CapM

Repair bills are starting to add up on my 2005 CLK 320 convertible (85K miles).

I've already been broken down on the road twice in the last 18 months. At least the first time it was a cheap fix (mechanic says it happens all the time with MB's) but a few weeks ago it was alternator, burned wires, and a couple of other things. I'm not used to being stuck on the side of roads waiting for tow trucks. That was $1200+.

Got it back, and a week later, no A/C. Compressor - another $1,100.

Got it back, and now a week later the top won't go down. When it's happened before, it's been $$$.

The car has always done weird stuff. Sometimes the radio turns off and doesn't work for several days - then lo and behold it starts working again.

Sometimes the A/C just turns off for no apparent reason and will not work unless you restart the car.

So long story short - at what point do you just cut losses? Are these notorious for not lasting or maybe I have a dud? Do these cars have a lot of life? I just can't afford $1,000 repairs on a car that's worth what, $5K maybe?

Thanks.

insame1

I think it depeneds on how much the car is worth to you. Do you have a good indy. Have you had the car checked for water damage. I have punted on cars that I had way to much money in before. It hurts but now I am not chasing other peoples problems either.

xsever

My 2005 CLK 320 with 150,000 km (93,000 miles) has been serving me right with no surprise repairs except for the AC Compressor last year. That thing lasted for 10 years so I'm ok with that.

The rest has been fluid changes and wear and tear work (control arms and their bushings, stabilizer bars + bushings, oil cooler seals, spark plugs, valve cover gasket).

Your problems seem to be related to electrical faults/shorts no?

Yidney

Generally speaking, these are very reliable cars. What known issues they do have are not what you listed. I suspect maybe your car has had a troubled past.

Reanimation

Depends how you feel about the car, If it were me I would get rid.

sailorben

I think I would get it to a saleable condition where no fault codes show and she drives alright, then I think I would try and shift it. You have invested a lot in the car. But I think with those issues not being commonly encountered, the car could have something lurking in its past, with potentially more to follow.

beejAMG

we had a 2004 CLK280 for a while a never had a single issue with it.

well just one, the previous owner thought he was macgyver and tapped/soldered a 12v motion sensor or something. car went up in smokes and for some reason ruined the instrument cluster. good thing it was under warraty then.

point is these are supposedly reliable cars but theres always an exception. if you think you can afford to let it go, get rid of it and get a later model car.
if not, youve spent a few on the car already, might wanna just keep it.

but remember, our cars can be costly to maintain especially when they age. imo, its not worth spending thousands for repairs if the car is valued juts a tad more.

tw2

I had a full transmission rebuild at 90k miles, parking sensors, indicator stalk, seatbelt retractor, power steering hose let go while on holiday, worn shocks, heated seats twice and all sorts of other stuff. Just luck of the draw. Everything breaks eventually.

mis3

The truth is our cars are getting old. I own my 2004CLK320 since new and the currently mileage is 230k miles. It is not unreasonable that there would be component failures after so many years.

Repairs this year, other than regular fluid changes:
1. Low beam bulb
2. Transmission cooling lines
3. Driver side seat belt

Take the seat belt as an example it failed after so many years of daily use so no surprise here.

Fortunately, the ride of the car is solid and has definitely the MB feel that we all love,

ALFAitalia

I'm probably gonna curse it with this post but.....mine had just rolled over 145,000 miles and has had nothing but what I would consider to be routine servicing (all main dealer mind) and wear and tear items...suspension and brake parts, tyres etc. Luck of the draw I guess to a certain degree but how it's treated will come into it..driven hard when cold, track use etc.

BigMike62

2005 CLK320 are considered bulletproof and well sorted out by MB. Sounds like a dud or someone has buggered it up over the years.

degeja

If you wake up with nightmares about it----then trade it.

clk350Driver

Honestly, I would sell as soon as it is in a sale-able condition.

These are really nice cars to drive, and to use and behold... when they work. Which is not very often.

I've owned several and they all start falling apart once they get to be 7 years old or older.

My latest expense is an engine swap. Yes, an engine swap. Because the body, electronics, brakes, tires, new headlights, and interrior are all like new. But the engine somehow got out of correct timing. And the gears got chewed up. Cheaper to get a new engine than to dump it and buy a new car. But its still an appalling 6,000 dollars... For no reason but poor craftsmanship. I kept up with all of the maintenance, religiously.

I would only buy another benz if it is new, under warranty and only for the first 7 years of life, after that sell it and get another.

They don't make em like they used it it seems.

Any single problem with these cars will cost a grand, at least. Nothing is ever simple. And the simple fixes there are, are for issues that shouldn't exist in the first place.

Part of owning a luxury car is having the luxury of not being stuck on the side of the road. Old benzs will keep u on the side of the road on a regular basis. And I say that from experience.

You may get lucky with a more reliable car, but eventually, with age she will breakdown.

BMWs are the worst. The plastics they use INSIDE the engine are designed to fail prematurely. And any fix for those requires removing the ****ing engine. Ridiculous. So switching brands won't help.

A lightly used lexus\Acura or brand new benz with a warranty is all I would ever do from here on out.

C280 Sport

Where did you buy this car from? I find after owning 3 CLK's to be very reliable easy to fix cars. I find also the ones that tend to break all the time are from buy here pay here lots or bought from owners that abused them. I personally would trade the car in.