Intheknow

I finally took possession of my 2001 Clk55. It has some issues.

I knew I was buying a challenge. It was wrecked and the passenger side airbags deployed. The right front fender has been replaced, but it was a poor job and I will be getting a better body-guy to adjust it and the door.

Issues:
1) The fender that was installed has the hole in it for the side marker light. Problem is, this car did not come with them, so I either need to patch the hole or add marker lights on both sides.

2) The radio doesn't work. It says "WAIT". I found the radio code card and read in the manual that I should wait 10 minutes and it should then read "code", then enter the code. I left the car running, waited far more than 10 minutes . . . no change, still reads "WAIT". So I pulled the fuse for the radio, thinking that would reset it. I still says: WAIT.

3) The right door mirror-light on the passenger side is out.

4) Right front fog-light is out.

5) The middle piece if the front bumper is busted out. Someone here called it a "diffuser".

6) The shifter gate is damaged. I heard there were aftermarket ones available.

7) It is missing the plastic "plug" on the inside of the door that says "SRS".

This is a fast car! It outperforms my '70 Corvette and my '01 Caddy STS. Now if I get things things fixed, I'll be able to enjoy it!

Below are pictures:

OPALW208

the reason the fender has a hole for a side marker was the fact that whoever sold you the car replaced that particular fender w/ a 1998 or 1999 fender. In the year 2000, that is when the CLK's started having the blinking sideview mirrors, which eliminated the need for the side markers.

the rest of the stuff you need to get replaced should be very easily done.

BelaMeca

Damn,
i hope you got it for free or close to it.

Good Luck and Welcome

Intheknow

It has 40,000 miles on it and I paid $9500. If I can get it back to nice condition without spending over $2500, then I think I will have done OK.

MARTYMAR

Intheknow,

Congrats on your new purchase! I hope the investment turns out to be a good one in the long run. Personally, I wouldn't buy a car that was wrecked in anyway or fasion. Usually the car just doesn't feel the same and there are always issues afterwards. Nevertheless good luck!

BelaMeca

I have actually seen a few w208 55's for around 13-15k.One owner,more miles,but definetly cleaner and not wrecked.
Not trying to make you feel bad,just trying to find out,what the tought behind your purchase was?
You like to work on cars?
Are you not worried about potential problems down the road,and how bout resale value?
i would be more worried about all the electrical issues that might happen with a car like this....
Will you be doing the work your self?

Intheknow

The car runs very well, has low miles and the repairs are not very extensive. I am positive I will stay well under $2500. More like $1000 to $1500. If that is the case, I will have $11,000 into a CLK55 with only 40,000 miles on it. Even with a salvage title, I'm not concerned about the resale value since I will have such a small amount into it.

You like to work on cars?

I enjoy turning something that was discarded into something desired. I also see this as about the "greenest" thing you can do. All of the natural resources that went into this car are not wasted since I am restoring it.

Are you not worried about potential problems down the road,and how bout resale value?

Since I am addressing all of the problems, when I am done it will most likely be more reliable than most.

i would be more worried about all the electrical issues that might happen with a car like this....

Electrical issues can plague ALL of us!

Will you be doing the work your self?

Some of it, but I know my limitations!

bug88

Good luck with this project, personally i think you over paid a little to much. You have to buy another finder unless you want two different ones, you have to buy an air bag, etc etc..... but whatever... let me know how much money you end up spending when is all done.

Jons95c36amg

Salvage title

gregory13lil

Man..I am with MARTYMAR on this, CONGRATS!! you know what forget everyone else slamming you for doing whatever with this car . The point is you now have a beautiful W208 AMG55!! Fix this bad boy up and enjoy it. Some of us have yet to upgrade (hope to sometime) and are envious of the 55's power.

Anyway, Congrats and good luck with your 55 and I hope we (this site) can be alot of help along the way!!

Laters,
Greg

Stiggs

+1
Nothing wrong with having a project car. Seems like a fun way of spending some free time. And hell....its an AMG. Post pics of your progress and good luck.

da_guitarist

Sounds like you did fine as long as the engine and suspension are still in good shape. 9500 is cheap for 40k miles.

you need to replace that fender. it's a 99 430 fender (or a 98-99 320), and the clk55 doesn't have that sidemarker where the hole is. Good excuse to go ahead and get lorinser fenders!

the radio might be something u need to ask the dealership about. I think once the wrong code is entered too many times it's locked and only dealer/bose can unlock it if i remember correctly.

the other stuff is tiny easy fixes. diffuser may cost as much as $100, but they show up now and then. somebody's been trying to sell 2 of them lately.

Intheknow

I took the car to my well-recommended body shop this morning. He is going to patch the hole in the fender, adjust the fender, door and hood, replace the "diffuser" in the grill and replace the piece of molding and paint, as well as fix the rubber gasket thing under the window pillar. It seems when the new windshield was installed they "pinched" it. Look at this picture:

If you look close you can see the problem.

Anyway, total costs for these fixes is estimated at $1082.

It drives great, but needs a slight alignment.

BelaMeca

Is patching the fender really that much cheaper then geting a used one ?you will be able to see it doesn't matter how well they do the job.

Otherwise you are doing good.

MarcusF

From a dealer, a brand new right side W208 fender for a 2000-2002 car is $256. It's part number 2088800418. The fender that's on the car is a 2088800218, and it's for a 1998-1999 car. You may be able to sell it for $100.

bug88

ok let me get this straight does your car have a salvaged title or not?

Intheknow

Yes, it has a salvage title. That's bummer, but I wanted it anyway.

It's hard to say how this will turn out as far as resale value, but I will have a fine running car, regardless.

Stiggs

Wouldn't it be better to fix this car up for a keeper instead of resale purposes? Keep her until she dies. Why not? Who's gonna buy it with a salvage title?

gregory13lil

This would have to be a keeper! I have hunted around for a couple of Salvaged CL Benz's before so I can understand why he did it. I was looking for a nice CL600 that had been wrecked so that I could fix up and keep forever.