Mercedes CLK 1998 - 2002. Why are they so cheap?

Ducati888 · 08-02-2014, 02:14 PM

I've never been a great fan of German cars - probably more a case of the people who drive them thinking their excrement has no odour.

There is one, however, that I've always liked. The Mercedes CLK range from 1999 - 2001. 2 door coupe, they came as a 4 banger with a blower, a V6, or a V8.

I like the V8, of course. What I can't figure out though, is why such a car can be bought for $15K with 140K km. I'm sure the equivalent BMW or Audi would be over $20K.

Am I missing something? Are they unreliable and costly to keep? Or, is it mainly because they are a two door, four seater?

A 220KW V8 with all the bells & whistles for $15k would be a good cheap temporary replacement for my AWD 2004 Verada, until I can afford a Calais V.

XR Martin · 08-02-2014, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati888

A 220KW V8 with all the bells & whistles for $15k would be a good cheap temporary replacement for my AWD 2004 Verada, until I can afford a Calais V.

A what?

Ducati888 · 08-02-2014, 02:24 PM

You don't think $15K is a good price for that? I wouldn't be buying a flogged out VT Commodore. Perhaps I phrased it badly. To me, for what it is, $15K seems like a great price for such a car.

The point of the thread is to find out why I'm mistaken. Please elaborate.....

**Silver Ghia** · 08-02-2014, 02:51 PM

People say Falcons and Commodores depreciate rapidly. But they dont realise that you lose heaps more with Mercs and BMWs.

Might be relatively cheap to purchase now when comparing to new Merc prices, but a 1998 - 2002 car is now 12 - 16 years old and things will be deteriorating nicely with high cost for repairs. People sell them when they face the real cost of owning these older cars.

Cuyper · 08-02-2014, 02:55 PM

How is 15k cheap for an ancient merc. You can get BMW V8s fot that price and better by the way. A VT isn't worth much more than scrap metal these days. In fact anything 15 years old that is worth more than scrap is doing well for itself. I have a friend with a late 90s BMW V8 he loves it. Cars generally have come a long way in the last 15 years especially regarding safety. Its made the older stuff undesirable and cheap.

smoo · 08-02-2014, 03:07 PM

NZ is full of these temperamental high maintenance limited lifespan Euro crap... Due to lax import laws the NZ new examples with history demand slightly more coin but they take a huge hit in resale as a result. End of the day the pond scum of society manage to finance them at huge interest rates and think they've made it. E46 M3s from 20k, E60 M5s from 40, W211 E55 AMG from 25k. W140 and E38 V12 lwb 5 grand for a legal one to 12 for a minter. E65 745i from 10k. No one wants the crap unless they like throwing money down the shitter. E60 530/545i and W211 E320/E500 go for the same coin as a BF Fairmont Ghia/VZ to VE Calais. Shows how well regarded the Aussie stuff is, and those models were the best sellers back then too.
The supercharged E55 looks like an amazing car, and good bang for buck, but I'd say the purchase price will be the cheapest part of the ownership.

Ducati888 · 08-02-2014, 03:47 PM

So to put in in to perspective - my 04 Verada has run flawlessly for 8 years, on LPG, and has 150K km, but is now showing signs of auto trans problems. My 98 Prado has run flawlessly for 240k km, and shows no signs of slowing down. These are not premium euro brands, just run of the mill average punter cars.

The euro brands are supposed to be better engineered and were ahead of the game back then for safety and performance, by and large.

Once they get to 150K km, it sounds like they get very expensive to own. But 150K km is barely run in for a big engine that's been serviced religiously.

mrfordfairmont · 08-02-2014, 03:57 PM

because you don't have to pay the luxury car tax
i was look at a amg convertible and the they had the price break down hanging in the window and from memory the car was $125,000 and $100,000 in luxury car tax

Ducati888 · 08-02-2014, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfordfairmont

because you don't have to pay the luxury car tax
i was look at a amg convertible and the they had the price break down hanging in the window and from memory the car was $125,000 and $100,000 in luxury car tax

Not payable on second hand cars. I'm talking about cars now worth $15K, not $150K.

Agree though, the LCT is a joke. It costs over $60K for a Tarago these days. Hardly a luxury (or desirable) car to own to impress the ladies.

Mr Hardware · 08-02-2014, 04:21 PM

I was fortunate enough to be lent this car for a weekend a couple of years ago. It was actually an import from the UK! Speedo/odo in miles and everything. Was a nice car, most definitely turned heads. Why are they so cheap? Is $15k cheap for an AU-era car? No, it's accurate. If cars lose half their value every three years (ready reckoner) then even if they were $200k new (they weren't) then at $15k they're overpriced.

Servicing costs and electrical faults were enough for the owners of the example above led them to trade the car in after not doing very many kays (miles?) in it.

Oh and this isn't the first or last Merc i've driven either. Each time I've left with the same feeling - they don't drive as nice or feel as nice inside as you think they will from the look of them. They always look like they're gonna be some lush, lux, smooth, syrupy comfortable drive, but each time, i've always thought that i may as well have been driving a Liberty or an Accord, apart from the RWD.

K_Man · 08-02-2014, 04:22 PM

They are no longer new enough to be fashionable/desirable, and not old enough for anyone to care about them again yet. That, on top of the kind of problems that would be creeping up on a car that old, and hence the price.

Windsor220 · 08-02-2014, 04:26 PM

Its just the age of the vehicle. It is 16 years old now. Mercs aren't as sought after in Australia as BMWs either.

GTMOND · 08-02-2014, 04:34 PM

Be nice with a miami or coyote transplant. Difficult but would be awesome.

XR Martin · 08-02-2014, 06:17 PM

Here you go

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w208...-problems.html

jaydee · 08-02-2014, 06:45 PM

They're at the age where things start to wear out, water pumps etc, very, very expensive.
A friend of mine was selling his Dads Merc about 5 years ago, same model Lady Di had her crash in. Quarter of a mill new, was selling for $25,000, think he got 19 for it.

2011G6E · 08-02-2014, 06:50 PM

My old boss had a BMW 740i which he paid nearly two hundred grand for some years back...I think around 2004/5? I saw one in a major car yard in Rocky for $39,000 about a year ago.
Servicing and repairs are the reason.

You want to see depreciation, look at the price of Rolls Royces and Bentleys from twenty years back. "The best car in the world" at the time was worth nearly a quarter million bucks, but now you can get things like old Shadows and later models for a bit over twenty grand.

But ask yourself...would you like to turn up to get a quote on repairing something when it all goes wrong...?

**GasoLane** · 08-02-2014, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Here you go

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w208...-problems.html

You pick an American forum ??

bigsta · 08-02-2014, 11:50 PM

$15k is way too much 3 or 4 year old mercs go for $20k or less.

Mate of mine brought a clk about 6 months ago for $4k, he has a mechanic out west he will use for it, but yeah they are not cheap parts wise.

4 year old terry is more expensive then a 4 year old x5 or XC90. Volvo will not sell you a used volvo past manufactures warranty because one breakdown in that 3 month stat warranty will cost em their margin and allot more sometimes.

nstg8a · 09-02-2014, 12:16 AM

If you already have a daily why would you consider dropping 15k on another daily whilest you save for a Calais?
15k is a damned good chunk of the Calais... If you wanna waste 15k just finance the Calais and get it now?

danzvtil · 09-02-2014, 12:21 AM

honestly mate, you are better picking up a second hand or reco trans for your verada and driving that into the ground.Repairs on those wont cost you the earth. A bung water pump on a 15yo merc will exceed the value of your verada plus trans.

**GasoLane** · 09-02-2014, 12:53 AM

I really think some of our members are away with the fairies!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsta

$15k is way too much 3 or 4 year old mercs go for $20k or less.

Show me an ad for a 2010 Benz for that price please.
And a picture of your mates $4,000 CLK would be nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

A bung water pump on a 15yo merc will exceed the value of your verada plus trans.

Really? you're shopping in the wrong places!...Unless you can buy a Verada for $70
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mercedes-...item3a6e3b3e4a

_Ben · 09-02-2014, 01:23 AM

WHEN something goes wrong, it will be expensive. You're getting to the age where stuff starts getting worn out, and its not like a falcon / commo / magna where you can just go to the wreckers for plastic trim pieces etc (well, not anywhere near as easily).

2011G6E · 09-02-2014, 06:23 AM

Then again...maybe we shouldn't be too quick to laugh at people who buy older Euro's and scoff at parts prices.

Personally, over the last few years I've seen at least five newish "ordinary" cars owned by people I know, vehicles like Falcons, Hiluxes, Corollas, etc, written off by insurance companies when they were still perfectly driveable, but parts costs to repair them meant it wasn't economically viable to do so.

I wouldn't like to buy major new bits for a brand new Falcon or Commodore, much less an older Euro...

**GasoLane** · 09-02-2014, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Ben

WHEN something goes wrong, it will be expensive. You're getting to the age where stuff starts getting worn out, and its not like a falcon / commo / magna where you can just go to the wreckers for plastic trim pieces etc (well, not anywhere near as easily).

Other than the one in my Avatar I have another 'German Taxi', a 1987 230E thats done 540,000kms.

A little while ago I bought a fuel pump and filter for it.The fuel pump was genuine from Turkey the filter aftermarket from Oz.

Total cost for both, $175 including freight.

If you're not in a hurry, sourcing bits via Google & eBay is often an inexpensive way to go.

Having said that, I've heard that getting spark plugs changed on the one pictured is a 6 hour job.
I'm not looking forward to that!

BadMax · 09-02-2014, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati888

, but is now showing signs of auto trans problems.

I was given a hot tip a few years ago about Magna trans as we had a Ralliart which was by far the best built Aussie car in that era.

Check your trans fluid, if it's even slightly darkened, flush it a few times with nice fresh fluid. I can almost guarantee this will fix any issues also check your engine mounts thoroughly as cracked engine mounts feel like a jerky shift in the trans.
The guy who taught me that used to buy Magna's with 'stuffed' transmissions, get them home, flush them and then resell them.

ozpacman · 09-02-2014, 10:05 AM

Many years ago I was sniffing around at the possibility of getting into a used Merc.

An old bloke I knew who owned one said to me, "Mate if you can't afford a new Mercedes, you most definitely cannot afford an old one."

I thought about what he said and passed on the idea. I sometimes wonder if he deprived me of something special or saved a young bloke from committing financial suicide!

Either way, 30 plus years down the track I've never owned one, but I think of old Tommy every time I'm tempted.

Russ.

Jacko* · 09-02-2014, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Other than the one in my Avatar I have another 'German Taxi', a 1987 230E thats done 540,000kms.

A little while ago I bought a fuel pump and filter for it.The fuel pump was genuine from Turkey the filter aftermarket from Oz.

Total cost for both, $175 including freight.

If you're not in a hurry, sourcing bits via Google & eBay is often an inexpensive way to go.

Having said that, I've heard that getting spark plugs changed on the one pictured is a 6 hour job.
I'm not looking forward to that!

I agree, I do most of the mechanical repair work on my family & friends cars, everything from Saab to Subaru. Living in regional QLD almost all parts have to be ordered in anyway, I have found the likes of Repco Supercheap & Autobarn will charge about twice as much as online sellers for an identical part. It doesn't seem to matter if the car is euro or not parts will be cheaper if you shop around online.

zilo · 09-02-2014, 10:41 AM

Buy a new Mercedes,

get the three year warranty which includes servicing AND all oils filters etc.

Problems? What problems?

Only problems you get is when you buy someone else's problems due to either neglect, abuse by not servicing or collision repair.

Mercedes are an excellent build, far exceeding BMW.

mik · 09-02-2014, 10:49 AM

The days of the simple, cheap easy to fix cars are mostly gone, and more so with the overly packed vehicles brimming with gadgets, these are more so "throw away cars" , for the simple reason as they get older the gadgets need maintenance or replacement.
Most well off dudes replace them before they become a serious money pit.
All these luxury cars with multiple way adjustable suspension lots of complicated electricals end up an expensive head ache.

zilo · 09-02-2014, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

The days of the simple, cheap easy to fix cars are mostly gone, and more so with the overly packed vehicles brimming with gadgets, these are more so "throw away cars" , for the simple reason as they get older the gadgets need maintenance or replacement.
Most well off dudes replace them before they become a serious money pit.
All these luxury cars with multiple way adjustable suspension lots of complicated electricals end up an expensive head ache.

Yep....I shudder at the thought of trying to find an LCD instrument cluster backlight module when the manufacturer is no longer required to support it.