CLK or not?

[GlosRichCLK]

CLK is the best of both worlds, a lovely coupe or cabriolet design, but with room for 4 adults and luggage.

Here is my 208.

 

[sonic]

2004 240 CLK for about 6 months. 138k
I paid a pittance for it and it has little history. I liked the colour and always fancied a CLK. I might even replace it next year with a newer CLK. I am not a fan of the new C Class coupe. It looks a little plain.

View attachment 39603
Faults:-
No A/C (leak somewhere)
Front headlamp washers have ceased working.
Fold out mirror button is intermittently working.

Otherwise it is pretty damn perfect.

I had 2 CLK's, looked at the E & C coupe's as a replacement but the boots are too small. Couldn't find a reasonable priced late CLK, so I bought a 9 month old E350CDi.

 

[dreadlockdw]

We've had a 2005 CLK500 convertible and love it. Look at RFL if it's important to you. Ours costs a few hundred less a year than a 2006 model. Also watch out for clicking noise behind dash on startup, which ours now has. If present it's a motor-controlled flap in the heating system going wrong. Usually expensive to fix as it requires hours of labour. We live with it, but it would be a good price reduction talking point for you, if present when you view.

 

[Wighty]

I know that the V6 is the ideal if the higher fuel consumption and higher rfl (after 2006) isn't an issue , but years of ownership of the C200 Kompressor is that it is still a lovely car to own and drive . I wouldn't rule them out if the price is right .

 

[fabes]

Matthew

You have a pm / conversation....

 

[Matthew Edwards]

Some lovely V8's out there too 430/500/55. I loved my 208 430 Convertible and fuel economy was't too bad (high 20's).

I would look at a V8.
We're only going to doing the school run and a bit more in it. My commute is only 15 miles each way.

Our concern would be garage costs.
Do the V8's cost more in garage and service bills?

 

[Sasha94]

No, it’s the same engine as the M112 V6 with 2 more cylinders (actually I think the 112 is more accurately a 113 with 2 less cylinders) so there is an awful lot that is the same. Obviously the later M272 is different but I’d go for the V8, no M272 worries and you can have them with the facelift interior. The 5.0 is a lovely unit, one of the best MB engines IMO and if you are lucky enough to find a 55 AMG in budget (I could only get a coupe when I was looking, £6495 paid in May for mine) the 5.4 handmade V8 is even nicer still. Fuel economy in mine has been between 20-25 MPG since purchase.

Obviously there are 4 more spark plugs than the M112 V6, there are a few more bits but nothing that’s going to worry anything and the noise is to die for

 

[Matthew Edwards]

Whistling......Power delivery

We test drove a CLK 280 Elegance today. A nice ride and cabin. Felt taught and new.

There was this constant whistling/whining from the rear. It could have been mechanical as I could not see any loose trim.

Has anyone had this happen or is it normal?

Oh, and power delivery.
It went Ok but not as much punch as I had hoped. Is the power delivery linear by design? Our daily driver is an auto D4 Volvo which has torque to spare and really hustles (190 bhp). That seemed quicker!

I'd welcome any thoughts as we came away feeling a touch 'flat' from the experience. We really love the CLK convertible and would love to have one......but......

 

[JBell]

It is a V6 so very linear power delivery, go try a 350

 

[Sasha94]

They don’t make you say wow after one drive as standard but they do win you over with how nice they are. Drive a 3 Series, a C70 (good choice on the Volvo, not that I’m biased at all!), an A4 (I’ve had a convertible A4 so can tell you first hand what they’re like), and a 9-3 and then go back to the CLK and you’ll find none of them give you the same feeling the CLK can. It’s more than the parts really, it’s the whole package.

I’d expect a 280 3.0 V6 to feel a little underwhelming if you are used to a powerful turbo diesel. The power delivery is linear, progressive, and the car is also heavy, automatic and set up for comfort. If you are tempted by a 350, try and find a 55 plate one to avoid the £515 annual rfl. I’m not biased at all, but do look at a V8, you won’t regret it if you want a car that feels like it has plenty of power (the 5.5 cars have 388 bhp so it is plenty of power!)

 

[LostKiwi]

You'll probably find the linear power delivery of any non AMG V6/V8 engine slightly underwhelming to be honest. We have a SL500 and that doesn't seem to go that well till you look at the speedo and the traffic that was close behind you.
Also unlike a diesel there is no sudden thump in the back as it comes on boost (but at the same time the V6/V8 will still be pulling long after the diesel has given up).
Go for the biggest engine you can afford. They don't use much more fuel and the drive is better as they get bigger. A 320 would be a lovely car (and being the M112 engine its bulletproof). If you can afford it a 500 would be even better.

 

[Matthew Edwards]

Sasha, Thanks.

My benchmark is my Golf Mk4 R32. I had one from new for three years. I had hoped it would have something near too but not quite that punch.

The 280 engine seemed to be trying just too hard for not a fantastic return. I can definitely see that they grow. Everything felt tip-top, save the brakes but that's easily dealt with. The cabin is a lovely place and we love the rouched (spelling alter) leather and wood.

I agree with your thoughts as to set-up.

The other cars you mention are not on our radar because they are (coughs into hand) dull. An Audi with a 4.2 V8 sounds great until you look at it. The 3 series the same (save the M3 which is over budget at the mo). We had an X1 BMW, 190bhp, which really shifted but was let down by the kit. I'm also over the BMW interior for a few years.

I'll have a look at a 350 and a V8 if we can find one on budget and near enough (Wilts).

This may be a longer search than I first thought. I might just have to buy a dreaded 'commuter' car whilst we make do. OMG indeed.

 

[Sasha94]

The R32 is a quick beast, the CLK is set up for a smoother and more sedate ride. I wouldn’t have a smaller engine than the 3.0 V6 myself and the higher powered unit or V8 would always be my preference but then again, mine is an AMG, so slightly different to a CLK 500. I’d try and get a Sport model for the manual shift control, paddles as an option and more modern interior trims and colours unless you are really sold on the Elegance trim. I am rarely attracted to a specific car myself so I bought my CLK on its merit as a car, rather than because I wanted one. I actually set out to buy a Range Rover but was fed up of going to see tatty overpriced ones so took a chance on the CLK based on the pictures and advert and then drove it home. I still don’t regret my decision and I doubt I ever will. Once you’ve taken time away and driven another I’m sure the appeal will show up. If not, then it’s not meant to be; there are other choices out there

 

[Matthew Edwards]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...early New&onesearchad=New&year-to=2005&page=2

or

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...n=at_cars&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=CLK&page=1

 

[LostKiwi]

Ok for a quick summary.
The W208 is the original CLK.
This was replaced by the W209 (arguably one of the nicest looking cars around) in 2002.

The W208 came with the M111 series of 4 cylinder engines, the M112 series of V6s and the M113 series of V8s.
The M112 and M113 engines are absolutely bombproof. About the only thing they suffer from is Crank Position Sensor failures - a replacement is under £100. Ignoring the M111 the M112 came in 240 and 320 guises and the M113 came in 430 and 55 AMG variants.
The W209 initially came out with the same engine series (also with the M113 500 to replace the 430) but then in 2005 went to the M271 4 cylinders, M272 V6s and M273 V8s.
These engines are less robust than the earlier ones but then pretty much everything is!
The M272 came in 280 and 350 variants and the M273 came in 5.5 litre versions There were also AMG versions using the M156 engine.

In addition the 209 has a range of diesels in 4,5 and 6 cylinder versions.

The 350 does the 0-60 dash in around 6.0s and the early M113 500 (2002 - 2006) is around 5.8s. The later CLK500 using the M273 engine (2007 - 2010) is around 4.8s....
The CLK55 in M113 versions does 0-60 in 4.5s - this is the version Sasha has.

Hopefully thats useful.

 

[daibevan]

Ok for a quick summary.
The W208 is the original CLK.
This was replaced by the W209 (arguably one of the nicest looking cars around) in 2002.

The W208 came with the M111 series of 4 cylinder engines, the M112 series of V6s and the M113 series of V8s.
The M112 and M113 engines are absolutely bombproof. About the only thing they suffer from is Crank Position Sensor failures - a replacement is under £100. Ignoring the M111 the M112 came in 240 and 320 guises and the M113 came in 430 and 55 AMG variants.
The W209 initially came out with the same engine series (also with the M113 500 to replace the 430) but then in 2005 went to the M271 4 cylinders, M272 V6s and M273 V8s.
These engines are less robust than the earlier ones but then pretty much everything is!
The M272 came in 280 and 350 variants and the M273 came in 5.5 litre versions There were also AMG versions using the M156 engine.

In addition the 209 has a range of diesels in 4,5 and 6 cylinder versions.

The 350 does the 0-60 dash in around 6.0s and the early M113 500 (2002 - 2006) is around 5.8s. The later CLK500 using the M273 engine (2007 - 2010) is around 4.8s....
The CLK55 in M113 versions does 0-60 in 4.5s - this is the version Sasha has.

Hopefully thats useful.

Very Interesting.

 

[MercHand]

The M112 3.2 V6 is a great engine.
It does take a bit to get it going, but it's reasonably powerful above 3000rpm.

Super smooth too.

 

[MalcQV]

The 2.6 V6 in mine is helped away from 0 by the auto but the performance is average, very, very average. T'is by and far the slowest of three cars I have but also one of the most relaxing and pleasant drive.
It's crap up in the Welsh mountains but for almost everything else I love it.
I might do something I've only done once before, but that was down to my ex-missus twisting my arm and that is buying the same model of car I have had before.
A newer lower mileage CLK would be nice and I'm more than happy with a mid-range V6. Good economy and silk smooth. The weekend cars take care of fun and speed if that floats my boat.

 

[fabes]

Horses for courses...

My remapped Saab was faster but, on the paddles tonight up through the back roads, roof down with the revs kept at 3,000 or more, my V6 sounded lurvely and moved as fast as you needed to on those roads....

It is still for sale, but i have enjoyed it