CLK convertible buying help

[x332race]

I am looking to purchase a CLK convertible either 230, 320 or 350...could even go to a 500.

Budget is up to £19,000 so looking at a 3-4 year old car, I guess.

I know that there was a facelift in 2004/5. I know that a number of cosmetic changes were made and that the Comand system was upgraded...were there any other "improvements" such as suspension, steering etc? It seems very difficult to get info about this and the "nice" salesman at Hughes MB was very woolly about it!

Anything else to look out for with these cars?

 

[verytalldave]

I dont know whether the changes that were made to the C Class saloon (W203) applies in all respects to the CLK. Assuming it does, then as you say the COMAND unit is new, as many other upgrades. Some of the changes made were Fully Galvanised body, Instrument cluster, Headlamps and tail lights, suspension, steering. Very many other minor changes were many, almost too many to list.
A good source of basic info can be found here..........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_CLK-Class
and more here..............
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C-Class

 

[x332race]

Thanks...I know about the C-class upgrade as we already have one in the family!
I have seen the Wiki's and they are not particularly helpful in respect of the facelift and it is very difficult to get any info from the web on it....

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

I had a facelift coupe - big step forward in interior ambience and comand was much slicker - def go for a facelift. Also benefitted from changes to rear lights and other minor cosmetics.

 

[x332race]

Yes, but still trying to fins out if any differences in chassis, suspension, steering etc like when the c class had their facelift.

 

[peterg1965]

For that money you will easily get a 2004 facelift CLK500 Cabriolet. That is the one I would go for!

 

[jeremytaylor]

Boot struts fail and then jam the boot. Our June 03 car was one of the first W209 CLK convertibles in the country. The boot end of the strut shears off with no warning. And the part is body coloured, so it has to be ordered in and sprayed up before it can be fitted.

Otherwise, I think the same comments apply as with a C-class - suspension bushes, electrics (our indicator ECU is on the blink now as well as hood operation sensors - but who needs the hood down in winter, eh?). And I've already replaced the Valeo rad ...

 

[Adam230K]

In the facelift, the engines were also uprated. As an example, the CLK500 was a 5litre 300bhp-ish engine and the facelifted one is a 5.4litre 388bhp engine.

Facelifts tend to be better as most of the issues would've been addressed and they are more 'updated'.

 

[x332race]

Thanks for the replies, but no-one seems to have a definitive answer....does anyone know what comprised the face lift apart from cosmetic changes, comand upgrade and engines??

 

[verytalldave]

Thanks for the replies, but no-one seems to have a definitive answer....does anyone know what comprised the face lift apart from cosmetic changes, comand upgrade and engines??

Maybe this answers some of your questions.......maybe not........

http://www.mbfanatics.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=4160

 

[x332race]

Right....I have done some research although it has been very difficult to get a definitive answer from any source.

As far as I can tell, the W209 CLK "facelift" was introduced around June 2004. The majority of the 2004 /54 cars on Autotrader seem to have the "facelifted" dash etc. Most of the 2004 / 04 cars have the original type dash although it is possible to find 2004 / 04 cars with the "facelift" which seems to bear out my finding that the "facelift" was introduced in mid 2004.

It has been difficult to find out what improvements were made as part of the face lift but I did find the following quote:-

"from mid-2004 the CLK Coupé and CLK Cabriolet will receive DIRECT CONTROL technology which features modified axle bearings, more direct steering and a shorter gearshift travel, making even more dynamic handling possible with the same high level of ride comfort. Likewise, optional steering wheel gearshift buttons for models with an automatic transmission, new audio units with Europe-wide navigation, and bi-xenon headlamps with cornering light function increase driving pleasure and provide yet more safety"

In addition, the CLK 500 was fitted with the 7G-tronic gearbox from June 2004 and the specification of the paint was improved across the range.

The most obvious way of spotting a "facelift" model is to look at the centre console where the layout of the switches and the design of the radio/comand is slightly different.

 

[grober]

This article deals with the post facelift changes to the engine line up and other changes.http://www.worldcarfans.com/2050421.004/mercedes-benz-clk-class-model-update It also has some useful links to previous CLK articles you may find interesting. Mercedes model line changes usually occur after the factory summer holiday break which is around August/September AFAIK. When these new or facelifted models finally hit the showrooms in Germany and often some 6 months later in RHD form in the UK is difficult to know exactly.

 

[x332race]

Yes, agree with the engine change info well......note that the engine in the 500 was also upgraded to produce more power later on as well. From looking at cars on Autotrader, it seems that the facelifted cars and those with the new engines appeared quite quickly in the UK.