I have been on hiatus for a while from Mercedes-Benz after my CLS debacle, but my lust for the 3 pointed star and the AMG badge is insatiable.

I was looking at SL55s and a nicely priced 2010 E350 at a local high end dealer when I saw a CLK 55 Cabrio. They only wanted 14k for it. I really liked it. but then they told me it had 118k miles. I still was interested. Why drop 25k on a SL55 when I can get 80% of the performance for half price. It's nice inside and out and the top works fine. There are just a few things holding me back from pulling the trigger.

1. AMG, everything is more expensive parts wise. Having owned a W210 E55 I am aware of the costs of ownership. My main concern is a brake job. It was $1600 for all corners on an E55 at indie, would the same job on the CLK55 be roughly the same or more. I know w211 e55s are almost double that. I know they share the same DNA, but there are definitely some differences and I know that can be costly even if the model is similar.

2. The top, I have been looking for issues about the top, but so far I see the main one is the the rear window separating from the top, this car doesn't appear to have that issue. Any other things to think about concerning the top I should check?

3. The mileage, when I foolishly traded in my sweet e55 for a crappy lemon CLS the mileage was roughly the same and that car was pretty bullet proof for a car of that age and caliber, what says you gurus about the mileage?

4. A lot of owners, this thing was passed around like a joint at a Grateful Dead concert. I'm concerned some of it's owners may have beat it up it a bit.

That's pretty much it. I'm probably going to buy it tomorrow, but I have to pretend like I'm doing my due diligence and not just in gimme gimme a AMG drop top mid life crisis mode.

The dealer already approved of a Mercedes dealer checking out the car for a PPI.

 

I would not buy any Mercedes without a warranty but who knows, it may work out for you, my CLK55 was rock solid except for a bad fuel pump at around 75k miles, but I bought it certified and was the 2nd owner. Bottom line is that it's your call and it seems like you already decided. Good luck. TC

 

A CLK55 complete 4 corner brake job will prolly easily top 2 grand. Yes, the rotors are truly silly expensive for what they are....a metal heat sink. I don't believe the aftermarket offerings are any better or cheaper in price for this application. An SL from AMG needing a complete brake job? ...prolly just as much, if not more.

CLK55 Cabs are pretty rare; rarer than most R230SLs. I think the size of the CLK with the 370 or so hp is plenty enough too. I was in the market for one also but found a CLK63 Cab before finding a CLK55 Cab.

But , yes, throw some caution up with multiple owners. How many exactly? Honestly though, 118K on an MB/AMG motor is really nothing to get alarmed over IMO. The 55s are pretty stout motors too. Make sure you get a VMI from that dealer doing the PPi to see what was done, and not done in the maint. dept. How's the overall condition? That is usually a good litmus to how the POs handled the car during their ownership.