SLK 230.....Should it stay or should it go..?

[caledonian]

Hi all,

I've recently purchased a 1999 SLK230 and have been extremely dissapointed thus far. Reading through the forum it would seem most of what I am experiencing is not unique. In fact, I wish I had read all your various postings beforehand. I wouldn't have bothered buying one.

First of all the passenger side window limiter fell off. Fortunately / unfortunately it is such a common problem there is a wealth of information on how to strip down the door and repair the fault. The glue held the third time. I cannot believe how bad this design is !

Steering veers to the left. I hate this ! It seems as if the large tyres grap all the ruts in the road making it handle with all the elegance of a shopping trolley. I thought I had a suspension problem until I was on a road with opposite camber and it pulls right. Are we meant to accept this ?Is there anything that can be done. It's a sad day when you prefer driving your Astra SRi to your MB !

With the weather now closing in and the roof up, I've just become aware of various drones and groans. It sounds like maybe wheel bearings or something. It doesn't go away with the transmission in neutral so can I assume I'm safe here.?

Is there any way of making this car drive as good as it looks. I'm this close to trading it in for a TT roadster and I've only had it 8 weeks ! If I thought replacing all the shocks, springs, bushes, bearings etc would help I would risk spending the money on it. Any advice gratefully received......

55K miles FMBSH

Previous...BMW Z3 2.2 and Porsche 944S2 both fantastic.
This car................rubbish

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Welcome to the MB nightmare site where you can relate your tales of woe in confidence. Confidence that many others have suffered the same fate. Just when ou think you have it sorted, off it goes again with something else. Fords are called Fix or Repair Daily, FIATS Fix It Again Time. Not sure about MB though, most owners die of a stress induced heart attack so no one has ever come up with one for them. Yes, if you read the site first would you have bought?? No, neither would we.....but then they only started making bad cars a few years ago, since mid 90s. Up to then they were good solid classics. The build quality is now brutal, the company attitudes even worse.

To start with was the car a MB dealer sale? If so you need to get a really stiff assessor's report on the car and send it back for repair, with your instructions in writing preferably drafted by a lawyer. You need to hit them with everything. The dealers will tell you the knocks are normal as in MB cars are designed to knock!!.

There are a few little glitches underneath, drop links cause knocking, they are cheap and last only 25 - 40k and worth replacing.

Shocks can be bad, just had mine done for third time!!

Left veering steering is a big topic here, supposed to be a safety factor but some adjustment is possible.

Not sure about noise but I have had wheelbearing trouble too.

Rust is also a major MB problem too, not sure about your model but some models are having a horriffic time with it. I am in at the moment for 4 doors being replaced!" Rust big time.

Problem is they are nice cars to drive. Why do I still have one? Nice drive and I know I will never ever buy another one. Not because I dont like the cars [they are great] but because I would never deal with a company like them again. I also know there will be a buyer lined up because there are still those out there who will insist on driving MB for the image. The arrogance, lack of support and deception practiced by their dealers is unrivalled.

My advice: change the car before you become attached to it!! Its winter now and you dont need a soft top.

 

[peterchurch]

Hi,
I would try driving another car to see if it behaves the same. The road holding issues that you are talking about can probably be solved by changing the wheels / tyre choice. I had Bridgestone?s on my MR2 and they were horrible for tram lining, I changed them to p6000 and the tram lining stopped, unfortunately the car did not go round corners very well after that either :-(

To be honest I would think that any car you end up with is going to have some problems. I just parted with an MR2 after 70K miles. In 2 years it had all sorts of things go pop on it and there are worse things still that I managed to miss out on. But if you go read the MR2 owners club web site the owners love them. The dealers are sh1t, they have no knowledge of the car and leave most owners spitting blood. does that sound familiar to you?

Why not try an Audi owners web site and see what they have got to say about the mark, I would lay money on the fact that they will have their own set of problems, and I bet the dealers and build quality, will be at the top of the list.

here you go follow this link

http://www.audifans.net/modules.php...;f=4&sid=1f670ebef5d908f5980d26848a62dd22

At the end of the day when you are sat at the traffic lights you know the other driver probably wishes he were driving what you have.

Just keep your cool and focus on the problems (use an independent garage if you have to.) make the car what you want of it , Its easy to get negative.

Best regards

Peter

 

[mercman_1]

Hi sorry to hear about all the problems you are having,I bought a SLK230 from new in 1998 so far I have done 35000 the car has had 4 services and 1 set of tyres and until last week when the window stops on the drivers door fell off it has run like a dream.Thought you would like to hear some posative feedback for a change.Hope your luck improves
Bob.T.

 

[Matty H]

SLK230 Dream

Hi,

I also have a 1997 SLK230 & have owned it for nearlly 2 years without 1 single problem. Mine has done 92k as well.

I think as previous posts have said - you just have an "unlucky" car. Hope you have better luck.

I love MB and would consider buying another - even the new shape SLK which looks mint by the way.

 

[Tony]

I've got a 2001 SLK and I don't recognise any of the problems you report. Has the car been in an accident maybe and been badly repaired?

 

[mlc]

We have a 230SLK and have not had (yet!) the misfortune you report. The only item I can agree on is that the steering "tram lines" very easily, but thats to do with very wide low profile tyres.

All cars are a compromise - you have chosen a high performance convertible - and to get that youve chosen to give up lots of things, like low sound levels, limo style ride and space. Dont get excited about the TT, cos thats just as bad without the street cred that comes with the MB.

We have two main cars, the SLK and a top of the range Mondeo. Mrs C. drives the SLK and I dont get a look in during the week, but if I have a long journey to make I want the Mondeo anyway, because its all the things that the SLK lacks, smooth, quiet etc.

Bottom line is - the SLK is the best for what it is, a compact supercar for all of those that cant afford an SL.