SLK 230 1997 Kompressor Auto

[joe_]

Hi, We've just bought a 1997 MB SLK 230 Kompressor Auto from ebay with 58500 miles and years MOT. Its been sold as having no faults whatsoever and drives exactly as you would expect a Mercedes to, and as being in excellent condition. I'm going to collect in the next few days. Can anybody suggest any key things I need to check over in detail before handing over the cash? Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I have seen in other posts thats its worth checking under the wheel arches for rust, checking the main engine wiring loom for oil absorption, and checking the electric roof a few times. Any other SLK quirks for checking for? p.s. We paying £4050, seems a good deal, what do you think? (Theres no service history except for the last 2 yrs as was a finance repossion)
Thanks for any advice/info,
Joe

 

[television]

Hi Joe,, do check the roof pse pump controller for any water damage,, if it has not been modified, but still works that is easy to do, so look for any water stains in the boot

 

[joe_]

Thanks Malcolm,
Can you tell me more about the roof modification, if heard it mentioned before in other threads, whys its necessary and whats involved?
Thanks
Joe

 

[Cole@MBS]

i think that model is too early to have a leaking cam sensor, i belive that was from 99 on wards, i think!!

 

[joe_]

I've just collected the SLK, and apart from being a very nice drive the heater is stuck on hot and the windows soon mist up if the fan is not on high with window open....(The air con isnt working either)...Does anybody have any idea what may be the fault with the heating?
Thanks for any info,
Joe

 

[carlsson20]

Hi, We've just bought a 1997 MB SLK 230 Kompressor Auto from ebay with 58500 miles and years MOT. Its been sold as having no faults whatsoever and drives exactly as you would expect a Mercedes to, and as being in excellent condition.


if someone has sold it to you with no faults and the heater and aircon are not working I would be knocking on his door for him to fix it or at least giving some money back.

I don't know about MBs but when the heater use to stick on full on the old Saab 9000s it was a resister that had gone, I'm sure someone will be along that knows

 

[television]

Hi Joe,, are there any LED's on, on the heater control panel

The red LED in the panel is air con off, if its lit

 

[joe_]

Hi Carlsonn, yeah its crap to advertise a car as having "no faults whatsoever" and "Excellent condition" yet have broken air con and heater.....I challenged him today and he is shocked I called him, they are not faults, apparently I being picky.....He wont talk to me about it anymore!
I did get the car for just over £4000 so I'm quite happy, but if I'd bidded higher I would have been gutted...

Television - Thanks for the info, when i press the air con button a red light comes on...

 

[ericdon]

Hi
just bought a SLK last month, with the exact same fault, the misting is due to you having the air control set to recycle, just reset it to take air from outside.
The heater problem is most likley the duo valves, lift the bonnet and they are on the left wheel arch, they look like two small cans mounted on two rubber post, with three hose connections going in.
They adjust the amount of hot water to each side of the cockpit depending on where you set the control.
The coil on one side will most likley be U/S ebay have the complete units for about £50, merc want £145.00, if you are skilled enough you can take them to bits and test each coil, I believe you can source the individual parts, for me £50 for the complete unit is a no brainer. Took me all of five minutes to change the unit do the hoses first no need to drain the sysytem if your quick use a good set of pliers, be carefull when removing the rubber post use a small screwdriver to poke them through, then the wiring is disconect and connect on the new unit, remount and thats it.
Keep the old one as you most likley have one good coil, they are a common fault, so I've been told by a Merc mechy.