Advice please on potential purchase of SLK

[RolandK]

Hi,
Looking buy a two seater ready for the summer and an SLK is high on my wish list. Would be happy with a 1.8 SLK200 Blue Efficiency auto. Gives me enough performance and reasonable running costs. Looking at reasonable mileage (sub 60k) circa 2010 and budget up to 10k. Seems quite a few around that meet those criteria. Not been to actually see one yet let alone driven one so be grateful for any thoughts and tips of what to look for.
Thanks
Roland

 

[Blobcat]

You’ll get a much nicer SLK280/300/350 for that money. M271 isn’t the greatest engine Mercedes ever made… M272 V6 is better (yes I’m biased) gives me ~32mpg average for ~80K miles

If you really want a 200, don’t drive a 289/300/350…

 

[RolandK]

You’ll get a much nicer SLK280/300/350 for that money. M271 isn’t the greatest engine Mercedes ever made… M272 V6 is better (yes I’m biased) gives me ~32mpg average for ~80K miles

If you really want a 200, don’t drive a 289/300/350…

Ok thanks. I'll extend my search to the 280 as well. Do any of these cars have any issues I need to look out for?

 

[Blobcat]

Ok thanks. I'll extend my search to the 280 as well. Do any of these cars have any issues I need to look out for?

Not hugely, earlier ones than you’re looking at can have balance shaft issues.

Mines on 128k miles and I’ve only had the serpentine belt tensioner and idler replaced above regular servicing.

Check everything works - roof should be ~20 seconds.

 

[Chrishazle]

For £10k you'll get a really nice well specc'd R171 SLK280, they're about the £6-7k mark even low mileage. You want airscarf, heated seats, full leather, memory seats if both will drive, Comand Satnav with latest and last 2019 maps installed (including the 2009 firmware update required for later maps), front and rear parking sensors, FSH etc. I have most of that (just not the memory seats, but for no good reason herself has yet to drive my SLK!), and being different mine is Fire Opal Red (nearly immaculate, one small starting paint bubbling area) and am being tempted to return to 968 tip coupe ownership (undecided ATM). For £10k you're possibly into R172 country, but most of those seem to be 250Cdi's - what oxymoron put a diesel engine in a 2 seat "sports" car?? Added bonus - the R171 SLK280 is ULEZ compliant!

 

[RolandK]

Just to start the ball rolling I'm going to take a look at a 200 Blue Efficiency near me tomorrow. 2012 ,28K miles, up for £10k.
so it does around 2k miles a year. Theoretically this should point to a nice unworn car but is it better to get a car that's had a bit more exercise? What do you folks think?
Seller a bit vague about service history so I'll be taking a close look at that!
Cheers

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Might be a good idea to post a link to the ad for better informed advice

 

[RolandK]

Might be a good idea to post a link to the ad for better informed advice

Good suggestion

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[racall]

Watch out if you live in the ULEZ zone as some models are not compliant.

 

[RolandK]

Watch out if you live in the ULEZ zone as some models are not compliant.

I don't live in a ULEZ zone but good point, thanks.

 

[Blobcat]

Just to start the ball rolling I'm going to take a look at a 200 Blue Efficiency near me tomorrow. 2012 ,28K miles, up for £10k.
so it does around 2k miles a year. Theoretically this should point to a nice unworn car but is it better to get a car that's had a bit more exercise? What do you folks think?
Seller a bit vague about service history so I'll be taking a close look at that!
Cheers

Things wear out as much from sitting around as they do from being used unfortunately. Listen to the engine - check that it hadn’t been warmed up first…

Has it got air scarf? Those and heated seats are really desirable

An alternative:

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[Ranjen617]

We just bought a 2010 Slk350 with the AMG Sport Package with 34k on her. She's smooth as silk. Try and test ride one of these.

 

[John77]

My wife has had 3 slk's now and sold her last one last month. 2009. They were all 200 SLK and when ever I drove it, I found it had a powerful enough engine, but each to his own. As for the M271 engine at one point my wife's SLK and My Eclass estate had this engine and were problem free. As above the problem with that engine is that the cam chain stretches and slips. So if you do get to look at one, as above try to look at the car when it has not been started that day and get them to start the car as you listen to the engine with the bonnet open. Any sign of a rattle leave it. There are many out there so you have a great choice. If you are buying privately there are many on facebook market place. Good luck with your search.

 

[ajlsl600]

Things wear out as much from sitting around as they do from being used unfortunately. Listen to the engine - check that it hadn’t been warmed up first…

Has it got air scarf? Those and heated seats are really desirable

An alternative:

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

Nice . But prob big list of electronics. Nfm.

 

[RolandK]

My wife has had 3 slk's now and sold her last one last month. 2009. They were all 200 SLK and when ever I drove it, I found it had a powerful enough engine, but each to his own. As for the M271 engine at one point my wife's SLK and My Eclass estate had this engine and were problem free. As above the problem with that engine is that the cam chain stretches and slips. So if you do get to look at one, as above try to look at the car when it has not been started that day and get them to start the car as you listen to the engine with the bonnet open. Any sign of a rattle leave it. There are many out there so you have a great choice. If you are buying privately there are many on facebook market place. Good luck with your search.

Thanks for the info. I'm still leaning towards a 200 SLK as I think it will have enough performance and running costs are a consideration as I have other cars to run too! Also would prefer an R172 car so that reduces the number to choose from! Also might have to stretch the budget a bit!
Cheers

Nice . But prob big list of electronics. Nfm.

 

[RolandK]

Nice . But prob big list of electronics. Nfm.

Well most cars in recent years are packed with electronics! Now they're basically complex computers on wheels! Some sat navs alone probably have more processing power than the huge mainframe computers I worked on in the 60/70's!
At the weekend I had a guided tour of Tesla Y type. Never seen so much tech in a car before. Even the glove box doesn't have button to open it; you just ask the car to open it or wade through umpteen screens on the big central display, meanwhile ploughing 2 tonnes of Tesla into the car in front as you can't be looking at the road at the same time. Handy facility if you want to leave your dog in the car though. You can get the display to show reassurance to any concerned passer by as it shows a message that dog is fine and the owner has asked the car to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature until they return! The automotive world's gone mad! All yours for around 58k!

 

[Wighty]

Just to start the ball rolling I'm going to take a look at a 200 Blue Efficiency near me tomorrow. 2012 ,28K miles, up for £10k.
so it does around 2k miles a year. Theoretically this should point to a nice unworn car but is it better to get a car that's had a bit more exercise? What do you folks think?
Seller a bit vague about service history so I'll be taking a close look at that!
Cheers

Sounds good buddy . Remember the 280/350 are in the £600+ price bracket .
I’ve had the M271 engine in 200 Kompressor form for 12 years . Yes at 80k+ miles you should think about getting the cam gears and chain being done or at least checked . I think if you drive normally it’s a nice engine . Yes it’s not in the 280/350 levels but if you drive normally around towns don’t rule it out

 

[Blobcat]

Sounds good buddy . Remember the 280/350 are in the £600+ price bracket .

You mean VED? My 280 is £395 - the new "standard" rate...

 

[Wighty]

You mean VED? My 280 is £395 - the new "standard" rate...

That’s got me , i was thinking of the CLK280/350 . My apologies to all concerned for the misdirection

 

[RolandK]

Sounds good buddy . Remember the 280/350 are in the £600+ price bracket .
I’ve had the M271 engine in 200 Kompressor form for 12 years . Yes at 80k+ miles you should think about getting the cam gears and chain being done or at least checked . I think if you drive normally it’s a nice engine . Yes it’s not in the 280/350 levels but if you drive normally around towns don’t rule it out

I never got to see it as it was sold!