0a’s Mercedes SLK 55 AMG

[0a]

I’ve been wanting another car for a while now.

I was thinking Range Rover, then the brave pill SLK 55 AMG popped up on the PH homepage and got me thinking.

I missed a couple of cars, then I saw this one. It has a bit of tat on it, but a 5 minute call with the owner and I knew he was a super chap.

He knew how to sell the car: one NSL sign. Done.

After a delay for my bank transfer to come though (see next post), it was mine.

I don’t know how AMG build these engines, but it feels outrageous. My old 500SL feels like it’s from another world in comparison.

The noise is hilarious. The throttle response is brilliant.

I think buying a 5.4 v8 AMG is the right answer to a fuel crisis, right!

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I could tell from the first phone call that the seller was a real gent. The car was his fun weekend car for 5 years. He was selling to help enable him to retire early. His number 1 passion is his incredible selection of Koi Carp. We toured the carp before looking at the history of the car!

He took me out, and I had a drive. It was clear that the car was in excellent condition. It feels very tight and new.

The bank transfer was a total pain. First they could not validate his account to send to. Then it took 45 minutes for me to get a "are you sure this isn't a fraud" message. Then we waited over an hour.

I had an appointment for dinner/drinks with an old friend at 6, so at 5 we decided to call it a day and I set off with my Dad to home. Of course, 15 minutes later I took a call that the payment had gone through.

So, back to collect the car, and I drove straight to dinner. I intended to leave the car in the pub car park and collect it in the morning.

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As I pulled into the pub car park at the end of my first journey in the car, I was surprised to see there was another black SLK 55 AMG.



It turned out to belong the chap my friend was talking to at the bar (me having been delayed going back to get my SLK 55). Mine has 68k on the clock. His has 68k on the clock.

We had to head out and compare cars. His looks much better without the tat.

As a joke we opened the bonnets to see whether by chance the same German chap built our engines. Which was the case.

Both built by Thomas Hicklitz. Randomly reunited a few metres apart on a Thursday night in a Leicestershire pub car park!

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Northbrook said:

What's your current fleet, 0a?

Mercedes 190 2.6
Mercedes W124 E320
Mercedes 500SL (needs a little TLC to get back on the road after being abandoned!)
BMW Z4 (moving on)

And this.

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juice said:

Good man !! Good to see another SLK55 owner on here, there's quite a few of us now

Love the wheels on yours in your profile. What are they?

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B'stard Child said:

andy43 said:

Very nice... well it will be when the front grille star gets rechromed .

£50 from dealership gets you a new one - never seen a black chrome one available from either merc or aftermarket so I painted mine

I prefer it that way

The grill star has been ordered. £20 from eBay. I’ve probably bought the wrong one or something.

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Any idea what I should look for with regards to the bonnet vents? I don’t even know the search term. Mine are black and the originals are silver.

I will take off the nasty side grill things this weekend.

As I understand it SLK 55s didn’t have anything on the side. Is that right?

[0a]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

You seem to buy cars more frequently than I buy toothpaste!

Will you fettle and keep the SL or will it go as well as the Z4?

The SL will stay and get some attention soon.

Controversially I’m thinking of selling the w124 320. It’s a fantastic example with a great spec. But it just doesn’t quite live up to my original green 300e, and I just love the 190 2.6.

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B'stard Child said:

0a said:

Any idea what I should look for with regards to the bonnet vents? I don’t even know the search term. Mine are black and the originals are silver.

Ooh I suppose the chances of you being anywhere near me is zero as mine are silver they are next on my list to murder out

0a said:

I will take off the nasty side grill things this weekend.

As I understand it SLK 55s didn’t have anything on the side. Is that right?

Correct - but it seems pretty much every PO resorts to sticking something on the flanks - "AMG V8" or "5.5 AMG" Luckily a pre-soak with WD40 and a bit of fishing line has them removed without damaging the paint

Looking at the bonnet grills, they are a bit chipped (I wonder if they were painted). Would love your original ones though!

I’m in the midlands / edinburgh.

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De-tatting in progress.

Who would stick this crap on a good car like this?

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juice said:

Chrometec do some if you have more money than sense

https://chrome-tec.com/shop/en/mercedes-slk-r171/s...

Bloody hell!

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Wheels.

I think these are off a c63. Does anyone know how I can verify, and how do I know if genuine? How should I sell them?

Where's best to get proper SLK55 wheels? I understand that the design was shared with the SL55, but I'm not sure of the size/fitment.

These are the wheels I want:

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B'stard Child said:

"Bat st crazy car" - love mine - especially now it's been de-tated - few more bits to do on it and I'll be quite happy



Obviously I quite like the black on black on black - I do have the original wheels but they need a refurb

Readers Cars' Fred here

If you have your original wheels, perhaps we can do a deal. I believe mine are blacked out c63 wheels. If you are interested please PM me.

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Thanks for the information everyone. I will get a better picture of the wheels later.

Mum review of SLK.

Did not like the noise or speed (sort of the point of the AMG version!). Interior looks a bit cheap.

Loved the air scarf and heated seats.

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Here are the wheels.

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Each little de-tat makes it better. Today a new bonnet star arrived. A vast improvement, I think. The rear one comes soon.

It’s booked into the local MB specialist for a gearbox fluid change and service and check over in a couple of weeks (a good sign that they are busy?).

Sorry for the crap photo for after… dropped my phone and need to get a new one

Before:

Edited by 0a on Tuesday 5th October 17:52

[0a]

0a said:

Each little de-tat makes it better. Today a new bonnet star arrived. A vast improvement, I think. The rear one comes soon.

It’s booked into the local MB specialist for a gearbox fluid change and service and check over in a couple of weeks (a good sign that they are busy?).

Sorry for the crap photo for after… dropped my phone and need to get a new one

Before:

Edited by 0a on Tuesday 5th October 17:52

Er oops, before was the black, after the chrome!

It was a second hand original part (well claimed) and wasn’t expensive and is in good enough condition for my purposes.

Might go to the Merc dealer for the bonnet vents next.

New rear badge in silver coming soon. Will hopefully “only” leave the wheels to sort.

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B'stard Child said:

Result finding a non OE front badge of that well known auction site - any chance of a link?

To be clear I just put the chrome star back on. I have a black one if you want it!

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B'stard Child said:

"Bat st crazy car" - love mine - especially now it's been de-tated - few more bits to do on it and I'll be quite happy

I have to agree. I have been being careful with the car, as I'd like to get the gearbox flushed and serviced before putting pressure on it (and, to be frank, this is clearly more serious than most cars I have driven comfortably in before).

Starting to explore manual mode and giving it the beans, these are a bit crazy from quite low down. These AMG engines are very different from Mercedes engines.

I'd imagine that the SLK is one of the lighter AMG cars.

The NSL test is very amusing.

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So much better with a proper colour badge on the rear:



Now inside and shiny: