Beautiful Bargain – 2002 W208 CLK55 AMG
Article and Images – Joe Hall
As spring 2014 arrived, my partner Lonnie and I became interested in finding a late-model soft-top Mercedes-Benz to use as an additional fun car, particularly for weekends. We had become reluctant to drive our pristine low-mileage 1988 560SL due to increasing traffic and bad drivers on the roads. We determined that we wanted something that would be unusual, fun and dependable, with parts readily available. Making the search more challenging: We wanted something that wasn’t in great condition so it would be affordable – but could be brought back to its former glory with a little bit of work.
In my research, I discovered a limited-production model I hadn’t known about: the 2002 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet on the W208 chassis. Built the last year of production on that chassis, the AMG coupes and cabriolets were early collaborative projects between Mercedes-Benz and its newly acquired subsidiary. Only 1,340 AMG cabriolets were built during that one production year. Because I like unusual things, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more.
The CLK coupes and cabriolets, intended to replace the discontinued W124 E-Class coupes and cabriolets, were built on a modified version of the C-Class chassis. Karmann, the German custom coachbuilder, built the cabriolets. With the many similarities in appearance, including exterior lights, many people assume the car is actually built on the E-Class chassis. This approach would be used on three successive chassis series until the fairly recent reintroduction of the E-Class coupes and cabriolets.
The high-performance M113 AMG engines – hand-built in the workshop in Affalterbach –produced 347 horsepower in the coupes, 342 in the cabrios; the AMG suspension modifications and trim were only installed on the W208 for 2002. Naturally aspirated, the engines are bulletproof, with no supercharger to replace, and have a specially forged crankshaft, as well as forged and balanced connecting rods that one would normally find in a racecar. In order to handle the 376 pound-feet of torque, the 5-speed automatic transmission is adapted from the 5.8-liter V-12 models.
The story of how we found our example is a long one, but fun to tell. Like all great car-find stories, it involves small used-car lots advertising on the internet; upon inspection, the lots are filled with all-but-abandoned cars with fender-high weeds surrounded by chain-link fences topped by razor wire. The attractive aspect was that the price was only $6,000, which left a lot of margin for error if the car was basically solid.
And it turned out that was the case. Of course, before we agreed to the deal, we drove the car to the nearest reliable Mercedes-Benz mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection – we would never, ever buy a car without doing that – and he gave us the low-down. The motor mounts were broken, the car needed new pads and rotors, one cross brace in the engine compartment was missing and the other was loose, and there were some suspicious oil stains around the valve cover and rear main seal on the engine. Oh, and the soft top was in reasonable condition – it had kept out most of the rain – but it wouldn’t operate; that might be as simple as a loose wire. Otherwise, the car was solid and ran well enough to drive home – as long as we didn’t get into a situation that would need heavy braking.
With that information, we made the deal and prepared for our 100-mile drive home. Before we left the lot, I had a quiet conversation with our new car, promising that if it would get us home, we would give it loving care and never abandon it on a used-car lot. Whether that helped or not, we were rewarded with an uneventful trip despite the highway speeds, hot temperatures and rush-hour traffic. A positive omen of better things to come: We averaged 26 mpg.
Soon after arriving home, we turned the car over to our favorite tech at the local Mercedes-Benz dealership. He shook his head, replaced the engine mounts, secured the body braces, told us not to worry about the oil seeps, that the brakes had thousands of miles left on them, and repaired the broken wire for the top while doing all the other neglected routine services. It turned out that the oil was a false negative; we haven’t had any trouble at all on that score.
All standard replacement parts came from my local Mercedes-Benz dealer, and with my internet tenacity, I’ve found parts that are no longer stocked. The biggest challenge has been to make sure I was getting parts that were correct for a 2002 CLK55 AMG cabrio; I could write another article on parts and issues specific to this model. We’ve gradually been repairing all the little interior problems, and I recently took six hours to detail the engine compartment, literally with a toothbrush and Q-tips. There was also that problem with the soft top mechanism, the topic for yet another article; our issues are typical of all older Mercedes-Benz convertibles (see page 66).
Other than that, we’ve put more than 7,000 miles on the car since we got it, and we’re still getting 25 miles to the gallon in spite of the occasional blast down an open road to enjoy that AMG engine torque and sound. We recommend that anyone who is looking for an interesting and unusual car that has the potential to become a classic should look at the CLKs; they are a great way to get into the hobby for not a lot of money. Whether it’s taking part in a Mercedes-Benz Club of America rally, enjoying a beautiful day on a favorite road with the top down or even an occasional trip to the office, you know you’re driving something special.
SPECIFICATIONS
2002 W208 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet
TYPE: Two-door, four-passenger convertible
ENGINE: Naturally aspirated 5,439cc manifold-injection 16-plug V-8,
handbuilt by AMG Affalterbach
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic from the 2002 V-12 models
HORSEPOWER: 342 TORQUE: 376 lb-ft
WHEELBASE: 105.9 in LENGTH: 180.2 in
CURB WEIGHT: 3,665 lb
ZERO-60 mph: 5 secs TOP SPEED: 155 mph (elec. limited)
FUEL ECONOMY (Observed): 25 mpg
Sleek 2002 CLK55 AMG Cabriolet has smooth, classical Mercedes-Benz appearance with understated sporty edge.
This low-production AMG Cabriolet is a great vehicle and an affordable way to get into the car hobby.
Initial cost can be reasonable; this one was purchased for $6,000.
Durable leather interior of CLK55 AMG is easy to live with.
The throaty rumble of the AMG V-8 lets you know you ‘re driving something special; prod the throttle to unleash the hand-built engine and the usually-reserved stainless steel exhaust system comes alive, announcing the car’s presence.
