What did you do with your CLK today?
12-31-2016, 05:55 AM
#3
Senior Member
Hahaha I think I'd have just left it there! I'd not know how far down to go with the shovel? 
Wish I got snow like that, let alone a single flake so far...
Wish I got snow like that, let alone a single flake so far...
12-31-2016, 08:34 AM
#5
Senior Member
But over here, the most snow mine saw this year was back January. I had driven to the university library; get a long session in before my medicine exams, and when I left at 3am to my surprise there was about 3" of snow on the ground. With summer tyres, and careful driving she was fine in it. No other cars on the road however, so I was only driving mostly on the fresh stuff.
The only time I got stuck was when I put it into dyno mode on the secret menu (all electronics completely off) at 4am on a nice big empty sweeping bend with no curb stones, to have a little slow speed fun.
albeit 3" isn't a great deal, but it's sufficient to lose contact between the Tarmac and the tyres.
12-31-2016, 12:24 PM
#7
MBworld Guru
I had just put new Michelin AS3s on the CLK550 and I tried to head home, too. I avoided the highway as I could see from my office that it was jammed. I figured I'd try to make the 10-mile trek via secondary roads, but there were a few hills to worry about, the worst one being a very high, long hill at the back of the office park. When I got to the base of it, there were already two cars crashed halfway up, blocking the road.
I walked up with another guy to help them get off the hill so we could try. The guy who caused the accident was an idiot. He was driving a rental Dodge Charger and we kept telling him to keep the wheel straight and follow our instructions to gently feather the brake pedal so we could back him down. He kept turning the wheel and jamming the brake pedal. We finally got him down after a dozen careens off the curbs.
The other guy suggest I go first, so I did. With the transmission locked in 2nd gear ("C" mode and TouchShift tapped once left so "2' on the MFD) I easily made it up and down the hill - no slipping, no drama up or down. When I got to the secondary road, It was all jammed up. One of its hills was a drop and curve to the left, and it looked like a junkyard with cars littered at the bottom. I turned around and went back to the office, again, up and over the big hill with no issues. I was pleasantly surprised at how well using 2nd gear had the CLK navigating very slippery roads. I think the only other car that successfully made it over that hill was a co-worker in a Jeep Wrangler.
I ended up spending the night in my office and getting out the next morning. The cars in the curve were cleared enough for one car at a time to pass, and volunteers were helping direct traffic (and keep that lane clear when every 3rd car would crash again). It took me well over an hour to go that 10 miles home, but I made it unscathed.
I think the weigh on the rear wheels of the cabriolet, plus good new all-season tires, ESP and going very slow made it all work. Of course I'd rather be in a 4MATIC ML, but the CLK is not as bad in snow as its reputation.
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12-31-2016, 12:30 PM
#8
Member
Thread Starter
That's heartwarming news to me, Rodney. The CLK is my daily driver and even though I am retired and can avoid really bad snow conditions, I occasionally do have to drive in slippery conditions.
I had a 86 Firebird and it had real trouble on hills in snow, but I managed.
The worst ever was a rental 5L Mustang that I parked in a spot that had low ice barriers around it because a car was pared there when it snowed. Even though the barriers were less than 1" high the Mustang just couldn't get over them. I finally had a woman give me a push while I handled the wheel and the small amount of force she was able to apply was enough to get me out.
I had a 86 Firebird and it had real trouble on hills in snow, but I managed.
The worst ever was a rental 5L Mustang that I parked in a spot that had low ice barriers around it because a car was pared there when it snowed. Even though the barriers were less than 1" high the Mustang just couldn't get over them. I finally had a woman give me a push while I handled the wheel and the small amount of force she was able to apply was enough to get me out.
12-31-2016, 12:45 PM
#9
Senior Member
Rudeney,
That is one hell of the story! Thank you for sharing it! Having snow once in a blue moon, I can't justify winter tires and you experience proves that it can be safely driven in all seasons. Thank you!
That is one hell of the story! Thank you for sharing it! Having snow once in a blue moon, I can't justify winter tires and you experience proves that it can be safely driven in all seasons. Thank you!
12-31-2016, 01:32 PM
#10
MBworld Guru
Even though we rarely get snow here, I used to travel a lot of work and often ended up in lots of snow, so I've had plenty of practice. People laud the benefits of FWD cars for traction, but that's only because they have the weight of the engine over the drive wheels which does aid in traction with an otherwise light vehicle. Since the W209 cabriolet tops out at over 2 tons with me in the driver's seat, and almost 50% on the rear, it probably has more weight over the drive wheels than the typical FWD sedan or crossover. The real problem with FWD is that the front wheels drive AND steer. Steering causes a loss of traction, so that's not a good thing. Of course a good AWD system and winter tires are the best combination, but I'd take a RWD MBZ with comfort or winter mode and its excellent ESP over a FWD economy car any day for winter driving.
12-31-2016, 04:39 PM
#11
Senior Member
I tried to have a look for the answer to this. The only semi-conclusion was that if any did, it were only the AMG cars.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
12-31-2016, 08:34 PM
#13
Member
Thread Starter
A little complicated.
The picture is taken at our second home, a farm in central Maine. In the right side of the garage we keep an antique Dodge Luxury Liner from 1941. It has under 30,000 miles on the odometer and is 100% original.
On the left side of the garage is all kinds of stuff, including lawn mowers, fire wood, and so on.
At our home in Stow, Massachusetts we have a two car garage. On the left side is our 2004 Porsche Boxster S. It is hibernating.
On the right side is my wife's Prius C. In the interest of matrimonial harmony I won't even suggest that the CLK should live there.
In inclement weather the CLK goes into a tent garage, otherwise the poor thing lives in the driveway.
Anker
The picture is taken at our second home, a farm in central Maine. In the right side of the garage we keep an antique Dodge Luxury Liner from 1941. It has under 30,000 miles on the odometer and is 100% original.
On the left side of the garage is all kinds of stuff, including lawn mowers, fire wood, and so on.
At our home in Stow, Massachusetts we have a two car garage. On the left side is our 2004 Porsche Boxster S. It is hibernating.
On the right side is my wife's Prius C. In the interest of matrimonial harmony I won't even suggest that the CLK should live there.
In inclement weather the CLK goes into a tent garage, otherwise the poor thing lives in the driveway.
Anker
01-02-2017, 10:36 AM
#14
I tried to have a look for the answer to this. The only semi-conclusion was that if any did, it were only the AMG cars.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
01-02-2017, 11:36 AM
#15
MBworld Guru
I tried to have a look for the answer to this. The only semi-conclusion was that if any did, it were only the AMG cars.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
I do have a more interesting question though, does the CLK have an electronic differential? To attempt to simulate a LSD.
I had read that some Benzes may have an e-diff when the ESP is off, so purposely put the one rear wheel on Tarmac, and the other on mud, and it span the muddy wheel both with ESP on and off.
Quite a shame when you consider e-diffs can be quite effective, yet not need cost much, just by utilising the existing ABS sensors and the brakes.
01-02-2017, 12:44 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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2018 C300 4 Matic
Finished my once per year polish and paint coating - "Polish Angel" Coating on my CLK 550 Convertible.
Black = Full Time Job.
Took me three days and about 18 hours. I'm old - so, not very fast.
Car looks great- ready for another year.
Black = Full Time Job.
Took me three days and about 18 hours. I'm old - so, not very fast.
Car looks great- ready for another year.
01-02-2017, 01:01 PM
#17
Member
Thread Starter
Delighted that you added to the thread. My favorite threads on 986Forum.com are "What did you do with you Boxster today" and "What did you find on CL today". The first one interesting and full of pictures, the other entertaining.
01-03-2017, 02:06 PM
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
Yeah, I believe our insurance rates go up for about 3-5 years. Driving in CA really sucks, ESPECIALLY for driving enthusiasts. Just a small tap of the gas to hear the glorious exhaust and you're flagged. I really do not like it. I've been driving here for 4+ years and it's my first speeding ticket.
01-03-2017, 10:00 PM
#24
MBworld Guru
IANAL, but my advice - fight the ticket. I get ticketed at least once a year on average, and have not paid a fine in over 15 years. I fight them all and win. Often the cop doesn't show and they throw it out. Or, if he does and I lose (which you ALWAYS lose!) I then file an appeal to a higher court, and then get over a years worth of continuances, then get the claim dropped because "real" courts have better things to do that deal with civil traffic infractions. Maybe you have a friend who is a lawyer who can help, or if not, find a book online that steps you through the process. Also, it helps to make a few "practice" visits to the court ahead of time to see how things work.
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