mrtheedge2u2

Ok, I am taking the swamp donkey to look at a couple of 2006 SLKs on Friday. is there anything particular that I should pay attention to? I have looked for buying guide online but cannot find much.

Any advice appreciated.

Tidgy

amg version, has to be

mrtheedge2u2

It is for her so we are just looking at 200 kompressors. She aint that fussed about *******-ripping speed.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

2006 vintage SLKs are pretty good all round to be honest.

Biggest issue is the roof. Make sure it opens and closes smoothly and relatively quietly. Problems do occur with the pumps and if there is a leak the roof will not operate smoothly... can be costly to fix.

Whatever spec you go for make sure everything works as putting the electrics right on any modern Merc is expensive.

Check the air intake on the engine is not leaking or loose as sometimes on the kompressor engines it can chafe against other components and the seals can start to fail.

If it has fancy wheels check there is no vibration between 50 and 70 as some of the Merc wheels seem more prone to buckling over potholes than other manufacturers' wheels!

Aside from that enjoy it as they are great cars and the vario roof is a work of art!

andy97

iTrader: (1)

Wife had SLK 350 v6. Lovely car, quick, probably the best brakes I have ever used. The AMG are mentally fast , but come with a harsh ride. She regrets selling it.

scoobyJim2

I was at london once and a lady walked out infront of one of these when it was travelling about 40mph. I thought she was gonna get hit for sure but the merc stopped on a button! I couldn't believe it stopped

Carnut

I'm not buying one myself but nice to see some good advice, it makes me want to go buy one just so i can use my new knowledge.

mrtheedge2u2

Cheers for the advice F1!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No worries and good luck finding the right car

If you do get one drop me a line as I know some great independent Merc specialists up and down the country who will charge you a fraction of the main dealer costs and to be honest in many cases know more about the cars!

mrtheedge2u2

Ok, so the misses picks up her car on Saturday. Apparently there is an old type of phone cradle type thing like in the picture in the arm rest and the garage told her she needs the relevant part to slip into it to make it bluetoothed up.....

what is he talking about and where can I get one for her?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Talk to these people. They know everything about retrofitting and modifying Merc specs.

Command Online

You basically need a different phone interface cradle and connector, but not everything is compatible with everything else. If they can't offer you an OEM solution they will have a third party offering.

Get your chassis number and call them with it as they can then tell you what you can do, how to do it and what it will cost.

mrtheedge2u2

cheers, F1

mrtheedge2u2

On a rear-wheel drive like an SLK is it worth just sticking winter tyres on the driven wheels i.e. the rear?

pacenote

I wouldn't do that because the front end won't turn in and give big understeer not to mention lack of braking..

scoobyJim2

Agree^

mrtheedge2u2

what is the best way to make the SLK bluetooth music compatible????

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Depends on the exact MY and spec. Does it have COMMAND and if so do you have a pic of the console as I can then probably tell you what you need to know.

Failing that the Command Online link I gave you earlier will definitely be able to help you.

mrtheedge2u2

Thanks F1.....gonna sound like a noob here but how do I know if it has COMMAND?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No that's OK, my bad as I was the same when I started looking at Mercs.

COMMAND stands for COckpit MAnagement and Navigation Device so basically if your SLK has a screen based entertainment and nav system it has COMMAND. If it just has a conventional looking ICE system then it doesn't.

The bluetooth capability varies by the generation of COMMAND/audio system.

If you take a pic of it when you get it post it on here and I'll do my best to let you know what capability it has and what you need to do to get Bluetooth working.

mrtheedge2u2

I have just been informed that it does not.

The stereo area looks just like this.....

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

OK I think that's an Audio 20 system which is Merc's OEM audio fitment when not having COMMAND.

Troiuble is it varies in its features with there being at least 3 versions.

Check the glovebox. If you have an AUX in in there then you can use a relatively cheap Bluetooth module like this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-C...item51c0be8443

If not you will need something like a Parrot Mki9000 and Parrot Unika or you can use a Viseeo MBU-3000 unit in the handset cradle your showed earlier on the thread although I am unsure how many Bluetooth functions this gives you.

mrtheedge2u2

Thanks very much, F1.

I will drop that website an email with the chassis number and fingers crossed the costs involved in getting her car connected wont be eye watering.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I don't think it will cost you the earth as 2006 is past the early D2B audio stuff which was expensive to do anything to plus SLKs are always a bit easier to sort out aftermarket stuff with due to their popularity. Command Online will definitely be able to help, but do have a look in the glovebox and see if you have an AUX socket or lead as that will clarify things.

Oh and put up a couple of pics of the car when you get it

mrtheedge2u2

Ok....so the SLK is now bought.....it is not gonna break any land speed records but it is a nice car to be in and only real potential upgrade will be to change the button gear-shifters for paddle types

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Looks lovely Don't worry about land speed records, it's a nice car to cruise around in an that is what its raison d'etre is frankly!

Make sure the paddles are a straight swap as that is just about the vintage where they changed over. If it's too early you will need a converter module from.... yep Command Online About £100.

mrtheedge2u2

F1, I have nine speakers in the car but the two between seats have no sound. What is best way to test them as the stereo only has balance control and not fade?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

A question asked many times as it happens.

Those speakers are not meant to be 'heard' as such when listening to stereo recordings.

When listening to music in a good home system, you want the sound to come from the front, in order to get a good sense of the stage and instrument separation.

In a car, because of the amount of fabric and obstacles in the way of the sound, if you only have front placed speakers you will not have this good positioning of stage and ambience. The rear speakers in the SLK system are only there to help recreate the ambience and music stage, not to deliver the music itself.

As such you will think they are producing no sound, but they are, it's just very subtle.

mrtheedge2u2

I bow to your far superior knowledge on this.

Thanks for the help!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

You're welcome

pflowers

Nice car, have owned virtually every make on sale over the years but never a merc, hope to tick that box one day.