SLK55 R171 - what to look out for

SLK55 R171 - what to look out for

Author
Discussion

juice

8,509 posts

281 months

Monday 1st July 2019
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
Thanks for the replies all!

Finally got round to ringing my insurance to cancel the old policy for the Abarth. Ended up suspending it instead, and got a quote for an SLK55 - £278.88!, so about a tenner more than the Abarth!

Also been looking at prices on a well known car sales site that is somewhat easier to use than PH...

Don't want to spend more than about £15k if I can help it, but £12-15k seems to be a sweet spot anyway, unless you go for mega miles...

Sorry for the crap chart, but it serves a purpose



Edited by 595Heaven on Monday 1st July 19:39
bounce fingers crossed !!! biggrin

I've just ordered 2 c pillar 'facings' to replace my sun damaged (clearcoat) ones. 37.50 each from MB, so that's a job for the weekend. Will need to buy a walking stick to cut down to size for the roof 'bodge'

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
What is the walking stick for?!

How are you getting on with your car? Any issues / frustrating features?

Is the COMAND any good? I’m thinking a new CarPlay head unit will be better

Off to Goodwood tomorrow till Sunday and then on holiday for a week or so, so can’t really start looking until I get back...

juice

8,509 posts

281 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
What is the walking stick for?!

How are you getting on with your car? Any issues / frustrating features?

Is the COMAND any good? I’m thinking a new CarPlay head unit will be better

Off to Goodwood tomorrow till Sunday and then on holiday for a week or so, so can’t really start looking until I get back...
I've linked this a few times, but here's a great checklist for any car you go and see

https://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-general-discussi...

I have no idea about COMAND as I don't use it. My car has a Quadlock mount on the dash and a Bluetooth install in the glovebox, so I stream my music through the Aux and also use google maps/Waze for the nav which plays through the speakers too so I have no use for the head unit apart from that.

The walking stick is to prop open the roof when you're doing work on stuff like gummi pflege the seals and lithium grease on the hinges.

https://www.slkworld.com/general-discussion/20937-...

And this, which I'll be doing this weekend to replace my faded trim.

https://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-class-diy/29333-...

Good luck with your search ! thumbup

niva441

2,003 posts

230 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
What is the walking stick for?!

How are you getting on with your car? Any issues / frustrating features?

Is the COMAND any good? I’m thinking a new CarPlay head unit will be better

Off to Goodwood tomorrow till Sunday and then on holiday for a week or so, so can’t really start looking until I get back...
I assume the walking stick is for holding the roof for working on it. I made a prop similar in purpose to the workshop manual to fit between the header rail and roof which helped when working on the roof and seals.

Head units have move on a long way since that generation of COMAND, which I don't think was that impressive when current. If you do decide to change I've a Kenwood Garmin head unit and SLK fitting kit I've never got round to advertising you may be interested in.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
juice said:
I've linked this a few times, but here's a great checklist for any car you go and see

https://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-general-discussi...

I have no idea about COMAND as I don't use it. My car has a Quadlock mount on the dash and a Bluetooth install in the glovebox, so I stream my music through the Aux and also use google maps/Waze for the nav which plays through the speakers too so I have no use for the head unit apart from that.

The walking stick is to prop open the roof when you're doing work on stuff like gummi pflege the seals and lithium grease on the hinges.

https://www.slkworld.com/general-discussion/20937-...

And this, which I'll be doing this weekend to replace my faded trim.

https://www.slkworld.com/slk-r171-class-diy/29333-...

Good luck with your search ! thumbup
niva441 said:
I assume the walking stick is for holding the roof for working on it. I made a prop similar in purpose to the workshop manual to fit between the header rail and roof which helped when working on the roof and seals.

Head units have move on a long way since that generation of COMAND, which I don't think was that impressive when current. If you do decide to change I've a Kenwood Garmin head unit and SLK fitting kit I've never got round to advertising you may be interested in.
Thanks both! Will need to invest in this special tool wink

niva441

2,003 posts

230 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
Thanks both! Will need to invest in this special tool wink
If I can find it at teh weekend I'll give you the measurements. As I recall mine is about 2 foot long with approx 1" deep slot to fit round the mirror pedestal and 1/4 " slot for the roof

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Sunday 28th July 2019
quotequote all
Was at Silverstone Classic yesterday, and had a look round the Mercedes Owner Club stand/ Three SLK55s there - silver and black R171s, and a red R172. If I could have the R172 interior in an R171 that would be perfect.

Recognised the black one from some posts on here - has an apt registration plate. Think I prefer silver overall though, and definitely with the turbine wheels.

I've still not actually driven one, and am trying not to look too hard at the moment, as middle of summer is not the best (cheapest) time to buy a convertible. Still, once the perfect one comes up the money is ready and waiting...

This one looks good, if a little pricy... https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...



irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Sunday 28th July 2019
quotequote all
speak to me about mine wink

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Sunday 28th July 2019
quotequote all
irocfan said:
speak to me about mine wink
PM sent


Edited by 595Heaven on Sunday 28th July 15:17

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Monday 5th August 2019
quotequote all
Ref rust on front wings, how serious an issue is this?

I’m looking at a 55-plate one which has some bubbles under the paint at the bottom edge of the wing where it meets the bumper ahead of the offside front wheel. Not sure if this is caused by movement between wing and bumper removing paint, or from crud getting behind the wing.



I’m used to having much newer cars so don’t have any rust issues - do I need to calibrate my expectations of how good a 14 year old car will be?

I’m thinking it needs sorting sooner rather than later - Does that look repairable? What sort of cost are we talking?

AlexNJ89

2,400 posts

78 months

Tuesday 6th August 2019
quotequote all
Just bought my at a BCA auction of all places!

Got very lucky as everything works and only has 38k miles on the clock and every single optional extra box checked.

My only worry is the subframe as I haven't had an opportunity to check underneath the car yet and now thanks to an earlier post I'm worried about the conductor plate as my gearbox can be a bit rough when it's cold. My local MB specialist said that's normal for this car though.

juice

8,509 posts

281 months

Tuesday 6th August 2019
quotequote all
AlexNJ89 said:
Just bought my at a BCA auction of all places!

Got very lucky as everything works and only has 38k miles on the clock and every single optional extra box checked.

My only worry is the subframe as I haven't had an opportunity to check underneath the car yet and now thanks to an earlier post I'm worried about the conductor plate as my gearbox can be a bit rough when it's cold. My local MB specialist said that's normal for this car though.
When was the trans fluid last changed ? One of the first things I'd do is get it changed if it's been a few years....Made a difference to mine, nice and silky changes now.

Not sure where you are but if it is the plate then there's a company Between Taunton and Exeter that do conductor plate repairs, fitted for 415 quid (plus the VAT obvs)

https://controlunits.co.uk/mercedes-slk-class-7g-t...

AlexNJ89

2,400 posts

78 months

Tuesday 6th August 2019
quotequote all
juice said:
When was the trans fluid last changed ? One of the first things I'd do is get it changed if it's been a few years....Made a difference to mine, nice and silky changes now.

Not sure where you are but if it is the plate then there's a company Between Taunton and Exeter that do conductor plate repairs, fitted for 415 quid (plus the VAT obvs)

https://controlunits.co.uk/mercedes-slk-class-7g-t...
Thanks, I'm going to save this!

I'm still yet to find out what's been done to the car so far, but once I know I will get everything done. £415 isn't as bad as I was anticipating to be honest.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Tuesday 6th August 2019
quotequote all
juice said:
Not sure where you are but if it is the plate then there's a company Between Taunton and Exeter that do conductor plate repairs, fitted for 415 quid (plus the VAT obvs)

https://controlunits.co.uk/mercedes-slk-class-7g-t...
Worth knowing - thanks...

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Thursday 8th August 2019
quotequote all
I'd be very grateful if people could give me their opinion of the underside photos of the SLK55 I am looking at.

Rear subframe and gearbox mount on a 2005 car....






Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Friday 9th August 2019
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Pretty normal I reckon - slightly better than ours. I'm going to clean the underside and then spray with waxoyl or similar at some point. Needs a tyvek suit first as it'll be messy!

niva441

2,003 posts

230 months

Friday 9th August 2019
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Better than the 2009 car I had when I did it 2 years ago. Probably at the point where dousing in something appropriate would offset the need for serious attention.

pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Friday 9th October 2020
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To resurrect an old thread...

Been seriously thinking about one of these so I can cross off V8 ownership before they’re completely out of reach because of the need to save all the dolphins and polar ice caps.

Insurance comes back very cheap which I’m surprised at.
Other than making sure the Brakes are not knackered and the spark plugs have been done - they seem pretty bomb proof.
Am I missing something?
I’ll be budgeting up to £17k

Any thoughts?

AlexNJ89

2,400 posts

78 months

Friday 9th October 2020
quotequote all
pidsy said:
To resurrect an old thread...

Been seriously thinking about one of these so I can cross off V8 ownership before they’re completely out of reach because of the need to save all the dolphins and polar ice caps.

Insurance comes back very cheap which I’m surprised at.
Other than making sure the Brakes are not knackered and the spark plugs have been done - they seem pretty bomb proof.
Am I missing something?
I’ll be budgeting up to £17k

Any thoughts?
Black cars seems to sell quicker than other colours if you're thinking about resale. Also those multi-spoke wheels rather than the wheels that you see on basically every CLK.

Harmon Kardon and Neck Scarf are very sought after options

Make sure gearbox oil change has been done.

Look out for an owner who is interested in the car. These cars ended up in the hands of a lot of "housewives" who went to the shops and back and never really got the oil spinning around the engine.

Stay away from heavily modified cars.

All in all they are pretty bulletproof cars with not much that can go wrong.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Friday 9th October 2020
quotequote all
Good choice! Loving mine...

I linked to a Buyer’s Guide a few months ago in this post https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Mine’s been pretty good - failed crankshaft sensor was the worst thing that has happened, but a cheap DIY replacement job (bh to get to it though!).

I’ve also had to replace the aerial as the original was corroded so no radios or remote fob reception, and I’ve replaced a few other bits as they weren’t perfect - petrol cap (broken retaining rubber), tyres (Michelin PS4), bonnet and tailgate gas struts, wiper blades, cabin filter etc.

Other than that, I’ve restored one of the headlights that was badly UV damaged, replaced the ‘pre-fuse’ box as the red cover had broken off, so the +ve electrical connection for jump starts was exposed, and have just last week replaced the battery. It had a pretty crappy Halfords one which had gone flat a couple of times, so I bought a Varna Silver which should be much better.

Engines are bulletproof by all accounts, but do need oil changes (as does transmission) on time.

Check everything works. Mine has pretty much every option and it all still works fine.

Check underneath for corrosion - the rear subframe is a known weak point and can actually get so bad as to fail.

When you go to see one, poke and prod around before the engine starts - once you hear that noise you’ll forget what you were checking for cool

Mine never made it over to Europe this year. Roll on 2021...