RE: Mercedes SLK55 AMG: Spotted
Discussion
I got a book by Bernd Koehling (which is really recommended if anyone is searching for a car- lists all the spec changes, codes, options etc)
Although it doesn’t break it down specifically for the UK it states 4 out of 5 SLK’s sold in this model line as a whole (not specifically AMG) were a version of silver or black, so TR4 man may be right!
I’ve seen for sale a lovely designo blue one (rest of the car was a dog mind), a very fetching slate grey one (had a beige interior which I didn’t fancy) and also seen on forums a nice metallic red and green.
The one I saw at 23k was a designo pearl white, which was really nice.
It’s just a question of being patient I suppose. Or a viynl wrap!
Although it doesn’t break it down specifically for the UK it states 4 out of 5 SLK’s sold in this model line as a whole (not specifically AMG) were a version of silver or black, so TR4 man may be right!
I’ve seen for sale a lovely designo blue one (rest of the car was a dog mind), a very fetching slate grey one (had a beige interior which I didn’t fancy) and also seen on forums a nice metallic red and green.
The one I saw at 23k was a designo pearl white, which was really nice.
It’s just a question of being patient I suppose. Or a viynl wrap!
Gmlgml said:
Been looking for six months.
Not in a rabid rush as it’s only as a toy, but I’m struggling to find a decent one.
Not helping myself much as :
I don’t want Silver/Black
I don’t want the performance pack
I want post 2008 for the updates
I don’t want a light interior
I’ve only seen one car that ticked all the boxes but it was up for 23k, which is more than I want to spend.
I’m a keen watcher of the the market and I think what most people are saying rings true; mediocre cars sit about, good ones get snapped up. I’m still seeing ads for cars that I discounted in the summer.
Not helped by the fact that I don’t think they’ve found their price point yet: I’ve seen a massive spread in cost (5-8k) for cars that are almost identically specced/mileage/history depending on how optimistic sellers are.
What also doesn’t seem to hang about is very cheap/high mileage cars, seen a few above 100k miles and 10k or so, which seem to go quickly.
If I may suggest that maybe you try out both an 05/06 model with the big brakes and 'no updates' (but the lower tax, not that really makes too much of a difference IMO) and then an 08+ with updates and (and more tax) see if the updates are worthwhile...Not in a rabid rush as it’s only as a toy, but I’m struggling to find a decent one.
Not helping myself much as :
I don’t want Silver/Black
I don’t want the performance pack
I want post 2008 for the updates
I don’t want a light interior
I’ve only seen one car that ticked all the boxes but it was up for 23k, which is more than I want to spend.
I’m a keen watcher of the the market and I think what most people are saying rings true; mediocre cars sit about, good ones get snapped up. I’m still seeing ads for cars that I discounted in the summer.
Not helped by the fact that I don’t think they’ve found their price point yet: I’ve seen a massive spread in cost (5-8k) for cars that are almost identically specced/mileage/history depending on how optimistic sellers are.
What also doesn’t seem to hang about is very cheap/high mileage cars, seen a few above 100k miles and 10k or so, which seem to go quickly.
I do know what you mean with the reluctance to look at black/silver - I was in this position in feb and lucked out in getting a blue one. Personally I'd have prefered a light/tan/saddle interior - but when you're buying used you get what you can get.
Preferred mine to my 996 C4, loved the more aggressive look of it (not a fan of the normal looking SLK at all).
Its not a car to throw about though but it has plenty enough grip for the road and the performance was great.
Only think that let it down for me was the interior, which was just before Mercedes started bucking their ideas up. Very poor, but then not unlike the Porsche's of the same era.
Its not a car to throw about though but it has plenty enough grip for the road and the performance was great.
Only think that let it down for me was the interior, which was just before Mercedes started bucking their ideas up. Very poor, but then not unlike the Porsche's of the same era.
[quote=irocfan]
If I may suggest that maybe you try out both an 05/06 model with the big brakes and 'no updates'
The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
If I may suggest that maybe you try out both an 05/06 model with the big brakes and 'no updates'
The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
Gmlgml]rocfan said:
If I may suggest that maybe you try out both an 05/06 model with the big brakes and 'no updates'
The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
I lookked at one recently (2009) and could see some evidence of rust in the rear arches. Not sure if a common problem but one to watch.The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
ZX10R NIN said:
You can now buy non floating discs for the SLK 55 now which reduces the cost massively & means you no longer need to avoid the Floating Disc models.
Do they just fit into the existing calipers etc?I had heard you could use some other Mercedes discs, but they needed machining slightly to fit: certainly not heard of a direct replacement so that’s good news
I had 3 yrs with mine and it went Sept last yr, not replaced because Merc in their unfathomable wisdom decided that they could get away with selling only a 1/2 arsed gay 43 thing. Most of the last gen 55 owners I know have not taken Merc up on this offer "replacement" strangely...
[/quote]
I bought a 43 amg after trying a couple of 55s , it addresses all of the complaints regarding the 55 . factory lsd , great gearbox , better handling due to the slightly lighter weight and revised geometry and a similar power to weight ratio hence very similar performance. Having driven both it's a better car in my opinion , and everyone who's driven it gets out smiling . You should take the blinkers off and actually try one , great little cars .
F1GTRUeno said:
Ed Straker said:
(I have to agree that I also prefer the facelift version, the interior alone is worth it)
Vroom101 said:
But what the hell did Merc do with the facelift?!
I mean, they did do a facelift in 2008 but I don't think anything changed on the AMG version so I'm not sure what you guys are on about?(obviously you mean the next generation car and you've no f
king clue what a facelift is)Gmlgml]rocfan said:
If I may suggest that maybe you try out both an 05/06 model with the big brakes and 'no updates'
The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
Just brake discs not the end of the world. I think merc wanted something silly like £500 a disc so people just didn't bother getting them done. Easy enough to check by looking at the lip and condition of the surface (both sides). The mechanic I have been recommended to use for old Merc’s (who a few people I know swear by, so he’s on the money) said the brakes are the one thing he’d be wary of because of the cost/propensity to cause issues.
Having said that if I could find one with evidence of recent expenditure on them it would be a possibility.
Other than that he said the car as a whole is a “sweet spot” for the era: understressed drivetrain, less electronics to go wrong than some other cars in the Merc catalogue (think SL and CL) and much more rust resistant than some slightly earlier models.
Doesn't bode well for those cars that have been sat around at dealers as more than likely the disc will have irreparable surface rust on it now.
There are a few alternatives now available. Tarox now do replacement outer disc for £504+ (for the pair). There is also the option to have the later 55 discs machined down. ECP/GSF now also sell them and often have 40% days.
Gmlgml said:
Do they just fit into the existing calipers etc?
I had heard you could use some other Mercedes discs, but they needed machining slightly to fit: certainly not heard of a direct replacement so that’s good news
They're direct replacements around half the price of the floating items.I had heard you could use some other Mercedes discs, but they needed machining slightly to fit: certainly not heard of a direct replacement so that’s good news
ZX10R NIN said:
These are still floating type. Tarox have just designed a replacement rotor here. Granted it's still a MUCH better price! ...but not the £150 for two discs that the other variants and models have.I believe the GL55 NON floating disc can be turned down from 345mm to 340mm and fit near perfectly. A set screw locating hole is an optional addition and the caliper may or may not need a little filing for clearance. So...not easy for those without a lathe.
Edited by Yubnub on Wednesday 10th January 13:41
Yubnub said:
These are still floating type. Tarox have just designed a replacement rotor here. Granted it's still a MUCH better price! ...but not the £150 for two disks that the other variants and models have.
I believe the GL55 NON floating disc can be turned down from 345mm to 340mm and fit near perfectly. A set screw locating hole is an optional addition and the caliper may or may not need a little filing for clearance. So...not easy for those without a lathe.
+1 I believe the GL55 NON floating disc can be turned down from 345mm to 340mm and fit near perfectly. A set screw locating hole is an optional addition and the caliper may or may not need a little filing for clearance. So...not easy for those without a lathe.
I was expecting another vented disc that would fit directly. Tarox sell the complete disc & bell assy also at additional cost. Some have had issue with the bolts being heavily corroded and snapping/rounding when removing to refit the new outer disc. Apparently the bolts aren't available separately from Merc either.
Vroom101 said:
I’ve always loved the idea of a stonking big engine in a small car, and this fits that bill perfectly. I know it’s not meant to be as polished chassis-wise as a Boxster, but for 90% of the time when you’re just mooching around, I’d wager this car would feel (and sound!) much better.
But what the hell did Merc do with the facelift?!
Actually I quite like the facelift based on the SLS But what the hell did Merc do with the facelift?!
I pretend I drive a mini SLS as opposed to be a mini F1 car
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