Good buy/advice on CLK320 ?

[the_player]

Hi everyone, was wondering if I can use my first post to pick your brains and get some advice on a CLK320 (W209) that I was thinking of buying.

The spec of the car is as follows :

52 plate, 65,000, satnav, heated seats, park distance control, sunroof, phone prep, tiptronic auto and a few other options that I can't remember! It is advertised as an avantgarde but is definitely an elegance.

A few questions ?

Firstly is 15K is a good price for this car, bearing in mind that I will be trading in my Volvo c70 t5 (with 108,000 on it) for 3,500 (i.e. I will need to find 11.5K) ?

Should I look for a lower mileage example bearing in mind that I will probably put about 15-20K on it a year ?

Is having the elegance over the avantgarde a bad thing ? i.e. resale value. And if not can I easily replace the walnut with the aluminium dash.

What goes wrong on these things ? What should I check for when buying ?

How much is the servicing ? It has its last one at 54,000 (the 50,000 mile one)


Any help *much* appreciated!!


Thanks


ben.

 

[verytalldave]

I am not really that knowledgable, but here goes..
Is it a private sale?
If so, be VERY VERY VERY careful and go over it with a very fine tooth comb.
If the seller cant get a simple thing like the correct model in the ad, then who knows what else might be wrong?
The main difference between elegance and avantgarde is that the elegance is aimed at the "comfort/traditional Mercedes" market, whereas the avantgarde is aimed at the sporty buyer.
Changing the trim is possible, but tricky and not advisable. If you want an avantgarde - then buy an avantgarde. There are other differences apart from trim.
All the other answers to your points can be found elsewhere on this forum by doing a search. Servicing will be slightly higher than your Volvo - as will fuel consumption/insurance and probably road tax as well.
If running costs are a big factor, then consider a diesel instead of a petrol.
As to whether you should buy it, only you can answer that one. But I would strongly recommend getting it professionally inspected if you are buying private. Well worth it to avoid buying a minger.

 

[the_player]

cheers - just to clarify. It is from a trader not private.

I'm 50/50 on the avantgarde vs elegance as it is only the wood that puts me off. The car has had one owner and been a trade in at MB and appears pretty straight, in fact I couldn't find much wrong with it even after a 45 min test drive. Saying that though I am no expert and would intend getting one of my mechanic friends to give it a once over before purchase (assuming it is good value).

Running costs aren't a massive problem as I get a fuel card, I just wanted to check there wasn't any wild hidden costs with this model really ?

 

[verytalldave]

No. The 320 has many fans here. Its a lively fast car. And now I know a little more of its background, it sounds OK. Fair price. But the downside is that the 320 can be a little heavy on fuel if the performance is used. If you know what I mean.
BUT......BUT.......make sure its the car for you. Dont think about changing trim, it really is not a good idea.

 

[the_player]

Yeah, I know what you are saying, but would changing the trim really be that bad ? Is it just the fact that it is an expensive job and would take ages ?

If I wasn't so choosy about having one in obsidian black, with sat nav it would probably be easy to sort out my dilemma!

 

[verytalldave]

Yeah, I know what you are saying, but would changing the trim really be that bad ? Is it just the fact that it is an expensive job and would take ages ?

If I wasn't so choosy about having one in obsidian black, with sat nav it would probably be easy to sort out my dilemma!

There are sellers on ebay that sell full trim kits for most recent MB cars, and they arent that expensive. I would like to see the quality of the components first. Sourcing them from MB direct would be more expensive, but at least you would be getting original quality equipment. Somewhere on this forum this was discussed recently and there is a link to the sellers website. Do a search and you may find it.
If I was you, I would take a look at a real avantgarde and see the differences for yourself. Then decide.

 

[the_player]

Do you think there is a difference in resale value between an equivalent elegence and avantgarde ?

 

[ShinyF1]

There are sellers on ebay that sell full trim kits for most recent MB cars, and they arent that expensive. I would like to see the quality of the components first. Sourcing them from MB direct would be more expensive, but at least you would be getting original quality equipment. Somewhere on this forum this was discussed recently and there is a link to the sellers website. Do a search and you may find it.
If I was you, I would take a look at a real avantgarde and see the differences for yourself. Then decide.

..and if it's like the W210 E Class, you have to remember that new trim is likely to be special order with holes for the switches you actually have - you don't see these Mercs with blank switches....

 

[Howard]

The Avantgarde suspension is IIRC about 20/25 mm lower than the Elegance... firmer too ...

If you do find the right car but without Comand , PM member Alfie on here or visit www.comand.co.uk ... he retro fits these all day long ...

Might be worth pricing up the bits you need to change the trim with OEM stuff, seems churlish to have such a nice car and change the trim for an Ebay special .... that way you can see if its gonna be worth it ...

Non OEM stuff on MB's , quite a lot of the time doesn't work well and can make the car more difficult to sell in the long run ...

Good luck

H

 

[the_player]

Don't worry I wouldn't be putting any ebay special stuff in there, it would have to be the proper MB parts.

Never thought of it the other way round though - maybe I could do as you suggest and find a black avatgarde and retro fit the comand ? Interesting.

 

[moneyman]

Personally I like the walnut trim, but I would say that wouldn't I as I have it in my car.

You could check to see if it is an Elegance with sport suspension option.

I have this on mine and it seems to be fine.

Regards

Steve

 

[Howard]

We have the black birds eye in ours ... very nice

 

[reflexboy]

We have the black birds eye in ours ... very nice

You have fish fingers on the dash Whatever for?

 

[Carrotchomper]

£15k is rather overpriced. This is the earliest of the W209- I was searching for some time. The 270CDi's- Which generally fetch higher prices AFAIK- Were going for about 12-13 with similar mileages.

 

[drbsheffield]

I have an awfully nice CLK forsale.....

 

[Howard]

You have fish fingers on the dash Whatever for?

No , no , we caught a songbird in the garden and pulled its eyes out and glued them to the dash ....

Note to self :- Must read how post sounds before clicking 'Submit Reply'

 

[the_player]

£15k is rather overpriced. This is the earliest of the W209- I was searching for some time. The 270CDi's- Which generally fetch higher prices AFAIK- Were going for about 12-13 with similar mileages.

Seriously ? I can't find a single one on Autotrader for under 14K regardless of age/mileage (bearing in mind I am looking for a trade purchase rather than a private as I have a trade in). Am I looking in the wrong place or missing something ?

 

[the_player]

OK, I've got the VIN code now. Do these options show up anything good ? i.e. is the sports chasis the sports suspension ?


Paint 197 obsidian black metallic (с 1978) Options M32 capacity 3,2 liter (с 02.10.1995)
NA9 Unknown code 220 parking aid (с 01.10.1993)
241 left front seat electrically adjustable with memory feature. only applicable to w 210 when installed in conjunction with code 275. (с 01.03.1983)
249 automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)
275 front seat positioned lower
memory package (driver's seat, steering column, mirror) (с 01.10.1993)
309 cupholder (с 01.06.1995)
352 operation and monitoring system comand (navigation + radio/cassette) (с 01.09.1996)
354 antenna on roof centre rear for mobile D-net telephone
antenna on roof centre rear for standard D-net telephone (с 01.10.1994)
414 electric tilting/sliding roof in glass version (с 01.10.1988)
423 5 speed automatic transmission / nag (с 01.03.1994)
461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
486 sports chassis (с 01.04.1997)
500 outside rear view mirror left and right, folding (с 01.10.1993)
551 anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)
581 automatic climate control (с 01.01.1977)
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)
639 elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
668
673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)
679 spare wheel as basic wheel (с 18.06.1997)
731 wood trim, burred walnut root (с 01.08.1980)
803 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year
854 w/v 140 e32 (motronic) electronic engine control system (с 01.01.1978)
873 seat heater for left and right front seats (с 01.02.1984)
875 heated screen wash system (с 01.02.1988)
windshield washer heated (W201)
882 passenger compartment protection/towing-off protection (with anti-theft warning system only) (с 01.07.1993)
926 emission control eu4-measure 30.11.1991 (с 09.09.1997)
955 extension tube on the roof, front
equipment package elegance (с 01.11.1991)
984 elimination of ownership certificate but with coc papers (с 01.06.1993)
989 identification label under windshield (с 01.10.1997)

 

[jaymanek]

£15k is about 1K overpriced, but its black and thats the colour to have these days (in terms of resale)...

 

[the_player]

Well, I've finally bit the bullet and bought it!