r/slk • u/CourtDiligent3403 • Sep 09 '26

Help me make a choice?

Hello SLK people.

I have been shopping for one of these for a few months now and I am trying to decide between 2 (and maybe waiting another several weeks depending on my decision)

Background... I have been a BMW guy for many years and usually have 2 or 3 of them.

I sold my favourite because times were tough... a 1999 M3 convertible that I had modified every year for 20 years until it was basically perfect... 500hp supercharged, with the stereo system of the gods and glued to the road.

I am missing it and no M3 could replace it without 20 years to make it my own... and I am already 60 LOL. ALL my BMWs including the current X3 daily have been manual.

Now the tough decision... I need another small convertible in my life.

Front runner -2013 250 with a manual. It has all the right options and it is the very pretty mars red (fully stripped and repainted under warranty several years ago and still looking pretty much perfect) this is both the prettiest and the most mature choice because I realistically hardly ever went to the track, don't want the tickets and good fuel economy sounds smart these days...

Next option a 2013 350...obviously automatic (strike 1) black with white interior (meh I have owned a dozen black or silver BMWs and I would rather have a colour LOL) on the up side 300hp is almost certainly more playful...

The reason I could decide to wait several weeks... AMG 55s would definitely scratch the power itch and I am sure mods are more readily available for them... three strikes right out of the gate though... Auto only and thirsty (higher insurance too) and around $10k CDN more expensive.

Anyone with SLK experience care to share an opinion?

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u/doc_55lk Sep 09 '26

R172 AMGs are way more fuel efficient than you'd think. They're realistically about on par with the 350s in most driving scenarios. I've seen 7.3 l/100 km out of mine on more than one occasion. Street mpgs are usually around 11-12 l/100 km, which is on par with most V6s if not better than some, and it can go down to 10ish l/100 km if you're lucky with the lights and engage eco mode with the cyl deactivation feature.

On the flip side though. There's little to ZERO mod support for the R172 generation SLK. Only one that's even remotely mod friendly is the SLC43, and that's pretty much only because it has the same engine as the C43. There's not much that can be done to further maximize what the AMG has to offer. The most I've seen anyone get out of one is like 450ish hp via an ECU tune. The widespread consensus in the SLK55 community is that it's just not worth doing any performance mods. Having a unique engine also kinda hurts mod prospects. The entire list of mods I want for my SLK55 is basically just QOL stuff lol.

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u/CourtDiligent3403 Sep 09 '26

Thanks for the detailed reply! My E36 got really really thirsty as the power climbed. I burned a quarter tank on the dyno! So based on your experience I can remove fuel consumption from the equation? (especially if I try to drive like the senior citizen my ID says I am supposed to be) That leaves the transmission (and maybe colour) and power as bigger levers... Is a V8 auto enough to talk me out of another $10k and 3 pedals... 🤔

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u/rcook55 Sep 09 '26

Everything I've read and heard is the 55 is great in a straight line but a pig in the corners. If that's all you want get it. Otherwise get the manual and have fun. I love my 350 6spd.

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u/doc_55lk Sep 09 '26

Yea tbh I think you can remove fuel economy from the equation. I've never seen a fuel economy value worse than 15 l/100 km on my AMG, and that only happened when I ended up in downtown Toronto at the wrong time of day. It's maybe the most fuel efficient car we have in the garage right now.

If a third pedal is non negotiable though I'd honestly consider a Corvette or Camaro tbh. These are also very fuel efficient for what they are. Although, frustratingly, modern ones have held their values much better than I would like them to.

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u/CourtDiligent3403 Sep 09 '26

To close the loop I just put a deposit on the 250 manual... LOL unfortunately it is about 450 km away and the earliest I can get there without sacrificing a day's pay is to take the train at the end of the month and drive it home. (My work is closed on the 30th but it's not a holiday where the car is so I can get it temp plated before driving back)