newbie looking to buy a clk 2000

[lowryder]

Hello
I am considering buying a clk sports coupe 2000 and am looking for advice and potential faults to look out for. I am only looking at cars with full service history and am on a budget of approx £4500. Who better to ask for advice than the experts !
I am also looking for any specialist garages that would service a merc. to keep running costs down. Prefer Glasgow area.

Any advice appreciated, thanks, Andrew.

 

[drivinggod09]

hows it going andrew the one to get is the avantguard spec the engine choice is up to you i chose the 230k because there really wasnt much difference in perfoirmance between that and the 320 there are a few main areas to look for rust being one of the main ones check around the boot lock area and arches ive found the engines and running gear to be pretty bomb proof but they do have silly little faults that can cost a small fortune , check the camshaft adjuster isnt leaking it can be found at the front of the engine under a plastic cover with a merc star on once you take that off your left with a electrical plug and a round magnet pull the plug off to see if theres any oil in it while your there listen to the engine on idle and listen for any exhaust blow as the manifolds also have a habit of cracking , make sure you check the gears change smoothly and that both the standard and winter button work try the tiptronic box if its got one whilst in the cab check all the warning lights on the dash most of them should come on when you turn the ignition to psition 1 and all go out after engine start

 

[lowryder]

Where is all the advice ?? Not much doing here !

 

[colechelle]

I think rob above has covered the main points !!

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

Agree as above get a quote for the 230K also if little in it, runing cost should be very similar. Its a reasonable sized car so a bit more vroom is always good.

I just looked on Piston Heads and 4.5K doesn't unfortunaelty get you too much, or at least with sensible miles.

the CLK320's seem to be great buys

This is the closest to your budget but Manual ?????? aarrgghhh and looks quite bland (horrible wheels...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/406049.htm


This is better but £2K more , if the millage is right?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/447529.htm


Have a look, pleanty of choice but you may want to look in the gaps in the sofa for some more pennies


Good luck

 

[Brett]

Listen out for what sounds like an exhaust heat shield rattling from underneath - this could be the catalytic converter on it's way out. Very expensive to replace. Otherwise, it has pretty much been covered. I ran a W208 CLK230 Kompressor (2000 model year) for three years and 60k miles. Very reliable and reasonably quick. I had a manual which was fine, if a little notchy. Resale on a manual is awful though as they are not particularly popular.

Finally, if I remember correctly, there was a facelift around June or so that year - I got one of the first facelift models (easily identified by the turn signals in the door mirrors) and it is definitely the one to go for if you can find a good one. Good luck.