CLK500 5 or 7 speed auto

[Cherokee]

Hi,

I am new here but would really appreciate some advice. I want to return to Mercedes ownership and fancy a CLK500 around five years old, probably with around 60,000 miles and complete service history of course.

My hope would be to keep the car for many years, probably up to ten doing around 10,000 miles a year or less. I am assuming the engine should be okay, properly looked after of course, up to 150,000 -160,000 miles.

However five years ago is about when the 7 speed auto came in and I have heard of a few problems with the early ones. From a pure longevety/reliability point of view which would be the better gearbox choice?

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

 

[x332race]

Really you should be asking yourself whether you want a faclifted car or not. I believe that the pre facelift had the 5-speed and post facelift had the 7-speed box. Facelift models started to appear in mid 2004....i certainly looked at a number of faclifted CLK500s registered in summer 2004.

The engine capacity and power were increased sometime later, probably around 2006 (I don't know the timeline for this)

 

[Cherokee]

Thank you x332race. I had not thought about it that way but I think you make a good point, a facelifted car should be the way to go even though I am finding it difficult to discover what the changes actually were. I was aware of the even later 5.5 litre models but think they are probably too pricy for me.

 

[x332race]

The big changes as far as I am aware were: 7 speed gearbox, changes to steering to improve handling, new widescreen comand, minor changes to fascia and external trim.....

I actually ended up buying a pre-facelift CLK500, probably one of the last made simply because I got a very good deal on it...Have been very pleased with it and it goes like stink...howver AMG sports suspension and 18" wheels are not ideal for the potholed country roads where I live!

 

[Cherokee]

Thank you so much. That information and your experience is most helpful to me in my search.

 

[st4]

Does the facelifted clk500 not actually come with a 7sp box 388bhp 5500cc engine as opposed to the pre facelifted car with 5sp box 300bhp 5000cc engine.

Try for the facelifted car, gauranteed to be galvanised and nicer cabin etc

 

[flango]

The 5 speed box is a lot more durable and reliable than the 7 speed which is far more complex and has a lot more parts to go wrong. The early 7 speeds were not good at all.

The fact that the SLR has the 5 speed box and not the 7 speed says it all really

 

[st4]

Ian-how many mechanical 7sp failures are there. Do you have some numbers to back this up or just know how. I am not having a go but just bought a car with an early 7sp box.

I haven't heard of any failures of the 7spd cars, nor 5spd cars and owned a 5spd car and its been a1 (bar the TC is beginning to show signs of being on the way out). IIRC from this forum, what I've heard its been mainly software related issues with the 7g box and easily cured at the star machine.

 

[flango]

Ian-how many mechanical 7sp failures are there. Do you have some numbers to back this up or just know how. I am not having a go but just bought a car with an early 7sp box.

I haven't heard of any failures of the 7spd cars, nor 5spd cars and owned a 5spd car and its been a1 (bar the TC is beginning to show signs of being on the way out). IIRC from this forum, what I've heard its been mainly software related issues with the 7g box and easily cured at the star machine.

No real numbers to back it up I'm afraid Steve just what I have read and heard speaking to some of the gearbox rebuilders we use, over the last year we have probably seen 3 - 4 seven speed boxes that wern't software related and had to be overhauled. we have never done a 5 speed in the last few years to my knowledge. As I say theres a reason the SLR runs a 5 speed box.

Your best source of information I would suspect would be "Buggerlugs" on here he runs Tranzfix who specialise in auto boxes so could probably give you a more professional opinion of the 7 speed Vs 5 speed

You are correct though a lot of the issues on the 7 speed are software related which can easily be cured on Star, If you are worried there are plenty of warranty's out there that will cover you for the box if the MB one doesn't which I'm sure it will.

 

[timskemp]

On the subject of CLK500s, I have the V8 itch at the moment, what's the potential running costs disaster of a CLK500 - bear in mind I average 36mpg in an E270, should I expect 15, 20 or 25...

Other than fuel, what else is potentially ruinous, I expect parts are better than the AMG...

 

[s88]

howver AMG sports suspension and 18" wheels are not ideal for the potholed country roads where I live!

Thats the entire country, very few roads are pot hole free these days.

Even my E is feeling the pain!

 

[st4]

On the subject of CLK500s, I have the V8 itch at the moment, what's the potential running costs disaster of a CLK500 - bear in mind I average 36mpg in an E270, should I expect 15, 20 or 25...

Other than fuel, what else is potentially ruinous, I expect parts are better than the AMG...

36mpg in a 270cdi. I reckon you are a fairly "progressive" driver.

You'll half that in a V8 CLK.

 

[s88]

Amazing really, years ago the Yanks had 3 speed auto's. and people were happy. ( well the Yanks were)
Then we had 4 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 5 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 6 speed autos and 7 speed and ?
people may not be happy anymore.

Sounds like what we need is CVT or the old rubber band from DAF!! is that really where we want to go?

 

[JasM]

Amazing really, years ago the Yanks had 3 speed auto's. and people were happy. ( well the Yanks were)
Then we had 4 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 5 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 6 speed autos and 7 speed and ?
people may not be happy anymore.

Sounds like what we need is CVT or the old rubber band from DAF!! is that really where we want to go?

You can even now get 8 speed auto's.

 

[s88]

I can get a 5 blade razor and guess what, it is no better than the single Wilkinson sword I had 30 years ago.

 

[timskemp]

36mpg in a 270cdi. I reckon you are a fairly "progressive" driver.

You'll half that in a V8 CLK.

I averaged 38mpg in my A170cdi, 24 mpg in my chipped S60 2.0T, 24mpg in my V6 Rover 75....

Progressive is a good description. I do quite a bit of town mileage, and most of my motorway mileage is at night, when the roads are quiet and the cops seem more lenient.

 

[Cherokee]

Wow, I seem to have stirred up a hornets nest but, no problem, that is great and I really appreciate all the input.

Back to the CLK500 for a moment, as I understand it there were some pre-facelift 2004/5 cars with the 300 bhp engine and the 7 speed box! The 5.5 litre engine came a little later and, for what it is worth, there seem to be very few around.

I had not realised only facelifted cars were galvanised. That is worth knowing, thanks.

The real reason I asked the original question is that there were some early 7 speed box cars in the USA that had to have gearbox remedies, under warranty of course, that involved removing them from the car. That was obviously a lot more than a software fix!

 

[x332race]

Wow, I seem to have stirred up a hornets nest but, no problem, that is great and I really appreciate all the input.

Back to the CLK500 for a moment, as I understand it there were some pre-facelift 2004/5 cars with the 300 bhp engine and the 7 speed box! The 5.5 litre engine came a little later and, for what it is worth, there seem to be very few around.

I had not realised only facelifted cars were galvanised. That is worth knowing, thanks.

The real reason I asked the original question is that there were some early 7 speed box cars in the USA that had to have gearbox remedies, under warranty of course, that involved removing them from the car. That was obviously a lot more than a software fix!

Not quite right.......pre-facelifted CLK's were galvanised from around Mid 2003...see this thread

 

[x332race]

36mpg in a 270cdi. I reckon you are a fairly "progressive" driver.

You'll half that in a V8 CLK.

C270: depends on what type of roads...I reckon 36mpg is about right, or slightly on high side for city driving....on other hand can get up to 50mpg on long motorway trip if stick to speed limits...

I get 22-27mpg from my CLK500 Convertible. Have not found it to be any more expensive to look after than my C270 although having to fork out for spark plugs was a bit of a shock!.....

 

[Colin_b]

Amazing really, years ago the Yanks had 3 speed auto's. and people were happy. ( well the Yanks were)
Then we had 4 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 5 speed auto's and people were happy.

Then we had 6 speed autos and 7 speed and ?
people may not be happy anymore.

Sounds like what we need is CVT or the old rubber band from DAF!! is that really where we want to go?

I'm biased, I like autos, mostly. The 7 speed is far and away the best auto I've driven. Never in the wrong gear, smooth and responsive. No penalty in performance or economy, slightly the reverse. In use, the actual number of gears is transparent, unless I select manual mode.

I've only had the car 30 months, so I really can't comment on long term durability. But so far, like the rest of the car, not a single issue.

I'm happy