Congratulations! I dearly hope to buy my dad's off him when he is done with it, the car has so much poise and elegance that I actually still enjoy looking at it sitting on his drive almost 2 years since he bought it. The only thing that I don't like about his is that the 270 diesel is agricultural at best when cold, but the interior just cossets you in luxury.
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Not to steal Bill Payer's thunder, but here are some more forum links that may help:
www.benzworld.org/index.php?page=active_topics
mbca.cartama.net/
www.mercedesforum.com/
forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/public/home.htm
www.mbclub.co.uk/
www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php
forums.mbworld.org/forums/
Several of these are large enough to have CLK sections. Not sure about the comment above that only those with problems participate; there are plenty of happy enthusiasts too.
The W210 suffered most from the corrosion problem, but was not alone. It wasn't until late 2002 that MB began to phase in galvanizing. Get that checked carefully. I certainly think that a comprehensive check by an independent specialist is always worth the ?£200 that it may cost; if nothing is found, you will have bought some comfort, and if something is found then it may save you four figures.
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I have always liked these models - more so than the new ones. I was looking at getting a CLK of around 1999 vintage, but a decision to move house resulted in a, perhaps more sensible, 2002 Primera instead. Nevermind, one day.... From my research I got the impression that the main problem especially on earlier cars is rust around the wheel arches and under the door and boot rubbers.
Give us an update in a few weeks, please - I would like to know if the driving reality lived up to your expectations.
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Well, since I have paid my deposit and about to take delivery of it, I asked the dealer about his warranty.
He told me he operates it himself, it is backed up to two courtesy cars. Although I might have preferred to hear that it is an RAC or somesuch warranty, he is a specialist re-seller of hi end cars, Mercs, BMWs, Porches, that kind of thing, and the history of this Merc checks out thoroughly so I think I trust him, but the proof will only be ... if I have a problem ... how does he handle it/
I accept I should maybe have looked in to a few issues in advance of buying such as the Valeo Radiator etc. but unless something goes wrong, then no warranty (dealer or independant) will cover for example changing out a radiator because something "just might go wrong" in future.
Anyway, I am thinking of buying an independant warranty to cover for such events, and found.
www.click4warranty.co.uk/parts-list-short.aspx
Does anyone have any experience of this outfit - good or bad - or can recommend any other independant warranty organisation that I could take out to cover the car?
thanks
Guy
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guy,
The "valeo raidator problem" is not so much about the radiator - it is the consequences of the particular problem which in the worst case is a completely wrecked auto transmission which is so expensive from MB that it would write off a slightly older model. You should check it out fully to make sure you do not end up with an eye watering bill.
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How do I check it out, check the transmission fluid for contamination by coolant? the garage says it is very difficult to access the transmission fluid. he says a warranty is there to fix something that breaks, not look for something that has not gone wrong yet.
I am thinking of getting an inspection done, but though the situation is my own creation, it feels wrong doing that AFTER putting down a deposit.
Guy
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Guy
it is easier than that.
Just check the make of the radiator. If it is not Valeo (eg Behr) then panic over and buy the car.
If it is Valeo then just check the car with MB to see if it has the radiator that is at "risk" of failing. It does not mean it will fail or it has already failed - just that there is high risk it will fail at some point. if it is one at risk then the radiator needs to be changed BEFORE it fails - if you wait for it to fail then it is too late you will almost certainly have wrecked the gearbox.
If you can not find the make of the radiator easily by looking at it then get the VIN and phone MB and ask them to check on their system - they may be able to tell you.
You have found some new info I would not feel pressured by the seller - he should be helping to get to the bottom of it - he will not want a warranty claim for a new g/box.
rgds
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MB use the RAC, or used to, and of course the dealers swore by it. Well, I quizzed the service desk once and they did say that they found the organization consistently receptive, responsive and very straightforward to deal with, in the sense that there was fair play and not a lot of wriggling out of obligations.
One suggestion is that you just open a savings account and put in there what you would otherwise pay out to keep a warranty company in business. The money's there if you need it and stays there if you don't need it. That gets my vote, along with an independent inspection, even at this post-deposit stage (focusing no least on the "Valeo radiator problem" and even with a dealer involved and the possibility of warranty cover.
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>>One suggestion is that you just open a savings account and put in there what you would otherwise pay out to keep a warranty company in business
And house contents insurance; 5 year washing machine warranties; legal protection insurance; fully comp car cover etc. etc.
Just pay insurance for things you cannot afford to buy and you'll be quids in. Third party; buildings and medical (perhaps).
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Guy
it is easier than that.
Just check the make of the radiator. If it is not Valeo (eg Behr) then panic over and buy the car.
If it is Valeo then just check the car with MB to see if it has the radiator that is at "risk" of failing. It does not mean it will fail or it has already failed - just that there is high risk it will fail at some point. if it is one at risk then the radiator needs to be changed BEFORE it fails - if you wait for it to fail then it is too late you will almost certainly have wrecked the gearbox.
If you can not find the make of the radiator easily by looking at it then get the VIN and phone MB and ask them to check on their system - they may be able to tell you.
You have found some new info I would not feel pressured by the seller - he should be helping to get to the bottom of it - he will not want a warranty claim for a new g/box.
rgds
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You could take a view that with 5 years trouble free motoring behind it and 91,000 miles, whatever the radiator, if it was going to "GO" it likely would have done so by now...
Anyway, I called MB, helpful "front of house" person took some details and has said an engineer will look at my question (does it have a Valeo Rad? might it be prone to this problem?" and call me back.
I also called an independant inspection company, and he told me what the garage told me, that the transmission is sealed, you can't check the transmission fluid for coolant contamination from the Radiator (no dip stick, or reservoir to aid inspection). So at least the garage was fobbing he off when I asked him.
Guy
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meant to say
"at least the garage was NOT fobbing me off"
typo... sorry
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And house contents insurance; 5 year washing machine warranties; legal protection insurance; fully comp car cover etc. etc.
Do you not have house contents cover then? I have to say that would panic me senseless, I couldn't possibly buy everything in my house all over again if something happened, it would take years to recoup it all! Also, in my short time of having a home to insure I've claimed for far more than I've paid in premiums. If you don't have it then you obviously have a lot of savings or very few possessions! :-)
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Guy,
At the end of the day it is your money; you choose. At least you now choose knowing the biggest risk on this particular model.
rgds
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Just to update the forum on a few things...
1. I did contact MB service department, left a message with the VIN and Reg, and asked if the car had a Valeo Radiator, and if so, what is likely to be prone to the problem of contaminating the ATF fluid.
Several days later they called me back, said that as far as MB is concerned that they cannot say there is any such known issue, and could not even tell me if the car has a Valeo radiator fitted or not without an inspection. Completely unhelpful reading from a script!
.**********
I know they have their retractors, but I did not feel pressurised to buy, was happy with the diagnosis (went under the car myself and was shown how pulling the bar caused the knocking), and am totally happy with the fix. £50 well worth spent. Dealers 6 month warrant useless. I could have driven down there, sat around for a courtesty car, got home, gone back later, been told a load of bull, and would be none the wiser.
It pulls to the left though, so will get KF to check the tracking.
3. The Car otherwise - LOVE IT! Mrs G is thrilled too, I drove it to Sussex and back at weekend and loved every minute.
Surprised at the auto box though, I thought the Left/Right nudge was a tiptronic style changedown/up operation. It isn't. If you are driving in D, and nudge left it goes to 4 even if you were in 4th gear already, i.e. it is a change up limiter like a normal auto boxs 1,2, and 3 positions -, so if you are in fourth and want to change down to 3rd, you have to nudge it left twice. Fortunately the kick down is more responsive than many autos I have driven.
4. I would like to fit a sun-roof and would ask if anyone has experience of Topline or other makes of after market s-roofs for the CLK.
5. By mistake I put super unleaded in the other day at a cost of £1.17 per litre (ouch!). still a better mistake than putting diesel in. I think I am getting better economy out of it, would that be right? what is conventional wisdom about Super Unleaded (this was at Shell) compared with ordinary stuff, in an engine like a 3 litre V6.
Guy
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Due to my use of a 8 letter word to describe MBs customer service, an edit above appeared ********.. thats fine I understand, forum policies etc...
But the whole next paragraph also disappeared which was far far from causing any offence in fact the opposite
The above should read:
-------------------------------------
Several days later they called me back, said that as far as MB is concerned that they cannot say there is any such known issue, and could not even tell me if the car has a Valeo radiator fitted or not without an inspection. Completely unhelpful reading from a script!
"rude word"
So I took the car to Kwik Fit for a free inspection, they found the front off side anti link roll bar knocking, they showed me by bringing me under the car and I could clearly hear it knock when it was jolted around. They quoted me £48.15 to replace it, and I just went ahead and am totally happy, knocking noises gone!
I know they have their retractors, but I did not feel pressurised to buy, was happy with the diagnosis (went under the car myself and was shown how pulling the bar caused the knocking), and am totally happy with the fix. £50 well worth spent. Dealers 6 month warrant useless. I could have driven down there, sat around for a courtesty car, got home, gone back later, been told a load of bull, and would be none the wiser.
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Re the pop-up sunroof, I think the used car market would frown upon this on a Merc. You may want one, but it would give a dealer a chance to knock the value come trade-in time.
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Thanks for the update on the CLK. I would be interested to know what mpg you are getting. I think the current price of petrol may put paid to any dreams I have of owning one. I have used Kwik Fit in recent years for tyres and I think they are quite a bit better than they used to be, not so pushy and more competitive on price.
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my 2 cents worth - if your radiator is one of the types known to fail I'd really get it changed - £400 now vs. lack of peace of mind & potential £6000 bill in future. If in doubt about which type you have I'd go on the Mercedes forums & ask around for a trusted indi specialist near you. You'll probably find loads of info on there abou the issue too. If I could spend £400 to protect my Boxster from the dreaded intermediate shaft issue or cracked cylinder liner issue, I'd bite their hand off to get that peace of mind!
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Surprised at the auto box though, I thought the Left/Right nudge was a tiptronic style changedown/up operation. It isn't. If you are driving in D, and nudge left it goes to 4 even if you were in 4th gear already, i.e. it is a change up limiter like a normal auto boxs 1,2, >> and 3 positions -, so if you are in fourth and want to change down to 3rd, you have to nudge it left twice.
I'm in the US at the moment so can't test it, but I'm sure mine changes down on the first nudge!
One thing which really isn't obvious is that if you hold the lever over rather than nudging it, it will drop to the lowest gear possible.
Regarding the tracking - they can be very tricky to get right and many MB models are very camber sensitive so will drift left, but get on a motorway contraflow and they'll run right. I've seen reports that KF won't do Merc's. The cars really need a full laser alignment from someone who knows what they're doing. Whereabouts are you?
Edited by Bill Payer on 07/05/2008 at 03:05
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My brother's experience has been that straddling cushion speed humps is sufficient to badly misalign the front wheels on these cars.
He's disabled and consequently relies on the dealer to check the tyres at servicing time. M-B beat him to it (on a new car) as his first indication of a problem was a puncture - tyre scuffed to nothing at a low mileage caused by the above.
They don't make M-Bs like they used to - I have seen W123s jacked off a kerb with the steering without apparent damage.
659.
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Yes, the tracking needs to be right on these cars (we've got a W203 and W209 in our stable), but it's not difficult or expensive!
Edited by boxsterboy on 07/05/2008 at 13:01
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"Whereabouts are you?"
St Albans, Herts, there is a an independant garage next door to KF that advertises itself as being a Merc and BMW specialist.
Anyone know these guys for a recommendation:
www.prestigeperformance.co.uk/
On a run down to sussex, I got approx 32 mpg driving very very gently, more like 28 on way back enjoying myself a bit more, and on average around here, 25/26mpg
Happy enough wuth that, I never expected much more than that per gallon.
Guy
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heres a question for the forum about the CLK
I have the model with electric memory seats. The seat electrics are all good, the memory store/recalls all work. In the System Menu I have enabled the feature whereby the key used is meant to automatically recall a seat position, but it doesn't appear to work.
The manual is not very helpful, it merely tells you how to turn the feature on, but not how to actually assign a key to a seat memory.
P92 of manual tells you how to make/recall seat memory positions, as I said this works fine.
P134 tells me how to turn on the key dependence feature.
I have two keys, I use seat memory 1, mrs G uses 2. But basically the feature doesn't seem to work. Any ideas?
Is the seat meant to move to the desired preset as the car is unlocked? or only after the engine is started (it doesn't appear to do either).
How do you select which key recalls which (of the 3) memory positions.
Help would be appreciated
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