The Mercedes Benz MB C208 was manufactured as a coupe (C208) from mid-1997 to summer 2002 and as a cabrio (A208) from mid-1998 to spring 2003 and was the first generation of the Mercedes Benz CLK-class.

The designation W208 is officially not used by Mercedes Benz, since the CLK is not a saloon (W for german "Wagen"), but is used as a collective term for C208 (Coupe) and A208 (Cabriolet). Technically, the 208 series is based on the platform of the former C-Class (W202). Externally, the CLK is based on the design study CE 500 in the early 1990s, making it more like the W210 series.

After Mercedes Benz had discontinued the production of the W124 at the end of 1996, the CLK was delivered as its indirect successor from August 1997. The C-Class now served as a base. Compared with the predecessor based on the W124, this series had a fixed B-pillar so that the windows could no longer be sunk up to the C-pillar. In contrast, for the first time in a Mercedes Benz Coupé a through-loading option with folding rear seat bench to 1/3 2/3 was offered.

• In September 1999, a facelift (MOPF) took place, which brought in some special equipment as standard and also optical changes.

• The coupe expired in June 2002, while the convertible was manufactured until May 2003.

First version (1997 - 1999)

The original version of the CLK-Class was available in the basic versions Sport (no surcharge) and Elegance.

The standard equipment included, among other things:
Front, side and front passenger airbags, ABS, ASR, heated and electrically operated outside mirrors, outside temperature indicator, automatic child seat recognition, brake assist, folding rear seats, electric windows, belt tensioner including belt force limiter, rear lid remote release, seven-hole alloy wheels, power steering, all-round thermal glass, wireless key incl. radio and infrared remote control, electronic immobilizer and central locking with internal locking button.

Design elements of the equipment variant Sport: 
Bright tachometer discs and heater control discs, badge "Sport" in the gearshift lever, upholstery fabric Mescalero and the trim parts in carbon look.

Design elements of the equipment variant Elegance:
The approximately 600 euros more expensive equipment line Elegance included additional exit lights in the doors. In addition, some design elements have been changed compared to the sports equipment, including now five-hole rims, dark tachograph discs and heater control discs, the plaque "Elegance" in the shifter, the Neptune upholstery, burr walnut trim, chrome door handles and the characteristic chrome frame around the side windows.

Optional extras:
There were a variety of optional extras selectable, including:

5-speed automatic transmission (always with cruise control), towing hitch, ESP for six-cylinder engine, automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors, air conditioning / climate control, memory package (including electric seat adjustment), level control, various metallic finishes and rims, Parktronic (parking aids) , Rain sensor, windscreen washer heated, sliding lift-roof, multi-contour seats, heated seats or xenon headlights.

Model care (MOPF) (1999 - 2003)

After only two years, the modified edition of the CLK-class appeared, which ran from September 1999 to June 2002 (convertible to May 2003) from the tape. While this the equipment line sports was cancelled.

• From now on, the lines Elegance and Avantgarde could be ordered. Avant-garde was the continuation of the sport line, which should give a more dynamic impression.
  
  
• From mid-2000, new four-cylinder engines were also installed.
  
  
• 2001 was also the equipment line Master Edition and the last year of construction in 2002, the final edition exclusively for the convertible available, which differed by extended standard equipment, mainly optical nature, from the other two lines.
  
  

Modification of the standard equipment:
The facelift brought the standard equipment to a class usual and contemporary level. Some changes were made outdoors:
multifunction steering wheel, exit lights, trip computer, partially electric seat adjustment, cruise control, ESP, mechanical six-speed transmission (from March 2000 also for CLK 200 compressor), heated windscreen washer jets, on-board computer with z. B. Consumption indicator and larger display, modified and painted in body color bumper and sill and (the most prominent feature of a CLK the facelift) the modified exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Standard equipment in the line avantgarde:
The Avantgarde equipment line has resulted in changes in the design, including: blue all-round glass, bird's eye maple trim, gray dials, hematite side window frames and 16-inch 16-inch wheels and all-round sill / bumper trim in body color. In contrast to other classes, the avant-garde equipment in the CLK did not lead to a lowering or sportier suspension tuning.

Optional extras:
The most important options that could now be selected were: automatic transmission (with modified shift gate), Sequentronic transmission (semi-automatic transmission, without automatic mode), and AMG package. In addition, various modern media equipment with z. B. Audio 30 APS or COMAND 2.0 selectable. 

This article is based on the article Mercedes-Benz Baureihe 208 from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and is licenced under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported (short form). In  Wikipedia is a list of authors available.
Pictures 1 & 2 by Rudolf Stricker - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, picture 1, picture 2
Picture 3 by Holger Fuchs - http://www.fuchs-muggensturm.de/autos/clk4.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, picture 3
Picture 4 by Thomas doerfer - Eigenes Werk, CC BY 3.0, picture 4