W209 CLK55 AMG - Potential purchase, any advice please?
Discussion
Hi all, as per the title really...
I am in the hunt for a new car, and high up the list is a CLK55, budget is around 15k, so it would be a 2002/2003 plate with sensible miles if I did get one...
What should I know about these? If I got one at this price it wouldn't be approved MB used, and as such I imagine it wouldn't have any form of MB warranty. Should this put me off straight away?
Are there any major issues with these, especially at that age?
What would be a 'ball park' figure for servicing annually?
Are they relatively reliable, and also is this the period where the bodywork is succeptable to rust?
What things would I need to look for (and probably with an inspection) if I go to look at a for?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
I am in the hunt for a new car, and high up the list is a CLK55, budget is around 15k, so it would be a 2002/2003 plate with sensible miles if I did get one...
What should I know about these? If I got one at this price it wouldn't be approved MB used, and as such I imagine it wouldn't have any form of MB warranty. Should this put me off straight away?
Are there any major issues with these, especially at that age?
What would be a 'ball park' figure for servicing annually?
Are they relatively reliable, and also is this the period where the bodywork is succeptable to rust?
What things would I need to look for (and probably with an inspection) if I go to look at a for?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
I've had mine for a couple of years now. It's a 2003 with 47k on the clock, so pretty much what (I think) you'd get for 15k or so. The car was bought from mercedes and had a warrenty that I didn't bother to renew after the first year because I hadn't had any problems. I don't do a massive mileaage, only 5 - 10k a year, or do track days.
My car has (touch wood) been almost 100% reliable. The only things that have gone wrong are:
1) headlamp leveler, cost £500 or so from mercedes to fix (out of warranty). The washers broke whilst they had the car, which I was very suspicious about.
2) drivers heated seat. Would cost £500 or so to fix at an indy, I haven't got round to this yet.
3) washers cost £80 for an indy to fix, mercedes quoted £200 just to investigate.
My advice would be to get the best car you can (have an inspection), and use a good independant to look after it. Make sure you know how long the brakes have left as if you use a dealer it's something like £1k each axle for pads and discs (I'm told miles cheaper to use pattern parts though) (edit, I don't have a quote on this, maybe someone could confirm?)
I would also suggest checking the service book carefully as the service indicator system seems a bit random.
My expiriences with dealership maintinence have been limited due to the lack of trouble and the car having just had a B service when I bought it. The couple of times they have had the car have been expensive and they did not complete the work within a day on either occasion.
Once out of warrenty I had an A service at an independant, with an mot (but nothing to fix) it cost £270.
All in all, it's been a better car to drive and to run than the e46 M3 I had previously which cost a lot more to run and didn't seem very strong mechanically (I had a gearbox problem at less than 50k, not common though)
To my mind, one of the best things about the car is it's fun to drive even when going slowly (still hugely quick when you want it to be, almost too quick). You also get let into traffic a lot more than an M3 / 911 would.
I hope this helps
My car has (touch wood) been almost 100% reliable. The only things that have gone wrong are:
1) headlamp leveler, cost £500 or so from mercedes to fix (out of warranty). The washers broke whilst they had the car, which I was very suspicious about.
2) drivers heated seat. Would cost £500 or so to fix at an indy, I haven't got round to this yet.
3) washers cost £80 for an indy to fix, mercedes quoted £200 just to investigate.
My advice would be to get the best car you can (have an inspection), and use a good independant to look after it. Make sure you know how long the brakes have left as if you use a dealer it's something like £1k each axle for pads and discs (I'm told miles cheaper to use pattern parts though) (edit, I don't have a quote on this, maybe someone could confirm?)
I would also suggest checking the service book carefully as the service indicator system seems a bit random.
My expiriences with dealership maintinence have been limited due to the lack of trouble and the car having just had a B service when I bought it. The couple of times they have had the car have been expensive and they did not complete the work within a day on either occasion.
Once out of warrenty I had an A service at an independant, with an mot (but nothing to fix) it cost £270.
All in all, it's been a better car to drive and to run than the e46 M3 I had previously which cost a lot more to run and didn't seem very strong mechanically (I had a gearbox problem at less than 50k, not common though)
To my mind, one of the best things about the car is it's fun to drive even when going slowly (still hugely quick when you want it to be, almost too quick). You also get let into traffic a lot more than an M3 / 911 would.
I hope this helps
Edited by dougt on Sunday 18th October 21:11
I thoroughly enjoyed mine. It had 100,000 miles and full MBSH when I bought it. The brakes were in a terrible state after a recent service, so don`t think that the main dealers are all good. I had it for 18 months and covered a few thousand miles, a lot of which were on trackdays. The car was very impressive and never gave any problems. I still miss that slug of torque, it`s quite addictive.
The parts from Mercedes to rebuild the brakes, were very reasonable. I did the labour myself and the brakes were transformed.
I think these are a very underrated car. The autobox is the best I have driven. Even though I have moved on (again), the Merc was one of the best all rounders and easy for other people to drive on road or track.
Happy hunting.
The parts from Mercedes to rebuild the brakes, were very reasonable. I did the labour myself and the brakes were transformed.
I think these are a very underrated car. The autobox is the best I have driven. Even though I have moved on (again), the Merc was one of the best all rounders and easy for other people to drive on road or track.
Happy hunting.
I have a 2005 55 Cab and came from a 500 Coupe... Totally different cars. The 55 is brutal in power and its as mentioned a very understated car... People are shocked when a Cabriolet is up behind them and stays with them....For your budget you'll get the pre-facelift which are good cars,my 05 is the facelift and has the new dash and i've been told is better put together... not sure what they mean by that..
So not only is it a prestige Mercedes and can purr along like any other but unleash it, and its addictive......
So not only is it a prestige Mercedes and can purr along like any other but unleash it, and its addictive......
Hi
The heated seat can be fixed for about £30 a seat. If your base is cold but your back is hot then you can get a replacement base heater and fit it.
Done it a few times and works well.
By the way here is a nice one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1385807.htm
The heated seat can be fixed for about £30 a seat. If your base is cold but your back is hot then you can get a replacement base heater and fit it.
Done it a few times and works well.
By the way here is a nice one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1385807.htm
dougt said:
I've had mine for a couple of years now. It's a 2003 with 47k on the clock, so pretty much what (I think) you'd get for 15k or so. The car was bought from mercedes and had a warrenty that I didn't bother to renew after the first year because I hadn't had any problems. I don't do a massive mileaage, only 5 - 10k a year, or do track days.
My car has (touch wood) been almost 100% reliable. The only things that have gone wrong are:
1) headlamp leveler, cost £500 or so from mercedes to fix (out of warranty). The washers broke whilst they had the car, which I was very suspicious about.
2) drivers heated seat. Would cost £500 or so to fix at an indy, I haven't got round to this yet.
3) washers cost £80 for an indy to fix, mercedes quoted £200 just to investigate.
My advice would be to get the best car you can (have an inspection), and use a good independant to look after it. Make sure you know how long the brakes have left as if you use a dealer it's something like £1k each axle for pads and discs (I'm told miles cheaper to use pattern parts though) (edit, I don't have a quote on this, maybe someone could confirm?)
I would also suggest checking the service book carefully as the service indicator system seems a bit random.
My expiriences with dealership maintinence have been limited due to the lack of trouble and the car having just had a B service when I bought it. The couple of times they have had the car have been expensive and they did not complete the work within a day on either occasion.
Once out of warrenty I had an A service at an independant, with an mot (but nothing to fix) it cost £270.
All in all, it's been a better car to drive and to run than the e46 M3 I had previously which cost a lot more to run and didn't seem very strong mechanically (I had a gearbox problem at less than 50k, not common though)
To my mind, one of the best things about the car is it's fun to drive even when going slowly (still hugely quick when you want it to be, almost too quick). You also get let into traffic a lot more than an M3 / 911 would.
I hope this helps
front discs are £52 each, pads about £80ish, sensors x2 £10, plus labour so about £280-300 all in fitted for fronts, genuine mercedes parts, this was at www.mbtechwarrington.co.ukMy car has (touch wood) been almost 100% reliable. The only things that have gone wrong are:
1) headlamp leveler, cost £500 or so from mercedes to fix (out of warranty). The washers broke whilst they had the car, which I was very suspicious about.
2) drivers heated seat. Would cost £500 or so to fix at an indy, I haven't got round to this yet.
3) washers cost £80 for an indy to fix, mercedes quoted £200 just to investigate.
My advice would be to get the best car you can (have an inspection), and use a good independant to look after it. Make sure you know how long the brakes have left as if you use a dealer it's something like £1k each axle for pads and discs (I'm told miles cheaper to use pattern parts though) (edit, I don't have a quote on this, maybe someone could confirm?)
I would also suggest checking the service book carefully as the service indicator system seems a bit random.
My expiriences with dealership maintinence have been limited due to the lack of trouble and the car having just had a B service when I bought it. The couple of times they have had the car have been expensive and they did not complete the work within a day on either occasion.
Once out of warrenty I had an A service at an independant, with an mot (but nothing to fix) it cost £270.
All in all, it's been a better car to drive and to run than the e46 M3 I had previously which cost a lot more to run and didn't seem very strong mechanically (I had a gearbox problem at less than 50k, not common though)
To my mind, one of the best things about the car is it's fun to drive even when going slowly (still hugely quick when you want it to be, almost too quick). You also get let into traffic a lot more than an M3 / 911 would.
I hope this helps
Edited by dougt on Sunday 18th October 21:11
Make sure you take someone along who knows mercedes inside out, we offer a full inspection for £67.50 to provide peace of mind.
Edited by speed rules on Sunday 6th December 13:19
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