Just picked this up. Any advice ?
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Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 2
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2004 Mercedes CLK55 AMG
Just picked this up. Any advice ?
Just picked up this 2004 CLK55 AMG of marketplace, really fell in love with the car and how clean it was on the exterior. It’s the soft top convertible as well.
Really just looking for any insight and advice regarding this car and model, I want to take care of it, and I want it to last. Below I’ll list things that I know are wrong with it.
It has a code for secondary air injection, drives really smooth but shifts from 1st to 2nd gear pretty jerky (probably need a trans fluid job). The automatic convertible button doesn’t work, it is able to be folded down manually. When I press the button to use the convertible it says passenger cargo hold or something like that on the screen. Other than that there are only minor things, such as the seat warmers don’t work. I am the third owner, 2nd owner had it for 8 months, and the first owner had it forever, and kept a full binder of every service done on it, most services he had done at Mercedes.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: South Carolina
2005 CLK 55 AMG
Nice! Car looks super clean and I love the triple back set up. How many miles does it have on it? I picked up my 05 CLK 55 earlier this year so it’s been a fun learning curve for sure. I understand wanting to take care of the car as best as you can, trust me there, I’m the same way. DM me if you have any questions but when I picked mine up this year w/ only 70k miles on it, this is what I did so far:
Thats a good place for you to start I’d say, it’s not all encompassing but for me that’s the path I took so far. The rest of the items I’ve worked on are cosmetic mostly so if you have questions about that stuff too let me know, I’ll try to help. YouTube is a big help with these cars too in combination to the forums.
Congrats again!
- All new air filters - Engine & Cabin.
- Transmission Service - Fluid & Filter change twice as it was pretty dirty. No flushing.
- New conductor plate for the transmission as the TCM plug housing bolt was stuck and didn’t want to come out……the little plug was leaking (common).
- New Differential fluid - drain and fill.
- Oil & Filter change.
- New breather hoses - almost all cracked due to age & heat.
- Brake fluid tested fine so I’ll save that for next year.
- Power Steering fluid was replaced 3 years ago so I’ll save that for next year also.
- Next week it’s getting a bit of a refreshed suspension - all new control arms & alignment. Tie rods if they need it too.
- Age / heat eats away at a lot of the rubber components so be cognizant of that in your plans.
- I replaced the plastic (y) connector at the firewall that tends to leak / fail under the windshield wiper cowl. Mine had just started to fail so I got lucky and planned it out ahead of time before it fully failed on me.
Thats a good place for you to start I’d say, it’s not all encompassing but for me that’s the path I took so far. The rest of the items I’ve worked on are cosmetic mostly so if you have questions about that stuff too let me know, I’ll try to help. YouTube is a big help with these cars too in combination to the forums.
Congrats again!
Last edited by l.a.j.o.i.e; Nov 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
2004 Mercedes CLK55 AMG
I don't see how to DM you or I would, but thanks for the insight. Mine is quite a bit more used, around 164k miles. As a non-mechanic type at all, it feels like it drives really good. Though there are a few things that I feel while driving.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: South Carolina
2005 CLK 55 AMG
It has a code for secondary air injection, drives really smooth but shifts from 1st to 2nd gear pretty jerky (probably need a trans fluid job). The automatic convertible button doesn’t work, it is able to be folded down manually. When I press the button to use the convertible it says passenger cargo hold or something like that on the screen. Other than that there are only minor things, such as the seat warmers don’t work. I am the third owner, 2nd owner had it for 8 months, and the first owner had it forever, and kept a full binder of every service done on it, most services he had done at Mercedes.
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 846
Likes: 559
From: San Jose, CA
11 E550, 16 AMG GTS, 13 S550
At what you paid and your mechanical knowledge, just drive it until something leaks, sounds weird, or smells weird.
Update all your filters, check your oil, brake fluid, and if your transmission ever shudders or does anything weird come back. At 165k miles you're good to just kinda drive it into the ground though. They're great cars.
Update all your filters, check your oil, brake fluid, and if your transmission ever shudders or does anything weird come back. At 165k miles you're good to just kinda drive it into the ground though. They're great cars.
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Purchase Amsoil at 25% off from me
Chris Tran, Retired Alpha European Autotech Owner
Amsoil Independent Dealer #7236674
