Description
THE BACKGROUND:
We are very sadly selling our beloved “Suzie” Mercedes-Benz R170 2004 (53) SLK200 Kompressor with 109, 000 miles driven.
Delivered to the UK from Bremen on 4th September 2003. Finished in the limited-edition Cubanite Silver Metallic (723u) paint with full leather seats and Anthracite (211A) interior. Only 500 cars were produced in this combination at the end of the R170 production run.
Power comes from the bombproof straight-4-cylinder M111 engine. This is a 2. 0L engine utilizing a supercharger (Kompressor) producing 161 hp and torque of 230 Nm @ 2500 rpm. The engine is coupled to the superbly slick and precise 6-speed manual Getrag gearbox.
Fancy a great 2-seater roadster? This R170 SLK is the answer! Better built than an MX-5, more fun than an MR-2, less elaborate than an S2000, cooler than a TT, prettier than a Z3, and WAY cheaper to run than a Boxster!Suzie is mechanically in excellent condition. Previously owned by the proprietor of a garage who kept her straight, we have attended to all of her (very few) needs except for a 2-year period where our health had to take priority. She’s now back to bang-on mechanical order - and she goes really well! MOT’d in early September 2024, she passed with zero advisories.
The M111 engine is renowned for giving oodles of trouble-free miles. This one runs SO sweetly, despite the 100k+ mileage. It starts on the “S” of start, with fuel economy in the high 30’s to low 40’s on a run. The 6-speed manual gearbox is as precise as the first day it was driven. It’s a joy to drive.
Structural bodywork is mostly in excellent condition, following a near total bodywork refurbishment in April/ May 2022. The work involved new front wings and brackets, and back-to-metal refresh of the boot, rear wings and sections of the roof and doors. New Mercedes-Benz headlights were fitted at this time.
We do need to talk about the elephant in room with all of the R170 SLK’s, namely – rust.
The R170 SLK-Klasse have acquired a reputation for rust (we prefer to call it ze metalvurm). THEY ALL HAVE IT. Anyone who says that they have a 100% rust-free SLK is either telling porkies, or is driving it home from the bodyshop.
They do rust - BUT… If you garage the car (or even keep it under a good quality cover) you’ll keep the surface rust down to a minimum. We have kept Suzie outside for the 7 years that we have owned her, and the rust has NEVER got out of hand. So be aware of it, but don’t be scared about it.
Despite the fabulous work that was done in 2022 to give Suzie at least another 20 years on the road, there are a few areas of surface corrosion on one of the back wings, bonnet and a tiny bit on the roof.
In the intervening 3 years there are a few areas of rust starting to peer through again, although they are only minor and cosmetic at the moment. It’s not at a level where we are unduly concerned about it. She’s not a “concourse” car, she’s our “high days and holidays” motor. Most people won’t even see the rust. If you want to get her absolutely tip-top, then that’s your decision to make, but it won't be a "rebuilding" job.
When the 70th Anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Club UK came around in 2022, Mercedes wanted the cream of every model from those years at a massive show at Newhailes, Edinburgh. Amongst George Harrison's Grosser and various other "priceless" cars, Suzie was asked to represent the R170 SLK model. You'll see some photos from that show in the gallery.
The car is fitted with a Blaupunkt 230 Stockholm DAB radio with Bluetooth audio, handsfree phone connection and Aux-in. It was chosen specifically to upgrade the functionality of the audio, whilst preserving as much as possible the original look of the interior of the car.
There is a high-quality BlackVue dashcam hardwired into the car. It is installed very discretely in front of the rear-view mirror, hence not being in line of sight. I’m happy to leave that in the car for the benefit of the next owner.
The car has also had the proper MB grille re-fitted to keep the original look.
The folding metal electro-hydraulic roof, dubbed ‘Vario-Roof’ by Mercedes-Benz is in perfect working order. The opening and closing times are around 25 seconds.
So, there we have it. We know that you can find examples of R170’s on Gumtree/ Facebook Marketplace/ etc for somewhere between £1200 and £1500. And for that you’ll get something that’s running. To get one of those cars properly sorted with 100% sound mechanics, suspension, roof, and then fix up the corrosion you’ll be looking to spend between £2500 and £3500 to get it right. We know - because we’ve done it. These £1000-ish “bargains” are the ones that give Mercedes-Benz cars a reputation as being bottomless money-pits of trouble. You are buying a shed load of someone else’s problems.
If you were to buy a bargain-basement SLK and then sort it out yourself, you’ll be looking at a car which will stand you at around £4500-ish at the conclusion of your refurbishments and repairs – with a whole load of grief & angst along the way.
We reckon that this car stands us at around £7000 bearing in mind the original purchase price and all the improvements in the last 7 years. With that figure in mind and considering that we don’t WANT to sell her (we HAVE to sell her) we’re not going to let this car (which has had all the necessary work done already) go for silly money - but everyone on here gets that.
Mechanically and structurally, she is absolutely sound. You don’t get a 22-year-old car through an MOT these days with no advisories without it being in A1 condition. We have loads of photos and a video to show how good this little car is.
The private plate has now been removed and has been replaced by her original number SG53PAU.
And of course, we're open to sensible offers! :-)
