CW208 CLK430 - money pit ?

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Lenny63

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
1,428
Location
Belfast
Car
CLS 55 AMG | S211 E280 Cdi Sport
....to run as a daily (approx 20 miles per day)

thoughts ?
 
My wife runs a CLK 430 cab as her summer car. They are relatively simple machines by modern standards. Rust more of a problem than mechanicals on most.
 
suspension prone to any abnormal wear ?
is it structural rust or surface rust (or both)
car I have seen is a 2000 with 114k - facelift interior etc
 
suspension prone to any abnormal wear ?
is it structural rust or surface rust (or both)
car I have seen is a 2000 with 114k - facelift interior etc

How have you found your 43 for suspension wear? as the answer will be exactly the same for a CLK 430 208. A 208 is effectively a 2 door version of a 202, suspension, floor pan, even the engine is the same as your 43, except for the air box ECU and a few other small items.
Rust wise 208s generally don,t suffer from rust as bad as the 202, the rust on a 208 has a tendency to be generally cosmetic.
As far as using it for a 20 mile commute everyday, I think your only issue will be the fuel consumption.
 
That last part is probably most relevant Andy, but I don't mind fuel bills if the car gives me something back in return - my current daily is/was s/c cooper s that struggled to do 20mpg lol
My C43 has been fine over my ownership with suspension , albeit I have only done 6k
 
Can't you run the C43 as your daily?

It's on a classic policy Lee limited to 3k miles and I honestly believe it is too good to give daily abuse to. I enjoy waiting to take it out for the 6months starting may each year

Interestingly, as Andy says the two cars are probably very like in practice
 
Car in question has sold (in a day !! Yikes )) - doh
 
The CLK430 has around 280bhp iirc so it would feel very similar in power.

What's your budget?
 
Car in question has sold (in a day !! Yikes )) - doh

I have to say, from the link you sent me it looked way too cheap!

Shame you missed it.
 
The CLK430 has around 280bhp iirc so it would feel very similar in power.

What's your budget?

Not big - 2k perhaps at tops
My S/C Cooper S gave up on me on Tuesday - It's been a money pit and destroyed my wallet over the last year - I am cutting my losses with it now as a replacement used engine is circa £1000 + fitting
 
I have to say, from the link you sent me it looked way too cheap!

Shame you missed it.

It looked a nice one - great interior

I am in london next week for a stag and would be ideal to have picked something up to take home
 
I've seen one in romford which is not too far away from where I am this weekend - a W reg 2000 model
spec wise it's ok - No AMG wheels , No command , no xenonx, no sunroof, however has electric mememory seats , heated seats , folding mirrors
Owner has sent me many many pics and even a video of start up & run - he is also willing to put a fresh MOT on today

the only issue is bad rust bubbles on drivers wing -
it has a FSH (MB up to 70k) and specialist there after , and plugs?gearbox oil completed at last A service at 112k

car currently has 117k - one key

My only worry is structural rust - are these cars at just as much risk of jacking points/sills etc going as a w202 ?
 
I have a 2000 CLK320 that I bought last year with 108K, only had 2 lady owners previously. I can see where all wheel arches have been redone but looks good, no other rust. A very good car.
 
I've seen a 320 with better spec (amg wheels , command , xenons) but it's a little bit more
 
Doh - these cars don't stick about

320
Sold and 430
Sold
Today
 
Managed to buy one just outside London today - finishes
Off The stag weekend well

87k , FMBSH until 69k

Waiting for
The ferry
Home
Now
And it performed
Very well
 
I did buy it !!

Now , can someone tell me how it test those blooming seat motors

Drivers base base backwards/forwards isn't working - luckily it's just about right for my height (as was previous owner )
 


Impressive - this was 1st part of the journey home from great missenden to holyhead -
 

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