Older Mercedes Coupe good idea?

[little.pete]

Hi all,

I'm interested in hearing your experiences on mercedes coupes as they get older, C Class coupe and the CLK coupe.

My story is I've been driving an Alfa romeo GT for a while and while it's gorgeous little car and drives well, it's great inside with full leather and bose sound etc but it is marred with the usual Italian build quality I've been constantly replacing bits and I'm getting to the end of my patience and wallet.

Anyway I'm looking for a RELIABLE nice looking car which is well appointed inside but will only have about 8-9k to spend. I'd like to buy something with 40k on the clock (or less), not too bothered about age put prefer the styling after 2002. Some nice cars have come up whilst searching the CLK being one and the more realistic C Class coupe. Look like nicer cars than the BMW and Audi alternatives.

Although Mercedes used to have legendary reliability records I've been told this has slipped in recent years. From what I read 2000-2004 were particular bad cars. I'm just a little weary of buying an older car of this complicated nature and find alot of things start to fail.

Maybe this money is better spent on a newer less nice car.

Any comments on your experience with these cars would be appreciated. Even if it's that this kind of money won't buy a decent reliable example.

Thanks

Peter

 

[Charles Morgan]

Welcome, first and foremost.

A friend ran a late 98 model CLK cabriolet from new for about 10 years with no real problems at all.

I fear however, speaking from experience, once you buy older cars things will go wrong. If at the end of your wallet, swapping to this era Mercedes is in my experience a recipe for further exasperation. Others can talk about the particular defects, but rust and electrical problems do occur and Mercs are complicated, although if you can find a nice CLK 270 cdi coupe, the engine and gearbox work very well and are pretty robust. Suspension will need work in most cases - it is good, but the cars are heavy and contemporary roads don't help.

ps - your mileage requirement does close off an awful lot of good cars - a good diesel or petrol (sixes really) will be fine in high mileage as long as maintained. My 210 320cdi from 02 is running quite brilliantly at 178k, and i quite expect it to put away a good 200k more as long as it is looked after (and rustproofed just before winter!).

 

[little.pete]

I guess the question could be put is a 2007 CLK any less reliable than a 2010 Renault Laguna Coupe with similar miles on the clock.

 

[little.pete]

I guess I'm scared because at 120k my Alfa Romeo suspension seems to be falling apart, the engine is fine and it's had a new clutch. I know Mercedes are famously built differently but surely the miles take their toll on the body and suspension

I quite understand you buy an older car and you'd have to accept replacing some worn out parts, but some cars wear better than others.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I'd take the CLK 2007 over a Laguna any day (and I like French cars!)

Miles take their toll on trim, but 40k will kill suspension consumables like shocks, springs and bushes. The key is to find a well maintained one with lots of motorway miles - far less challenging than urban or local roads.

Olly (a Merc specialist on here) reckons my rear shocks are original, which isn't bad, but they do now need replacing.

Not trying to influence you one way or another - it's just I don't think mileage is that important, maintenance much more so, for most cars.

 

[GP801]

For the CLK go for mid 2004 onwards - after the facelift. Having said that ours is ore-facelift. Now 10yrs old and owned form new. In that time apart from routine servicing its needed a new alarm siren and airbag module. Not a lot for a 10yr old car. Body is rust free. They were galvanised from mid 2003 onwards. History is paramount. If its been looked after/pampered it will be fine.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Just a thought, but I noticed from another post that you could lease a brand new Mercedes C250 diesel AMG sport estate for about £9000 all in for three years / 30k miles.

I appreciate it isn't the same as owning, but on the other hand, it would take virtually all your potential misery out of the equation! I wouldn't be surprised if the combined depreciation and lumpier costs on an older MB added up the same over three years.

 

[little.pete]

Thanks for the advice.

To tell you my alfa experience (and so paranoia over my next car), I have a late 2007 GT which when I got it thought I loved it. Full alfa service history, I replaced the upper wishbones, only to be told they are gone again and I was lucky they lasted 25k! even saw the car on the ramps and the play was easily visible. Replaced again and the suspension is still squeaking. Replaced the clutch & flywheel (£1200+) at 80k. I've owned the car from 40k and it's now 120k. Previous car was a Honda Accord my dad owned it I bought if from him, after 10 years and 130k the suspension was starting to knock but up until then only had to replace disks. Half thinking of getting a new fiesta or something. Wish I could afford to buy a new Mercedes and not worry about depreciation.

 

[dinoy]

look at w124 convertible they are cheap and set to rise

 

[little.pete]

I'd like diesel economy of 40mpg or more and I like big boots and I can't deny. (I want it all, and for not much money)

plus I don't like that old box styling.

Perhaps I just get an old 3 series and run it till it dies forget about having a nice every day car. (I have a Morris Minor for a bit of fun(not everyone's idea of fun I know, but I can't afford a 70s lotus elan sprint yet))

 

[Dieselman]

A post 2004 C-Coupe or Clk would fit your bill. They are better built and generally reliable.

 

[kenwaic]

I had a 2001 c230k coupe for a couple of years and apart from a couple of niggles ,1 of which was the low washer sensor it was relatively problem free.

The only real problem was scabs of rust appearing you need to keep on top of.

Routine servicing was from 110 pounds from my local indie.

One other thing that really grated me was the value of these cars, they are literally banger money now so pick up a cheapie and don't worry about depreciation.

For the record I recently sold my near immaculate example with only 14 thousand genuine miles for just over a thousand pounds.
The colour was an acquired taste but it was still a nice example.

That was the only offer I had and I had to take it as I was leaving the country and it would have just been sitting in the garage.

Keep looking there are good cars out there for minimal money.
Good luck

 

[Dieselman]

I had a 2001 c230k coupe for a couple of years

One other thing that really grated me was the value of these cars, they are literally banger money now so pick up a cheapie and don't worry about depreciation.

Surely the depreciation worked in your favour as you spent less when buying it.

 

[bpsorrel]

Or you could lease a brand new C220 cdi Coupe from the place I got my SLK for just £300 a month - - Mercedes C Class Coupe Leasing

I was always against finance of any kind, but these deals on leasing make so much sense that buying a new MB doesn't add up any more. Just an idea...

 

[kenwaic]

Surely the depreciation worked in your favour as you spent less when buying it.

Yeah I wish . As in most circumstances in buying cars " yes sir it's got a really low mileage so that's why there is a premium on it" and muggins here always fall for it.

 

[RBYCC]

Why not consider a 1988-1996 C124.

Much better build quality then the newer C or CLK.
More interior room.

Easier and less costly to maintain...
An appreciating asset versus a depreciating asset.

I'm biased as I've owned a 1988 300CE from new and feel the later model Mercs don't compare with fit, finish,of the C124

Ed A.

 

[stephen coy]

I've owned 2 Alfa's-147 mjet and 159 2.4

Including the previous 3 Merc's(one a w124 e300d), my current W208 CLK 230
is by a country mile the best car I've owned, performance, quality wise. Interior must be a match against a Brera. I get approx. 35mpg motorway journeys, A fantastic car

 

[little.pete]

How did you get on with the Alfas? I seem to be chasing squeaks around the suspension which just drains my wallet, when I get it all sorted I say I'll never get rid of this car, a few months later and more squeaks, the engine and interior have been fantastic.

For the mercedes option I'm toying with a C Class coupe at the moment mainly there's less to go wrong than a CLK it has a hatch back which I find so useful about my GT. I've seen some good deals around £5k for sub 80k cars with nice spec but they are around 2004/2005 Does anyone know how to tell if the car is later facelift with the galvanized body?

Though I could just spend the money putting a 1275 in the Morris and changing the diff to allow lower revs on the motorway

 

[GP801]

In my (admittedly biased) opinion the CLK is classier than the coupe. Better built too. Dont forget the CLK has folding rear seats as standard. Not quite as versatile as a hatch but for a coupe its very practical.

 

[Dieselman]

Does anyone know how to tell if the car is later facelift with the galvanized body?

Facelift cars with clear headlamps and round dashboard dials are all galvanised and better built in many areas.