SLK350 R171 Facelift... should I?

[coldel]

Morning all (and congrats to fellow Hammers!)

I am someone that likes to try out different cars, I recently sold an E86 BMW because I fancied a bit of top down motoring. I have spent the best part of 8 weeks looking for an E85 and considering an E89 23i but nothing grabs my fancy. So few decent 3 litre E85s around.

So I found myself looking at the SLK350 R171. The first version from an aesthetic point of view, really is not for me, unless its got an AMG bodykit unfortunately these are proverbial hens teeth. But I then noticed the facelift and read up on the improvements to interior, engine and steering.

So, a few questions:

Anyone driven an E85 and a facelift R171 and can talk me through what they are like stacked up against each other?
Any big watchouts if buying a facelifted R171?
Has anyone ever seen a facelift with the AMG kit on it!

[trevalvole]

https://www.slkworld.com/threads/buying-a-171-what...

[frontfloater]

I just bought this 2010 SLK-350 which has the sports package and a subtle body kit which may be what you're thinking about. It adds a small discreet spoiler to the boot lid and (if I remember correctly) slight changes to the side or sill panels. But there are no AMG badges or logos ...

https://mercedes.citnow.com/vtxGG0Phl08

NB - on a PC this video won't pause, rewind or fast-forward ; but a friend who watched on his phone said he could do those functions.

[sixor8]

I bought a facelift SLK350 2 years ago, and have been pleased with it. I did my homework and specifically wanted a post 2008 facelift not only for the balance shaft fix, but because it just slips under 225g for VED. It makes 2006 and 2007 models a difficult sell now being nearly £700 p.a. VED. Mind you, mine is now £395 but I don't use it in winter.

Mine has a small colour coded boot spoiler similar to the one in the video, full width, but it is less pronounced. It's painted rubber and I've never been sure if it's Mercedes or aftermarket. Proper AMG 18" alloys are a good look too, IMHO.

The R172 released in 2011 is better on fuel but actually slightly slower if 0-60 is your thing.

[coldel]

Thanks both

I saw a US video of the 2008 305bhp facelift with the AMG body kit (so same skirts rear and front as the SLK55) and it looked incredible and probably half the price of the 55 but still with tonnes of pace

Never seen one for sale though!

[Luke.]

frontfloater said:

I just bought this 2010 SLK-350 which has the sports package and a subtle body kit which may be what you're thinking about. It adds a small discreet spoiler to the boot lid and (if I remember correctly) slight changes to the side or sill panels. But there are no AMG badges or logos ...

https://mercedes.citnow.com/vtxGG0Phl08

NB - on a PC this video won't pause, rewind or fast-forward ; but a friend who watched on his phone said he could do those functions.

Wow, that's an amazing find. I bought one just the same spec and year with 41k on the clock last December. Love it, but yours seems absolutely spot on. They're brilliant little cars.

[NeilMick]

coldel said:

Thanks both

I saw a US video of the 2008 305bhp facelift with the AMG body kit (so same skirts rear and front as the SLK55) and it looked incredible and probably half the price of the 55 but still with tonnes of pace

Never seen one for sale though!

I've got one, they're not very common with the kit, facelift brings a number of improvements in terms of reliability. Also revs to 7250rpm which sounds nice.

I've had an E86 (3.0si) and an E89 (35is), it's definitely better than the E86. Compared to the E89 id say there is very little in it engine enjoyment wise. The 35is gearbox is better than the 7G in the SLK, but the SLK handles much better.

Make sure you get one where you the subframe has been checked by Mercedes or even replaced, they can rust badly!

https://i.ibb.co/K9yGpLz/IMG-20190727-203530.jpg

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:34

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:35

[Luke.]

NeilMick said:

I've got one, they're not very common with the kit, facelift brings a number of improvements in terms of reliability. Also revs to 7250rpm which sounds nice.

I've had an E86 (3.0si) and an E89 (35is), it's definitely better than the E86. Compared to the E89 id say there is very little in it engine enjoyment wise. The 35is gearbox is better than the 7G in the SLK, but the SLK handles much better.

Make sure you get one where you the subframe has been checked by Mercedes or even replaced, they can rust badly!

https://i.ibb.co/K9yGpLz/IMG-20190727-203530.jpg

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:34

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:35

Lovely SLK you've got there. Don't see many in white at all.

[coldel]

NeilMick said:

I've got one, they're not very common with the kit, facelift brings a number of improvements in terms of reliability. Also revs to 7250rpm which sounds nice.

I've had an E86 (3.0si) and an E89 (35is), it's definitely better than the E86. Compared to the E89 id say there is very little in it engine enjoyment wise. The 35is gearbox is better than the 7G in the SLK, but the SLK handles much better.

Make sure you get one where you the subframe has been checked by Mercedes or even replaced, they can rust badly!

https://i.ibb.co/K9yGpLz/IMG-20190727-203530.jpg

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:34

Edited by NeilMick on Saturday 24th June 14:35

Thanks, I was completely unaware of the rear subframe issue? Is this something that they replace still?

I wanted a facelift for the better looks but also the extra power and the removal of the balance shaft problem.

[NeilMick]

Yes the main dealers are replacing them FOC, I had mine checked and it was fine (also confirmed by the indy I use).

Car doesn't need to have a main dealer history.

I would hold out for a facelift if I were you given the improvements and the narrow difference in price.

There's a nice manual one in red on Autotrader but it's quite expensive given the spec!

[sixor8]

i From mid to late 2008, Mercedes went to digital service records so there is no service book.

My 2009 reg car doesn't have one, but any Mercedes dealer (and some specialists with access to the database) can print you off a record of all services if done at said dealers or specialists. When I first got the car, on Mercedes Me I could generate my own report, but this is no longer permitted, probably a GDPR excuse.

Manual ones are extremely rare, in fact I think the facelift SLK350 (2008) was auto only, or so I thought.

[NeilMick]

Nope you can get them with a manual, I've only ever seen 2 for sale in the last 4 years, also in that time only 3 with the AMG styling pack like mine. Never seen one with both!

[coldel]

That white one is bang on what I would love, facelift AMG.

Not actually that fussed around the manual, I have heard its not a good gearbox vs its peers

[B'stard Child]

coldel said:

Not actually that fussed around the manual, I have heard its not a good gearbox vs its peers

I’ve had two manual 6 spd SLK’s an R170 230K and an R171 200K now on a R171 55 AMG

Both the manuals were excellent boxes and very enjoyable to use however you wanted to drive them. I wouldn’t have an issue with manual or auto

[NeilMick]

coldel said:

That white one is bang on what I would love, facelift AMG.

Not actually that fussed around the manual, I have heard its not a good gearbox vs its peers

I will let you know if I decide to sell it! It's coming out of winter storage this weekend, I've got a few jobs I need to do to it but might consider selling at the end of summer if something else catches my eye.

[gregpot2000]

Love my 2010 350! Picked up last year. I was on the look out for one for a while, but it was the rare body kit and wheels that drew me to buy this one. Honestly can't see me ever selling it. It still turns heads wherever I go, you honestly wouldn't believe its a 13 year old car, and actually a near 20 year old design.

The noise, even from low down the rev range is so addictive!

Edited by gregpot2000 on Wednesday 12th July 12:36

[coldel]

I think thats the standard body kit for the facelift. I was after the AMG kit that the white one further up had.

In any case I gave up in the end and went and bought an E85 Z4

[mcpoot]

coldel said:

I think thats the standard body kit for the facelift. I was after the AMG kit that the white one further up had.

In any case I gave up in the end and went and bought an E85 Z4

It's ok. We've all made car buying mistakes in our time.

[coldel]

mcpoot said:

coldel said:

I think thats the standard body kit for the facelift. I was after the AMG kit that the white one further up had.

In any case I gave up in the end and went and bought an E85 Z4

It's ok. We've all made car buying mistakes in our time.

Yes you have

[sixor8]

If anybody is after a facelift R171 SLK350, there's one that seems quite cheap to me on A/T. No it's not mine!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308060...

The number plate alone is worth a few hundred £ I'd have thought. The lack of a mention of any service history may be the issue.