RE: The Brave Pill: Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
Discussion
I've had a few Mercs, but wouldn't want another one with recirculating ball steering - how on earth did they think that was acceptable in the 21st Century on what is supposed to be a "sporting" car? 
ETA - This could be a brilliant feature!
ETA - This could be a brilliant feature!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Sunday 24th February 23:32
Good article and a few funny quips in there.
I’d welcome this being a series, being both entertaining and (by having to draw attention to the classified cash machine for your overlords) justifying your relocation to somewhere more habitable.
With a budget max of 9k you could make it the six shed shot in the dark.
This car is still in run it TIL it breaks and sell the bits to get your money back territory isn’t it?
I’d welcome this being a series, being both entertaining and (by having to draw attention to the classified cash machine for your overlords) justifying your relocation to somewhere more habitable.
With a budget max of 9k you could make it the six shed shot in the dark.
This car is still in run it TIL it breaks and sell the bits to get your money back territory isn’t it?
Mr Tidy said:
I've had a few Mercs, but wouldn't want another one with recirculating ball steering - how on earth did they think that was acceptable in the 21st Century on what is supposed to be a "sporting" car?
The E39 M5 has "recirculating ball steering" and it's lavished with praise on this site and the press. These are at least in no way pretending to be sporting. The rust and lousy build quality would put me off.
J4CKO said:
AC43 said:
Phunk said:
I think I’d rather spend similar money on the 382bhp clk500 which should hopefully have less bork potential: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yes, that's a peach. I'm on my 4th V8 Merc and the one I have now has that engine and it's a blinder. It's currently catapulting me and the family around Wiltshire on a short break.
And even though my earlier ones ended up rusting the formula is still great and if I went back in time I'd still buy them. A far more interesting way to spend the car allowance than getting a badly-specced 2.0 diesel company car.
I settled for a 5.0 E500 for a few years but when it's time was up I was lucky enough to find a 5.5 to replace it. I swear they're undercalling the numbers. It's so much quicker than the 5.0. And, as you say, in a CLK it must be mustard.
Had one for 18 months and got fed up chasing the rust. They go on the front wings, sills and jacking points, rear quarters but these are a really pig as double skinned and the rust gets in between, boot lid and as someone else mentioned 'spider' marks from any stone chips. I spent a small fortune getting the bodywork sorted when I bought it. The car was a weekend car garaged and covered but even so rust started returning in places after a year or so. It's a shame as the engine is epic and they are quick even by modern standards. I had the secondary cats removed on mine and it sounded great. 
AC43 said:
J4CKO said:
AC43 said:
Phunk said:
I think I’d rather spend similar money on the 382bhp clk500 which should hopefully have less bork potential: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yes, that's a peach. I'm on my 4th V8 Merc and the one I have now has that engine and it's a blinder. It's currently catapulting me and the family around Wiltshire on a short break.
And even though my earlier ones ended up rusting the formula is still great and if I went back in time I'd still buy them. A far more interesting way to spend the car allowance than getting a badly-specced 2.0 diesel company car.
I settled for a 5.0 E500 for a few years but when it's time was up I was lucky enough to find a 5.5 to replace it. I swear they're undercalling the numbers. It's so much quicker than the 5.0. And, as you say, in a CLK it must be mustard.
Never gave any agro, if you watch the ones with the wonky cam chains and if it smells of burnt oil, thats just some cam blanking plugs that leak with, go brittle but are easily changed for not much money
I utterly adore mine.
Admittedly it’s a garage queen and has often been a third car for weekends and high days. In the last 9 years it’s needed an alternator and an air con condenser.
Steering doesn’t bother me as to my mind it’s was never conceived or was bought as a sports car. It’s a GT and in that context it seems fine to me.
The rust issue is a curious one, the majority of them are a nightmare and I looked at circa 10-12 CLK or E55s before buying my one. However, my previous W208 never had any rust either and it was kept outside, work that out.
Admittedly it’s a garage queen and has often been a third car for weekends and high days. In the last 9 years it’s needed an alternator and an air con condenser.
Steering doesn’t bother me as to my mind it’s was never conceived or was bought as a sports car. It’s a GT and in that context it seems fine to me.
The rust issue is a curious one, the majority of them are a nightmare and I looked at circa 10-12 CLK or E55s before buying my one. However, my previous W208 never had any rust either and it was kept outside, work that out.
I would recommend going for a W209 CLK55 coupe. I bought one with ~24k on the clock and with the following mods it is awesome: CLK63 steering wheel with the extended paddles, proper LSD, decat/X-pipe/resonator removal mod, LPG conversion. Now 100k miles later of daily driving... cheap to fuel, fast enough for the drive to work, super comfortable, sounds feral. Need some sense though: fuel pump failed for example...one Merc Independent price was £1200...for the part...excl VAT and fitting, while my other specialist with a little more motivation, the parts were ~£100. The W209s didn't seem to suffer from rust either. Also humbled everything at Goodwood in the rain and most things in the dry. Got several other road and track cars but this is the one I keep going back to. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I've got a 2001 CLK55 AMG, bought in December 2010. it is still in daily use and has now covered nearly 180k miles.
At the time I could have bought a w209 CLK500 for the same money but I love the styling and simplicity of the w208 and it's an AMG of course. It's a practical car with 4 comfy seats and a large boot, we have been on family holidays up and down the country in it without issue. It's not really a "sports" car more of a baby-GT, but at 1600kg, 350bhp, 510Nm etc, it can not only keep up with but also surprise some very serious metal. After the exhaust developed a rattle I had the resonator and rear cats replaced with a straight pipe, retained the stock muffler - sound is heavenly and not much louder. Otherwise mine is mostly original.
Things to note:
Chews through tyres, although they're not expensive these days (17" wheels are a popular size for a hatchback in 2019)
Drinks fuel if driven even modestly (teens around town) but you can hypermile 33+mpg on the motorway
A lot of the parts are shared with 202/210 (think: taxis) etc so are relatively cheap, a few AMG-specific bits are expensive
Brake discs are eyewatering on the front axle (unique to CLK55) but you can fit later AMG calipers & wear items are cheaper
Suspension is just steel springs and shocks, "AMG" components are about 3x the price of aftermarket (H&R etc) so look there
It's not packed with fancy electronics so little to go wrong, the crank sensor gave up on mine but was only a few quid to replace
Interior stands up well to use, mine looks great except for some stitching on the driver's seat and steering wheel leather is wearing thin
Needs a couple of hundred spending every year on welding; Sills, chassis, suspension mounts etc all require frequent inspection
Bodywork will need attention every few years, mine's been resprayed twice and it's bubbling around the arches & doors again
At the time I could have bought a w209 CLK500 for the same money but I love the styling and simplicity of the w208 and it's an AMG of course. It's a practical car with 4 comfy seats and a large boot, we have been on family holidays up and down the country in it without issue. It's not really a "sports" car more of a baby-GT, but at 1600kg, 350bhp, 510Nm etc, it can not only keep up with but also surprise some very serious metal. After the exhaust developed a rattle I had the resonator and rear cats replaced with a straight pipe, retained the stock muffler - sound is heavenly and not much louder. Otherwise mine is mostly original.
Things to note:
Chews through tyres, although they're not expensive these days (17" wheels are a popular size for a hatchback in 2019)
Drinks fuel if driven even modestly (teens around town) but you can hypermile 33+mpg on the motorway
A lot of the parts are shared with 202/210 (think: taxis) etc so are relatively cheap, a few AMG-specific bits are expensive
Brake discs are eyewatering on the front axle (unique to CLK55) but you can fit later AMG calipers & wear items are cheaper
Suspension is just steel springs and shocks, "AMG" components are about 3x the price of aftermarket (H&R etc) so look there
It's not packed with fancy electronics so little to go wrong, the crank sensor gave up on mine but was only a few quid to replace
Interior stands up well to use, mine looks great except for some stitching on the driver's seat and steering wheel leather is wearing thin
Needs a couple of hundred spending every year on welding; Sills, chassis, suspension mounts etc all require frequent inspection
Bodywork will need attention every few years, mine's been resprayed twice and it's bubbling around the arches & doors again
What a brilliant start to what is sure to be a great concept.
£5-10k is such a sweet spot of quality bargenomics. Whilst I always enjoy reading SOTW, give me a well looked after ‘cool’ motor car any day.
Have always applied Bargenomics to my “Station Car”. Where is the sense in chucking money down the drain on a car that does the daily grind, and not a lot more.
A MINI Cooper S JCW did the first year (too stiff), and a stunning E39 MSport 525 the next two (too slow). I got very close to buying one of these CLK55, but then a mate of mine sent me the PH advert for the stunning CL600 that is my current barge. To be honest, it was the rust that put me off the CLK. I don’t mind the odd technical fault, but bodywork shenanigans are a right pain.
That said, someone that uses the same station car park as I, uses the most glorious gold Lexus LS400, complete with frilly arches! Same concept, different routes there.
Important thing with Bargenomics, is making sure that you buy a really good one in the first place, and then spending enough to maintain it properly. Don’t think about it as running a car for free, think of it as running a superb car for very little.
£5-10k is such a sweet spot of quality bargenomics. Whilst I always enjoy reading SOTW, give me a well looked after ‘cool’ motor car any day.
Have always applied Bargenomics to my “Station Car”. Where is the sense in chucking money down the drain on a car that does the daily grind, and not a lot more.
A MINI Cooper S JCW did the first year (too stiff), and a stunning E39 MSport 525 the next two (too slow). I got very close to buying one of these CLK55, but then a mate of mine sent me the PH advert for the stunning CL600 that is my current barge. To be honest, it was the rust that put me off the CLK. I don’t mind the odd technical fault, but bodywork shenanigans are a right pain.
That said, someone that uses the same station car park as I, uses the most glorious gold Lexus LS400, complete with frilly arches! Same concept, different routes there.
Important thing with Bargenomics, is making sure that you buy a really good one in the first place, and then spending enough to maintain it properly. Don’t think about it as running a car for free, think of it as running a superb car for very little.
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