W208 CLK55
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Joined: Dec 2018
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W211 E55, W210 E55, 94 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX, (Sold)W203 C55/C32, (Sold)04 S211 E320 Designo
W208 CLK55
I've been looking around and really haven't found that much information about this car. Do any owners know how reliability/comfort is?
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 37
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2007 R350, 2002 CLK55
I own an '02, last of the first gen. In the 2 1/2 years that I own it, it has been a very good car. Very reliable, one of the last analog performance Benzes. If you find one that has been religiously maintained you will be in a good place. There are some knick knacks, such as seat servo motors and A/C stepper motors going out, but that has been the issue of pretty much any Benz from that era and not particular to CLK55. Inside, the comfort is again on a very good level, but really limited to driver and front passenger. Rear compartment is cramped if the front occupants are taller than 5'4". I wish the rear quarter glass windows would go up and down for that fantastic pillar less look of the w126 or w124 coupes but alas, you can't have it all.
Power delivery is excellent. I love to surprise new benz, beemer and audi owners. One thing for sure you are very unlikely to run into another one at your next Cars & Coffee as these were a limited production AMG coupes. When new, the MSRP was in the high 60'/low 70's. That was a lot of money for a car back in 2001/2002. The market was soft on the first gen CLK55 but now the prices have firmed up and have been inching up for low miles, clean examples.
All in all, if you are looking for low number production trouble free AMG Benz coupe, this is a great option
Power delivery is excellent. I love to surprise new benz, beemer and audi owners. One thing for sure you are very unlikely to run into another one at your next Cars & Coffee as these were a limited production AMG coupes. When new, the MSRP was in the high 60'/low 70's. That was a lot of money for a car back in 2001/2002. The market was soft on the first gen CLK55 but now the prices have firmed up and have been inching up for low miles, clean examples.
All in all, if you are looking for low number production trouble free AMG Benz coupe, this is a great option
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Portland, Oregon
2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera
It's a fantastic car. I bought a beater with 220k miles on it for $850 and I love the heck out of it. This generation is much simpler than the newer ones, but the M113 engine and the 722.6 tranny will both run forever if the fluids are changed regularly.
Things I had to fix on my car when I got it: Front LCA bushings, Battery, Heater Control Panel, Pneumatic Control Module (PSE), Engine Rear Main Seal, Engine Mounts. Even with well over 220k on the odometer, it still brings home the bacon at the dragstrip!
I would not hesitate for a second to daily drive one of these cars. With a little DIY maintenance they are just as good as anything else that age, and a lot quicker than most.
Things I had to fix on my car when I got it: Front LCA bushings, Battery, Heater Control Panel, Pneumatic Control Module (PSE), Engine Rear Main Seal, Engine Mounts. Even with well over 220k on the odometer, it still brings home the bacon at the dragstrip!
I would not hesitate for a second to daily drive one of these cars. With a little DIY maintenance they are just as good as anything else that age, and a lot quicker than most.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Florida
2002 CLK 55 AMG cabriolet Eurocharged
Joe nailed it,
There is not much in DD that will match this car. If you have to pay for service can become lost cause. this is a DIY or bust car.
Cheers, Gator
There is not much in DD that will match this car. If you have to pay for service can become lost cause. this is a DIY or bust car.
Cheers, Gator
Junior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 37
Likes: 9
2007 R350, 2002 CLK55
Knock on wood I have not had any issues with my CLK55. I believe in buying a car with documented service history and keeping up with service during my ownership. Although I choose to service my Benzes at local franchised dealer, there are plenty of indies around to still make it a very sensible DD. Even if you had to spend $1k a year in maintenance, which I don't, show me another new car I can buy or lease for $83.33/mo that will match a CLK55 in looks, class, quality or performance. What makes the w208 great is its relative "analog" simplicity.
Last edited by Tirefriar; Dec 28, 2018 at 10:07 AM.
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Junior Member
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2007 R350, 2002 CLK55
"Its a much more FUN car" would be the better way to describe it. I wouldn't go as far as calling a BETTER car. What will get you with a BMW is maintenance, and there is plenty of it. After owning a low mileage one owner E39 Touring (I was second), ask me how I know...
Last edited by Tirefriar; Jan 22, 2019 at 04:15 PM.
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Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 79
Likes: 6
C204 C350 12
owned 2,
worst performance cars of the 00's the words cracked subframe and or cracked frame at 82k miles should not be a thing,
then you go onto google and search e46 m3 cracked frame.
sit back and laugh, quickly sell on ebay.
kids car for kids.
worst performance cars of the 00's the words cracked subframe and or cracked frame at 82k miles should not be a thing,
then you go onto google and search e46 m3 cracked frame.
sit back and laugh, quickly sell on ebay.
kids car for kids.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 37
Likes: 9
2007 R350, 2002 CLK55
These are probably the best bang for buck on a limited production performance car market. One day the market will wake up and start snapping them up. The clean ones will go first. Attrition of clean cars combined with rise in market demand will start pushing up the ratty ones which in turn push up the clean ones and so the w208 CLK55 bubble will be borne ��
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 321
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2000 ML55 AMG 2001 CLK55 AMG coupe 2002 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet 2025 BMW M2 6MT
I'm somewhat torn. Personally I have owned 5 e46 M3's. I was going to agree, but it is in fact not a more fun car it is all around a much better car. The 55 in my opinion is much more "fun" it doesn't help the first thing I did was drop a ton of cash into my first M3 only in modifications. 01 no subframe issue, and never ran into it with any of my 01 or 02's. Never had an issue other than cooling system BS. First thing with the 55 at 155k miles was 10k just into BS to try and help theengine out which is all the car really is. Fun
engine great acceleration. **** in maintenance and **** in parts cost. You probably won't find one for 13-15k and even if you did it would have low miles and need everything one would with high miles. The platform is not good enough for modification with used parts available. I was able to sell everything I took off my M3's that was replaced with something aftermarket.
But...I believe if I set up the car the same as a M3 it could possibly change my mind. Stripped interior, coil overs and all new gaskets and basically everything. Might just be a "fun" and cool car.
Never got into a e46 even that had some issue and didn't have a smile on my face. Get in this car everyday and it's just depressing. As I'm looking to buy another one.
engine great acceleration. **** in maintenance and **** in parts cost. You probably won't find one for 13-15k and even if you did it would have low miles and need everything one would with high miles. The platform is not good enough for modification with used parts available. I was able to sell everything I took off my M3's that was replaced with something aftermarket.
But...I believe if I set up the car the same as a M3 it could possibly change my mind. Stripped interior, coil overs and all new gaskets and basically everything. Might just be a "fun" and cool car.
Never got into a e46 even that had some issue and didn't have a smile on my face. Get in this car everyday and it's just depressing. As I'm looking to buy another one.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
I had a 2002 CLK430 Coupe. Basically the same car overall. Very solid and reliable. Light bulbs went out frequently and rust could be a issue if not taken care of. Pixels in the dash go out around speedo and a/c cluster. Other then that they are very solid especially if you get a coupe over the cabriolet.
