How much more life left on my car?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 179
Likes: 4
2009 CLK550 Coupe
How much more life left on my car?
I have a 2005 clk320 cabriolet with 132k.
I’ve enjoyed it for the 5 years I’ve owned it. I have kept up on the maintenance but it does need a few things done. The rear main seal has a slight leak, there seems to be a slight fluctuation in the rpm, and a settle vibration. Also at high speeds on the freeway it makes a whirling noise from the engine. A friend of mine said the engine sounds “tired”. I keep up on oil changes. I’ve enjoyed not having any car payments which is great. It still looks amazing for the age. How much life can I still get out of this car? It’s got some sentimental value which is why it would be hard to sell it. I know it isn’t worth a whole lot of money but let’s say I keep putting money into it. Will it last for a long time?? Will it eventually crap out at a certain mileage?
I’ve enjoyed it for the 5 years I’ve owned it. I have kept up on the maintenance but it does need a few things done. The rear main seal has a slight leak, there seems to be a slight fluctuation in the rpm, and a settle vibration. Also at high speeds on the freeway it makes a whirling noise from the engine. A friend of mine said the engine sounds “tired”. I keep up on oil changes. I’ve enjoyed not having any car payments which is great. It still looks amazing for the age. How much life can I still get out of this car? It’s got some sentimental value which is why it would be hard to sell it. I know it isn’t worth a whole lot of money but let’s say I keep putting money into it. Will it last for a long time?? Will it eventually crap out at a certain mileage?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 61
From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
Of course I can't say how much life you have in your car, but; I have 172K miles on a 2008 clk550. Yeah, stuff breaks and there are costs to repair it, but not as much as buying another. I too kinda have affe3ction for the car. I also use it as the test mule for an exhaust product and it thus speeds most of it's time in the 2000 RPM range. It burns oil when driven hard but it doesn't leak. If well maintained and driven reasonably, I don' see why the engine and majors couldn't make 250K miles.
Your rear main seal leak would be my only concern with your car. I don't have any idea what the cost to repair that would be.
Your rear main seal leak would be my only concern with your car. I don't have any idea what the cost to repair that would be.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 268
Likes: 37
From: near Birmingham, AL
2014 E350 Sedan; 2025 GLB 250
If you love the car and it is otherwise a good shape, I would keep it and fix it as needed. I would much rather pay a mechanic $500 occasionally than pay that to a bank every month.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,243
Likes: 932
From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
First engines do not sound tired as they do not nap.
They either run well or run poorly or do not run at all.
All depends on how much you are willing to spend to keep it on the road versus book value.
In theory you keep it on the road forever as long as parts available.
So if worth $1000 I would not spend $20,000 to keep it on the road unless you think in 10 years time the value will increase.
You have to decide...
But I would say you should easily be able to get 200K out of her with normal maintenance.
You can ignore rear main seal if you keep up with checking oil level and can live with stain in driveway.
If MB does normal service they tend to find things wrong and let you know as that is how they make the big bucks..
They either run well or run poorly or do not run at all.
All depends on how much you are willing to spend to keep it on the road versus book value.
In theory you keep it on the road forever as long as parts available.
So if worth $1000 I would not spend $20,000 to keep it on the road unless you think in 10 years time the value will increase.
You have to decide...
But I would say you should easily be able to get 200K out of her with normal maintenance.
You can ignore rear main seal if you keep up with checking oil level and can live with stain in driveway.
If MB does normal service they tend to find things wrong and let you know as that is how they make the big bucks..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,829
Likes: 592
From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
If you have had it for that amount of time then just be done with it. If God forbid something went on my W209 CLK Cabriolet like the top or something major I would be trading it in for something new. Find a E Cabriolet and move on.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
As a more serious reply, our MY2002 C240 lasted for about 190K miles and was still going strong when the kid's boyfriend ran it off the road and into a tree. It had it's share of issue with broken plastics and such, but the engine and transmission were solid. She now has a 2010 ML350 with about 150K miles (we bought it with 120K). Other than damage she as inflicted upon it, it's a sold car. The only bad plastics so far have been that the little adjustment sliders on the HVAC vents have broken. I prefer driving it to my wife's 2017 Cadillac XT5.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,829
Likes: 592
From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
As a more serious reply, our MY2002 C240 lasted for about 190K miles and was still going strong when the kid's boyfriend ran it off the road and into a tree. It had it's share of issue with broken plastics and such, but the engine and transmission were solid. She now has a 2010 ML350 with about 150K miles (we bought it with 120K). Other than damage she as inflicted upon it, it's a sold car. The only bad plastics so far have been that the little adjustment sliders on the HVAC vents have broken. I prefer driving it to my wife's 2017 Cadillac XT5.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 502
Likes: 145
From: Tampa Bay, FL
2014 E350 Wagon, 2009 SL550 no ABC
Depends on what kind of person you are - if you like the new car smell, don't like working on cars and your bank account needs regular draining, keep buying new/newer cars. If you like working on cars and don't mind occasional repairs and the car is not rusty it will last almost forever. I have 185,000 miles on the same engine/transmission in another car (no engine or transmission work of any sort except regular mtc) and it still feels excellent.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,829
Likes: 592
From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
Depends on what kind of person you are - if you like the new car smell, don't like working on cars and your bank account needs regular draining, keep buying new/newer cars. If you like working on cars and don't mind occasional repairs and the car is not rusty it will last almost forever. I have 185,000 miles on the same engine/transmission in another car (no engine or transmission work of any sort except regular mtc) and it still feels excellent.
Last edited by C280 Sport; May 2, 2019 at 03:49 PM.
