hello, advice and thoughts...

[danwan2]

Hi All, I'm in the final stages of buying a mercedes clk. Looking to gain some advice and recommendations. I'll join as a full member if all goes according to plan. Any views on any points raised would be appreciated.

Last car was celica t sport and found the celica forum a great source of information over the years. Loved the car but I've moved on from the high revving sporty car, looking for a little more refinement.

The car I'm buying isn't the precise model I wanted but sometimes when the correct deal comes around you have to take it.

It's a 2005 240 elegance (W209). I would have preferred the 320 or 500 as I feel the 2.6 is underpowered for the power return you get against the mileage/tax etc. However my reason for buying the clk isn't all to do with power. I would have also preferred the avantgarde or sport for the nicer alloys.

First question then: what are the other differences between the elegance / avangarde / sport other than the alloys?

It also has a wood interior and I've never got why you would want parts of a tree in your car.

To make the car as I would like it I would like to change the alloys. I only like to put alloys on a car that were originally available on it. I found a website that has all the alloys originally available however I've seen a few with amg alloys that aren't on the website. To be honest other than the amg alloys I'm not that keen on any of them. Are there any other mercs that have the same fitment that would fit without any problems? I'm probably not wanting to go bigger then 17 or 18 in case it compromises the ride too much but I'm willing to take advice. How much do original alloys go for these days?

I fancy a small lip spoiler on the back. I've seen them on ebay for not a lot of cash so recon there crap. Any advice on where to buy one thats a good fitment or preferrably a merc original one?

I think thats about it for the moment. As I said any help would be great. If I get it which is about 90% I'll join the forum as a member and ask more questions.

Thanks.

 

[T7RY B]

Avantgarde is lower and sportier suspension set up The window tints are blue not green You get the Birds eye maple (black) instead of the wood

 

[st4]

also xenon lights.

Elegance is for pipe and slippers spec, very soft and fake hi fi wood. Not my bag.

 

[markjay]

also xenon lights.

Elegance is for pipe and slippers spec, very soft and fake hi fi wood. Not my bag.

 

[markjay]

...It also has a wood interior and I've never got why you would want parts of a tree in your car....

But parts of a cow is OK?



Welcome to the forum danwan2. I don't know much about the CLK so can't really help, but hope you do get a good one, and join us.

 

[danwan2]

agree, agree, agree.

It's not my bag (wood) either but the car itself is great value for money so it's a bit of a no brainer. It's actually the wifes car as I have a company car which I hate so I'll drive hers on a regular basis but just wanted soemhting that looked good and would give me a nice ride.

I get leather: looks nice, feels nice, easier to clean. I can't see what value wood adds?

 

[aw1966]

hello danwan2,
i've ran a fare few of these w209's over the last few years, there is a difference in specs but not much, elegance is fine if you can live with the usuall awfull wood efect inserts, avantgarde does have a firmer suspension setting, not that you would notice so if you dont like to drive hard dont be too bothered about this, if your buying an 05 240 its last of the old so be carefull on price,if budget is not an issue go for a facelift 05-onwards 7 speed car, they are better built & well set up, i would recommend a clk280 sport, regards wheels go 17 or 18" max, other oversize wheels ruin the drive on all clk's, dont pay too much premium for sat nav its never been that good & has always been an overpriced option, worthy options are heated electric seats & xenons, leather is essential, clk's are quite reliable not too much to worry about, just one major thing to always check - exhaust cats cost £1500 to replace & have been known to need doing at as little as 50k miles, as always dont by a merc with poor service history no matter how cheap, it will bite you eventually, good luck & enjoy your new car.

 

[Benjy]

Take a look at my CLK 350 sport on my album that I had, you can see the alloys and the AMG body kit. There were so many variants of the CLK that it all depends on how far you want to take it. IMHO I would maybe just change the wheels to the 5 star Sport AMG jobbies as they do really set the car off but wouldn't change much more than that. It was a fantastic car and the CLK is a great model to go for. Mine was a 2005 and had a few added extras but it was quite a high spec car.

If you are going to go for the lip spoiler then maybe why not look at the full AMG kit and have that fitted.

 

[AMG19]

If your not worried about power I would go for a diesel. The 320 CDIs go bloody well and in my experience will be an easier car to sell on.
I had a W209 55 AMG and still have naughty dreams about it!

Oh and while I remember try to buy one from MY04 onwards. I believe the later ones dont rust so much and they also have a different radiator as the earlier ones had lots of problems.

Good luck!

 

[st4]

A 320cdi CLK will make all of them bar a 500 or AMG seem like they were in reverse.

 

[bpsorrel]

This site is good for genuine MB alloys! Loads of choice and all correct fitment for the car!

Mercedes CLK Class 209 alloys | Alloy Wheels Direct Ltd

 

[s88]

Avantgarde is lower and sportier suspension set up The window tints are blue not green You get the Birds eye maple (black) instead of the wood

Maple not a wood anymore then?

 

[T7RY B]

Maple not a wood anymore then?

I know Maple is a wood! I am saying that it is more a black colour than a natural "wood" effect.

 

[grober]

The wood trim originates from the days when cars were coach built and wood was a structural or trim material. Wooden dashboards and door caps become synonymous with British luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Armstrong Sidley, Alvis, Jaguar etc. Continental European car manufacturers favoured painted metal dashes for lightness strength and possibly their " sporty overtones" [a little like today's faux carbon fibre trims] In response to the perception that luxury cars have wood trim Mercedes and other continental manufacturers still pay homage to these by gone days with their luxury models thinking that this is what their customers expect.

Back on topic! for any V6 engine its always an idea to check the spark plugs have been changed according to schedule. There are 12 of them and are quite labour intensive/expensive to change.

 

[s88]

The wood trim originates from the days when cars were coach built and wood was a structural or trim material. Wooden dashboards and door caps become synonymous with British luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Armstrong Sidley, Alvis, Jaguar etc. Continental European car manufacturers favoured painted metal dashes for lightness strength and possibly their " sporty overtones" [a little like today's faux carbon fibre trims] In response to the perception that luxury cars have wood trim Mercedes and other continental manufacturers still pay homage to these by gone days with their luxury models thinking that this is what their customers expect.

Back on topic! for any V6 engine its always an idea to check the spark plugs have been changed according to schedule. There are 12 of them and are quite labour intensive/expensive to change.

ANY V6 ?? not in a diesel, sorry.

Not sure on "any" petrol engine either!

 

[s88]

The wood trim originates from the days when cars were coach built and wood was a structural or trim material. Wooden dashboards and door caps become synonymous with British luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Armstrong Sidley, Alvis, Jaguar etc. Continental European car manufacturers favoured painted metal dashes for lightness strength and possibly their " sporty overtones" [a little like today's faux carbon fibre trims] In response to the perception that luxury cars have wood trim Mercedes and other continental manufacturers still pay homage to these by gone days with their luxury models thinking that this is what their customers expect.

Back on topic! for any V6 engine its always an idea to check the spark plugs have been changed according to schedule. There are 12 of them and are quite labour intensive/expensive to change.

I imagine in the "old days" wood was cheap and plentiful which is why they used it and why mankind totally removed it from some parts of the world.
In later days wood attained a higher value ( seems it no longer grows on trees). Especially woods like Mahogany or lignum vitae

As a child climbing into a car with a wood dash and leather seats the smell was so evocative! And still look half decent in Rileys, Wolseys, Bentleys et al.
I dont think many manufacturers do good wood, especially Merc, Saab were as bad.
Though personally I think the milled aluminium/tin is far better.

Alcantara ?? never.

 

[grober]

ANY V6 ?? not in a diesel, sorry.

Not sure on "any" petrol engine either!

Forgive the inexactitude but I assumed the poster would know I was referring to any petrol V6 in a 2005 240 elegance (W209)

 

[SilverSaloon]

sorry but i reckon all executive/luxury cars have to have wood and leather. otherwise we may aswell all sit in plastic coated Kia's and Vauxhalls.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

In the early days of motoring, there was little choice when it came to trimming interiors due to the technology available at that time. So the choice was pretty much metal, wood, cloth and leather.

There's not really that much choice now - we just have slush moulding techniques which is what enabled dashboards to advance so much in such a short space of time as the 1970s turned to the 1980s.

Of course the techniques and materials used for trimming car interiors followed thoses used in horsedrawn carriages, which followed household furniture, and so it's hardly a surprise that more wood, with more detailing, was popular with people with the people who could afford early cars.

Back to the CLK...

Welcome to the forum!! Based upon your comments so far, I don't think the car is for you. Unless the car is an outrageous deal, and you plan to move it on, then I'd look elsewhere so you get the car you want - there will be other good deals.

And remember, if it is an outrageous deal, then there will be a reason for it.

Good luck with your purchase.