'04 CLK 500 gas mileage...?

[sdunham]

From what I've read, it looks I can expect something like 16 mpg city and 19 highway from the CLK 500... My wife's '06 R350 was estimated at something like 18 city/24 highway but is actually getting 21 city and 30 highway... Is the mileage in the CLK500 really that low...? That is about the only real negative thing I've uncovered about the CLK500 so far... If the mileage is really that low, are there mods that can be done to pick up a few MPG's like ECU tuning, etc...?
I really liked the car I test drove but am comparing it to a BMW 335I which is estimated at about the same horsepower but 19 and 29 for gas mileage...
SMD

[dan212]

It really depends on how heavy your foot is. I dunno about the 04/500, but my 2007 550 gets 28 MPG when driving at a steady 90-100 MPH. The dealer confirmed that they usually see better milage at higher speeds.

[sdunham]

That's what I was hoping to read... Coming from a Vette, I do my share of hot footing' but not all the time and usually not to/from work... If the power is there, I'll use it, but it's nice to know that if I drive less aggressive, the MPG's should respond by going up a little...
SMD

[sdunham]

Several weeks with the car now and it appears I'm getting 16 city and as much as 32 highway which I can live with... This is with 91 Octane gas with 10% Ethanol for emmissions reduction in Colorado... Hoping a pair of K&N's will help the car breathe a little easier and they'll go on in a few weeks...
SMD

[rvelez]

Hi: Just purchased my '04 CLK500 with 28K miles and went to Reno, NV from the Bay Area (Calif.) For us, about a 3 hour trip one way, and averaged about 26 mpg each way. Plan on slapping in the K&N Air Filters this weekend. Already put in a high perf oil filter (could not find where K&N made one for the CLK 500). Hope this helps.

[nightrider89]

Hey: I was just wondering if the K&N Air Filters will actually help gas mileage? I usually get about 26-28mpg on the highway.
Thanks

[v8mbp]

Those K&N Filters do work. I experience performance on C280 and yes it gives you a slight better fuel economy.

[flw210]

I would never use a cloth filter on a street car again. I had one in one of my Porsche Boxster for a while, it was a K&N in a custom air housing. It did give a few horsepower more but you actually lost the horsepower after a little while because the MAF would get covered by little oil droplets from the filter. They do let more air into the engine but the negative side is they also let more dirt in. Keep an eye on your oil. I never bought one for my '06 Carrera and I won't put one in my Mercedes. I bought a used 2002 BMW 330Ci too and it came with a K&N already installed, the oil was filthy, I quickly threw in a stock MAHLE air filter and changed the oil, the oil never got dirty after that. I've done extensive dyno work with one of my Porsche, you only pick up like 1 horsepower or 1.5 horsepower, it's not worth it.

Pics are: me driving my Boxster through turn 5 at Sebring, me in my E430 at Sebring through turn 1, then again braking the E430 for turn 17, and my Carrera and Sprinter RV conversion parked with A/C blasting (it gets hot here in FL)