w208 clk55 as a daily driver?
 

Does anyone here daily a w208 clk55? what are your thoughts about it? Good or bad idea???

thanks...

I had a 430 not a 55 but it was hands down the best car I ever owned. It was comfortable and extremely reliable.

Ditto...still own...still drive daily...love it!

'01 55, 80 mile commute. It has been a great daily car. As a package it's hard to beat. The car strikes a nice balance. Good seats, good visability"coupe". Plenty of real world power. Ride is good for a GT type car. The drivetrain has proven itself and is simple by Mercedes standards. Upkeep is easy for a decent garage mechanic. AND, they are so cheap.

forgot to mention I had 225k miles on mine when i sold it and my brother in-law is still driving it.

120K and going strong.

wow awesome, good to hear. I've always wanted a convertible. I think the clk vert would be a better option than a slk. My main concern is reliability, i have a 40 mile commute round trip, but it sounds like it should be ok. Another concern is mpg. My daily right now is a 2005 c230, and i get about 28-33mpg hwy. what are you guys getting on the 55 and 430?

Thanks again!

I averaged 18.8 about 50/50 but saw up to 26 on a long drive. Again this was a 430. You might consider one as an alternative to the 55. They are plenty fast for a DD, more comfortable due to suspension, and better on gas. I would guess they cost less to maintain also not being an AMG. Not to mention de-badged they look exactly the same.

im definitely considering the 430. I was looking around and there aren't very many 55's on the market compared to 430's. As for the suspension im probably going to switch that out anyways..

When mine was a 430 I averaged 19/23 but now that it's a 55 I average 14/19. Thats 14 in the city with fairly aggressive driving. However with my old commute which was 80 miles per day i would average 22 with the 55 motor on the freeway no problem under normal driving.

My car also has 223k miles and it's still perfect. Maintenance is easy.

Coming from a c32 with tein coilovers on 18s I would strongly suggest leaving it with stock suspension and 17" wheels. It is amazing how different even just going from 17s to 18 is on the ride. Factor in the tien setup and that car beat me and itself to death. my 209 55 on 18s is so much nicer of a ride than the 32.

Yeah im starting to like the 430 for a daily more and more, those are numbers i can live with. I already have the w209 55 for the weekend anyways. Im hearing these m113's are bulletproof, I hope mine lasts as long as yours...


I actually like the ride of lowered cars. Been driving them since i was 16. My c230 was slammed on tein coilover all the way down with 1 perch removed on 19's and my 55 is on 19's with airlift air suspension over megan coilovers. I don't think i can buy a car without lowering down, lol...

lol... You must not be getting old yet. Vogtland makes some lowering springs that are still very compliant. Good looks and a nice-ish ride.

I feel you though. My 55 is is like a 4x4 right now but I promised my better half i wouldn't mod this one.

STOP!!!!! Get a 55, I am getting about 22 mixed as long as I don't go crazy (then it drops like a rock) but I can get 26 easy on hwy.

Just my two cents. Anyways, best of luck.

Good daily driver. :zoom:

Honest question here based on the info given by op. Why would you buy a 55 over a 430 as a DD espically if you are going to change the suspension.

The 55 will most likely have been looked after better, it was better drive train parts (not taking about hp) just better parts. Leather interior is also higher grade. And the price difference isnt that big.

What's wrong with the c230? That's great mpgs!!!! I wished they were more reliable and slightly larger..

It’s hard to go wrong with either the 430 or the 55.

Excluding brakes, maintenance costs are about the same. The front rotors on a 55 are directional and produced in low volumes, so they are expensive.

The 55 has some standard features that are optional, but common on the 430. The one upgrade that I’ve never seen on a 430 are the multicontour front seats. They were definitely an option, I’ve just never seen them. I've seen heated seats in a 430 countless times, but not with air bladders.

With a 27% larger engine, the 55 has lower fuel economy, but few buy an AMG if fuel economy is a major concern.

Best buy? Whatever you can find in the best condition. I’ve seen both 430’s and 55’s in pristine condition. I’ve also seen examples of both that looked quite haggard. The key will be the previous owner. Since you're in So Cal, you should have a good selection.

If you do buy a 430, you may wish to limit your search to 2001 and 2002 models. ME 2.8 was introduced in 2001. Aside from the faster processor, ME 2.8 included new injectors and a larger, CLK55-sized, throttle body. Also for 2001, the smart key was redesigned (slightly smaller, different 'panic' button), the last of the W208 transmission upgrades were made, the one touch sunroof was introduced, the windows drop about a half-inch when the doors are opened, and the AMG thin spoke wheels were added.

I hope that helps

Makes a great DD
 

Yeah a 55 makes a great DD. Keep up on the preventive maintenance items and enjoy the ride.

Mine has the multicontour front seats! took me almost a 8 months to find the car. but I never you the feature so I could definitely have gone without it.

W208 CLK55 AMG's make a fantastic daily driver. Great low RPM torque, decent gas mileage, great brakes, and low maintenance for a performance car.

I almost considered a CLK430 since they look aesthetically very similar from the outside when I was in the market for my CLK55. I'm glad I went with the AMG. The two tone interiors look fantastic on the AMG's black/white or black/blue. They're both depreciated to the point the values are almost the same but the 55 is so much more car.

As others mentioned the brakes, rotors, and suspension parts will cost more in addition to the tires. The 376 torque and open differential make it go through tires quickly. If you're in a hurry and find a clean 430 go for it, otherwise I would wait and probably travel for a CLK55. I drove over 6 hours to pick up mine.

Just my personal opinion, i would probably stick to your W203. Less of a headache if parts need to be replaced and cost of maintenance. Now that i daily my W211 to work (12 miles round trip - long beach to carson), it's "not too bad". But in about a month, my commute is going to turn into 104 miles round trip (laguna niguel to carson). I'm currently searching for a reliable dirt cheap 4 cylinder.

get a Acura tsx...

thanks for all the info guys. very helpful. I've been looking at both 55's and 430's. Hopefully ill pick something up within a couple months...