Hey all, completely new to the MB world. I have a chance to get a 2004 CLK500 that I am super interested in. At 170,xxx miles it looks like it has been very well maintained as far as my standards are concerned. I can't find much info on how long clk's are expected to last or what problems might arise at such high mileage. I don't want to jump into a car that's going to die in 20k miles. Any advice / tips on what to look for would be appreciated! I apologize in advance if there is already a thread for this, I don't do this kind of thing very often.

 

It's a nice-looking car, but I wouldn't do it. There are all kinds of things that start to wear out at that mileage and age, which simply aren't worth the time, money, or headache to properly address. Even though these aren't ultra modern cars, they still have multiple electronic/computing modules that can and do fail, adhesives on interior parts start to deteriorate (headliner and anything else fabric or leather that was assembled using adhesive), various costly mechanical issues (stepper motors, ABS control module, the list goes on), and whatever engine issues that model may have (if any). Not to mention the normal stuff that wears out every 50K-75K miles or so (engine/transmission mounts, shocks/struts, etc.). And I'm no expert, so I'm sure there are many other things that I'm not aware of. And generally speaking, everything on a Mercdes is going to be twice as expensive (or more) to fix than on a Toyota or something.

I guess if you enjoy wrenching and are willing to invest the time that this car will likely requre to properly maintain it, it could be a worthwhile endeavor. But outside of that, a 20-year-old Mercedes with 170K miles sounds like an expensive and time-intensive proposition to me.

It's probably not what you wanted to hear, but those are my thoughts. If you do decide to move forward, I would definitely get a pre-purchase inspection to give yourself a heads-up of any near-term repairs you may be facing.

 

Buying a 20yr old European car with 170K miles means you WILL have maintenance costs. Maybe not all at once, but there begins to be a cadence of failures. If you don't do your own maintenance (it sounds like you do not), then this is a very expensive car. While you might like the dream of owning a beautiful European car, you more likely do not have the funds to support such a decision. Acquisition cost is nothing, compared to the costs to maintain it. I just purchased a similar mileage CLK320 for ~$2200 - knowing I would have to replace quite a few items as part of bringing it back up to reliable spec. To date, I've got over $3K in parts no labor or shop cost since I do all of my own work. Probably have another $2K in parts to go and then it will be a reliable driver for years to come.

 

Thanks for the reply nkx1. You're right it is not what I wanted to hear, but it ​​​​​​​is exactly what I needed to hear! I think I'll wait until I come across one that has lower mileage so I can actually enjoy the car.

Diamond dave, I appreciate the advice. Maintaining the vehicle is not an issue as I've done all maintenance on my own cars for many years, everything from a simple brake job to a full engine rebuild. Funds also aren't an issue, though thanks for your concern. I knew before I even asked how expensive these cars like many others are to properly maintain. Never owning a Benz I wasn't sure what common issues the clk might have especially for the mileage it has. That is the only clk class available within several hours from me so I was trying to decide whether or not it would be worth my time and money. Thanks 👍

 

The M113 engine is one of the best manufactured by Mercedes. The 722.6 transmission is a very reliable 5-speed so long as you perform periodic fluid replacements. By 200,000 miles expect to replace valve cover gaskets (to include resealing the oil separation chambers) and the rubber o-ring located between the oil filter housing and the engine block (you'll know if it is bad because, when you get under the car to change the motor oil, you'll look at the driver's side front of the engine from underneath and say, "Where the hell did all this oil come from!".)
Maintenance records are the key; if the car has been meticulously maintained, you will get a good classic car that will be reliable. When you get a pre-purchase inspection, ensure the MB mechanic checks the transmission values; that will tell you of the status of the solenoids plus the clutch and brake packs. 1 each 20ms pulse is for a new pack, 15 each 20ms pulses indicate the friction discs are completely worn. Anywhere between is okay.
First thing to do is to purchase a *quality* diagnostic system. I have a C3 and a C4 system and they have been worth every penny I spent on them (~$1000 each). There are some less expensive aftermarket ones out there available for less than half those costs; search the forum and you will find multiple posts on it.
FWIW, my '99 W210 E55 (purchased January 2014 for $7000) has ~170,000 miles and my daily driver '05 W211 E55 (purchased August 2014 for $20,000) has >225,000 miles. I would estimate I've spent the purchase price of each one on replacement parts and maintenance on each since purchased (especially the W211. Damn, that is one expensive car to maintain!).
nkx1 has good advice and Diamond Dave has a point; be prepared to spend money to maintain and to replace items that wear out...
Best to you whatever the decision.