Does anyone have an SLK350 or an SL500?

cymruchris

cymruchris

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I know we're a photography forum full of old fuddy duddies like me - but just on the off chance - does anyone own, or has owned, or knows either a Mercedes SLK350 2004-2011 or an SL500 2002-2008ish inside out? Following my dad passing away recently - and before I get myself back into the world of being all serious again - I'm thinking of getting one or the other for a bit of a fun drive before going back to more normal cars. The SL500 looks lovely - but has some interesting challenges with its ABC suspension - and the SLK350 looks a nice all round car. Any horror stories from anyone appreciated :)
 
I had an SLK 230 which was at the time the only one they did. I think the others came later.

Mine was unfortunately awful. The ride was wallowing, the auto gear change jerky, the roof kept jamming and the paint fell off in flakes. The roof took so many trips back to the dealer to fix and whilst there I asked them if the paint falling off was a common issue and they said they'd never seen it before. At the time they didn't have a paint shop and used to send cars to the Lexus dealer down the road so one day I paid them a visit and asked if the paint issue was common, "Yes. We've resprayed loads" they said.

That may not help you too much, but maybe the paintwork, gearbox and roof mechanism are worth checking.
 
woof woof said:
I had an SLK 230 which was at the time the only one they did. I think the others came later.

Mine was unfortunately awful. The ride was wallowing, the auto gear change jerky, the roof kept jamming and the paint fell off in flakes. The roof took so many trips back to the dealer to fix and whilst there I asked them if the paint falling off was a common issue and they said they'd never seen it before. At the time they didn't have a paint shop and used to send cars to the Lexus dealer down the road so one day I paid them a visit and asked if the paint issue was common, "Yes. We've resprayed loads" they said.

That may not help you too much, but maybe the paintwork, gearbox and roof mechanism are worth checking.
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That's very good to hear (not that you had a bad experience - but to know what the experience was!) what year was it out of interest?
 
It was T reg, I'm not sure but 1999?

I did like other aspects of the car. the metal roof is lovely (although mine kept jamming.... and I've just remembered that it also leaked) and I liked the size and the look of the car. I really liked the interior and I still think it's the best interior SLK's have had to date but that obviously is just down to my taste.
 
woof woof said:
It was T reg, I'm not sure but 1999?

I did like other aspects of the car. the metal roof is lovely (although mine kept jamming.... and I've just remembered that it also leaked) and I liked the size and the look of the car. I really liked the interior and I still think it's the best interior SLK's have had to date but that obviously is just down to my taste.
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That's the reason I'm considering both of these is for the metal top convertible. I don't want a soft top that can be damaged (although you don't hear much of it these days compared to days past - I still wouldn't take the risk) - the T plate was definitely one of the first ones - I'm looking at the next generation along - where they rounded off the outside a bit, but I think your points equally apply - there's lots of info on leaky roofs on both models I'm looking at - and jamming is a worry if you happen to be 390 miles from home and it decides to stop half way - did that happen to you? Or did it always recover itself?
 
Mine always jammed in the folded down position and it seemed to be a heat problem as if I left the car for a while, half an hour or an hour or so, it'd probably work but of course that's very inconvenient if it's raining or you want to leave the car unattended.

I've had a number of soft top cars and only twice suffered slashed roofs. My Lotus Elan SE and my Boxster were both vandalised. With a soft top replacement is expensive and IMO you'll be lucky if it's ever the same. My Boxster roof never fitted properly after replacement.
 
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I once had a 3 series BMW with a metal folding roof. The roof was fine, but the car was heavy as a tank and didn’t handle well at all, it quite put me off them. Probably ok on a smaller car though.
 
I'm an old fuddy duddy as well and periodically I have a brain f**t and think I would like to regain my misspent youth and buy a fun car.
So I scour the adverts for a Mazda MX5 or a Caterham 7 and then my Mrs brings me back down to earth by pointing out that the last time I tried one I had all on getting out of it.
C'est la vie I will stick with my sensible hybrid Toyota , have fun whatever you get , as my old dad used to say there are no pockets in a shroud
 
A friend has a 2011 230 which he enjoys driving BUT it leaks through the roof seals and drains its battery. To be fair to it, it doesn't see a lot of use but I still reckon it should at least be watertight! Mrs Nod's (much) older XK8 soft-top was watertight but again, drained its battery after 6-8 weeks of standing still. Her current MX-5 has a solar battery conditioner to keep it topped up - well worth the few quid (around 30 IIRC from the underlying link) it cost.

As Chris has pointed out, shrouds have no pockets and at the moment, you'd be doing very well to find an interest rate that gets anywhere close to inflation!
 
One thing that can help with some leaks is regularly applying Vaseline or silicone gel or similar to the seals. When I got my current MX5 water just poured in but once I'd treated the seals that stopped and it's water tight to this day. I normally do the seals after I've washed the car.
 
The SL has the time limited braking system. So many uses and it packs in and it costs a fortune to replace. They let water in and ruin expensive bits and those are £££ to replace as well. If it's not kept in a garage I wouldn't risk one. I didn't get one and got an early RS6 instead which has a similar reputation but has been mostly not much bother until the oil leaks started this year :rolleyes:

I'd think the SLK would be a better bet. Many more to choose from.

I also had a 3 series convertible with the metal folding roof. 2007 car. 3 litre petrol auto. Excellent wafter. Beware the leather seats as they're sweaty as hell. Maybe an M convertible might be a good choice?
 
Cartus said:
I once had a 3 series BMW with a metal folding roof. The roof was fine, but the car was heavy as a tank and didn’t handle well at all, it quite put me off them. Probably ok on a smaller car though.
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Yes definitely more weight, although the sl500 has a 5.5 litre v8 in it, and the slk350 a 3.5 litre - so a bit of grunt to both. On paper the performance looks good, although I'm not planning on losing my license o_O - the sl500 has something called an ABC system - it doesn't have normal shock absorbers - they are computer controlled and keeps the body flat on cornering (which sounds interesting) but each strut that needs replacement costs £1k plus labour:cool:
 
troutfisher said:
C'est la vie I will stick with my sensible hybrid Toyota , have fun whatever you get , as my old dad used to say there are no pockets in a shroud
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With the world as it is today - that's very true.
 
woof woof said:
One thing that can help with some leaks is regularly applying Vaseline or silicone gel or similar to the seals. When I got my current MX5 water just poured in but once I'd treated the seals that stopped and it's water tight to this day. I normally do the seals after I've washed the car.
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Yes - very few people actually treat their seals, and clear their rain channels - and that results in some really bad leaks, most of which are preventable with a little TLC!
 
I don't know what the budget is but years back I popped in to look at an SLK-like Lexus. I can't remember what it was called. At the time I wasn't convinced and didn't drive it. One I did drive but didn't buy was the convertible Jag XK8.
 
I'd forgotten about the Lexus convertible - Just had a quick look to remind myself - and it's a 4 seater - I'm going to stick with 2 :) Budget is probably around £10k - not top end - but not scrap car basement either...
 
I don't believe it's a 4 seater, not unless the two in the back have had their legs removed. The same is true of the Jag. I did try and see the Jag as a 3 seater with the passenger seat pushed forward but even then it's not possible. I wish they'd either make these back seats usable or just drop the pretence and fit it out for storage as having these comedy unusable back seats just annoys me no end.
 
I managed to travel in the back of Mrs Nod's XK8! Not for any great distance (let alone in any comfort at all!!!) but with my feet on the floor.
 
I'm only 5'8" but couldn't fit even with the front passenger seat moved forward and therefore wrote the car off... which is a bit odd I suppose as if it'd been a 2 seat with a trimmed out back storage area I might have bought one. Things which I consider badly designed just put me off... If they wanted a genuine 4 seat maybe making the back seat backrest straighter and thinner and the back of the front seat thinner and scalloped could free up a few vital inches.

I once saw someone sat sideways in the back of one, sat behind one seat and legs behind the other.
 
Add 3'.

Like I said, I wasn't comfortable but I did fit. Roof was down! Easier than in the back of the replacement MX-5.
 
Jaguar XKR would be a lot of fun with it's supercharged 5.0 litre producing over 500BHP and pretty much maximum torque right throughout the whole rev range. Jaguar suspension is usually excellent, great handling yet can glide over bumps - proper trickery. Maintenance wouldn't be horrific, especially with a good indy. Or maybe even an older Porsche?

For some proper fun there's the Honda S2000. Fantastic power per litre for a naturally aspirated car and the vtec engagement is addictive. Probably never put your hand in your pocket to maintain either.
 
gman said:
Jaguar XKR would be a lot of fun with it's supercharged 5.0 litre producing over 500BHP and pretty much maximum torque right throughout the whole rev range. Jaguar suspension is usually excellent, great handling yet can glide over bumps - proper trickery. Maintenance wouldn't be horrific, especially with a good indy. Or maybe even an older Porsche?

For some proper fun there's the Honda S2000. Fantastic power per litre for a naturally aspirated car and the vtec engagement is addictive. Probably never put your hand in your pocket to maintain either.
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Both decent options - but I want to try the hard-top convertible - and not one where you store the hard top anywhere around the house - so really limited to the SL500/350, SLK, Z4 after 2009, or later MX-5's (but not the very latest) - teetering towards the SL500 with its V8.
 
cymruchris said:
Both decent options - but I want to try the hard-top convertible - and not one where you store the hard top anywhere around the house - so really limited to the SL500/350, SLK, Z4 after 2009, or later MX-5's (but not the very latest) - teetering towards the SL500 with its V8.
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Ah ok, fair enough. The V8 allure is certainly tempting, I was inches away from getting an XF V8 but the premium was more than I wanted to spend (Sportbrake was a limited run) and some of the common issues could be horrifically expensive without an extended manufacture's warranty. I suspect the Merc could be similar, but then we only get one life and if you know a decent garage then this may be the last chance to have and enjoy such a car before we all go battery-tastic.
 
Mrs Nod's XK8 was lovely (IMO, the older X100 is way prettier than the later X150) but far too civilised for a V8! Needed a bit of booting to get any decent soundtrack and even then it was rather muted. A stainless exhaust system would have helped a bit but only a little bit.

I'm with you (Chris) on the older MX-5s being prettier than the current one. IMO, the Mk 2/2.5 is the prettiest (and sounds better) than the later ones but the Mk 3 is a better car despite the afterthought looking wheel arch extensions.
 
gman said:
this may be the last chance to have and enjoy such a car before we all go battery-tastic.
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This is also one of my reasonings - before the neighbours start twitching curtains and tutting whenever I start the car (not that I really mind!) :LOL:
 
Is practicality a consideration at all? If so, there's a nice sounding option available in RHD from Fix Or Repair Daily. Summat to do with wild horses IIRC... Not as pretty as the European (geographically!) options though.
 
Nod said:
Is practicality a consideration at all? If so, there's a nice sounding option available in RHD from Fix Or Repair Daily. Summat to do with wild horses IIRC... Not as pretty as the European (geographically!) options though.
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No - practicality is right at the bottom of the list of ‘needs’ - the only practical thing I need is for it to fit in what was my dads garage until the house is sold. And that has a bit of a steep incline to get in, known to have caught a few of my cars over the years on the under front bumper. (That’s why I like the sl500 - it’s got a fancy expensive suspension system that raises at the push of a button by a couple of inches - so that would be less likely to catch)
 
Well it ended up being an SLK350 (3.5 Litre), which moves at a fair old whack when I want it to, uses way too much fuel, has road tax that costs more than Boris Johnson's haircut - it's not perfect - and I've got a couple of bits to do on it, but the interior drew me to it :) Runs well, fairly solid, will likely need a new wing (common issue) at some point soon - but all in all not bad - and had only done 3000 miles since the last service.............. in 2016. Now I can be top-off any time I like (although I need a hat or stronger hairspray!) If you spot a black S888 out on the road - give me a wave :) This could be my last fun car before going all electric. These shots were pre-polishing it up.


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Very nice.

It's surprising that some people don't get their cars serviced.

Having had quite a few two seaters, a couple or original Mini's, one hatch back and one saloon the only thing I feel I've missed out on is a 4x4. I once looked at a Subaru Impreza and later a Legacy but I think I'd like either a Jag or LR/RR type car. I've thought about this a few times but one thing holding me back is that I'll need to sell one or both of my current cars and they both have their uses and if I sell my MX5 I know I'll never have another so making my mind up is taking a long time. I passed one milestone yesterday when Mrs WW said I could buy a new car if I wanted to :D

I'm worried about electric. I'm worried that with current technology and practices it'll be a disaster in the longer term but in the short term it'll be an inconvenience for some and a definite unpracticality for many people.
 
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cymruchris said:
only done 3000 miles since the last service.............. in 2016.
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TBH, I'd be a bit worried about that. I'd certainly want a very good warranty on the car!

Woof, unless you need the 4x4/0ff road ability of a Rangie type car, I'd avoid them.
 
Nod said:
TBH, I'd be a bit worried about that. I'd certainly want a very good warranty on the car!

Woof, unless you need the 4x4/0ff road ability of a Rangie type car, I'd avoid them.
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The point is that I haven't had one so avoiding them would defeat the point.

This may not make sense to some people but I've been a car nut since I was a kid and a 4x4 is something I've never had so I may just get one :D
 
woof woof said:
The point is that I haven't had one so avoiding them would defeat the point.

This may not make sense to some people but I've been a car nut since I was a kid and a 4x4 is something I've never had so I may just get one :D
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FWIW

I had a Subaru Legacy 2litre petrol as my company car, my choice and the test drive clinched it. My OH came with on the test drives and she I had the biggest smile after the Subaru drive.

It's AWD 4 wheel drive system and low CoG because of the boxer engine made it IMO a real drivers car. Heavy snow on the way home from South coast on the A31........there is a curving hill as you approach Four Marks in Hampshire. The snow was laying heavily and various cars were either struggling or stuck but the Scooby soldiered on not missing a beat :)

The car on the whole was extremely reliable but did have a catastrophic failure of its DMF (completely destroying itself, the clutch assembly and the bell housing. As I recall, I was told such a failure was rare and Subaru paid for I think 85% of the total costs.

One time especially i recall of it keeping me out of trouble.
 
woof woof said:
The point is that I haven't had one so avoiding them would defeat the point.

This may not make sense to some people but I've been a car nut since I was a kid and a 4x4 is something I've never had so I may just get one :D
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I've always liked cars as well and I still service them myself as it's usually fairly easy and I like to ensure the right fluids and parts are used. I also have a pathological distrust of main dealers, but don't mind specialist independents.

I wouldn't go near Land Rover to be honest, too many people I know have bought them and end up hating them due to the reliability problems. I get why they bought them though, but if really wanting to go off-road I would be looking at the Land Cruiser, or if just for pure off-road fun then probably something like the Suzuki Jimny!

When you say 4x4, are you specifically meaning the off-road capable type or are you including AWD as well?


EDIT: Just whilst on the subject of Land Rover, take the latest L405 FFRR. I was looking into a brake pad change and you've got them using alloy calipers but with steel pins going through which typically react with the alloy and bend when removing. Then the brake pads which near enough weld themselves to the caliper, so you have to remove the caliper with brake pads still attached, then the carrier unit and then the brake disc - then put the carrier unit and caliper back on without the brake disc so that if can be tightened up solid in order to bash the brake pad off! Ridiculous.
 
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woof woof said:
The point is that I haven't had one so avoiding them would defeat the point.

This may not make sense to some people but I've been a car nut since I was a kid and a 4x4 is something I've never had so I may just get one :D
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Rent one for a couple of days.
 
Box Brownie said:
FWIW

I had a Subaru Legacy 2litre petrol as my company car, my choice and the test drive clinched it. My OH came with on the test drives and she I had the biggest smile after the Subaru drive.

It's AWD 4 wheel drive system and low CoG because of the boxer engine made it IMO a real drivers car. Heavy snow on the way home from South coast on the A31........there is a curving hill as you approach Four Marks in Hampshire. The snow was laying heavily and various cars were either struggling or stuck but the Scooby soldiered on not missing a beat :)

The car on the whole was extremely reliable but did have a catastrophic failure of its DMF (completely destroying itself, the clutch assembly and the bell housing. As I recall, I was told such a failure was rare and Subaru paid for I think 85% of the total costs.

One time especially i recall of it keeping me out of trouble.
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I remember my test drive. It was the dealerships first day open and I mentioned the frameless windows, boxer engine and 4 wheel drive as a pretty special mix of features and the salesman asked if he could use the line with other customers :D At the time I was looking for a saloon as I'd never owned one (had them as company cars though) and the Legacy would have ticked that box and the 4x4 box too. But. I went to the local Lag dealership and tried a 4ltr S Type and that's the car I bought.
 
Nod said:
Rent one for a couple of days.
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Years back I used to buy in impulse but these days I move very slowly. At the moment it's between the Evoque and Jag E Pace. Mrs WW says the Jag looks old fashioned but I think it's quite nice. I'll eventually give this some more thought and then look at a test drive. In the meantime I'm just waiting to see how my money looks as I've lived off my savings for 11 years now but recently started to get a company pension so I want to give it 6 months or so to see how things look.
 
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