CLK320 with 160k - should i even contemplate it???

[mg1pa1]

Hi guys,

im viewing a 2001 CLK320 Avantagarde tomorrow that has 160k on the clock. It only has MOT until July but does come with a full service history (specialist apparently).

The price is quite keen (shy of £3k) - no tax. Should i even bother to look at it with that kind of mileage on it? It does seem an awful lot. I know the engines are capable of more, its the rest of the car im worried about, suspension, bushes, drop links etc etc.

Any thoughts?

Best

Paul

 

[Will]

Hi Paul,

I'd not discount a high-mileage car, but it needs to be priced well to reflect that.

I don't know what the exact asking price is, but £3k seems a bit too much IMHO for a 160k miler IMHO.

I think rust will cost more to rectify than most of the mechanical jobs on these cars

If it's exceptionally clean and very well specced, the price might be okay, but on the face of it I'd say that it wasn't that cheap.

Will

 

[mg1pa1]

Hi Will,

I have been told he will sell for £2,850 - the car is very well spec'd - tv/sat nav, heated electric memory seats, electric rear blind, amg alloys etc. The bonnet lines dont look right on one of the pics so i will definitely be checking that out (bonnet might not be closed though!).

I would be very keen to pay for an MOT for it prior to a purchase so i know what im letting myself in for! I have been told that is rust free but i have certainly heard this before!

P

 

[Adam230K]

The mercedes V6's are also renown for how well built they are so dont discount it because of its mileage!

If its a very cloean car with a comprehensive history and low owners i'd say go for it.

 

[Adam230K]

Hi Will,

I have been told he will sell for £2,850 - the car is very well spec'd - tv/sat nav, heated electric memory seats, electric rear blind, amg alloys etc. The bonnet lines dont look right on one of the pics so i will definitely be checking that out (bonnet might not be closed though!).

I would be very keen to pay for an MOT for it prior to a purchase so i know what im letting myself in for! I have been told that is rust free but i have certainly heard this before!

P

An MOT will not prove a great deal i'm afraid. If you want it checked over, some specialists would do this. I know Olly, BlackC55 on this forum, does this if the distance is reasonable. He's based in Horndean

 

[mg1pa1]

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 320 AVANTGARDE 2DR TIP AUTO SAT/NAV+LTHR+XENONS

2 previous owners guys - ill make a point of calling the previous owner from the V5 document (i think it provides telephone number??) - it could be a rep mobile in which case it may have spent its life on the motorway... hopefully!

 

[Howard]

Looks well specced .

Looks like lots of rust round the boot lock , and in the first picture , the bonnet isn't shut properly .

Check the arches for rust too.

 

[mg1pa1]

Im going to blame my computer rather than my eyes Howard!!! Does the rust spread rapidly from the boot lock? Is it more a reason to haggle than a reason to reject? Is it treatable without a full boot respray?

 

[Will]

Yep - that is very nicely specced

I guess you need to see it in person really - at 160k miles and £3k it's never going to be mint - but I guess you know that.

Depends on how it checks out in the flesh - if it's nearby it's got to be worth a look

Will

 

[Howard]

Well , any rust is treatable to an extent.

But CLK's inherantly rust , no getting away from it.

Mine has been loved , but i've noticed some rust spots appearing on my arches this winter , so it'll be done in the summer.

As long as you budget for some bodywork every couple of years you'll be ok.

 

[Will]

It'll probably have a bit of rust all over in the usual places, unless it's just been done. I don't think you'd ever buy a modern MB if this worries you too much

At least a little bit of blistering on a £3k is less painful than on a £10k one, and it'd still have a rusty boot on a low mileage car.

You need to paint the whole panel if you want to get it done, silver is also a difficult colour to match unfortunately.

Will

 

[mg1pa1]

Appreciated Howard. Im definitely heading over in the morning as its only about and hour and a half away.

Anything mechanical that you think i should be checking out for? Sorry for all the questions - im checking through past threads for similar discussions - just time is of the essence!!

 

[mg1pa1]

A good point well made Will - im not looking for perfection. A little rust is to be expected i guess, i just want to be sure that im not going to be left high and dry by a gearbox rebuild or something like that.

The real proof will be in the flesh and test drive. Hopefully no knocks and groans etc.

 

[Howard]

At that mileage i'd want to be sure that the engine mounts had been done , i had terrible problems with mine causing gearbox problems..

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/57287-howards-clk-320-208-gearbox-issues.html

 

[Will]

Mainly - I'd check for rust. Boot lid, arches, bonnet etc
Check the air con works - make sure the 'EC' light can be switched off (ie, air con operational)
Check the dashboard digital LCD displays are working properly
Check the number of spare keys (£250 each these days )

See if you can find out when plugs were last changed (there's 12 of them on the V6), and other service items - brakes, filters etc. Ideally the gearbox fluid should have been replaced before now, but many haven't unfortunately.

Tyres are ~ £300-600 a set depending on what you want, so make sure they've got a bit of life in them.

Take it for a spin, make sure the gearbox shifts smoothly, check all the usual stuff you would on any other car - brakes, suspension, steering etc.

Probably a few other bits and bobs - but it gives you something to go on

Will

 

[wemorgan]

In itself I wouldn't be worried about 160k, but not at £3k.
The options list is very nice and more of a bonus, rather than making the car.

 

[mg1pa1]

Cheers Will, ill give it a good going over. If there is no signs of the transmission oil being changed then these are things that id do straight away upon purchase. i think a good hour rifling through reciepts is called for (if its got them!!)

 

[flango]

Im going to blame my computer rather than my eyes Howard!!! Does the rust spread rapidly from the boot lock? Is it more a reason to haggle than a reason to reject? Is it treatable without a full boot respray?

My boot was exactly the same around the lock nothing to worry about £90 paint job to sort. I must admit price is too high needs to be a lot nearer £2k in that condition with that mileage IMHO

 

[mg1pa1]

i was going to try and get him down to £2.5 - had a quick word with him on the phone and he said no way. £2,850 is what he said - im sure there is more room to manouvre but not sure id be able to get it down towards £2k!

Do you really think it is only worth £2k? At that price, it must be worth a lot more in parts, especially with the sat nav system in there.

Hmm not sure what to do now re the price...

 

[Howard]

Withdraw two grand in twenties , and then wave it under his nose.

People have funny turns when confronted with money.