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Hi,
I bought a 2007 clk550 (coupe). After 3 alignments, and still having a pull problem, I decided to investigate a little more. After checking the control arm, it seems that the previous owner or whoever woekew on that car, put the wrong control arm, part# 203 050640, see attached picture.
I looked around and this isn't the control arm that is supposed to go on the clk550 ! The one is for a c220 I think it's also a w209. But question is is it fully compatible? Is it dangerous to drive around wo6yhe wrong part?
Thank you in advance, I look forward for your input as panic sets in...
Last edited by alexandergreat; 08-27-2018 at 06:19 PM.
The control arms sold nowadays for the car aren't the same part numbers as the ones installed back in the days . it's i a 2007 so... I can't tell for sure if the previous owner did that or if it was a factory decision. I've read that the chassis is the same and they may be compatible. A search on control arms for clk550 will return different (newer) ones than the w203/209 compatible. But the question is more, if anybody knows if these are the standard arms installed in factory back in 2007, or was it the work of a mechanic afterwards? Did the factory install compatible w203 suspensions on clk550 coupe because they were the same or was it a mechanic. If anyone out there have a clk550, please have a look and tell me, a picture of the inside wheel turned towards the right can tell, it would really help.
thanks in advance.
I'm coming out of retirement to respond mostly because (a) Rodney has not, and (b) Plutoe did. The part is almost certainly correct. C and CLKs shared many parts. Let me guess - the car pulls right? You said you had it aligned, but did not say what the specs are. Is the front camber and cross camber in spec? Often it is not. There is too much negative camber. I bought three sets of tires before taking it to a different dealer who installed camber bolts and it tracked dead straight. Search for my thread about camber bolts and how they work.
Hi Yidney! Thanks for taking the time to respond. I know your "retirement" schedule must keep you quite busy these days! As usual, you are absolutely correct - the W209 CLK and W203 C-Class share many components, including suspension control arms. That is in fact the correct part for this car.
Yidney, I am mind blown!!! It does pull to the right!!!!
Went to have tires changed, so alignment included. The car started then to pull right, so I went back 2 more times. Although it's much better now, it's still pulling a bit. My next task was to have the suspension checked as the car has all the symptoms of worn shocks etc..
First off, a bit about myself for those who said I don't know how MB parts work.. you're absolutely right, I'm no mechanic and and pretty new to the MB world, but already obsessed with my car. So my apologies for those who probably thought ''that guy is a noob...' just to put mildly.
I didn't get a print out of the alignments numbers, but I could ask tomorrow if that helps.
The car is 11 years old but the bushings look good at least on the outside... I haven't done the do yourself simple ball joint test (wobling wheel), but suspect that could be worn out too.
There wasn't any kits or adpater bolts used for the alignment , is that what you guys suggest?
thank you so much for your help and time.
Last edited by alexandergreat; 09-04-2018 at 05:24 PM.
Reason: Privacy reasons
Yidney, I am mind blown!!! It does pull to the right!!!!
Went to have tires changed, so alignment included. The car started then to pull right, so I went back 2 more times. Although it's much better now, it's still pulling a bit. My next task was to have the suspension checked as the car has all the symptoms of worn shocks etc..
First off, a bit about myself for those who said I don't know how MB parts work.. you're absolutely right, I'm no mechanic and and pretty new to the MB world, but already obsessed with my car. So my apologies for those who probably thought ''that guy is a noob...' just to put mildly..
For those who asked here's the VIN. WDBTJ72H77F215936
I didn't get a print out of the alignments numbers, but I could ask tomorrow if that helps.
The car is 11 years old but the bushings look good at least on the outside... I haven't done the do yourself simple ball joint test (wobling wheel), but suspect that could be worn out too.
There wasn't any kits or adpater bolts used for the alignment , is that what you guys suggest?
thank you so much for your help and time.
BTW You might find out that front control arms part (and even knuckles) numbers were replaced by MB to 204-xxx-xx-xx so they are shared with w204
The part numbers are listed below, along with a link to an authorized MBZ online dealer selling the OE parts. My advice would be to go to a European parts retailer and by the OEM Lemfoerder parts.
Thank you Rudeney. I appreciate it.
I have a couple more questions not related to suspension, about some stored codes coming up on the odb, and about a really hot spot on the hood at touch at a precise location. Should I just start a new thread for these?
Thanks for everything!
08-27-2018, 06:16 PM
As usual, you are absolutely correct - the W209 CLK and W203 C-Class share many components, including suspension control arms. That is in fact the correct part for this car.
