In the early 1990s, following the introduction of their two-seat, grand-tourer R129 SL Mercedes-Benz set out to create a new compact roadster, to fit below the SL. By late 1991, under Bruno Sacco, the first design sketches were drawn and in 1996 the SLK was launched.  Massively successful in its first year, worldwide sales hit 55,000 and between 1996 and 2004, over 311,000 SLKs were sold. 

The roof design consists of a folding steel hardtop with two halves linked by a mechanism which is locked securely when the roof is closed. At the touch of a button on the centre console, a hydraulic system controls the fully automatic folding process which stows the entire roof neatly into the boot, while still preserving more than adequate space for luggage.

Registered new in September 2003 this SLK has had just three owners over the past twenty years, first changing hands in 2012 and again in December 2013.  

Owned for the past 8 years by a lady from Bournemouth it has been well maintained and is in excellent overall condition.

There is a Service book with the SLK that contains 9 stamps, with a couple of the later entries documented on accompanying receipts on file. The last stamp was in July 2020 at Priory Auto Works where a “short” service was performed including oil and filters.  However, the mileage at that service is not noted. 

There is a current MoT valid until 8th February 2023, along with a few older MoT certificates that show the mileage increasing at a steady 5,000 per annum between 2019 and present. There is also a full Mercedes-Benz Owner’s wallet with all the books.

The black leather interior goes well with the striking blue exterior and overall it is in very presentable condition. The seats are unmarked and show only minor wear in the usual places like the side bolsters.  There are a few scratches in the plastic of the centre console and the odd scratch on the door panels, but nothing that detracts from the overall look.  

The centre console has an engine turned insert panel round the switchgear, heater and radio which looks great.  The black on cream gauges are clear and have no scratches. The grey carpets are protected by SLK branded floor mats, which themselves have been covered with aftermarket rubber mats, so there is no wear to the carpets underneath.

We raised and lowered the roof during our visit and can report that it operated flawlessly, stowing neatly and quickly in the boot, the side windows dropping promptly. There is still a practical amount of luggage space remaining with the roof stowed, with a luggage protecting pull-out blind to protect your bags. 

The boot space itself is exceptionally clean, with spare and tools in place under the floor, warning triangle and First Aid kit.  

The day we visited to take the photographs was not particularly bright, in fact it was quite gloomy, but the Sapphire blue paint still looked bright and attractive has a good shine.  The sides of the car show no dents or dings and all the panels fit nicely, with consistent shut lines throughout.  

The only faults we noted were some scratches to the centre of the roof which may have been caused when being stowed, and some chips to the paint on the rear bumper where it appears something has bumped against it. The 17 inch seven spoke Mercedes alloy wheels are all in excellent condition showing no curb marks, damage or age staining.  The M-B centre caps are mint and the tyres are a nearly new matching set of Sumitomo BC100s –all very smart.

The SLK is powered by Mercedes’ silky smooth 3,199cc M112 V6 mated to the 5G-Tronic five speed automatic gearbox.  The engine was good for 215bhp and with the G Tronic box you can change through the gears manually or let the auto box do the work.  The engine sounds great thanks to having a sports exhaust fitted; rorty but not too loud.  

With only 87,000 miles covered and a good service history we reckon the SLK will be dependable for years to come.  The engine bay is tidy and all factory stock, if a little grubby.  There are no signs of poor repairs or wiring, and no evidence of accident damage or fluid leaks.

 

The R170 SLKs currently provide the most affordable route to trouble free, open top motoring on the market today.  Better built than any of the opposition they are a practical choice with good luggage space even with the roof down, upmarket interiors with quality materials, and enough power to make the drive entertaining. 

The real bonus it the Mercedes Vario folding roof.  No leaks or smelly carpets, soggy boot space or rushing around in the rain doing up poppers and zips.  Just a finger on a button for 20 seconds and that’s it, you are in a snug and stylish coupe! Perfect for the UK climate and summer is just around the corner..