1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK

We bought the car for my wife in May 2002 from MB Bristol. It was serviced and maintained by MB Newbury for sixteen years and then serviced once by Pro-Tech in Kingsclere and, from then on, serviced and maintained by AutoMerc in Newbury.

The car has been reliable with very few problems in the 23 years we’ve had it. A cracked manifold early on was replaced by MB under warranty. A Bowden cable failed in the roof but no damage was done. Later on, the roof wouldn’t open and a microswitch in the roof had to be adjusted. A gearbox problem that defied MB and taxed Newbury Transmissions was found to be the lever position switch at the gear selector and wasn’t a problem in the gearbox at all.

As we’ve got older, our plans to keep it as our ‘forever car’ have changed and I’m getting less able to give the car the attention I once did.

The engine and drivetrain are excellent. The car has been garaged for most of its time with us but isn’t at present.

To check the MoT history with the DVLA, search for S2 WPC. The car now has its original registration.

REFURBISHMENT

There was a very leisurely refurb between 2019 and 2022. There wasn’t as much rust as we’d been led to expect as we went through the car from end to end. The undersides were cleaned and undersealed, new stiffener braces fitted - no welding required – see photo. In the rear wheel arch tubs, there was rust starting in places. This was cut out, new metal welded in and undersealed – see example in photos. Then the tubs were repainted. Behind the front wings there was rust on the inner wings which was repaired and painted and new MB front wings fitted – see example in photos. The car was repainted where necessary – a substantial, but not full, respray. Some exterior trim was replaced with new.

The exhaust is original. MB said it needed to be replaced but AutoMerc said it needed clips and clamps, so that’s what it had. Brake pipes have been replaced where required. New road springs and shock absorbers have been fitted all round. The brakes are good and weren’t replaced. The tyres are good but getting old due to lower usage over the past few years. (The advisory about tyres was for a very elderly set of Winter wheels and tyres that I put on for the respray and then forgot about. It still passed.)

New wheel arch liners and new rear lights were fitted. The facelift pattern rear lights were my preference but the original ones are available if required.

Lots of money spent to set the car up to ‘see us out’ but it is having less and less use as we tend now to use my estate car. Someone, particularly someone looking for long term ownership, will benefit from the work done. Particularly if they subscribe to the Forth Bridge analogy of old car ownership. The car will be 27 years old at Christmas.

AND NOW

The interior is fine, the aircon works, the roof works, the central locking works, the heated seats work, the electric windows work, the electric mirrors work. Everything works. It’s a lovely car, all ready to go. There were a couple of advisories on the last service in April. The engine earth strap is corroded and will have to be replaced at some time, as will a split or worn bush at the rear of the gear selector. And the fuel pump is a bit noisy.

S695 MTF / S2 WPC - SERVICE AND MOT HISTORY

3 May 2025 Original Registration S695 MTF Restored

S2 WPC

4 Apr 2025 92,880 Service – AutoMerc, Newbury

23 Oct 2024 92,294 MoT exp 23 Oct 2025 No Advisories

24 Oct 2023 91,256 MoT exp 23 Oct 2024 OSF Coil Spring Corroded/Front Wheel Bearing slight play

4 Oct 2023 91,181 Service – AutoMerc, Newbury

24 Oct 2022 90,177 MoT exp 23 Oct 2023 Tyres slightly damaged/cracked/perished

20 Jul 2022 89,980 Service – AutoMerc, Newbury

19 Oct 2021 88,990 MoT exp 20 Oct 2022 No Advisories

23 Oct 2020 87,694 Service - MB Newbury

9 Oct 2020 87,618 MoT exp 20 Oct 2022 No Advisories

21 Oct 2019 85,956 MoT exp 20 Oct 2020 No Advisories

15 Apr 2019 85,450 Service - MB Newbury

19 Oct 2018 84,191 MoT exp 20 Oct 2019 No Advisories

12 Oct 2017 82,377 MoT exp 20 Oct 2018 No Advisories

11 Oct 2017 82,353 Service - MB Newbury

16 Oct 2016 80,710 MoTexp 20 Oct 2017 No Advisories

23 Jan 2016 79,188 Service – Pro-Tech, Kingsclere

21 Oct 2015 78,831 MoT exp 20 Oct 2016 No Advisories

8 Sep 2014 76,137 MoT exp 7 Sep 2015 No Advisories

25 Jan 2014 75,192 Service - MB Newbury

2 Sep 2013 74,610 MoT exp 1 Sep 2014 No Advisories

18 Aug 2012 71,595 MoT exp 17 Aug 2013 No Advisories

9 May 2012 70,402 Service - MB Newbury

30 Jul 2011 64,425 MoT exp 29 Jul 2012 No Advisories

21 Jun 2010 59.972 MoT exp 24 Jun 2011 No Advisories

21 Jun 2010 59,964 Service - MB Newbury

8 Jun 2009 57,194 MoT exp 24 Jun 2010 No Advisories

4 Apr 2008 54,174 Service - MB Newbury

14 Jun 2008 53,154 MoT exp 24 Jun 2009 No Advisories

16 Jun 2007 51,161 MoT exp 24 Jun 2008 No Advisories

28 Apr 2007 50,599 Service - MB Newbury

17 Jun 2006 47,051 MoT exp 24 Jun 2007 No Advisories

20 Aug 2005 44,444 Service - MB Newbury

18 Jun 2005 44,106 MoT exp 24 Jun 2006 -

25 Jun 2004 41,519 MoT exp 24 Jun 2005 -

19 Jan 2004 40,303 Service - MB Newbury

12 May 2003 37,412 MoT exp 11 May 2004 -

13 May 2002 31,115 MoT exp 12 May 2003 -

13 May 2002 Re-registered as S2 WPC

S695 MTF

13 May 2002 31,115 Change of Keeper

30 Apr 2002 31,103 Service - MB Bristol

17 Dec 2001 23,437 MoT exp 16 Dec 2002 -

17 Apr 2001 23,437 Service – MB Redhill

9 Feb 2000 10,778 Change of Keeper

5 Jan 2000 10,778 Service – MB Redhill

21 Dec 1998 00,007 New - First Owner

S695 MTF