2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Review
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Used CLK-Class for sale
Appraise This CarMercedes-Benz CLK-Class model years
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class types
- Coupe
- Convertible
See Edmunds pricing data
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Solid and secure, smooth and speedy, sleek and sexy.
Cons
- Heavy steering, rough ride in CLK430, tiny back seat in convertibles.
What’s new
The CLK430 Convertible debuts, reminding us, for a premium price, what a drop-top muscle car from the '70s was like. Turn-signal indicators have been added to exterior mirrors, stability control is standard on all models, automatics get TouchShift manual gear selection and TeleAid emergency cellular service is standard. A new instrument cluster and multifunction steering wheel are added, and buyers can opt for the confusing COMAND navigation/phone/trip computer/sound system. CLK320s benefit from exterior cosmetic changes including new wheels, while 430s are enhanced inside with new black bird's eye maple wood trim. Free maintenance for the duration of the warranty is now included.
Edmunds says
Classy, fast, safe and chock-full of luxury, the CLK is a car that more than a few of us wouldn't mind parking in our driveways.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK320 2dr Coupe and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$211/mo for CLK-Class CLK320
CLK-Class CLK320
vs
$183/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Don't ever call the gang at the three-pointed star lazy; they've been rolling out new cars faster than Hot Wheels. One of their latest efforts is the CLK, the latest in a string of Mercedes-Benz victories that will undoubtedly stretch into the next century.
Luxury is synonymous with Mercedes, and the CLK lives up to that name. Standard equipment is generous, and the interior is swathed in wood and leather. Based on C-Class sedan running gear and available with either a V6 or V8 in coupe or convertible format, the CLK appeals to people who place sports car performance and the availability of manual transmissions secondary to comfort and convenience. But this Benz is no slouch in the driving satisfaction department.
CLK320 models are powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine making 215 horsepower and 229 foot-pounds of torque. Mercedes asserts that the 320 Coupe goes from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. CLK430 models receive a 275-horsepower, 4.3-liter V8 engine, which cranks out 295 ft-lbs. of twist. This shaves nearly a second off the 320's zero-to-sixty time. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels through an adaptive logic five-speed automatic transmission that features Touch Shift manual control for 2000. Either car feels well balanced in turns, but a little heavy. The 320 drives more like a sedan than a sports car: surefooted and steady rather than agile and quick. The speedy 430, on the other hand, is tuned for a firm ride and taut handling. In either case, the CLK is an attractive car that turns heads.
Safety is addressed by the CLK as well as beauty. Antilock brakes with Brake Assist and full-range Automatic Slip Control (ASR) traction control come standard. Other standard features include front and side airbags and BabySmart child-detection protection for the front passenger seat. For 2000, Electronic Stability Programming (ESP), which reduces understeer and oversteer by applying braking force to the wheel that needs it, is standard as well. TeleAid service is also standard, and will notify emergency personnel if your airbags deploy or will put you in touch with a live operator to summon medical or police assistance.
One option on the list for 2000 is the Cockpit Management and Data (COMAND) system that debuted on the redesigned S-Class. Integrating radio, navigation, telephone and trip-computer functions into one unit that displays data on a small dash-mounted screen, COMAND is fussy and distracting to operate. Unless you absolutely must have a navigation system on board, skip this option.
The CLK impresses, from the classic and elegant styling, to the smooth and powerful engines, to the comfortable and well-appointed cabin. If you're in the market for a satisfying luxury coupe, it's hard to go wrong with this beautiful Benz.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class.
5 star(79%)
4 star(16%)
3 star(2%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
38 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
"Oh Lord buy me a Mercedes Benz!"
NMmechanix, 02/01/2017
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK320 2dr Convertible
First off, I NEVER, EVER thought I would own a Mercedes, just not on my list of cars. I acquired this one in no small part because my wife thought we needed a convertible for a Sunday car. I thought a Challenger SRT would be a better fit for me, but hey we know how those things go. Found this one at a local car lot and said might as well check it out. The thing had less than 70K on it … and other than the usual rock chips in the usual places looked almost new! That alone is a testament to MB build quality. Sure it had issues, the LCD displays for the temp and clock were not functioning and it had a few bad bulbs but easy fixes. THe features available in this car 17 years ago are amazing and yes they all work! after fixing the LCD displays etc. As others have stated, the steering is heavy, the brakes also and it is no rocket moving from a stop, but it can easily exceed the highway speeds with ample in reserve and handles very well. I would not sell the thing now for more $$$. But, be forewarned that it a Mercedes, and that means a couple of things. Parts are expensive and they are not easily fixed by the Saturday morning mechanic. My blessing is I am a mechanic and after owning more than a 120 cars I am used to frustrating myself into a mess. If you are inclined to buy one, check it well! Look for the hidden signs that it was not well maintained mechanically and if possible pull a CarFax. Otherwise BUY IT!
5 out of 5 stars
What a car!
GregT, 11/19/2008
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK320 2dr Coupe
I bought this with 95k miles for about $14k. Now it has 135k. It has been the best car I have ever owned. Fast, safe (a deer hit me and almost no damage), quiet and comfortable. I love it. From what I have read that other Benz' are not as good. One thing to beware of. This is a benz and they are not cheap to maintain.
4.38 out of 5 stars
transmission
emughlee10, 01/27/2012
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK430 2dr Coupe
I recently bought my Clk430 coupe for 5k and absolutely love the style the interior and exterior ..but i have been having problems out of the transmission..slip codes it acts like it doesnt want to shift right? so i am stuck between crossing my fingers and getting it fixed..or getting something else i really love this car and i am going to hate giving it up..but i am scared i will get it … fixed and other problems will occur lol..someone please help!):
4 out of 5 stars
Fun
clkcabriolet, 04/01/2013
2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class CLK430 2dr Convertible
I bought my car for a weekend convertible from the original owner who used it the same way. It had always been kept in an environmentally controlled garage and dealer maintained
It is good looking, drives well and lots of fun.... when it works.
I've owned 60s Alfa Romeos and Fiats, but none that broke or needed constant servicing like this Mercedes. Well, maybe one 68 Fiat was almost … this bad. The transmission module, convertible top computer module, trunk lock, radio, oxygen sensor and dashboard have all died. Did I mention the constant fault lights on the dash? Mercedes says this is typical. I love my Acura’s. They have the three times the mileage of the Mercedes and they NEVER break. The ultimate luxury is dependability. If I wanted a beautiful but poor quality car I would have bought a Jaguar. The dealer wanted $6k to replace the top control module. I went to another Mercedes repair place and they fixed it fine for $800. I wouldn’t darken the door of a Mercedes dealer after the car goes out of warranty and they gave it the worst car wash I’ve ever seen. Something about the dealer expects owning a Mercedes to cost a lot of money and to just put the costs on my Amex card.
44000 mile update. I had to replace the A/C compressor and the plastic slot in the dash where I put my sunglasses has melted, cracked and fallen apart. The rubber stops for the trunk lid are disintegrating. Rust has showed up on the bottom of the passenger door around the rubber seal, which is really strange since the only time the car gets wet is when I wash it. Two hydraulic valves for the convertible top leaked fluid inside the car and had to be replaced as well as the stainless cables that hold tension on the top. I was advised it is normal for these to fail. Wow, more built in obsolescence.
To be fair, the car has never left me on the side of the road, but that's the nicest thing I can say about the reliability.
47000 update - I've had a couple trouble free years which have been nice. I've been able to hop in the car on nice days and enjoy it with no issues. People can't believe it's 16 years old. The styling and paint have held up well over the years.
It’s now 18 years old and it has been trouble free for over 4 years except it leaks a little oil on the garage pavement. First car in a long time that leaked. Not worth fixing, but worth noting.
It now is 19 years old and has 48,000 miles on it and nothing has gone wrong in the last year so its dependability rating has creeped up. One of these days I’ll replace that part of the dash that has lost pixels because it’s gotten worse. I have no idea what time, temp, or gear it’s in. I’ll also replace the plastic glasses holder that was falling apart. Everything else works fine. It still drives smoothly, and quietly like a regular coupe, when the top is up.
It’s now 20 years old and has 49,000 miles on it. No new news except the minor leaking has stopped. Everything still works, but the factory radio is weird. It usually works, but sometimes it won’t shut off when I remove the key and open the drivers door. So I have to restart it and then turn it off again. Weird.
It’s in the shop to have a few things replaced. The eyeglass holder literally disintegrated and the rubber on the trunk stop bumpers disintegrated as well. The glue on the leather panels on the door and the Mercedes symbol on the gear shift lever went bad. If the car sits for awhile the lifters in the engine are noisy and the engine sounds like the manifold is leaking, but it goes away after awhile and does not repeat if the car is driven more often. Shouldn’t happen, but it does. Otherwise, the car continues to perform well as it approaches 50,000 miles.
It’s now 21 years old with 50,000 miles on it. The passenger side rear side panel leather fell off and I tried to fix it. It looks ok. The wife likes the car so we kept it, but I got another convertible. It’s $1k to replace the little part that shows the temperature, time and gear number so it’s not worth it. Otherwise nothing new to report.
I sold the car privately for $10k at 51k miles and ran into the new owner a few weeks later at the hardware store. He had to replace the top shortly after he bought it, because the part around the back window let go. I sold it to him in good faith and he and his wife opened and closed the top multiple times with no issue, so I sold it in the nick of time. He also found some oil on the floor and had to replace two cylinders in the top mechanism. He replaced the tires (which needed replacing), had an interior guy fix the loose leather panels in the doors, changed the oil and transmission fluids, and put a different radio in it. I figured he spent ~ $7k on it, which were all needed. This is my last review as the car is gone and I’m lucky I sold it when I did. Everything was working when I sold it……
2000 CLK-Class Highlights
Coupe
CLK320
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $211/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 11.0 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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