Tuesday 15th December 2015

Brabus SLK 4.0: Spotted

The acceptable face of SLK ownership, courtesy of a rather tastefully Brabus'd Mercedes

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You may remember not that long ago I was defending the SLK - specifically the V6 350 version - as a bit of a guilty pleasure. I like to think this one rather vindicates my point of view.

Something special lurking under the bonnet

Those who'd dismiss anything other than a V8-powered AMG version should look closely too. Because the person who spent an astonishing £40,000 on their new SLK350 - more than its initial purchase cost - created a really rather enticing car. One that could now be yours for less than a quarter of that.

In its favour? Firstly it's a pre-facelift SLK350, so doesn't bear the fat lip gifted by the typically heavy-handed Mercedes mid-life facelift. Silver on cream won't exactly reassure those wanting to tell others they've not just bought a nice runaround for the wife, ditto the expensive Brabus wheels that were ripped off by Mercedes and look very like those used on Sport spec SLK200s. But under the bonnet is something rather special.

OK, in the Brabus league a 4.0-litre V6 with 332hp doesn't sound especially impressive. But the standard Mercedes unit is a lovely engine in standard form, with a wonderfully zingy nature and broad, linear power band. Makes a good noise too. The owner then sent it to Brabus for a very old-school - read, expensive - tuning package boring and stroking it from 3,498cc to 3,908cc with a new crank, pistons, cams, reflowed head and longer, titanium sprung valves. An ECU reflash this was not. As you'd hope for 17,900 euros, plus installation.

Silver on cream not exactly subtle

Power has increased from the stock 272hp to 332hp and torque from 258lb ft to 310lb ft, chopping six tenths out of the 0-62 time to 4.9 seconds. The latter, for what it's worth, is identical to the contemporary SLK55, this car weighing around 75kg less like for like.

By the numbers stat bores will remain unimpressed. But knowing how much I like the standard SLK350, and the quality of the engineering that's gone into the conversion work, I'd venture this is one of those cars that transcends stat sheet bragging and is just a lovely thing to drive. The mismatch between the relative anonymity of its looks and the sheer outrageousness of the money spent on it is rather appealing too. I like the fact its specialness would be lost on most people. That there are people willing to say sod the money, I'll have the car I want and not what people tell me I should have. And then take a huge depreciation hit on it and gift it to the market at a bargain price. I just hope whoever buys it appreciates what they're getting.

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MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 BRABUS 4.0
Engine: 3,908cc V6
Transmission: 7-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 332@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 310@4,200rpm
MPG: 28 (NEDC combined, standard SLK350)
CO2: 242g/km (standard SLK350)
First registered: March 2007
Recorded mileage: 53,502
Price new: c. £83,000
Yours for: £17,490

See the original advert here.

[redroadster]

Really like this model with its f1 inspired nose ,how would it compare with a BMW Z4 and a Nissan 350 z I,m looking at these 3 for a second car which would be most fun ?.

[Andy JB]

While I feel too young to consider a Mercedes (probably not in reality at 46..) I have always admired the design of the SLK from afar.

If you can look past the generic sunglasses on blonde imagery these models normally portray - this one in particular really floats my boat. Discreet, well built, likely to be reasonably quick, sensible upgrades with improved handling & rear drive, decent miles & condition by the look of it, its a possible candidate for a third car with similar power to my 5.0 V8 TVR I'm considering changing.... would it entertain me for long????

Its a shame there is no manual gearbox & the interior although nice is not a user friendly colour & looks at odds with the silver dare I say.

Jacket & jeans at the ready...

[Chris944_S2]

That's a rather restrained attempt by Brabus' standards, in the 1st gen SLK they shoved a 6.5 under the bonnet

[dudleybloke]

Didn't they do a 6.5l version of one?

[Olf]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I had a 350 from new that I ordered with a manual gearbox. The dealership rang me once a month during the 8 month wait to confirm I still anted a manual gearbox. It was a great car that I toured Europe in. Getting the power down in the damp was pretty hopeless, but it was and still is a lovely looking car and that V6 was a gem. That said you need your fking head testing for spending 83k on one.

[Tuvra]

£83K That's absolutely bonkers! A 2008 SLK55 cost £52k, looks poor value at £31k more!!

£83k must be V8 Vantage money, imagine choosing that over a Vantage.....Sorry, genuinely staggered!

[kambites]

I could see the point if it was a manual, but why on earth would anyone do this rather than buying an AMG for £30k less?

[myhandle]

Andy JB said:

If you can look past the generic sunglasses on blonde imagery these models normally portray -...

I quite like sunglasses/blonde/SLK or Boxster, can be a pretty attractive combination.

[Phil Dicky]

Tuvra said:

£83K That's absolutely bonkers! A 2008 SLK55 cost £52k, looks poor value at £31k more!!

£83k must be V8 Vantage money, imagine choosing that over a Vantage.....Sorry, genuinely staggered!

When you put it like that !!!!

[xRIEx]

kambites said:

I could see the point if it was a manual, but why on earth would anyone do this rather than buying an AMG for £30k less?

Agreed, mental.

[gumsie]

Tuvra said:

£83K That's absolutely bonkers! A 2008 SLK55 cost £52k, looks poor value at £31k more!!

£83k must be V8 Vantage money, imagine choosing that over a Vantage.....Sorry, genuinely staggered!

My first thought. What if you just like it and don’t like the Vantage?

[BrabusMog]

It looks fantastic, but you'd have to be seriously minted to have bought one new!

[Quhet]

article said:

Those who'd dismiss anything other than a V8-powered AMG version should look closely too. Because the person who spent an astonishing £40,000 on their new SLK350 - more than its initial purchase cost - created a really rather enticing car. One that could now be yours for less than a quarter of that.

article said:

The owner then sent it to Brabus for a very old-school - read, expensive - tuning package boring and stroking it from 3,498cc to 3,908cc with a new crank, pistons, cams, reflowed head and longer, titanium sprung valves. An ECU reflash this was not. As you'd hope for 17,900 euros, plus installation.

I'm not sure that I understand. This was £40k more than a normal SLK350? Where does the €17,900 come from?

[thelawnet1]

Quhet said:

I'm not sure that I understand. This was £40k more than a normal SLK350? Where does the €17,900 come from?

Normally these packages are broken down into specific items. The 17,900 is just for that specific aspect, it doesn't cover the other upgrades.

[Tuvra]

gumsie said:

My first thought. What if you just like it and don’t like the Vantage?

You buy a whole host of other things, including the SLK55 and save your self £31k, possibly even an SL500 or lightly used SL55/SL600 (back then).

Maserati GT, 4200, Audi R8, in fact a whole host of cars....You'd have to be bonkers!!

[Bencolem]

I'd love to meet the guy who bought this - more specifically so I could see what other cars he's bought! I simply can't fathom spending that amount of money on that kind of conversion for that kind of car - but I love this kind of madness! Reminds me of the 550i SE saloon that was for sale last year. Complete sleeper in mega money individual spec with a manual gearbox. Genius!

[LordHaveMurci]

xRIEx said:

kambites said:

I could see the point if it was a manual, but why on earth would anyone do this rather than buying an AMG for £30k less?

Agreed, mental.

+ 1

[J4CKO]

Andy JB said:

While I feel too young to consider a Mercedes (probably not in reality at 46..) .

I am 45 and just got one, there are much younger guys than me at work with them twenty odd year old girls with SLK's, Mercedes seem to have come down in terms of average age.

[J4CKO]

LordHaveMurci said:

xRIEx said:

kambites said:

I could see the point if it was a manual, but why on earth would anyone do this rather than buying an AMG for £30k less?

Agreed, mental.

+ 1

Yeah, jesus, 83 grand for a slightly warmer mid range SLK ?


http://www.slkworld.com/slk-cars-sale/300522-very-...

Edited by J4CKO on Tuesday 15th December 22:28

[CaptainRAVE]

BrabusMog said:

It looks fantastic, but you'd have to be seriously minted to have bought one new!

And to have swallowed the massive depreciation that comes with these.

Shame this doesn't have the 55AMG body styling.

For the price you may as well just pick up the 55 tbh.