- Joined
- Nov 17, 2013
- Messages
- 364
- Location
- Pendle, Lancashire
- Car
- C36 AMG, C55 AMG Estate & CLK55 AMG
Following on from my Wanted thread; WTB - CLK55 AMG Cabrio. | Classifieds - Wanted | MBClub UK - Bringing together Mercedes Enthusiasts,
It started off when we were getting very little use out of my wife's SLK350. Having a couple of needy Beagles, if we were going out, one or both would come with us, so we would end up using a 4 seater saloon.
The plan was to sell the SLK and buy a CLK. Having dodged the Balance Shaft bullet with the SLK350, I was keen to avoid the gamble with a CLK280/350 and started looking at CLK200's, while my wife was looking at CLK500's...
The problem was, early R171's are not making great money so any CLK500 was likely to be a bit leggy.
Doing some man maths, realising that selling the C43/55, pooling the funds into 1 car could result in CLK55 AMG. A 4 seater convertible for Mrs N and a V8 for me.
(plus 1 less car to insure and tax) and I would still have my C36 AMG.
Advertising the SLK and C43/55 in the middle of winter, I did not expect much interest, but as the adverts I did were free to list, I was happy let them run.
The SLK went quickly, it was really nice example, only let down by my foolishly loosing the Service Book.
Equally, the C43/55 found a new home swiftly, burbling off into the sunset.
CLK AMG prices seem to all over the place (like W202 AMG prices).
There was a wish list;
Had to be a cabrio. ideally a good spec, facelift, pref. a dark colour.
There were a few advertised, despite middle of winter and covid. Some had been for sale for quite some time.
One stood out quite early on, with a dealer near London. ticking pretty much every box. I just felt the pricing was a tad' enthusiastic.
Kissed a few more frogs and kept coming back to it.
With it being close on 200 miles away, I was able to arrange for a friend to go view it for me.
There were a few niggles highlighted, but nothing out of the ordinary for a 15year old car. "It's nice, but it's not £15k nice"
Knowing the dealer had had it for sale for nearly 6 months, I put in a cheeky bid, we were too far apart.
Chased a few more, even trawling back on old adverts for ones that may have not sold.
Doing the man maths on some of the cheaper ("no such thing as a cheap AMG") examples, by the time I brought a cheap one up to a nice standard, it would no longer be a bargain.
A few more chats with the London dealer and we came to a place we were both happy (me more than him I feel), and a deal was done.
I got some Shiply quotes that ranged from £250-£400. I tend to go middle of the road with Shiply quotes, spending a lot of my time on Motorways, I see some ropey looking transporters with nice cars on board. I didn't want my new acquisition to end up damaged. Chatting to the dealer about my plans, he has a regular couple of guys and got me a price that was good and they could combine the delivery with an existing run North, so it would be with me within 48hrs.
08:00 Thursday, while I was having an Automotive move about as the W202 C220d Sport (coming up for sale soon) had been in the garage, a familiar burble could be heard.
A quick wiz to the petrol station for a splash and dash, everything worked and it drove well.
Saturday I had a better mooch around. there were already some things I had put in motion to change.
The wrong gear selector, I managed to locate a NOS one in Germany that landed quickly. I have also located a correct steering wheel to replace the wood effect one, not to my taste.
I took the wheels off to clean the back faces, one of the bargaining areas was the rear tyres getting a bit low.
Great to see the expensive 2 piece discs had been done recently
While it had factory COMAND with NAV', it did not have the factory phone pre-wire options. I thought initially the module was missing. with help from the forum, we established it was a Denison piece of kit, present and working.
Another bargaining chip was the battery was a bit discharged when the car was viewed, and the battery 7 years old, so costed in a replacement.
Batterymegastore did a Varta 019 for £100 delivered via their eBay shop, (the Bosch labelled version is £10 dearer, despite both being the same spec. & made in the same factory).
Snug fit in there
As Mrs N had not been out on the CLK, so Sunday morning we planned a trip out... to the Shell petrol station! for some decent fuel (I only did a supermarket fuel splash and dash on the day of delivery)
Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your view) the local Shell in town was having a delivery and not allowed sales.
Our next nearest is a little out of town, so a slightly longer run, which I am sure I could justify if required. Drives very well, sounds great, no clonks or bangs, even on some of the rougher roads.
Bit grubby with road salt and will have a clean before it goes away.
to be continued...
It started off when we were getting very little use out of my wife's SLK350. Having a couple of needy Beagles, if we were going out, one or both would come with us, so we would end up using a 4 seater saloon.
The plan was to sell the SLK and buy a CLK. Having dodged the Balance Shaft bullet with the SLK350, I was keen to avoid the gamble with a CLK280/350 and started looking at CLK200's, while my wife was looking at CLK500's...
The problem was, early R171's are not making great money so any CLK500 was likely to be a bit leggy.
Doing some man maths, realising that selling the C43/55, pooling the funds into 1 car could result in CLK55 AMG. A 4 seater convertible for Mrs N and a V8 for me.
(plus 1 less car to insure and tax) and I would still have my C36 AMG.
Advertising the SLK and C43/55 in the middle of winter, I did not expect much interest, but as the adverts I did were free to list, I was happy let them run.
The SLK went quickly, it was really nice example, only let down by my foolishly loosing the Service Book.
Equally, the C43/55 found a new home swiftly, burbling off into the sunset.
CLK AMG prices seem to all over the place (like W202 AMG prices).
There was a wish list;
Had to be a cabrio. ideally a good spec, facelift, pref. a dark colour.
There were a few advertised, despite middle of winter and covid. Some had been for sale for quite some time.
One stood out quite early on, with a dealer near London. ticking pretty much every box. I just felt the pricing was a tad' enthusiastic.
Kissed a few more frogs and kept coming back to it.
With it being close on 200 miles away, I was able to arrange for a friend to go view it for me.
There were a few niggles highlighted, but nothing out of the ordinary for a 15year old car. "It's nice, but it's not £15k nice"
Knowing the dealer had had it for sale for nearly 6 months, I put in a cheeky bid, we were too far apart.
Chased a few more, even trawling back on old adverts for ones that may have not sold.
Doing the man maths on some of the cheaper ("no such thing as a cheap AMG") examples, by the time I brought a cheap one up to a nice standard, it would no longer be a bargain.
A few more chats with the London dealer and we came to a place we were both happy (me more than him I feel), and a deal was done.
I got some Shiply quotes that ranged from £250-£400. I tend to go middle of the road with Shiply quotes, spending a lot of my time on Motorways, I see some ropey looking transporters with nice cars on board. I didn't want my new acquisition to end up damaged. Chatting to the dealer about my plans, he has a regular couple of guys and got me a price that was good and they could combine the delivery with an existing run North, so it would be with me within 48hrs.
08:00 Thursday, while I was having an Automotive move about as the W202 C220d Sport (coming up for sale soon) had been in the garage, a familiar burble could be heard.
A quick wiz to the petrol station for a splash and dash, everything worked and it drove well.
Saturday I had a better mooch around. there were already some things I had put in motion to change.
The wrong gear selector, I managed to locate a NOS one in Germany that landed quickly. I have also located a correct steering wheel to replace the wood effect one, not to my taste.
I took the wheels off to clean the back faces, one of the bargaining areas was the rear tyres getting a bit low.
Great to see the expensive 2 piece discs had been done recently
While it had factory COMAND with NAV', it did not have the factory phone pre-wire options. I thought initially the module was missing. with help from the forum, we established it was a Denison piece of kit, present and working.
Another bargaining chip was the battery was a bit discharged when the car was viewed, and the battery 7 years old, so costed in a replacement.
Batterymegastore did a Varta 019 for £100 delivered via their eBay shop, (the Bosch labelled version is £10 dearer, despite both being the same spec. & made in the same factory).
Snug fit in there
As Mrs N had not been out on the CLK, so Sunday morning we planned a trip out... to the Shell petrol station! for some decent fuel (I only did a supermarket fuel splash and dash on the day of delivery)
Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your view) the local Shell in town was having a delivery and not allowed sales.
Our next nearest is a little out of town, so a slightly longer run, which I am sure I could justify if required. Drives very well, sounds great, no clonks or bangs, even on some of the rougher roads.
Bit grubby with road salt and will have a clean before it goes away.
to be continued...