2009 CLK Sport
Discussion
Afternoon all,
Newbie here so be gentle! I've been a long time lurker on the forums and figured this would be a good place to ask some advice.
I'm looking at buying one of the last 209 series CLK 350 Sport convertibles. That would put me in a 2009 year car.
I've done a fair amount of research and established that the much-publicised balance shaft issues were resolved by 2008 so an 09 car should be free from that particular time bomb. I also believe some of the 05-08 cars suffered from transmission issues on the auto box but again, I *think* these were sorted by 2009. Rust seemed to be an issue on pre 2005 cars but again, sorted by 2009.
Otherwise my research suggests there don't appear to me many other things to worry about other than the usual "check electrics all work" and that it drives smoothly and without any tell-tale clunks.
I'm fully aware that cars like this cost a fair bit to keep on the road so high service costs (and petrol / £490 road tax) are already accounted for!
So - any advice for me from any owners or those with experience of the CLK? Spec wise I'm looking for Obsidian Black with Black Leather and aluminium dash (not the wood). Definitely want the Sport version as the Avantgarde and Elegance don't sit right on the road to my eyes! Are the soft tops particularly problematic????
Fairly sure I want the 350 although a 280 might suffice. They do seem to be more plentiful...
Any thoughts?
Newbie here so be gentle! I've been a long time lurker on the forums and figured this would be a good place to ask some advice.
I'm looking at buying one of the last 209 series CLK 350 Sport convertibles. That would put me in a 2009 year car.
I've done a fair amount of research and established that the much-publicised balance shaft issues were resolved by 2008 so an 09 car should be free from that particular time bomb. I also believe some of the 05-08 cars suffered from transmission issues on the auto box but again, I *think* these were sorted by 2009. Rust seemed to be an issue on pre 2005 cars but again, sorted by 2009.
Otherwise my research suggests there don't appear to me many other things to worry about other than the usual "check electrics all work" and that it drives smoothly and without any tell-tale clunks.
I'm fully aware that cars like this cost a fair bit to keep on the road so high service costs (and petrol / £490 road tax) are already accounted for!
So - any advice for me from any owners or those with experience of the CLK? Spec wise I'm looking for Obsidian Black with Black Leather and aluminium dash (not the wood). Definitely want the Sport version as the Avantgarde and Elegance don't sit right on the road to my eyes! Are the soft tops particularly problematic????
Fairly sure I want the 350 although a 280 might suffice. They do seem to be more plentiful...
Any thoughts?
Edited by eddy77 on Tuesday 2nd June 15:41
The Gearbox issues weren't that bad & mainly due to the gearbox oil not being changed when it should.
The balancer shaft issues as you say should be sorted but I do have to say that if I was going to be paying £500 per year on Road tax I'd have one of these:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
They're rarer will hold there money better & then there's the noise not that different fuel wise 24mpg vs 28mpg
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
If your worried about the year put a private plate on it.
The balancer shaft issues as you say should be sorted but I do have to say that if I was going to be paying £500 per year on Road tax I'd have one of these:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
They're rarer will hold there money better & then there's the noise not that different fuel wise 24mpg vs 28mpg
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
If your worried about the year put a private plate on it.
Food for thought there - thanks! I had kind of ruled out a CLK55 as being a bit too much / ruinous on the finances. But maybe I should reconsider.
Are there any AMG engine worries to be aware of or was it a pretty reliable unit?
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Main issue I am having at the moment is finding any of the bigger engined variants for sale in the year / spec I want. It would be fine if I was after a 200K - they are ten-a-penny! But I see little appeal (other than pose value) in one of those!
Are there any AMG engine worries to be aware of or was it a pretty reliable unit?
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Main issue I am having at the moment is finding any of the bigger engined variants for sale in the year / spec I want. It would be fine if I was after a 200K - they are ten-a-penny! But I see little appeal (other than pose value) in one of those!
Hi again,
Budget is 12k to 13k. I'm after a nice weekend car. My daily hack is a Mondeo titanium sport diesel which is great for kids and rubbish dump trips but not exactly a wow car! Mpg not really an issue, nor is insurance and tax. What I don't want is something which keeps costing huge amounts year after year. In my mind I have an average budget of around £1k a year for servicing....
Spec wise I want leather, COMMAND but beyond that I'm not overly fussed about gadgets. As cars get older it's just more stuff to go wrong! The Mondeo is fitted with every extra known to man and I have a feeling that as it gets older it could be a right pain in the @rse!!!!!!!!
Budget is 12k to 13k. I'm after a nice weekend car. My daily hack is a Mondeo titanium sport diesel which is great for kids and rubbish dump trips but not exactly a wow car! Mpg not really an issue, nor is insurance and tax. What I don't want is something which keeps costing huge amounts year after year. In my mind I have an average budget of around £1k a year for servicing....
Spec wise I want leather, COMMAND but beyond that I'm not overly fussed about gadgets. As cars get older it's just more stuff to go wrong! The Mondeo is fitted with every extra known to man and I have a feeling that as it gets older it could be a right pain in the @rse!!!!!!!!
Here are a couple of options both have the spec you're looking for.
CLK 500 Sport convertible with the 388BHP 5.5 V8 this means it has the 7 Speed gearbox these are very rare & have more power than the 55 AMG models.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Or a 55AMG coupe(I prefer the coupe to the conv) Pop the sunroof drop the windows & it's like having a convertible.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
CLK 500 Sport convertible with the 388BHP 5.5 V8 this means it has the 7 Speed gearbox these are very rare & have more power than the 55 AMG models.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Or a 55AMG coupe(I prefer the coupe to the conv) Pop the sunroof drop the windows & it's like having a convertible.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Thanks!! I'd been looking at the CLK500 cab you linked to.....it's not too far from me. The only thing that had put me off a bit was the mileage. I'm going to have a good trawl of the classified over the weekend and see what I can find.
Thanks for all your help. I will post back when I find what I'm looking for!
Ed
Thanks for all your help. I will post back when I find what I'm looking for!
Ed
Quick update.
I am picking up a 2008 CLK 350 Sport Convertible on Saturday. Engine number is well out of the balance shaft danger zone. Car has done 33k miles, full Merc stamped history and is absolutely immaculate. Absolutely no dings, scrapes or anything. Just like new.
Chromite black with Sand leather. £8k worth of extras were specified when it was new, including COMMAND, heated and ventilated seats and a whole host of other stuff.
Car drives like new.
Very excited! Thanks for all your input...hopefully I've found a good one!
I am picking up a 2008 CLK 350 Sport Convertible on Saturday. Engine number is well out of the balance shaft danger zone. Car has done 33k miles, full Merc stamped history and is absolutely immaculate. Absolutely no dings, scrapes or anything. Just like new.
Chromite black with Sand leather. £8k worth of extras were specified when it was new, including COMMAND, heated and ventilated seats and a whole host of other stuff.
Car drives like new.
Very excited! Thanks for all your input...hopefully I've found a good one!
Hey,
Me again...picked up my 350 last weekend. Awesome car. I adore it. I have a few basic questions.
There is a sticker in the back which says the rear headrests should be used when the roof is down. I don't really understand that as the headrests are also the roll bars aren't they? Are you supposed to manually pull them up whenever the roof is down and then drop them using the button on the dash when you put the roof up?? Seems a little odd to have to do that. I though they popped up automatically if the car rolled. Can anyone clarify what this sticker is on about??!
Second thing is the boot separator. I believe you can move it out of the way when the roof is up to get more luggage space. Mine, I think, is currently pulled across so the roof can go down. I can't figure out what you to to retract it. I have all the manuals but I can't seem to understand how to retract the separator and I don't want to force / break anything.
Finally, any idea why there are standard (traditional) metal locks in the drivers door when the car uses one of those key tab things....rather than a key? The car didn't come with a traditional key...just two key fobs which slot in the dashboard to start the car and do the locks etc. I can't see why a traditional key lock would be on the car unless I am missing a backup key.
Thanks for any input!
Ed
Me again...picked up my 350 last weekend. Awesome car. I adore it. I have a few basic questions.
There is a sticker in the back which says the rear headrests should be used when the roof is down. I don't really understand that as the headrests are also the roll bars aren't they? Are you supposed to manually pull them up whenever the roof is down and then drop them using the button on the dash when you put the roof up?? Seems a little odd to have to do that. I though they popped up automatically if the car rolled. Can anyone clarify what this sticker is on about??!
Second thing is the boot separator. I believe you can move it out of the way when the roof is up to get more luggage space. Mine, I think, is currently pulled across so the roof can go down. I can't figure out what you to to retract it. I have all the manuals but I can't seem to understand how to retract the separator and I don't want to force / break anything.
Finally, any idea why there are standard (traditional) metal locks in the drivers door when the car uses one of those key tab things....rather than a key? The car didn't come with a traditional key...just two key fobs which slot in the dashboard to start the car and do the locks etc. I can't see why a traditional key lock would be on the car unless I am missing a backup key.
Thanks for any input!
Ed
eddy77 said:
Hey,
Me again...picked up my 350 last weekend. Awesome car. I adore it. I have a few basic questions.
There is a sticker in the back which says the rear headrests should be used when the roof is down. I don't really understand that as the headrests are also the roll bars aren't they? Are you supposed to manually pull them up whenever the roof is down and then drop them using the button on the dash when you put the roof up?? Seems a little odd to have to do that. I though they popped up automatically if the car rolled. Can anyone clarify what this sticker is on about??!
Second thing is the boot separator. I believe you can move it out of the way when the roof is up to get more luggage space. Mine, I think, is currently pulled across so the roof can go down. I can't figure out what you to to retract it. I have all the manuals but I can't seem to understand how to retract the separator and I don't want to force / break anything.
Finally, any idea why there are standard (traditional) metal locks in the drivers door when the car uses one of those key tab things....rather than a key? The car didn't come with a traditional key...just two key fobs which slot in the dashboard to start the car and do the locks etc. I can't see why a traditional key lock would be on the car unless I am missing a backup key.
Thanks for any input!
Ed
The Key is built into the Keyfob so if the battery goes flat you can get into the car, I've never had a convertible CLK but I'm guessing there's a lever in the boot.Me again...picked up my 350 last weekend. Awesome car. I adore it. I have a few basic questions.
There is a sticker in the back which says the rear headrests should be used when the roof is down. I don't really understand that as the headrests are also the roll bars aren't they? Are you supposed to manually pull them up whenever the roof is down and then drop them using the button on the dash when you put the roof up?? Seems a little odd to have to do that. I though they popped up automatically if the car rolled. Can anyone clarify what this sticker is on about??!
Second thing is the boot separator. I believe you can move it out of the way when the roof is up to get more luggage space. Mine, I think, is currently pulled across so the roof can go down. I can't figure out what you to to retract it. I have all the manuals but I can't seem to understand how to retract the separator and I don't want to force / break anything.
Finally, any idea why there are standard (traditional) metal locks in the drivers door when the car uses one of those key tab things....rather than a key? The car didn't come with a traditional key...just two key fobs which slot in the dashboard to start the car and do the locks etc. I can't see why a traditional key lock would be on the car unless I am missing a backup key.
Thanks for any input!
Ed
God I feel like a tw@t now! Yup, sure enough, key is indeed in the fob. Thanks buddy!
I will have another read of the separator section in the handbook and try and figure out how to do it. I am following the instructions....although they are not very clear. It could be jammed I guess. I'm taking the car to my local MB Indy this weekend for a quick check over so I can always ask him.
Thanks again for all your help.
Ed
I will have another read of the separator section in the handbook and try and figure out how to do it. I am following the instructions....although they are not very clear. It could be jammed I guess. I'm taking the car to my local MB Indy this weekend for a quick check over so I can always ask him.
Thanks again for all your help.
Ed
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