Slk 55 AMG, going to buy what to look out for...

[kazino]

Just took a test drive today and I've fallen for it. Now need to find a good used one. It seems the early ones around 05 with 30,000 miles are going for around the 22-23k mark privately which looks appealing. Any specific issues I should be looking out for on this car?

[Fidgits]

roof.

[G9 NGR]

Be aware that the brakes are very very expensive to replace. I replaced the brakes on mine and the parts alone were in the region of £2k. So use that as a bargaining point if they look like they will need replced any time soon.

G9

[Ruskie]

G9 NGR said:

Be aware that the brakes are very very expensive to replace. I replaced the brakes on mine and the parts alone were in the region of £2k. So use that as a bargaining point if they look like they will need replced any time soon.

G9

2k for brakes, a major service and if anything else needs doing you won't have change out of 3k!!!

It must be hard to swallow a bill like that!

[G9 NGR]

Ruskie said:

G9 NGR said:

Be aware that the brakes are very very expensive to replace. I replaced the brakes on mine and the parts alone were in the region of £2k. So use that as a bargaining point if they look like they will need replced any time soon.

G9

2k for brakes, a major service and if anything else needs doing you won't have change out of 3k!!!

It must be hard to swallow a bill like that!

Yeah I ended up buying the parts from my local dealer and having them fitted elsewhere. As when I took the car in for a service they said it needed 4 tyres, brakes (pads and discs), and they wanted to charge me over £4k all in. Jokers.

[Zod]

OP, you mean SL 55, don't you, not SLK 55?

(unless you are a girl who lieks overpaying )

[white90]

Look for water in the boot
under the carpet/spare/tools etc
common to see water in there.
http://www.slkworld.com/

for a mine of info

[kazino]

rofl
I was considering the clk 63amg cab too, which would be akin to a grown woman overpaying

Zod said:

OP, you mean SL 55, don't you, not SLK 55?

(unless you are a girl who lieks overpaying )

[kazino]

Thanks for the info guys, is it not possible to buy OEM brake disks and pads and have them fitted by a decent specialist?

How do I check the roof?

[G9 NGR]

kazino said:

Thanks for the info guys, is it not possible to buy OEM brake disks and pads and have them fitted by a decent specialist?

How do I check the roof?

The only place you can buy the discs is through a dealer, pads you can get elsewhere but its the discs that are a really daft price. As I said though, its the parts alone that cost £2k - fitting is on top of that (and I'm sure the dealer wanted something rediculous like £500 + vat for fitting). Hence why I had mine fitted elsewhere.

[Mastodon2]

kazino said:

Thanks for the info guys, is it not possible to buy OEM brake disks and pads and have them fitted by a decent specialist?

How do I check the roof?

As long as the roof is opening and closing smoothly and without any alarming noises I'd say it was in fine condition.

These are great cars, unfortunately the last time I saw one it was being driven down the wrong side of the road by a rather ditzy looking blonde. Doh! I'd still buy one though, if I was rich and wanted a cool cruiser / mini GT.

[kazino]

omg 2k for disks that's insane. I better start googling how to check up how much life there is on a brake disk.

Thanks for the roof, the car I saw today had good folding action so guess it's ok. dealer is giving a 3 month warantee on the car

[G9 NGR]

kazino said:

omg 2k for disks that's insane. I better start googling how to check up how much life there is on a brake disk.

Thanks for the roof, the car I saw today had good folding action so guess it's ok. dealer is giving a 3 month warantee on the car

Yep its pretty mental. There are car parts websites that quote discs for the SLK55 for about £100 each if I remember rightly, but when I tried to go down this route it turned out the discs arent even the right size and are NEVER in stock!! Handy!!
ETA I got about 40k miles out of my discs if that helps

Edited by G9 NGR on Friday 22 October 17:59

[kazino]

Cheers, looks like the cars I'm looking at will be around changing time (most seem to have milage around 30-40k miles). Woops

G9 NGR said:

kazino said:

omg 2k for disks that's insane. I better start googling how to check up how much life there is on a brake disk.

Thanks for the roof, the car I saw today had good folding action so guess it's ok. dealer is giving a 3 month warantee on the car

Yep its pretty mental. There are car parts websites that quote discs for the SLK55 for about £100 each if I remember rightly, but when I tried to go down this route it turned out the discs arent even the right size and are NEVER in stock!! Handy!!
ETA I got about 40k miles out of my discs if that helps

Edited by G9 NGR on Friday 22 October 17:59

[k-ink]

£4000 for brakes and a few bits Absolute jokers! Mind you I bet most German dealers make an absolute killing from their typical buyers.

[G9 NGR]

k-ink said:

£4000 for brakes and a few bits Absolute jokers! Mind you I bet most German dealers make an absolute killing from their typical buyers.

Yeah thats the thing, your stereotypical elderly Mercedes owner would just agree and ask when the car will be ready for collection........needless to say I wasnt impressed and didnt go back there for my next service, especially after they told me it needed 4 tyres when the fronts still had over 4mm on them...... When I questioned this they apologised and said they had made a mistake and it was only rear tyres that were needed....hmmm, I'm not sure it was a mistake. Chancers

[kazino]

On Eurocarparts they have OE at half the price and aftermarket and 1/10th the price. Doesn't seem so bad after all?

[G9 NGR]

kazino said:

On Eurocarparts they have OE at half the price and aftermarket and 1/10th the price. Doesn't seem so bad after all?

Good luck in actually getting them from eurocarparts, I tried a couple of times and they were never in stock, and when I looked into it further they werent even the right size

[nakulan7]

Check out www.slkworld.com. A wealth of information and help for SLK owners.

[wolfy1988]

kazino said:

Just took a test drive today and I've fallen for it. Now need to find a good used one. It seems the early ones around 05 with 30,000 miles are going for around the 22-23k mark privately which looks appealing. Any specific issues I should be looking out for on this car?

Hi Kazino

The SLK55 is pretty problem free other than the roof but its still no were near as bad as the 230 sl55's!
I must commend your choice of weapon, as I have driven one myself and can only liken it too one of those Star Wars pod racers!

The Clk's are good too, not many problems there. the roof is reliable. The only thing I remember with those is if the Airbag light is on its likely to be that has leant on the seat whilst reach into the back and broken the pressure circuit.