Talk:Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

Meaning of "CLK"
User Ybsone undid my correction of the explanation what "CLK" stands for without providing a source that corroborates their version. Here are sources that spell out "CLK" as "Coupé", "Leicht" (German for "light"), and "Kurz" (German for "short"):
 * German Wikipedia page on "Mercedes-Benz CLK": "Der CLK (C für Coupé, L für leicht, K für kurz) basierte auf der in der Mittelklasse angesiedelten C-Klasse ..."
 * Auto-Motor-Und-Sport article on CLK generations: "Das Kürzel des Mercedes CLK bedeutet C für "Coupé", L für "leicht" und K für "kurz"."
 * Autobild article on the CLK class: "Das Modelkürzel stand für Coupé-leicht-kurz."
 * Netcarshow website on the CLK: "The CLK name derives from the German Coupé Leicht Kompakt (or Kurz), translated Coupé-Light-Short."
 * Autoboom website on CLK generations: "The name "CLK" comes from the German words "Coupe Leicht Kurz"
 * Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias "(Coupe Leicht Kurz or Coupe/Light/Short)"

FYI, "Auto-motor-und-sport" and "autobild" are official German car magazines. Now all these sources could be wrong, but where are comparable sources (excluding forum discussions) that claim "L" is for "Luxus"?

AFAIC, for the time being, before we have a corroboration of the "Luxus" interpretation that is better what I presented above supporting the "Leicht" interpretation, the article should contain the latter. User Ybsone, please do not revert my edit again, unless you have presented reliable sources for your "Luxus" version.ClassA42 (talk) 08:18, 19 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Those sources speculate as I have contacted Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH and they replied "A clear definition for the designation of the CLK was in turn not published." YBSOne (talk) 06:57, 19 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Interesting how those "reliable" sources have production span wrong, based on assumptions: "produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1997 to 2010"; also [en-academic.com] is a circular source from Wikipedia. YBSOne (talk) 07:28, 19 February 2024 (UTC)


 * Thanks for sharing what you have learned from Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH but with all due respect, I don't think that counts as a source for Wikipedia, does it? In any event, it does not give credence to the notion that "Luxus" is an intended interpretation. We seem to have two options here: We accept what you have heard from Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH and refrain from explaining what "CLK" stands for because there is no official version. Alternatively, we could go with widely held views on what "CLK" stands for. I have presented sources supporting "Leicht" as the intended interpretation for "L". I understand that these sources are up to wikipedia's standards (feel free to ignore the last one, if you think it is not valid). I'm of course entirely happy to let the "Luxus" version stand as an alternative interpretation but where are the sources? Again, I understand someone claiming that in a forum post does not count as a source that Wikipedia acknowledges. ClassA42 (talk) 08:18, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

CLK55 AMG Works Tarmac Rally Car
Saw this in previous edits that were taken down - on or about 25 September 2019 - I like this - it has references and is informative - anyone object? If the safety car is there I guess - even a shorter version of the below should be.

Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG Works Tarmac Rally Car WDB2083742F171594 The CLK55 AMG was chosen by Mercedes Benz and AMG to compete in the 2001 Targa Tasmania tarmac rally in Australia[4]. In 2000, Mercedes Benz took a standard CLK55 AMG (chassis number WDB2083742F171594) from the production line and delivered it to AMG in Germany to modify into a factory built and factory supported tarmac rally car[5] - with the sole purpose of winning the event and ending the dominance of the Porsche 911[6]. AMG used the specially modified version of the CLK55 AMG which was used as the F1 safety car in 1999 as the basis[7]. AMG then developed a new multipoint roll cage (which was invoiced to Mercedes Benz at a cost of USD75,000), upgraded brakes, prototype adjustable suspension, a prototype gearbox (later used on the CLK DTM), race exhaust, ground effects under tray, carbon fiber body panels, recaro race seats, AMG custom ECU and 10 inch AMG alloy wheels[8]. The result was a factory prepared CLK55 AMG race car that Mercedes Benz and AMG insured for $300,000.00[9].

5 Time Motorcycle Campion Mick Doohan with WDB2083742F171594 WDB2083742F171594 was transported to Australia in late January 2001[10]. On 6 February 2001, it was announced by the Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars, Mr Matthias Luehrs, that Mick Doohan, 5 time motorcycle champion, was chosen to drive WDB2083742F171594 at the 2001 Targa Tasmania[11]. On 6 March 2001, it was announced that Australian Rally Champion Mark Stacy would be the navigator of WDB2083742F171594[12].

Mercedes Benz and AMG flew a contingent of spare parts, AMG race mechanics, a McLaren F1 race mechanic to provide factory support[13] during the event for WDB2083742F171594.

Mick Doohan registered a DNF at the 2001 Targa Tasmania after putting WDB2083742F171594 into the bush several days into the 7 day event[14]. Due to the substantial multi-point roll cage installed by AMG, the damage to WDB2083742F171594 was not as severe as was reported.

WDB2083742F171594 was, after being restored and recommissioned, re-entered in the 2006 Targa Tasmania where it successfully completed the 7 day event[15].

WDB2083742F171594 is the only modern Mercedes Benz AMG factory built and factory supported tarmac rally coupe[16] of the modern era.


 * No, it's excessively detailed for one car with no podiums, the writing is also horrible. Toasted Meter (talk) 16:45, 15 February 2020 (UTC)

Signal detail wrong

 * Wing mirror-mounted turn signals were not implemented until 2001 for the 2002 year model.

This is wrong as I have a MY2001 made 2000/08 that has mirror mounted signals. It's probably either off or market dependent or something. There doesn't seem to be a clear source for this. Perhaps diving into the brochure archive would give more data points. 2001:999:40:9FBE:99DD:F519:482:C5CD (talk) 12:42, 6 July 2018 (UTC)

Late 1999 is when they introduced the turn signals in the mirrors for the “2000” year release, most manufachave the next years model in stock before Xmas the year before and this is true for the W208

I own a October 1999 built W208 430 with the “facelift” aka series II W208. JCMiddleton (talk) 01:17, 26 August 2019 (UTC)

CLK-DTM Convertible
I think it´s even 100 of this, like Hard Top

Black-Series
Would anyone add a text about the CLK 63 AMG Black-Series?

C Class vs. E Class replacement
there are some mistakes in this text ... the clk was introduced in 1997 not 1996 .... the w124 coupe was stoped building in 1996 so this makes it clear that the clk is the coupe brother of the e class and replacement for the w124 coupe. especially that the c class got another coupe version -the c203 .... so that would make the premium car manufacturer make 2 entry level coupes but the more important executive class leaving with no coupe? that would be some stupid strategy... (sedan/coupe)..(c/clc);(e/clk);(s/cl) the prices in the official mercedes prospect are higher than the prices of the e class ... i just have it in german marks

CLK- Klasse 56 000 DM (CLK200) to 153 000 DM (CLK55 AMG) C-Klasse 43 000 DM (C180) to 96 000 DM (C36 AMG) E-Klasse 52 000 DM (E200) to 148 000 DM (E50 AMG).

ie.comparisson C200 (48 000 DM); CLK200(56 000DM); E200(55 000DM).

it is based on the c class platform, because clk stand for coupe leicht kurz that means coupe light short, and for that the e class was to long. the quality of the interieur is aequivalent to the e class. the technical parts in the car are mixed some from the c class some from the e class it depends on the size.

is looks like a e class coupe, it costs like one, the engies are like it ... i don't understand how somebody could say it's the c.class coupe ... because of the c in clk? well whats with the cl then ... the c stand for coupe ... or would you say that the bentley continetal gt is the coupe version of the vw phaeton, because they share the same platform?

best wishes and hope somebody could fix this ,my english is unfortunatly not good enough ...greetz from stuttgart, germany —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.42.197.130 (talk) 03:34, 11 August 2008 (UTC)

Add Category for CLK Class
It would be helpful to have CLK Class appear on page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mercedes-Benz_model_codes. This apparently requires adding a suitable Category tag to the current page. However, I'm not entirely sure how to do that and have CLK appear at the right place in the list. Gwideman (talk) 05:17, 28 February 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅ I moved Mercedes-Benz C209 to Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (C209) and Mercedes-Benz C208 to Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class (C208), in practice creating two new redirect pages. Pages titled only with model codes are useless anyway, and if one day the main CLK-Class article will have to be split, the new articles are now ready. Cloverleaf II (talk) 08:06, 28 February 2015 (UTC)