I got the car from the shop today and the body work is very good. The hole in the fender (the wrong fender was installed) has been patched and it is perfect. The only thing they didn't fix was the way the window rolls up. It doesn't fit right in to the rubber molding unless you press it while it comes up. I suppose this can be adjusted inside the door.

I turned the lights on tonight and the drivers side head light and driving light is out. what is the chance of both of them going out at the same time? Unhooked wire, maybe?

Could be...

Good luck to you! Share some pics of you progress.

The headlight is most likely unplugged................very easy to check and fix.

I had my door panels off a while ago and if I'm remembering correctly you can access the adjusters for the window from removable rubber plugs at the bottom of the door. Just look under them and you'll see the plugs. I believe there are 3 adjustments. One for how high the window goes up in front, one for how high it goes in the back and the third is the in/out adjustment against the window seal which sounds like it is the one you want. It's the one that attaches the vertical window track and can be moved in and out. I do believe that one was the furthest one towards the back of the door if that makes sense.

I looked hard and found that the connections were unhooked. Fixed it in about 3 minutes. Next I need to locate the rubber door seal for the passenger door. Any suggestions?

Now my brother-in-law wants to buy the car. He lives in L.A., so it would be a good fit for him! He is 6'7" and the car has enough leg room for him too.

Ahhh nope. I am 6'2" tall and I just fit. It might not work for him. He needs to find a W208 in his area and test fit himself.

Pics of the progress?

Fender repaired. No hole! The body shop was perfect here. No evidence of a repair.


Bumper insert (diffuser?) installed.


I still have scuff and scratches on the lower bumper. I thought the body shop was going to fix these. Maybe I can buff some of it out.


Passenger door is missing the weatherstripping. So far I have not been able to find this locally. I will most likely have to get it at M-B in ABQ.


Likewise with the "plugs" in the door panel. I still have no signal lights on the passenger door mirror.


And it looks like I will be getting a new passenger door threshold piece. This one is a bit wrinkled.


The shift gate was broken up and I sanded all of the "wood" and plastic off of it and painted it a nice glossy black, It looked sharp, but I was too anxious to install it and in doing so found it was not completely dry! So now the paint has my fingerprints and some wrinkles. I am going to wait a few days for the paint to harden and then start over. The glossy black looks even better than the charcoal colored wood, IMO.

All in all, it is looking much better. However, I am finding that it was damaged far more extensively than I was led to believe.

Items left: 1)The rear window sunshade is not working. It is blowing fuses. I have it narrowed down to a bad switch. Easy fix.
2) I need to reseat the dash. It isn't perfectly square.
3) I haven't figured out where those vacuum lines go. I realize they are for the heater/AC and I think they are supposed to go to a vacuum pump in the fender.
4) The seat comfort adjustments are not working. Fuses are good. I found a vacuum line under the driver's seat that dead ends.
5) MAF issue it looks like.

So am I better off $$ buying a salvage AMG rather than spending a bit more and getting straight one? Probably not, but I am certainly learning a lot about this car. I'm thinking about selling it to my BIL anyway and maybe getting a little bigger car. Maybe the CL55.

Well, at least you're having fun rebuilding it....you are having fun right? LOL

I'm having fun DRIVING it. The rebuild is an intriguing challenge. Fun? Waterskiing is fun. Skeet is fun.

With all those problems are you concerned with its frame and body? more importantly your safety as well as your occupants?

The airbags work, the frame is straight and the alignment is great. Brakes are perfect.

How safe is it compared to a 1970 Corvette? Or a 1962 Ferrari? Or a 1989 Testarossa? It is all relative, isn't it? My mother in law wouldn't dare dream of driving across the state without her cell phone, yet years ago traveled around the world without one. I used to drive my '67 Chevy at frightening speeds . . . with drum brakes and bias ply tires and only a lap belt.

In answer to your question: The car is probably just as safe as a fresh off the line clk55 because I made sure the important items are fully functioning.

I think it's awesome and wasn't a bad idea. Dunno that it was "financially effective" considering your time, but it's really an exciting project if you have the time. I'd love to do something similar!