The CLK 55 AMG lives and breathes both form and function. For those who long for minimalist cabins and exterior designs in newer cars, this car is a must-have.
Owners will tell you that there is no experience like it. The craftsmanship, features, design and reliability set it apart from other cars in the segment and from other Mercedes models. A halo car of a forgotten era.
Based on the w203 chassis, the first generation CLK combines the classic Mercedes-Benz luxury with a coupe body style. AMG takes this to another level with their renowned suspension and engine tuning and craftsmanship.
Here are all the things you need to know before purchasing a Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG
Cars are complex. It’s almost impossible for a manufacturer to get everything right. You can hire the best engineers and designers, have no production issues, and the market can still dislike it.
The CLK 55 AMG is a car that hit the bullseye in every category. In fact, it had to be discontinued and merged with the E-class and S class coupe, as it affected sales of the more expensive Mercedes models.
Engine
The CLK 55 AMG uses a 5.5l (5.44l) V8 engine. A bigger version of the powerful and reliable M113 engine. This particular motor won the international engine of the year in the performance category on its debut in 2003.
The reliability of the engine stems from its relative simplicity. It uses SOHC cylinder heads, variable valve timing, and variable cam phasing. It is also naturally aspirated, meaning no supercharger or turbocharger.
Handcrafted at the AMG engine plant in Affalterbach, every engine features the AMG sigil with the engineer signature that brought it to life on its cover.
AMG
AMG is the performance division of Mercedes-Benz, but what does it mean. In this car, it means AMG suspension and engine tuning, and brakes.
All Mercedes vehicles have the Mercedes Active-Suspension system, but AMG has calibrated this system for the CLK 55 to minimize body roll, squat, and dive.
The AMG engine uses fracture-split forged steel connecting rods, a one-piece cast camshaft, and a magnesium intake manifold for increased reliability.
The bigger brakes on this car have an analog feel, which is partially thanks to the ventilated brake discs that come as standard. It doesn’t use an electronic system for brake modulation like later Mercedes-Benz cars do, and that increases driver feedback. After all, this car was going up against the BMW E46 M3, which took no prisoners when it first came out. AMG had their work cut out for them in just about every aspect.
Transmission.
The transmission is the weakest point of the CLK 55 AMG. The car uses a 5-speed automatic torque converter transmission. As with any early 2000s or pre-2000s torque converter, it shifts gears smoothly, but manual shifts using the paddles are slow and rather vague.
It uses a dry clutch which is not ideal. Without the oil to cool and lubricate the transmission, it gets noisy during stop-start driving where it has to shift more often because of the increased temperatures.
It is also more prone to wear than a wet clutch, so when purchasing the CLK 55 AMG, keep in mind that a clutch replacement is due at 100k miles or earlier.
How Much Power Can a CLK 55 AMG Make?
It has a solid 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds. However, that is not the complete story. The engine produces almost equal horsepower and torque, 342 bhp @ 5500 rpm and 376 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm. Meaning the car pulls through the rev range with relative ease.
This low-end torque was sorely missed in the next AMG engine and is still missing in the modern AMG era of bi-turbo cars. One reason well-kept versions of these cars are sought after.
Interiors, Design, and Features
The CLK design is the pinnacle of early 2000s cars with its sleek, rounded athletic shape. It borrows some design elements from the SL coupe and came in two body styles – a convertible (A209) and a hardtop (C209).
The stainless steel quad tipped exhausts harken back to an era before fake diffusers.
The interior is minimalist and embodies Mercedes luxury. The leather interior comes in 3 colors: anthracite gray, merlot red, and dark blue. Much like most cars of this vintage, physical controls were the norm. You could find them on the leather steering wheel and center console. The only screen was a small board computer display located in between the center analog gauge.
It comes standard with electric windows, mirrors, and a host of safety features. The steering wheel is adjustable but positioned high and lacks the full tilt of later models.
Lightning Proof
A selling point of this car was that Mercedes-Benz claimed that it was lightning-proof. They claimed that the main body mounts protect the interior from lightning, and even the convertible is lightning-proof.
Whether you would like to test their claim is up to you, we would prefer to keep the lightning trapped in the powerful AMG engine.
Optional Packages
The standard equipment list was extensive and featured most equipment that would be optional in lower models. It came with an optional built-in navigation system and a Mercedes-Benz branded mobile phone.
Pre-Purchase Inspection — Known Issues
Production of this car was between 2002 and 2007. That’s 17 years of wear, so there will be issues due to age and not because the vehicle is unreliable. As with any car, The CLK 55 AMG had a few common problems to look out for during its original run.
Motor and Transmission Mounts.
To reduce NVH (noise, vibration, hardness), Mercedes used rubber dome-shaped pieces on top of the motor mounts. Over time, the rubber wears out and can cause some issues.
The main issue it will cause is increased engine vibration on idle and while driving. A noisy engine most likely means that these mounts need replacing. You should easily see when they need replacing by looking in the engine bay. If it looks sunken or lower, this is visual evidence of this issue.
The transmission mount can also wear out and can cause increased vibration. If you hear any rattling noise coming from the transmission while test-driving the car, it’s the transmission mount.
Rear Main Seal
The rear main seal is a seal between the transmission and engine. It keeps oil sealed in the engine and prevents leaks between the crankshaft and transmission.
The M113 is not especially susceptible to rear main seal problems, but in high-mileage, high-performance engines, this issue is always one to look out for. A rear main seal leak can starve your engine of oil and cause it to seize or overheat.
Any oil or coolant leak is cause for concern, but this can set you back as a mechanic will need to remove the transmission to replace it.
Camshaft Position Sensor
Although a camshaft position sensor isn’t something that fails too often on these cars, you might still want to check the ECU for any related fault codes. A failed sensor can affect the performance of this engine to a great extent. Sometimes you’ll find cars that don’t run well, which makes them relatively cheap to get, only to find that a faulty cam sensor is to blame.
The good thing is that you can easily replace the camshaft position sensor on these cars. It’s easily accessible and fairly straightforward to remove.
Throttle Position Sensor
The CLK 55 AMG uses throttle by wire, attached to a throttle position sensor on the engine. This sensor can fail and cause the engine to switch into reduced power mode when you mash the gas.
Again, you will only notice it when your foot is on the floor. We recommend testing this before purchasing the vehicle.
Sunroof
Any car with a sunroof is vulnerable to cracked roof seals or leaks at some point. These repairs are inexpensive, but it’s worth it to make sure as a big puddle is not something you want to end up in your brand-new car.
As the car uses a manual sunroof shade, there is no motor or track to replace. However, always look out for cracks or dents in the glass as this could be an expensive repair.
What you can expect to replace post-purchase
When buying a used car, it’s always good to consider the cost of replacement components. Some of these parts are high wear and a given that you will need to replace them.
Spark plugs
As you already know, spark plugs are a high wear item. They are inexpensive to replace. It’s a V8 engine, so eight spark plugs, right?
The M113 uses two spark plugs per cylinder and sixteen spark plugs for the whole engine. One spark plug failure can lead to misfires or a loss in power, so consider it a good idea to replace them when purchasing a new car.
Fluid Change
The age of the car counts against it. A complete flush and fluid change is almost a guarantee at this time, including power steering fluid, brake fluid, oil, and coolant. You can do these changes yourself, but there is one other fluid change that is more complicated.
Mercedes-Benz recommends replacing automatic transmission fluid at 100k miles. We recommend that you change this fluid every 30-40k miles and when purchasing your car. In the end, preventative care is cheaper than replacing your transmission when it fails.
Brake pads
It’s not only unsafe to drive with worn brake pads, but compromises the amazing driving experience that is the CLK 55 AMG. Mercedes-Benz recommends you check your brakes for wear every 10000 miles, not only when the brake-wear light flashes.
You should conduct a thorough check on the rotors, pads and calipers before any high speed or long distance driving. If the car is pulling to one side, there is any squealing or excessive vibration. This can mean that the brake pads are worn.
Is the CLK 55 AMG Worth Buying in 2022?
If you’re looking for a reliable highway cruiser, this is it. An experience that does not exist at the price range today. There will be issues, but they are worth living with and paying for, as this car will not disappoint you.
We at eEuroparts.com ® will be with you every step of the way, for every part and replacement. On our website, you’ll find every fluid, belt, or pump for your future CLK 55 AMG and any other Benz you might purchase. Just pop into our store, select your car, and all the parts for your car will be right at your fingertips
