R171 SLK55 options

[MattyB_]

Hoping someone can clarify this, as most links send me to US/European lists - but what were the optional extras for the R171 SLK55?

I think they were:

- COMAND (? Yet I've not seen one without?)
- Airscalf
- Bi-Xenons (? Did they have 'non-Bi' or just standard lights as standard?)
- Harmon Kardon (? Is this worth it?)
- P030 Performance Pack (rare).

Can anyone confirm the above?

Also, are their now alternatives suppliers for the 6-pot/340mm brakes on the pre-07 models? I know a few PH'er have gotten around this by modding other discs, but I'd rather not go down this route...

[nike 5]

- COMAND (on my 2005 car - the satnav is painful - you can not put in a full postcode, nor house number) - to get nearly there it works well.
- Airscarf - great option (I use it a lot).
- heated seats (think they're standard) but horizontal seat swab is fragile, often broken due to people kneeling on them (ie to clear rear window (?))
- Bi-Xenons (good option, often find the glass looks dull due to heat(?) but this can be polished out)
- Harmon Kardon - Was not high on list but my car has it and it is nice but can not compare it with standard
- folding mirrors - nice - think that's an option
- cup holders - waste of time - it's just above radio, would not dare use it.
- blue tooth - my car does not have option, so can't use dash board controls - I have a parrot kit.
- ipod controls - sure there must be better options available
- dual climate control - individual control of heating on both sides of car. meh
- parking sensors front or front and rear
- roof rack - retro fittable - great for carrying bikes.
- electric garage door opener (don't think this is a UK option)

Sure there are many more options that I am unaware of.

As I have a 2005 car, I would be interested in finding out more about Front brake discs - understand that they are very expensive.

Edited by nike 5 on Tuesday 25th February 07:56

[MattyB_]

Thanks - wasn't aware of some of those options. Would have expected parking sensors and climate to be standard however!

[slk 32]

[quote=nike 5]- COMAND (on my 2005 car - the satnav is painful - you can not put in a full postcode, nor house number) - to get nearly there it works well.
- Airscarf - great option (I use it a lot).
- heated seats (think they're standard) but horizontal seat swab is fragile, often broken due to people kneeling on them (ie to clear rear window (?))
- Bi-Xenons (good option, often find the glass looks dull due to heat(?) but this can be polished out)
- Harmon Kardon - Was not high on list but my car has it and it is nice but can not compare it with standard
- folding mirrors - nice - think that's an option
- cup holders - waste of time - it's just above radio, would not dare use it.
- blue tooth - my car does not have option, so can't use dash board controls - I have a parrot kit.
- ipod controls - sure there must be better options available
- dual climate control - individual control of heating on both sides of car. meh
- parking sensors front or front and rear
- roof rack - retro fittable - great for carrying bikes.
- electric garage door opener (don't think this is a UK option)




To Echo Nike's comments

COMAND- Sat nav is crap - will get you to the general area
HK- don't have it in mine but cockpit is small so sound is still quite good- for me the rest of the car was perfect so had to compromise
Parking sensors- useful but the car is small anyway
Bluetooth- useful as it syncs up with a jurassic i phone but not my Sony- sound is ok but conversation is not easy above 50-60
I think you can also get an option to lower the roof via keyfob

Edited by slk 32 on Tuesday 25th February 16:04

[buzzsaw]

Interested to hear about the brake discs also (340mm). I don't fancy spending over a grand. There must be some aftermarket alternatives about.

[MattyB_]

Re: the brake discs, I spent a good hour the other night trawling through websites and eBay.

Problem is, that nearly every site lists the 4pot (345mm) brakes as being compatible for the the pre-07 model, which we know is false. I've gotten around this by only searching for "340 brakes", but so far I've only found *one* site having them available, which is RacingBrake.com, but they were $1000 + Shipping so not really any saving there.

I looked into the option of selling the 6-pots (as they fetch good money as upgrades on other Merc models) and replacing with another off-the-shelf upgrade kit, of equal effectiveness, but 'reasonable' prices disks....but seems there's nothing out there.

So I've come to the conclusion you can either:

1. Take the £1500 on the chin!
2. Sell the 6-pots, retrofit the later 4-pots with the sale price (and lose braking power)
3. Retrofit some 345mm disks (or other manufacturers disk).

[nike 5]

SLK32 I'd forgotten about the remote roof option - although I had to be very close to the car to make it work.
I ended up getting a SMARTTOP module installed, which I'd recommend as being reliable, and you can operate it from quite a distance away (which is handy if you spot that it has started to rain etc)

With the roof up, you may hear lots of creaks - suggest using silicone grease (that your plumber uses) on the roof seals, to keep them flexible.

[nike 5]

Just seen http://www.ragtop.org/mbbrochures/index.html
admittedly biased towards UK/Canada specs

http://www.ragtop.org/mbbrochures/2005/slkclass.pd... see page 5-7