CLK/SLK what to choose?

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Flyinspanner

Flyinspanner

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Hahaha
 

Mark A

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I have owned both SLK and CLK for a number of years. If you are doing any journeys over a couple of hours, definitely the CLK.

Don’t rule out a well sorted A208 CLK, some cracking engines in there. I had the 430 and missed it the second I drove off in the SLK. Very easy to work on too.

M
 

McDonald

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While in the champagne area and visiting champagne houses, look at the clips they use on the bottles in their tasting areas - they work, and even if you intend to drink the rest of the bottle that evening rather than a day or two later, they keep the fizz in the contents!! Tried and tested after we visited Epernay area 5 years ago!!

Another great tip, thanks Chris.
 

00slk

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Been over that at about 120mph on my VFR800 about 20 years ago. Before the days of speed cameras.

Me too, however my bike was only 500cc so couldn't wheelie it at the apex :oops:
 

Oldspanners

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I've been looking at CLK's for quite a while now and never really been a fan of any soft top but having seen a few CLK's it's approaching the option stage but always liked a tin top and the tranquillity not to mention the practicality it brought. Can't help thinking of just a piece of cloth for protection from thieves when away on holiday but that's just me!
Anyway stay away from any V6 petrol from before 2007 see the list of engine numbers for balance shaft issues although the earlier engine up to 2004 is still a great option. Recently there has been quite a few reports of rear subframe failure so look at that as well.
I'd go along with staying with 16 to 17 inch wheels maximum for comfort I've noticed in my C class that off the main roads here in France even with 16 inch wheels it can feel quite rough.
Good luck and happy continental motoring.
 
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So

What do you reckon a 2005, 320CLK, FSH, Blue/gray. 38K Miles
No comand/sat nav. Looks mint in photos.

What is it realistically worth?


Looking at a 2007 CLK280 Elegance 95k, Black/cream £3500 (dealership not MB)
 

Wighty

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I've been looking at CLK's for quite a while now and never really been a fan of any soft top but having seen a few CLK's it's approaching the option stage but always liked a tin top and the tranquillity not to mention the practicality it brought. Can't help thinking of just a piece of cloth for protection from thieves when away on holiday but that's just me!
Anyway stay away from any V6 petrol from before 2007 see the list of engine numbers for balance shaft issues although the earlier engine up to 2004 is still a great option. Recently there has been quite a few reports of rear subframe failure so look at that as well.
I'd go along with staying with 16 to 17 inch wheels maximum for comfort I've noticed in my C class that off the main roads here in France even with 16 inch wheels it can feel quite rough.
Good luck and happy continental motoring.
I think that soft tops are triple layered and I believe but don’t quote me they have a security mesh inside . The easiest way in is always smashing a side window , so I wouldn’t worry about the soft top from a security aspect
 
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Flyinspanner

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I’m aware of the balancer shaft issues on the V6, and the cam issues on the straight 4 ...

And I know it can strike out of the blue...

A bit like the A-Class autobox, (ours did 100k, before it needed a fix) -
.... and the ABC on my CL ( which has only ever needed an accumulator, and a pipe tightened up :D

E class wings rusting.
C class subframes rotting.
Random battery drains on many.

buying any s/h car is a bit of a jump of faith - there are faults but I don’t think they necessarily hit every single car, or MB would have a reputation like Skoda of the 1970-80s, and no one would touch them with a barge pole.

Now where is that luck rabbit foot, 4 leaf clover etc....:D
 

Oldspanners

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I think that soft tops are triple layered and I believe but don’t quote me they have a security mesh inside . The easiest way in is always smashing a side window , so I wouldn’t worry about the soft top from a security aspect
Well put like that, it makes sense but I can't really get the roof down wind in the hair sort of thing (lack of hair is just part of the problem!) and I don't really see myself using this great facility that many times. Perhaps coming from a very wet and cold island has "dampened" my enthusiasm for the great outdoors when in a car.
Still haven't ruled it out though.
 

Oldspanners

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So

What do you reckon a 2005, 320CLK, FSH, Blue/gray. 38K Miles
No comand/sat nav. Looks mint in photos.

What is it realistically worth?


Looking at a 2007 CLK280 Elegance 95k, Black/cream £3500 (dealership not MB)
I wouldn't gamble on a car in the 2005-early 7 range when there are others as good outside it.
EG.
There's a 2004 CLK320 on Auto trader for £3995 38K.
2008 CLK350 79K £4500.
If you want to take a gamble there's one with the engine light on 2007 CLK280 48k £3000.
 

LostKiwi

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Here's my observation regarding folding tin top Vs fabric top.

Our 129 has a folding soft top made from Sonnen fabric. This is a three layer woven fabric with a waterproof membrane integrated into the fabric. There is no security mesh. The fabric has never leaked and is generally fairly quiet with no rattles creaks or untoward noises. I'm not a fan of the plastic rear window but it's not the end of the world. The cloth is now 27 years old and still in reasonable condition but will probably need replacing in five or six years.

The 230 has the Vario roof which has less external noise coming through but seems to amplify internal noises for some reason. Suffice to say there is little overall difference in noise levels top up or down but the noise is more pleasant top down. There's also an annoying rattle from the C pillar area top up which is proving difficult to find... Obviously being a tin top there's no need to replace the metal. Maintenance doesn't require any thing more than any other tin top aside from an annual treatment of the seals and lubrication of the pivots.

With several trips in the 129 under our belt I've never felt concerned about security of the soft top (the 129 locks all the cubby boxes and glove box when central locking operates anyway).

Curiously I've noticed the fabric seems to dry faster than the metal too too - probably partly due to being black not silver - which means I don't have to wait as long to put the roof down dry.
 

Chrishazle

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Regarding balancer shaft issues on petrol V6 engines, look here :

http://www.mercedesmedic.com/check-my-mercedes-benz-for-balance-shaft-issue-by-vin-m272273/

It's something I found when researching my SLK before buying it.

"Wind in the hair" - one essential IMHO with a convertible is the wind deflector - which we did not have when we bought the 968 cab, driving with my wife's long hair blowing forward and obscuring her face was ludicrous!

As for the plastic rear screen - the 968's was pretty cloudy when I bought it, but some elbow grease and 2000 grit paint correction fluid made a major difference!
 

sl500amgsport

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Well put like that, it makes sense but I can't really get the roof down wind in the hair sort of thing (lack of hair is just part of the problem!) and I don't really see myself using this great facility that many times. Perhaps coming from a very wet and cold island has "dampened" my enthusiasm for the great outdoors when in a car.
Still haven't ruled it out though.
Global warming, UK gaining a Mediterranean climate all make a convertible a good investment especially a hardtop as you have best of both worlds...

Mercedes SL500 R231
 

Blobcat

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Global warming, UK gaining a Mediterranean climate all make a convertible a good investment especially a hardtop as you have best of both worlds...

Mercedes SL500 R231
The UK already has the best climate for convertibubbles, most places in the Med are too hot to have the top down in the summer
 

RhodieBill

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I know I will more than likely get shot down in flames for saying this but if I was offered a w209 or a w208 both with similar mileage, service history, overall bodywork and interior condition and accessories, I would choose the w208 anyday.

Of course this is a personal thing and my particular taste...

Everytime I have looked for a CLK I have looked at both and everytime I have found the w209, to put it bluntly, cheap.

To maybe put it better I would say the w208 CLK is more like a E Class Coupe and the w209 akin to a C Class - and I know what I prefer. The w208 is far superior in ride comfort and superior overall noise insulation. Not only that but nearly every w209 I looked at had some piece of trim either lose or broken/missing, which I found quite surprising considering the asking prices were a fair amount higher! It felt like you were just going to buy it because it's a "newer model" so therefore must be better.....

Not only that a nice w208 has just "got the look"....

Sorry.....
 

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