Anyone familiar with the W208 CLK55?

[peterg1965]

I am looking for a CLK500 (W209) and have come across this CLK55 (W208) which is within budget, I put it on an 'seen on eBay' thread. Is anyone familiar with them, or actually has one?I am keen to know about their attributes as a daily driver? Are servicing costs reasnably manageable at a decent MB specialist? This one has, what seems to be a good provinance, and I am going to check out the servicing with the dealers/garages on Monday. The trader has also offered to give me the number of the previous owner who traded it with him for a CL600.
Is there anything in particular that you need to look out for with these AMGs?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-MERCEDES-CLK-55-CLK55-AMG-V8-COMAND-NAPPA-FSH_W0QQitemZ290286766101QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item290286766101&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1307

Thanks.

 

[Howard]

Send Sean_F a PM ...

He had a beautiful one , and knows them inside out .

Service History is key with the AMG's , be aware that while a lot of parts are just bog standard CLK parts , the bits that are AMG specific can be expensive.

They go like stink , have a hugely addictive soundtrack and are a lot of fun. Fuel economy is reasonable , expect 24/25mpg on the motorway.

Now that they are out of warranty , MB Indy servicing is the way to go .

Lots of goodies on that one , make sure they all work .

Only thing i dont like on that one is the aftermarket V8 badges on the bootlid and engine cover , other than that , looks good.

Peter , your search for a car has really tickled me , first you want an economical diesel , now , a few weeks down the line , you are looking at a balls out AMG !!! Good man !!

 

[peterg1965]

Send Sean_F a PM ...

He had a beautiful one , and knows them inside out .

Service History is key with the AMG's , be aware that while a lot of parts are just bog standard CLK parts , the bits that are AMG specific can be expensive.

They go like stink , have a hugely addictive soundtrack and are a lot of fun. Fuel economy is reasonable , expect 24/25mpg on the motorway.

Now that they are out of warranty , MB Indy servicing is the way to go .

Lots of goodies on that one , make sure they all work .

Only thing i dont like on that one is the aftermarket V8 badges on the bootlid and engine cover , other than that , looks good.

Peter , your search for a car has really tickled me , first you want an economical diesel , now , a few weeks down the line , you are looking at a balls out AMG !!! Good man !!

The economical diesel is on the drive, its 'orrible and for sale. I'll PM sean_F

 

[buccal]

Sean's was a minter and he was kind enough to give me a run in it when i started to look for one.

I'm hopefully going to be looking again once i've finished my MSc so will be happy to compare notes if you decide to go for one.

 

[Tan]

Isn't Sean's user name C240Sport97?

He had a beautiful CLK55 and as Howard says knows them really well.

 

[Howard]

Yep , that's Seans username , sorry , forgot to say that

 

[peterg1965]

Thanks. I have PM'd him.

 

[CLK55 CAB SB]

I've had my CLK55 Cab since new, even got to go to AMG to build engine. Other than routine maintenance, I've never had any trouble. Brake rotors were a bit pricey, other than that I replaced my MAF, and hydraulic top motor (under warranty).
JG

 

[Howard]

Get your replacement brake discs from Euromerc

Speak to Nick , hes a good chap

 

[tudu]

Not to up on the CLK 55, but can vouch for the 55 V8 engine it's one hell of a beast but tame when it needs to be. Since moving into a C55 AMG there's no turning back - except when i drive my Kleemann C200K, but that's now a fun car.

 

[CLK55 CAB SB]

Not to up on the CLK 55, but can vouch for the 55 V8 engine it's one hell of a beast but tame when it needs to be. Since moving into a C55 AMG there's no turning back - except when i drive my Kleemann C200K, but that's now a fun car.

Fully agree. My M8's got an 05-06? C55 and it rips. It is a bit lighter than my Cab an with his steering shifters I have to out drive him to keep in front.

I love the older 55 engines and the body styles. Although I do think the SL63 Black is blessedly sexy.

 

[mb240]

I am looking for a CLK500 (W209) and have come across this CLK55 (W208) which is within budget, I put it on an 'seen on eBay' thread. Is anyone familiar with them, or actually has one?I am keen to know about their attributes as a daily driver? Are servicing costs reasnably manageable at a decent MB specialist? This one has, what seems to be a good provinance, and I am going to check out the servicing with the dealers/garages on Monday. The trader has also offered to give me the number of the previous owner who traded it with him for a CL600.
Is there anything in particular that you need to look out for with these AMGs?

I have mine as a daily driver. It's perfectly sedate in traffic and has loads of comfort features. Lowest MPG ever was around 8mpg, in very very slow traffic (6 miles in an hour I think).

Servicing costs are the same as a regular W208 or W202. The extras are spark plugs (16), brakes (front discs are "AMG" and are around £200 each and pads are around £120 for a pair, the rears are standard however). Air Filter is AMG and is £45 each and you need two. Apart from that oil, oil filter, etc., are all standard parts.

It's basically just an increase in consumable parts, including tyres, because you'll drive a bit faster and bit harder, but it's fantastic on a long trip (I did 1200km in one go from Salzburg to Aachen, it was a long day but the seats are excellent, ortho air adjustable, electric, heated, etc., .).

At the current prices, I'd not hesitate to buy it again, except for buying a newer one if I was in the market.

 

[peterg1965]

I am still very interested in this CLK55, and there is a deal on the table with my Jag in px. I checked out the service history this morning with the dealers which seems fine. The last major service was done in Feb 08 by "John Griffiths Ltd" Merc specialists in Reading, not sure if anyone knows this outfit? They did a full service, spark plugs/gearbox oil etc and a couple of minor bits and pieces during the year. They also inspected the car before it was sold by the previous owner in Nov, he mentioned that he found the following:
- It has had a bumper repair at some point (no issues probably)
- body repair on the nearside(or offside can't recall) quarter panel (probably no issue so long as it is properly done)
- The alloys had been refurbed but 'not very well' (£500 for new set, although the pictures look OK to me)
- Some excessive wear on one of the front tyres (they may have been replaced since I believe)
- Two chips in the windscreen (would be OK so long as it isn't an MOT fail)
- Boot lid not shutting properly (don;t know if this is common, or is it connected with quarter panel repair)
- New front brake pads had been put on worn front discs (this worries me as new AMG discs are £175 each)

I spoke to Oli at PCS this morning (thanks Oli) who has said he can inspect it for me at his workshop prior to me buying, given the above points this is now a prerequisite before I commit and it may give me a bit of leverage to reduce the price. Regretably, Oli can't get out to the car (Churt, Surrey) because he is so busy and living in the NW I can't make it down that easily, trader will not take it to him although he is happy for me to take it, so I have reached a bit of an impasse which is a shame.
(unless anyone can assist).

I also pointed oput to the seller that I wouldn't buy it without a new MOT, the current one runs out in Feb.

Given the above, does the panel think I should leave this one and wait for another, or is it worth pursuing?

 

[Howard]

Ummm ....

Only bit that worries me is why is the bootlid not closing properly ? has it had a big knock and the quarter panel repair is substandard ? Equally , it could just be something silly like the hinges need adjusting , although they don't tend to go out of line in normal use TBH.

Re the wear on the tyres , could just be the wheels need balancing and an alignment done .

You won't need new wheels, and a refurb will be a lot less than £500 !

Speak to Nick at Euromerc about discs , he will be a lot cheaper than MB and all his parts are OEM.

Wouldn't worry about the bumper repair , AMG bumpers are expensive to replace so a lot of them get patched up rather than replaced.

If it has had a full service including plugs , that will probably be the B service which is the expensive one , so good news there.

Could you not offer the trader some cash to take it down to Olly ?

 

[buccal]

Shame it has some albeit minor issues, looks better in the advert.

Personally none would be a deal breaker for me but i would push hard on the price accordingly. Not many people looking for 5.5litre cars at the moment.

 

[peterg1965]

I probably agree, just need to get it to Olly's so he can take a look and quantify the issues and tell me how much needs to be spend. It is always the way I suppose, a seven year old car is always going to have a few issues (hopefully minor ones) but that advert talks the car up to an almost 'brand new' condition, or at least a condition which requires no money spending on it. If the previous owner compromised on the brakes what esle did he scrimp on, although the service in Feb 08 would have cost quite a bit.

 

[Howard]

Just looking at the advert Peter , it now says that it was last serviced in November 08 , and is MOT'd to 2010 ....

Any more movement on this ?

 

[peterg1965]

Hi Howard, The car was serviced in Nov 08 by the trader as 'LLoyd James Mellor". All they did was an oil change service and air filters I think, they are not Merc specialists but the last service in Feb 08 was a major (John Griffiths in Reading) I spoke to him. Looks like the trader has just had it MOT'd though which is a good thing!

Currently we are still at a bit of an impasse. I have asked the trader if he can take the car down to Olly at PCS, at my expense, its 23 miles away. I cannot get down to Surrey/hampshire from the dark north for another two weeks or so. He said that he would try and get one of his delivery boys to do it, so far nothing has happened. I have told him I am a serious buyer but will not commit further before it has been given a clean bill of health, particularly on the brakes and some of the other minor issues.

So, it looks like a waiting game (a frustrating one at that).

 

[Howard]

The brakes might not be a deal breaker though Peter .

When Olly inspected mine , he said that i had brand new front pads but worn discs , and recommended that i change them soon. I will , but they are fine at the moment.

This AMG's discs wont be about to fall apart , the service would only have replaced the discs if they were needed , they don't automatically replace discs and pads together. You might get another years worth of driving out of them . Then speak to Nick and get the discs at a good price.

No members in that area that could help ? Have you put up a post asking ? Were quite densely populated in the SE !!

Obviously you are going to bid him anyway , but if you have budgeted for £9k and you get it for £8.5k then that money can go towards discs ( when they are needed ) ...

 

[peterg1965]

Howard, agree ref brakes not being a deal breaker. Chris at Murray systems (alloy wheels direct) has just quoted me £560 ish for complete brakes (discs and pads/front and rear) all OEM (parts only) which as a worse case scenario is not too bad.

I will put up a post asking for assistance if I do not get a positive response from the seller in the next 24 hours. I am mindful that any move to try and reduce the price of the car will probably result in a lowered bid on my part ex!

There was another 2001 W208 CLK55 which popped up on ebay for £2K more very similar spec (I think it was on the ebay thread) amazing how prices for the same car can differ so much.