Discussion
Check the drain hole under the battery - lift the battery cover under the bonnet on the passenger side. If there's water sloshing about beneath the battery, clean the muck out of the drain hole to let the water out, else the heater fan usually fails.
Which year SLK350 did you have?
N.b Facelifted 08 onwards SLK350 have many updates & revisions inside+out & come with 305hp and a revised, smooth & rev-happy engine (has a big red V on the engine cover) with no balance shaft issues and lower road tax too, as they became more economical as well as more powerful than their predecessors, rev to 7200 and get an X-pipe exhaust as standard, sound great, and get to 60 in just over 5s.
Optional Sports Pack with stiffer sports suspension & steering wheel gearshift paddles provides excellent control for seriously rapid B road fun, at the expense of some low speed ride comfort around town.
They also come with 10 fewer platinum spark plugs at replacement time, and 7 gears rather than 5 gears, which helps keep the performance very similar in case the half a second difference to 60 & over the quarter mile resulting in minimal difference in pace in the real world, isn't critical.
Depends also on what you value most as to whether a 55 is worth the significant price premium over a facelift SLK350 305.
Not for the surprisingly modest real world performance differential from just 18% more peak power ime, but quite possibly if you want a lovely hand-built V8, with 40% more torque delivered 1000rpm lower down the rev range, and that V8 sound...
Hth.
Which year SLK350 did you have?
N.b Facelifted 08 onwards SLK350 have many updates & revisions inside+out & come with 305hp and a revised, smooth & rev-happy engine (has a big red V on the engine cover) with no balance shaft issues and lower road tax too, as they became more economical as well as more powerful than their predecessors, rev to 7200 and get an X-pipe exhaust as standard, sound great, and get to 60 in just over 5s.
Optional Sports Pack with stiffer sports suspension & steering wheel gearshift paddles provides excellent control for seriously rapid B road fun, at the expense of some low speed ride comfort around town.
They also come with 10 fewer platinum spark plugs at replacement time, and 7 gears rather than 5 gears, which helps keep the performance very similar in case the half a second difference to 60 & over the quarter mile resulting in minimal difference in pace in the real world, isn't critical.
Depends also on what you value most as to whether a 55 is worth the significant price premium over a facelift SLK350 305.
Not for the surprisingly modest real world performance differential from just 18% more peak power ime, but quite possibly if you want a lovely hand-built V8, with 40% more torque delivered 1000rpm lower down the rev range, and that V8 sound...
Hth.
RussJ said:
Generally pretty reliable but some had issues with exhaust valve motors. Easy fix but about £100 for parts each side.
Try SLKWorld.com for much more info and advice
Russ
What is it with those exhaust valves Try SLKWorld.com for much more info and advice
Russ
Exact same thing with me.
My 2012 model, I've had it for 3.5 years now. Only issues I've had was the exhaust valves and wheel speed sensors (the latter being a common issue with all Mercedes from all era so not an SLK trait).
Other than that, it's been great. Still very much enjoying in.
Got ours few months ago - 2012 with only 20k in mint condition.
Good - it's mental. Too much power for the rear in anything other than the dry and a straight line. My old A45 would destroy it A-B...heck, most hot hatches would. It's loud. It's a convertible but (due to the V8) isn't girly. Seem rock solid on build. Comfy - even for me at 6ft6.
Bad - it's mental. Not a sports car really - more small GT car. Not loud enough for me (even with x pipe mod). Thats about it. Oh, and the SLK forum on facebook is full off people with 200 AMG line cars that talk as though all SLK's are the same (I had an 2014 diesel on a cheap lease once......it's not the same!)
Ultimately.....far more fun that my A45, boxster S, TVR, etc, etc. Hope to keep it forever.....at least until 95% of cars are EV and then it will sound really good (compared to the silence everywhere else)
Good - it's mental. Too much power for the rear in anything other than the dry and a straight line. My old A45 would destroy it A-B...heck, most hot hatches would. It's loud. It's a convertible but (due to the V8) isn't girly. Seem rock solid on build. Comfy - even for me at 6ft6.
Bad - it's mental. Not a sports car really - more small GT car. Not loud enough for me (even with x pipe mod). Thats about it. Oh, and the SLK forum on facebook is full off people with 200 AMG line cars that talk as though all SLK's are the same (I had an 2014 diesel on a cheap lease once......it's not the same!)
Ultimately.....far more fun that my A45, boxster S, TVR, etc, etc. Hope to keep it forever.....at least until 95% of cars are EV and then it will sound really good (compared to the silence everywhere else)
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