2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Do not think the name MERCEDES and the high purchase price will protect you from high priced repairs. It doesnt. These cars are full of cheap plastic and break down as much as a cheap $25K Chevy or Ford. If you want the image of driving a high priced car, go for it, but be warned that the high priced out of factory warranty repairs will drain your bank account faster than a high maintenance woman. Oct 11, 2023

Having owned 3 of these spaceships on wheels, my advice to you thinking about buying a used one is DON T. Do not buy a used MB that is out of factory warranty, because there is only 1 type of MB repair: EXPENSIVE. From simple engine oil changes that cost $100 to transmission oil and filter changes with these sealed for life transmissions that do not have a fill tube - they are filled though the DRAIN hole using a special tool. To computers and sensors and relays and modules and fuses for every electric device on this car (is is 99% electronic) which require a special MB scanner ($$) to pull codes that tell you what is broken - and then find out from the local dealer how much that repair will cost. These V6 engine are INFAMOUS for having a balance shaft problem where the soft metal of the gears wear down and loosen the timing chain that can cause catastrophic engine failure. The excessive use of CHEAP PLASTIC in these cars is not warranted - no excuse for it. Computer controlled climate control AC systems that are hideously expensive to fix. Then the intake manifold that has PLASTIC shaft parts that break used for flapper values to open and close at different engine speeds which get clogged up with oil gunk from the EGR valve. To wheel speed sensors at each wheel that must speak with the main computer to get car speed - and if 1 wheel sensor goes bad, it has a domino effect with the ABS and ESP computer systems causing them to fail - and it even stops the hard top from working..... The computer thinks the car is moving when it is parked because of the bad wheel sensor, causing the hard top to stop working. Cascade effect which results in a LOT of your $$$ leaving your bank account to fox. Only buy these cars if still under factory warranty. The hard and soft tops comes with 5 to 7 hydraulic cylinders and micro-switches and computers which MUST work perfectly in sequence for the top to work. The Oil hydraulic pump is a $1000 item itself. The cylinders are prone to leak with age - because of the cheap quality oil rings used by the factory. When the cylinders leak the oil reservoir runs dry and the cylinders cost $500-$1000 to fix - EACH. Electronic repairs are nasty. Circuit boards and especially capacitors dry out and short out. The AC can stop blowing cold air because of a fuse box module with parts drying out. The SLK-280-350 cars have an idiot battery design that lets leafs and gunk to clog up the small plastic ware drain,which then allows the water level to raise up high enough to spill though the hole in the firewall onto the fan circuit board and carpet. All because of a hole drain made out of plastic clogged with leaves. Right where the battery box is. Paying to fix these spaceships out of warranty is horrendously expensive - you have been warned. Oct 11, 2023