Mercedes SLK 280 (R171)

[MrC986]

I blame Andy665 slightly for this!! I saw he'd bought an SLk for his other half and I used the reasoning that as he's got a good eye for cars it'd be OK for MrsC

MrsC has owned various TTs (Coupe and roadster) and she's very understanding of my car habit which I've dialled back as we moved house/did the house up and I encouraged her to stop work after a series of health issues and having been very poorly treated by her previous employer. MrsC has a 2011 ML 300 CDi as her main car so this is to be a weekend/summer car to enjoy and hopefully not lose lots of £s on (self-imposed budget of £3k). The car was to be a surprise as well....

Browsing the various favoured websites I wanted either a 280 or 350 (6 cylinder of course), heated seats, air scarf, 2 keys a reasonable service/MOT history and a non black leather interior

I didn't buy the first I saw which was a 2005 350 with AMG body kit and 18 wheels (cracked front bumper, cracked front tyres, needed pads all round, a service and only had 1 key) and the seller wanted similar £s to a dealer. From a distance it was fine and had only one advisory (first mention of rear subframe) on the MOT history from July. How the tyres didn't get mentioned I'm shocked!!

What did I buy??....a 5 owner 2006 black 280 with red leather but no air scarfs or heated seats , but a reasonable service history/MOT, clean new MOT, premium tyres all round and 2 keys from a small dealer (apparently a main dealer p/ex) and the less common wheels. Good old Mercedes though.... 225/45/17 fronts and 245/4017 rear tyres (another staggered set wheel set up) but we hopefully won't be wearing them out quickly.

Other than the driver's seat needs a small bit of recolouring on the one bolster, it might need the wheels refurbishing (not bad, but not perfect!), but it seems OK.

I had wanted a pre 2006 car to avoid the higher road tax but I wasn't prepared to travel the country to buy one and I'd have struggled with keeping the car a surprise so this is a higher tax

Fortunately, MrsC likes it and has already been out for a run around the country roads nr us but she did say shortly after I arrived home "didn't you say you didn't like black cars?!" This is the third black Mercedes on the drive after my CLS and the ML.

I might buy a relatively cheap upgraded head unit to allow Bluetooth for the phone and music streaming but it'll depend on how long we keep it. The paintwork seems good and it has probably led a decent life with consistent annual mileage.

And I forgot the 2 main things on the search criteria....a decent rear subframe and preferably no rust on the front wings!! The subframe hasn't been highlighted on the MOTs and the OSF has a very tiny rust bleb but I'll get the wing liners out and treat the back of the wing first with POR15 etc. So many cars have problems with both. Apparently Mercedes have been known to change rear subframes under the corrosion guarantee but it's entirely down to the dealer you are talking to.

Edited by MrC986 on Sunday 24th August 16:47

[Huzzah]

Looks lovely, if it wasn't for my rear seat requirements I'd have one like a shot.

[MrC986]

Huzzah said:

Looks lovely, if it wasn't for my rear seat requirements I'd have one like a shot.

Thanks, I'd briefly contemplated a similar value/engined CLK convertible but there's only 2 of us so this is smaller/more nimble and hopefully slightly more fun to drive. I also think the folding roof is a nice idea, even if it loses boot space compared to a soft-top equivalent TT.

[baptistsan]

Had my 280 since April. Fab little car. Enjoy!

[Mr Tidy]

That's a lot of car for the money. Maybe the Road Tax is a factor?

Still it looks like you found a good one, and as the OH likes it that's a winner!

[MrC986]

Mr Tidy said:

That's a lot of car for the money. Maybe the Road Tax is a factor?

Still it looks like you found a good one, and as the OH likes it that's a winner!

Thanks. The road tax is indeed a factor but there seems very little differential in price between an earlier car and the later higher tax one. Likewise with spec of course but I went with conditon/history vs. "whistles and bells". I hope to SORN it for 2-3 months during the worst of the winter weather & to stick it undercover in the garage to help keep it in reasonable condition

[Flying Phil]

The SLK gives you a lot of car for not too much money - I'm on my second 350 and 5 years into Merc "wafting"....Enjoy!

[baptistsan]

Mine also needs a wheel refurb, current Avons offer no protection and the previous owner has hit every wheel!

Had gearbox oil and brake fluid done at MB for just under £400.
Small oil leak and ac sorted at Alex Crow for £120.

I'm also in for £300 having replaced some plastic undertrays.

Love the car though and I'm hoping it will give a good few years of reliable service 😊

[MrC986]

We went out for an early evening drive today and ended up doing nearly 50 miles in total with the roof off as we went through the countryside. MrsC asked what I thought to it compared to the mk2 TT TFSI S-Tronic we had 3 years ago? The TT is a better driver's car but it is so much bigger and I quite like the thought we've a 3 litre 6 cylinder rather than a 2 litre turbo.

I'm conscious I've paid just under £3k and hence if we do keep it beyond next summer, it'll also have a gearbox fluid change just as the ML has had, and the CLS is just about to.

[trevalvole]

MrC986 said:

The TT is a better driver's car...

Quite possibly, but have the dampers ever been replaced? When I finally persuaded my (then) garage a few years ago to change the dampers on my 65k '03 C-Class, the rears were shot - they were nearly stuck solid. Also various arms (front lower especially) needed replacing, as did anti-roll bars and/or links.

[MrC986]

Update time. I've just had the first MOT on the car in our ownership and I was naturally slightly apprehensive as you just dont truly know how good it is until your trusted MOT person gives their thoughts....he said "it looks like someone's spent some money on this" when it was up on the ramp. He went on to say "I think it's had a new subframe" - this is what anyone wants to hear who has an R171 SLK as they're a bit notorious and Merc won't offer replaced them now FOC.


Importantly, the roof has been down alot in the last 2 weeks and even though the MOT was at 08.00 on a Saturday and 1 hr away, the roof was down on the way to enjoy the fresh air

MrsC wasn't initially convinced about keeping it, but I think she might be quietly changing her mind......

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like you've found a winner with a clean MOT and MrsC coming around to it!

[Andy665]

Apologies for playing a part in taking you down the SLK route

I sold mine after a while, just did not gel with it at all - the engine was superb but the auto box was dimwitted.

Have returned to Mercedes with a low mileage SL350 so same engine / gearbox, bizarrely the gearbox feels better suited to the more relaxed SL which i a wafter whereas the SLK was much more pointy, closet sports car

The colour / wheel combo of yours is lovely

[AnonSA]

You’re very fortunate the subframe has been replaced. Mercedes-Benz will be ending their goodwill on the subframe very soon, they already aren’t automatically doing it for a lot of owners now.

[MrC986]

Andy665 said:

Apologies for playing a part in taking you down the SLK route

I sold mine after a while, just did not gel with it at all - the engine was superb but the auto box was dimwitted.

Have returned to Mercedes with a low mileage SL350 so same engine / gearbox, bizarrely the gearbox feels better suited to the more relaxed SL which i a wafter whereas the SLK was much more pointy, closet sports car

The colour / wheel combo of yours is lovely

Buying a £3k convertible is definitely rolling the dice but I wasn't expecting top driving dynamics and it was more about the roof down experience in the summer. As MrsC drives a 2011 Merc ML she is just enjoying it for what it is. I appreciate the comments on the colour/wheels as I toyed with not having them painted in silver but stayed sensible!