Looking at SLK32 AMG tomorrow
Discussion
I am test driving a 2001 SLK32 AMG at Mercedes Benz Wolverhampton tomorrow.
Anything in particular to check on these cars?
Car has done 27k-ny ideas on realistic (for MB!) price?
Car has full MBSH so presumably the garage should be able to print out the cars history from their computer records?
Car has factory sat nav. Can this be updated or is it now an obselete system?
Has anyone had any dealings with MB Wolverhampton in the past?
Anything in particular to check on these cars?
Car has done 27k-ny ideas on realistic (for MB!) price?
Car has full MBSH so presumably the garage should be able to print out the cars history from their computer records?
Car has factory sat nav. Can this be updated or is it now an obselete system?
Has anyone had any dealings with MB Wolverhampton in the past?
Good luck,
I got my 01 plate nearly a year ago. The two things that were wrong were the seat heaters, check they work back and bottom both seats.
And the supercharger cooler pump, basically it runs perfectly until it gets hot then suddenly will only accellerate with the power of a tea bag as the supercharger has cut out. Its pretty noticeable when it happens.
Buying from merc you should be fine, i am afraid i am not too clued up on any other common faults.
Some good news though, just had mine major serviced at a merc dealer for under £400, not bad for an AMG.
Happy hunting.
Tribi
I got my 01 plate nearly a year ago. The two things that were wrong were the seat heaters, check they work back and bottom both seats.
And the supercharger cooler pump, basically it runs perfectly until it gets hot then suddenly will only accellerate with the power of a tea bag as the supercharger has cut out. Its pretty noticeable when it happens.
Buying from merc you should be fine, i am afraid i am not too clued up on any other common faults.
Some good news though, just had mine major serviced at a merc dealer for under £400, not bad for an AMG.
Happy hunting.
Tribi
what he said
Seat heaters
also, check under wheel arches and rear number plate light for rust( mine has just been repaired under warranty my MB). Be aware that the warranty is only 8 years and usually depends on Full MBSH and any previous bodywork having been done by an MB approved bodyshop
Otherwise enjoy
Seat heaters
also, check under wheel arches and rear number plate light for rust( mine has just been repaired under warranty my MB). Be aware that the warranty is only 8 years and usually depends on Full MBSH and any previous bodywork having been done by an MB approved bodyshop
Otherwise enjoy
"Echo the above": hilarious.
I would look for accident damage at the rear end, I wouldn't fancy anything with a folding hardtop that has been smacked up the rear. Look under the boot carpet for tell-tale repairs.
Rust, as the others have said, in the wheelarches, bootlind and bonnet slam panel. Also aroung the sills and jacking points.
Look for paint flaking off the interior plastics around the door handles and handbrake. Replacement parts are not expensive.
Otherwise it is a matter of condition and history. I would ask for the transmission to be serviced as part of any deal.
My view is that the SLK32 AMG is an out-and-out bargain supercar. The performance is huge. They are very discrete because everyone expects them to be 230s. And they are fundamentally well designed and built.
I would look for accident damage at the rear end, I wouldn't fancy anything with a folding hardtop that has been smacked up the rear. Look under the boot carpet for tell-tale repairs.
Rust, as the others have said, in the wheelarches, bootlind and bonnet slam panel. Also aroung the sills and jacking points.
Look for paint flaking off the interior plastics around the door handles and handbrake. Replacement parts are not expensive.
Otherwise it is a matter of condition and history. I would ask for the transmission to be serviced as part of any deal.
My view is that the SLK32 AMG is an out-and-out bargain supercar. The performance is huge. They are very discrete because everyone expects them to be 230s. And they are fundamentally well designed and built.
Well, I viewed the car, drove it, but decided not to buy.
I was rather disappointed at the condition of the car. The front was heavily stone chipped, with some of the chips rusting. The A pillar and front of roof were also chipped, with rust showing. The veneered panel beneath the radio was also chipped, and the stitching was coming away from the drivers seat bolster. All 4 alloys were marked, one of them having a large chip on its outer edge.
Frankly, I expected better from a franchised dealer.
The salesman was pleasant and very knowledgeable about AMG cars.
He did offer to get the car repaired before collection but after thinking about it for a while I decided not to purchase. What if the repairs were not very good? By then I would have had to have paid for the car....
Does anyone have any info about current values for these cars?
If anyone is thinking of selling theirs please get in touch.Up to about 25k miles is ok-not fussed about colour.
I was rather disappointed at the condition of the car. The front was heavily stone chipped, with some of the chips rusting. The A pillar and front of roof were also chipped, with rust showing. The veneered panel beneath the radio was also chipped, and the stitching was coming away from the drivers seat bolster. All 4 alloys were marked, one of them having a large chip on its outer edge.
Frankly, I expected better from a franchised dealer.
The salesman was pleasant and very knowledgeable about AMG cars.
He did offer to get the car repaired before collection but after thinking about it for a while I decided not to purchase. What if the repairs were not very good? By then I would have had to have paid for the car....
Does anyone have any info about current values for these cars?
If anyone is thinking of selling theirs please get in touch.Up to about 25k miles is ok-not fussed about colour.
Do remember that the SLK32 is very rare!
Basically the car you saw was clearly not worth buying due to the state in which it was presented. Tell the dealer that if all the faults were corrected free of charge by authorised M-B workshops, you might still be interested.....
Otherwise do as you did - walk!
It sounds like a bone idle used vehicle manager needs a sound kicking - he's lost a sale due to inadequate preparation and it won't be hard to keep an eye out for the car (and avoid it) as there are so few around.
No SLK32 AMGs are currently available on the 'approved used vehicle' section of the M-B website,
Basically the car you saw was clearly not worth buying due to the state in which it was presented. Tell the dealer that if all the faults were corrected free of charge by authorised M-B workshops, you might still be interested.....
Otherwise do as you did - walk!
It sounds like a bone idle used vehicle manager needs a sound kicking - he's lost a sale due to inadequate preparation and it won't be hard to keep an eye out for the car (and avoid it) as there are so few around.
No SLK32 AMGs are currently available on the 'approved used vehicle' section of the M-B website,
Is there any reason why hardly any 2003 or 2004 cars are advertised? The model was definitely sold in the UK during both years.
Again, any guidance on values would be welcome.
Have looked at a private sale car. Nice car and owner seemed a decent chap but unfortunately we are apart on value.
Now looking at another car advertised on Autotrader. Again, trader selling it seems helpful and advises that car has had a recent steering damper replacement and also a replacement seal in the gearbox to stop an oil leak. Work done by MB franchise dealer.
Do MB offer a vehicle inspection service?
Again, any guidance on values would be welcome.
Have looked at a private sale car. Nice car and owner seemed a decent chap but unfortunately we are apart on value.
Now looking at another car advertised on Autotrader. Again, trader selling it seems helpful and advises that car has had a recent steering damper replacement and also a replacement seal in the gearbox to stop an oil leak. Work done by MB franchise dealer.
Do MB offer a vehicle inspection service?
You did the right thing walking away. There are perfect cars out there, it is just a matter of looking and waiting. It took me 6months of looking before I found my r129. I went from the north east to Aberdeen, London, Hull, Bolton, Leeds, all over the place. All of the cars were at franchised dealers and some, frankly, were woeful.
jmn said:
Is there any reason why hardly any 2003 or 2004 cars are advertised? The model was definitely sold in the UK during both years.
Quite simply, it's due to the small number M-B imported! Only 271 SLK32 AMGs were ever sold in the UK; 70 in 2001, 169 in 2002, 29 in 2003 and only 3 in 2004!Edited by nickwilcock on Tuesday 21st April 22:35
I have had mine for 4 years and put it up for sale on PH a few weeks back. Had a lot of interest and whilst test driving it to a serious punter I sold the car back to myself and pulled the ad. It is an absolute hoot to drive and nothing south of 400BHP can touch it period but it is ignored in a way you never get with an M3 etc. I especially enjoy blowing TDi drivers away who are always overcompensating for driving a diesel.
If you think it is quick in auto try tiptronic.
By the way mine has 80K miles and drives like new without any rust. All my seats work as well as I replaced the drivers heater with one from a SLK230/320 which is not integrated into the seat leather. Maybe look at a higher mileage as the engines are bullet proof. As for the interior paint peeling I have some paint (charcoal) and some dulling agent which allows me to touch it up as required.
If you think it is quick in auto try tiptronic.
By the way mine has 80K miles and drives like new without any rust. All my seats work as well as I replaced the drivers heater with one from a SLK230/320 which is not integrated into the seat leather. Maybe look at a higher mileage as the engines are bullet proof. As for the interior paint peeling I have some paint (charcoal) and some dulling agent which allows me to touch it up as required.
I bought mine just over a year ago. 2001 56k with full mbsh.Paid 15.5k at the time but classifieds show you can get them as low as 10k although there are some excellent low mileage ones about for 12k.
As already mentioned they are quite rare and even the youngest will be 5 years old so to me its more to do with condition than age. Mine had a few stone chips on the bonnet but when I got the arches and boot done under MB Warranty i just paid extra for the doors and bonnet so now looks like new.Just be aware that this is only covered up to 8 years and MB do seem to inist on MBSH so you would need to factor this inwhen you are looking or use it as a bargaining tool- I also wanted the bordeau designo leather so had to search a bit harder.
When i took it in for its last service i took out an SLK55 for a spin but to be honest apart from that lovely V8 noise was not that impressed- certainly not enough to spend the thick end of another 20k for no better performance.
As already mentioned they are quite rare and even the youngest will be 5 years old so to me its more to do with condition than age. Mine had a few stone chips on the bonnet but when I got the arches and boot done under MB Warranty i just paid extra for the doors and bonnet so now looks like new.Just be aware that this is only covered up to 8 years and MB do seem to inist on MBSH so you would need to factor this inwhen you are looking or use it as a bargaining tool- I also wanted the bordeau designo leather so had to search a bit harder.
When i took it in for its last service i took out an SLK55 for a spin but to be honest apart from that lovely V8 noise was not that impressed- certainly not enough to spend the thick end of another 20k for no better performance.
I've never considered one before myself & i work for Mercedes, this one looks lovely...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/999330.htm
I was thinking about a C32 next, but i might have to add one of these to my list..
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/999330.htm
I was thinking about a C32 next, but i might have to add one of these to my list..
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