fredbaum

So its with regret that I will stop lurking on this forum, it will be too hard to follow now that I am changing over from my favorite car of all time. I thought I would share some perspectives in case anyone is thinking of getting this car, or parting with it.

Short Summary:
The only reason I am selling the car is because I am trading it in for another AMG. PERIOD - FULL STOP. I need a car with Warranty again.

This was the most fun, engaging, and exciting, and ultimately satisfying car. It offered a blend of several key ingredients I find hard to find in other cars.
1) the 2004/5 model I had was a great interior, it managed to feel cockpit like, and driver centric like the BMW - but without the sense of being in an airplane. Its well thought out, easy to control, and a very nice place to spend time in. The silver interior, leather facing, beautiful white instrument cluster and air adjustable seats give me the feeling of being in a sports car - but with practicality of 4 seats. I looked now at 6 series M6, Jaguar XKR, Audi RS etc and none matched my rear seats - the kids could use them daily. The COMAND APS deck wasnt inspiring, but on to point 2

2) Customisability of the platform. New cars have taken OEM electronic integration to new levels, not allowing for much low effort customisation. If you dont like iDrive for example, not much choice - and adapters to OEMs are mostly fudges that interrupt screen feeds with manual switches etc (though with some notable exceptions). In the CLK55 you have amazing choice in trim/facia kits, adapter modules, etc. There is commonality with just about all other C variants, and there is a huge aftermarket supply allowing you to do whatever you want electronically. I replaced my head unit with a touch screen (Kenwood unit) - added two amplifiers, two under parcel shelf Subwoofers, and a backup camera for less than a single Nav option on a new car would cost. All best of breed technology that 2012 spec lists still struggle to match. (with Video in motion, steering integration etc). Its getting harder to do that now that the electrics etc become more form factor integrated, and more deeply integrated into vehicle bus. My research for example in to how to add Parktronic to my new car (the idiot who ordered it somehow didnt see it fit to add at factory) is a complicated affair. In contrast, my CLK sets a very high standard in AV- and I will miss it daily ! (note I kept the Bose speakers in all but the center which wasnt Bose at all, but Mercedes OEM probably cost 3 dollars a speaker). It was very easy to remove the Bose amp, change the head unit, re-use the speaker cable, add the Nav antenna etc.

3) The absence of a window pillar on the doors I will miss daily. I love driving my coupe with all four windows down. Not only is the visibility stunning !, but the feeling is of a convertible - with the safety, and torsion resistance of a coupe. A six will **** you off as you shoulder check RIGHT into a window pillar. Driving it that way also gets me to hear the roar of the 5.5 as it pulls away.

4) The ONLY time my car failed in my three year period was with a timing sensor failure that caused the car to shut down after 8 minutes of driving. A sub 250 dollar repair job was all that it cost me to fix. (and I live in Africa). In all other ways, the car was bullet proof.... Compare that to my wife's Range Rover which has a dedicated parking bay in LandRover Sandton dealership and the difference in quality is obvious. I can see why MB offers a standard SIX YEAR warranty in South Africa (including servicing). Its safe to do so, financially.

5) You can drive this car every day, to every where, in all conditions. It will get you home. The transmission/engine combo can crush the odd Audi TT hairdresser, Lexus pretender, and most M-series car in a straight line. BUT - in C (and actually in S) mode can feel well mannered, gentle and smooth. Try for example to drive a BMW 550 in sport mode, and watch the headrest assume a complimentary shiatsu massage feature.

6) The package all up is very compelling. There are faster (not many - but there are). There are more beautiful (I love the XKR), but again in AMG guise its a gorgeous car. The CLK looks like a sports car, and it pays the Coupe price to do so. There are more practical (think M5, C55/63) There are better handlers - There are slightly more modern interiors.... BUT all of the other options come with huge drawbacks, issues, cost, etc. On balance of all things the all up 8/10 everywhere nature of this car comes in second for many things, but first overall.

Looking forward to my CLS.... but man - will I ever miss the CLK. Enjoy your cars guys/ladies.... you made a great choice.

wawy

Very good read!

discoduck

Cool review

Glad to have just picked up mine a few months ago. I'll be keeping this car for as long as I can.

Which CLS did you get? 63?

F1Bobby

Well done!

Kevwood

Very nice write up. So was yours an '04 or '05? What was the color combo? Private sale or trading it in?

AMG_BENZ

CLK is a very impressive series. I have read the similiar story as your when someone left the W208 model. It's great to hear the experience continues the same for the W209. I don't know why Benz stopped producing CLK, but I think it changes its name to CL.

discoduck

The E-Class coupe is the replacement to the CLK

da_guitarist

I think I'm in w/ my w208 for the long haul!!

Can't seem to process the thought of getting rid of it. Even at almost 100k miles

fredbaum

To answer the what I got question:

CLS 55 AMG registered Nov 2006- to replace the CLK 55 AMG. It was a matter of choice not price. The cars cost roughly the same (CLS 63, CLS 55) in my research here (model year different, but with similar mileage).

I am going to try to keep it factory - with the only mods being the addition of a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera system, a backup camera, and an inline AV unit video interrupt system so I can use the NTG headunit for the screen. I may also improve the sub.... as the CLK had twin 10 Inch Hertz subs powered by an Orion HCCA5000 amp. Going from that to a Harmon small sub may be a bit much

I traded in my CLK 55 to the same dealer, who specialises in performance. My aftermarket kit MADE THE DIFFERENCE, and given how quick he thinks he can move the CLK, I got a very very good trade in value relative to what I paid.

fredbaum

Discoduck - I love the AMG logo on the panel cover you put in. Very nice..... that beautiful silver clean interior goes well with the logo !

elijah

Very nice write up. At least you're staying within the AMG family so I can't really hate.
Congrats on the new beast & Enjoy!!

betrezra

Nice writeup!
Agree 100% in my yrs of ownership in an 04 clk55.

discoduck

Thanks and congrats on that beast! Be sure to post pics. Would love to own a CLS one day after the CLK is retired and widebodied lol

Nachtsturm

I agree with this 100%, after I sold my 01 I regretted ever since. So glad to have an 05.

Only cars that I would even think about to replace it with are a 997 911, CLK BS, and C63 Coupe. However, this would be years down the road.

AMGY

Great post!

For me a car has to have a little bit of everything. Looks, power, handling, comfort, style, reliability and a little bit of exclusivity. My CLK55 provides all of this. The only complaint I have about this car is the horrible gas mileage....but I guess that comes with the territory.

Enjoy your new AMG!

Nachtsturm

Bad gas mileage? I average between 19-21. That's mostly city. Perhaps your right foot is to blame.

My only complaint is that the CLK55 did not get the drivetrain from E55K If it had that drivetrain, there would be no need to ever get another car.

betrezra

Yeah I can eeek out 22 mpg at 65mph to/from work..... but that rarely happens.... plus my accel to 65 is somewhat aggressive

lsboogy

Not as quick as some, not the best handling, not the best ride, but overall a reliable, great daily driver, and I will probably never buy another non-AMG car as a daily driver. By far the best overall car I have ever had - and I get 21 around town by not sticking my right foot down too often.

fjward

Q.1 what's a recommended backup camera for an 04 clk55 amg (in the U.S.) Q.2 My 04 (recently purchased with only 8,500 miles (!) has a horrible whine/moan sound on cold startup. It eases off after c.4 minutes. After spending almost $2k at the dealer's the sound is still there. The dealer finally told me that the obnoxious sound is endemic to the clk55 amg. But is this whining/moaning really endemic? Your own experiences please?

FFXF1

fredbaum - great post. Good luck with the CLS. Keepin' it in the family. Maybe we'll see you back in a 63BS one of these days! Cheers

FFXF1

Just realized I responded to a three year old post. UFB...