SLK 2014 model - glass roof question

[JetskiJezz]

Is there anyone out there with a standard specification SLK?

The reason for asking is that I'm trying to find out if the glass roof is now fitted as standard on 2014/2015 specification SLK?
I've just returned my 2012 SLK250 to Mercedes at the end of its lease and are looking to replace it with another one.
I was lucky with the last one that I was able to factory order and decided to have the glass roof ( not the full colour changing one, but the cheaper glass roof panel).
I'm being offered a choice of stock cars, some basic, some with various options, but none of them mention the cheaper roof.

I seem to remember somewhere on one of the forums reading that the glass roof was now standard, but can't seem to find anything else about it anywhere and was hoping to find someone who got one so they could confirm whether the roof was glass or whether it was solid.

Hope someone can help.

[DJRC]

Pano roof is still an option I think, stock is solid.

[Ari]

I'm pretty sure glass roof is now standard (in order to standardise production), but that if you didn't spec it you got solid headlining. But that it's not a big job to swap the headlining.

That might have changed (it was a pretty pointless way of doing things), but either way, pretty certain glass roof is standard.

[SFO]

pan roof is still an option according to price list of 1 Sep 14

however, all new SLKs (excluding the ones with magic sky control) have the same glass panel as a car with the pan roof option. The difference is in the interior headlining ... theoretically, you should be able to just replace the interior plastic panel to get the pan roof.

[JetskiJezz]

Ari said:

I'm pretty sure glass roof is now standard (in order to standardise production), but that if you didn't spec it you got solid headlining. But that it's not a big job to swap the headlining.

That might have changed (it was a pretty pointless way of doing things), but either way, pretty certain glass roof is standard.

Thank you everyone, the above is pretty much what I had read on another forum, I was just trying to find someone in the UK who could confirm that this was what they had received after not ordering the optional panoramic roof.

Without a doubt the panoramic roof is showing as an option on the purchase list of around £500, then the magic sky version at considerably more.
If it's true that the glass panel is there but that the headlining is installed as well it does sound like a stock car would still give me a glass roof albeit with a little bit of messing around to change the headlining.

[Ari]

I guess the only way to be sure is visit your local dealer and have a look at a couple of cars in stock. Find one without panoramic roof specified and see if it is glass with solid headlining. You could ask the parts department how much a replacement headlining with the aperture in would be to fit too. (Bet it's about £5 more than ordering the car with the panoramic roof! )

[JetskiJezz]

Ari said:

I guess the only way to be sure is visit your local dealer and have a look at a couple of cars in stock. Find one without panoramic roof specified and see if it is glass with solid headlining. You could ask the parts department how much a replacement headlining with the aperture in would be to fit too. (Bet it's about £5 more than ordering the car with the panoramic roof! )

I was trying to avoid making a special trip to the dealer, it's 50 minutes in each direction, so a real drag. Just hoping someone on here may well have one sat in the garage and know the answer.
To be honest the deal are offering me is so cheap I might just go for it anyway, if it did then happen to have a glass panel that I could expose by changing the headlining then it would just be a bonus.

[Dog Star]

I've just (well six months ago ) done the 2012 SLK -> 2014 SLK thing.

The "standard" car (I only do standard + AMG pack; I'm not paying for the next owners toys) comes with a glass roof and a "normal" (ie. solid) headlining.

You can change the interior trim and make it a glass roof. I've got the part numbers in my diary next to me....

Panoramic headliner - A172 790 00 45 9H23 £195 (don't know if that's plus VAT)
+ 3 clips
+ 7 fasteners

I'm considering it since I can always ebay it when the car goes back.

[JetskiJezz]

Dog Star said:

I've just (well six months ago ) done the 2012 SLK -> 2014 SLK thing.

The "standard" car (I only do standard + AMG pack; I'm not paying for the next owners toys) comes with a glass roof and a "normal" (ie. solid) headlining.

You can change the interior trim and make it a glass roof. I've got the part numbers in my diary next to me....

Panoramic headliner - A172 790 00 45 9H23 £195 (don't know if that's plus VAT)
+ 3 clips
+ 7 fasteners

I'm considering it since I can always ebay it when the car goes back.

You, sir are an absolute hero. That's exactly what I was hoping someone might be able to tell me.
Things have developed a little bit since my first post, I'm now able to factory orders my car and still get the cheaply steel I have been offered. But I'm not option in the glass roof at £500 if it comes with it anyway and doesn't cost much to change the headlining. and as you say eBay when finished and return back to factory standard before it goes back to Mercedes at the end of the lease.

I am going to order heated seats as I don't think I could run through a winter with cold leather, but that would be it.
I can't see any difference at all in terms of specification from 2012 - 2014.

[anonymous-user]

Apparently things changed for, or during, the 2013 MY. Since then things are as stated above.

Before then the base model was a solid roof, but the panel was plastic, not metal as many believed, and there were problems with it de laminating. That prompted the change to the glass roof and alternative headlining arrangements.

Seems an odd and not very satisfactory solution.

[Dog Star]

There are a few differences I've noticed
- different "spats" (now black plastic not body coloured moulding) on back of rear arches
- base stereo now has a 3 disc changer
- instruments are chromier
- glass roof
- display shows what gear you're in and if you touch a paddle it stays in manual mode until you hold the paddle
- AMG suspension feels softer. The car came with Bridgestones, not Contis and they run at higher pressures. I may be mistaken but it's a lot comfier.
- the engine cover is different

That's all I've spotted.

[anonymous-user]

Dog Star said:

There are a few differences I've noticed
- different "spats" (now black plastic not body coloured moulding) on back of rear arches
- base stereo now has a 3 disc changer
- instruments are chromier
- glass roof
- display shows what gear you're in and if you touch a paddle it stays in manual mode until you hold the paddle
- AMG suspension feels softer. The car came with Bridgestones, not Contis and they run at higher pressures. I may be mistaken but it's a lot comfier.
- the engine cover is different

That's all I've spotted.

Not sure what you mean about the manual mode. Our car goes back to D pretty quickly on its own unless you press the console button to go to M.

Btw, anyone know exactly where the battery is? I see where the positive and earth connections are under the bonnet but can't see the battery.

[DJRC]

My 55 is on Contis. Are you saying they changed from Bridgestones to Contis in 13?

[Dog Star]

DJRC said:

My 55 is on Contis. Are you saying they changed from Bridgestones to Contis in 13?

Well I'm only in a pond-life 250CDi. First one in 2012 was on Contis (33psi rear, 30 front). New one is on Bridgestones, 38 rear and I forget on the front.

This leaves me confused as to what to inflate my Conti WinterContacts to when I put them on in a couple of weeks.

Edited by Dog Star on Monday 3rd November 06:15

[JetskiJezz]

Dog Star said:

There are a few differences I've noticed
- different "spats" (now black plastic not body coloured moulding) on back of rear arches
- base stereo now has a 3 disc changer
- instruments are chromier
- glass roof
- display shows what gear you're in and if you touch a paddle it stays in manual mode until you hold the paddle
- AMG suspension feels softer. The car came with Bridgestones, not Contis and they run at higher pressures. I may be mistaken but it's a lot comfier.
- the engine cover is different

That's all I've spotted.

Thanks for the list, by the sounds of it virtue identical car to the 2012 model year.
I've just placed the order for my replacement (on lease) managed to find a blinding deal giving me the chance to factory order with a late January delivery, I guess therefore it will be a 2015 model year car although I doubt there's any difference.
I wasn't able to get it quite as cheap as my first one, but then Mercedes seem to be giving them away, but I don't think £250 per month including VAT with a 6 month deposit is unreasonable for an SLK.

Interesting that you say the base stereo now has a 3 disc changer, I think my last one had a 6 disc changer ( and the current price list catalogue lists it still a 6 disc) although in fairness I never use the change at as I had the media connector on mine and therefore have an iPod plugged in permanently.
On the above subject, have you used the USB socket for streaming music, or the Bluetooth for the same thing? Just wondering if it shows album art that way?

[Dog Star]

JetskiJezz said:

Thanks for the list, by the sounds of it virtue identical car to the 2012 model year.
I've just placed the order for my replacement (on lease) managed to find a blinding deal giving me the chance to factory order with a late January delivery, I guess therefore it will be a 2015 model year car although I doubt there's any difference.
I wasn't able to get it quite as cheap as my first one, but then Mercedes seem to be giving them away, but I don't think £250 per month including VAT with a 6 month deposit is unreasonable for an SLK.

Interesting that you say the base stereo now has a 3 disc changer, I think my last one had a 6 disc changer ( and the current price list catalogue lists it still a 6 disc) although in fairness I never use the change at as I had the media connector on mine and therefore have an iPod plugged in permanently.
On the above subject, have you used the USB socket for streaming music, or the Bluetooth for the same thing? Just wondering if it shows album art that way?

Er. Maybe it is a 6 disc - I've never used it tbh. My car was 80p/month cheaper than the first one (I do 3+23 15K/pa, although this time I think I'm going to blow the 30K limit).

I tend to use the bluetooth streaming from my iPhone (usually Spotify), although there is a USM stick plugged in as well - I can confirm that is DOES do album art.

I probably won't be getting an SLK after this one - 3 on the bounce is perhaps too many. I might splash out and get an SL350. Or a C class estate.

[JetskiJezz]

Dog Star said:

Er. Maybe it is a 6 disc - I've never used it tbh. My car was 80p/month cheaper than the first one (I do 3+23 15K/pa, although this time I think I'm going to blow the 30K limit).

I tend to use the bluetooth streaming from my iPhone (usually Spotify), although there is a USM stick plugged in as well - I can confirm that is DOES do album art.

I probably won't be getting an SLK after this one - 3 on the bounce is perhaps too many. I might splash out and get an SL350. Or a C class estate.

Thanks again for the information. Perhaps the 2012 only had a single CD, either way I never used it.
Good news about Bluetooth streaming and USB both doing album art, no need for me to pick the media connector box.

I got the same thoughts as you, but to many other cars out there to have anything for too long, I hadn't intended to go for another SLK, but the deal was just too good to me to resist.
Thankfully is one of a handful of cars for me, the SLK is my daily driver, a car that either I or my wife can simply jump in and use ( we both work from home), luckily I have an M3 (v8) convertible sat in the garage to use when I want something quick. Using my man maths I've now justify ordering the SLK on the basis that I am going to part with the M3 when the sun comes out early next year and then start my hunt for a used Jaguar F type, I'm just waiting to make it 3 years old and the prices start levelling a bit.

[Dog Star]

JetskiJezz said:

Thanks again for the information. Perhaps the 2012 only had a single CD, either way I never used it.
Good news about Bluetooth streaming and USB both doing album art, no need for me to pick the media connector box.

I got the same thoughts as you, but to many other cars out there to have anything for too long, I hadn't intended to go for another SLK, but the deal was just too good to me to resist.
Thankfully is one of a handful of cars for me, the SLK is my daily driver, a car that either I or my wife can simply jump in and use ( we both work from home), luckily I have an M3 (v8) convertible sat in the garage to use when I want something quick. Using my man maths I've now justify ordering the SLK on the basis that I am going to part with the M3 when the sun comes out early next year and then start my hunt for a used Jaguar F type, I'm just waiting to make it 3 years old and the prices start levelling a bit.

I can't rememeber if the bluetooth streaming does album art; I only ever really use it with Spotify and it doesn;'t with that. Playing what is on the phone in the actual iPod as an mp3 I really can't remember, and I'm abroad for a couple of weeks now.

[JetskiJezz]

Just resurrecting this old thread to give some bad news I'm afraid in regards to the glass roof on the latest model.

I ordered mine without the panoramic roof on the basis that I was simply going to change the headlining as described earlier in this thread.
When you cart was delivered late last night and this morning I have taken the headlining out ready to fit the new one that I had ordered a few days before.

You can imagine my disappointment when I found that the black roof above was in fact painted and not clear as other people have on previous cars. So somewhere in the production process Mercedes has finally decided to paint these routes again. My only conclusion is that the clear version they were doing previously was a temporary fix.

Unfortunately I'm now left with a solid roof where I wanted a glass one, my fault entirely for not ordering it as an option. It's not the end of the world, but I didn't want anyone else making the same mistake.

The photo below ( Excuse the poor quality) shows the roof from the underside after the roof lining has been taken off, you can clearly see its solid black:


This is a photograph from above, so the roof clearly is still finished in black from above even though the factory colour of the car is red:


It's clearly my mistake, but I just didn't want anyone else reading this thread and doing what I have done. Thankfully my dealer is happy to take the panoramic roof lining back as a refund, so it's not all bad

[Dog Star]

Well that's interesting - how old is your car?

I took delivery of mine in May 2014 and I've never looked underneath - from the outside in certain light condtions I can see the "outline" of a smaller aperture through the glass. I'll try and get a picture. Can you see anything at all through yours in strong light, or is it totally solid?