SLK V6 to SLK55 AMG

SLK V6 to SLK55 AMG

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Discussion

MauiJim

Original Poster:

167 posts

126 months

Saturday 20th September 2014
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I've had an SLK 280 for the past few months. Brilliant car for what I use it for. Can't help lusting after the 55 AMG version (R171) for the additional sound, performance, looks and all round specialness. Oh, and did I mention the sound?

Insurance for me, at a ripe old age of 30, is just £100 per year more. Basic servicing doesn't seem hideous but I'm after some real world experiences of running one of these. I've read all about the discs and pads, but day to day running costs interest me. I currently get c.30mpg average in the 280; would I be way out expecting an average of 23ish mpg? Most of my miles are dual carriageway commute with a little bit of traffic at the end of the journey. Ultimately it doesn't matter, but I like to go into things with my eyes open. Service costs seem to be about the £600ish region from an independent. Does that sound right?

Anyone willing to share their experiences would be great, especially if you've gone from a 280/350 to a 55. I've read tonnes of threads on here and other sites and nothing has put me off quite yet!

DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
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Is that the gay 55 or the new one with the decent engine and interior which doesn't make you want to slit your wrists out of depression?

Sargeant Orange

2,687 posts

146 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
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I've got the 280 too and have similar hankering for more power & watching kleeman tuned videos certainly doesn't help (that noise!)

Will keep a close eye on the thread biggrin

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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I have a CLK and manage 24-25MPG over an average tank which includes mixed motorway and traffic with the odd jaunt.

Things to watch with servicing are the spark plug change. every 4 years or 50,000 miles or so. £400 right there. engines are generally reliable. as you say brakes can be expensive.

They aren't crazy expensive to run. B service was quoted at £400 + plugs = £975. Final bill came out at £1891.... things quickly add up!

MauiJim

Original Poster:

167 posts

126 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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DJRC said:
Is that the gay 55 or the new one with the decent engine and interior which doesn't make you want to slit your wrists out of depression?
The R171 of about 2006 vintage. Probably the gay one; but I like the looks and interior much better than the R172 which I'd far too blingy for my tastes. That and being way over budget!

Defcon5

6,160 posts

190 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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400 quid for the plugs?

tigerkoi

2,927 posts

197 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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MauiJim said:
DJRC said:
Is that the gay 55 or the new one with the decent engine and interior which doesn't make you want to slit your wrists out of depression?
The R171 of about 2006 vintage. Probably the gay one; but I like the looks and interior much better than the R172 which I'd far too blingy for my tastes. That and being way over budget!
I think you're right about the R172. I know you can't be empirical about aesthetic matters, but the R172 just looks like the steed of a "rent boy done good".

I've never been in an SLK but from afar I always thought the R170 was a very nice, clean design. Its efficient lines still look good after all these years. The R171 obviously brought the shape up to (then) date and it looks like a pocket SLR, but the 172 is just a frightful hash.

In saying all of that the engines are glorious, and typically bulletproof AMG.

Have you tried it back to back with a Boxster? Are you dead set on staying with MB or would you be swayed by the competitors?

DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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Jim...good taste on the sunglasses smile
Baaaaad taste on quality though! The interior of the mid 00s Mercs, esp the SL and K are fking horrendous places. They are straight from the Porsche book of ruffled leather! The plastics are awful, the materials are cheap, the layout attrocious and just the sheer design of them is nasty. I've got an original 170 as well as the new 55 and the interior on the 170 is much much nicer than its successor. And that is on a car that was meant to be the worst built Merc in history!

Forget the gay 55, go with a mint 32 and a wing replacement budget smile

notax

2,091 posts

238 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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I have been lucky enough to have had a string of nice daily drivers, and a number of Mercedes including an SLK55, C63 AMG and joining the fleet as of today an SLS roadster too smile Anyway, I didn't keep the SLK for long. A brief summary:

Positives

Reliable, great seats, air scarf, the rarity, the speed and OMG the noise smile Now also pretty depreciation proof as well I would guess.

Negatives

The ride was dreadful, really, really firm compared to just about anything. The gearbox was frustrating, not always changing down when I wanted it to with the paddles or buttons, much better left in auto. The traction control couldn't be fully switched off (not an issue for some but I found very annoying) The phone was useless due to the, admittedly great, noise of the exhaust.

If my negatives won't worry you (and they may not be relevant to you) then I think it would be a great buy. Fuel economy was about 23mpg for me in general driving. I swapped it for an XKR (brilliant everyday car) then an M3 (step down after the Jag, no fun unless driving at 10 tenths) then a Vantage (fab, sold it for what I paid after a year of use) and now the C63 AMG - awesome. Buy one in the winter for a bargain price and sell in the spring for a profit if you don't like it smile

buzzer

3,533 posts

239 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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I have run one for a few years, just started a thread in readers drives...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

there is also a bit more on my website

http://jtccc.wordpress.com/


I do all my own servicing so I cant comment on that... MPG I can get 30 on a good run, but it seems to average out at around 23... I love the looks, and the sound, and prefer the 171 over the 172, but as always that's down to personal choice.

I would also add that I had the same dilemma … 350 Vs 55. We went to look at a 55 first, and then a couple of 350’s. It was my wife who was the deciding factor, after driving a 350 she said “it’s OK, but it’s not an AMG, or a V8 and it does not sound anywhere near as good” I pointed out the fuel consumption… she shrugged her shoulders… we went back the next day and bought the 55

I love the heated seats and air scarf.. the sound, and the sense of occasion when I take it out. Small car, big V8 is a great combination.



Edited by buzzer on Wednesday 24th September 12:59

sideways sid

1,371 posts

214 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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I've had a 55 since March and love it! The sound will win you over.

I do low miles in it. The computer seems to settle around 23mpg most of the time. I sought out a good one (low miles, FMBSH, with airscarf, premium audio with SD-card, etc) and it hasn't cost a penny yet in servicing and nothing has broken.

Its a 2010, so post-08 facelift, which IIRC is mainly a newer Satnav system, which is still not particularly intuitive compared to other manufacturers' systems - but that is the most negative thing that I can say about the car!

It will need looking after when servicing but there seem to be some good independent garages around. I also reckon that when it comes to sell, there will not be too many naturally-aspirated V8s out there, so it may have slight rarity value / might not lose too much.

OP, I suspect the V6 will feel rather 'ordinary' by comparison. Go for it.

zainster

440 posts

175 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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Fantastic car imho, sound superb and plenty fast looking at all the various performance stats for it.
I'm seriously considering scratching that V8 itch I've developed recently and this would certainly help do that!

slk 32

1,486 posts

192 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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I've got both a 2001 SLK 32 and a 2006 SLK 55.

I still think the R170 shape will age better and te interior also was better quality. The R171 for what is meant to be a premium car had a terible cheap and nasty interior. I went for the duo tone interior just to avoid adding to the acres of black.

As i wanted more power I upgraded to Kleemann S4 spec with Kleemann exhaust headers, camshaft , remap and its now about 420-440bhp. I will add the supercharger early 2015 when my Bank balance has recovered!

nickwilcock

1,522 posts

246 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
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This afternoon there was some late summer sunshine, so I went out in my 2003 SLK32 AMG - with the roof down, of course.

What a great car this is! I've had it for 9 years and 53000 miles now and it's still such fun. Classic, ageless looks and a nice, well laid-out interior without pointless toys. SatNav - I have a Garmin 660 on an automotive mount, which is MUCH more user-friendly than some endless menu COMAND system. Phone? Good old Nokia 6310i and Nokia hands-free, which works a treat.

Whereas the R171 SLK55 AMG has a superb engine, but an awfully busy and rather cheap interior with horrible, 'toad-skin' hard plastic surfaces.

But at least it isn't as hideously ugly as the bloated, lard-arsed R172. The 'Dodge Nitro' front end of which must have been designed by a different team to those who allegdly designed its fat arsed rear. But the most irritating interior feature is the offset Ford Cortina air vents and SatNav screen, which would drive me nuts....

So I'll continue on with my SLK32 AMG, despite the paintwork bills. Next year I'll probably get the alloys fettled in the Spring and perhaps the bonnet edge. But other than that, touch wood, it's as good now as it was when I picked it up from Mercedes Redhill 9 years ago!

silverinca

18 posts

146 months

Monday 29th September 2014
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I went straight for the 55 AMG! fantastic car, amazing sound with the roof down and has crazy power. It's very quick! You should definitely consider one smile

I've had it for 2 years nearly, servicing is average cost. I was suprised that it has 16 spark plugs and it only runs on super unleaded! You can pick up brake discs for around £150 a corner now.

I get around 22-23 mpg mainly A road driving. I have added a sprint booster which has totally changed the way the car drives, the throttle opens immediately! I actually cant drive without it on now smile

If you need any other questions answered, i will try my best smile Good luck with your search!

buzzsaw

698 posts

268 months

Monday 29th September 2014
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silverinca said:
I went straight for the 55 AMG! fantastic car, amazing sound with the roof down and has crazy power. It's very quick! You should definitely consider one smile

I've had it for 2 years nearly, servicing is average cost. I was suprised that it has 16 spark plugs and it only runs on super unleaded! You can pick up brake discs for around £150 a corner now.

I get around 22-23 mpg mainly A road driving. I have added a sprint booster which has totally changed the way the car drives, the throttle opens immediately! I actually cant drive without it on now smile

If you need any other questions answered, i will try my best smile Good luck with your search!
Link to brake discs for £150 please (unless you have the four pot front calipers , then I understand)

Edited by buzzsaw on Monday 29th September 22:01

silverinca

18 posts

146 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
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I found them on euro car parts website. They are for rears though, but still cheap smile The Part number is : 104221880


buzzer

3,533 posts

239 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
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buzzsaw said:
Link to brake discs for £150 please (unless you have the four pot front calipers , then I understand)

Edited by buzzsaw on Monday 29th September 22:01
These are more than £150.... but they aren't £1200 either! they have been on my car for 12 months or more now and are a direct replacement.




old and new



They are the correct 340mm diameter and bolt straight on. Admitted they are not fully floating like the original but I think that was overkill anyway. So did Mercedes as they went to one piece on the later cars. Unfortunately the disks from the later cars with 4 pot callipers wont fit...

buzzsaw

698 posts

268 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
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buzzer said:
These are more than £150.... but they aren't £1200 either! they have been on my car for 12 months or more now and are a direct replacement.




old and new



They are the correct 340mm diameter and bolt straight on. Admitted they are not fully floating like the original but I think that was overkill anyway. So did Mercedes as they went to one piece on the later cars. Unfortunately the disks from the later cars with 4 pot callipers wont fit...
Looks good. Where did you get them from?

buzzsaw

698 posts

268 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
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silverinca said:
I found them on euro car parts website. They are for rears though, but still cheap smile The Part number is : 104221880
I'm aware you can get the rears for this price. The fronts are the Holy Grail!