Mercedes R170 2002 SLK

[dobbins]

HI guys

Found lovely old R170 2002 so very old but in nice condition. The mot check shows very few issues and looks good. One wheel arch has minor corrosion but big problem is base of the drivers front off side wing. This has rusted out in the bottom. Should I walk away?

Goes so well.

Thanks

Derek

 

[Deletedmember130310]

What is your budget and appetite for body work? It can be a long road once you start...


There are plenty more out there..

 

[dobbins]

What is your budget and appetite for body work? It can be a long road once you start...


There are plenty more out there..

 

[dobbins]

Cheers thank you. Just seems like a nice one in other respects. Its only one wing.

 

[dobbins]

Anyone else got any thoughts? Any MKI SLK officiados out there please. I know they can rust but this one drives so well. Can I run it on a fairly tight budget. I dont want it to take over had that before on other cars. Servicing is fine and necessary. I accept that.

 

[Neiltodd]

I had a C32 from 2001 and once the rust started on the wheel arches was impossible to stop.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Re running costs
There are so many variables it is difficult to say.

I assume it is a petrol but which engine?

How many miles has it done?

What is the service history like? Lots of tlc or has someone skipped regular brake fluid changes, plugs and filters?

Might be worth talking to an MB independent to get a gauge for service costs which alternate every year between large (expensive) and small (not so expensive).

The roof mechanism can be temperamental in the older models, with faulty hydraulics and micro switches.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Re running costs
There are so many variables it is difficult to say.

I assume it is a petrol but which engine?

How many miles has it done?

What is the service history like? Lots of tlc or has someone skipped regular brake fluid changes, plugs and filters?

Might be worth talking to an MB independent to get a gauge for service costs which alternate every year between large (expensive) and small (not so expensive).

The roof mechanism can be temperamental in the older models, with faulty hydraulics and micro switches.

 

[dobbins]

HI there

Its the petrol SLK 230. Its done 66k. Mot history looks good, the history early on was good but patchy last few years under current owner. The hood is fine. I'm sure with tlc I can turn this car around it deffo has potential but im worried about the rust. There is an independent here with mixed reviews so trying to find another. They started off great but they now fish all the time for work and i think suggest stuff to do far too early.

It drives like a peach already so a good service, gear box oil change etc would work wonders but the rust bothers me. Why Merc got this so wrong is beyond me. Reminds of Fiats many years ago.

Thanks for all and every contribution to this.

 

[clk320x]

HI guys

Found lovely old R170 2002 so very old but in nice condition. The mot check shows very few issues and looks good. One wheel arch has minor corrosion but big problem is base of the drivers front off side wing. This has rusted out in the bottom. Should I walk away?

Goes so well.

Thanks

Derek

As long as it’s just surface corrosion a decent bodyshop can sand/prep and refinish the arch for around £200. Then just get a used replacement door from a scrapyard which hasn’t rusted and get it repainted, door would be about £50 I reckon and repainting shouldn’t be too much

 

[dobbins]

HI cheers.

The back off side wing is surface corrosion. Front wing at the base is a very big old. Parts prices as you say look ok.

Cheers again

Derek

 

[Deletedmember130310]

HI there


It drives like a peach already so a good service, gear box oil change etc would work wonders

Aren’t those 2 statements contradictory?

How many others have you driven to benchmark this one against?

 

[dobbins]

What I mean is if it already drives well that those things would only make it even better. I've had numerous other cars MGFx2, MGTFx1, MGZTx3, Rover 75, Volvo S60 etc. Its a nice change to drive other stuff. The MG's had their issues but i never had any great problems. One head gasket aside. The C class I had until recently was ok but not a drivers car. I do think though Mercedes dropped the ball with R170 bodywork. However its a great car in other ways.