Mercedes CLK or C class coupe

SurreyBear

Dear MSE Motorists,

I'm hoping to change my car later this year and am considering the following options - and would like to hear your views.

All about 2004/5/6:

• Mercedes CLK
• Mercedes C class coupe
• BMW 3 series coupe

My preference is for a Mercedes but am a little concerned about servicing costs (though wouldn't use main dealer). Fuel consumption isn't a major concern (I do about 7000 miles per year).

Thanks
SB

Sgt_Pepper_2

BMW many be a better buy that age due to Mercedes suspect build quality.

Strider590

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

BMW many be a better buy that age due to Mercedes suspect build quality.

^^ This, Merc build quality hasn't been up to scratch since the 1990's.....

People who can afford to buy them new, they don't keep them long enough to notice problems.

People who buy them 2nd hand (often on private plates to fool people into thinking it's new) usually can't afford to run/service them.

As an example, my mate had a C320 Coupe..... Servicing was £800 a time + parts, average was £1200 a year (and this was several years ago).
You can forget doing it yourself as im told you can't even check the oil/fluid levels on newer Mercs. Every little thing is a trip to the dealer.

Then it started going wrong, the carbon effect trim on the doors started to peel and rust underneath, then a few misc things went wrong before finally the engine started dropping into limp home mode, with an estimated repair bill of over £3500 he got rid of it.

Admittedly he was crazy to keep going to main dealers, but independents aren't (apparently) a hell of a lot better.

TBH, from what I can make out, BMW may have a reliability advantage, but the running costs probably aren't much different.
And much like all cars that fall into the "prestige" category (set back in the 1980's), everything is an extra, nothing comes as standard and if you want to be able to sell the thing, it ideally needs to be fully loaded.

colino

Thankfully, for both marques, there are plenty of decent independents and clubs to get help and advice from. Personally I'd always have the BMW, but problems with Mercedes quality of build and crazy costs of frequent failures like ecus and autoboxes should push a waverer that way too.

fivetide

Newsflash - BMW rust just as much.

From 2004 MB were galvanising cars again and the body shouldn't be as much of a concern on cars that age. If it has gone, then you might find that the owner has been able to claim on the warranty for it. That said, I think that was E and C class. The CLK might not be so double check that.

The E46 3 series though suffers on the rear arches and the front wings. Tailgates on Touring models rust like nowt.

The main issue MB then had was with Valeo radiators leting water into the gearbox as the oil was cooled. If the car has had a replacement rad or got MB history this should have been fixed.

5t.

Here's something looking typically MB rusty.... http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-cars-sale/124029-clk500-convertible.html

blacksta

I had a c class 04 reg c180 kompressor - bought it when it was 2 year. Very reliable and very quick response, and never had any issues. Sold it 4 years later.