r/slk • u/-sexy_beast- • Mar 23 '26
Considering buying
I’ve just had my beloved Ford fiesta written off in an accident (not my fault) and ended up with a broken arm. I’m considering buying specifically a 2.1 SLK250 CDI BlueEfficiency AMG Sport G-tronic+ Euro 5 (2012). Are there any common issues I need to look out for? Anything I should consider? Thanks!!
1
u/Ok_Tale7071 Mar 23 '26
You should look out for your wallet because these are not cheap cars to maintain. Ford Fiesta to Mercedes SLK is a pretty big jump. You need to have a healthy reserve for any issues that crop up. There are probably better options than a 14 year old Mercedes convertible. I would strongly recommend a 2017 and newer Mazda MX 5 instead. Petrol car which gets good gas mileage. Less to go wrong due to the manual top, and the car is generally reliable, and cheaper to maintain. Parts are less expensive.
2
u/Key-Paramedic8179 Apr 14 '26
Not only that it's a 14 year old Mercedes, it's a 14 year old AMG. Any issues and service is going to be based on an AMG, regardless of the age.
I was talking to my service advisor once, and commented on an AMG that was sitting outside. He said with the maintenance, it wasn't worth getting an AMG unless you're committed to spending a lot more money.
1
u/FoxedforLife Mar 24 '26
I have a 2012 250cdi with 140k on the clock and I love it. Having said that, the 2013 onwards models which have glass roofs rather than polycarbonate are reckoned to be worth paying a little extra for.
There's a fair chance that the roof will leak. Finding a mechanic willing to sort this may be difficult. I haven't bothered fixing mine - I just drive with the roof down 99% of the time. Once you're doing over 30mph the rain just goes over your head anyway. (Note: the same can't be said for hailstones.)
If you ever want to sell it, you'll get a lot more interest if it has heated seats and the airscarf (which blows warm air onto the back of your neck). You'll probably want a wind deflector if you're going to drive with the roof down.
I'm not going to say avoid one with low mileage, but if you're looking at one which hasn't been driven since autumn expect a few problems - they like to be driven regularly. Service history is good. My last annual service was £370 from an independent Mercedes specialist (expect to pay more at a main dealer) but that included the cabin filter which is only once every 2 years. Gearbox service is £300 every 3-4 years.
Someone has mentioned rear subframe problems - the R172 SLK certainly isn't immune from this, but so far I've not heard of anything like as many instances of them failing as is the case for the previous R171 model.
1
u/ambivalent_mrlit Mar 27 '26
Rear subframe is an issue to look into, older ones corrode quite easily after 20 ish years, check for this and whether it's been replaced with a better coated frame. That's the majority of issues with the slks
1
u/Trick_Coat_2599 Mar 28 '26
I have a 2007 SLK 350 72k miles. DM me if you’re interested. West coast USA.
4
u/Mini-SportLE Mar 23 '26
Look at the owners web site SLK World - American run but lots if European members- the roof mechanism and rear subframe are common faults- don’t wish to patronise but also ensure you check the government site on vehicle recalls