SLK versus SL - Anyone had both?

[BTB 500]

The R129 beats them all on boot space as it doesn't have to fit a metal roof in there!

 

[E55BOF]

Relatively heavy controls are not a problem. nor is boot space; nor is the lack of rear seats. Thinking about it, perhaps a 'proper', i.e. quite small, two-seater would make more sense as an indulgence than an R230. So long as there's enough legroom and headroom, an R171 should be fine; I'm not barn-door broad in the beam. Quotes from our transatlantic cousins' website:

"I'm 6' 4" and 290 pounds and I can sit comfortably in my SLK 230 Automatic."

"I was looking for a Porsche Boxster, tried one, managed to fit in it, but as I was leaving the dealers I saw an R171. I had a sit in the SLK and compared to the Boxster there was so much more room, I'm 6 foot, 23.5 stone ex rugby player and ex doorman, I'm not small. So I bought an SLK350."

"I sat in an SLK200 today and AMAZINGLY there is enough room. I have 34" legs and with seat all way back and down I have enough room. I moved seat forward a bit and moved seat back further and still had leg room without touching anything. 1" of headroom and not too bad to get out of."

I'm worrying too much....

I don't want another R129, even a V12; even the newest is an old car now, and old cars are not a good bet as daily(ish) drivers in my experience.

Actually, I rather fancy this: mercedes slk55amg harmon kardon nav exhaust | eBay

Yes, it's black, but I think I could live with that; ditto the turbines, and (somewhat to my surprise) I really like the interior. The tinted window film would have to go, though; too Mafia Staff Car...

I've spoken to the seller, and he comes across as honest, and the price is realistic. I haven't actually seen the service history, but the MoT history doesn't suggest a neglected car. The recent £2.5K spent includes resealing the cam cover breathers, so it would be the first M113-engined car I'd ever bought that didn't need that doing! I have no worries about 110K miles on an M113.

What could possibly go wrong? (I mean that: What could possibly go wrong?)

 

[219]

Nice looking car , I share your opinion re tints , and those door windows look so dark I’m wondering about legality

 

[st13phil]

Angie’s R171 was pretty faultless in the 7 years she owned it with one exception: during the final
year of ownership the air-con would periodically stop working which would result in everything steaming up very quickly if it was raining (and no, the car didn’t leak). No fault codes present, and it would suddenly decide to start working again for another indeterminate period.

Research I did suggested that this wasn’t totally unheard of, and other owners had replaced a/c compressors and other components with no success. There seemed to be more than anecdotal evidence that it was caused by a fault with the front SAM module, but in the end we moved the car on rather than spend money on random replacement parts that may or may not have cured it.


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[alabbasi]

"I'm 6' 4" and 290 pounds and I can sit comfortably in my SLK 230 Automatic."

Ha! I bought an Aston Martin a couple of years back thinking i could squeeze in comfortably, but then I figured out that I was shaped more like Liberace than James Bond so I got a Corniche

 

[BTB 500]

Actually, I rather fancy this: mercedes slk55amg harmon kardon nav exhaust | eBay

An SLK55 is the one MB that could possibly tempt me out of my R129 at some point in the future.

 

[E55BOF]

Angie’s R171 was pretty faultless in the 7 years she owned it with one exception: during the final year of ownership the air-con would periodically stop working which would result in everything steaming up very quickly if it was raining (and no, the car didn’t leak). No fault codes present, and it would suddenly decide to start working again for another indeterminate period.

Research I did suggested that this wasn’t totally unheard of, and other owners had replaced a/c compressors and other components with no success. There seemed to be more than anecdotal evidence that it was caused by a fault with the front SAM module, but in the end we moved the car on rather than spend money on random replacement parts that may or may not have cured it.

The car has just had the aircon sorted, so if it's working now, I'll just have to take my chances.

Just decoded the VIN, and it has a decent (probably standard-ish as it's an AMG) spec; COMAND, Harman Kardon, parking sensors all round, heated memory seats, Universal Telephony Package (I'm assuming that's not Bluetooth, so an adapter will be needed).

That'll do me; I'll have it, I think. I'll go and see it on Monday, and probably drive it away...

 

[st13phil]

The car has just had the aircon sorted, so if it's working now, I'll just have to take my chances.

I saw the new a/c condenser in the ad description and that’s what triggered the particular brain cell into life. Chances are that it’ll be fine, but it could also represent a (potentially failed) stab at fixing the same intermittent problem we had on Angie’s car. Just a heads up really, and something that I would definitely question the seller on.

If the car turns out to be as honest as it looks I reckon you’ll be enjoying a drive around the M25




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[E55BOF]

The seller's not had the car for long, and he doesn't know a great deal about cars. I'll just have to take my chances...

I reckon you're right about the drive back. Woo Hoo... (I hope). And just think; for the same sort of money, I could have had the '620 bhp monster'. I'm glad I didn't, though.

 

[Abb]

That 620 bhp monster is back up.....looking even worse with those interior pics!

The seller of that SLK is also selling a 300C, his feedback suggests he is a bit of a wheeler dealer in all things automotive.

Looks like a nice example BTW! Good luck with it and do let us know the outcome.

 

[E55BOF]

I think the pics of the monster - now only 600 bhp (!), but he hasn't taken on board my advice that it's not an F1 - make it look rather better overall.

Regarding the SLK, I get the impression the son, who actually posted the ad, is indeed a wheeler-dealer, but the owner of the car is his father. The son is just about to move to a job in Malaysia; his father is moving to Spain to be with the rest of his family in February, which is why he is selling the SLK. I've no doubt the son found the car for his father, probably getting a very good deal, and has advised his father that prices will only go one way - down - between now and February.

I'm quite confident the car will be as described, but of course I haven't seen it in the metal as yet. There will inevitably be something wrong with it - there always is with a used car - but it has the look of having been cared for, with no negative indicators I can see. I think it will be OK.

 

[flowrider]

If I were you I would go to see the SLK in your SL so that you can make a direct comparison.

 

[Doodle]

"I'm 6' 4" and 290 pounds and I can sit comfortably in my SLK 230 Automatic."

One presumes they are longer in leg, rather than torso. I'm only slightly shorter overall, but if I get in a 171 I'm looking over the header rail and that roof isn't closing!

 

[Flyinspanner]

That SLK has had a rear silencer delete ....maybe = droning.

 

[E55BOF]

You may not recall, but we met when I had my R129; as I recall, you're even chunkier than I am. I'm trying to visualise 6'4" with a 34" inside leg and 290 pounds (that's over twenty stone); an egg on stilts comes to mind...

I'm a 31" inside leg. I'll find out for sure on Monday if I fit, but I think it will be OK. Perhaps I should go over in the SL, as Flowrider has suggested; the train is about an hour longer each way, and I can always go back later to collect the car if necessary.

 

[E55BOF]

That SLK has had a rear silencer delete ....maybe = droning.

Yes, I'm wondering about that too. It wouldn't cost a fortune to sort it out if there is a problem, though. I'll find out on Monday.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Yep, you can maybe get silencer on eBay, and simple reinstatement.

 

[E55BOF]

My preference would be for a resonator delete and an X-pipe, not deletion of the rear silencers, but I'll see what it's like. Fingers crossed...

 

[tonysmb]

The SLK is definitely noticeably smaller. I can only offer an opinion on the just-discontinued model but I was considering one (slk55, but I presume the seats are near enough the same in all versions) but I just found it a little on the small side. I had the seat right back and it just felt 'small'. No doubt it would have been fine as I could actually fit, but it wasn't for me. The boot also seemed quite small, if that's a consideration. The (current) SL63 (and presumably any SL) just feels much roomier.
You really need to try one for size, and I think you might find the SLK a bit 'cosy.

 

[E55BOF]

Small is probably good; if I need space, there's the E63.