Mercedes-Benz CLK C208
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
272–517 PS
4.3-5.4L V8 Benzin
4.3 Litres in the C208 Coupé — Silky V8 Without Pretension
Fun to Drive!143–204 PS
1.8L Kompressor Benzin
6 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 is available as Cabrio and Coupé — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 is available with 6 engine variants — from 121 to 517 hp. 1 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 200 (Benziner, 136 PS) has the M111 (2.0-2.3L) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 200 Kompressor (Benziner, 163–192 PS) comes with 2 different engines: M111 (1997–2000, Be Careful) und M111 (2000–2002, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the CLK 200 Kompressor!
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 230 Kompressor (Benziner, 193–197 PS) has the M111 (2.0-2.3L) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 (Benziner, 218 PS) has the M112 (3.2L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 7 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 430 (Benziner, 279 PS) has the M113 (4.3-5.4L V8) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG (Benziner, 347 PS) has the M113 (4.3-5.4L V8) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Rust on Wheel Arches, Lower Door Edges and Bumper Transitions Design flaw: vibrating trim strips grind away the paint and allow rust to form. Front and rear wheel arches, lower door edges, boot lock area and bumper transitions particularly affected. Symptoms: Rust blisters at inner wheel arch lip, rust under door trim strips, peeling paint from 100,000 km | High |
Alternatives
Ford Mondeo B4Y
Mittelklasse (2001–2007)
Audi A4 B6
Mittelklasse (2000–2004)
Volvo S60 I
Mittelklasse (2000–2009)
Volvo V70 II
Mittelklasse (2000–2007)
VW Passat B5-GP
Mittelklasse (2000–2005)
Hyundai XG XG
Mittelklasse (1999–2005)
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 41 weaknesses have been documented for the Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 (1997–2003) — 35 engine-related and 6 vehicle-related. 2 problem engines: M271 (1.8L Kompressor), OM612 (2.7L 5-Zyl Diesel). Typical issues affect Rust, Gearbox, Body, Suspension.
CLK (OM612, 2002–2005) — Stay Away!: "Black Death" -- injector seal failure with tar formation, EGR cooler fails -- coolant in intake, Cylinder head crack -- coolant loss under load. Power: 163–170 PS.
CLK (M111, 1997–2002) — Be Careful: Head Gasket Ages and Leaks, Supercharger Magnetic Clutch Fails, Ignition Coils Wear Out Due to Neglected Spark Plugs. Power: 136 PS.
CLK (M111, 1997–2000) — Be Careful: Head Gasket Ages and Leaks, Supercharger Magnetic Clutch Fails, Ignition Coils Wear Out Due to Neglected Spark Plugs. Power: 192 PS.
CLK (M111, 1997–2000) — Be Careful: Head Gasket Ages and Leaks, Supercharger Magnetic Clutch Fails, Ignition Coils Wear Out Due to Neglected Spark Plugs. Power: 193–197 PS.
CLK (M112, 1997–2002) — Be Careful: Camshaft Adjuster Leaks Oil into Wiring Harness, Intake Manifold Vacuum Hose Breaks, Valve Cover Gasket and Front Cover Gasket Leaking. Power: 218 PS.
CLK (M113, 1998–2002) — Be Careful: Vibration Damper/Pulley — Rubber Hardens, Rear Crankshaft Seal Leaking, Engine Mounts Worn Prematurely. Power: 279 PS.
CLK (M113, 1999–2002) — Be Careful: Vibration Damper/Pulley — Rubber Hardens, Rear Crankshaft Seal Leaking, Engine Mounts Worn Prematurely. Power: 347 PS.
CLK (M111, 2000–2002) — Be Careful: Head Gasket Ages and Leaks, Supercharger Magnetic Clutch Fails, Ignition Coils Wear Out Due to Neglected Spark Plugs. Power: 163 PS.
CLK (M112, 2002–2005) — Be Careful: Camshaft Adjuster Leaks Oil into Wiring Harness, Intake Manifold Vacuum Hose Breaks, Valve Cover Gasket and Front Cover Gasket Leaking. Power: 163–170 PS.
CLK (M113, 2002–2006) — Be Careful: Vibration Damper/Pulley — Rubber Hardens, Rear Crankshaft Seal Leaking, Engine Mounts Worn Prematurely. Power: 306 PS.
CLK (M113, 2002–2006) — Be Careful: Vibration Damper/Pulley — Rubber Hardens, Rear Crankshaft Seal Leaking, Engine Mounts Worn Prematurely. Power: 367 PS.
CLK (M271, 2002–2006) — Stay Away!: Timing Chain Stretches Prematurely, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks Oil into Connector. Power: 163–170 PS.
What to watch out for with the Mercedes-Benz CLK? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLK C208? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Mercedes-Benz CLK C208 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Mercedes-Benz CLK C208? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee