be following in your foot steps soon on my own ABP CL once I get this ASPEC kit. Depending on how that goes will decide whether or not I attempt painting my car, or if I'll be vinyl wrapping the rest of it.
Wow congrats! That is an awesome story, and finding 1 of 300 cars produced over 20 years ago sounds like slim odds at all, let alone coming across 2 in over 3 years.
Interested to see what you'll do about that fender. Have you thought about tackling that first?
Remember, cars are mostly nuts and bolts If you know how to loosen and tighten them, you're 90% of the way there. I'm no pro but everything I learned about working on cars has come from wrenching on my own stuff.
Excited to see you tear into it. Take us along for the ride.
This thread is reminiscent of why I got hooked on forums in the first place.
It's refreshing and invigorating and I love you. Happy as fuck for you. If Daddy is happy, everyone can be happy.
Happy EVERYONE, Happy life.
For headlight restoration, I had great results with the kit from Cerakote, but sadly the majority damage on my original set of headlights was internal so you can still see some artifacts when the lights are on.
For headlight restoration, I had great results with the kit from Cerakote, but sadly the majority damage on my original set of headlights was internal so you can still see some artifacts when the lights are on.
I just took my cousin't TSX wagon headlights apart...one of them had so much moisture the inner lens was weird.
I polished it out as well as I could from the inside too...hoping it holds up.
Thanks for the kind words, everyone Sadly I've been traveling for work all week, so the car still isn't registered. I'm hoping to visit the plate agency on Tuesday to get that knocked out.
As for the condition of the car, I'm sure I'll find plenty of things along the way, but I'm focused on mechanical items before physical condition. That rear quarter damage is really bad, but I'd rather have an ugly car that's mechanically sound, compared to a gorgeous car that doesn't have a healthy heart. I'll gladly drive it even if it's ugly...I don't want a driveway ornament.
I met up with a fellow ABP CLS6 owner today who sold me a very mint OEM steering wheel. I picked up some service items today as well - hoping to have everything done in the next week or so.
I was going to say that if the 'in-car' airbag inflator was already updated he could just transfer the AB module & cover to the newly acquired steering wheel; however,
1) (red arrow) the steering wheel below appears to be an inexpensive salvage non-Type-S assembly (probably put in as an accident result) when compared to the new one above.
2) (blue arrow) the black finish coating appears to be a little degraded / sticky.
Here in hot weather Florida, the glossy factory colorant degrades, ends up sticky, and becomes an irritant.
The base AB cover underlayment material is a dull black in color, so the factory gloss colorant can be removed to eliminate any stickiness, if present, by
employing Meguiar's M39 heavy duty vinyl cleaner on a terry cloth rag.
After removing Amorall can be used to gloss it up again.
This is all inapplicable, though, because the more appealing Type-S AB cover, with the shiny 'A' logo, on the new steering wheel is the way to go.
^
If not already determined, make sure to verify, with the previous owner, as to if that airbag inflator has been updated.
Excellent idea! I've reached out to the previous owner to find out some info
Originally Posted by rockstar143
Unless he can figure out the VIN of the car it came from, that might be hard to figure out but GREAT catch Zeta...I would not have thought of that.
+1
Originally Posted by zeta
I was going to say that if the 'in-car' airbag inflator was already updated he could just transfer the AB module & cover to the newly acquired steering wheel; however,
1) (red arrow) the steering wheel below appears to be an inexpensive salvage non-Type-S assembly (probably put in as an accident result) when compared to the new one above.
2) (blue arrow) the black finish coating appears to be a little degraded / sticky.
Here in hot weather Florida, the glossy factory colorant degrades, ends up sticky, and becomes an irritant.
The base AB cover underlayment material is a dull black in color, so the factory gloss colorant can be removed to eliminate any stickiness, if present, by
employing Meguiar's M39 heavy duty vinyl cleaner on a terry cloth rag.
After removing Amorall can be used to gloss it up again.
This is all inapplicable, though, because the more appealing Type-S AB cover, with the shiny 'A' logo, on the new steering wheel is the way to go.
Great write-up! Thank you very much for the guidance!
Originally Posted by civicdrivr
The easy way is to just swap the wheel for an RSX/S2k wheel, since those airbags aren't impacted by the Takata recall.
Yeah I know...but OEM snob here. I want a CL wheel
Great thread, love the ABP! My favorite 2G color.
Check the front end, has it been in an accident previously? The right headlight is missing the orange reflector and the outline of the grill should be body colored (for 03 models) instead of chrome (01/02 models).
Originally Posted by zeta
I was going to say that if the 'in-car' airbag inflator was already updated he could just transfer the AB module & cover to the newly acquired steering wheel; however,
1) (red arrow) the steering wheel below appears to be an inexpensive salvage non-Type-S assembly (probably put in as an accident result) when compared to the new one above.
2) (blue arrow) the black finish coating appears to be a little degraded / sticky.
They used that airbag/steering wheel on all 01/02 CLs. I have a 01 CL-S with the same airbag.
We need some updates @CLtotheTL32 How's the progress so far?
Errrrrrr it's, um, done.
And by done I mean I found another ABP CLS6 and I'm abandoning the project
A part of me is heartbroken. I don't want to see it parted out, and I hate to see it go, but financially it made more sense to start with a lower-mileage and better kept platform instead of dumping money trying to fix someone else's problems.
The car is for sale if anyone is interested. It's rough and needs some love, but it runs and drives. I'll start a thread on my other ABP CLS6 eventually.
Last edited by CLtotheTL32; May 12, 2023 at 06:29 AM.
I'm not very mechanically inclined and I don't have body/paint repair experience, but the car needed to be saved, and this ended a 5+ year search.
I still don't have a plate on it, so it's just sitting. I want to get maintenance up to date, then I can start cleaning it up. 
If you have any OEM CL parts, please let me know. The car is complete, but after 294k miles and nearly 20 years, some items are simply worn out.
Sadly I've been traveling for work all week, so the car still isn't registered. I'm hoping to visit the plate agency on Tuesday to get that knocked out.
when compared to the new one above.
