Buying an older Mercedes

Yorkshireman79

Hi all,

Looking for some advice really. I passed my driving test a year ago and have been driving a older Megane since then. I am now looking to purchase an older type Mercedes CLK 320 as I really like them. I have seen a few around the 10/11 year age for around £3000. I'm just wondering what opinions/experiences are of purchasing a car of this age and specifically this model or others similar. Any comments would be appreciated.

Many thanks

wobbley

With a years driving experience you will probably find the insurance is more than the car is worth.

Yorkshireman79

No, less than i'm paying now actually. I'm 31, thanks.

johnnyroper

Recently sold clk 200k. 2002 vintage and to be honest not a particularly good car.
Suffered with rust on arches and boot lid around number plate.
The engine ran terrible due to oil soak from cam magnet travelling up loom to ecu and o2 sensor.breathers failed forcing oil up intake cooking the MAF.
Needed MAF,o2 sensor,breather pipes and PCV valve,new cam magnet and modified short start line loom to prevent oil soak should magnet fail again. Then cleaned ecu and loom changing the worst wires to o2 sensor.
Not overly expensive for all parts about £110 but took ages for me to do Merc quoted £1400 all in but they change engine harness and not clean so if not able to do yourself can be expensive.
Personally I would not bother with one of these cars as quality not the best.
Parts price above did not include MAF or o2 as that was not initially diagnosed by Merc I found them knackered cost was around £200 for them.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Rust rust and then a bit more rust.

If you really want a proper MB and they are by no means faultless get a pre 96 W124 E class, i've owned 4 and still have a 320 coupe.

You will have to do lots of research to find the various faults and fixes but the most important thing you will need is a competent MB specialist indy not too far away.
These cars need someone who knows what they are doing round them, forget main dealers.

Older_but_not_wiser_2

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Rust rust and then a bit more rust.

If you really want a proper MB and they are by no means faultless get a pre 96 W124 E class, i've owned 4 and still have a 320 coupe.

You will have to do lots of research to find the various faults and fixes but the most important thing you will need is a competent MB specialist indy not too far away.
These cars need someone who knows what they are doing round them, forget main dealers.

never a truer word typed.

A good independent is an invaluable source of info and technical ability ( and about half the price a mercedes dealership will cost)


Have a look on http://www.mbclub.co.uk/index.php for some more advice.

goldspanners

serious rust issues. my mate has a 2000 convertible 230clk. its rusted around the front and rear badges and locks, wheel arches and front wings. also bubbling around the boot.

he has had some of these areas fixed but they keep coming back.

his lcd dashboard displays don't work properly and haven't done for quite some time. he is also having trouble with the gear selector at the moment.

even in the slightest of snow or ice its lethal,he is a fairly good driver but he struggles to keep it straight in any kind of ice.

exhaust parts cost a fortune and at the age you are looking at it will be needing exhaust parts, its usually cheaper to get the parts made than buying them from merc,as they are the only supplier of parts for them.

on the upside they aren't as expensive as i expected on tyres,he got a full set for £300. and the grey and white leather interior ages well.

could have been a nice car if it wasn't for the rust issues.

bifold

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Rust rust and then a bit more rust.

If you really want a proper MB and they are by no means faultless get a pre 96 W124 E class, i've owned 4 and still have a 320 coupe.

You will have to do lots of research to find the various faults and fixes but the most important thing you will need is a competent MB specialist indy not too far away.
These cars need someone who knows what they are doing round them, forget main dealers.

I have a 1989 230e W124 very reliable,cheap to run,comfy car with a bit of style.:D

Inactive

Neighbour just got rid of a 2000 W plate Merc Estate, it was rotting away very badly.

Disgraceful for a car of this expensive marque.

johnnyroper

even in the slightest of snow or ice its lethal,he is a fairly good driver but he struggles to keep it straight in any kind of ice.

I know what you mean there I could not get the damn thing off drive
Just before Xmas when buyer came to collect,had to dig snow away and put shed loads of grit down.was lethal on the roads just hot no control.

his lcd dashboard displays don't work properly and haven't done for quite some time. he is also having trouble with the gear selector at the moment.
The common dead pixel problem that seems to affect all the c class and clk.'s

Inactive Neighbour just got rid of a 2000 W plate Merc Estate, it was rotting away very badly.

Disgraceful for a car of this expensive marque.

Couldn't agree more for cars that is supposed to be top end and had massive price new they really are crap,rust more than an old vauxhall.

LandyAndy

Another vote for rust, rust, rust. In fact, I recall starting a thread about it some months ago.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2482573=