SLK 230K advice needed

[firman]

As the search for the OHs new car continues and having now ruled out the RX8 we have moved on to SLKs. Looking at somewhere between 98-01 plate 230 Kompressor. What should we be looking for ie inherent weakness or common issues?
Hoping to veiw one later which is a 99 with 70,000 on the clock and plenty of stamps in the book.

All advice is appreciated

Jamie

[Wigeon Incognito]

Rust, rust, rust, rust, rust. Oh, and rust.

A topic title might help too!

[Disco You]

No, this is PH, you should buy a new one... then the only decision is whether or not to put your private plate on it or not...

[firman]

Strange showing a title on my phone, mods can you title it Merc SLK- what do we know. Cheers

[Wigeon Incognito]

firman said:

Strange showing a title on my phone, mods can you title it Merc SLK- what do we know. Cheers

It started off without as did the other two identical threads but was soon given one and the others deleted.

[firman]

Disco You said:

No, this is PH, you should buy a new one... then the only decision is whether or not to put your private plate on it or not...

As I only hold 1 company directorship new is out of the question as it would involve. *whispers* finance.

[RESSE]

Wigeon Incognito said:

Rust, rust, rust, rust, rust. Oh, and rust.

A topic title might help too!

And more rust - boot lock housing, under bonnet leading edge, rear wheel arches.

Alloys can go a bit 'cloudy' and lose their shine, problems with gear selection and air con condensers/leaking air con, PSE/hydraulic rams for the roof and MAF sensor.

We have owned a 1997 R 230 and a 2000 X 320 - good experience, apart from the above (especially the rust issues).

In 2000 face lift version which included new front and rear bumper designs, body-coloured side skirts and the introduction of new wing mirrors incorporating indicators. The range was expanded to include a new entry-level model SLK 200 Kompressor and a new V6 in the SLK 320. Technical improvements included the addition of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a new 6-speed manual transmission. A stabilizer bar was added to the rear and the front one was reinforced. A 3.46:1 axle was added for the manual shift SLK, and the fuel tank grew from 12 to 14 gallons.

Edited by RESSE on Wednesday 28th March 11:46

[B'stard Child]

When I was looking for one last year

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sort of a follow up when I'd found one

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[firman]

B'stard Child said:

When I was looking for one last year

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sort of a follow up when I'd found one

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks very much BC, Good little write up. To everyone else thanks for the advice so far too. Now I am on the computer at home I can go into a little more detail.

This is the car I am hoping to view later http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230762584354?ssPageName=... I say hopefully as it is in the garage just now as the bootlid wouldnt close properly this morning.
It is going to be a direct replacement for an MX5 as she wants something a little softer for longer journeys.
So I am right in saying this is the 4 pot with a charger right? and the engines are fairly bulletproof?

[RESSE]

firman said:

B'stard Child said:

When I was looking for one last year

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Sort of a follow up when I'd found one

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks very much BC, Good little write up. To everyone else thanks for the advice so far too. Now I am on the computer at home I can go into a little more detail.

This is the car I am hoping to view later http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230762584354?ssPageName=... I say hopefully as it is in the garage just now as the bootlid wouldnt close properly this morning.
It is going to be a direct replacement for an MX5 as she wants something a little softer for longer journeys.
So I am right in saying this is the 4 pot with a charger right? and the engines are fairly bulletproof?

Yes - model year 1996-2000 230 (2295cc)is powered by a 194bhp 4 cylinder supercharged engine

[B'stard Child]

firman said:

Thanks very much BC, Good little write up.

NP - it's what forums should be about IMO

firman said:

This is the car I am hoping to view later http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230762584354?ssPageName=... I say hopefully as it is in the garage just now as the bootlid wouldnt close properly this morning.

Black on black - my favorite - I'm not a fan of the coloured seat and dash inserts - not seen the carbon effect dash before - actually looks OK in the pictures

The worst cosmetic element of the cars is the dash and centre console coating flakes off - you can repaint it and they sell colour matched cans of it on ebay

firman said:

It is going to be a direct replacement for an MX5 as she wants something a little softer for longer journeys.

It'll be softer for sure - wheels are a nicer style than mine - I drove one with 18's and it was horrid - if I upgraded most I go to was 17's to keep ride quality up but right now I'm enjoying it as it is

firman said:

So I am right in saying this is the 4 pot with a charger right? and the engines are fairly bulletproof?

Yep 2.3 four pot with "I think" the larger Eaton 60 rather than the later smaller Eaton 45.

Earlier cars have a clutch controlled larger charger (60) (chimes/switches in higher up the rpm range) later cars swapped to a constantly driven smaller charger (45) - not sure when the cross over occured - I thought it was facelift time "2000" along with the change to a 6 speed manual box (from 5 speed) but I'm not an expert

I don't think there is much difference in performance anywhere in the range as a result of 60 or 45 being fitted

Ours clocked over 100,000 a week or so back and just sailed thro an MOT with one advisory - "Slow in - fast out would be a better driving style" But the garage knows me a bit too well

I've never had to put any oil in between services and I drive it enthusiatically

If I had to pick faults with the car and the way it drove I'd say it was more cruise than sport (I don't mean that in a bad way it can be hustled along back roads at a reasonable pace as long as you don't upset it by being late on the brakes or misjudging the apex etc - all the things you shouldn't do anyway)

Make sure it has the fabric windbreak (makes a huge difference to in car comfort with the lid off) - there is a second hand one on ebay I saw this week for £20 start and that's a bargain compared to what Merc want for one.

I wasn't keen on the car - it mas more her choice but I really like it now and I am amazed at how good the mpg can be when crusiing - if I'd behaved myself (always a problem) I reckon I could get 50mpg out of it at M-way legal speeds and that's frankly daft!!

[lordlee]

Any particular reason that you want the 230k model? The 3.2 V6 is much nicer and is about the same on fuel. Listen carefully for a ticking sound from the manifolds on the 230 as they can go and are reasonably expensive fix. I it were my money I'd go for the 320

[DJRC]

Im just about to pick one up aswell

[firman]

lordlee said:

Any particular reason that you want the 230k model? The 3.2 V6 is much nicer and is about the same on fuel. Listen carefully for a ticking sound from the manifolds on the 230 as they can go and are reasonably expensive fix. I it were my money I'd go for the 320

I didnt realise that the 3.2 were in the same kind of price range, £5k is the thick end of the budget just now. Plus its more for her than me so she really wont be utilising the extra horses from the 3.2

ETA Wow there are actually a few knocking round within budget and couriously insurance is coming through cheaper than the 230. More investigation in needed I feel

Edited by firman on Wednesday 28th March 15:50

[firman]

DJRC said:

Im just about to pick one up aswell

Have you already purchased then? If so any details?

[RESSE]

lordlee said:

Any particular reason that you want the 230k model? The 3.2 V6 is much nicer and is about the same on fuel. Listen carefully for a ticking sound from the manifolds on the 230 as they can go and are reasonably expensive fix. I it were my money I'd go for the 320

1997-2000 after owing an early 230 we decided to spend a bit extra and replaced with a face-lifted 320.

The latter was a lovely car, very smooth and comfortable cruiser (made a good noise under full throttle).

The reason we sold our 320 in May 2011 was cost of replacing exhaust cats in relation to the value of the car.

Enjoy your SLK.

Opportunity for photos (apologies for those who have seen them before, but all this talk of SLKs has made we want another one).





Fabric windscarf (somebody mentioned this in a previous post):



Standard M-B cd/radio (not best quality and we replaced this as CD player didn't work):



Folding roof tucked away (check for tears on the "flap" that covers the boot (goes underneath the metal panel also check for warning triangle/tool kit/first aid kit):





I looked at an 03 plate 320 with the AMG kit a few weeks ago, but it was very rusty in the usual places (shame as it looked like a great car).

[firman]

Hmmmmm double the miles of the 230 I am planning to view later and dark wood inserts (she wont like them) but still http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Or a little lower budget and perhaps not her fave colour but still http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Could be a long night.

Edited for speeling

Edited by firman on Wednesday 28th March 16:07

[DJRC]

firman said:

DJRC said:

Im just about to pick one up aswell

Have you already purchased then? If so any details?

£1200 deal with a bloke at work

[B'stard Child]

I know the question was aimed at the OP but.....

I went for the 230 rather than the 320 because I quite fancied the supercharger whine and I wanted the simplicity of a 4 banger lump - I have a dread of V6's as the only ones I've worked on have been a complete PITA and I now hate that engine format with a passion - I do absolutely all my own maintenance (last time I used a garage for anything other than tyres or MOT's was 1989), if I was getting it serviced by an independant or main dealer a V6 wouldn't have been an issue but as that would mean I couldn't afford to run all the cars I have in my profile I went for the four pot option

[firman]

O.k so viewed the original on from my post this evening and as nice as it was there were some issues mostly age related but I feel I can get better for my money.
Having now looked around 2.3 and 3.2 and feeling that they are both viable I have come across this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

What do we think? The OH seems to think she may even be able to live with the wood inserts.