230CLK advice

[sixpack]

Hi gang,
Im looking to change my C250 diesel for a 230CLK about a 2000 or 2001 This time I,d like an automatic. There seems to be 2 types (4 or 5 speed ?). Is there an easy way to spot one from the other in a dealers showroom or outside a sellers house?. Anybody got any comments about fuel consumption? I,m a bit spoiled by the 250s 40mpg. What about bigger engined examples, there seems to be a lot of 320s about. Dear to run or worth the expense?. Any special reliability issues ? Any comments or comparisons welcome.

Regards Peter

 

[Blobcat]

Rust is an issue,
I would have thought that any yr 2000 on CLK would be on a 5 speed auto. Television may be able to tell you for definite.
As for the engines, the 230K is a 2.3ltr and was cheaper on company car tax than the 320 when new. However the fuel economoy is not much better than the 320. the smaller engined MB's tend not to have much of an economy benefit over the larger engined models due to the weight of the cars. You will not get near the 40mpg that you currently enjoy from your C250D, mid to high 20's depending upon how you drive it and possibly the low 30's on a long run.

 

[television]

All of the common CLK's either 208 or 209 use the 722.6 gearbox, this is a 5 speed box. this has been the case with all MB's from around 94.

Malcolm

 

[Alfie]

Hi gang,
Im looking to change my C250 diesel for a 230CLK about a 2000 or 2001 This time I,d like an automatic. There seems to be 2 types (4 or 5 speed ?). Is there an easy way to spot one from the other in a dealers showroom or outside a sellers house?. Anybody got any comments about fuel consumption? I,m a bit spoiled by the 250s 40mpg. What about bigger engined examples, there seems to be a lot of 320s about. Dear to run or worth the expense?. Any special reliability issues ? Any comments or comparisons welcome.

Regards Peter

All the facelifted W208 CLK's had the 5 speed tiptronic auto if auto was fitted. Its only the pre August 1999 CLK's that had the auto without tiptronic. As a guide, all the facelifted cars have indicators in their mirrors. The pre facelifted ones dont. The 230 is quick enough but no where near as smooth as the 320 and only marginally more economical.

Go for a post 2001 model as the build quality was much improved. Reliability is supurb.

 

[FELLOW]

Gear box

Television - do they all have the same box?

I thought after the face lift they swapped the old J gate 4 speed for a five speed tiptronic style changer ie on all 2000. Am I wrong - did the old 4 speed have an overdrive 5 not marked?

My advice would be to go for a V6 or V8 as they sound better. The V6 is a slighter better option than the supercharged 230K.

 

[television]

Television - do they all have the same box?

I thought after the face lift they swapped the old J gate 4 speed for a five speed tiptronic style changer ie on all 2000. Am I wrong - did the old 4 speed have an overdrive 5 not marked?

My advice would be to go for a V6 or V8 as they sound better. The V6 is a slighter better option than the supercharged 230K.

I think one can say that the basic 722.6 box has been in use from 96, this is a 5 speed ECU controlled box, all of the variations are denoted by the numbers after the 6 ie 633. the main change is only within the ECU for things like tiptronic.

Some examples

124 E 320 used the 722 39 or 503
211 E320CDI uses 722.626
220 S320 uses 722.618
208 CLK230 uses 722.605
129 Sl280 uses 722.604 or 722.437 or 506
129 SL320 uses 722.607
203 C220CDI uses 722.699


Hope this helps. Malcolm

 

[FELLOW]

Interesting Gearbox note

Not sure exactly what this means.

I've the old J gate with 4 marked gears - when getting a wriggle on the changes are noticable especially the change from 3 to 4 at 100mph but I've not felt another step up to the limiter at 155mph. The gear ratios are also shown for 4 gears.

I'll show my lack of knowledge and ask what construction the Merc. gearbox has and is it variable. I know the merc box was fitted to some jaguar models.

I've seen paddle shift and autosequence change options sold for the mercedes but does this mean one could retrofit triptronic or electronically change the ratios?

Thanks for the advice

 

[television]

Not sure exactly what this means.

The numbers I gave all refer to a 722.6 gear boxes, the sample I gave show the differences in the control ECU's, they all use the same basic box, but they are not interchangeable.


I've seen paddle shift and autosequence change options sold for the mercedes but does this mean one could retrofit triptronic or electronically change the ratios?
No you cant add any thing or change the ratio's
Thanks for the advice

The days of swapping engines and gearboxes are long gone

malcolm