Newbie

[steve1960]

Hi All,

I am new to this site and to Mercedes, never owned one before. I am looking to buy a CLK Cabriolet for my partner and have seen a 230k in silver with manual gearbox which I am interested in.

I know the manual gearbox is not highly rated but my partner a) badly wants a CLK and b) refuses to drive an automatic!

Apart from that is there anything in particular I should look out for? It's a 2002, 52k miles, FMBSH. Hood works smoothly, air con and other gadgets all work, no scratches or marks inside or out. All four alloys need refurbishment which the garage will do as part of the deal.

Many Thanks

Steve

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

hi Steve,

The only thing I will say is that you really do want to look at the gearbox again. Manual Mercs are not easy to resell. Trust me, the one thing that owning a Merc has shown me is that I would never buy a manual for day to day use again.

The age you are looking at is at the peak of Mercs "difficult" period so you should get it well and truely inspected. It may be worth getting it inspected for Service Plus. Many MB garages do this for free and as it is a 2 hour inspection it's pretty thorough (although as I can testify doesn't pick up all the little "quirks" you get with a Benz).

The only things I can recommend you look at are the front suspension roll-bars (drive it on a bumpy road - if you hear any knocking noises they will need replacing. This is cheap and easy) and check the paint thoroughly. It is VERY thin and stone chips rust very quickly.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

Has your partner ever driven a Mercedes automatic? or a Mercedes manual for that matter. For one thing the parking brake can take quite a time to master in the manual as it is foot operated.
I personally cannot see the benefit in changing gears for myself anymore in my normal road car when my Mercedes can do it perfectly well.
I suppose the one benefit is that it will be (or should be) a lot cheaper to buy, conversely though it will be quite/very hard to sell should you wish to change.

 

[Hibbo]

Why does he refuse to drive an automatic?

 

[shj]

Hibbo,in this day and age you can'nt be sure about the sexuality of anybody's partner,mores the pity

 

[jon_harley]

Hibbo,in this day and age you can'nt be sure about the sexuality of anybody's partner,mores the pity

Why's it a pity? The world would be very tedious if everyone was made the same way.

 

[steve1960]

Very funny!

Very funny guys and thanks for the information. I am concerned about the resale prospects but I know from past experience Teresa (my Italian godess rather than god!!) just doesn't like auto's.

This could of course sadly mean the CLK is not for us. We shall see.

Regards

Steve

 

[Hibbo]

Has she driven Merc autos (no apostrophe) before? I have found them to be superb and I am certainly a convert - I'd never have a manual again!

 

[steve1960]

Merc Autos

No, never driven a Merc auto. She has driven Audi, BMW, Rover and Jeep autos and didn't like a single one of them. Would a Merc be appreciably different?

Thanks

 

[Chris_J]

I think your partner should at least give it a go, and then try a Merc manual. I've only driven an A Class manual, and the box was very notchy.

Of the autos I've driven, which were Vauxhall, Peugeot and Mercedes, the Mercedes wins by a country mile. Mine is a diesel and even that is very smooth, and like others have said, the foot pedal for the parking brake would get in the way of the clutch.

It only takes a very short while to get used to auto, and I came from a Civic Type R, which has one of the finest clutch and gearbox/shift combinationss ever.

 

[steve1960]

Well we did it!

Teresa drove the manual CLK230 Cabriolet and didn't like it. The same garage had an automatic CLK320 Cabriolet and she did like that. Of course it cost me £1,000 more than I was expecting to spend!!

So we are now Mercedes owners

2002, silver, blue hood, two tone blue and grey leather, 18 inch alloys, 40k miles with FMBSH.

I do already have a couple of questions. Firstly I can't find the ercommended tyre pressures for 18 inch wheels. The manual only lists 16 and 17 inch. Anyone help?

Secondly the audio system looks like a single CD / Radio combination but has '10 CD changer' or something like that printed on the top right corner. Anyone know what CD changer models are compatible?

Many Thanks

Steve

 

[television]

Tire pressures stay the same irrespective of the size normally.

The CD changer goes in the glove box.
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.618&CT=F&cat=69M&SID=82&SGR=305&SGN=11

So pleased you like the car,they are nice.

Malcolm

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Secondly the audio system looks like a single CD / Radio combination but has '10 CD changer' or something like that printed on the top right corner. Anyone know what CD changer models are compatible?

Many Thanks

Steve

it's not just saying it's an Audio 10 (which is the model) with a CD is it? Mine is Audio 10 with a single CD front loader.

Post some pickies when you get the chance. Told you the Auto was the better option

 

[toby1]

Congratulations on your purchase. I wouldn't be too concerned about the extra money for the auto.

It will be a lot easier to sell when the time comes as well as being worth more than a manual anyway.

I've come over from a manual Audi, but I specifically wanted an automatic due to back problems, which is too long-winded to go on about here.

It's the right choice for a Merc CLK.

Happy motoring.

 

[steve1960]

New to the Merc club

Thanks for the information on the tyre pressures. I really enjoyed the drive over the weekend, what a great car!

Missing it now as we took the car away unprepared last Friday for Teresa's birthday and it has now gone back for a couple of days to have all four alloy wheels refurbuished and new catalytic convertors fitted.

I know about back problems - two spinal operations, cages, pins and two crushed bone alternative discs fitted. Reminds me they never did tell me where the crushed bone came from..............:?

 

[steve1960]

Oh, and yes the stereo does just say it's an audio 10. I researched this on the Internet and now know what it is that I have and that a fibre optic cd changer is going to set me back about £500! Unless anyone here knows where I might get one cheaper?

Thanks