208 vs 209 Reliability
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Jaguar F Type
208 vs 209 Reliability
Hi everyone. I owned an 02 CLK 430 coupe that was totalled in a car accident. I'm currently shopping a couple cars (including a pretty nice SLK 320) and am now also considering an 03 CLK 500. I've searched the forums and maybe I'm just bad at searching. I know that MB had a few years where their quality and electronics were not the best. Do early 209's tend to have issues? I didn't have a single issue with my CLK in the 3 years that I owned it and am a bit worried about spending more for the 209 to end up having issues.
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MB’s of all kinds.
Hi everyone. I owned an 02 CLK 430 coupe that was totalled in a car accident. I'm currently shopping a couple cars (including a pretty nice SLK 320) and am now also considering an 03 CLK 500. I've searched the forums and maybe I'm just bad at searching. I know that MB had a few years where their quality and electronics were not the best. Do early 209's tend to have issues? I didn't have a single issue with my CLK in the 3 years that I owned it and am a bit worried about spending more for the 209 to end up having issues.
Stay away from the awful rag tops as they are just not worth it. If you want the convertible then go for the SLK320 Or even a SL.
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From: CA
2010 E550 Coupe
I don't know much about the earlier W209s, but I have a 2008 and it has been reliable (86K miles, had it since 62K miles). It's needed thousands of dollars of work, but nothing catastrophic has ever occurred. The work it has needed has all been typical- suspension-related stuff just from being old, oil filter housing leak (twice!), etc. The transmission is questionable (rough shifting in gears 1, 2, and 3 when cold). It's been like that since I bought it, and it hasn't gotten better or worse. No mechanic I've taken it to has been able to pinpoint the issue withouth tearing it apart, so I'm just hoping for the best until I sell it at some point. I think it might be as simple as the TCC solenoid not functioning otimally, but that's just a slightly educated guess.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
Last edited by nkx1; Mar 27, 2023 at 06:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Jaguar F Type
I don't know much about the earlier W209s, but I have a 2008 and it has been reliable (86K miles, had it since 62K miles). It's needed thousands of dollars of work, but nothing catastrophic has ever occurred. The work it has needed has all been typical- suspension-related stuff just from being old, oil filter housing leak (twice!), etc. The transmission is questionable (rough shifting in gears 1, 2, and 3 when cold). It's been like that since I bought it, and it hasn't gotten better or worse. No mechanic I've taken it to has been able to pinpoint the issue withouth tearing it apart, so I'm just hoping for the best until I sell it at some point. I think it might be as simple as the TCC solenoid not functioning otimally, but that's just a slightly educated guess.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 337
Likes: 53
From: CA
2010 E550 Coupe
I don't have any direct experience with the C7, but I had a C5 years back, and my buddy still has a C6. C5 refers to the 1997-2004 models, and C6 refers to 2005-2013 models. If you're going C5, I would get a 2001+ model (more power); if you're going C6, I would get a 2008+ model (better trans, more power). My 2004 (C5) was deadset reliable and dirt cheap to maintain. I had some minor creaking in the front that was remedied with a $250 trip to the dealer (some suspension component). Same with my buddy's 2008 (very realiable, no issues). Just like any car, Corvettes have some minor common issues depending on the model and year, but they are typically extremely reliable and fairly cheap to maintain. I love Mercedes, too, but they tend to turn into piles of ruble and/or money pits after 100K miles or so.
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Joined: Feb 2020
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2017 SL450, 2017 Ford Expedition, 2007 CLK 550, 2019 Buick Enclave
We have a 2007 CLK550 cabriolet ans ir has been a great car. No big problems, looks great and is a blast ro drive
...and a good price for what you buy. It has about 65K miles.
...and a good price for what you buy. It has about 65K miles.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,837
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From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
I don't know much about the earlier W209s, but I have a 2008 and it has been reliable (86K miles, had it since 62K miles). It's needed thousands of dollars of work, but nothing catastrophic has ever occurred. The work it has needed has all been typical- suspension-related stuff just from being old, oil filter housing leak (twice!), etc. The transmission is questionable (rough shifting in gears 1, 2, and 3 when cold). It's been like that since I bought it, and it hasn't gotten better or worse. No mechanic I've taken it to has been able to pinpoint the issue withouth tearing it apart, so I'm just hoping for the best until I sell it at some point. I think it might be as simple as the TCC solenoid not functioning otimally, but that's just a slightly educated guess.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
C280 Sport suggested an SLK and SL in place of a CLK convertible, but to my knowledge, the hard top convertibles can have their issues (leaking hydraulic lines, etc.). No idea which convertibles are worse haha.
Since it sounds like you don't need a back seat, I would get a Corvette (C5 though C7). They are generally faster and cooler sounding, and are way more reliable than any Mercedes.
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