Which CLK?

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Auto every time. Standard on the 320. Even if you do find a manual 220 it will be very difficult to move it on once you decide to change it
 
Well being a 5series BMW driver and of a petrol nature for twenty years owning three of them in that time, Im looking forward to something different.

But have to admit auto box's, diesel engine, turbo and glow plugs all sound expensive to go wrong compared to what Im used to. Im even thinking for the first time to buy from a dealer so I can buy a warranty! or am I on the wrong track?
 
Cars go wrong period, BMW have as many problems as other marques, look on BMW forums for examples!. Glow plugs last for a long time and are £15 to £20 each, far cheaper than the equivalent cost of replacing spark plugs for the same mileage / time period.

Diesel engines by the very nature of how they work are stronger than petrol engines as they run much higher compression ratios and loadings so have heavier duty components like cylinder heads, bearings, starter motors etc. Turbochargers have been around for decades and are generally very reliable if the car is correctly serviced, even when they need attention they can be rebuilt at reasonable costs. Automatic gearboxes are also, if properly looked after very reliable. How much does it cost to have a clutch and dual mass flywheel changed on a BMW manual? Around £1200-1500 from a dealer.

I am still not sure why you want diesel, your mileage does not really warrant it and low mileage is not always good for diesel engines as they can block up exhaust gas recirculation systems and diesel particulate filters if not regularly and fully warmed up although I am not sure if the vehicles you are looking at have these fitted. As for a warrany, why does it have to be from a dealer? It is perfectly simple to buy your own warranty privately and usually at lower prices unless the dealer is offering one at cost price.

I was recently looking at buying either a C320 petrol or C270 diesel, I cover around 13,000 miles a year and eventually I bought a lowish mileage 2003 C320 with a 2 year warranty, a new MOT and delivered to me from a dealer for £3995. I did find a C270 of the same age, mileage and specification at another dealer but with the warranty costs he was charging it was £2000 more and that differential makes up for the extra fuel costs over the 2 years I will run the car. Also the 320 is far smoother, quieter and responsive to drive. Large petrol engined cars are cheap and the larger engines always come with higher trim levels. Fuel is an important part of the cost of running a car but by no means the only one. Diesel servicing costs can be higher and service requirements can be more frequent on some cars.
 
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As much as a love the V6 engine on mine, if I did the mileage you will be doing I would be buying a petrol. The price if them are through the floor because of the nervousness oil prices but if you weighed up the purchase price against the cost of petrol etc, it would be massively in the petrols favour.
 
My miles now will be only around 7,000 a year.
I will spend the new budget in full on whatever I buy be it petrol or diesel so its not like I will pay 8k for a diesel or 6k for a petrol and the 2k goes towards any extra petrol I might have to pay for.

Also the car I buy I will keep for 5 years minimum, its just the way I am with cars. So if I buy petrol it will be the additional costs over five years rather than one.

The glow plug things I meant I thought were like £150 each. Maybe I got the name of them wrong. As I said new to diesel.

But admit my journeys are mostly only 5miles or so three times a week and a couple of 25mile runs in the week and 50mile runs at weekends.

Im now thinking, should I stick to the diesel idea!? lol
 
Peter, find a local MB specialist, the one you will probably get to look after it and ask for their advice on comparitive running costs.
 
Hi Peter

We bought a CLK 320 about a month ago. They had two in the garage, both 03 plates, one was our 320 petrol with 35k on the clock and a 270 cdi with 78k for the same price. I was in the same situation as yourself where mileage doesnt come into it so we opted for the 320.
As was mentioned previously the 320 comes with all the goodies, our car is fully loaded apart from the sat nav.
On a run the fuel consumption is around 28-29mpg driving it normally, 50/50 town and motorway. I am hoping that I will have less problems with this car than i would have with a turbo diesel. I dont like the driving style of a diesel car or the injector, turbo troubles. I have a turbo car which gives me enough problems.
If you can afford it would go for the CLK 320 or 500 fully kitted out. I had no probs with my old ML500.

Good luck
 
Hey thanks for that and your not helping lol. My mind was decided on the 320 diesel and now im not so sure. I thought I was good just deciding between the 270 and then the 220 opting for the 320.

As I said cost of the car is not the issue as I will spend the same amount on either version petrol or diesel. So I guess what I need to decide really is that the diesel will give me around 10mpg more than the petrol so is that worth it. And that some of my shorter five mile runs not ideal for the diesel and as you say additional things like a turbo. This is a tough one.
 
Hey thanks for that and your not helping lol. My mind was decided on the 320 diesel and now im not so sure. I thought I was good just deciding between the 270 and then the 220 opting for the 320.

As I said cost of the car is not the issue as I will spend the same amount on either version petrol or diesel. So I guess what I need to decide really is that the diesel will give me around 10mpg more than the petrol so is that worth it. And that some of my shorter five mile runs not ideal for the diesel and as you say additional things like a turbo. This is a tough one.

I can only speak fromthe dieselpoint of view,.

the 320 is a wonderfulpiece of kit,with a cracking deliveryof its power.

I have had 38.5 MPG over 31 k miles, mainly duals and m way. would imagine low 20s intown in reality.
Havent driven the petrol engined clk other than a 500 at brooklands.
 
Well being a 5series BMW driver and of a petrol nature for twenty years owning three of them in that time, Im looking forward to something different.

But have to admit auto box's, diesel engine, turbo and glow plugs all sound expensive to go wrong compared to what Im used to. Im even thinking for the first time to buy from a dealer so I can buy a warranty! or am I on the wrong track?

That sounds so familiar. I went from a '95 E34 520 to an 05 CLK270. The BMW was good, but I think the Merc is much better.

One word of caution though. No one has mentioned the dreaded Valeo radiator problem. Basically the engine coolant and gearbox coolant shared the same radiator and this would break down over time and mix coolants, resulting in the gearbox going bang.
Ensure you go for a late 04 onwards diesel as they changed the design. They were also galvanised from this point I think.

Also I recommend some mush have options - heated seats & parking sensors. If anyone else drives the car, memory drivers seat. Skip the Comand cause although it looks good it is quite basic. The only other option I wish I had was a sunroof - like Rocking Horse S--t but I still wish.
As for economy, the BM did 28 and the CLK is 34-36. (The computer shows up to 50 on a run but it lies) I do 12k pa and this works out about 1 fill less per month.

Good luck on your search.
 
Hey thanks for that... have to say hearing about different peoples exp really does help so i would like to say thanks to everyone :)

Im looking at 320's from Aug 05 upwards so hope that will cover me on the rad issue.

I only bought my bmw's with sunroofs but yes they do seem hard to find on the clks's. However they do look small? Why would you have preferred a sun roof?

As for the other options i hope to at least have memory seats & parking sensors.
 
lol :) Well I must say this site/forum has really helped. It helps a person make a more informed decision... I have now decided on the 320cdi. Found a great one on ebay that was perfect apart from the colour but at least I know I am in the ball park money, mileage, spec wise and so looking forward to my test drive of another on Saturday. lol my next expenditure will be on wheels for it (depending on what it comes with) he-he. See planning ahead already :)
 
With regard to wheels most will have 17 or 18 inch on a 320cdi. These are fine but the 18s ride more harshly. Personally I prefer the 17s for this reason. I would not go any larger than 18 as the ride suffers a lot.
 
Hi was going to stick to the 17 inch but there are some different designs that look really nice. Im not into anything obvious or OTT like black wheels but one of the AMG style simple style look really nice and still classy without looking tacky.
 
Why would you have preferred a sun roof?

Just wanted a sunroof - that's all.

As for wheels, I have 18" for the summer and 16" with winter tyres on for the winter.
It does ride better with the 16" but looks sooo much better with the 18".

It's an option to consider especially if you do much driving in the winter - I have to go up and down some big hills to get the kids to school and the 18" tyres would be useless in the snow and ice.
 
I thought the CLK's come with 17"? The five spoke ones that are standard do look nice but there are some AMG ones that look lovely. No idea on their size but you can pick four wheels up on ebay for around £500
 
16s were standard fit - certainly prefacelift. Ours has optional 17in Saiph wheels(pre facelift)which seem to suit the car. Some AMG ones look better but it can depend on colour and other spec.
 
Im after a 320 in the bright silver. If I can get half leather will be very happy as it looks really nice and the Avant Garde. will be getting a 2005 upwards but my budget will only stretch to a 2006 if im lucky. Saw a lovely one recently and a bargain but it was in the dark silver almost gold which I dont like and on 60,000 main dealer miles too!

Your wheels do look nice but I will check out what looks good on them and what doesnt. The Cygnus 5 spoke look nice, as do the 18" five spoke with AMG. All be it I dont want the car to look silly so we will see. Find the car first, wheels a month after lol
 
A silver avantgarde with AMG alloys looks good. (ours is iolite blue avantgarde spec)You should expect leather trim on a 320 as a minimum plus lots of other toys.
 

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