So I bought an old CLK, what next

[bigchiefally]

Hi Folks,

I have just bought a 2002 50k 320 petrol avantgarde (for 3.8k, which seemed a decent deal, I live in Northern Ireland and we simply pay more for cars here due to the smaller market, hope it wasnt a terrible one!) and I am looking for any advice on any things that established owners of such a car would do maintenance wise on it straight away? Service B is 8000+ miles away according to computer and I am tempted to do it now.

I have driven it a bit and all seems fine, interior in really good nick, engine MPG is horrendous but as expected and I wont be doing massive miles in it, sounds pretty epic when you put the hammer down.

Concerns about the car:
- an odd knocking, I think coming from the heating system, that last for about 20 seconds pretty much every time you start the engine
- you need a PHD to understand the controls.
- CD player doesn't seem to recognise the existence the CD changer, so it may well be bust
- SAT Nav requires a CD to be in the player! Daft, you would almost think the car is 10+ years old...
- First signs of a little bit of rust starting to appear around the rear wheel arches

Any advice appreciated.

One thing that may sound stupid, in fact probably is, but is there any way through the menu system to get a categorical list of all the extras that were added to the car when it was first bought?

Cheers!

 

[television]

Pop your VIN number into the section of the forum and someone will decode it for you.

Does the cassette eject OK for the CD's

There is a rear wheel arch repair and mod in the DIY section.

Yes to use the comand it will need a DX disc for a 2002 car I think.

 

[AGordCL]

Seems like a good deal to me, I've had mine for a year now and still think it's brilliant.

With regards to servicing, might be worth just getting it checked over by a specialist to make sure there is nothing untoward. Unless the last service was over or approaching a year ago?

Personally I think the mpg is great considering the engine, I get 36-37 on a run and 28 average.

 

[Clk230chris]

My CLK230 came with a cd stacker, ended up binning it, converting my dash to double DIN and fitting a modern stereo with everything. Got a steering button controller so I still have those working.

 

[Chee]

Concerns about the car:
- an odd knocking, I think coming from the heating system, that last for about 20 seconds pretty much every time you start the engine
- you need a PHD to understand the controls.
- CD player doesn't seem to recognise the existence the CD changer, so it may well be bust
- SAT Nav requires a CD to be in the player! Daft, you would almost think the car is 10+ years old...
- First signs of a little bit of rust starting to appear around the rear wheel arches

Cheers!

The odd knocking, are you sure it's coming from the heating? The SBC pump produces sometimes sounds like that.
What made you think the CD player doesn't recognise the Changer? Does it say CDC not found?

Regarding the Specs, as above post your VIN number and we check =)

 

[whitenemesis]

No SBC on the CLK..

Is the knocking more like clicking perhaps? That's a fairly common problem as the heater flap actuator can fail

 

[bigchiefally]

Thanks for all the replies.

The knocking/clicking
------------------------
The knocking/clicking definitely sounds like something is catching on something. It starts when you put the key in and turn the electrics on, but before you start the engine. Only guessing it is in the heating system as it comes from somewhere close to, but not right at the top of the dashboard where the heating vents are.


MPG
-----
As for getting the 28MPG what sort of runs do you do? A common one of mine is down a country road for a mile, then a mostly 60 A road for about 2 miles, and back. Sensible speeds, about 17mpg overall. Out for longer it does get better, havent driven anything particularly long, but from cold it seems very harsh.

Servicing
---------
Might call around and see who knows MBs around the Belfast/Lisburn area to get someone to check it over as suggested.

CD
---
Cassette does not eject.
You hit the eject button and it whirrs away but nothing happens.
The cassette seems a lot looser than I would expect, plenty of movement in the whole system.

Thanks again

 

[television]

Sometimes disconnecting the power supply can bring these changers back to life.

Yes as a 209 it has electric motor driven heater flaps, go to the DIY section and there is a post by me on how to reset the flaps on a 203, your car is the same in this respect- if it does not work it may need a new flap somewhere.

 

[Crazycarb]

Doesn't matter what car I buy, I always get underneath immediately and change the oil & filter, regardless of who & when it was serviced.
As far as I am concerned, there is only one person capable of servicing cars properly that I own, and that's Me.

 

[AGordCL]

Thanks for all the replies.

MPG
-----
As for getting the 28MPG what sort of runs do you do? A common one of mine is down a country road for a mile, then a mostly 60 A road for about 2 miles, and back. Sensible speeds, about 17mpg overall. Out for longer it does get better, havent driven anything particularly long, but from cold it seems very harsh.

Thanks again

Well I notice you have the w209 I have the w208 but I understand it has the same engine so I don't see why it should be so different...

From cold its always very low but based on your description I would probably still get around 23-4mpg.

28 is over about 5 miles at mostly 60

 

[MBDevotee]

I also used to have a CLK320 and averaged about 27 overall.

It is awful from stone cold it's true, but try some longer runs.

Get onto the rust NOW - it's a cheap fix if caught early, and bearable to do when it's a bit at a time...... Leave it until every arch is rusty and it will seem too dear to be worth fixing and the car will go downhill....

Change the oil and filter at a minimum, you know it's done then, and change the g/b fluid too - again you know it's been done - anyone can write anything in a service book, doesn't mean it's been done.

 

[SteveX]

Others have already given some good advice but here is my 2p

Hi Folks,

I have just bought a 2002 50k 320 petrol avantgarde (for 3.8k, which seemed a decent deal, I live in Northern Ireland and we simply pay more for cars here due to the smaller market, hope it wasnt a terrible one!) and I am looking for any advice on any things that established owners of such a car would do maintenance wise on it straight away? Service B is 8000+ miles away according to computer and I am tempted to do it now.

I have driven it a bit and all seems fine, interior in really good nick, engine MPG is horrendous but as expected and I wont be doing massive miles in it, sounds pretty epic when you put the hammer down.

Concerns about the car:
- an odd knocking, I think coming from the heating system, that last for about 20 seconds pretty much every time you start the engine * Activated charcoal flap, whole dash out job, best to disconect it unless you want to spend 2k on replacement

- you need a PHD to understand the controls. *It's not that bad when you have a little play but yes there are a lot of buttons!

- CD player doesn't seem to recognise the existence the CD changer, so it may well be bust *Is the CD changer in the glove box? Should be held on by a small metal bracket, unscrew and check the cables at the back of the CD player, there is an optic cable and power cables, if the optical cable is red then the headunit end is probably ok, unplug the power cable and plug back in to reset it and see if it makes any difference

- SAT Nav requires a CD to be in the player! Daft, you would almost think the car is 10+ years old... *yes that is a bit stupid
- First signs of a little bit of rust starting to appear around the rear wheel arches

Any advice appreciated.

One thing that may sound stupid, in fact probably is, but is there any way through the menu system to get a categorical list of all the extras that were added to the car when it was first bought?

Cheers!

Running costs are pretty good and the V6 engine is smooth, sounds good and is quite nippy.

The biggest pain are the spark plugs, 12 for your car, and they are not the easiest things to get to, check when they were changed as they last about 60k and a lot of people seem to sell on before changing them.

If rust is appearing on the rear arches get it stripped and looked at ASAP before it spreads to the outside surface of the rear wings.

I'm surprised the 209 pannels are rusting, I thought it was 208's that had the issues.

Hope you enjoy the car.

 

[sonic]

I had a 2003 209, sold it 2 years ago with 109K miles, no rust at all.