New owner makes appeal to the knowledgeable...
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
2001 CLK55
New owner makes appeal to the knowledgeable...
Hello All, This is a great forum. I just picked up a 2001 CLK55, 19K miles, COMAND, 2 tone interior, @ $46,000, and have got some questions:
1. Is there a decent online source on how to operate COMAND. I didnt get a manual. Or if someone wants to sell an extra...
2. I can't tell if this has the K2a package. There is a mount for the phone in the console, when I cycle through the steering wheel menus it comes up with a phone option that says its not mounted or some such. There are phone buttons on the steering wheel as well. I have a nokia and would like to adapt it, and think i remember an article about it somewhere.
3. Voice activation, is that part of the K2a, or COMAND ?
4. Can I put 265/35-18 tires on 9 inch rims on the back with no rub? I may want to drop the car an inch later since it is pretty high now.
5. I thought the CLK55 was supposed to ride 1" lower than the 430, is this correct?
6. The rearview mirror gets blue, but still seems to have too much glare at night compared to what i am used to, even with the sunshade up. Is this normal?
7. The cruise seems to stick at a higher than set speed if i accellerate past the set speed then drop down. Is this to be expected?
Overall the vehicle is great. I cracked into the 150's schooling a turbo eclipse on the virtues of MB power. I gave him a head start, so it was especially sweet... When you hit the limiter on this car, does it come on hard? On my old eclipse turbo, it was like slamming on the brakes at 135.
Last but not least, I am in Pittsburgh. Any CLK enthusiasts in the area, let me know.
1. Is there a decent online source on how to operate COMAND. I didnt get a manual. Or if someone wants to sell an extra...
2. I can't tell if this has the K2a package. There is a mount for the phone in the console, when I cycle through the steering wheel menus it comes up with a phone option that says its not mounted or some such. There are phone buttons on the steering wheel as well. I have a nokia and would like to adapt it, and think i remember an article about it somewhere.
3. Voice activation, is that part of the K2a, or COMAND ?
4. Can I put 265/35-18 tires on 9 inch rims on the back with no rub? I may want to drop the car an inch later since it is pretty high now.
5. I thought the CLK55 was supposed to ride 1" lower than the 430, is this correct?
6. The rearview mirror gets blue, but still seems to have too much glare at night compared to what i am used to, even with the sunshade up. Is this normal?
7. The cruise seems to stick at a higher than set speed if i accellerate past the set speed then drop down. Is this to be expected?
Overall the vehicle is great. I cracked into the 150's schooling a turbo eclipse on the virtues of MB power. I gave him a head start, so it was especially sweet... When you hit the limiter on this car, does it come on hard? On my old eclipse turbo, it was like slamming on the brakes at 135.
Last but not least, I am in Pittsburgh. Any CLK enthusiasts in the area, let me know.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 782
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
3 Porsche rotation
Congrat. on your 01'CLK55. I recently purchased one also to supplement my E55 and I begin to preferred the CLK55. Let me answer some of your questions.
1) You can get the manual at the dealer for about $20.00 You will need it!
2) K2a package includes phone( Motorola Timeport), CD-changer and voice activation. The phone sits in the cradle in the center arm rest and voice activation is the stalk on the right of the steering column. The dash multifunction display will show statues of phone or CD changer connection. Regarding the Nokia, a British member name Richard is the authority on this but I believed you will need to do some moderated rewiring and purchase parts from European in order to use the Nokia phone.
3) Yes, voice activation is part of K2a package
4) I believe it is ok. I am going 18 next year.
5) Not sure
6) Rearview mirror is designed to reduce glare from the headlights. Have the dealer check it out.
7) Never have that problem.
8) The keys are only replace at the dealer and don't bother with the Ebay. The dealer will need to determine which key is missing and deactivate that lost key access to your car. 4 years ago I lost one smartkey to my 98'E430 Sport and the dealer had to do so to prevent theft. You should get the second key.
John
1) You can get the manual at the dealer for about $20.00 You will need it!
2) K2a package includes phone( Motorola Timeport), CD-changer and voice activation. The phone sits in the cradle in the center arm rest and voice activation is the stalk on the right of the steering column. The dash multifunction display will show statues of phone or CD changer connection. Regarding the Nokia, a British member name Richard is the authority on this but I believed you will need to do some moderated rewiring and purchase parts from European in order to use the Nokia phone.
3) Yes, voice activation is part of K2a package
4) I believe it is ok. I am going 18 next year.
5) Not sure
6) Rearview mirror is designed to reduce glare from the headlights. Have the dealer check it out.
7) Never have that problem.
8) The keys are only replace at the dealer and don't bother with the Ebay. The dealer will need to determine which key is missing and deactivate that lost key access to your car. 4 years ago I lost one smartkey to my 98'E430 Sport and the dealer had to do so to prevent theft. You should get the second key.
John
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
2001 CLK55
JohnAMG,
Thanks for the info. To clarify on the K2a issue, I am trying to find out if I have it, and if so how to use it. There is a cradle, but no phone. There is not a stalk on the steering column passenger side, but there is a little nub about 1/2 inch long with a hole in it. Does the Phone option show up in the menus whether or not you have the option?
Thanks
Thanks for the info. To clarify on the K2a issue, I am trying to find out if I have it, and if so how to use it. There is a cradle, but no phone. There is not a stalk on the steering column passenger side, but there is a little nub about 1/2 inch long with a hole in it. Does the Phone option show up in the menus whether or not you have the option?
Thanks
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
If your car has the cradle and no voice-activation stalk I would assume that you have the K2 (not K2a) package which is the phone without voice-activation. That little nub is for the stalk and you might be able to get the dealer to install it. I believe for the newer models the voice-activation feature is about $400, if memory serves from mbusa.com. It would also seem that the previous owner kept the phone. You can get them from the dealer or through ebay. Make sure you get the right phone for your cradle since the Timeport/StarTAC was available first and then the V60. The plug is completely different. It also has to be the mercedes-benz specific phone and not a generic motorola phone.
As far as the speed limiter, I've heard it referred to as a soft-limiter because it is not harsh. I've hit the 130ish limit in my 430 and it gets to that speed and goes no faster.
Congratulations, on your purchase and enjoy, it's a fantastic car. As you become familiar with this forum, you'll see that it's not a perfect car with a few minor problems but after buying mine new 2.5 years ago I am more than satisfied and wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one or recommend it to others.
As far as the speed limiter, I've heard it referred to as a soft-limiter because it is not harsh. I've hit the 130ish limit in my 430 and it gets to that speed and goes no faster.
Congratulations, on your purchase and enjoy, it's a fantastic car. As you become familiar with this forum, you'll see that it's not a perfect car with a few minor problems but after buying mine new 2.5 years ago I am more than satisfied and wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one or recommend it to others.
Last edited by LOH; Apr 20, 2003 at 02:35 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 782
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
3 Porsche rotation
Hello amgpowered,
It seems like the previous owner took the phone and you will need to buy a new handset. For 2001 I believed it is a Motorola Timeport and it will costs about $700 at the dealer, but you can find it on Ebay for half of the price. It is available in CDMA or TDMA format. As LOH stated, you can buy the voice activation kit for about $400 since no stalk is located on your steering column. Once you install this, the dealer need to activate the function in your car.
If the phone option( or any options) were installed but not connected, the multifunction display will state " phone not connected or active" And once you plug the phone, you can scroll through the phone book. I strongly recommended you to go to a Mercedes dealer and have them pull up your VIN and record to determine what options were installed at the time of the new vehicle delivery.
John
P.S. I am located 40 minutes south of Buffalo NY
It seems like the previous owner took the phone and you will need to buy a new handset. For 2001 I believed it is a Motorola Timeport and it will costs about $700 at the dealer, but you can find it on Ebay for half of the price. It is available in CDMA or TDMA format. As LOH stated, you can buy the voice activation kit for about $400 since no stalk is located on your steering column. Once you install this, the dealer need to activate the function in your car.
If the phone option( or any options) were installed but not connected, the multifunction display will state " phone not connected or active" And once you plug the phone, you can scroll through the phone book. I strongly recommended you to go to a Mercedes dealer and have them pull up your VIN and record to determine what options were installed at the time of the new vehicle delivery.
John
P.S. I am located 40 minutes south of Buffalo NY
Last edited by JohnAMG; Apr 20, 2003 at 03:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
2001 CLK55
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the info, very helpful. I am probably going to try to utilize the article below on adapting my nokia to work with the system since I love the phone. But it looks like i am out of luck on the voice activation part.
http://www.benzworld.org/publications/pub.asp?id=85
Thanks for the info, very helpful. I am probably going to try to utilize the article below on adapting my nokia to work with the system since I love the phone. But it looks like i am out of luck on the voice activation part.
http://www.benzworld.org/publications/pub.asp?id=85
