Merc CLK230 now starterated... But saveable? Anyone like them?

[grogee]

OK so I think I mentioned I answered a Nextdoor call for help (yeah I know, cess pool). 

Merc CLK non start, been sat since Covid started. 

Went out last week, nearly got it going with a fresh battery but the hive mind here reckoned new plugs and fresh fuel would get it going. 

Hive mind was right. I put in new plugs kindly provided at shiters rates from @ruffgeezer and poured in 20 litres of 99RON. Fired up straight away.

But... The owners don't know what they want. "What should we do now?" etc. So I suggested booking MoT and seeing what happens. If it's a cheap mot - happy days, get a valeter over and list it on toilet trader. 

If not, it'll be a spares or repair. And this is where YOU come in. 

Owner currently has offer for £250 scrap. Clearly this car is a rope around her neck, she needs it gone. 

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Deets: 2003 CLK 230K Convertible auto Final Edition (ha) 

Reg: N6 SNP 

Good:

1 owner from new (nice lady, she's just been bimbling around Warwick in it) 

Under 50k miles

Apparently serviced by Merc, at least until 2020

Bad:

MoT history is chequered

It's grubby as hell

Algae on hood

'Marks commensurate with age' 

Driver window seems to be playing up a bit

Tyres probably flat spotted

OS door mirror half in, half out

Plus whatever else has seized or broken in the last four years of sitting idle 

It's retail silver 

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If this is something that interests you, hit me up. They seem like good people so don't take the piss. 

I'm not 'in the know' enough to know if Final Edition is a decent spec but with a good spruce this could be a great summer cruiser. CLKs have graced these pages frequently, this being the 'old' version could well be old tech and shiter friendly. 

Here is the only picture I took which is terrible. 

[Cluffy]

@grogee - mate, you're right, that's a fucking terrible picture 🤣

[Barry Cade]

Someone on here may really REALLY like that reg number

 

[Fat_Pirate]

Why am I thinking about this when I already have a broken one I can't be arsed to fix???

Final Edition is all the bells and whistles, any rot on the arches/front wings?

[grogee]

According to Parkers the only option on Final Edition was air conditioning (bleddy tight bastards). 

Unfortunately I was too busy trying to get the damn thing to run to notice if it had A/C. And I also didn't check front wings for crustiness.

It's pretty grubby though so hard to say how well it'll scrub up. Any tips for getting the green stuff off the roof? 

To clarify - this isn't definitely for sale. The scrap man offered her £250 as a 'try on' and that may well have been when metal prices were low. 

I think this car has more value to them but without an MoT it's a spares/repairs so who knows? 

I think the next problem will be that the parking brake is stuck on. I am hoping the lady just stuck it in Park without applying the parking brake but I don't know for certain. 

Chances of the parking brake releasing after having sat for four years are pretty slim, I'd say. 

[Supernaut]

You got it running, though?

Release* the parking brake by engaging drive and flooring it.

 

*Possibly destroy

[Fat_Pirate]

For the roof, I use whatever antibacterial cleaning spray I find under the sink and a scrubbing brush, then hose it off.  These things are a bit of a tough-sell even in nice condition though.

[grogee]

2 hours ago, Fat_Pirate said:

For the roof, I use whatever antibacterial cleaning spray I find under the sink and a scrubbing brush, then hose it off.  These things are a bit of a tough-sell even in nice condition though.

They do seem a bit unloved. 

Here is a £5,495 dealer 'let's have a go, summer is coming' which has the better* 3.2 V6. 

As I see it they are from the 'rust proofing is too expensive, and hey check out this water based paint' era of Mercedes. And for some reason an E-class convertible is much more desirable, but in shape and space I bet there's next to no difference. 

I would go into this eyes open and expect £1000 to go on tyres, brakes and fluids before anything else has happened. But, with luck and some spit and sawdust it could be a great cruiser. I think pre-2005 is not £bend over tax, yes? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276048811170

[Fat_Pirate]

Tax is the ~£30 a month level for all of them, I think.  They are wafty cruisers with nautical handling, if the bodywork doesn't need any attention it could be a reasonable buy.