Progress thread 2001 Mercedes SLK230
Discussion
Following on from This thread
I became the owner of a 2001 SLK
Looked nice but there are a number of jobs to do on the car - thought I'd keep it all tidy and in one thread rather than bump the original thread I started.
When I view the car it wasn't perfect but for a near 100K miles and 1 owner from new it was the best I'd looked at, honest seller and an honest car that needed a few bits sorting to meet my requiremnts
Aside from a little rust on the arches and boot lid I'd spotted a bit of peeling paint on the engine side of bash plate that protects the underside of the engine bay - the were also some big scrapes on the road side too so it obviously serves some usefull purpose so I planned to remove it, treat it, re-paint and re-fit it.
First thing to mention is by god it's heavy
This is what a little bit of peeling paint looked like when the bash plate was removed
Road side
Engine side
It's pretty much 2-3mm plate and had rusted thro in 3 places - worst bit shown below
Ok so maybe a bit more than a wire brush and repaint - time to get busy with the miggy first
3 areas repaired
So dropped it of with my local shotblaster for blasting, hot zinc galvanising and then a powdercoat in gloss black
I'll pop some pictures up when I've got it back all sorted if people are interested.....
I became the owner of a 2001 SLK
Looked nice but there are a number of jobs to do on the car - thought I'd keep it all tidy and in one thread rather than bump the original thread I started.
When I view the car it wasn't perfect but for a near 100K miles and 1 owner from new it was the best I'd looked at, honest seller and an honest car that needed a few bits sorting to meet my requiremnts
Aside from a little rust on the arches and boot lid I'd spotted a bit of peeling paint on the engine side of bash plate that protects the underside of the engine bay - the were also some big scrapes on the road side too so it obviously serves some usefull purpose so I planned to remove it, treat it, re-paint and re-fit it.
First thing to mention is by god it's heavy
This is what a little bit of peeling paint looked like when the bash plate was removed
Road side
Engine side
It's pretty much 2-3mm plate and had rusted thro in 3 places - worst bit shown below
Ok so maybe a bit more than a wire brush and repaint - time to get busy with the miggy first
3 areas repaired
So dropped it of with my local shotblaster for blasting, hot zinc galvanising and then a powdercoat in gloss black
I'll pop some pictures up when I've got it back all sorted if people are interested.....
Edited by B'stard Child on Thursday 7th July 01:03
It looks like your car was ordered with the optional sump guard: usually the under-engine cover is plastic. I have always thought this is a useful option to have and have looked at retrofitting it to some of my other cars, especially my TE which gets rough treatment from time to time. Anyway, I don't know how much the shot blasting is costing but it may be that a new sump guard can be had cheaply enough from the Mercedes dealer. It should be about £105 inc VAT.
SLacKer said:
What is wrong with some tough plastic?
r129sl said:
It looks like your car was ordered with the optional sump guard: usually the under-engine cover is plastic. I have always thought this is a useful option to have and have looked at retrofitting it to some of my other cars, especially my TE which gets rough treatment from time to time.
Ahh I wondered if it was an option - a couple of cars I looked at didn't even have anything. It's certainly had some scrapes
r129sl said:
Anyway, I don't know how much the shot blasting is costing but it may be that a new sump guard can be had cheaply enough from the Mercedes dealer. It should be about £105 inc VAT.
Refurbishment costs I'll happily reveal up when I've got it back - likely to be less than £50 and it won't rust like a new one will either - I had the same treatment done to my Monza track car trailing arms - they are now stone chipped to heck but no rust 
Oh and while it's off I'd better do and oil and filter change as it'll be a lot easier than after it's fitted
r129sl said:
It's option code 481. All good points you make about having it refurbished. It amazes me how cheaply one can have very good quality metal treatments carried out, shot-blasting, galvanising, powder coating or nickel-plating and the like.
The local place I use do me a set of wheels any size/width shot blasted and powder coated in any colour of choice for £120......Do a nice job too - not "spit and polish" or "lepsons" nice but perfectly acceptable. One set I had done 8 years ago still wash up like new.....
Popped into the blasting place today on the off chance it was ready before the weekend - it's blasted and no new holes so no more repairs needed - will be ready for collection Monday £30 was the agreed price.....
I'd struggle to buy zip wheels, rust "eater" treatment, primer and top coat for that money..... (not even considering how I would value my hours taken to do it)
I'd struggle to buy zip wheels, rust "eater" treatment, primer and top coat for that money..... (not even considering how I would value my hours taken to do it)
Oil and filter change done - took me longer to find the oil filter than it did to change it
Collected undertray today and it's now fitted - should stay rust free longer than the car now - up on ramps I can see I'll need to do a few other parts soon - nothing as bad as the undertray but some bits definately need attention.
Anyway pics as promised
OK surface finish isn't fantastic in the pictures but it was a crusty old lump
The nice bit for me is now when looking into the engine bay from above it all looks nice and clean and whilst no-one will notice whats been done I'll know it.....
Collected undertray today and it's now fitted - should stay rust free longer than the car now - up on ramps I can see I'll need to do a few other parts soon - nothing as bad as the undertray but some bits definately need attention.
Anyway pics as promised
OK surface finish isn't fantastic in the pictures but it was a crusty old lump
The nice bit for me is now when looking into the engine bay from above it all looks nice and clean and whilst no-one will notice whats been done I'll know it.....
Edited by B'stard Child on Wednesday 13th July 01:22
Ha ha
Next job has been triggered by topping up the washer reservoir
8L required
2L on the floor.......
D/S front wheel needs to come off and the wheel arch liner needs to be removed so I can understand what the issue is.
Still it's a job (wheel arch liner removal - clean and refit) I always do with recently purchased cars now I have another reason to do it
Next job has been triggered by topping up the washer reservoir
8L required
2L on the floor.......
D/S front wheel needs to come off and the wheel arch liner needs to be removed so I can understand what the issue is.
Still it's a job (wheel arch liner removal - clean and refit) I always do with recently purchased cars now I have another reason to do it
OK a little update
Been mainly cleaning drains and they are a bit of a PITA but I can say now that the fuel flap, two rear boot drains and the three front scuttle drains are all now draining properly - they weren't before....
Fuel economy has been very impressive
Average 35 mpg (UK Gal) 29.1 mpg (US Gal) 8.07 L/100 km
Best 38 mpg (UK Gal) 31.6 mpg (US Gal) 7.43 L/100 km
Worst 32mpg (UK Gal) 26.6 mpg (US Gal) 8.83 L/100 km
Worst was on a PH hoon around east anglia
And it's been up the hill at Prescott and once I'd turned the nanny state off it did rather well (not as focused as my track car but still quite lively and fun)
Might have some pictures of that to add latter
Been mainly cleaning drains and they are a bit of a PITA but I can say now that the fuel flap, two rear boot drains and the three front scuttle drains are all now draining properly - they weren't before....
Fuel economy has been very impressive
Average 35 mpg (UK Gal) 29.1 mpg (US Gal) 8.07 L/100 km
Best 38 mpg (UK Gal) 31.6 mpg (US Gal) 7.43 L/100 km
Worst 32mpg (UK Gal) 26.6 mpg (US Gal) 8.83 L/100 km
Worst was on a PH hoon around east anglia
And it's been up the hill at Prescott and once I'd turned the nanny state off it did rather well (not as focused as my track car but still quite lively and fun)
Might have some pictures of that to add latter
Edited by B'stard Child on Friday 2nd September 15:55
Blimey haven't update this in a while
Expenditure since last update has been limited to fuel and oil changes although new tyres are on the cards soon.....
Last year I noticed the water was collecting around the boot seal so I cleaned all the drains and sorted that
Never been happy with the engine temp sits at 80deg on the guage so new thermostat was sourced
In the recent colder weather the boot struts haven't been offering much in the way of support turning the boot lid into a perfect guilotine when you least expect it - Two struts at £11.50 from the local Merc dealership
Typically the front drains have blocked up in the recent cold weather damn screen was fogging up when parked up after a run and the car had a slight whiff of compost occasionally.
I'd ordered and collected a new cabin filter at the same time as the boot struts so fitting that was also on the agenda
So tonight I stripped the wipers off and removed the scuttle cover and was greated by quite a large quantity of leaf debris blocking all three drains
Having learnt a good technique from the rear drain fun time I didn't even bother to try and rod them out - just ull out what debris I could untill the holes were clear then 100 mls or so of Jizer down the holes
Go and have dinner
On return follow the jizer with a hose pipe on pluse squeeze the pipe release and repeat and shortly all the drains coul cope with a full bore hose.
Old thermostat removed and replaced with new thermost.
Scuttle back on and wipers re-fitted cabin filter replaced - seems like the last one fitted was probably aftermarket as the merc sourced one was a much better construction
Took the bottom of the fan unit and wasn't surprised by the contents a nice mug sized ammount of wet and nasty leaf debris
so that'll be why the screen has been misting up!
All done and quick run round the dual carriage way reveals that the new operating temp is about 5 deg higher on the dash - the blower seems far more effective and it is odourless again
Next job the spring Oil and filter change and I think I'll probably change the coolant too...
Expenditure since last update has been limited to fuel and oil changes although new tyres are on the cards soon.....
Last year I noticed the water was collecting around the boot seal so I cleaned all the drains and sorted that
Never been happy with the engine temp sits at 80deg on the guage so new thermostat was sourced
In the recent colder weather the boot struts haven't been offering much in the way of support turning the boot lid into a perfect guilotine when you least expect it - Two struts at £11.50 from the local Merc dealership
Typically the front drains have blocked up in the recent cold weather damn screen was fogging up when parked up after a run and the car had a slight whiff of compost occasionally.
I'd ordered and collected a new cabin filter at the same time as the boot struts so fitting that was also on the agenda
So tonight I stripped the wipers off and removed the scuttle cover and was greated by quite a large quantity of leaf debris blocking all three drains
Having learnt a good technique from the rear drain fun time I didn't even bother to try and rod them out - just ull out what debris I could untill the holes were clear then 100 mls or so of Jizer down the holes
Go and have dinner
On return follow the jizer with a hose pipe on pluse squeeze the pipe release and repeat and shortly all the drains coul cope with a full bore hose.
Old thermostat removed and replaced with new thermost.
Scuttle back on and wipers re-fitted cabin filter replaced - seems like the last one fitted was probably aftermarket as the merc sourced one was a much better construction
Took the bottom of the fan unit and wasn't surprised by the contents a nice mug sized ammount of wet and nasty leaf debris
so that'll be why the screen has been misting up!
All done and quick run round the dual carriage way reveals that the new operating temp is about 5 deg higher on the dash - the blower seems far more effective and it is odourless again
Next job the spring Oil and filter change and I think I'll probably change the coolant too...
Time to sort the paintwork irritations out (legacy of when the bean counters took control of Mercedes)
3 out of 4 arches are dreadfull and the front edges of the wings aren't great either
Headlights and indicators out
Chock the rear wheels
Jack the front up to make the working height a bit easier
wheels off (good time to clean the backs)
Wheel arch liners out both sides
Grill out and bumper nearly read to come off
My neighbours probably think i'm mad!! (actually there is no probably about it)
Few pictures of the rust bubbles
The rear will be next
I know it the best weather for using a drop top but it's also the best weather for drying paint
3 out of 4 arches are dreadfull and the front edges of the wings aren't great either
Headlights and indicators out
Chock the rear wheels
Jack the front up to make the working height a bit easier
wheels off (good time to clean the backs)
Wheel arch liners out both sides
Grill out and bumper nearly read to come off
My neighbours probably think i'm mad!! (actually there is no probably about it)
Few pictures of the rust bubbles
The rear will be next
I know it the best weather for using a drop top but it's also the best weather for drying paint
Kidders said:
Thats seen its fair share of paint over the years, I can spot a fisheye in that bottom picture!
Shows lack of knowledge about these things - what's a fish eye?Previous owner had it from new and declared he had two incidents in it
Van driver hit the passenger door in traffic - repaint is not as "flat" as the rest of the car but I have to look hard to see it
He ran into the back of a car (also in traffic) and the front bumper got repaired and painted
I thought the pics would be hand Gareth
sanguinary said:
I'll be interested how you get on with the painting. My other half's 2002 230 is in similar condition; all arches need tidying, as does the lip on the bonnet and the boot, above the handle.
I'll be pulling it apart on the driveway too...
I'll take a few more pictures then (inc materials used) if that's any help to you?I'll be pulling it apart on the driveway too...
Boot lock area need doing but the leading edge of the bonnet is fine (even underneath) - just a nasty stone chip on the top of the bonnet that erupted like a 13 year olds face over the winter
You can never post too many pictures. 
My current job is to get the passenger seat working. It failed a few months ago in a damn uncomfortable position - I can't get to the rail bolts and I can't get to the back of the seat.
Short of cutting a seat sized hole in the floor, I'm running out of ideas!
My current job is to get the passenger seat working. It failed a few months ago in a damn uncomfortable position - I can't get to the rail bolts and I can't get to the back of the seat.
Short of cutting a seat sized hole in the floor, I'm running out of ideas!
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