Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLK 240 Coupé, 170 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €587 | €4,999 | 58 | Petrol | Automatic (5) | 2002–2005 | |
| CLK 200 Kompressor Cabriolet, 163 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, convertible Research | €517 | €6,800 | 57 | Petrol | 271940 | Automatic (5) | 2003–2005 |
| CLK 200 Kompressor Coupé, 163 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €521 | €3,999 | 50 | Petrol | 271940 | Automatic (5) | 2002–2005 |
At a glance
- Years: 2002 to 2010, coupe and cabriolet, with a facelift in 2005.
- Reliability: 2/5. ADAC rates the breakdown record below average, mostly on poorly serviced cars. The engines are solid, but the timing chains and the cabriolet roof need attention.
- DIY: 2/5. Oil, filters and brake pads are simple. Timing chains, the roof and the gearbox radiator need a workshop.
- Prefer: a full service history, a cabriolet whose roof works in both directions, and a body checked for rust.
- Avoid: cars with a stalling or stuck roof, and early cars with rust in the wheel arches, doors or sills.
Engines and gearboxes
- M271 1.8 Kompressor (CLK 200 K, 2002-2010): timing chain wear is the main engine risk. See M271 timing chain stretches.
- M112 V6 2.6 and 3.2 (CLK 240, CLK 320, 2002-2005): no fault confirmed in the sources read. ADAC lists no engine code for it.
- M272 V6 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 (CLK 280, CLK 350, 2005-2010): the balance shaft sprocket and the intake manifold can fail. See balance shaft sprocket and intake manifold.
- M273 V8 5.5 (CLK 500, 2006-2010): the intake manifold can break. See intake manifold.
- M113 V8 5.0 (CLK 500 to 2006, CLK 55 AMG): CarWiki calls it reliable. No fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M156 6.2 AMG (CLK 63 AMG): AMG models have higher parts and running costs. No fault confirmed in the sources read.
- OM646 2.2 diesel (CLK 220 CDI, 2005-2009): ADAC calls the diesels economical and long-lived. CarWiki calls this engine generally trouble-free.
- OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (CLK 320 CDI, 2005-2010): the oil cooler seal leaks. See OM642 oil cooler seal leaks.
- OM612 2.7 five-cylinder diesel (CLK 270 CDI, 2002-2005): CarWiki calls it generally trouble-free. No fault confirmed in the sources read. ADAC lists no engine code for it.
- 5-speed automatic 722.6 (cars built to September 2003): the radiator can leak coolant into the gearbox. See 5-speed automatic radiator leaks coolant into the gearbox.
- 7G-Tronic 722.9 (V6 and V8 from 2004): see the 7G-Tronic guide for conductor plate and valve body faults.
- 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| M271 timing chain stretches | M271 1.8 petrol, 2002-2010 | About 60,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Balance shaft sprocket wears early | M272 V6, mostly cars built to 2007 | Not stated | GBP 1,500-5,000 (owners, year not stated) |
| Intake manifold flaps and arms break | M272 V6 and M273 V8 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| 5-speed automatic radiator leaks coolant into the gearbox | 5-speed automatic 722.6, cars built to September 2003 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| OM642 oil cooler seal leaks | OM642 3.0 V6 diesel, CLK 320 CDI | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Cabriolet roof hydraulics and microswitches fail | Cabriolet only | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Body rust at wheel arches, doors and sills | All cars, mostly before the facelift | Not stated | 1,444 EUR for a painted front wing (AUTO BILD, year not stated) |
| Front suspension joints and arms wear | All cars, worse on bad roads | About 50,000-100,000 km on bad roads | About GBP 250 for good-quality parts (owner, year not stated) |
Before you buy
- Ask for proof that the balance shaft sprocket was done on a V6. A scanner reads pending balance shaft codes. Bad result: codes or no record.
- Start the engine cold and listen for a metal rattle from the front. Ask whether the chain, tensioner and cam sprockets were replaced together. A scanner reads camshaft codes. Bad result: a rattle that fades after a few seconds, a check-engine light or no record.
- Check the intake manifold on a warm engine. Listen for a rough idle and feel for lost power. A scanner reads fault codes. Bad result: rough running or codes.
- Drive in drive and reverse. Shifts must be smooth. Ask whether the radiator was replaced, and look for coolant in the gearbox fluid. A scanner reads gearbox codes. Bad result: harsh shifts, rumbling at low speed or cloudy fluid.
- On a lift, check the oil cooler seal area on the diesel for oil. Bad result: wet oil on the seal or the housing.
- Open and close the cabriolet roof twice with the boot divider fully down. Watch for a stop, a stall or a whine. Bad result: the roof stops partway, or water shows in the boot. Cabriolets only.
- On a lift, check the wheel arches, sills, lower door edges and boot lid. Bad result: bubbling paint, holes or fresh filler.
- On a lift, check ball joints, control arm bushes and tie rods for play. Bad result: knocks over bumps or uneven tyre wear.
Running costs
| Operational | €312 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €131 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €138 |
| Total per month | €581 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €58 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 443
- 25th percentile
- €3,899
- Median price
- €5,500
- 75th percentile
- €7,900
- Median mileage
- 196,500 km
- Median first registration
- 2003
- Dealer share
- 34.5%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,006
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
M271 timing chain stretches
Symptoms: a rattle on cold start that fades after a few seconds, and a check-engine light. Ignored, the chain can cause serious engine damage.
Cause: the chain stretches with mileage, and the tensioner and cam sprockets wear. The phase shifters are fragile and costly, according to one review.
Which cars: the 1.8 Kompressor, 2002-2010. The sources give the first wear at 100,000-150,000 km, sometimes at 60,000 km.
Fix: replace the chain, tensioner and cam sprockets together. The sources give no part numbers.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide, differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems, ADAC Gebrauchtwageninfo: CLK petrol
Balance shaft sprocket wears early
Symptoms: owners report pending balance shaft codes on a scan.
Cause: the balance shaft sprocket on the V6 wears or fails. The sources name cars made mostly up to 2007.
Which cars: the 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 V6 (CLK 280, CLK 350), mainly 2005-2007 cars.
Fix: the sources give no part numbers. One owner calls the repair an engine-out job.
Cost: GBP 1,500-5,000 (owners, year not stated). The low figure is an owner's estimate for an engine-out job. The high figure is a reader's report of a main dealer bill.
Sources: differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems, cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide, PistonHeads owner thread: CLK help and advice
Intake manifold flaps and arms break
Symptoms: the sources do not describe the symptoms in detail.
Cause: the plastic intake manifold arms and flaps break, and the manifold can coke up. The sources name the V6 and the V8.
Which cars: the V6 (M272) and the V8 (M273), mainly cars from 2005.
Fix: replace the intake manifold part. The sources give no part numbers.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems, AUTO BILD: CLK Cabrio test
5-speed automatic radiator leaks coolant into the gearbox
Symptoms: a rumbling or humming at low speed, and harsh or unstable shifts.
Cause: the radiator holds the gearbox cooler. A leak lets coolant into the gearbox fluid.
Which cars: cars built to September 2003 (CarWiki says up to and including 2003).
Fix: the sources give no fix or part numbers. Check the gearbox fluid for coolant before you buy.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems
OM642 oil cooler seal leaks
Symptoms: oil leaks from the oil cooler (heat exchanger) seal.
Cause: the seal ages and leaks. CarWiki says it has to be replaced from time to time.
Which cars: the CLK 320 CDI, 2005-2010.
Fix: replace the seal. CarWiki calls the job time-consuming and costly.
Cost: no confirmed price in EUR or GBP.
Sources: cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide, differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems
Cabriolet roof hydraulics and microswitches fail
Cabriolet only.
Symptoms: the roof stops partway, or it does not close fully. The pump whines. One owner says the roof starts to rise and stops at the boot hinge. Microswitch faults show up as roof errors.
Cause: AUTO BILD calls the roof hydraulics worn and the roof fabric worn. Microswitches and the roof drive fail. One reviewer reports leaks from the aged canvas.
Which cars: all cabriolets, 2003-2010.
Fix: a specialist or dealer checks the hydraulic parts and the microswitches. One owner needed several attempts with sensors and microswitches at a dealer.
Cost: no confirmed price. AUTO BILD says the repairs are fairly expensive.
Sources: AUTO BILD: CLK Cabrio test, differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, PistonHeads owner thread: convertible roof issues
Body rust at wheel arches, doors and sills
Symptoms: bubbling paint and rust on the rear wheel arches, the lower doors, the front wings, the sills and the boot lid.
Cause: rust gets into the body on early cars.
Which cars: mostly cars built before the facelift.
Fix: the sources give no repair method. Repair the rust area and repaint it. Check the cost below.
Cost: 1,444 EUR for a painted front wing, including labour and 19 % VAT, year not stated (AUTO BILD).
Sources: AUTO BILD: CLK Cabrio test, differentcarreview: CLK W209 review, CarWiki: Mercedes CLK problems, cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide
Front suspension joints and arms wear
Symptoms: knocks over bumps, play in the front joints, excess steering play and uneven tyre wear.
Cause: the axle joints and control arms wear. One reviewer says the front arms may last 50,000-100,000 km on bad roads. The rear springs can break.
Which cars: all cars. Worn joints show up mostly after about seven years.
Fix: replace the worn joints or arms.
Cost: about GBP 250 for good-quality parts (owner, year not stated).
Sources: ADAC Gebrauchtwageninfo: CLK petrol, t-online: CLK quality and price, cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide
Recalls
No recall was found in the sources read. Check open campaigns by the car's VIN (FIN) with a Mercedes dealer before you buy.
Maintenance
- Keep the service book complete. ADAC blames most breakdowns on poorly maintained cars.
- Check the wheel arches, sills and underside for bubbling and rust each year. Cars-expert advises checking the welds too.
- Have a slow or stalling roof checked early. AUTO BILD says the hydraulics and microswitches are costly to repair.
Sources
English
- cars-expert: Mercedes CLK W209 guide
- differentcarreview: CLK W209 review
- PistonHeads owner thread: convertible roof issues
- PistonHeads owner thread: CLK help and advice