- Windows fail to close completely, bounce back down
- Gas gauge always shows empty
- Interior noise (squeeks)
- Fried cats
- Broken trunk latch

All taken care of under warranty. I don't think it's worth to keep the car if there wasn't warranty, just too many problems.

-Bruce

 

Got my bouncy windows fixed by getting the workshop to lubricate all the rubber seals for free during service.
So far so good but the silicon lubricant is tough to get off the windows and paintwork especially on a black car. Microfibre cloth does help.

 

I don't actually have that many major problems.
There is a ringing sound, almost like an old telephone ring, that happens at 60 mph when I cruise or trail off the throttle. Thought it was the cat but mechanic said cat was fine. I just live with it.
Left side mirror motor fried.
Engine mounts worn causing vibration and loud engine noise. Remember that I have a 4 cylinder CLK 230 kompressor and it is intrinsically rough, so I think it worn out the mountings rather quickly. Anyway, new engine and gearbox mountings made a HUGE difference. Almost felt like I was in a Lexus after that!

Anyway I am very happy with the car. Everybody has problems with their cars, I don't think there is a perfect car.

By the way, mine is an early 1998 CLK 230, so considering that it was one of the first few to roll off the production, I can't really complain.

By the way, how do I attach a pic if the maximum file size is 1 byte? Maybe only a thumbnail?

 

Bouncy windows (fixed by replacing "controller unit" after two visits to MB.)

Rear seat release lever in trunk broke twice, both times when I really needed fold down the seat.

Bose radio usually plays FM in mono even after 3 unit replacements. I can't believe that my Ford F-150 stock radio sounds 10 times better than my CLK's.

After 150 miles, a valve lifter failed and 20,000 miles later I realized the MB shop forgot to install one of the rocker cover bolts. Pretty sloppy.

Callers hear a "buzz" when I use the StarTac speakerphone. The buzz is electrical noise from the engine because they tell me they can tell when I'm idling or accelerating.

 

My problem?
The car didn't hold the resale value that I expected

 

My problems: Y2K

Under warranty repairs done:
1)The Command Unit LCD display not coming on until car has heated up for a while??? <-I think it's coming back again.
2)CD player skipping big time.
3)Light bulbs kept burning out.

Pending(Hope warranty will cover):
1)Sagging rear window shade
2)Speaker vibrates/rattles.

Not covered by warranty: (which really SUCKED!!!)
1)Alignment bolt $5 part/$300 repair job.

Design F%*K ups!!!!
1)Steering column not adjustable, only telescoping<-Really stupid!
2)****ty paint chemicals. <-Paint chips all over front bumper, and having to deal with lame-*** mBenz's excuses about environmental BS.

If anyone has suggestions for the ****ty paint MB has done so far please throw em my way. Thanks

 

Go with the invisible bra. I have one on my ride and you cannot see it. It is a b*tch to install it (goes on like tint). It is very clear and rocks bounce off of it while still keeping your ride looking sharp. I dont like real bras, it tends to scratch the paint if it gets dirty or your paint can fade depends on how long you keep it on your ride.

Go inviso!!

 

Have had my 2003 430 Cabrio for almost 1 year. Only problem I have had is the convertible top not wanting to go all the way down. I have put it back up and latched, then un-latched and then it worked fine. It has done this about 3 times. No probs with noise, stereo, navigation, paint etc etc etc.
My 2003 seems to be a very sturdy durable car. Love it!!!

Note to Benzinoben.... the invisible bra....is it visible on the light colored paint? I have quartz blue and I would think you could see were the "bra line" starts and stops. How much for one and were did you get it? thanks.

 

This is SOOOO true!!! I hate that!! Its a freaking MB, my damn '93 Honda Accord has an adjustable sterring column!!

 

Hobby Guy...

It is ultra thin, so you wont see it unless it gets badly damaged. In that case you simply pull it off and put a new one. Mine has lasted for several months. PM me if you want more info. I will get some pics and post it. I need to get a new one because I am having the RS kit put on in a few weeks.

 

Yeah, Hobbydude...post some pics....I gotta see this clear bra thingy...if it works great then I'll recommend it to my girls down here. :-) Especially since you say it's thin...I want to see some nikels poke out...oh I mean the curves of the front stick out. :-)

 

Redbrick...
You crack me up....

 

too many to list? in 10 months--, my 99 clk320 had for me:

-brake pedal sticks
-rt mirror glass falls out when door slams (and you know you have to slam it)
-alum. wheel just cracked on a pothole
-catalytic coverters went bad
-oxygen sensors went bad
-reverse light switch defective
-windows and sunroof open AT RANDOM when car is left unattended
-doors unlock at their whim, will not stay locked
-seatback release for rear seats cracked
-sunshade sticks or breaks into pieces every time it is extended

add the p*ss poor customer service-
i've been spoiled by my infiniti's...NEVER EVER ANOTHER MB PRODUCT FOR ME...

FOR SALE: 1999 CLK 320 perfect(ish) condition! MAKE OFFER!!!

 

I had a 98 CLK which I sold privately. That was the only way I could recoup the money. I believe the poor quality was due to an MB initiative to build cars to meet a target price. So corners were cut. I'm told they dropped this idea, but who knows. This is what I experienced.

Squeaky seats - Replaced with modified seat bottoms as per MY 2000.

Gauge cluster lights - would go dim on long trips. Replaced bulbs with lower wattage.

Fuel Gauge - Would read empty on full tank. Replaced once each year.

Transmission - Would refuse to downshift for passing. Replaced numerous parts and updated software.

Squeaks. The worst one was caused by the top of the dome lamp assembly scraping the bottom part of the metal roof. Never found most of the others.

The ride - The suspension travel was so short that the car bottomed out on moderate dips. Very harsh ride.

Sunroof - Would get stuck. Had to replace the regulator.

Radio - would not decode FM stereo. Had to get two replacements.

Speaker - passenger door speaker blew and had to be replaced.

Carpets - Began to yellow. Weird.

Paint - several drips from the factory paint job.

Heater/AC - Could not manually change vent positions. Set buttons, but no effect. Dealer thought this was normal.

Heated Seats - Were so slow that by the time they got warm the timer shut them off. Useless. I was told the CLK had smaller heater elements than other models.

Xenon Lights - Left a huge dark spot on the left side. The newer 'telescope' designs work much better.

Interior wood trim - had to be retightened when loose.

Passenger door handle on the outside sometimes would not work. Had to re-lock and un-lock to clear the problem.

 

I have the same problems with my car that everyone else has, here goes....

1. Rough Idle.
2. Squeeky interior. (fixing with felt)
3. Stereo Rattling (rear deck and pass door).
4. bouncy windows.
5. Trunk opens violently.
6. Transmission functions poorly in cold.
7. High speed (60mph +) vibrations.
8. Pass door never shuts correctly.

Still love the car though, yet I think BMW makes a better product at this point.

Rick

 

Grass is ALWAYS greener.... !

 

I traded my 98 CLK for a 2001 BMW 3 Convertible. I did this because my wife had bought a 2000 323i, and believe me it is much better built than the CLK. It's much better thought out. I loved the looks of the CLK better, but it was built like a Hyundai. Even a Hyundai Accent lets you pop open the rear windows!

 

redbrick,

skipping CD player...

i had that in my 2000 430.

rocket-scientist techs never got it...until they moved the SD-changer over to my 2002 55.

initially, had the same problem. but an excellent service advisor got it fixed in the 55.

how? if you've got the trunk-mounted changer, then it's likely been set improperly.

there's some sort of setting for whether it's mounted vertically or horizontally.

whichever way it's been set, change it to the other.

of course, if you haven't got the trunk-mounted changer, i'm sorry i couldn't help.

hope it all gets resolved.

the dozen or so duplicate, recurrent problems in my 1999 and 2000 are mostly absent from my 2002.

fortunately, the 2002's got a few the others didn't have. i mean, who could live without a few MB eccentricities, right?

MB execs...you are stupid!

 

Thanks David....I will look into that right away.

Now my rear window sun screen is sagging like a loose underwear....ah well...at least it's black screen underwear....

 

redbrick,

really hope the skipping CD issue -- which i recall was quite annoying -- gets resolved PDQ.

the sagging sunscreen...sounds like the one or both of the struts or arms supporting the screen isn't attached properly.

the whole assembly could be replaced.

if it's under warranty, then the dealer has ZERO reason not to do it.

i'll gladly answer other Qs for my CLK brethren as best i'm able. :-)

david

 

I received my '03 clk 430 cab on 9-10-02, and have found it to be all I hoped it would be, and more. Everything has worked flawlessly, quality was excellent. I did buy the extended warranty, just to be sure. The only problem with it is that it needs to be stored 5 months a year!

 

grt62,

always good to hear, and hope it continues that way.

i learned the hard way that the extended warranty is the best investment you can make in such a tech-heavy car if you intend to keep it beyond the standard 4 yr/50k mile warranty.

later, david.

 

I have a 2000 CLK 430. I have had no major problems except for my ability to blow tires on the train tracks and pot holes in Boston.

I have had a few annoying problems that I did not expect to have with a luxury car like Mercedes. Here is my list:

1. Driver's window goes up and comes down a few inches when the "one-touch" up button is pressed. Intermittent problem.

2. At certain gas stations, pump gives false-full. Have to keep readjusting the nozzle to continue pumping.

3. LED's on the dash display go on and off at random. This started with a few segments of the LCD in the time going out and coming back on. Now it has spread to the gear indicator and the temperature. Sometimes the display comes back fully, sometimes the segments change. Maybe an intermittent short? Anybody see this happening?

4. Heater blower motor intermittent. This happened recently. Took the panel under the glove box off and looked at the motor. Can get it to run with a little prodding and lubricant, but is still intermittent. Looks like a wire is hitting one of the brushes. Makes a snapping/arcing noise.

5. Check Engine light comes on and off. Have not checked with a dealer yet, but my uncle hooked it up to his computer (hand held with a book to look up code for failure). Don't remember exact failure code or description, but something to do with the fuel injectors acting up. Trying some injector cleaner to see if it will help.

Again...nothing major, but just annoying things I didn't think I should expect with a luxury car. Especially since I have seen some of these problems repeated here...known issues should be taken care of by the manufacturer.

Anybody have any idea on the display problem? It really bothers me not to see my clock....

 

Is your car still under warranty? If so I'll take it to the dealer to fix up everything before it expires.

 

shizmac,

1 - 4 are known issues.
3 and 4 can be repaired.
5 is new to me.
hope you get all of it done properly.
david