KenRose

Hi everyone,
I'm a former MB owner (about 3 SLK's) then I went to Porsche, and now looking to get back into a CLK. It will be a daily driver for me, looking for more of a cruiser after 9 years of Porsche ownership.

The biggest priority for me is to get something that doesn't require a lot of maintenance (outside regular upkeep and the normal issues that comes with a 15 year old car).

You all seem very knowledgeable so I would like some advice. A 01/02 208 or a 04/05 209?

Thanks in advance,
Ken

xsever

Definitely get a W209.

In summary and to keep this short, to stay away from expensive maintenance due to manufacturing faults and teething problems and to get the new updated interior, go with:

2005 CLK 320
or
2008-2009 CLK 350 or CLK550

insame1

I personally loved my 208 and had less problems with it in 3 years than i had with my 209 in 3 weeks.

KenRose

Do you mean 2005 and higher CLK 320 or just the 2005? I was looking recently at an 06.

eteller

Read up at the top of the forum about the balancer shaft issues that affected some 2006-2007ish cars. Also the transmission during those years could be problematic. I have a 2009 CLK 350 it's been bomb proof.

Rudeney

As mentioned, avoid the W209 with a V8 MY2005-2007, and V6 MY2006-2007. As for the decision between the W208 and W209, there are pros and cons of both. The W208 has the more traditional MBZ feel. Windows switches in the center console, heavy duty plastic parts, thick feeling trim, etc. The W209 is more modern, and the 350/500/550 series engines are much more powerful than what was offered on the W208. I think it become mostly a personal choice in style.

xsever

Just the 2005 because the 2006 and 2007 CLK 350 have the balance shaft problems in the engine as well as problems with the 7-speed transmission which was introduced that year for the 350s.

Glyn M Ruck

If you get a later W209 like mine they are absolutely bug free. That said the old 5 speeds were as tough as nails! Well proven drivetrain.

Rudeney

Assuming you are in the USA...

Here's the model breakdown. Note that the new model fo rthe next year was being built early in the previous calendar year, so a MY2003 started production in March/April of calendar year 2002:

MY2003 - W209 Coupe introduced (cabriolet was still W208): CLK320 (3.2l M112 V6 engine, 722.6 5-speed transmission), CLK500 (5.0l V8 engine, 722.6 5-speed transmission), CLK55 AMG (5.5l AMG V8 M113 engine, 722.6 transmission)

MY2004 - W209 Coupe and Cabriolet: CLK320 (3.2l M112, 722.6), CLK500 (5.0l V8, 722.6), CLK55 AMG (5.5l AMG V8 M113, 722.6)

MY2005 - W209 Coupe and Cabriolet, the "facelift" was introduced with some interior switchgear changes and new CAN bus protocols: CLK320 (3.2l M112, 722.6), CLK500 (5.0l V8, new 722.9 7-speed transmission), CLK55 AMG (5.5l AMG V8 M113, 722.6)

MY2006 - W209 Coupe and Cabriolet: CLK350 introduced (3.5l M272 V6 engine, 722.9 7-speed transmission ), CLK500 (5.0l V8, 722.9 7-speed), CLK55 AMG (5.5l AMG V8 M113, 722.6)

MY2007 - W209 Coupe and Cabriolet: CLK350 (3.5l M272 V6, 722.9 7-speed), CLK550 introduced (5.5l M273 V8 engine, 722.9 7-speed), CLK63 AMG introduced (6.2l AMG V8 M156 engine, 722.9 7-speed) .

MY2008 and MY2009 continued with the same engines/ transmissions as MY2007.


So, you want to avoid the MY2006 M272/M273 engines and half the MY2007's (checked by VIN) as they can experience timing hcain idler sprocket (a.k.a. balance shaft) failure. You want to avoid any 722.9 transmission prior to MY2008 (actually, MY2009 would be best to have for it). Finally, the AMG M156 engines had horrible issues with head bolts and valve lifter until halfway through the MY2010 build, so avoid the CLK63.