If anyone needs any Merc advice........
Discussion
Hi Ben - thanks for taking the time to give us your advice.
I am thinking of getting a used CLK 230 coupe - I have noticed that the S/T reg ones are getting into my price range (around £6k). What do you think of this model? What should I look out for when purchasing? Any known faults? The ones I have seen have around 80/90k miles and FSH - presumably such a car would still have a good few years left? We do around 7k miles a year and usually keep our cars for at least 4 years.
I have done a bit of research and they seem well-liked by owners on sites like peachorlemon and parkers. What are the servicing intervals? How much would a service cost? The running cost is probably my biggest concern.
I am away as of tomorrow for a week or so, so no rush to reply! I wish I'd spotted this thread earlier! Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have. Anyone else is welcome to chip in with their views too - I've read this site for a while but finally registered today.
I am thinking of getting a used CLK 230 coupe - I have noticed that the S/T reg ones are getting into my price range (around £6k). What do you think of this model? What should I look out for when purchasing? Any known faults? The ones I have seen have around 80/90k miles and FSH - presumably such a car would still have a good few years left? We do around 7k miles a year and usually keep our cars for at least 4 years.
I have done a bit of research and they seem well-liked by owners on sites like peachorlemon and parkers. What are the servicing intervals? How much would a service cost? The running cost is probably my biggest concern.
I am away as of tomorrow for a week or so, so no rush to reply! I wish I'd spotted this thread earlier! Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have. Anyone else is welcome to chip in with their views too - I've read this site for a while but finally registered today.
944gav said:
Hi Ben
Nice of you to offer your assistance. I have a problem with my 2001 SLK230 if you don't mind. It appears that my supercharger is only working intermittantly. Sometimes it works as it should and you can hear the supercharger working. Other times it is noticably slower with no supercharger noise. Is there anything I can check or does it need plugged into the computer?
Thanks.
Gavin
Gavin, I know our cars are quite different (mine is an AMG SLK32) but I had exactly the problem you describe with my supercharger, one minute it would be running fine and the next it seemed to have no supercharger at all. In my case it turned out to be a failed intercooler pump, the ECU detects overheating and retards the ignition thereby reducing the power, new pump, problem solved. Actually that's not strictly true, I had the new pump fitted but the fault was still there; it seemed the electrical connection had shorted although the fuse hadn't blown, when the connector was replaced it then all worked as advertised. Another possible cause that I found while investigating the problem is a dirty MAF (Mass Air Flow?) sensor, apparently if this gets dirty it can lead to the same sort of problems There's a good link HERE on the Mercedes owners club forum explaining how to do it.Nice of you to offer your assistance. I have a problem with my 2001 SLK230 if you don't mind. It appears that my supercharger is only working intermittantly. Sometimes it works as it should and you can hear the supercharger working. Other times it is noticably slower with no supercharger noise. Is there anything I can check or does it need plugged into the computer?
Thanks.
Gavin
Hope that helps.
Rotaree
i have posted this on the main merc forum but jus to see if you know....
i have a problem with the smart!!!
about 2 months ago the steering started to get a little sticky and then it got very heavy, i took it to smarts R us and the said the steering rack needed re-greasing, and they told me if it happend again i will need a new steering rack!!! well guess what its happend again the steerings gone stiff! so then my question is are smarts r us jus trying to get more money out of me or is this a common problem?
matt
i have a problem with the smart!!!
about 2 months ago the steering started to get a little sticky and then it got very heavy, i took it to smarts R us and the said the steering rack needed re-greasing, and they told me if it happend again i will need a new steering rack!!! well guess what its happend again the steerings gone stiff! so then my question is are smarts r us jus trying to get more money out of me or is this a common problem?
matt
I'm a mechanic by trade and intend to work on my car myself.
I have a 500E, it is due some new engine mounts as the distance between the top and bottom section of the mounts is now below the minimum distance. I also think it would be prudent to change the timing chain and guides etc.
Now will I see problems by possibly removing the engine to do this, or is removing the rad etc more than enough room?
Also, i've heard the chain can stretch slightly and this then retards the cam timing, is this true?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Dave!
I have a 500E, it is due some new engine mounts as the distance between the top and bottom section of the mounts is now below the minimum distance. I also think it would be prudent to change the timing chain and guides etc.
Now will I see problems by possibly removing the engine to do this, or is removing the rad etc more than enough room?
Also, i've heard the chain can stretch slightly and this then retards the cam timing, is this true?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Dave!
Howitzer said:
I'm a mechanic by trade and intend to work on my car myself.
I have a 500E, it is due some new engine mounts as the distance between the top and bottom section of the mounts is now below the minimum distance. I also think it would be prudent to change the timing chain and guides etc.
Now will I see problems by possibly removing the engine to do this, or is removing the rad etc more than enough room?
Also, i've heard the chain can stretch slightly and this then retards the cam timing, is this true?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Dave!
There is no recommended timing change schedule for Mercedes, i personally wouldnt worry about it.I have a 500E, it is due some new engine mounts as the distance between the top and bottom section of the mounts is now below the minimum distance. I also think it would be prudent to change the timing chain and guides etc.
Now will I see problems by possibly removing the engine to do this, or is removing the rad etc more than enough room?
Also, i've heard the chain can stretch slightly and this then retards the cam timing, is this true?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Dave!
The chain tensioner will always keep the chain tight, as for the timing retarding with the chain stretching, it may do a small amount but you would never notice it driving the car, they generally just get worn rather than stretch, as im sure you know bieng a mechanic.
Ben
Hi Ben.
Thanks for helping out, possibly saving our pennies every now and then.
I have just bought a SLK 320 and have a roof problem.
The guy I bought it from said it was the hook where it connects to the windscreen. The pin was out of line and the hook was catching. He had had it sorted but it had returned. I popped into Merc on my way back from collecting it and they remembered the car and "gave" me 10 mins to adjust it again.
It is now worse...
To open the roof, you wait until the roof is trying to go back and thump the headlining and it works.
Can you tell me if I can do anything or do I need to "book it in" and empty my wallet.
Thank you
Thanks for helping out, possibly saving our pennies every now and then.
I have just bought a SLK 320 and have a roof problem.
The guy I bought it from said it was the hook where it connects to the windscreen. The pin was out of line and the hook was catching. He had had it sorted but it had returned. I popped into Merc on my way back from collecting it and they remembered the car and "gave" me 10 mins to adjust it again.
It is now worse...
To open the roof, you wait until the roof is trying to go back and thump the headlining and it works.
Can you tell me if I can do anything or do I need to "book it in" and empty my wallet.
Thank you
Stamp said:
Hi Ben.
Thanks for helping out, possibly saving our pennies every now and then.
I have just bought a SLK 320 and have a roof problem.
The guy I bought it from said it was the hook where it connects to the windscreen. The pin was out of line and the hook was catching. He had had it sorted but it had returned. I popped into Merc on my way back from collecting it and they remembered the car and "gave" me 10 mins to adjust it again.
It is now worse...
To open the roof, you wait until the roof is trying to go back and thump the headlining and it works.
Can you tell me if I can do anything or do I need to "book it in" and empty my wallet.
Thank you
Sounds like something is bent or way out of adjustment, you may be able to sort it yourself but it depends how mechanically minded you are!!Thanks for helping out, possibly saving our pennies every now and then.
I have just bought a SLK 320 and have a roof problem.
The guy I bought it from said it was the hook where it connects to the windscreen. The pin was out of line and the hook was catching. He had had it sorted but it had returned. I popped into Merc on my way back from collecting it and they remembered the car and "gave" me 10 mins to adjust it again.
It is now worse...
To open the roof, you wait until the roof is trying to go back and thump the headlining and it works.
Can you tell me if I can do anything or do I need to "book it in" and empty my wallet.
Thank you
If your not confident then i would suggest booking it in somewhere.
Ben
Ben/Schneider
Can you tell me how to adjust the headlamps for driving in Europe? I must admit, it's just come to mind whilst I was reading the Le Mans threads, so I haven't looked in the manual yet. I'm off to Spain later this year and I don't think it's something I want to bother the dealer with!
ETA -
Perhaps I should mention it's a 2003 SL55 - I'm sure it helps for you to know that!
Can you tell me how to adjust the headlamps for driving in Europe? I must admit, it's just come to mind whilst I was reading the Le Mans threads, so I haven't looked in the manual yet. I'm off to Spain later this year and I don't think it's something I want to bother the dealer with!
ETA -
Perhaps I should mention it's a 2003 SL55 - I'm sure it helps for you to know that!Edited by nubbin. on Thursday 14th June 10:37
Nubbin, There's a lever inside the headlamp to fiddle with.
You need to take the back cover off, as if you were going to change a bulb. On the drivers side headlamp, the little lever is at '9 o'clock' as you look into the back of the lamp.
Your owners manual should tell you how to adjust it from there. I think there is a little movable piece just pushes in to narrow the beam, can't say I've done it myself.
Nice car btw, Black over Berry Red looks fantastic on SLs !
You need to take the back cover off, as if you were going to change a bulb. On the drivers side headlamp, the little lever is at '9 o'clock' as you look into the back of the lamp.
Your owners manual should tell you how to adjust it from there. I think there is a little movable piece just pushes in to narrow the beam, can't say I've done it myself.
Nice car btw, Black over Berry Red looks fantastic on SLs !
sneijder said:
Nubbin, There's a lever inside the headlamp to fiddle with.
You need to take the back cover off, as if you were going to change a bulb. On the drivers side headlamp, the little lever is at '9 o'clock' as you look into the back of the lamp.
Your owners manual should tell you how to adjust it from there. I think there is a little movable piece just pushes in to narrow the beam, can't say I've done it myself.
Nice car btw, Black over Berry Red looks fantastic on SLs !
Thanks sneijder You need to take the back cover off, as if you were going to change a bulb. On the drivers side headlamp, the little lever is at '9 o'clock' as you look into the back of the lamp.
Your owners manual should tell you how to adjust it from there. I think there is a little movable piece just pushes in to narrow the beam, can't say I've done it myself.
Nice car btw, Black over Berry Red looks fantastic on SLs !
The black/red is the best combo IMHO - most other interior colours look drab and plain when combined with black. I'd like to get carbon fibre instead of aluminium on the doors and centre console, but £1500 + fitting is a bit steep! Especially as my dealer said it would be around £1000 for fitting!!
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