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?

Aren't the views of technicians a little skewed since you only see ones that have issues? You don't exactly have someone stop in, thank you and let you know their MB has 100k and hasn't had any issues since day one....

By that token you could say that all the technicians at the Toyota dealerships must have a lot of downtime! Maybe they don't hire as many either...

I have a 99 CLK320 with 115000 miles and a 2000 CLK430 with 72000 miles and have had no trouble with them, although the CLK320's door was clicking when opening and closeing and there was a pop when closeing the door and the pass door lock was slow when i bought it. I took it apart and fixed the vacuum leak with super glue, tightened up the rear window guide rail for the pop and put the door closeing roller thingy in my vice and closed it up a little, its all great now. For the seat control problem, mine also did that, I took it apart and found some loose connections. I soldered them back up and have not had any more problems, you can hold down the bottom seat botton (front and back together) and reset the seat module. I found my problem as so, if the seat will not move or only move forward even when pushing button rearward try useing the memory bottons, if seat moves back then it is your button panel, if not it is probably the motor. Hardly ever the module.

Thanks! The button panel is probably cheaper than a new module...Maybe it can be resoldered, I'm guessing its not got the ball bearings anymore like mine has on my 300TE :)

I have a 2000 C280 with the m112 and 722.6xx engine and tranny.

Bought used at 36m, 6/2005 and now has 95m.

Very happy with the car an no problems so far with the tranny or engine. Compared to an older 1991 300CE that I have, maintenance has been cheap. Only relatively costly item was a MAF.

Once in a blue moon, the tranny will have a harsh downshift into 1st. This typically would happen on a cold engine while coasting slowly to a stop. We avoid this and also have the tranny in "W" setting all the time, so it rarely happens.

The years between 1996 and 2003 the worst in the company's history, the profit demand surpassed any quality and customer satisfaction. I worked for a few years as a service representative and the issues that came up were almost insane. We saw a W210 1998 almost unrepairable from rust. I'm down to an hour replacing the front spring perch of the W210. I'm sorry but i think the customer satisfaction and safety department was nonexistant during these years.

I don't disagree with that. Other than the end of the 124 why start the dark period in 1996?

Signing tomorrow on a silver CLK320 with 104k on it. $6500. Clean 2 owners no accidents, not key'd like the black one. Everything works. Needs brakes and tires, but it has stock wheels on it so I think we will just replace the wheels with some nice AMG's or something classy 17" would be good. Moonroof works great, A/C ice cold, no bad pixels on LCD, no seat rips or wear almost whatsoever. Also needs removal of hood film...its all cracked and everything

How can I tell if it has the Valeo radiator? Can't see any stamps on it...where should I look?

Some photos:

Car is dusty, hasn't been washed in months, but under the dust, it's very clean!

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...clks/clk-1.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...clks/clk-2.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk3.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk4.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk5.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk6.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk7.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk8.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/photos/clks/clk9.jpg

Congratulations, I'd say you can't go too far wrong on that.

Thanks for PDF...I cannot tell where that location is in figure 1?
Is that on the top of the radiator under the fan shroud?

I can't tell either, crazy picture, maybe taken by the same idiot who designed the radiator. You ought to be able to find it once you get the car and start poking around.

Congrats! Seems like a lot of car for the money.

Last year my kids each bought a used Mercedes. One was a 1999 C280, 84m, for $5500 and a 2000 C230, 88m, for $7000.


Is there anything we can do about the disappearing pixels in the AC and instrument panel displays?

Ok not just me then!!

I'm sure I'll figure it out once I get the car. Set for purchase at 12 today!
Looks like a Behr or Nissens is under $200 and I've done plenty of radiator replacements on my 124...Looks identical to mine actually...Don't see having any issues.

If it is in fact Valeo, I'll also get transmission drained quickly too in case of any coolant in it, but car shifted perfectly fine when we drove it, so not worried at all. Who knows, maybe it'll be a behr and good to go! :)

Oil change looks straight forward...Got to research more about the 722.6 transmission since it is a "lifetime of thrills"...Looks like a similar procedure to my 722.3 with exception that I don't have a dipstick to check level. Maybe there is one you can buy since it has the fill port? :confused:

---

Pixels in this one were good when we checked A/C and all buttons...but I'll keep that in mind for future.

glenmore I think there are places out there that you can send the inst cluster to and they will repair them where the pixels will reappear. If I can find the link I will post it.

Looks like the view may be from underneath?

The dipstick can be bought for about $70 from Peach. You might shop around, IIRC they were nowhere near that much when I bought one, but that was around 2005.

I have seen threads where people use a home made one where they copy the last few inches of the dipstick using the measurements from an original.

My 2000 w202 has the sealed torque converter so I only get about a 4 quart change when I do the ATF.

Be thankful it has a place to stick it too:).

Instrument cluster repair at:

BBA-reman.com

with a lifetime guarantee!

It's ours :D $6500 said and done.

And the quick clean wash photos:

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean1.jpg

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean2.jpg

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean3.jpg

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean4.jpg

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean5.jpg

http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...day/clean6.jpg

You've had it for half a day and you haven't buffed out those headlight lenses yet?

Unacceptable I know!!!!

Valentines Day...Arghhh!!! :mad: :D

Can't even get dirty under my 300TE today to finish up the transmission swap either!!!
You can see her feeling jealous in the garage back there.

Nice looking ride:).

Are there any nice MB headunits (or aftermarket) that have ipod connectors that will still work with the factory wheel buttons? and RCA outs for possible support for an amp + subwoofer in the future?

Clean engine!
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...leanengine.jpg

Got the old horrible hood crap off
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...eek1/hood1.jpg


Anybody know if this shows that I have the Veleo or Behr radiator? It's difficult to tell....
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...week1/rad1.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...week1/rad2.jpg
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/p...week1/rad3.jpg