RE: Shed Of The Week: Mercedes-Benz CLK
Discussion
It's a nice little car and I do like it. But beware, it comes from the absolute trough of the MB build quality curve. It has the capacity to rust in places that you never thought cars could actually rust in. And yes, I know it's cheap, I just know some frightful rust traps have current tickets.
AC43 said:
Totally agree - it's got to be a 6 pot or a V8, really.
The 230K engine needed a small mod to prevent oil leaking down the wiring loom & generating EML codes. I think I paid £30 for the part & £30 for labour.Other than that the engine is superb- considered the best 4-cylinder engine they ever made. It was deliberately detuned so as to not compete with the V6 and is easy to tweak for more power.
On track my SLK with the same engine kicked the arse of many a 'superior-engined' car.
Excellent shed apart from the risk of rust.
sinbaddio said:
That's a lovely looking car. Wonder what they paid it for it 13 years ago? Must have been £40k or so when new?
I don't know the figures, but I do recall my Dad was offered a CLK320 Cab to replace his E320 cab and the newer car was significantly less expensive than its predecessor. That is before allowing for inflation on top. Sadly, it seems the build quality of the later car matched the price tag. As it happens, the E320 cab (which he still has) has held its value around £15k, whereas the later car can be had for a grand. Rovinghawk said:
Excellent shed apart from the risk of rust.
Absolutely, I owned a 320 coupe for eight years and it was very reliable, and a great cruiser. Pretty sure I read somewhere that the cabriolets were less rust prone as they were build by Karmann? A lot of car for £1000 anyway, a set of AMG wheels and a polish would improve it no end.We are lucky in this country that a car like that can be had for a thousand pounds, its a convertible Mercedes, that isnt a ruin, for a grand !
That could bring a lot of pleasure to someone on a budget, possibly a bit of profit as well, there are many really
bad examples of these out there for double the money, someone get this bought, run it for the rest of the summer and then punt it on for £1500 in October !
Cheap to keep running as well, everything is shared with other mercs and available from the usual suspects for very reasonable prices.
That could bring a lot of pleasure to someone on a budget, possibly a bit of profit as well, there are many really
bad examples of these out there for double the money, someone get this bought, run it for the rest of the summer and then punt it on for £1500 in October !
Cheap to keep running as well, everything is shared with other mercs and available from the usual suspects for very reasonable prices.
LayZ said:
Dubmaster77 said:
Set of rims and a private plate and the neighbours will think you have had a lotto win.
Yep, cheap plate, proper going over with some detailing products and some copy monoblocs. Just add huge fly-eye sunglasses to look the part rolling down home counties high street.kellyt said:
It's a nice little car and I do like it. But beware, it comes from the absolute trough of the MB build quality curve. It has the capacity to rust in places that you never thought cars could actually rust in. And yes, I know it's cheap, I just know some frightful rust traps have current tickets.
Exactly this.They are one of the lowest of the low when it comes to MB cars.
Not many folk don't know about the rust, but in these early water based painted cars, the rust is just off the scale.
Shnozz said:
sinbaddio said:
That's a lovely looking car. Wonder what they paid it for it 13 years ago? Must have been £40k or so when new?
I don't know the figures, but I do recall my Dad was offered a CLK320 Cab to replace his E320 cab and the newer car was significantly less expensive than its predecessor. That is before allowing for inflation on top. Sadly, it seems the build quality of the later car matched the price tag. As it happens, the E320 cab (which he still has) has held its value around £15k, whereas the later car can be had for a grand. I'm going to swim against the current.
Really don't like these, especially in this colour they look cheap and dumpy and the reliability/rust issues put me off.
I'd much prefer an old 3 series, 9-3 or Audi convertible for the money if I wanted a drop top 4 seater for the money. All IMO look far better -which I guess is what counts on these kind of cars!
Really don't like these, especially in this colour they look cheap and dumpy and the reliability/rust issues put me off.
I'd much prefer an old 3 series, 9-3 or Audi convertible for the money if I wanted a drop top 4 seater for the money. All IMO look far better -which I guess is what counts on these kind of cars!
I have a 2001 CLK320 tucked away in a garage whilst I'm working overseas - as mentioned, rust is the single biggest issue (although I've only seen the slightest spot behind the from wheel arch so far) but I also managed to blow some clear coat off the paint by power washing it - these should be hand wash only! Reliability has been 100%, interior is lovely and the drive is decent. Honestly, if it wasn't for the paint quality this car would be near faultless, I really like it. No experience of the 230K engine but this seems like too shedding to me, they're genuinely decent cars and there are plenty of independent specialists to look after them for you at reasonable prices.
They say 4-seat convertible Mercedes are a sure bet, but I can't see these in 30-40 years time being the same sort of prices commanding now for a '60s 280 SE cabrios - mainly due to the fact some if not most were rusting not long after the warranty ran out! Still, in the spirit of the thread a very nice car to smoke about in, just be sure you have a few other £1,000s in the bank for its upkeep!
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