CLK320 vs 320CE (W124)

[pint6x]

Let's say you have between 3 & 4 grand burning a hole in your pocket and you fancy a Merc coupe of some description.

Looking on autotrader and pistonheads there are plenty of W124 Coupes around - the 320 auto would be my choice, with leather, aircon and a good metallic colour.

But, there's also the newer CLK320 available for the same sort of money - mainly 97-99 models with typically 80k-150k miles on the clock. There are also loads of CLK230 kompressors at that sort of money as well.

So the question is this:

Which would you go for? The older, timeless elegance of the CE Coupe shape with the 320 lump, or the newer, more up to date CLK with the V6 engine, or even the CLK 230 with the supercharged 4 pot lump?

Given that whatever I am looking at already has 80k+ miles on it, which do you think will be the most trouble free, and is there anything I should avoid?

Cheers all

Phil

 

[Seamster15]

Depends what you want to do with it. The CE is based on the E class and the CLK on the C class so they are very different in size.

Both very nice cars, Howards has had both the CE and CLK so it maybe worth asking him.

Simon

 

[Smiley]

Go for a nice e320 coupe W124 huge value for money. Probably wont depreciate much from here.

 

[pint6x]

Well it'll be my daily driver, but I won't be doing more than about 10k miles a year in it. It'll usually be just me driving, or me and one or two of my children.

We have a big estate (Volvo V70) for family runs or moving junk about.

 

[andy_k]

I've been using my e320 as a daily driver for the past three years and had no problems with it. Reliable, economical and a pleasure to drive.

I think the W124 coupes are much better styled than the newer ones, mind you I think the W123 coupes look even prettier but I don't think they drive as nicely.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2300685286_389876dbd4_o.jpg

On an E320 watch out for the dreaded wiring loom issues and other little gremlins but a well looked after one is certainly a "keeper"

Andy

 

[aka$h]

Ive had a few CLK's over the years, I didnt keep any of them for over a year. I then bought a E320 coupe, which Ive kept for 3 years, and dont plan to sell in the near future.

For me the w124 wins over a non AMG CLK any day of the week.

 

[imadoofus]

A 124 is on the classic threshold, and is that much more than a CLK (but I would say that ).

The 124 is a lovely, solid-feeling car, and has just the right amount of understated authority on the road, particularly in a dark colour (but I would say that ).

The straight 6 engine sounds wonderful at full chat, and the mid-range acceleration will blow a scalded cat into the weeds .

The 124 is the safer place to put your money as the good ones (I know where you can find one of those ) will be going up soon. But skimping on maintenance and upkeep will damage your investment.

You need to find one with a new loom, with a decent spec, low mileage, and few owners. But you'll have to be prepared to pay handsomely to prise it from a reluctant seller's tearful grasp...

PJ

 

[Howard]

Have to say , that the CE rides better than the CLK ( feels much more 'planted' on the road )

My CE was a 230 , but still was lovely to drive , it's a whole different experience to the CLK ...

Saying that i only had 4 months with my 320 CLK as it was written off by a punk.

We also have a 430 CLK , and while being a lot more pokey , seems to be the same , doesn't feel as solid and planted on the road as the CE.

I would go CE to be honest

 

[del320]

You need to find one with a new loom, with a decent spec, low mileage, and few owners. But you'll have to be prepared to pay handsomely to prise it from a reluctant seller's tearful grasp...

PJ

...very good...

The C208 was a cheapskate aberration which offered nothing over the C124 unless you really needed more that 6 cylinders and 220 bhp: same performance, less space and not pillarless, bug-eyed and dumpy

Get the best C124 you can afford!

 

[Howard]

Take it you don't like the 208 then Del ?

 

[Roger Jones]

Size matters. I've done no more than sat in a CLK, but it felt distinctly cramped in comparison with the W124. The comments above about "planted" on the road ring true to me too, having driven a courtesy 202, which felt fidgety and in which I simply couldn't get comfortable. The 124 Coupé isn't exactly generous with interior space (and, apart from the cavernous boot, storage space is meagre), but it has a large-car ambience.

I've seen more than a few expressions of regret from those who have got rid of a CE and gone for a later model. I'm hardly impartial, but like so many other W124 Coupé owners I can't envisage selling mine, which has now been with me for eight years.

 

[Ade B]

My CE-24V is our only car and transports our small family round more than adequately. Search threads on here, there's chapter and verse on the C124

Don't discount earlier cars (24v), the paint is better and you swap loom issues for head gasket issues. The way they make their power is different.

Condition, history and spec are more important than mileage.

Never driven a CLK.



Ade

 

[mattc]

Go for the 320ce. They are bigger and better built than the later stuff.

Piers' is a nice one with a good spec.

All ce's are now knocking on a bit so you will have to spend on maintenance. But the trade off is you will not be suffering any depreciation.

Spend your time and find a good one; plenty of people here to help you look for one (including inspecting them with you)

 

[Roger Jones]

"Don't discount earlier cars (24v), the paint is better and you swap loom issues for head gasket issues."

I think you may be right about the paint, although my bodyshop doesn't attribute later corrosion problems to the water-based paint that came in in August 1995. As I recall, the paintwork on my first Coupé (1994) seemed to be better than on my current one (1996), but at the time I put it down to lack of polish. The problem I have with my current one is persistent corrosion around the antenna aperture, although I think the front arches are also beginning to blister.

As for the head gasket, it's an issue in both the M103 and M104.

I ask my mechanic to check the wiring loom at every annual service; so far, no problems. Wishful thinking: is it possible that they fixed it in the last batches to be made (mine's Feb 1996)?

 

[jaymanek]

W124's feel special, feel well built and something you would want to treasure..

W208's feel nice but just another MB...

 

[Will]

I think it would depend on what I wanted. A better built, classier and old-school charm car (124 coupe) or something more modern and possibly a little cheaper to run (208 CLK).

I'd probably get the 124 if it were for weekend/evening use etc and a CLK if I was doing quite a few more miles and wanted something hassle free.

You can buy pretty decent facelifted 208s with sensible mileage for around £4k or less these days.

Will

 

[Ade B]

"Don't discount earlier cars (24v), the paint is better and you swap loom issues for head gasket issues."

I think you may be right about the paint, although my bodyshop doesn't attribute later corrosion problems to the water-based paint that came in in August 1995. As I recall, the paintwork on my first Coupé (1994) seemed to be better than on my current one (1996), but at the time I put it down to lack of polish. The problem I have with my current one is persistent corrosion around the antenna aperture, although I think the front arches are also beginning to blister.

As for the head gasket, it's an issue in both the M103 and M104.

I ask my mechanic to check the wiring loom at every annual service; so far, no problems. Wishful thinking: is it possible that they fixed it in the last batches to be made (mine's Feb 1996)?

Actually I keep saying the paint's better, but only based on comparing corrosion on mine (91 car) with my neighbours E320 cab which is I think a 94 car - the front wings on his are bubbling away nicely, mine has a couple of rust spots related to neglected chips (door edges, boot edge and random spot on rear panel) Its going into the bodyshop finally on tuesday to get these sorted..

Of course it could be that mine spent the majority of its life tucked up in a garage..


Ade

 

[Smiley]

"Don't discount earlier cars (24v), the paint is better and you swap loom issues for head gasket issues."

I think you may be right about the paint, although my bodyshop doesn't attribute later corrosion problems to the water-based paint that came in in August 1995. As I recall, the paintwork on my first Coupé (1994) seemed to be better than on my current one (1996), but at the time I put it down to lack of polish. The problem I have with my current one is persistent corrosion around the antenna aperture, although I think the front arches are also beginning to blister.

As for the head gasket, it's an issue in both the M103 and M104.

I ask my mechanic to check the wiring loom at every annual service; so far, no problems. Wishful thinking: is it possible that they fixed it in the last batches to be made (mine's Feb 1996)?

I have a November 1996 e320 cab and there are no signs of any problems with the loom - same as you gone over it with a fine tooth comb - I was also wondering if it got fixed on the later ones?

 

[Smiley]

I think it would depend on what I wanted. A better built, classier and old-school charm car (124 coupe) or something more modern and possibly a little cheaper to run (208 CLK).

I'd probably get the 124 if it were for weekend/evening use etc and a CLK if I was doing quite a few more miles and wanted something hassle free.

You can buy pretty decent facelifted 208s with sensible mileage for around £4k or less these days.

Will

I dont think there will be any difference between a well maintained 124 and a well maintained CLK - they will be equally "hassle free".

 

[bigstuff]

two nice cars the clk320 a lot of car for the price w124 coupe a nice one is ideal for a summer car a nice toy to have but clk for day to day stuff