2008 Mercedes SLK350 Manual

[RC1807]

How much was it, and how much are. 2 new wings, fitted and painted, OP?

I agree it's a decent car - interesting too that it's manual - and those wings do need sorting.

[TheWokeBlob]

Highly underrated package these cars are imho.

Very decent performance, folding tin roof, comfortable, decent amount of toys and a MANUAL

They were going blow for blow with the large engined boxsters back in the day, ok so the slk wasn't ever as pin sharp as the Porsche, but 15 odd years, several tens of thousands of miles and multiple owners later, Boxsters are fragile with very real and expensive terminal fobbles which make them a scary prospect to own. And the good ones are ££££(£)

A SLK on the other hand I can only realistically see being terminally dead when it dissolves. Bonus points for being able to see and touch the engine if something does go wrong, good luck with that on a boxster.

[paulguitar]

I had an auto 350 SLK, it went well and sounded lovely. Not the most focused drive but a pleasant cruiser and for what you've paid here that's a crazy amount of car. It'll look good with the wings done, too.

Is the manual 'box decent?

[lewisf182]

These seem such a neglected car by enthusiasts. I’ve always fancied a 3.0 z4, but you can get a much newer slk for similar prices and if you can snag one with the AMG body kit look fairly purposeful. £1,600 for this even needing new wings is criminally good pricing.! Congrats.

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a really rare car you got for very little money - congrats.

But BMW did send just over 1,200 Z4Ms with 338 bhp to the UK, all with manual gearboxes.

Although they do cost a bit more!

[Mr Tidy]

Not necessarily if they get the right attention when required.

[RC1807]

£1,600

Well done, sir.

[trevalvole]

GeniusOfLove said:

including an optional [Vario] steering system that makes the car less dreadful.

A Google search doesn't seem to bring up anything relevant re. vario steering, so please can you tell me what it is and how it improves things? I am aware that Merc also introduced Direct Steering around this time, which is a mechanical variable-rate rack, making the steering slower around straight-ahead and faster on lock.

[trevalvole]

GeniusOfLove said:

That's it, it shows up as "vario steering" on the VIN decoder as

213 SPEED-SENSITIVE POWER STEERING/VARIO STEERING

But in the brochure/price list it's

213 Direct Steering (£205)

I like that they give the option an ID number in the pricelist and the same thing shows up on a VIN decoder.

Thanks. On the bit about suspension, how do you choose between OE suspension that has worn and just needs replacing with similar stuff and upgrading the suspension with AMG and Bilstein bits? I worry that something like a Bilstein kit would make the suspension too hard and knock my teeth out over potholes. I recall there's some stuff on here about Bilstein B6/8 dampers being too hard, perhaps on the N54 335i readers' cars thread etc. I suppose one way is to have driven one on perfect condition stock suspension, but I don't have that opportunity.

GeniusOfLove said:

but would clearly benefit from a suspension refresh and is likely to be getting SLK55 AMG ARBs and one of the suspension kits that Bilstein sell for the R171.

[Funky Squirrel]

Funky Squirrel said:

Check the condition if the rear subframe. My slk dissolved in a few winters, had similar rust on the wings and a hole in the rear frame you could push your fist through!

Quite a few stories online about the subframe failing when driving with very sore results.

Edit mine was an auto 350, I loved the car and thought it was better vfm than the BMW and nissan rivals.

[tobinen]

A bargain at that price