Help sought on choices of used CLK430

I6turbo · 10-30-2002, 11:35 AM

I'm looking to buy an excellent condition used CLK430 and I'm hoping you guys who are very familiar with these cars can help me out here. I've owned a couple of Benzes in the past, but I'm not very familiar with the fine points of the CLKs. Just trying to do some homework and therefore have a few questions.

1. Were there any significant mechanical changes over the years that make certain year models more desirable than others?

2. I definitely want the charcoal interior with black bird's eye trim. Was 2000 the first year for that combination, or was it 2001?

3. Do all of the cars up-shift somewhat softly under full throttle? I test-drove an '01 model recently and it seemed to shift pretty slowly when I shifted manually under full throttle. I couldn't tell for sure if it was designed to do that, or if the transmission was slipping a little bit. It definitely didn't hit hard -- it was soft enough that there was no chance whatsoever that it would chirp the tires on the up-shift. I wasn't in any sport mode or anything (didn't even check to see if there's a switch).

4. It was a bit noisy (traffic) at the dealer's lot but I THOUGHT I heard a momentary bit of valvetrain rattle when I first started the engine (I think the car had been sitting for a few days). Like I say, due to the local traffic noise I'm not certain that I heard engine noise, but I thought I did. That wouldn't be common on these cars would it? That's something I'd associate with a poorly designed motor (it's common on Dodge Vipers, for example), not an MB.

5. Do all year models have the same type of sequential manual shifter for the automatic transmission?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Steve

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Hal H · 10-30-2002, 11:58 AM

All of the following starts with MY 2000 + 430's

- black bird's-eye maple (was previously burl walnut)

- Touch shift

- blackout trim around windows and body color door handles (previously had chrome accents)

- turn signals in outside mirrors

- Tele-aid is standard

With the tranny, I don't think you get hard upshifts on MB's. And if you're under full throttle the adaptive transmission program assumes you're going for max acceleration and will hold in each gear longer.

There were some people that had valvetrain problems (noisy) with the 4.3 V8, but some of that may attributable to hard use w/o observing a sensible break-in regimen (manual explains this).

I6turbo · 10-30-2002, 04:25 PM

Thanks a lot for the info! Any other comments on what to watch for in a used CLK430 or CLK55 will be welcomed (the latter I probably can't afford though

).

BTW, nice board you guys have here.

Steve

PhucNguyen57 · 10-31-2002, 04:53 PM

You sould check on a new 208 body Clk 430. Many dealers still have them, and can not sell them because of the 209 (new body) Clk. I bet you could get a new one for a really good price, and you would not have to wory about its past/valvetrain rattle.

I6turbo · 10-31-2002, 05:11 PM

That's a good point. Some people are asking more for the used ones than a new one could probably be bought for. I've given the entire matter some more consideration and I think the thing for me to do is to look for a like-new 2000-2001 CLK430 that I can buy in the $37-39K range. There are enough of the cars for sale that I'm pretty sure I'll come across someone who will let their's go at something in that range. Granted, it's probably only 10K or so less than one might get a new 2002 for if you found a smoking deal, but that 10K is probably a lot more money to me than it is to a lot of people.

Steve

anthem · 10-31-2002, 05:24 PM

I would recommend that you get one with about a year of warranty left (and at least 10K miles). That way, if there are any major issues, you can take it into an MB dealership and have them correct whatever is wrong. The dropoff in price is pretty significant in out of warranty cars on the private market.

I6turbo · 10-31-2002, 05:43 PM

Is the warranty 36 months/36K miles on those cars?

nubomb · 11-01-2002, 02:58 PM

The warrenty I believe is 48/50k.

Look in MBUSA website at the starmark program. You pay a little more but the car is clean and comes with an extended warrenty.

Chirping the tires?? Come on now, this is a Benz not some five speed mustang. Touch shift is not meant for power shifting. The only time I like to use it is for downshifting.

I6turbo · 11-01-2002, 03:48 PM

IMO an automatic transmissioned car with performance intentions should shift hard enough under full throttle to almost break traction, otherwise it's losing measurable time on the granny-like shift. Plus, if the shifts feel like a Mustang with a badly slipping tranny it isn't very inspiring, even if it is a Benz. Full throttle shifts should be banged off rapidly.

10-30-2002, 11:58 AM	#2
Hal H Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 291 Drives: 2001 CLK320	The changes All of the following starts with MY 2000 + 430's - black bird's-eye maple (was previously burl walnut) - Touch shift - blackout trim around windows and body color door handles (previously had chrome accents) - turn signals in outside mirrors - Tele-aid is standard With the tranny, I don't think you get hard upshifts on MB's. And if you're under full throttle the adaptive transmission program assumes you're going for max acceleration and will hold in each gear longer. There were some people that had valvetrain problems (noisy) with the 4.3 V8, but some of that may attributable to hard use w/o observing a sensible break-in regimen (manual explains this). __________________ 2001 CLK320 / Magma Red Last edited by Hal H; 10-30-2002 at 06:55 PM.

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10-30-2002, 04:25 PM	#3
I6turbo Almost a Member! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 43	Thanks a lot for the info! Any other comments on what to watch for in a used CLK430 or CLK55 will be welcomed (the latter I probably can't afford though ). BTW, nice board you guys have here. Steve

10-31-2002, 04:53 PM	#4
PhucNguyen57 MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,627	You sould check on a new 208 body Clk 430. Many dealers still have them, and can not sell them because of the 209 (new body) Clk. I bet you could get a new one for a really good price, and you would not have to wory about its past/valvetrain rattle.

10-31-2002, 05:11 PM	#5
I6turbo Almost a Member! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 43	That's a good point. Some people are asking more for the used ones than a new one could probably be bought for. I've given the entire matter some more consideration and I think the thing for me to do is to look for a like-new 2000-2001 CLK430 that I can buy in the $37-39K range. There are enough of the cars for sale that I'm pretty sure I'll come across someone who will let their's go at something in that range. Granted, it's probably only 10K or so less than one might get a new 2002 for if you found a smoking deal, but that 10K is probably a lot more money to me than it is to a lot of people. Steve

10-31-2002, 05:24 PM	#6
anthem Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 126 Drives: 2007 S	I would recommend that you get one with about a year of warranty left (and at least 10K miles). That way, if there are any major issues, you can take it into an MB dealership and have them correct whatever is wrong. The dropoff in price is pretty significant in out of warranty cars on the private market.

10-31-2002, 05:43 PM	#7
I6turbo Almost a Member! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 43	Is the warranty 36 months/36K miles on those cars?

11-01-2002, 02:58 PM	#8
nubomb Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 199	The warrenty I believe is 48/50k. Look in MBUSA website at the starmark program. You pay a little more but the car is clean and comes with an extended warrenty. Chirping the tires?? Come on now, this is a Benz not some five speed mustang. Touch shift is not meant for power shifting. The only time I like to use it is for downshifting.

11-01-2002, 03:48 PM	#9
I6turbo Almost a Member! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 43	IMO an automatic transmissioned car with performance intentions should shift hard enough under full throttle to almost break traction, otherwise it's losing measurable time on the granny-like shift. Plus, if the shifts feel like a Mustang with a badly slipping tranny it isn't very inspiring, even if it is a Benz. Full throttle shifts should be banged off rapidly.

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