SLK320 R170 Year 2000 - What's the worst than can happen?
Discussion
Looking for a fun second car for me and the wife to cruise around in.
Just wondered what horrors await if I put my hard earned £2 to £3k into an early SLK? Quite like the idea of a V6 and trying to avoid horrendous car tax so pre March 2001.
Budget seems to be bringing up cars around 100k miles. Wife is demanding a manual which seem to be a bit rarer but poss less desirable at the same time?
Just wondered what horrors await if I put my hard earned £2 to £3k into an early SLK? Quite like the idea of a V6 and trying to avoid horrendous car tax so pre March 2001.
Budget seems to be bringing up cars around 100k miles. Wife is demanding a manual which seem to be a bit rarer but poss less desirable at the same time?
I've had a 2003 SLK 320 (auto) since July 2016, bought at 82k. It now has 93k and is used as a second car.
I had a fuel filter issue as one of the previous owners had fitted a non OEM type filter, which collapsed on itself. Other than that, she's been perfect. Starts every time, goes relatively well, sounds great 4000-6000rpm (V6 N/A).
Rust can be an issue but rust, to a certain extent can be sorted. For example, the front wings on these are renowned for going rusty (poor steel, poor paint, poor design). However, worst case scenario is that you might need 2 new wings. Genuine MBZ OEM wings are about £200 each. On the upside, replacement engines are cheap as chips. MBZ used the 320 engine in C, E, S, CLK, GL classes and so if one goes bang, a replacement, in theory shouldn't be too much of a headache. In fact, the SLK uses a stack of ubiquitous parts, mostly from the C class of that era.
I think the main thing with these (as with any car) is go out and drive them, get them warmed up and used properly. One way to keep to roof mechanism in good order is to actually use it! If you leave one hanging around, gathering moisture and generally only waiting for the perfect sunny day then you might have issues.
Try to buy one that has actually been looked after and not one that was bought on a very tight budget and then neglected.
I've been lucky enough to drive some relatively fast cars in the past (996T, B ContiGT, F360, Audi RS4) but every time I take out the little SLK, it induces smiles everytime and for me, that's what it's all about....
I had a fuel filter issue as one of the previous owners had fitted a non OEM type filter, which collapsed on itself. Other than that, she's been perfect. Starts every time, goes relatively well, sounds great 4000-6000rpm (V6 N/A).
Rust can be an issue but rust, to a certain extent can be sorted. For example, the front wings on these are renowned for going rusty (poor steel, poor paint, poor design). However, worst case scenario is that you might need 2 new wings. Genuine MBZ OEM wings are about £200 each. On the upside, replacement engines are cheap as chips. MBZ used the 320 engine in C, E, S, CLK, GL classes and so if one goes bang, a replacement, in theory shouldn't be too much of a headache. In fact, the SLK uses a stack of ubiquitous parts, mostly from the C class of that era.
I think the main thing with these (as with any car) is go out and drive them, get them warmed up and used properly. One way to keep to roof mechanism in good order is to actually use it! If you leave one hanging around, gathering moisture and generally only waiting for the perfect sunny day then you might have issues.
Try to buy one that has actually been looked after and not one that was bought on a very tight budget and then neglected.
I've been lucky enough to drive some relatively fast cars in the past (996T, B ContiGT, F360, Audi RS4) but every time I take out the little SLK, it induces smiles everytime and for me, that's what it's all about....
Search long & hard as nationally if possible.
Few men admitted to owning these dinky little Mercedes, it was always bought for "the missus". They are/were popular with the ladies as second cars & many have lived an easy life & low mileage immaculate examples do exist. Usually private sales. Too many basic 200 models about & in boring silver so try to find the metallic red with cream interior or a dark blue, a challenge I admit. Bright yellow looks horrible & cheap. A main dealer Mercedes or proper specialist service record essential.
NEVER EVER buy a manual gearbox Mercedes, the changes are slow & clunky & a dead loss when it comes to re-selling.
Rust of course a problem & trying to fix faulty roofs can be a long & expensive job. They should have been activated regularly the trouble is most ladies wanted the Mercedes image & badge but didn't want to mess their hair messed up so roofs stayed mainly closed!!
Few men admitted to owning these dinky little Mercedes, it was always bought for "the missus". They are/were popular with the ladies as second cars & many have lived an easy life & low mileage immaculate examples do exist. Usually private sales. Too many basic 200 models about & in boring silver so try to find the metallic red with cream interior or a dark blue, a challenge I admit. Bright yellow looks horrible & cheap. A main dealer Mercedes or proper specialist service record essential.
NEVER EVER buy a manual gearbox Mercedes, the changes are slow & clunky & a dead loss when it comes to re-selling.
Rust of course a problem & trying to fix faulty roofs can be a long & expensive job. They should have been activated regularly the trouble is most ladies wanted the Mercedes image & badge but didn't want to mess their hair messed up so roofs stayed mainly closed!!
Cheers for the responses.
Much prefer the look of the nose on the 171 over the earlier car (and the current one to be honest).
Is the later 171 galvanised then? I can't be doing with rust - I owned a late 90's Vito a dozen years ago and watching it get eaten from the inside out was worthy of a David Attenborough commentary about a parasitic wasp or similar!
Might wait a year and continue saving. Did I read somewhere there a point when the road tax for the later model V6 actually comes down?
rubystone said:
Rust.
Sadly the rear wings aren’t bolt-on replacements. Bootlid can...but then you’ll end up painting the whole car. 171 is a far better proposition, honestly.
My search started off with 171 at around £8 to £9k for about this time next year but was getting tempted by the earlier car being comedy cheap, being able to do it now and keep my NCB alive but mainly impatience!Sadly the rear wings aren’t bolt-on replacements. Bootlid can...but then you’ll end up painting the whole car. 171 is a far better proposition, honestly.
Much prefer the look of the nose on the 171 over the earlier car (and the current one to be honest).
Is the later 171 galvanised then? I can't be doing with rust - I owned a late 90's Vito a dozen years ago and watching it get eaten from the inside out was worthy of a David Attenborough commentary about a parasitic wasp or similar!
Might wait a year and continue saving. Did I read somewhere there a point when the road tax for the later model V6 actually comes down?
> Is the later 171 galvanised then?
Yes I would think so. Got a couple of spots on mine that need doing and are quite exposed ; small chips but they've remained inert so far. I have over the last few years put some stop rust on them having said that, but not regularly. No other rust to report on an 05 model.
Yes I would think so. Got a couple of spots on mine that need doing and are quite exposed ; small chips but they've remained inert so far. I have over the last few years put some stop rust on them having said that, but not regularly. No other rust to report on an 05 model.
Rust.
Rust.
And more rust.
I bought my Slk 32 in 2008 at seven years old. It was already rusting then. Mercedes repaired it under warranty but I had to get it done again in 2014 and again in 2016. In the end I chopped it in and bought the missus an R171.
Don't get me wrong it was a great car, in the 50k we owned it for the only non consumable was a crankshaft sensor.
Rust is the achilles heel. The way the arches are rolled leaves a lip where crud accumulates and eventually rusts through. And the bootlid too (by the number plate light).
If you are lucky you might find one that's been garaged and used as a second car.
Re: the gearbox..I don't think I've ever seen a 320 with a manual..most manuals were pov spec 200's with cloth seats.
Good luck with the search
Rust.
And more rust.
I bought my Slk 32 in 2008 at seven years old. It was already rusting then. Mercedes repaired it under warranty but I had to get it done again in 2014 and again in 2016. In the end I chopped it in and bought the missus an R171.
Don't get me wrong it was a great car, in the 50k we owned it for the only non consumable was a crankshaft sensor.
Rust is the achilles heel. The way the arches are rolled leaves a lip where crud accumulates and eventually rusts through. And the bootlid too (by the number plate light).
If you are lucky you might find one that's been garaged and used as a second car.
Re: the gearbox..I don't think I've ever seen a 320 with a manual..most manuals were pov spec 200's with cloth seats.
Good luck with the search
VED on SLK 350 (171) :
Pre 2006 cars are c.£300
Cars 2006-2009 are £520, as April 2006 was when the Gov brought in tougher CO2 restrictions.
Post 2009 cars had an updated engine and power went from 272hp to 305hp. The engine also produced less CO2, which is why the VED went back to £300.
The upshot of this is that not many people want to pay £520 for VED on a 'second' car. However, the older cars potentially suffer from the balance shaft issue (google it).
For some, the choice is pay less for for an older car but run the risk of a balance shaft problem, buy a slightly newer one but pay more tax or buy a much newer one which will cost £3-4k more to buy in the first place but less tax.
The answer, as ever, is an SLK 55.....
Pre 2006 cars are c.£300
Cars 2006-2009 are £520, as April 2006 was when the Gov brought in tougher CO2 restrictions.
Post 2009 cars had an updated engine and power went from 272hp to 305hp. The engine also produced less CO2, which is why the VED went back to £300.
The upshot of this is that not many people want to pay £520 for VED on a 'second' car. However, the older cars potentially suffer from the balance shaft issue (google it).
For some, the choice is pay less for for an older car but run the risk of a balance shaft problem, buy a slightly newer one but pay more tax or buy a much newer one which will cost £3-4k more to buy in the first place but less tax.
The answer, as ever, is an SLK 55.....
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