Nice spring-like day in PA - changed to summer wheels, washed, waxed, wiped down motor, did leather treatment, fixed sliding door on center console, vacuumed, and parked in garage until tomorrow.

Maybe not totally Zen like Zorro and Zed , but I guess my car is looking o.k. for 13-years-old and 11-years of ownership.

Hey Chris, these are new photos, even though I guess they don’t look any different than they did 10 years ago. I think that might be a good thing.









Can you believe it, there are finger prints on my wheel?



Look, A true Coupe. The BMW looks pretty good, don't you think? My car is nice and quite unique, but the 3-Series "vert" does look pretty good too. I'm not blind!

 

Quite pretty, incredible car, how did you wash up the engine?

Payson

 

Car looks good.

But was the bmw picture really necessary??

 

You car is one of the cleanest I've seen. I love those wheels!

That's the first time I've seen the new 3 convertible. Looks great! It lacks a bit of visual character compared to the 3 sedan, or even the E320, but still very nice. Nothing handles like it.

 

First I want to simply say thanks to you guys for saying anything to me. I thought I might end up being shunned by the entire community. I’m glad I wasn’t, because I still enjoy my car and nobody loves them like the guys on theses forums.

I have actually never washed my engine. I just wipe it off when I wash the car. Between the plastic shield underneath and the rubber gaskets all around the top, it just doesn’t get very dirty in there, even with a leaky head gasket and the front timing cover. It is a little oily under the car, but the top stays pretty clean.

I’ve been visiting a BMW site a bit and I was just very taken with the looks of hardtop convertible with the top up and the windows down. You know, the true coupe thing, with no B-pillar and a rear window that goes down.

I love the wheels too, even if they are only 16”, or maybe because they are 16”. I especially like the squared edges, compared to the newer AMG Aero II wheels and somehow I think they are prettier than the 17” version of the AMG Aero I wheels.

I do like the 3-Series and if I do have to throw in the towel on my E320, I really will seriously consider one. I think I would probably end up going for a sedan, since I really do like the one I have now. I like the coupe, but I don’t think I would be happy if it was not a true coupe and I just don’t think I want a convertible. I do think the convertible is very pretty with the top up and windows down. The back view isn’t nearly as pretty, however, which is why I did not include that picture.

 

The CE was a true Coupe as well :P
Nice 3 though.

 

Very Nice!!! The color and wheels are perfect, imo.

-New guy here, looking to get an E320/W124 later this spring sometime. Great forum you folks have here.

Best/Bill

 

You were never shunned, just "friends off" with lots of us for being a bit of a douche...

Clean ride!

 

So true, and it is a very nice one too. I just can't seem to fall in love with the CLK replacement for the E-Class coupe.

 

I'm still very sorry that I somehow became a troll on this forum. That was truly not my intention. I hold all of the members in high regard. I will refrain from trying to be funny, since I seem to miss the mark with my humor. I will also try not to complain about broken bits on my car, since nobody likes that either.

Thanks for noticing!

 

Just outta curiosity...what size are your tires?

 

I can appreciate dry sarcasm. It's not the most popular form of humor but I'm the same way. It's the way of deep thinkers.

Your seats aren't as cracked as mine. I think they only crack on the surface. I've never seen one actually ripped like on so many other cars. Your car looks practically mint from the pics. Your head gasket will probably never get worse, from what I've read.

 

Looks good - in fact, looks like it could go forever, too. Timeless AND ageless.

 

Actually, I find the 95-99 CLK to be one of the most attractive coupes benz has ever made. The CLK55 AMG is just.. so beautiful. The lines are perfect. The new CLK is less impressive, but the CLK63 AMG Black makes up for that with nice styling additions.

 

205/55/16 mounted on 16” x 7.5” ET37 - same overall diameter as OEM 195/65/15

My car does look good for its age and I am a proud driver, but it definitely isn’t mint anymore. I think pictures can be deceptive. My seats have quite a few cracks and worn spots. My passenger seat has a couple of pretty deep cracks that look like they could rip through, but so far they are still holding together. Also the lower outside corner of the driver seat back and the corner of the armrest are both a bit worrisome. The paint is also losing it in places, like on the hood and front bumper. I think it is the clearcoat that is giving up and giving a dull or cracked appearance. The hood looks like a family of little chicks have been dancing on it for a night or two. I am not complaining. I am just being honest about the condition of my car. As for the head gasket, it has not changed for more than 2 years, so it might keep holding for a long time. I am hopeful and I think the “cool harness” might be keeping things in this holding pattern. My car never goes over 95 degrees anymore.

My friend at work has a CLK 430. It is a pretty car and it is darn fast too. I just couldn’t see myself in one. Maybe in AMG guise I could see it for me, but otherwise it seems like a girl’s car. I think it might be like getting a Porsche Boxter instead of a 911 or getting something like a Mazda Miata. I just can’t see it for me.

I don’t feel that way about the BMW 3-Series, although the convertible does push the envelope. I am a little curious about the new E-Class diesel, but the Mercedes brand just doesn’t seem like a good bet anymore, at least from reviews about maintenance issues. The 3-Series, new and used, actually makes many lists, even Consumer Reports. My car was perfect and is still perfect in many ways. It just isn’t new anymore.