W??? - rust

[DuFFmAn]

Hi guys, Im a bit of a newbie here so don't laugh

Anyway, My dads intrested in buying a CLK or a slightly older CL..

He has around £20,000 to spend so is looking at cars aroun 1999-2002..

I have two questions now...

First of all.. You guys keep going on about "W121" or some wierd numbers like this.. What is that about? Is it the chassis code or something

I also have another question about rust. I know the CLK was definately prone to rust at an early age, but am not sure about the CL? Is so, Can you tell me which models it effected?

Thing is, my dad has never really spent much on cars, (£5-10k) maximum in the past, so this is quite alot of money and i'd rather he not buy £20k of rust... Ive had a search through this forum and have been quite dissapointed at the rust issues.. My dad loves Mercedes but has never owned one (except the Sprinter)... It looks like if rust is going to be an issue, im gonna have to tell him to A) wait a little while to the newer Mercs drop in prices to avoid the rust issue... or B) Buy a "BMW" (runs and hides ) although there nice cars, but too common..

 

[Robbo]

My personal opinion is that mercedes built during the period your dad is looking at are the worst possible years in terms of quality. Rust, electrical problems, you name it, it all happened during these years. It was only after this time that MB realised it had a problem with quality. I'd recommend that he either waited until he can afford a 2005 or later car (they are galvanised from this time) or try another marque.

 

[sagalout]

I cant comment on rust as I havent owbed one of those, but £20K? You can get a really nice CLK around those years for a lot less than 10K!

I'd have thought that if you look around for a while you could find a well looked after example with no rust!

 

[sym]

The W numbers are the model numbers (W208 is the 1999 CLK)

S.

 

[DuFFmAn]

The W numbers are the model numbers (W208 is the 1999 CLK)

S.

I really don't understand that one bit

Sagalout: Yeah, my dad will probably be looking at the new shape CLK or the current CL I prefere the CL but rust is an issue as we will probably keep the car for a long time as my dad doesn't normally sell cars until they die or get killed

 

[glojo]

Your doing the right thing by asking for advice before buying.

In my opinion the most important thing is firstly a thorough inspection paying particular attention to the bodywork, suspension mounts etc.

Make sure the vehicle has a complete non interrupted FULL main dealer service history. Do NOT be flanneled about a 'small' break in the history. It must be a genuine full Mercedes-Benz history.

The electronic issue to me is now more gossip than fact. Yes new Mercedes-Benz were plagued by teething problems but dealers have bent over backwards to sort these issues out. Simply check that EVERY option works.

There will of course be the odd vehicle that has problems, just like BMW, Audi etc. I have heard of one member buying a very nice nearly new S-class that had incureable minor electronic issues and the vehicle was bought back. (Luckily the vehicle was still under warranty)

Do NOT be in a rush, there will be a very nice vehicle out there.

Regards,
John

Edit:
The reason why I have insisted on the full service history is to keep up the 30 year warranty. I would NEVER think about buying a Modern Mercedes-Benz without it.

 

[Ashley]

Welcome to the gang.

Buy a "BMW" (runs and hides

) although there nice cars, but too common..

If your Dad gets a Merc is when he will notice just how many are on the roads.

My personal opinion is that mercedes built during the period your dad is looking at are the worst possible years in terms of quality. Rust, electrical problems, you name it, it all happened during these years. It was only after this time that MB realised it had a problem with quality. I'd recommend that he either waited until he can afford a 2005 or later car (they are galvanised from this time) or try another marque.

I have to agree with Robbo don't touch a Merc between those years.

 

[sym]

I really don't understand that one bit

Mercedes-Benz manufacturers code to describe the different models.

e.g.

C Class - pre 2000/1 = W202
C Class - new model - 2001+ = W203

Older style CLK = W208
Newer style CLK = W209

Just a way of distinguishing between the different models, and older and newer versions.

S.

 

[GRAV888]

This may help, but only goes up to 2000:
http://mercedes.pp.ru/mgeng.shtml

 

[Birdman]

This one goes up to 2009 and has other big advantages - it covers the company's history, has a page on each model, and it's not a dodgy Russian site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz

Scroll to the end of page for Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1980s-present

 

[robparker]

you are unlikely to have any mechanical problems with a mercedes whenever you buy it, but as others said there were quality control problems from the years you mentioned and lots of electrical problems.. and i have heard stories of mercs needing new gearbox's at 30,000 miles on occasion, so if you get one make sure you get a good warrenty or wait

 

[Robbo]

The electronic issue to me is now more gossip than fact.

Sorry but as an owner of a car built between these years and having had a number of electrical problems, I can testify that it is anything but gossip. Its for real I'm afraid.

 

[glojo]

Sorry but as an owner of a car built between these years and having had a number of electrical problems, I can testify that it is anything but gossip. Its for real I'm afraid.

Hi Robbo,
As I have always said these cars had teething problems, but are you saying you are still suffering with unresolved electrical problems??

John

 

[Robbo]

I have had numerous electric failures with the car out of warranty such as electric window motors (x2), door control module, power seats etc. The car simply isnt reliable.

 

[glojo]

I have had numerous electric failures with the car out of warranty such as electric window motors (x2), door control module, power seats etc. The car simply isnt reliable.

Hi Robbo,
You certainly have my interest; I have heard of another C-class that had a number of unresolved issues. Was your vehicle purchased new, or second-hand from a main dealer?

No one will defend the indefensible and I have always stated there will be the odd car. If all these events happened after the three year warranty, then I would be MOST upset. I would firstly go back to my supplying dealer, and politely request a goodwill repair. IF this failed, my first port of call would be a letter to Mercedes-Benz UK, but that would simply be a first stage.

The author of this thread is not enquiring about a C-class, but I would not be surprised if the electric motors are used on any number of models? You are certainly unlucky to have all those failures. If you want cheering up, then log onto a Range Rover\Discovery forum.

John

 

[Robbo]

The car was purchased second hand from an MB dealer. To be fair the door control module and one of the window motors was sorted out, but I have had to pay for everything else. Yes, I may have been unlucky, but the cars share a lot of common parts and I daresay that these kinds of faults are not uncommon across all models from this era.

This is just electrics. I havent even mentioned the broken rear spring, the anti-roll bar bushes (replaced twice), the thrust arm bushes, the anti roll bar drop links, oil leaking from auto gearbox ECU plug and the noisy purge valve all of which had to be paid for.

All in 20K miles over three years motoring on a car that has just covered 40K miles in total.

 

[Flash]

W208s were very much so prone to rust.

If buying the W215 (CL) then FMBSH is important just like Glojo said and there are alot of electrics/hi tech equipment fitted on the W215 and it is the early ones that had "teething" problems which were rectified on later models.

One of the advantages (apart from size/image/styling) of the W215 over the W208 is that the front wings are plastic so less likely to rust... Be warned though that if you pick up a "lemon" W215 (which alot of the early ones are) then it will be expensive to rectify the faults so you must do all your homework/reserach first!!!

I'm not sure if you will be able to find many "high spec" W209s with a £20K budget BUT the face lift may possibly have hit residual values on the pre face lift W209 since I last looked at a W209.

 

[glojo]

This is just electrics. I havent even mentioned the broken rear spring, the anti-roll bar bushes (replaced twice), the thrust arm bushes, the anti roll bar drop links, oil leaking from auto gearbox ECU plug and the noisy purge valve all of which had to be paid for.

All in 20K miles over three years motoring on a car that has just covered 40K miles in total.

My car number is 'K9' but with the greatest of respect your car sounds like the 'dog'.

I take it you only had a 12 month warranty?

40,000 miles is nothing, the car is just run in. Sounds more like a Discovery!

John

 

[stats007]

Not all Mercedes from 1999-2001 should be avoided. The R129 had very few changes to its production as it was being phased out in favour of the R230. Models that were introduced in this period with upgraded electrics can be problematic however.

The codes can be confusing at first but you soon get used to them. All mercedes have a basic chassis code designated as W*** (W is short for Wagengestell which is German for chassis). Some models have 'secondary' body codes like R129 for roadster (still a W129), C215 for coupe (W215) etc. These make more sense when a model like the CLK has different body types - coupe and convertible:

W208 CLK comes as a C208 (coupe) and an A208 (convertible).

 

[Robbo]

My car number is 'K9' but with the greatest of respect your car sounds like the 'dog'.

I take it you only had a 12 month warranty?

40,000 miles is nothing, the car is just run in. Sounds more like a Discovery!

John

Well the sad thing is, if you do a search on the forums of C class common problems, virtually everything I have had go wrong is a common problem on the C class from 2000-2002. They are very poor quality cars.