Just driven a CLK500 and CLK55

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peterg1965

MB Enthusiast
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Dec 22, 2007
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Location
Lancashire
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2019 Audi Q7, 2018 Mini Cooper S, 2016 Porsche 718 Boxster S
Drove down to Wolverhampton to look at and drive the 52 plate CLK500 and also drove a 51 plate W208 CLK55 on the way back through Cheshire.

CLK500

The condition of this car was very much as described previously by Bobby D. I turned up and he gave me the keys and I had a really good look around it. The paintwork is just dull and lacking any kind of lustre to it. It is covered in swirl marks, light scratches and it would appear that it just hasn't been cared for, I just wonder if the only care has been a two-monthly trip to the carwash. Various paintchips, as BD described and some chipping down the door edges. Just looking in the door jams and under the bonnet, I don't think these areas have ever been properly cleaned. I tested all the electrics and switches, everything seems to work fine, the electric head rest motor on the drivers side was a little slow but I doubt it has been used much. There are no malfunctions and the engine sounded fine, but I am no engineer. I heard the 'ticking' of the climate control motors which he is having repaired next week. The tyres are all Pirelli P Zeroes, all are OK except the front nearside which is probably nearly illegal (more later).

The seller seems like a decent chap, he bought it via a trader friend, who sold it via sealed bids, he did say he probably paid too much! The car is booked into MB Woverhampton for the climate repair, they have quoted £700 (inc) £200 or so for the parts. (more later). He also gave me a copy of the MOT (Oct 08) which showed advisories, but none attached.

I drove the 500 and it went well. On driving away the parking brakes was very sticky, needing a pull upwards on the foot operated brake to make the warning light go out, he said he would have it looked at. I love the sound, very addictive, it seemed to kickdown fine and the brakes were fine. I managed to get the traction control light illuminated a few times pulling away from wet junctions, at first I though it might have been switched off! Test drive revealed (to me) a basically good car. The interior feels modern although the leather was looking a litle tired. I suspect it could all be bought back to life.

I told him I would not commit to buying today, because I was loking at another CLK, but wouldn't commit anyway until there was assurance that the defects had been sorted. However, we did make a provisional deal. He would have the offside front tyre changed with another Pirelli P zero, and he would have the heater fixed, but not at MB he would also have the footbrake sorted. Price agreed was £8200. On top of that I would have to tax it and get the paint and alloys sorted (£550). Therefore, a very decent, low mileage, FSH CLK500 for £9000. Very tempting!

On returning home, I checked out the MOT advisories, the result:

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

How much would they be to get sorted?

A few pics of the paint to follow

CLK55

I saw this a few ago online, I like the look of it but it struck me as being a bit expensive. He did have it up for £11995 for a while. TRader gotr it from a BMW dealership as a trade in, I reckon he has had it for a few months with only a little bit of interest. The car was at a traders who worked from home. He could talk for Britain and was trying most of the usual sales patter! (which I took with a pinch of salt!). The 55 looks great in Silver with 17" alloys and anthracite leather. It is a very tidy car. The only things I could pick up were a corroding alloy (not kerbed) just lacquer peeled and corrosion aroung 30% of the rim. It was very clean and when he started it up it sounded AWESOME! Even better than the 500! Bodywork is fine, couple of minor stone chips thats all, but could do with a decent wax. The tyres are all in good condition, but are not a make I recognised they were the correct speed rating though. The inside was lovely, the Nappa leather is so much nicer than the standard. Everything worked, although the sunroof seemed a little slow to operate. The nav disc is 06/07 and all looked great. It has Bose sound too, which wasn't on the ad. The test drive was fantastic. What a car, it felt very very quick! My only slight gripe was that driving straight the steering wheel was very slightly out of alignment (by 5 degrees or so - should I be alarmed by this assuming it hasn't been recorded as having an accident?), that would annoy me. The Service History was a duplicate, I checked it out and all seems absolutely fine. Most of the servicing having been done by Teeside MB (same as the 500 - spooky!). Spark Plugs changed at 56000, discs and pads changed at 56000 too, current mileage is 67200.

It seems well maintained, although ther last service was at the end of 2006 and it showed another 10000 to the next A service. We agreed that he would have an oil change done if I bought it. Inside it did feel a little dated compared to the 500 (no surprises) but not in a huge detrimental way, I could live with it happily. The car is ready to drive with virtually no expense required.

The price; £10000 with the service (no further negotiation). It is MOT'd until Nov and taxed until the end of Apr.

So decisions decisions! I think I am no longer considering the CLK430 Cab. It is too far away and I think it would be a definate third choice, despite the price difference.
 
If you don't get the 55 , you'll always wonder what could have been ... ;)

TBH it sounds like you are heading towards the AMG anyway .
 
10K for a 208 just seems a little on the high side to me. These things tend not to sell very quickly and reckon he'd take 9K next month.
 
Wheel Bearings can be adjusted IIRC... bring it here on your way back and we can do them for an hours labour...

But the 55 sounds much better for 1K more... it will hold its value better too.. was there a HPI report? Alignment of wheel is probably just a bad tracking job..
 
Go for the 55 i'd say, it should always hold its value better than 'just' a 500. Having said that £1800 is a LOT of petrol money.
 
Go for the 55 i'd say, it should always hold its value better than 'just' a 500. Having said that £1800 is a LOT of petrol money.


Its onl 1K if you take into account what he is going to spend on getting the 500 to scratch.

The 500 will depreciate down to nothing sooner or later.. the CLK55 will always be a 5K + car no matter its age..
 
I'd stick with the 500 - providing you don't mind getting it sorted. The 55 will always look more dated and the 500 is still the current shape right? Put a dateless plate on it and it will (eventually) look like a new car (for a while!).

And it's cheaper. And it will be cheaper to maintain (just).
 
Seems as well from your description that the 55 is the much better looked after car . This is a good thing.

I'd rather spend the extra grand and have a car that has been cared for in it's lifetime , than a cheaper lesser model that looks like it has had no love given to it.
 
Its onl 1K if you take into account what he is going to spend on getting the 500 to scratch.

The 500 will depreciate down to nothing sooner or later.. the CLK55 will always be a 5K + car no matter its age..

True. I was thinking from my own point of view in so much that i'd not bother repairing the alloys and i'd try to do the paint work myself first, it's labourious but a clay, meguiars swirl remover and then a couple of layers of tech wax and other such fancy stuff would probably make it very presentable hence saving a fair bit of cash. I am surprised by how much money the CLK55 is retaining though, i thought much like the E55 they'd be sub £5k already - perhaps they are for leggy ones?

Anyway, i'm not Peter and this is distracting from the original topic, as i said i'd take the 55.
 
Sounds like the kind of afternoon I would rather be having :) It looks as if you've got all the information you need to now make a decision. Or does it mean that a W209 AMG is on the shopping list ;)

Wheel Bearings can be adjusted IIRC... bring it here on your way back and we can do them for an hours labour...

My W208 CLK320 has adjustable front bearings, so I'd guess the AMG is the same. It's possible my bearings were on their way out anyway, but I found 3-4k miles after adjustment the bearing it felt as bad as it did in the beginning. So is he better off just replacing them?
 
Sounds like the kind of afternoon I would rather be having :) It looks as if you've got all the information you need to now make a decision. Or does it mean that a W209 AMG is on the shopping list ;)

If it was on the shopping list, I'd recommend taking a look at my old W209 Cab. MB of Edinburgh started it off at £26,995 in May and it is now £19,995...I reckon it could be had for £17k with no trade-in.

My 2p's worth - the W209 is much more modern inside but the AMG package is very special...when I had the same decision to make, I went with the AMG and never regretted it once. I do regret trading it though...
 
By the way, in terms of book price, he is asking top bucks for a CLK55.. but then with comand you probably wouldnt find much cheaper.
 
Thanks for all the comments. It is going to be a tough call this one. The 55 has been well cared for (5 owners though), but it doesn't need anything spending.



Wheel Bearings can be adjusted IIRC... bring it here on your way back and we can do them for an hours labour...

But the 55 sounds much better for 1K more... it will hold its value better too.. was there a HPI report? Alignment of wheel is probably just a bad tracking job..

He told me the CLK55 is HPI clear. I have the VIN and VRM to do my own check - yet another 340 to Mr HPI!

I think that future residuals will be a big factor for me. I would like the warm feeling that the cars' value is not going to fall through the floor. There should always be a market for a well cared for CLK55 (I would have thought), I would do my best to maintain the dealer FSH, but get other work done by a specialist.
 
By the way, in terms of book price, he is asking top bucks for a CLK55.. but then with comand you probably wouldnt find much cheaper.

The one in Surrey the other week had COMAND but that had 80K miles on it and went for £9K.
 
A few paint pics of the 500. Sorry, they aren't brilliant, I wont give up my day job. You get the impression though!
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Yes exactly.. Ive seen the CLK55's go for 6K in not so great condition and as much as 15 for mint high spec cars...

£340 for an HPI?!!

That paint can be brought back.. My polisher would make that look like new with a days hard work..
 
Future resale if a big consideration is a complete unknown.

For instance a good low mileage 500 being a model newer and having a younger plate should sell quicker and for more money than an older generation 55 with the potential for big bills due to some of the AMG parts.

The used car market is very fickle.
 
Sounds like the kind of afternoon I would rather be having :) It looks as if you've got all the information you need to now make a decision. Or does it mean that a W209 AMG is on the shopping list ;)

I wish I could afford a W209 CLK55 as a third car!

If it was on the shopping list, I'd recommend taking a look at my old W209 Cab. MB of Edinburgh started it off at £26,995 in May and it is now £19,995...I reckon it could be had for £17k with no trade-in.

My 2p's worth - the W209 is much more modern inside but the AMG package is very special...when I had the same decision to make, I went with the AMG and never regretted it once. I do regret trading it though...

I have seen your (ex) car on the MB website, very nice. Way higher than my budget even at £17K, would have to sell Mrs G's Mini to get that! I have more chance of walking on the moon!
 
Yes exactly.. Ive seen the CLK55's go for 6K in not so great condition and as much as 15 for mint high spec cars...

£340 for an HPI?!!

That paint can be brought back.. My polisher would make that look like new with a days hard work..

I meant £40...... :rolleyes:
 
if you want, ring me and ill do a full check for you for a tenner... its done with experian...
 

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