Rusty SLKs

[1958neil]

Hello from a potential SLK owner,

I am looking for a second "weekend summer" car preferably a post 2000 facelift SLK 200 or 230, (manual or auto ? ) I have viewed several cars already and have been disappointed with them all because every one was rusty around the rear wheel arches and most were bubbling on the boot lid handle area as well.Is this a known common fault or am I just unlucky with the cars I have viewed, I did not expect this kind of corrosion issue on a premium car even one getting on for 9 years old !. Are there any other common faults I need to be looking out for on the SLK ?
thanks, Neil

 

[EDZ649]

There are plenty of threads on here regarding rust issues. It's a common problem on lots of the MB range, however MB will repair the rust either under the 30 year anti-perforation warranty if it is rust from inside out or if you have owned the car for at least six months and it is less than eight years old they will do it under goodwill. I just had two new front wings fitted and both rear arches blasted and re-finished on my 2001 E55 under the goodwill programme. There are a few members on here who have managed to get it sorted on cars older than eight years, depends on the dealer I guess. Good luck

 

[Ted]

Rust around the bootlid handle is common on these.
I believe there is also an issue with a gearbox oil seal failing, and oil seeping through the wiring harness and ruining the ecu.
Oh, and less common, the roof micro switches.
And water ingress into the boot due to blocked drains. This can ruin the PSE pump.

I've only had the bootlid rust on mine.

 

[1958neil]

I would have thought MB would have galvanised these cars or did they and just made a poor job of it ?

 

[SilverSaloon]

join the offical mercedes club;

http://www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/

they have just run a 3 part SLK buyers guide that covers alot of common faults and rust issues in the Gazette. interesting read and you can download pdf versions of the articles via the website once you have joined up.

to be honest i think you need to expect and budget for rust repairs on any Merc between 1996 and 2002 imho! Dont let the seller tell you that merc will cover it under warranty because more often than not, they will wriggle out if it if they can. good luck

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Rust around the bootlid handle is common on these.

A weak spot on the W163 ML too.

 

[nullogik]

Have MB improved rust protection for new body parts i.e. new wings for these cars?

After all there is no point in fitting new wings if they are only going to start going the same way after a few years.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Have MB improved rust protection for new body parts i.e. new wings for these cars?

After all there is no point in fitting new wings if they are only going to start going the same way after a few years.

not as far as i know. best thing to do is fully treat them before fitting them and try to figure out the weakspots in the design and find a fix