Mercedes Clk advice needed please

[EightFortySeeEye]

Hi im interested in the w208 clk for the moment im looking to ease myself into mercedes ownership

i just want to see whether id enjoy the car before taking the plunge into more expensive options

ive noticed this ad among others and want to know what your thoughts are

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1066442.htm

it seems to have been kept in good nick judging by the ad and the services what do you people think about the price

I'd just like to get a general consencous, im looking to spend around £4000 but want something that is fairly bullet proof is this a reasonale purchasing budget for one in good condition circa 110k miles or less

not really interested in the cheapest on the market as money may need to be spent just getting it up to the right condition

thanks in advance for any advice

Edited by EightFortySeeEye on Monday 15th June 15:18

[EightFortySeeEye]

any advice please it would be greatly appreciated

[shentodj]

Could just be photo, but drivers door looks a different colour to rear wing.

If it has had paintwork, I assume it'll have had to be done my a Merc dealer for the Mobilo warranty to still be ok? I'm sure someone more knowledgable will comment!

Can't help with W208. My wife has W209 CLK and we've had plenty of trouble with electrics (hood, seats, SRS airbag warning light etc) so make sure all switches work!



Regards,
Shentodj

[buccal]

I've had mine for 3.5 years and it has had zero faults. Albeit the mileage is now only at 35k and its been used as a second car for weekends.

Rust is the main issue in some cars esp wheel arches and tailights. Pixel display can go but otherwise pretty bulletproof IMHO.

With a budget of 4k though i would wait and save a bit more. The drop in W209 values has killed w208 values and you often find one or two owner low mileage car with FMDSH for 6k maybe a bit more.

For the sake of 2 grand you could get a really really nice example.

[ShadownINja]

What buccal said. Also, check EVERYTHING works.

[EightFortySeeEye]

hmm thanks alot for the advice i didnt realise the w209s could get as low as 6k yet or did you mean really good example low mileage w208s?

i didnt notice the paintwork bit, i would have thought it was the sunlight i would have to check it if i viewed the car

thanks alot guys

Edited by EightFortySeeEye on Tuesday 16th June 14:12

[buccal]

EightFortySeeEye said:

hmm thanks alot for the advice i didnt realise the w209s could get as low as 6k yet

i didnt notice the paintwork bit, i would have thought it was the sunlight i would have to check it if i viewed the car

thanks alot guys

sorry meant w208's are 6k for a minter

[EightFortySeeEye]

oh ok cheers

[OldGermanHeaps]

Ive had one for 3 years, `00X clk320 Elegance, taken it from 98k to 118k and had very little trouble with it. dodgy pixels but only affecting the clock and temperature displays, the MID works perfectly. other than servicing it`s needed a brake light switch, a couple of balljoints, discs and pads, brake pipes and a metal fuel pipe. the only major issue is rust. it gets frequently washed and stonechips dont get neglected but the tinworm is bad for a car of its age. mercs are totally st for that, really behind the game as far as corrosion protection goes. ive got rust on the bootlid above the numberplate, the bonnet, the doors and the bottom of the rear arches where they meet the sills. My <£1000 97 bmw 728 banger bought as a disposable working car for the wife on the other hand has done 215k and only has one small bit of rust on one of the doors where the paint has been scraped and that har has had, and is still recieving a hard life.

[OldGermanHeaps]

also forgot to say, that one your looking at is pre facelift, and theres plenty facelift ones around for that money, only minor tweaks but they add together to make the car feel a bit more modern. plus look at different wheels, the 208 makes any wheels smaller than 18" look tiny
Facelift:
http://img6.imageshack.us/i/img0148fey.jpg/
http://img4.imageshack.us/i/62080537.jpg/
http://img4.imageshack.us/i/21387147.jpg/
Differences I`ve noticed are Instrument cluster and MID, Steering wheel, Stereo, Heater controls, rubbing strip now same colour as body, nicer side skirts, bumpers colour coded all the way down and a slightly different shape, side repeaters in the mirrors, chrome strip round the window line and the top of the door handles, electrics moved over to CANbus which seems to be more reliable, Autobox went to tiptronic with more sophisticated electronics but same mechanicals, probably a few more changes but I`m not sure what they are, i`m sure someone on here will know.
Defineatly be on the look ot for respraying and check the inside of the bonnet just under the grille, around the edges of the plastic strip above the rear numberplate and round the boot lock, the wheelarches and sills, the edges of the doors and the underside for rust. grab the wheels at the top of the tyre and shake them in all different directions and look/feel for play in the suspension arms, listen for whining or rough changes/flaring from the gearbox, there is a fault with the original valeo radiators which include the transmission cooler and they let coolant into the transmission,gradually wrecking the box basically. it can be fixed but is very expensive, if the one you buy has a valeo radiator that hasn`t failed yet general consensus in the merc community is change it to save yourself grief. Once you buy one do yourself a favour and get it up on axle stands or ramps, take off all the underbody plastic and heatshields (which rot and rattle BTW) and clean off all the rust using something like Deox-Gel then wire brush up and totally underseal the car with a good quality underseal like Dynax-UB or Dinitrol. I`m a fan of the Bilt Hamber products myself, high quality and keenly priced. seal the inner edges of the wheelarches too and under the sill covers.
Good luck. Unlikely I know but if by any chance your looking at any in central scotland let me know and if its convenient for me I could pop round with my carsoft diagnostics and scan it if you want.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 17th June 09:36

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 17th June 09:37

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 17th June 09:38

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 17th June 09:43

[EightFortySeeEye]

thanks alooot for the advice ill do a little more research into these cars

im in london so i wont be looking up in scotland but thanks for the offer