StockSilverCLK

So I've driven a wide variety of cars, and this is my first foray into the world of Mercedes Benz. I was shopping around, test drove this 2007 CLK 550 and absolutely fell in love. I must admit I fell so hard and the numbers worked so well that I dove in... Now I'm freaking out a bit!

I love the car and I've heard good things, but I'm reading about these transmission issues and looking at parts costs and I'm sweating. Car has 61,000 miles, totally stock, and looks pristine. Also smooth and silent while driving.

I'm asking for an honest breakdown of what I just bought into. Am I in for a world of maintenance and repair hell, or are these W209s as solid and relatively simple as I've also heard?

Lastly, where does everyone go for parts; OEM and aftermarket?

I'm happy to be a new member of the community and I'm very proud to own my first Benz!!!

Fatz

What have you done?..................... You've done a wonderful thing!!!!!

Congrats on the 550. If you think you are in love now; just wait until you get to second base.

It is a great car IMHO.... There is a lot of good info that flows through this forum and it seems to be made up of some of the nicest "smart asses". You can seach on "clk550 problems" as well.

You will probably want to list your VIN an ask one of the guys to check if it falls within a certain range for "potential" balance shaft issue.

Enjoy the ride. I'd bet it's iridium silver.

StockSilverCLK

It is in fact a classic Iridium on Black. Love this car, just didn't know how blown out of proportion the transmission fears were. Just posted my VIN in the balance shaft thread... What symptoms would I have?

omega48er

^ the 7g transmission is pretty solid. =] this is my 2nd clk the first was a 09 clk350 and now an 09 550, welcome to the forum

StockSilverCLK

What's the story with the balance shaft anyway? My VIN is WDBTJ72H17F210330, is there any remedy if I'm affected or everything will be fine... And then explode.

Fatz

One of the guru will check your VIN and tell you if your car is even in the "potentially" affected range. If it is outside the range, i would discount any concern about 99.923%. The car is as solid as a rock. Discounting all the money I've spent on mods (addicted), I've only had 3 repairs (A/C not cooling, remote RF receiver quit, and blown oi plug (mfg problem with plug)). All happened and were taken care of under wty.

I change the oil and tires, and wax it a lot...........

StockSilverCLK

Well crap... I'm in the affected range as far as balance shafts. What's the reality now? Also just now I notice while in park and idling a weird constant faint rattling sound from around the rear passenger wheel well.

I really feel a bit like a jackass now that I'm in the affected range and I'm reading it's a sure thing I'll experience an idler failure. I bought this car as an investment to enjoy a long time, not something that will likely break soon. At 60,000 miles I'm right at the point where it happens too aren't I.

Rudeney

My CLK550 started showing symptoms very early - the timing chain idler gear was replaced at 0K miles. My advice - don't worry about it as the failure rate is not as high as one believe. You might want to invest in a generic OBDII scanner and check monthly just to look out for the tell-tale P0016/P0017 codes. The more miles you go with no problems, the more likely it will not have affected your car.

StockSilverCLK

I'm glad to hear something reassuring as she's brand new to me and I'm smitten. I've spend three separate occasions today just staring at the car in parking lots while people look at me sideways.

I have access to an OBDII scanner and will run the codes, if any. Also thinking aftermarket warranty if that makes sense. I'm still however unclear as to what the early symptoms really are... Anything I'll notice?

Rudeney

The only early symptoms are OBDII codes P0016/P0017, which may or may not illuminate the MIL. The errors begin to occur very intermittently - mine threw the first code at about 25K, but by 30K, I was getting constant errors. Right before I had it fixed, I thought I might have heard some extra noise int he timing cover area, but it might just have been my imagination.

StockSilverCLK

Alright, less reassuring now, ha. I know the balance shaft replacement is thousands, what are we in for with the idler gear failure as far as cost?

Rudeney

The parts for the idler gear are $200-$300, but the job at the dealer will cost around $4K because of the labor. On the V6, the engine has to be completley removed to get the balance shaft out. On the V8, the part that fails is just an idler gear bolted onto the front of the block, but the problem is that it's inside the timing chain cover, and to remove it requires removing the oil pan, and to remove that requires lifting the engine, and that's several thousand $$ in labor. In fact, when I had mine fixed (under warranty), my dealer just went ahead pulled the engine to make it easier on the tech for the job - after doing the work required to lift the engine, it was maybe an extra hour to actually pull it.

StockSilverCLK

Wow what a pain in the ***, like the constant chain of throwout bearings in my old cobra that were $50 but required tearing open the transmission to replace. I suppose I should hope if it ever does fail it's within the 90-day used car warranty I get by buying at my dealer and it's their problem.

Rudeney

Since you have a 90-day warranty? I would absolutely go out today and buy an OBDII scanner. You can get them for around $50, or even less. Check it every day for a P0016 or P0017 code - like I said before, you can have a code stored without the MIL being illuminated. Drive it hard - enjoy it - and keep checking. At the first symptom of P0016/P0017 - go back to the dealer and make them fix it. BTW is, this an MBZ dealer? If so, (and IANAL) you may have some recourse beyond the 90 days as this is a potential defect they would know about through the MBZ TSB but failed to disclose as a possibility. Some states allow such claims. If it's not an MBZ dealership, then all bets are off in that they would not have been expected to know of the TSB, even though it's posted all over The Internet - just not by MBZ.

StockSilverCLK

Unfortunately not an MBZ dealer... Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge, but good guys. I'll start running codes asap. I would assume if those codes are found it's grounds for the replacement yes? Don't have to wait for it to actually fail.

Rudeney

The TSB calls for warranty replacement only once the MIL is steadily illuminated even after clearing codes (but that is MBUSA's rules for delaers when the car is under the MBZ warranty).. But, in your engine, the only thing that will cause a P0016/P0017 is a problem with a stretched timing chain or worn idler sprocket, so any occurrence would be an indication of the failure. And, if you see the code - DO NOT clear it! Leave it there so the tech can see it. They may want to clear it to see if it comes back, but let them do that. Again, IANAL, but generally speaking, a problem reported during the warranty period period, even if not fixed during the warranty period, is still covered.

StockSilverCLK

Sounds like a plan, all good ideas. Meanwhile can I just say I love this car? I get a little down about the idler issue... Then I get in it and drive and remember why I bought it!

Anyone have any clues about the strange rattling? I think I've heard something about the gas tank or filler neck needing some form of spring to fix this? May be way off.

klonsbury

Don't be bummed about the idler issue. I have an 07 550 with 88k on it. So far no codes and runs great with the mods. Enjoy yours!

StockSilverCLK

Just parked and watched a nice stream of water running across the lot from under my car, look under and it's dripping from where the firewall would be. Was clear, odorless and cool to the touch... Just a surprising amount of condensation?

Fatz

Were you running the A/C before you parked? I don't use my A/C much. Generally when I have a passenger (rare), but my wife and Kids do. There is always water under the cars they drive. The A/C is constantly on for them.

StockSilverCLK

I did have the A/C on but very low. I assumed that's what it was I was just surprised how MUCH water it was. My Silverado SS never even dripped this much at all.

Rudeney

The condensation drains from the evaporator actually exit the firewall above the transmission, and the water collects in the underbody panel. A change in angle can cause it to slosh out of that panel and leave a nice puddle. It's perfectly normal.

StockSilverCLK

Yeah, I assumed that, just wanted to be sure it wasn't some indicator of another MBZ specific issue. Have I mentioned how much I love this car? I now structure everything else in my day around times I get to drive... I look FORWARD to commuting.

Rudeney

LOL! I am the same way. With the cabriolet, I actually hate having to get out on days where I can't lower the top. Since I set my own schedule at work, I even find myself choosing to stay home when it's raining.

StockSilverCLK

New issue... Puff of smoke on startup, couldn't tell if white or blue, seemed light grey if anything. Normal?