CLK350 convertible - questions
Discussion
Morning all.
Thinking of picking up an ‘07-ish CLK350 for some summer duties.
Have a couple of questions to those in the know:
- struggling to find a decent pic showing the amount and shape of boot space with the roof down. Anyone able to post one, please?
- part of the duties would involve towing a small caravan (circa 1100kg all-in). They appear to have the capacity, but do they tow well?
- would they all have had a wind deflector from new? As in, if a car had it missing, it’s an easy job to replace with no additional fixings required?
Thanking you!
Thinking of picking up an ‘07-ish CLK350 for some summer duties.
Have a couple of questions to those in the know:
- struggling to find a decent pic showing the amount and shape of boot space with the roof down. Anyone able to post one, please?
- part of the duties would involve towing a small caravan (circa 1100kg all-in). They appear to have the capacity, but do they tow well?
- would they all have had a wind deflector from new? As in, if a car had it missing, it’s an easy job to replace with no additional fixings required?
Thanking you!
I have not got any pictures but they are a nice car.
A couple of things you may be aware of already:
1. The engine you are looking at had balancer shaft issues prior to, I think, 2008. The result is a destroyed engine if it goes or a significant bill to rectify the issue as preventative maintenance (10 hours plus labour if my memory serves). You can check the VIN and engine code online to see if it is one of the affected ones.
2. A lot of CLKs suffer from a ‘clicking dash’ where the car will click for about 30 secs after the ignition is turned on. This is a result of low quality, plastic stepper motor arms. You can live with it but eventually they will go. Again, a cheap part but requires the whole dash to be taken out if you want to rectify it.
I am tempted by a CLK 500, preferably with the 5.5l V8, but very few around.
A couple of things you may be aware of already:
1. The engine you are looking at had balancer shaft issues prior to, I think, 2008. The result is a destroyed engine if it goes or a significant bill to rectify the issue as preventative maintenance (10 hours plus labour if my memory serves). You can check the VIN and engine code online to see if it is one of the affected ones.
2. A lot of CLKs suffer from a ‘clicking dash’ where the car will click for about 30 secs after the ignition is turned on. This is a result of low quality, plastic stepper motor arms. You can live with it but eventually they will go. Again, a cheap part but requires the whole dash to be taken out if you want to rectify it.
I am tempted by a CLK 500, preferably with the 5.5l V8, but very few around.
I'm thinking about on of these too, just sold my old MX5 I think (gets picked up tomorrow), then a van to sell, then start shopping in earnest, so probably come the winter!
Has anyone driven the CLK350 and the 280? Is the difference in power appreciable? The reason I'm asking is more from the supply side rather than cost, there seem to be a lot more 280s out there.
Has anyone driven the CLK350 and the 280? Is the difference in power appreciable? The reason I'm asking is more from the supply side rather than cost, there seem to be a lot more 280s out there.
We bought a CLK350 cabriolet for the wife a couple of years back. Stunning car and the 350 engine is an absolute cracker, it's a fabulous car.
There are many more 280's about but the 350 is such a sweet engine. There are a few trim options to look out for as not all CLK's are equal in that department. The Harman Kardon sound system is great if you can get it, it's nice if you can get the 'Sport' (AMG kit - side skirts, rear spoiler, 18" alloys) etc then there are the Designo leather options with electric heated seats with memory and the like.
I think the trim options go along the lines of;
Elegance (wood trim, 16" alloys, comfy ride)
Avantgarde (aluminium trim, different leather, 17" alloys/sportier ride)
Sport (AMG kit, 18" alloys, chrome tailpipes etc)
I don't know if they all have paddle shift, ours did. We looked at a few, the 350 sounded and drove way better imho. The roof mechanism is a work of art. The boot has a pull down cover which needs to be engaged to put the roof down. Decent enough boot with it up. Even with it down it's ok, depends what you're carrying!
There are many more 280's about but the 350 is such a sweet engine. There are a few trim options to look out for as not all CLK's are equal in that department. The Harman Kardon sound system is great if you can get it, it's nice if you can get the 'Sport' (AMG kit - side skirts, rear spoiler, 18" alloys) etc then there are the Designo leather options with electric heated seats with memory and the like.
I think the trim options go along the lines of;
Elegance (wood trim, 16" alloys, comfy ride)
Avantgarde (aluminium trim, different leather, 17" alloys/sportier ride)
Sport (AMG kit, 18" alloys, chrome tailpipes etc)
I don't know if they all have paddle shift, ours did. We looked at a few, the 350 sounded and drove way better imho. The roof mechanism is a work of art. The boot has a pull down cover which needs to be engaged to put the roof down. Decent enough boot with it up. Even with it down it's ok, depends what you're carrying!
Found this regarding the sport and AMG pack options...
"The optional sports package.....lowered sports suspension, multi - spoke 18 - inch light - alloy wheels and chromed tailpipes...the perforated brake discs
and brake callipers with Mercedes - Benz lettering ....Inside the car, the studded pedals in brushed stainless steel, floor mats with silver - coloured edging and multicontour seats for driver and front passenger..."
Regarding the AMG sports package
"In addition to the features in the sports package, the optional AMG sports package also features imposing AMG bodystyling, 18 - inch 5 - spoke AMG light - alloy wheels, an AMG spoiler lip, a chromed AMG twin tailpipe ( for the V6 and V8 petrol variants ) , as well as AMG floor mats..."
FWIW!
"The optional sports package.....lowered sports suspension, multi - spoke 18 - inch light - alloy wheels and chromed tailpipes...the perforated brake discs
and brake callipers with Mercedes - Benz lettering ....Inside the car, the studded pedals in brushed stainless steel, floor mats with silver - coloured edging and multicontour seats for driver and front passenger..."
Regarding the AMG sports package
"In addition to the features in the sports package, the optional AMG sports package also features imposing AMG bodystyling, 18 - inch 5 - spoke AMG light - alloy wheels, an AMG spoiler lip, a chromed AMG twin tailpipe ( for the V6 and V8 petrol variants ) , as well as AMG floor mats..."
FWIW!
Hi mate
Had my 09 CLK350 for about two years. It is the last one they made - and has a lot of kit (heated and cooled seats with memory, adaptive seats, 18s etc.
Great car, bought it with 49k but don’t do that much mileage, now on 53k.
Hope these pics help, happy to answer anything about the car of course.
Side
Roof up, trunk separator retracted
Roof down/trunk separator in position (no difference between up and down when this is pulled across really)
Roof down
Hope this helps!
Had my 09 CLK350 for about two years. It is the last one they made - and has a lot of kit (heated and cooled seats with memory, adaptive seats, 18s etc.
Great car, bought it with 49k but don’t do that much mileage, now on 53k.
Hope these pics help, happy to answer anything about the car of course.
Side
Roof up, trunk separator retracted
Roof down/trunk separator in position (no difference between up and down when this is pulled across really)
Roof down
Hope this helps!
In answer to your other queries - mine has never had a wind deflector and it has an asterisk next to its description in th manual - denoting an option.
Few issues with mine, needed a new roof relay (150 indy), thermostat ( 250 indy) and front discs and pads (470 Merc). Also it developed the common problem of the handbrake clip fail - causes the handbrake cable to rub on he prop. This sound resonates through the car and manifests as a clicking/rubbing sound behind the vents, sounds like a lead stuck in there and increases with speed.
IF you hear these noises on your test drive see if they change with different steering directions and see if you can stop the noise by pulling the handbrake release and lightly pushing the foot(hand)brake pedal to tighten the cable. (Included in above 470, Merc)
It’s a great car as I said, on a run it gives 35mpg, makes a great sound and is quick. As above check the engine number online to make sure it is after the balancer shaft fix.
Few issues with mine, needed a new roof relay (150 indy), thermostat ( 250 indy) and front discs and pads (470 Merc). Also it developed the common problem of the handbrake clip fail - causes the handbrake cable to rub on he prop. This sound resonates through the car and manifests as a clicking/rubbing sound behind the vents, sounds like a lead stuck in there and increases with speed.
IF you hear these noises on your test drive see if they change with different steering directions and see if you can stop the noise by pulling the handbrake release and lightly pushing the foot(hand)brake pedal to tighten the cable. (Included in above 470, Merc)
It’s a great car as I said, on a run it gives 35mpg, makes a great sound and is quick. As above check the engine number online to make sure it is after the balancer shaft fix.
I've recently bought a CLK280 Sport convertible after having a 320 derv sport. I drove the 280 and 350 and didn't notice much difference at all, but then again most things feel slow compared to my CLS55.
The sport does without a doubt look better. The wheels, bodykit, boot spoiler, etc seem to give it that bit extra in the looks department.
The sport does without a doubt look better. The wheels, bodykit, boot spoiler, etc seem to give it that bit extra in the looks department.
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