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One of the rarest mercedes, a w208 clk with no rust!

twinstar

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Joined
Nov 7, 2011
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42
Car
2004 cl55 amg komp, 27k, 2000 clk 320 cab, 2002 f150 harley pickup, 2011 overfinch range rover
I've just taken this car in part ex and have decided to keep it as there is not a single blister on the car anywhere, I'm after some more info on it as I don't know how to get the data card details. It's a 1999 facelift clk 320 cab with every single option, even the Bose sub and full amg kit and suspension, xenon, etc. I think it must have spent its life abroad due to the condition of the body despite its 175000 miles. I already own a 2004 27k cl55 Komp but to me an old w208 with no rust is just a rare beast these days.
 
I have a soft spot for those original CLK's which I think are a great bargain today. I'm lucky in that i live in Texas where they don't rust.
 
I,ll post a couple of pics tomorrow if the rain holds off!
 
They are an absolute bargain if you can find a good one. Obviously living in Texas, you wont have seen the body issues that we are plagued with over here. Most of them have completely dissolved in rust now.
 
I've just taken this car in part ex and have decided to keep it as there is not a single blister on the car anywhere, I'm after some more info on it as I don't know how to get the data card details. It's a 1999 facelift clk 320 cab with every single option, even the Bose sub and full amg kit and suspension, xenon, etc.
If you post up the VIN number on here someone will post the data card details
 
Thanks, will post the vin.
 
In Texas you will a different problem, burnt paint, dash cracks, burnt interior etc. I had this problem with cars in Middle East and Africa also constance suspension repairs, usually shock absorbers caused by dirt roads.
 
Finally after 4 months I have some pics, spent a whole day of lockdown, cleaning and tarting around ready for a ride out to the end of the driveway.
 
Looks lovely - getting very very rare now.

Dont want to be the barer of bad news, but I can see a fair bit of rust in this pic, and also on the front wheel arch also: :(

20200412_171022_copy_864x1152-jpg.94449
 
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Tiny little bit of rust on the very inside of wheel arch edges which is nothing, probably as a result of sitting outside all winter as you can see from the state of the discs.
 
Tiny little bit of rust on the very inside of wheel arch edges which is nothing, probably as a result of sitting outside all winter as you can see from the state of the discs.
There is a UK made rust converter called Vactan which would work wonders on that hidden wheel arch rust. Sold on ebay.

Used it on my S210 and rust has not come back over a year later.
 
Hope that little patch is surface and not a symptom of what is underneath
 
Hope that little patch is surface and not a symptom of what is underneath
No it's not, I've been all underneath the car and it's pretty much perfect, I've waxoyled all the areas that they normally go, even had the sill covers off expecting rust behind but nothing. This is on a car that's done 175k and lives outside. I've had these where the rear arches come off in your hand and you can see the floor through the inner wings. I dont understand why this one is so different.
 
I think the earlier cars were better at resisting rust.
Some of the older pre-facelift cars have held up pretty well, considering the age they are.

Your car looks great BTW and congratulations on finding your very own hens tooth :)
 
I think the earlier cars were better at resisting rust.
Some of the older pre-facelift cars have held up pretty well, considering the age they are.

Your car looks great BTW and congratulations on finding your very own hens tooth :)
Yes, that’s a facelift car. Having had one of the same vintage myself, I’m amazed at how good it is. A great find.

I just hope that the OP has thoroughly cleaned and protected the insides of the lips of the wheel arches, because that’s where dirt gathers and holds the water that starts the rust. It’s a design fault, and indeed the reason why I even take care to clean that area on my much later W204 every time I clean the rest of the car.
 
That’s a lovely thing. I remember seeing these (brand new) parked outside trendy wine bars in the late 1990s, and thinking “one day” if I continue to work hard and I’m lucky. I’ve not given up, maybe one day.

I sense a travel of eBay and AutoTrader coming on.
 
I remember by brother paying £23k for a '99 320 (Facelift) in 2003...!
 

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