Buying a 2003 CLK240 sat garaged for 4 years

[Dale Stevens]

We have the opportunity of buying a 2003 CLK240 cabriolet with 67k miles for £1,500. The owner is a relative of a work friend, and It has been sat in their garage unused since 2018 as they have multiple vehicles. The owner is getting it serviced and MOT'd and then I'll go and look at it. Previous MOT history is all good.

Cars don't like being sat unused, so what problems could be lurking with it being garaged for so long?

Aslo, which model is this car please?

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

It’s an A209

For £1,500 there’s not a lot of risk. See what the MOT says, could well be perished rubber hoses and belts and rusted brake disks. But again if it passes the MOT it’s cheap motoring

 

[grahamcol]

Take it from an existing CLK owner, these cars don't like a failing battery and after 4 years the battery may well be goosed, unless it has been regularly recharged. But a new battery is quite cheap really and I'd agree with the post above and cheap stylish motoring really.

 

[sausage]

Leaky air con might be an issues. Same with 'other' rubber seals that require fluids to keep them supple - not sure what that could turn into problem wise.
I think it is worth a punt if you like it and are prepared to spend if needed. Old cars do often require a little injection of cash to get them up to standard, but can often be worth it. I like the adage "Keep a few thousand ££ in your pocket for any unexpected costs".

Might be worth changing all fluids. I would.

Tyres might have been compromised due to sitting on the same bit of rubber so long.

Looks like a nice car in nice condition.

Although I would have to be suspicious of anyone with a wall that big and only one tiny window

 

[rifiki]

Agree with above, the battery has to be 100 per cent, 99 not good enough.

 

[Dale Stevens]

Thank you everyone. This will be our 2nd dabble into Mercedes ownership, with the wife previously having a nice A Class a few years ago.

Hopefully it has an almost empty tank of fuel so I can dilute any old petrol by filling the tank up. I'll expect to have to fit new tyres and a battery as a minimum.

Any recommendations for a suitable sized battery please?

 

[sausage]

Oh, and probably worth giving those roof seals a treatment with krytox or whatever it is called, or something similar.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Lovely colour!

If they are getting it serviced & MOTd it must be ‘mobile’ and saved you £400!
Even if it throws up advisories, you have a known starting point for improving it.

Low miles do not much wear n tear!

New battery (£100) /aircon recharge (£50) / - it’s a bargain!

I’d bite their arm off

 

[Flyinspanner]

Battery - ECP often have discount vouchers available and the Bosch S4 / S5 batteries are very good
Some swear by Tanya battery company online as they deliver (I just prefer the immediacy of a counter to hand it over if there is any issues down the line

 

[fabes]

For the money, that looks nice and a it's V6 to boot!

Battery - I would recommend https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/ for a battery (a must change.)
Roof - MOT may not cover roof operation, so that would be something to check works fully.
Roof - will need or benefit from a vacuum, scrubbing with Johnson's blue baby bath / also anti fungal if green and a coating of Fabsil to treat and finish it off
Rubber seals - https://www.micksgarage.com/d/dash-rubber-and-plastics/products/2517984/gummi-pflege-stift-100ml - this stuff is great (and cheap)
Tyres - they will be old, flat spotted, albeit without UV wear, still look okay - they may fail on the MOT though. Mid range will be fine.
Oil and Filters - a good idea and minimal maintenance really (but the owner is doing this which is great)
Brake Fluid - may not be in best condition - I'd have it replaced in the service.
Spark plugs - I'd replace (we did on the MGF - see below)
Fuel - just tank it up either with Premium this once or add Redex as we did on an MGF
Interior - Vacuum it out, treat and clean off mould, nourish the leather seats with cleaner & conditioner
Air Con - recharge likely but also run an air con bomb in it to clean the condenser out - the MGF's still worked!
Codes - Read if you can in case there is anything else in there
But a new new MOT report is excellent, especially if they will help pass it for you........?

You should be all in at £2k....?

We've just done all the above on an MGF for a friend that had sat in a garage for a few years when their elderly relative went into a home - £500 and a couple of afternoons all in to have it ready for summer use as they are keeping it.

 

[sausage]

Battery - ECP often have discount vouchers available and the Bosch S4 / S5 batteries are very good
Some swear by Tanya battery company online as they deliver (I just prefer the immediacy of a counter to hand it over if there is any issues down the line

Yep, always look for a discount code for ECP, often it is brazenly plastered across the top of their website. Discount ranges from 20%, to a more common 50% and sometimes higher. Suggestive to me that their standard prices are fixed unfairly.

 

[Flyinspanner]

The current code for ECP for 40% off batteries is MID

 

[Blobcat]

Yep, always look for a discount code for ECP, often it is brazenly plastered across the top of their website. Discount ranges from 20%, to a more common 50% and sometimes higher. Suggestive to me that their standard prices are fixed unfairly.

Or use "Honey" an app that sits on your browser and applies discount codes automatically... tries them all at the payment stage

 

[Dale Stevens]

Some useful info there, thanks.

ECP suggest a couple of Bosch S5 batteries are suitable when I type the cars reg number in, with a physical size difference as well as output..

 

[LostKiwi]

Try looking on www.tayna.co.uk

Better prices than ECP and quick delivery.

 

[Dale Stevens]

Try looking on www.tayna.co.uk

Better prices than ECP and quick delivery.

Thanks, I'll have a look at the battery that's fitted so I know the dimensions.

 

[LostKiwi]

It'll probably be an 019 or 017 or 072.
The first two are same dimensions but the 019 is higher capacity.

 

[AnthonyUK]

I have an 019 in my C240. I went with a Yuasa as it had a better cold crank current than the Bosch and same warranty.

 

[AndySlade]

Tayna would be my choice. I’d check the current battery overall dimensions and get one the same physical size. My choice would a Varna silver battery. Silver better than blue battery, but a bit more expensive. Have use Tayna several times for myself, friends and family and have never been disappointed. Their delivery is excellent.

Also meant to say, looks a lot of car for the relatively low cost. Paint and bodywork looks good, anything else can be fixed.

 

[Dale Stevens]

It is a lot of car for little money. It is going for its MOT next week so fingers crossed for nothing major.