Mercede SLK350 R171 Anyone Own One?
- Thread starter pugheaven
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Soldato
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- 29 Jun 2004
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My wife loves them. But then logic goes out of the window when my wife wants a car. She considers this in the same category as a Mini and a "mini Rangerover".
If your missus likes it, get it.
If your missus likes it, get it.
I owned one for a year and a bit.
Balance shaft issues are the big black cloud hanging over the engine. Early models like mine are affected, but never had the issue.
Watch out for burning oil, mine did this and used 5 litres over the year.
Rear diffs can whine at 60 - 70mph when slightly accelerating, can be annoying.
Watch out for heated seats not working. The bases break because the pads are brittle but the back can still work. Check because it's expensive to fix and annoying.
Apart from that, loved it.
Balance shaft issues are the big black cloud hanging over the engine. Early models like mine are affected, but never had the issue.
Watch out for burning oil, mine did this and used 5 litres over the year.
Rear diffs can whine at 60 - 70mph when slightly accelerating, can be annoying.
Watch out for heated seats not working. The bases break because the pads are brittle but the back can still work. Check because it's expensive to fix and annoying.
Apart from that, loved it.
Best to go for a facelift model late 2008/2009/2010 if possible to avoid the balance shaft issues but apart from that they are pretty reliable. Not had anything break on mine in the 2.5 years that I've owned it. Try to get one with Xenons as the standard headlights are a bit rubbish!
The r171 came with two engines in the 350 that's all was meant.
The M272 with 268hp which had the balance shaft and oil use issues this was on all pre facelift cars before 08 (I think)
And the blue efficiency engine with 306hp which revved another 1000 higher and overcame the issues with the earlier engine.
I
The M272 with 268hp which had the balance shaft and oil use issues this was on all pre facelift cars before 08 (I think)
And the blue efficiency engine with 306hp which revved another 1000 higher and overcame the issues with the earlier engine.
I
Yeah it was more response to the post around post 2008... this is 3rd gen.
Coolio, yeah was just reading up on it, seems to be intermitent, some get it some haven't the car I'm looking at is 45k miles on the clock.
Mmm, just checked and looks like the engine number ([FONT="]27296330002362) is in the range so must be an early SLK, which means it could suffer with the balance shaft problem, this is putting me off the car now... as this is costly if and when it is worn 
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[/FONT]When I spoke to the service technician who worked on the car at Mercedes stoke, he admitted they had done 3 on the m272 engine, so it is a real issue, but it only affected less than 1 in 10 cars, usually early on in the life of the engine due to the shaft cog being made using an incorrectly treated metal.
It's a risk, but no more than the IMS bearing issue with Porsche's of the same era.
It's a risk, but no more than the IMS bearing issue with Porsche's of the same era.
yeah it's a tough onem, you want a car with low mileage, and 45k is low for a 12 year old car however, is it high enough to show this kind of problem... tough one... as you don't want in a years time to end up with an engine out jobbie on a car that quite frankly shouldn't have that problem in the first place, lets be honest. Tough one! Might just go and see it anyway, check all the receipts etc, you never know... take it out, and decide later. No harm done then... shame as it's a lovely car and missus has always wanted one and she's bored with the Type R now, which I will have to sell, that's also a nice car and been epic, you service Hondas and give them love, christ they just don't go wrong EVER!