CLK Handling

[JohnEclass]

Hi All,

Have now had my CLK 220 CDI since April and put 12k on the clock, lots of motorway / A roads and some twisty B's!
From other cars I've owned / driven I'd have to say the CLK is not that great on the twisty stuff. Its a super comfortable cruiser but even then it does not like cross winds or cambers!
Is it just me......or is this normal handling for CLK's??

Cheers

Still no regrets though!.....just spent 3 hours washing / snowfoaming / washing / drying and Carnuba waxing

 

[Rashman]

Hi mate,

I can't say I've noticed any shortcomings.

But then my suspension setup will be different to yours.

Perhaps consider upgrading the suspension - sport springs/ shocks or coilovers.

Eibach and H&R will do some springs for it and as for shocks, you could look at Koni or Bilstein.

Bilstein should also do some coilovers for it too.

 

[JohnEclass]

Hi mate,

I can't say I've noticed any shortcomings.

But then my suspension setup will be different to yours.


I'd certainly hope youre AMG has a different suspension set up to my humble 220

Will definitely consider spring / shock upgrade

 

[sinewave]

Mercedes CLK Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit - Discounts at Motorsport World

 

[Rashman]

Hi mate,

I can't say I've noticed any shortcomings.

But then my suspension setup will be different to yours.


I'd certainly hope youre AMG has a different suspension set up to my humble 220

Will definitely consider spring / shock upgrade

lol!

Yes, look into perhaps upgrading the setup you currently have.

It may be that you could keep your current shocks if you have low mileage and a set of stiffer springs by Eibach will do the job.

Performance springs usually lower your car as well by around 25mm-30mm, so you will probably have to look at getting your camber adjusted afterwards. Only marginally though.


Good work on the cleaning effort too!

 

[w124nut]

How worn are your tyres? Are they a premium make or what is referred to by "Black circles" as an intermediate tyre? See their web-site.

IMHO I would check the condition of my tyres before going down the replacement bits route.

 

[GP801]

CLKs are definitely more cruiser than sports car - unless you have an AMG. However I have never noticed any of the issues you mention on ours - 200K avantgarde with 17in wheels. I would also be looking at the tyres first.

 

[Igurisu]

My 200k has sport suspension and 18" rims. I find it handles fine through the twisties but I have to wrestle it a bit. The car weighs 1950kg, almost two tons, as GP801 says its more a cruiser than a country lane thriller. I've never felt any trouble with crosswinds or any other type of instability, thats where the 2 tons comes in handy

I'd check the tyres and wheel alignment if it doesn't feel well planted on the road.

 

[JohnEclass]

CLKs are definitely more cruiser than sports car - unless you have an AMG. However I have never noticed any of the issues you mention on ours - 200K avantgarde with 17in wheels. I would also be looking at the tyres first.

Tyres not too bad, but running continentals on front, and dealer fitted arrowspeed on back???
Needed tyres to pass MOT and that's what they put on?
Mileage is 33k of that I've done 12k in 6 months

Cheers

 

[V12]

What are you used to?

I found the CLK to be pretty capable personally.

Can you describe what you are experiencing when you say it's not very good? Understeer, oversteer, wallowing etc?

 

[JohnEclass]

Feels like she drifts in cross winds and wants to follow the camber on road. My old Jetta and golf before felt more planted on road and more agile on the bendy bits.
From other replies considered tyres as poss issue but they have all 5mm+ of tread.
Drives smooth, it may be as its my first MB and auto I'm just not used to the way the car handles?

 

[V12]

Ok, I can understand the VWs feeling more agile and light on their feet. But more planted? There must be something wrong.
Cheap tyres can contribute as always.
What size wheels and tyres do you have?

The staggered rear wheels make a massive difference to handling on these cars and if someone has swapped the wheels (from say a C class) that could be quite detrimental.

A manual car always feels more alive and nimble than an auto equivalent. Bear that in mind.

 

[JohnEclass]

18 inch front and back, 35 profile back, 45 front.

Not much, clearance to wheel arch at back! Assume that's why 35's????

Planted probably wrong word.....assured?

Cheers

 

[GP801]

Maybe its the 18s. Certainly on 17s ours does not wander about. Seems fine in crosswinds too. Ours is on Michelin all round. Before that Continentals. No problem on either.

 

[Simon_M]

I used to have a 280 Sport Cabrio which had the sport suspension, it was a very poor handling car. The problem I found was the rear tracking/geometry can very easily work lose and make the car feel very wobbly. I had it back at MB twice which cost a fair bit and did not improve it much. I then used an independent which really sorted it.

Not great, but much better than it had been for the first 2 years of its life.

I also found the car very sensitive to tyre pressures.

S

 

[Shude]

18 inch front and back, 35 profile back, 45 front.

Not much, clearance to wheel arch at back! Assume that's why 35's????

Planted probably wrong word.....assured?

I have never driven an MB that struggled with side/cross winds, tramlining can be an issue with certain tyres though.

Not sure about your tyre profiles, bearing in mind the sidewall should be the same height front and rear assuming the same diameter wheels. I think you should be running 225/40/18 front, 245-255/35/18 rear. Can you confirm the exact tyre sizes?

 

[Pitts Pilot]

Tyres not too bad, but running continentals on front, and dealer fitted arrowspeed on back???
Needed tyres to pass MOT and that's what they put on?
Mileage is 33k of that I've done 12k in 6 months

Cheers

As an former motorcyclist whose fun included racing at club level, I can't emphasise enough the importance of high qualiy tyres, and accurate tyre pressures.

I don't intend to be rude, but what the f#%k are "Arrowspeeds"? The back of your car must be struggling to stay on the road

You own a beautiful quality car, and putting no-name tyres on it is 'Spoiling the ship for a bucket full of tar', just don't do it.

Your base starting point should ideally be the OEM tyre that MB shod the car with, and there are usually better handling tyres to be had if you are prepared to pay for them, (which I encourage you to do!).

Tyretest.com provide an excellent resource for evaluating and comparing tyres.

Now some folk reading this will think I'm being OTT, and they could be right (!), but as you seem to be a driver who can feel the difference between suspension setups and tyres, then I would argue that it is relevent in your case.

So I suggest spending half an hour on 'mytyres' researching which premium tyre would suit you best (they have a direct link to tyretest.com for every tyre they stock, so this helps you navigate through the mind boggling choice) ,and then get some, and take the cost on the chin.

You might also want to consider having 4 wheel alignment done after the new rubber has done 50 miles, it made a 'night and day' difference to a 280bhp Nissan ZX300 I onced owned.

Well, that's my personal view anyway!

Cheers

 

[JohnEclass]

Cheers Guys,

My disloxia kicked in.......I am running 255/35 rear and 225/40 front

Would not have fitted Arrowspeed tyres myself......never heard of them. And as I do 2000 miles a month visiting regional offices and sites would always pay for quality tyres. A little surprised the dealer fitted them when I bought it, but they are just protecting their margin I suppose?

All comments greatly appreciated