Discussion
Hi everyone, I'm thinking of one of these for my next car later this year. Insurance is nice and cheap and I really want a big V8 in a little car.
Anyone have any experiance with these? I'm looking at 2004/5 models really.
Is there any common faults that I should be aware of before taking the plunge?
Anyone have any experiance with these? I'm looking at 2004/5 models really.
Is there any common faults that I should be aware of before taking the plunge?
I'm not sure about common faults but I've driven a few and they are epic to drive! The sound track is intoxicating and the performance blistering, being in such a small package makes you feel like you're driving a 'proper' sports car.
Good look and enjoy, please post pictures when you take the plunge.
Good look and enjoy, please post pictures when you take the plunge.
Ive got one and its great - noise and performance is mind blowing
If buying an 05/06 check the front disks thickness as to change them they are circa £1000 from Mercedes ( disks are 2 part with the disk bolted to a steel hub carrier)
As well as general servicing check the auto transmission fluid has been changed at 45000 miles and also check the spark plugs have been changed at 5 years / 600000 miles ( ?? ) as there are 16 of them and expensive if Mercedes change them ( I did my own)
Car is great roof up its quiet roof down like a convertible and they are getting very reasonable to buy now
Chris
If buying an 05/06 check the front disks thickness as to change them they are circa £1000 from Mercedes ( disks are 2 part with the disk bolted to a steel hub carrier)
As well as general servicing check the auto transmission fluid has been changed at 45000 miles and also check the spark plugs have been changed at 5 years / 600000 miles ( ?? ) as there are 16 of them and expensive if Mercedes change them ( I did my own)
Car is great roof up its quiet roof down like a convertible and they are getting very reasonable to buy now
Chris
Do it there fantastic cars, absolutely love mine. Factor in a couple of hundred pounds to get the gearbox adaptives reprogrammed did this on mine and it's now a different car.
Check the service history spark plugs are an expensive job there's 16 of them.
Buy the best you can afford make sure it's high spec.
Check the service history spark plugs are an expensive job there's 16 of them.
Buy the best you can afford make sure it's high spec.
I have had mine for 9 months now and love the v8 (although not enough to sell my slk 32)
As these are getting cheaper they are more and more falling into the hands of those who skimp on maintenance..especially the early cars... best to buy the best you can afford and don't be afraid to wait.. there are some great cars out there ( as well as some misdescribed pups)
As already has been mentioned check the front discs as these are expensive to replace. Another couple of points
After april 2006 road tax went up to 470 pa from 270 pa
Early cars also had 6 pot front brakes but after 18 months these were then optional with the 4 pot being standard
I wanted a low mileage early model with two tone red and black interior (interior is very plasticky) and wanted something that would lift it a bit as well as meet the two above criteria
In the end I found an early 2006 model used as a 3rd car with only 23k on the clock which had always been garaged..I paid the same money that could have got me a 2008 model with 50 k on the clock but really wanted bigger brakes and lower road tax
Options.. airscarf is a must have and comand too (although sat nav is crap) parking sensors are ok but its a small car so unless you have zero spatial awareness you can cope without
Hk upgrade would have been nice but mine only came with standard stereo set up so cant qualify how much difference this would make..it was a compromise I was willing to make
Regarding colours.. you tend to see mostly silver or black with occasional blue ones..there are some beautiful designo colours but guess this was an expensive option as you dont see many
I once saw a designo chardonnay colour I believe in 2009 in Mayfair. . It was a pale metallic yelloy colour and not one I would have chosen but seeing it in the flesh it really looked special.. also mocha black is nice
As these are getting cheaper they are more and more falling into the hands of those who skimp on maintenance..especially the early cars... best to buy the best you can afford and don't be afraid to wait.. there are some great cars out there ( as well as some misdescribed pups)
As already has been mentioned check the front discs as these are expensive to replace. Another couple of points
After april 2006 road tax went up to 470 pa from 270 pa
Early cars also had 6 pot front brakes but after 18 months these were then optional with the 4 pot being standard
I wanted a low mileage early model with two tone red and black interior (interior is very plasticky) and wanted something that would lift it a bit as well as meet the two above criteria
In the end I found an early 2006 model used as a 3rd car with only 23k on the clock which had always been garaged..I paid the same money that could have got me a 2008 model with 50 k on the clock but really wanted bigger brakes and lower road tax
Options.. airscarf is a must have and comand too (although sat nav is crap) parking sensors are ok but its a small car so unless you have zero spatial awareness you can cope without
Hk upgrade would have been nice but mine only came with standard stereo set up so cant qualify how much difference this would make..it was a compromise I was willing to make
Regarding colours.. you tend to see mostly silver or black with occasional blue ones..there are some beautiful designo colours but guess this was an expensive option as you dont see many
I once saw a designo chardonnay colour I believe in 2009 in Mayfair. . It was a pale metallic yelloy colour and not one I would have chosen but seeing it in the flesh it really looked special.. also mocha black is nice
We seem to be collecting SLK’s…it was never part of the plan. There is just something about them for us, maybe confidence that we will get where we are going….safely? I can also spend a day in the cars with no discomfort. I would recommend any of the AMG SLK’s.
We have had our SLK32 for 7 years. Hard to believe it will be 9 this year. It has taken us around the UK and Europe, into Italy last time and across the Alps and Dolomites. It’s a low mileage car sat under a cover ready for use later this year.
Our SLK55 is a low mileage well equipped car that is really surplus to requirements and will appear in the classifieds soon. Makes the hairs stand up whenever its started up. It has also taken us into Europe a couple of times, Venice last time. Low tax (in comparison with a car 1 month newer), reasonable insurance and it will do 30mpg! Its also got a Designo interior which sets it off nicely.
We also have a Kleemann S8. Now that is an animal in comparison. Performance is limited by the gearbox. It will light up the tyres on demand at any speed!
Barry, where did you get the gearbox adaptives modified?
We have had our SLK32 for 7 years. Hard to believe it will be 9 this year. It has taken us around the UK and Europe, into Italy last time and across the Alps and Dolomites. It’s a low mileage car sat under a cover ready for use later this year.
Our SLK55 is a low mileage well equipped car that is really surplus to requirements and will appear in the classifieds soon. Makes the hairs stand up whenever its started up. It has also taken us into Europe a couple of times, Venice last time. Low tax (in comparison with a car 1 month newer), reasonable insurance and it will do 30mpg! Its also got a Designo interior which sets it off nicely.
We also have a Kleemann S8. Now that is an animal in comparison. Performance is limited by the gearbox. It will light up the tyres on demand at any speed!
Barry, where did you get the gearbox adaptives modified?
I've been looking for one of these myself.
I was initially looking for a CLK55 convertible but wasn't particularly impressed with any that I looked at, most of which showed distinct signs of damp (one in particular to an epic degree).
The wife decided she would much prefer a SLK anyway so we upped our budget and went looking.
The first one we looked at looked great, drove well and made a wonderful noise. I decided it would be best to get it inspected by an expert before I did anything rash and I'm glad I did. Despite it being generally up and together, if a little bit tired, he found around £4000 worth of new parts required to bring it up to fully working order, including new front brake discs. This would have left me spending the same for an early model, with rather high miles as I could have spent on a newer model with a lot less miles and on which everything, hopefully, works.
I've now decided to wait a bit longer while I attempt to increase the size of my budget, again.
I'm definitely getting one but for me, the moral is, if in doubt (or even if not, frankly) get it inspected first.
I was initially looking for a CLK55 convertible but wasn't particularly impressed with any that I looked at, most of which showed distinct signs of damp (one in particular to an epic degree).
The wife decided she would much prefer a SLK anyway so we upped our budget and went looking.
The first one we looked at looked great, drove well and made a wonderful noise. I decided it would be best to get it inspected by an expert before I did anything rash and I'm glad I did. Despite it being generally up and together, if a little bit tired, he found around £4000 worth of new parts required to bring it up to fully working order, including new front brake discs. This would have left me spending the same for an early model, with rather high miles as I could have spent on a newer model with a lot less miles and on which everything, hopefully, works.
I've now decided to wait a bit longer while I attempt to increase the size of my budget, again.
I'm definitely getting one but for me, the moral is, if in doubt (or even if not, frankly) get it inspected first.
Thanks for the info guys - I used to work for a Mercedes specialist but we never had a SLK55 in, just SL55's etc which frankly scared me with eye watering bills.
I've driving the 32AMG Supercharged and although it was fast I thought it felt a little twitchy with such a short wheelbase.
I was aware of the brake costs so will make sure they're relatively new when I do take the plunge.
Apart from that everywhere I read says that are pretty good, especially compared to the bigger brother SL55.
I've driving the 32AMG Supercharged and although it was fast I thought it felt a little twitchy with such a short wheelbase.
I was aware of the brake costs so will make sure they're relatively new when I do take the plunge.
Apart from that everywhere I read says that are pretty good, especially compared to the bigger brother SL55.
this a perfect thread! i'm looking for an slk 55 at the moment. what's occured to me is that the previous slk 32 amg engine makes almost the same power as a 55. i suspect the newer car will be a bit more polished/better drive. i'd be grateful if the 32/55 owners could let me know the real life difference between the two cars? the slk 55 must be better steer.
right?
regards
john
right?
regards
john
Both are completely different for cars with matching power outputs
the 55 has a more linear acceleration with the 7 speed box and NA engine
the 32 is much more millenium falcon... put your foot all the way down with the supercharger and then after a brief pause its like being fired forward on a giant elastic band... even at 80 you can get to 120 in the blink of the eye and the car is still pulling
cabin- slk 32 feels more special / better finish than the 55 ( which is disappointing for a car that cost circa 60k new but the engine is where the money has gone)
Regarding looks - i think that the R170 has aged more gracefully than the 171
handling- 55 feels way better- more planted
however- neither are porsche boxsters- see them more as mini GTs and you cant go far wrong
both have so much torque that I never use the tiptronic/ paddle shift
for the money- i would say that the 32 is hard to beat
the 55 has a more linear acceleration with the 7 speed box and NA engine
the 32 is much more millenium falcon... put your foot all the way down with the supercharger and then after a brief pause its like being fired forward on a giant elastic band... even at 80 you can get to 120 in the blink of the eye and the car is still pulling
cabin- slk 32 feels more special / better finish than the 55 ( which is disappointing for a car that cost circa 60k new but the engine is where the money has gone)
Regarding looks - i think that the R170 has aged more gracefully than the 171
handling- 55 feels way better- more planted
however- neither are porsche boxsters- see them more as mini GTs and you cant go far wrong
both have so much torque that I never use the tiptronic/ paddle shift
for the money- i would say that the 32 is hard to beat
The SLK 55 what can I say. Decided not to sell mine as its such a good car. Always look forward to the drive home after a crap day at work. Get the best spec you can air scarf, Harmon Kardon sound system etc. Having owned some 50 or so cars over the years the SLK is up there with the best. Had it 2 years, fingers crossed no problems so far just a new battery required.
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