Defying the doom-mongers - the SLK R170
Discussion
DickyC said:
The wipers arrived safe and sound. Thanks, B'stard Child. They are one of the things that are a mint to buy from Mercedes. The car has Euro Car Parts finest at the moment but that will change.
Car enthusiasts helping out one another. PH at its finest.
No problems at all Car enthusiasts helping out one another. PH at its finest.
- glad they arrived safely and quicklyNew springs and shock absorbers all round today. The cost of parts was included in the total but I'll have to add a bit for labour. Mates rates... £150? He wouldn't give me number.
What a difference. The ride was always firm but had been getting a bit crashy. Much smoother now.
And, yes, despite my initial misgivings, the car is now used again in all weathers.
The front wings will come off soon to see how the repairs to the worst of the corrosion are faring. That's when the new headlights will go in. The headlights on the SLK32 were Xenons from another planet. Converting the SLK230 to Xenons would be too difficult as it would involve level senders on the suspension and all sorts.
Then the refurbishment will be complete and all ready to start again
What a difference. The ride was always firm but had been getting a bit crashy. Much smoother now.
And, yes, despite my initial misgivings, the car is now used again in all weathers.
The front wings will come off soon to see how the repairs to the worst of the corrosion are faring. That's when the new headlights will go in. The headlights on the SLK32 were Xenons from another planet. Converting the SLK230 to Xenons would be too difficult as it would involve level senders on the suspension and all sorts.
Then the refurbishment will be complete and all ready to start again
DickyC said:
New springs and shock absorbers all round today. The cost of parts was included in the total but I'll have to add a bit for labour. Mates rates... £150? He wouldn't give me number.
What a difference. The ride was always firm but had been getting a bit crashy. Much smoother now.
And, yes, despite my initial misgivings, the car is now used again in all weathers.
The front wings will come off soon to see how the repairs to the worst of the corrosion are faring. That's when the new headlights will go in. The headlights on the SLK32 were Xenons from another planet. Converting the SLK230 to Xenons would be too difficult as it would involve level senders on the suspension and all sorts.
Then the refurbishment will be complete and all ready to start again
"Severn bridge"What a difference. The ride was always firm but had been getting a bit crashy. Much smoother now.
And, yes, despite my initial misgivings, the car is now used again in all weathers.
The front wings will come off soon to see how the repairs to the worst of the corrosion are faring. That's when the new headlights will go in. The headlights on the SLK32 were Xenons from another planet. Converting the SLK230 to Xenons would be too difficult as it would involve level senders on the suspension and all sorts.
Then the refurbishment will be complete and all ready to start again
trevalvole said:
What make of shocks and springs did you use?
Mercedes, from the main dealer. I no longer use their service department but the parts people here in Newbury are excellent. My daily is a Jap import C200 that came with no front number plate surround. Searching by VIN produced one in Jap spec the wrong shape, so the parts guy looked for a similar UK car on AutoTrader and ordered one to fit that car for me. Really enjoyed my '99 one. Sadly it passed away quietly in its sleep when the immobilisor unit died last year. Apparantly requires new unit behind the dash, ECU, keys etc.
The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
Forester1965 said:
Really enjoyed my '99 one. Sadly it passed away quietly in its sleep when the immobilisor unit died last year. Apparantly requires new unit behind the dash, ECU, keys etc.
The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
ECU and rust will condemn many of them. I've kept on top of the rust but the ECU is an unpredictable foe. The indicators packed up once. Mercedes said they're controlled by the ECU. The last car I owned which had indicator failure had a little unit in the engine compartment. A five quid, five minute job. The SLK's indicators might work after an ECU reset or might need a new ECU - £1,100. Luckily, the reset worked. Cars are scrapped for all sorts of reasons. The more common they are, the more are scrapped, the rarer they become.The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
You're rambling.
I know. I've been drinking.
DickyC said:
Forester1965 said:
Really enjoyed my '99 one. Sadly it passed away quietly in its sleep when the immobilisor unit died last year. Apparantly requires new unit behind the dash, ECU, keys etc.
The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
ECU and rust will condemn many of them. I've kept on top of the rust but the ECU is an unpredictable foe. The indicators packed up once. Mercedes said they're controlled by the ECU. The last car I owned which had indicator failure had a little unit in the engine compartment. A five quid, five minute job. The SLK's indicators might work after an ECU reset or might need a new ECU - £1,100. Luckily, the reset worked. Cars are scrapped for all sorts of reasons. The more common they are, the more are scrapped, the rarer they become.The roof mechanism had already failed and the bodywork needed some serious Simon Cowell level cosmetic surgery, so some nice people were called and I got about £350 to scrap it.
Sas because the engine and gearbox were spot on and it'd only just crept up to 100k miles.
You're rambling.
I know. I've been drinking.
Was watching Wheeler Dealers one afternoon mid February, they were doing an SLK and out of interest I had a search on Gumtree - a few hours later (and £1000 lighter in the wallet) I became the owner of a 2002 manual SLK 230 thanks to terrible impulse control haha...
Main rust issues are the rear arches for me, that and a few areas of less concerning bubbling around the car.
BAS/ABS warnings are on, waiting on the better weather (I'm on the witch's cheek as per previous geographical image) before I get invested in fixes - I bought it knowing fine well it needs work but I'm just enjoying driving it for now.
It's also had an LPG conversion installed (small torus tank in the spare wheel well) which was actually my main attraction for buying this particular one, can't beat Autogas prices!
Never had any inclination to wanting one in the past, used to think I didn't like them, I blame Edd China - we're the same height so I knew I'd fit in the drivers' seat haha! The indicator stalk hits off of my knee, that's my only gripe. I have to hold it down against my leg and pivot my clutch foot when signalling left. When I get around to the fixes I'll bend it out of the way...
Apologies for the long rambling post to and old thread but I had to show my appreciation for the R170 SLK!
the_mighty_t said:
Yip, I can 100% confirm rust and dodgy electrics!
Was watching Wheeler Dealers one afternoon mid February, they were doing an SLK and out of interest I had a search on Gumtree - a few hours later (and £1000 lighter in the wallet) I became the owner of a 2002 manual SLK 230 thanks to terrible impulse control haha...
Main rust issues are the rear arches for me, that and a few areas of less concerning bubbling around the car.
BAS/ABS warnings are on, waiting on the better weather (I'm on the witch's cheek as per previous geographical image) before I get invested in fixes - I bought it knowing fine well it needs work but I'm just enjoying driving it for now.
It's also had an LPG conversion installed (small torus tank in the spare wheel well) which was actually my main attraction for buying this particular one, can't beat Autogas prices!
Never had any inclination to wanting one in the past, used to think I didn't like them, I blame Edd China - we're the same height so I knew I'd fit in the drivers' seat haha! The indicator stalk hits off of my knee, that's my only gripe. I have to hold it down against my leg and pivot my clutch foot when signalling left. When I get around to the fixes I'll bend it out of the way...
Apologies for the long rambling post to and old thread but I had to show my appreciation for the R170 SLK!
More importantly, this was your 17th post in 197 months. The R170 SLK is that significant.Was watching Wheeler Dealers one afternoon mid February, they were doing an SLK and out of interest I had a search on Gumtree - a few hours later (and £1000 lighter in the wallet) I became the owner of a 2002 manual SLK 230 thanks to terrible impulse control haha...
Main rust issues are the rear arches for me, that and a few areas of less concerning bubbling around the car.
BAS/ABS warnings are on, waiting on the better weather (I'm on the witch's cheek as per previous geographical image) before I get invested in fixes - I bought it knowing fine well it needs work but I'm just enjoying driving it for now.
It's also had an LPG conversion installed (small torus tank in the spare wheel well) which was actually my main attraction for buying this particular one, can't beat Autogas prices!
Never had any inclination to wanting one in the past, used to think I didn't like them, I blame Edd China - we're the same height so I knew I'd fit in the drivers' seat haha! The indicator stalk hits off of my knee, that's my only gripe. I have to hold it down against my leg and pivot my clutch foot when signalling left. When I get around to the fixes I'll bend it out of the way...
Apologies for the long rambling post to and old thread but I had to show my appreciation for the R170 SLK!
roadie said:
Was it these where the Mercedes advertising at the time was accompanied by the song:
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
Janis Joplin at her finest. The song has been used several times by Mercedes in their advertising; firstly in 1995. So, 'probably' is the best I can do.Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff