Report Abuse

“My Mercedes SLK 230 had 6000 mls on the clock when I...”

written by srafs on 23/05/2008

Good Points
Comfortable to sit in and drive. Good to look at easy to clean.

Bad Points
Very noisy, constant drone, no after sales service unless you are prepared to pay a fortune in labour.

General Comments
My Mercedes SLK 230 had 6000 mls on the clock when I bought it, within one month I noticed an electrical fault that kept the left hand indicator permanently on or, not working at all. Back to MB to rectify. Three weeks later the fault was back again so back to MB this time a new indicator switch was fitted. One week later back it came again but this time it € s in the brake lights so very dangerous when motorway traveling so back again to MB, this time they agree to change the electric management unit which they informed me would cure the problem. Shame it never did and within a month the fault was back again this time in the heated front seat driver side, the light is on regardless of whether the seat is turned on or off. 4 years later they have still been unable to fix it and it is now outside of its warranty so they are no longer interested. During these numerous visits to MB I pointed out that the nearside front side light unit did not appear to fit very well, I was assured it was fine. At 24500 miles while coming home from work on the A329m the light unit popped out of its hole and hung by the wiring, which damaged the paintwork so back to MB instead of home, the technician popped it back in and was unable to explain why it had come out, I was quoted £175 to repair the paint damage (its still there!) At 26300 miles the same front side light unit spontaneously ejected itself while I was traveling at 90 miles an hour on the M5 catapulting itself into the path of traffic behind me who swerved to miss an obviously flying object nearly causing a pileup. MB said it was impossibility for this to happen, that I had done it myself! (still trying to work this one out) but Greenoaks of Ascot did agree eventually to replace the unit FOC on the basis that I had pointed out on many occasions that it was a poor fit while it was still under warrantee. The car is now 5 years old, has done just 27022 miles and yesterday the clutch pedal disintegrated under my foot, (I am 5'3 and weigh in at 9st so not a great force to be reconed with unless you are a MB car). MB has said that as the car is SO OLD! it is only to be expected! obviously no longer built to last! It will cost in excess of £400 to repair and the fact that it has done so few miles is not an acceptable reason for me to expect it to be covered by their now expired guarantee. I now understand why when the car approached its 3 year warranty limit MB was very insistent that I pay £695 year for a full service and parts cover, this did not include breaks or tyres, and they obviously expect their cars to fall apart. Now after a life time of wishing to own a MB just 4 years of ownership has proven to me that they are not what they were, no longer built to last, and are no better than your average lower end of the market car and the sooner I can get shot of it the happier I shall be. Give me a FORD or a HONDA any day of the week please from now on.