Greetings from new CLK 430 owner
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From: Ohio
CLK 430
Greetings from new CLK 430 owner
Took delivery of a 01 CLK 430 early last week. The car is Brilliant Silver/Black, and as far as I know, has every option except CD changer and navigation. I'm surprised and disappointed that MB did not include a CD player as standard equipment. The car has 27,000 mi. and is StarMarked certified.
Unfortunately, the winters here in NW Ohio are pretty harsh, and I have only been able to take the car out a few times since I got it.
This seems to be a great site for information, and the cars I'm seeing here are simply incredible looking! I'll see if I can borrow my friend's digital camera this weekend, and post some pics of my new ride...
GaryL
Unfortunately, the winters here in NW Ohio are pretty harsh, and I have only been able to take the car out a few times since I got it.
This seems to be a great site for information, and the cars I'm seeing here are simply incredible looking! I'll see if I can borrow my friend's digital camera this weekend, and post some pics of my new ride...
GaryL
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From: Ohio
CLK 430
Thank you all for the welcome aboard. The CLK 430 is my first MB product. I first saw the car at my local Mercedes/Audi dealer, where I had gone to test drive a new A4 3.0. I origanally had not even considered a Benz, because I was only looking at new models, and was working within a budget. Although used, the 430 looked new, and had a lot of features I liked; V8 power, RWD, and possibly the best styling of anything else I looked at. Also, the price fell in the ballpark I was shopping in. Other models I looked at were:
1) Audi A4/A6 Nice cars, but real pricy after adding options.
2) BMW 330i. I liked this car better than the Audis, and probably would have bought it if I had not seen the 430. It was a tough call, but I prefer the styling of the 430, and the price difference was the clincher. Also, there are SO many BMWs around here, and almost no 430s.
3) Infinity G35 coupe. I have no local dealer, and had to drive to Troy, MI to see it. The only one on the lot was sold, so I was unable to get a test drive. I was told there is a 90 day wait after ordering. The salesman tried to get me into the sedan, but I passed.
4) Lexus IS300. I took a brief test drive in this, and was planning on returning for a closer look, but got the 430 before that happened.
5) Acura 3.2 CL/TL TypeS. A lot of car for the money, but given the choice between the Acura, and a mint two yr. old CLK 430 for about the same amount of dough, I had to go with the Benz.
I'm starting to get interested in doing some mods to my car after seeing some of the member's rides on this forum, but I want to spend a little more time with the car while I figure out where to start. BTW, my previous car was a 2000 Toyota Solara.
GaryL
1) Audi A4/A6 Nice cars, but real pricy after adding options.
2) BMW 330i. I liked this car better than the Audis, and probably would have bought it if I had not seen the 430. It was a tough call, but I prefer the styling of the 430, and the price difference was the clincher. Also, there are SO many BMWs around here, and almost no 430s.
3) Infinity G35 coupe. I have no local dealer, and had to drive to Troy, MI to see it. The only one on the lot was sold, so I was unable to get a test drive. I was told there is a 90 day wait after ordering. The salesman tried to get me into the sedan, but I passed.
4) Lexus IS300. I took a brief test drive in this, and was planning on returning for a closer look, but got the 430 before that happened.
5) Acura 3.2 CL/TL TypeS. A lot of car for the money, but given the choice between the Acura, and a mint two yr. old CLK 430 for about the same amount of dough, I had to go with the Benz.
I'm starting to get interested in doing some mods to my car after seeing some of the member's rides on this forum, but I want to spend a little more time with the car while I figure out where to start. BTW, my previous car was a 2000 Toyota Solara.
GaryL
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From: new hartford, ny
Dear Gary,
Congratulations on an excellent purchase. I received my 430 cab in
mid-september, and only got to put about 700 miles on it before storing it for the winter. With the winter we're all having,
it will male taking your car out even sweeter in the spring. Drive safely!
Congratulations on an excellent purchase. I received my 430 cab in
mid-september, and only got to put about 700 miles on it before storing it for the winter. With the winter we're all having,
it will male taking your car out even sweeter in the spring. Drive safely!
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From: SoCal
1999 Mercedes CLK430
I basically considered the same list of cars myself while shopping for cars last month. I basically kept on coming back to the CLK also. Just fell in love with it. The more I looked, the more I kept on coming back to the CLK. I get gitty everytime I get in my car now. I hope you enjoy your car as much as most of us here on the forum do. There is a very well inform group of people here, I'm sure you will find this forum very useful.
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From: Chicago
Hey Gary
Are you in Toledo? I also have a 01 430. Can't wait to see pics of your car. Not too many CLKs in NW Ohio (or MBs for that matter). There's pics of my CLK in the sticky thread at the top of this forum, it's somewhere in the 35-37th page. I even have a pic of it completely covered in salt and snow.
Mike
Are you in Toledo? I also have a 01 430. Can't wait to see pics of your car. Not too many CLKs in NW Ohio (or MBs for that matter). There's pics of my CLK in the sticky thread at the top of this forum, it's somewhere in the 35-37th page. I even have a pic of it completely covered in salt and snow.
Mike
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From: Ohio
CLK 430
Hi Mike
Yeah, I live in west Toledo. I checked out the pics of your dirty car, looks pretty sad! Is the Benz your daily driver? I had mine clean and detailed, safely tucked away in my garage. I swore I wouldn't take it out until the bad weather broke, but I just couldn't leave it alone. I had it out in the rain all day, and now it looks like crap! I have a cargo van that I use for my business, so it wasn't like didn't have a choice.
What part of OH are you in? I'm planning on doing a few mods to my car, but I'm not sure where to go. My dealer has a performance shop off-site, but I stopped in today, and was not too impressed. There's another place called DEFCOM Motorsports that I'll check out later. Know of any good tuners in NW Ohio?
I promise to get pics of my car up real soon...
Garyl
Yeah, I live in west Toledo. I checked out the pics of your dirty car, looks pretty sad! Is the Benz your daily driver? I had mine clean and detailed, safely tucked away in my garage. I swore I wouldn't take it out until the bad weather broke, but I just couldn't leave it alone. I had it out in the rain all day, and now it looks like crap! I have a cargo van that I use for my business, so it wasn't like didn't have a choice.
What part of OH are you in? I'm planning on doing a few mods to my car, but I'm not sure where to go. My dealer has a performance shop off-site, but I stopped in today, and was not too impressed. There's another place called DEFCOM Motorsports that I'll check out later. Know of any good tuners in NW Ohio?
I promise to get pics of my car up real soon...
Garyl
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From: Chicago
Hey Gary
I'm over by MCO. Yeah, the 430 is my daily driver. No info on mod stores in Toledo. Are you talking about Vin Devers? I didn't know they had any mod stores!
I guess you don't drive your CLK in the snow? I had to get a set of Blizzaks snow tires from Bridgestone. It drives ok in the snow. Of course, I live on a small side street that doesn't get plowed or salted by the city.
I'm in the process of detailing my car right now. I wash it every weekend and work on one part of it each week (finished rear 3/4 panels over this weekend) via polish and wax (haven't gone the Zaino route yet, but will one of these days).
What options do you have on your car? I only have the sunroof/rain sensor and CD Changer option. No nav, xenons or heated seats.
I'm thinking about upgrading to 18" rims because my stock 17"s have the Blizzaks on them and it's such a pain to get the tire store to swap out the OEM Michelins back on every winter. No other mods planned.
So I see you're an audiophile?
Mike
I'm over by MCO. Yeah, the 430 is my daily driver. No info on mod stores in Toledo. Are you talking about Vin Devers? I didn't know they had any mod stores!
I guess you don't drive your CLK in the snow? I had to get a set of Blizzaks snow tires from Bridgestone. It drives ok in the snow. Of course, I live on a small side street that doesn't get plowed or salted by the city.
I'm in the process of detailing my car right now. I wash it every weekend and work on one part of it each week (finished rear 3/4 panels over this weekend) via polish and wax (haven't gone the Zaino route yet, but will one of these days).
What options do you have on your car? I only have the sunroof/rain sensor and CD Changer option. No nav, xenons or heated seats.
I'm thinking about upgrading to 18" rims because my stock 17"s have the Blizzaks on them and it's such a pain to get the tire store to swap out the OEM Michelins back on every winter. No other mods planned.
So I see you're an audiophile?
Mike
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From: Ohio
CLK 430
Mike:
Sorry for the slow reply. I think I have the K3/K4 option package. The car has Xenons, heated seats, rear sunshade, ect. Pretty much everything except Nav and CD changer.
Vin Devers Audi/Mercedes gave a new customer appreciation dinner last night at the Beruit restaurant on Monroe St. It was hosted by the Devers family. They introduced the service staff, and gave away lots of free Mercedes trinkets. They had a drawing for a color TV that I won. One of the people they introduced was Jim Shepard, who runs the dealership's performance division. They are in the process of building a brand new shop/showroom on Alexis Rd. next to Americian Custom Corvettes. I stopped out and talked with Shepard today. He's an interesting guy, and seems to know his stuff. He says the dealership will back any cosmetic/performance mods they do, and will not void your factory warranty. They support and carry AMG/Lorinser/BRABUS and Carlsson products. I got some great ideas from the gallery here, and am going back to run some ideas past him next week. Check these guys out if you plan on doing anything with your car.
GaryL
Sorry for the slow reply. I think I have the K3/K4 option package. The car has Xenons, heated seats, rear sunshade, ect. Pretty much everything except Nav and CD changer.
Vin Devers Audi/Mercedes gave a new customer appreciation dinner last night at the Beruit restaurant on Monroe St. It was hosted by the Devers family. They introduced the service staff, and gave away lots of free Mercedes trinkets. They had a drawing for a color TV that I won. One of the people they introduced was Jim Shepard, who runs the dealership's performance division. They are in the process of building a brand new shop/showroom on Alexis Rd. next to Americian Custom Corvettes. I stopped out and talked with Shepard today. He's an interesting guy, and seems to know his stuff. He says the dealership will back any cosmetic/performance mods they do, and will not void your factory warranty. They support and carry AMG/Lorinser/BRABUS and Carlsson products. I got some great ideas from the gallery here, and am going back to run some ideas past him next week. Check these guys out if you plan on doing anything with your car.
GaryL
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From: West Palm Beach, Florida
CLK430, CLK320 Cabriolet, ML350
Originally posted by GaryL
There's another place called DEFCOM Motorsports that I'll check out later. Know of any good tuners in NW Ohio?
There's another place called DEFCOM Motorsports that I'll check out later. Know of any good tuners in NW Ohio?
BTW, yes, I also live in Toledo!
There is a place in Perrysburg called Bavarian Motor Sports or something like that. That shop has their stuff together. They deal only with German cars and even have a nice M6 in the showroom (at least last time I was there). They are adults, have been in business a long time, and deal with some pretty high end Bimmers.
We should get together, I will bring the CLK 320 Cabriolet.
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From: Ohio
CLK 430
Hi Leandro:
I'm familiar with Bavarian, I've driven by there many times. DEFCON is definately no longer an option. I checked them out, and they did not win my confidence. I see a lot Civics with DEFCON stickers plastered all over them...mostly just kids. This place did not come across as a serious tuner, IMO.
I'm going to need tires soon, so I might as well do a wheel upgrade at the same time. The original wheels have a bit of curb rash from the previous owner, but nothing serious. I'm looking real close at the BBS LMs. I think they look great with Brilliant Silver.
I'm real close to Westfield Mall. Let me know if you want to hook up...I don't see very many CLKs around, and would love to see your ride. BTW, are there any good detailers you can recommend? I'm recovering from a torn rotator cuff in one shoulder, and tendonitis in the other. It'll be a while before I can detail the car myself.
I'm familiar with Bavarian, I've driven by there many times. DEFCON is definately no longer an option. I checked them out, and they did not win my confidence. I see a lot Civics with DEFCON stickers plastered all over them...mostly just kids. This place did not come across as a serious tuner, IMO.
I'm going to need tires soon, so I might as well do a wheel upgrade at the same time. The original wheels have a bit of curb rash from the previous owner, but nothing serious. I'm looking real close at the BBS LMs. I think they look great with Brilliant Silver.
I'm real close to Westfield Mall. Let me know if you want to hook up...I don't see very many CLKs around, and would love to see your ride. BTW, are there any good detailers you can recommend? I'm recovering from a torn rotator cuff in one shoulder, and tendonitis in the other. It'll be a while before I can detail the car myself.
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From: West Palm Beach, Florida
CLK430, CLK320 Cabriolet, ML350
Gary, email me at dtmfan76@hotmail.com
I am going to meet up with some people from another Mercedes site, an AMG C36 owner from Indiana, and a modded SLK owner from Detoit (he designs cars and car interiors for a living, and designed the interior for the new H2!). We have gotten together before, and now they want to meet around here in Toledo. I just can't think of anything to do in Toledo for a meet. Do you have any ideas for a fun Mercedes owners get-together?
Also, about the wheels, I am unsure if he still has them anymore but there is a guy from the business called Emotron here in Toledo who has an office next to my fathers. At any rate, he had a CLK that he bought AMG wheels/tires for. The CLK turned out to be a lemon, and he was able to exchange the CLK for I think an ML. Now he has the wheels laying around and is trying to sell them, or at least he was last year. He offered them to me, but I said no because he wanted too much money. Seeing that you want new wheels, if you are intersted, I can go to his office and ask him again if he still has them and how much he wants. Let me know. I think the BBS LM cost a fortune! This may be a cheaper alternative.
Finally, sorry but I do not know a good detailer.
I am going to meet up with some people from another Mercedes site, an AMG C36 owner from Indiana, and a modded SLK owner from Detoit (he designs cars and car interiors for a living, and designed the interior for the new H2!). We have gotten together before, and now they want to meet around here in Toledo. I just can't think of anything to do in Toledo for a meet. Do you have any ideas for a fun Mercedes owners get-together?
Also, about the wheels, I am unsure if he still has them anymore but there is a guy from the business called Emotron here in Toledo who has an office next to my fathers. At any rate, he had a CLK that he bought AMG wheels/tires for. The CLK turned out to be a lemon, and he was able to exchange the CLK for I think an ML. Now he has the wheels laying around and is trying to sell them, or at least he was last year. He offered them to me, but I said no because he wanted too much money. Seeing that you want new wheels, if you are intersted, I can go to his office and ask him again if he still has them and how much he wants. Let me know. I think the BBS LM cost a fortune! This may be a cheaper alternative.
Finally, sorry but I do not know a good detailer.
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From: City of Sin, MA
99' CLK 320 Coupe
Originally posted by GaryL
2) BMW 330i. I liked this car better than the Audis, and probably would have bought it if I had not seen the 430. It was a tough call, but I prefer the styling of the 430, and the price difference was the clincher. Also, there are SO many BMWs around here, and almost no 430s.
2) BMW 330i. I liked this car better than the Audis, and probably would have bought it if I had not seen the 430. It was a tough call, but I prefer the styling of the 430, and the price difference was the clincher. Also, there are SO many BMWs around here, and almost no 430s.
