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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
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Hi people. I am a new member here. I have never owned a Mercedes before, but I am looking to buy a 2004-2008 CLK Convertable. I have owned a BMW and I bought my son a 2008 GTI. So I do know a fair amount about German cars. I want to spend between 15k and 20K. Can you tell me what I should know about these cars? What to look for. What years to stay away from? This will be a daily driver as I live in SC and want to drive it as much as possible!
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Welcome, Gary. Each year brings about a few tweaks, from simple things like headlight or taillight design updating, new engines, new features, etc. MY2005 introduced the most major "facelift" that was both cosmetic (interior freshening) but also electronic (revised CAN bus and audio fiber optic system).
On the W209 CLK, just make sure if you look at a CLK350 (M272 engine) or a CLK550 (M273 engine), you check the engine serial number to make sure it doesn't fall in the range of those with bad timing gears (a.k.a. balance shaft) issues. The CLK320's, CLK500's, CLK55's and CLK63's don't have that issue. Also, I might avoid one with the early version of the 722.9 7-speed transmission as they tend to be more troublesome. It was MY2005 when the CLK500 was introduced with it (CLK320 kept the 5-speed that year), then everything from MY2006+ went with the 7-speed.
So, to summarize, I would look at a MY2004 CLK320 or CLK500 unless you want the facelift interior, then a MY2005 CLK320. Avoid MY2006 (because of the transmission and probable timing gear issues). By MY2007, the transmission should be OK, but the engine serial number (post the VIN here and we can advise). MY2008+ should be OK, but I'd still check the VIN for the engine serial number just to make certain (in case it was an early build).
On the W209 CLK, just make sure if you look at a CLK350 (M272 engine) or a CLK550 (M273 engine), you check the engine serial number to make sure it doesn't fall in the range of those with bad timing gears (a.k.a. balance shaft) issues. The CLK320's, CLK500's, CLK55's and CLK63's don't have that issue. Also, I might avoid one with the early version of the 722.9 7-speed transmission as they tend to be more troublesome. It was MY2005 when the CLK500 was introduced with it (CLK320 kept the 5-speed that year), then everything from MY2006+ went with the 7-speed.
So, to summarize, I would look at a MY2004 CLK320 or CLK500 unless you want the facelift interior, then a MY2005 CLK320. Avoid MY2006 (because of the transmission and probable timing gear issues). By MY2007, the transmission should be OK, but the engine serial number (post the VIN here and we can advise). MY2008+ should be OK, but I'd still check the VIN for the engine serial number just to make certain (in case it was an early build).
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06 CLK350 -SOLD! 2010 Cadillac SRX Premium Turbo
Welcome Gary.
You have the right guy ^ passing on the golden info.
Just FYI... The MY is "model year". Lots of folk get confused by the MB Guru when he does that. HA
You have the right guy ^ passing on the golden info.
Just FYI... The MY is "model year". Lots of folk get confused by the MB Guru when he does that. HA
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
Thanks guys! Just the info I was looking for. So I'm thinking in my price range, a my2005 320 would be the safe bet. Do you know if the AMG package was available on the 320?
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
Been having fun looking for a car. I have found a few 2004 clk 500's And some 2005 320's I am confused. The interiors look the same on the 04 and 05's. What are the changes that you guys speak about? I am thinking I want the 500, but do not want first year 7 speed.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
The center console/audio trim & system was updated in '05. So, the top mounted switches are different and the audio head unit is aso different.
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Just an FYI, the center console armrest was changed later, not part of the MY2005 facelift. I think it was MY2006 when the locking lift-open compartment was changed to the roller-blind style. And even though the MY2005 facelift is mostly recognizable by the interior trim, there are many changes more than skin deep, including the audio buss changing from D2B fiber to MOST and changes to the CAN bus protocols.
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
OK I am looking at 2 cars a 2004 clk 500 amg package 70k miles and a 2005 clk 320 78k miles. Both close to the same price. Which one? I haven't seen them in person yet so I can't tell if they are in the same condition. 320 has a clean carfax no accidents. The 500 I have to buy the fax. I haven't done that yet I'm waiting till tomorrow to see if the dealer will give me one. Just looking for some opinions.
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From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
No brainer, 500. You get the power, a strong drivetrain and the enhanced body styling.
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Yep, the only thing you gain on the MY2005 is the facelift which is mostly evident with interior switchgear. There are other difference in some internal electronics, and they switch from D2B to MOST fiber on the audio system. But, I'd rather have the V8 over the V6 and the AMG sport appearance package makes the car look much nicer, IMHO.
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
Well guys I finally pulled the trigger! After driving all over looking for the right one at the right price I found a 2004 CLK 500 vert amg package 68k miles. Silver with the black interior. Has xenon lights and pretty much most options. Now I just have to read the owners manual to figure out how all the controls operate.
I looked at a lot of cars over the last few months. I went from Boxsters, to S2000's to M3's. I even drove an audi a4 vert. And I kept coming back to the clk as the dream car that i wanted to own. Thanks for all the info you guys gave me! And now I feel I am a member of this forum! Let the mods begin! Actually I am going to keep it stock. ...for now.
I looked at a lot of cars over the last few months. I went from Boxsters, to S2000's to M3's. I even drove an audi a4 vert. And I kept coming back to the clk as the dream car that i wanted to own. Thanks for all the info you guys gave me! And now I feel I am a member of this forum! Let the mods begin! Actually I am going to keep it stock. ...for now.
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
2004 CLK 500
Well I had no choice I was driving it home after I bought it. Plus this is my daily driver. I had my first glitch. I hope this isn't an omen. Finally had a nice day to put the top down. But when I got home it did not go up. kept saying top visit something or other on the dash. I played around in the trunk and after a while I was going to give up and tried one more time and it went up? Now i'm afraid to put the top down and not be able to get it back up. I searched the owners manual for a way to put it up manually, and could not find anything. What did I get myself into?
Plus this is my daily driver. I had my first glitch. I hope this isn't an omen. Finally had a nice day to put the top down. But when I got home it did not go up. kept saying top visit something or other on the dash. I played around in the trunk and after a while I was going to give up and tried one more time and it went up? Now i'm afraid to put the top down and not be able to get it back up. I searched the owners manual for a way to put it up manually, and could not find anything. What did I get myself into?
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The instructions for manually operating the top are in the owner's manual. It's not terribly difficult, but I always recommend that you practice it once or twice on a nice day in your garage or driveway - better to know how to do it in case of an emergency. There are several possibilities here. It could be a bad or dirty microswitch, or a problem with the hydraulics. SDS can tell you what the problem is. If you are a good DIYer, you might want to invest in a copy - you can get the Chinese bootleg version or around $500 on eBay (I think they call it "C3 diagnostics").
