From previous threads that I posted I told you all that I have had nothing but problems with my 05 CLK500. You name the problem and I have had it including issues that the dealer tried to fix, but couldn't.

I was literally the first person in the US to have his ordered car released back on July 31st from the port of Elizabeth last year. Maybe being one the first deliveries had something to do with the problems, who knows, but after trading in a perfect 2001 530i, I have been really horrified from this lemon car.

There is a good ending to this story.....The dealer, Ray Catena made "good" and took the car back and gave me every cent that I spent on the car. They were so understanding of the issues that I was having with the car, really a surprise.

I could have walked away, and in fact 2 months ago, in discust, put in an order for a 06, BMW530XI, thinking ok, I'll trade the CLK500 in and be done with it.

Instead, I gave Ray Catena another shot and looked at a few other models. No way I was going to get into another 05 CLK500, just too many problems with these cars. After all, just take a look at Consumer Reports Reliability ratings for the entire Mercedes line....Big BLACK DOT!!!!

I drove the 06 E350 and E500 before so I nknew how they drove....

Ray Catena have a Black Diamond 05 C55 in the showroom where they keep the mod cars and AMG's. Loved the Black Diamond paint showing of the blue sparkle so what the hell.... and I test drove that C55 AMG....WOW....what a roar....a blast...so tight and incredibly fast!!!!!! I took turns in that car that the CLK500 would have flipped over on!!! w/o ESP, of course!!!! Great quality from AMG and every aspect of that car.... in a league of it's own and probably less likely to suffer from "lemonitis"!!! So I bought it!!!!!!

Great to have useful toggles that don't shift in both directions and that work like in the 05 CLK500, (I had the 7 speed), and could never get into using them. so far, I can't speak enough about this problem car!! Oops, don't let me get going...

The long and the short of it is that I have been reading and somewhat participating in this W209 forum and am now going to move over to the C55 forum and just wanted to thank all of you for the comments and postings that were presented, extremely helpful and informative.

I wish you all great luck and success with your vehicles, and I do plan on stopping in from time to time! By the way, I am told that Mercedes is shipping the car back to Germany for analysis.......Hope they learn something from their study.....

 

good to hear!! welcome back to the mercedes benz family!

 

Glad it all worked out

 

hehe almost forgot post the pics!!

 

I will shortly.....of both the 05 CLK500 and the C55

 

Pictures are here....

https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/109941-just-coming-board.html

Here's the 05 CLK500

https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/110160-money-back.html

 

Just a lemon, glad you dealer helped you completely!

I have a 06/04 build 2005 CLK500 no electrical or drivetrain problems.
Except for the Sirius radio, had a small "acquiring" problem. Installed "new, small body color" antenna. No problems, yet.

Once again, glad you were assisted fully with your Lemon CLK500.