Need opinions & wisdom on a 1999 SLK 230 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dpetryk · #1 11-08-2006, 08:26 AM

One of my employees is lusting over a 99 SLK 230, 62k miles looks very clean. Service history is unknown. Owner is asking 15k. She hopes to get it for 13k.

How are these cars as far as reliability?

Do they need a lot of work at this age and mileage?

I have several 126's, a 124 and a 107 and they need a constant diet of care and maintenance. She is single and does not need a car that is going to give trouble.

Anybody who has any experience with this model please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

pfphipps · #2 11-08-2006, 11:18 AM

We have had a 1999 SLK230 since new September, 1998. It now has 50,000 miles on it. The car is as stock as they come, no modifications or additions at all expect for putting in a Becker with a CD player in it. My wife and I love it! It has practically no trunk room with the top done but we knew that when we got it.

As far as problems, mostly nothing serious but a few little irritating things. The taillights were a problem that has been fixed by a recall to replace them entirely a couple of months ago. Two or three low coolant level switches were replaced before it was discovered that this light is also turned on by low windshield washer fluid as well. A couple of other little things like this. MAF sensor was replaced about a year ago and that is not unusual for most any of the recent Mercedes.

Probably the most irritating thing is the top. When it works, it is great but the tops are very problematic, sometime not wanting to go up, sometimes not wanting to go down, but if it has the latest microswitches and is adjusted properly, it should be OK.

She might also look on some of the SLK forums for other people's problems.

I guess I would say that nothing I have had left me stranded but there are the usual little collection of problems that will occur with any 8 year old car. Although we love it, I guess I would still hesitate recommending it to somebody who cannot adjust to a few little things going wrong. Does she have a car savvy boyfriend?

dpetryk · #3 11-08-2006, 04:13 PM

Thanks so much for the information. Yea she does have a benz mechanic boss. I am really checking in some way on my behalf because I know she will want me to work on her car. I dont need any more.

Thanks again.

cudaspaz · #4 11-08-2006, 06:44 PM

Just tell her to not beat the heck out of it, and that she is going to have to stick to the maintenance schedule religiously, and make sure she is familiar with how to check the maintenance schedule on the cluster and in the service booklet.
Most female customers I have had with SLK's cannot really afford the maintenance, brakes, or the car in general and tend to slack off when it comes time for maintenance, then small problems that would have been found during the routine checks grow worse and end up costing some money, then they only want to fix this here and that here and then it keeps adding up so tell her to be prepared to spend some money from time to time to keep her car tip top.
If she slacks on maintenance now, it will end up costing more in the long run.
Make sure you use recommended parts and oils.
Tell her do not by any means top off the fuel at the gas pump unless she has about 12-1500 bucks laying around.

dpetryk · #5 11-08-2006, 11:13 PM

Whats the deal with topping off the tank?

pfphipps · #6 11-08-2006, 11:50 PM

I top off mine all the time. More like $35 when I do it, all for the gasoline. Never had a problem and have no idea what this is means.

mbdoc · #7 11-09-2006, 08:34 AM

There are several weakness on the 1998-2001 SLK's that can cost $$$$

The central locking pump can fill with water due to trunk area leaks..can run$1K. Anyone that has one of these should replace the trunk seals.

Also lack of oil changes OR a bad PCV valve can cause oil getting into the intake & air mass sensor..$600+..a new PCV valve is less than $20.

page62 · #8 11-09-2006, 09:09 AM

I agree there are some weaknesses, such as the top microswitches and the locking pump...

...but overall, these have turned out to be fairly reliable cars. Probably more reliable than the models released between 2001-05. This is partly because there isn't a mass of whiz-bang electronic modules just waiting to go bad.

If you can get a VMI on the car from an MB dealer, and it turns out clean, there's really no compelling reason to keep her from getting the car.