CLK430 convertible

[abecketts]

Local to me is a CLK430 convertible for sale, a 2000 car with under 90k miles, it doesn’t look awful cosmetically but beyond catch-up and ongoing maintenance and perhaps paint issues with a Merc of that age am I looking at more trouble than it’s worth and instead I should go for a R230 SL500 instead for the v8 experience?

Thanks

 

[jotter22]

2002 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R230 For Sale By Auction
Quick search.

Thanks Tony.

 

[Will]

Old R230 SL500 could be expensive to maintain due ABC suspension. R230s also have a few known issues with roof/boot leaks and electronics etc IIRC - have a readup. And have seen a few with rust issues too?

208 CLKs were rusty 10-20 years ago. Time won’t have helped and most have been scrapped over the years due to this issue. Mechanically tough, but bodywork is expensive so a tatty one is not worth much more than parts value.

I’d look for a facelift SL350 maybe to avoid the ABC risks (and likely some of the early car issues will have been ironed out), or a facelift 209 cabriolet (05/06) - V6 for a soft top would be okay IMHO - if you’re lucky maybe a CLK500 cabriolet if you can find one?

R129s are a pretty safe bet, solid cars but age is starting to catch up with them now!

Depends on your budget etc of course

 

[fabes]

Wow that SL appears a lot of car for £2,500
Or should that be £5,000 (to include a bit of a fund)

 

[Will]

That’s not that sale price, it’s an auction that is still active.

 

[Scott_F]

Is this 430 temptingly cheap ?

 

[DSM10000]

Is this 430 temptingly cheap ?

I wonder if I could transplant the engine into our ride-on mower?

 

[alabbasi]

Overall, A CLK.woid be less expensive to fix when compared to an R230 SL. Whether it's worth it or not? Parts and labor costs for a $3,000 Mercedes are exactly the same as they are for a $90,000 Mercedes so if you're asking... I'd say not unless you're prepared to drive if as it is and scratch that itch or spend more than the car is worth in maintenance.

 

[alabbasi]

Overall, A CLK.woid be less expensive to fix when compared to an R230 SL. Whether it's worth it or not? Parts and labor costs for a $3,000 Mercedes are exactly the same as they are for a $90,000 Mercedes so if you're asking... I'd say not unless you're prepared to drive if as it is and scratch that itch. Because you'll likely going to spend more than what you paid for the car in differed maintenance bills if you want to make it current. It doesn't take much when they're this old. A new set of tires will do it.

 

[poormansporsche]

Test drive it. I saw a £1500 AMG kitted one once, it was a lovely thing, I really wanted to like it but I was woefully unimpressed by the 430 Seems to be lacking the urgency of the V6 and sub 15 mpg really put me off.

 

[Jobsworth]

Test drive it. I saw a £1500 AMG kitted one once, it was a lovely thing, I really wanted to like it but I was woefully unimpressed by the 430 Seems to be lacking the urgency of the V6 and sub 15 mpg really put me off.

Bad air mass meter more than likely. Get a good one, they fly!
My wife loves her 430. We’ve had it 17 years!

 

[Will]

Test drive it. I saw a £1500 AMG kitted one once, it was a lovely thing, I really wanted to like it but I was woefully unimpressed by the 430 Seems to be lacking the urgency of the V6 and sub 15 mpg really put me off.

Have to agree, I’ve had 320 and 430 engines in the same chassis and the 430 didn’t offer much of a V8 experience really.

They’re both smooth and powerful enough engines but you get V8 running costs without all that much more performance than the V6.

The 500 is slightly better but I guess I’d always compare it to a 5.4 AMG M113 which has a fair bit more shove.

Ultimately a 208 cabriolet isn’t a particularly dynamic car so not sure the performance is all that important anyway. 430 was never a big seller either really?

 

[Jobsworth]

Clk 320, 218bhp
Clk 430, 289bhp
W209 Clk 500, 306bhp

Resonator delete on the 430 improves the exhaust note. Swapping in a larger vacuum reservoir from a VW to replace the tiny reservoir within the intake manifold on the 430 improves the throttle response. The intake manifold flaps are slow to respond in stock form, making them a little lacklustre off the line. Secret tweak makes a big difference

 

[Will]

Clk 320, 218bhp
Clk 430, 289bhp
W209 Clk 500, 306bhp

Resonator delete on the 430 improves the exhaust note. Swapping in a larger vacuum reservoir from a VW to replace the tiny reservoir within the intake manifold on the 430 improves the throttle response. The intake manifold flaps are slow to respond in stock form, making them a little lacklustre off the line. Secret tweak makes a big difference

I always thought the 430 was around 275hp?

But my point was, same sort of running costs as a ‘55 AMG, with marginal improvements in performance which you can’t really exploit in a 208 cabriolet chassis.

At the end of the day, these are comfy cruisers - not sports cars

 

[Jobsworth]

Quoting from memory, and mine from the dyno. Couple of tweaks

Still fun cars. I wouldn’t say ours handles badly

 

[Will]

The 208 coupé was hardly a scalpel, the soft top must have more chassis flex and added weight? Steering is pretty dead too with the recirculating ball setup - I see these more as classy GTs and open top cruisers than track weapons

 

[Jobsworth]

The 208 coupé was hardly a scalpel, the soft top must have more chassis flex and added weight? Steering is pretty dead too with the recirculating ball setup - I see these more as classy GTs and open top cruisers than track weapons

Have you owned one? Definitely old school, but I love driving it!

 

[Will]

Have you owned one? Definitely old school, but I love driving it!

Not a 208 430 cabriolet, but I had a very nice 208 ‘55 AMG coupé for quite a few years

 

[fabes]

That’s not that sale price, it’s an auction that is still active.

 

[MD5]

Local to me is a CLK430 convertible for sale, a 2000 car with under 90k miles, it doesn’t look awful cosmetically but beyond catch-up and ongoing maintenance and perhaps paint issues with a Merc of that age am I looking at more trouble than it’s worth and instead I should go for a R230 SL500 instead for the v8 experience?

Thanks

A fellow Mercedes Benz Club member and enthusiast has just put his lovely looking R230 SL500 up for sale here. I, and others, think this is a bit of a steal if you're in the market for a well looked after car like this.

Edit. Sorry, I can't get the link to work, but if you're interested, search Members Cars for Sale - The Mercedes-Benz Club Members Cars for Sale - The Mercedes-Benz Club.
It's the second car down, and neither the car or the owner are known to me personally, other than long standing forum members.