C-class 2007-2010 buying tips advice please.

[Droverunner]

OK details...

May 2007 CLK CDI 220 Sport AMG kit. 113,00mls. 10mths MOT.

1st owner 7ys all MB services inc 40k gbox oil change... stamped book and invoices. 2nd owner 3yrs invoices from his local garage. All MOT certs & handbooks etc. Amazingly clean with not one ding or scratch anywhere and a boot that looked as if nothing more than a briefcase has been in it.

Bought as "trade" with me to do the B service which was showing as 43 days overdue. Needs two rear tyres (well they have just under 3mm but rather start off with them good. Fronts OK at 5mm.

Not found one single thing that doesn't work so far and drives without fault.

In truth over the moon... on behalf of Mrs D of course. But I do have it for the first week while I do the service, check it over and get the tyres.

For now just one question... where to get some proper quality fitted mats?



Not the best angle but image below...

 

[Droverunner]

 

[Droverunner]

 

[sineda]

View attachment 38397

This looks sexy.

 

[Wighty]

Very nice . Get another gearbox ATF and filter change done , the car will thank you for it.
Try MB Newcastle eBay for mats , or MB Grangemouth by phone for parts , say you are a forum member .

 

[daibevan]

Lovely

 

[ernieh]

View attachment 38398

Looks like you got yourself, or the Mrs rather, a lovely car. Hope all goes well.


Ernie

 

[JBell]

Looks a good clean example, sport ones do look very good.

In the sponsors section Grangemouth Mercedes are doing deals on service packs

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/service-kit-offer-1.156586/#post-1543573

Mats can be got off E-Bay just make sure they have the locating lugs in

 

[Droverunner]

Cheers JB. I bought all Bosch filters and Castrol oil from ECP Sun am and all fitted now. That MB deal is really good though... for everything I bought inc oil they would have only been 5% dearer than ECP (even with their weekend 36% deal)... which is very good for OE parts.

Decided to go for the Ebay custom fit mats with plush pile in grey to pick up on the seat colour... also shows dirt less than black mats. Mrs F wanted a soft pile not the cord effect of the usual MB mats around £85. The only soft pile MB one we could see were on Ebay from Germany at £135 which was a bit too much... the ones we bought were £45. I'll report how they fit etc but yes they have the clips.

 

[JBell]

What tyres you putting on it?

 

[Droverunner]

Oh yes just a few comments about the CLK to use and drive to round off this "buying " thread from my point of view as someone who is new to Mercedes cars of this age...

There is no doubt the 4cyl 646 engine is quite noisy at idle outside the car and noticeable from inside when pulling strongly at higher revs... otherwise it is not intrusive given we like diesels and accept petrol folks will always find them noisier.

We were a bit worried the ride would be too hard with the 18" wheels and 35 & 40 series tyres (we had a good test drive to check before buying) but the weight of the car (compared to a hot hatch on stiff suspension) seems to give overall a very decent ride and even speed humps are a fairly muted thump not a jarring clatter. The rear tyres (Falken) roar a bit on coarse surfaces but they're being swapped soon and I will get a pair of quieter Dunlops to match the Mercedes approved Dunlop Sport Maxx's on the front which thankfully have 6mm tread so should last a while.

Handling is obviously less nimble than a medium hatchback type car but far better than my rather ponderous older 5-series Estate... well judged for its target market I reckon.

I said all along a manual would be preferred but the 5spd autobox works seamlessly so seems fine... as long as it's in Sport... Comfort mode is just too laggy for us.

Having looked at BMW 3 & 5 series plus Alfa 159 and C-class from 2005-2010 the CLK turned out to be the perfect size... externally, visually and for interior room. Quite versatile too with the split fold rear seats. We found the 3-series and 159 a bit too small inside, the 5-series and the later C-class were too large overall when we really thought about the car's use.

Despite by some folks standards on here being a little "basic" compared to higher spec models like an Elegance there is enough luxury and gadgets for our needs. It has the steering wheel paddles for the gearbox and the air pump seat settings for example... and the elec folding rear headrests plus seat belt elec delivery arms are a couple of things to impress those that take an interest in it on the drive. No front cup holder though... we have the extending coin tray which see you can convert but too much faff to bother.

Overall though it looks and feels a quality car... nice to be in and travel in. Seems it will not break the bank in routine running costs either... i.e VED, fuel, servicing and insurance. Surprised that the insurance was just £30 a year more than Mrs D's current 1.6 Citroen hatch... but I guess the CLK is an older persons car really so they probably have a good record for minimal claims.

Anyway fingers crossed it will serve us well!

Oh yes and I have to say what brilliant help from this forum on the thread during the looking process... very much appreciated.

NB: Below a last image for now of the underbonnet area... it hasn't been steam or pressure cleaned just sprayed with WD40... wiped over with a cloth then buffed up with a dry cloth.

 

[Droverunner]

 

[Droverunner]

JB you'll see above I'm putting Dunlop SportMaxx onto the rear so then it will be Dunlop all round.

Folks all have their favourites but I've had two sets of Dunlops on my current older 5-series, a set on the Alfa 156 I had before that and daughter has a set on her Jazz. Their only downside is they seem to wear more quickly than Michelin on a heavy RWD car but otherwise they are perfect for us.

 

[JBell]

JB you'll see above I'm putting Dunlop SportMaxx onto the rear so then it will be Dunlop all round.

Folks all have their favourites but I've had two sets of Dunlops on my current older 5-series, a set on the Alfa 156 I had before that and daughter has a set on her Jazz. Their only downside is they seem to wear more quickly than Michelin on a heavy RWD car but otherwise they are perfect for us.

Saw that, they are great tyres but a little soft and very quiet

 

[GlosRichCLK]

Lovely looking W209 CLK.

They are great value now, very elegant car for the money. The petrols are really cheap, as no one wants them.

However I would go for the petrol, unless you do high miles, so much more refined, and if you do low miles the consumption isnt really a big issue.

I'm after a W209 coupe in the next few years to replace my A208.

 

[Droverunner]

Cheers GlosRich. I fully agree if you work out the cost petrol vs diesel for the average private user petrols make sense... it's just we have run diesels for decades now and like them... doesn't have to make sense to others just how it is. In our weeks of car searching we have walked past many unloved petrol BMWs and Mercedes at seemingly bargain prices.

 

[Droverunner]

Well tyres are on and that's all the initial work completed... nothing more that needs doing until I give it an interim in another 6000mls. The Dunlops have quietened the roar on poor surfaces from the back no end.

We've owned a huge amount of cars between us over our 40+yrs driving and this has been the easiest and least expensive car to go through post-purchase... can't quite believe there is nothing over and above the service plus tyres to do. Long may it continue.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Now if we could just get an IPhone to Bluetooth it would be perfect... but I'll start a thread on that.