Defying the doom-mongers - the SLK R170

[DickyC]

What The Deuces said:

I dont think there's much brave about it. its a smashing thing for under £10k

That's kind, WTD, but the doom-mongers would say anyone taking on an R170 is brave. I think they're wrong, as I tried to establish in my post, but they are set in their ways.

The prices for the 32 are all over the place. There are high mileage examples for £7,500 ish and the dealer I bought this one from has, or had, a low mileage car up for £18,000.

I have form, though. The universe uses me selling cars as a yard stick for a huge leap in values. I sold an A suffix chassis Range Rover for £1,500, an RS2 for £12,000 and a DB4 in pieces for £10,000. All a while ago admittedly but you see what I mean.

[DickyC]

Thanks, BC!

While you're here, tell me about the brakes on your SLK55. They must be huge.

13" on the SLK32.

[DickyC]

Who asked about the steering wheel being shiny? To my surprise, the answer is, yes, the steering wheels in both cars are shiny. I'd never noticed. I have a feeling they didn't start off that way, it's use that has made them shiny.

[DickyC]

As you age, the scope of your restoration projects diminishes. It's a bit sad, but I was quite chuffed with restoring the boot contents of the SLK32.

This is how it was in 2020 when I bought it:







Several things were missing but the bolts for a space saver spare were there even though the space save itself wasn't. As discussed earlier, the space saver wasn't meant for the AMG because the front brakes are too big. You could make it work if you swapped a rear to the front and fitted the space saver to the rear. The AMG solution was to provide a pump and goo and to use the space for luggage. MB supplied the goo and eBay the missing parts.



Replacement handle.



New goo and various replacement polystyrene shapes.



And that made me buy a set of fitted luggage. From a PHer, as it happens.









Three bags for luggage and the roof down. Pleased with that. Small victories

[DickyC]

B'stard Child said:

R171 SLK55 AMG has a space saver spare and I have 3 bags tailored luggage - makes it very practical (last bag is a bit of a squeeze due to nav unit)

Mrs C's R170 SLK230 has a space saver and a tiny amount of space for luggage with the roof down. When we've used the car for holidays, the roof is up for the outward and return journeys. I imagine they were working to improve the situation even before the first R170 was sold. Did I read somewhere that the folding roof was a joint venture between Mercedes and Porsche? As a lad I could remember nuggets of car information I read but that facility is in decline now. Along with everything else

[DickyC]

The SLK32 has gone. After a couple of false starts with withdrawn offers and really low offers, a dealer gave me £7,000 as a trade in. His ad came up this morning because I'd forgotten to cancel the search.

Just taken this pocket rocket in part exchange and what a piece of Kit this car is. 350 BHP on tap and performs and handles like a dream. The car does not drive its mileage nor its age. A Testament to how the car has been serviced and maintained throughout its life.

That'll do nicely.

[DickyC]

trevalvole said:

That's good. On a related note, I recall you had the underside painted by Silchester Garage. They're now in liquidation and operations seems to have moved to Portugal - I think the boss of the UK operation was Portuguese.

Apologies, I should have chased up the rumours which were that Paulo had retired to Portugal and left rhe lads running the place. Working for a garage and running a garage turn out to be different and failure came fairly soon. Shame. They did a good job for me at a reasonable price. You'd think that would make a good business.

[DickyC]

Bobberoo said:

Trade in you say?
And what, pray tell, did you trade it in against???

It's complicated. To fully understand what led to the decision, I'd need to draw a logic diagram. Anyway, down from three cars to two, Mrs C's SLK230 has to make the cut, and I always have to have an Audi Avant quattro in the ecurie. So I've bought a Mercedes C200 Estate; 2WD not AWD.

Worse. It's currently on a quayside in Japan.

I'll get to work on that logic diagram.

[DickyC]

mattman said:

Only just seen this thread after recently picking up a 2001 320 R170.
Some of your restoration costs on the 230 are quite eye watering, but the end result is amazing and you’ll never find another that good.

Mine is at the other end of the spectrum, silver in slightly different shades from having all the wings done 10 years ago (according to the history), the roof has got stuck a couple of times, but seems to be the micro switch in the windscreen top rail so if you click it, it then starts working. But 90,000 miles, 4 owners and a full history. It’s a great car to cruise about in with the roof down, not found the need to drive it hard yet. Surely they can’t get any lower in price?

Your 32 looked very nice as well, must have been a tough job to move it on

Thanks!

Now it's gone the values will quadruple.



Enjoy the 320. When we bought the 230 the 320 had only just come out and we couldn't stretch to one. The petformance figures being so similar for the 230 and 320 mask the true nature of the six cylinder car. Lovely.

But, y'know, Mrs C has had the 230 for 21 years now and loves it.

[DickyC]

An odd replacement for an SLK32, you might say. In fact, the new addition replaced the 32 and my old A4 Avant.

A chance encounter at a garage out in the sticks a couple of years ago introduced me to car dealer, David Morris. He was interested in the SLK32 and we made all the 'one day' promises you make in such situations. When the day came, I rang him and he was still interested. His business, Valley Cars & Classics, sells mainly imported cars from Japan and classics. Instead of buying from his stock, I specced a C200 Estate in silver or dark blue and in a remarkably short space of time, David had come back with several for me to choose from. His contacts in Japan know their stuff, the car is in incredible condition.







This is an eleven year old car! They don't use salt on the roads in Japan apparently.

It's on 47,000 miles and it's like new. Amazing. And David is a lovely chap to deal with. It's as though he read How To Be A Car Salesman, threw the book away and said, 'I can do better than that.'

[DickyC]

What The Deuces said:

That's lovely

What kind of money are you talking for that?

About £10,000 IIRC. He has a similar one at the moment for £10,350 with even lower mileage.

[DickyC]

Thanks, Bobbers.



I won't be running it at Senna Pod, but I'd go to see you run the Cooper S.

[DickyC]

Excuse the delay, Riccardo.

It's one piece in Mrs C's 98 SLK230.







I was going to have a moan about the flimsy handle then I realised it has survived for 25 years so it must be up to the job.

[DickyC]

Twenty five years old today.

Yes, it's the same picture, but the car is in the garage and I'm in my pyjamas.

[DickyC]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I have enjoyed reading your thread, so very British the way its written.

The "pyjamas" made me smile.

I carn 'elp it. It's the way me muvver put me 'at on.

[DickyC]

PositronicRay said:

Wife beast has just been watching flipping bangers and now wants one, similar colour to yours and a 2 tone interior.

Ooh, I remember promising to post pics of the interior and I didn't. Mrs C's has the two-tone grey interior. There was a really exaggerated colour scheme with a name I've forgotten. Probably best avoided.

How far apart are we? We're in Newbury. I could add to your woes by bringing it over and convincing Mrs Positronic she needs one. They're really good value at the moment.

[DickyC]

PositronicRay said:

DickyC said:

Ooh, I remember promising to post pics of the interior and I didn't. Mrs C's has the two-tone grey interior. There was a really exaggerated colour scheme with a name I've forgotten. Probably best avoided.

How far apart are we? We're in Newbury. I could add to your woes by bringing it over and convincing Mrs Positronic she needs one. They're really good value at the moment.

Very kind of you, but we're in Stratford-Upon-Avon. If we get serious I'll definitely be in touch (2 weeks ago it was a white mk2 GTI convertible on bangers and cash)

You had better buy an SLK before Bangers and Cash reach the DB7.

[DickyC]

PositronicRay said:

DickyC said:

PositronicRay said:

DickyC said:

Ooh, I remember promising to post pics of the interior and I didn't. Mrs C's has the two-tone grey interior. There was a really exaggerated colour scheme with a name I've forgotten. Probably best avoided.

How far apart are we? We're in Newbury. I could add to your woes by bringing it over and convincing Mrs Positronic she needs one. They're really good value at the moment.

Very kind of you, but we're in Stratford-Upon-Avon. If we get serious I'll definitely be in touch (2 weeks ago it was a white mk2 GTI convertible on bangers and cash)

You had better buy an SLK before Bangers and Cash reach the DB7.

I think you're right.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...

Wow. Time to buy a DB7 - Keith Helfet's Jaguar masterpiece with Ian Callum getting too much credit.

Off Topic there, Dicky?

A bit, yes.

[DickyC]

B'stard Child said:

Hey DickyC

Do you want a brand new set of Wipers (Mercedes ones) I was clearing out my garage and I realised I’d got a set for my old R170 SLK - box is tatty they’ve been there a while but the yellow replace me now stickers are still bright

FOC (I’ll even pay the postage) I just don’t want to bin them it seems just wrong when they could go to another home?

Ooh, yes, please BC.

I'll PM you the address.

Thanks!

If you're local to Newbury or anywhere between here and Bromley, South Wales or Manchester I can collect.

[DickyC]

Lowestoft?

Geography isn't my strong suit.