How reliable are the W208 CLK's? (3.2L)
 

Looking at purchasing one with the girlfriend...

What are your guys' opinions on the model?
Specifically 2002 CLK320 so the M112 engine + 722.6 trans

Thanks!

You can totally trust them to brake down regularly.

Love your tag line.

So untrue though. Research and preparation are a big part of fixing these cars.

I've not owned a 208 but my impression is that both the 112 and 722.6 were pretty good by 2002. They don't seem to be a well regarded car for some reason though, and prices aren't holding up very well, which I guess can be viewed as a good thing for a used buyer.

And your experience with them comes from?

Well here we have one who wants info but cannot get it so I will put my experience in. The W210 has that same engine in it(M112) I have 2 W210's and there engine's are very strong. My Post face lift 210 is more identicle if anything with a tad more power to it. Post facelift CLK is best 00-03 208 Body. Common issues are seat control mod, if convertable make sure the top works as should, intrament cluster pixels tend to fade and rain sensor wipers. All I listed tend to be pretty common issues.

Sounds like the car has the seat control module error...

When you tilt the backrest, the seat moves forward, but the buttons on the door won't move the seat. He said he had a buddy who used a computer and he moved the seat through it? (not up on these new ODB2 capabilities??) but I am guessing sounds like the module is on its way out...

Also
How can I tell if the radiator is Behr or Valeo? I'm reading the original Valeo radiators have problems. I looked and couldn't see any stamps or markings on the one we viewed today

Any tips?

20 years of dirty hands and bruised knuckles and 10 years as a Mercedes technician.

LOL, sounds like my experience with the exception of 41 years of dirty hands and bruised knuckles and 13 working on Mercedes:).

http://www.fototime.com/A0EFBE29F49FC95/standard.jpg

Had this '01 CLK430 a few years ago that was a salvage car. Fixed it up and sold it but enjoyed it a lot while I had it. All I can add is that rocker molding is expensive. And that the drivetrain on these is solid, it's the electronics that are trouble and costly which is why prices are so low. Can you work on it yourself? It could be a money pit otherwise. What's the miles and asking price?

2002 CLK320 - 106k 2 owner (1st owner was lease for 8k miles then sold to 2nd owner), $6500 clean carfax...not much history, but whole car looks like it was cared for.

Can work on it myself....putting a new trans in my 300TE right now so I am a little handy.

That is a very good price. A dealer would pay that much at a wholesale dealer auction for it.

It's not perfect...but I think with some time it'll be great.

Keep in mind that parts prices will be substantially higher than the 123 models parts.

So has this led you to believe that they are all crap, or just the 208s? What are the good ones?