Any truth to the rumor?
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From: Ohio, USA
2013 SLK55 AMG palladium silver w/Bengal red leather
Any truth to the rumor?
Blofin recently started a thread--and a rumor--here about stopped production on the 2005 SLK55. According to others in that thread, the reason might be that the 5.5 liter engine is to be replaced by a 6.3. Blofin, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? Were you able to get to the bottom of the rumor? Does anyone else out there have SOLID info on this. My intention was to make a deposit in 2 weeks on a 2006 SLK55, for Jan 06 delivery, when the lease ends on my Corvette (yeah, I'm moving up). But IF production has stopped or will soon stop on the 2005, and IF the reason is the engine upgrade, then obviously I'd be dealing with a significant price increase, surely more than I want to pay. Can anyone help me out? Dealers are usually clueless or disingenuous, so I'm counting on the forum and the expertise of its members.
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Junior Member
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From: Ohio, USA
2013 SLK55 AMG palladium silver w/Bengal red leather
Paging Blofin
Interesting, Schiznick, that you "can not imagine that this is true," but I'm really interested in getting past the rumor to SOLID INFO... if any forum members have any. Blofin, you wrote in another thread ("This sucks," I think) that you're investigating this. What have you found? Does ANYONE know ANYTHING?
Almost a Member!
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From: Reno, Nevada
2005 SLK55 AMG
Just received report that mine is "in fact" on the build line
so maybe someone is just blowing salesman smoke. My
guess is that individuals that won't get their cars may
have ordered from a dealer that did not have "build slot"
assigned to them and just put in an order that would be
coded as "A" status and not "B" (build) status.
so maybe someone is just blowing salesman smoke. My
guess is that individuals that won't get their cars may
have ordered from a dealer that did not have "build slot"
assigned to them and just put in an order that would be
coded as "A" status and not "B" (build) status.
Last edited by AMG SLK55; Mar 4, 2005 at 01:18 PM.
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SL65, E55T, Pending S65
You will not get any solid data from anyone until MB sends out a release. Magazines my tell you one thing be they are almost never right.
I can not think of a single instance where MB has made a mid year engine change to a first year model. Unless there was a saftey reason to make the change I just don't buy it. Why would they do this and tick off all of the people who have been waiting for this car.
We have still not seen the first AMG model to be release with the 6.3 engine. Judging by past performance, the SLK would not get the 6.3 until after all of the other cars. Just look at the way the 5.5 Kompressor motor was rolled out model by model.
I have no doubt that the 6.3 will follow but I doubt the SLK will be any where near the top of the list to get it.
I can not think of a single instance where MB has made a mid year engine change to a first year model. Unless there was a saftey reason to make the change I just don't buy it. Why would they do this and tick off all of the people who have been waiting for this car.
We have still not seen the first AMG model to be release with the 6.3 engine. Judging by past performance, the SLK would not get the 6.3 until after all of the other cars. Just look at the way the 5.5 Kompressor motor was rolled out model by model.
I have no doubt that the 6.3 will follow but I doubt the SLK will be any where near the top of the list to get it.
Last edited by Schiznick; Mar 4, 2005 at 02:56 PM.
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From: Rancho Mirage
2011 E63, 2018 AMG GT Convertible
6.3 Amg
Where's MBSPY when you need them? There is no doubt in my mind that there will be a replacement for the 5.5, but what and when is anybody's guess. And it is just a guess. There are too many "spies" out there that would report on the validity of a new engine being tested for this rumor to be true at this time.
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From: Texas
2005 SLK55 AMG
No, I have not gotten any more information.
There was speculation about the engine, but that was speculated before. I do not believe you will see a new engine available for sale until late 2006 at best. The car spy mags are much better at finding real info on that kind of thing, and I haven't seen anything.
There was another speculation, that MB was un-allocating US due to weak dollar. That one would make more sense.
However, another appender said he wrote to MB USA and got a response of basically "no stopping of production". I private emailed him for a copy of the email he received, but he did NOT respond to me.
Personally, I just think my salesman is confused or has bad info. In reality in almost any business the salesman are the LAST to know what is happening in development.
What I was hoping was someone that REALLY was connected or lived in Germany, could comment.
There was speculation about the engine, but that was speculated before. I do not believe you will see a new engine available for sale until late 2006 at best. The car spy mags are much better at finding real info on that kind of thing, and I haven't seen anything.
There was another speculation, that MB was un-allocating US due to weak dollar. That one would make more sense.
However, another appender said he wrote to MB USA and got a response of basically "no stopping of production". I private emailed him for a copy of the email he received, but he did NOT respond to me.
Personally, I just think my salesman is confused or has bad info. In reality in almost any business the salesman are the LAST to know what is happening in development.
What I was hoping was someone that REALLY was connected or lived in Germany, could comment.
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From: Texas
2005 SLK55 AMG
However, if you read some of the other posts here (under unrelated titles). There are 2 people, in the last week, in the US that got a call from their salesman that said their March build dates where pushed to 2006. One went out and bought a Porsche the next day! The other has a Vette and doesn't mind waiting.
Anyone, outside the US, getting a push out build date from their dealer?
Anyone, outside the US, getting a push out build date from their dealer?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Dallas
10 E63
Sales pitch
I am willing to bet those salesman that gave a march build date were trying to clinch a sell.
Words of advice to others: There are SLk55 cars available out there if you are willing to have them transported.
Cheers and good luck
Words of advice to others: There are SLk55 cars available out there if you are willing to have them transported.
Cheers and good luck
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Just confirmed with my dealer (he actually showed me the email from HQ) but the email didn't say why, but at least we have confirmation that they are not allowing any further build orders for the SLK55. He thinks it is due to the high volume of inquires vs the planned production builds for this year. Right now for the US, everything that is in production, on the water, VPC, or at the dealer, are all priority status 1 which means pre-sold. None Avail.
The email specifically says to "not take any more build orders for the SLK55 until further notice. It is better to tell the customer that it is not available now, rather than get their hopes up in thinking they will be getting one."
The email specifically says to "not take any more build orders for the SLK55 until further notice. It is better to tell the customer that it is not available now, rather than get their hopes up in thinking they will be getting one."
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G55, SLS, smart eq
This is the rumour I read
The 63 engine will be a high revving, naturaly aspirated, (aprox) 500Hp V8 which will eventually replace the 55 Kompressor engine. The reason for this engine is supposed to be that the 55 Kompressor will not be able to comply future emission standards in all regions. The 63 n.a. would.
The 63 apparently would be more like BMWs 5liter V10 from the current M5 and M6 (high revving).
Or such I read.
I doupt it will be introduced soon. And I doubt that such an engine would be put into the SLK.
The 63 apparently would be more like BMWs 5liter V10 from the current M5 and M6 (high revving).
Or such I read.
I doupt it will be introduced soon. And I doubt that such an engine would be put into the SLK.
Last edited by sprins; Mar 7, 2005 at 04:36 PM. Reason: typo
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From: Irvine, Ca.
1975 Ford Pinto
So this makes me wonder. 
How many SLK55's are in the US? Fewer than 1000? Does anyone have the figures?
Makes our cars more valuable!!! :v
Or there is something seriously wrong with our cars that has not been made public?
How many SLK55's are in the US? Fewer than 1000? Does anyone have the figures?
Makes our cars more valuable!!! :v
Or there is something seriously wrong with our cars that has not been made public?
Last edited by cjmegha; Mar 7, 2005 at 10:40 PM.
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G55, SLS, smart eq
Originally Posted by cjmegha
Or there is something seriously wrong with our cars that has not been made public?
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From: Reno, Nevada
2005 SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by SLK55NEWB
He also gave me good news and says my car just came off the production line. I am praying it gets here near end of month.
Cheers
Cheers
Mine was confirmed on the line in at B4 status today.
Have you found out what status yours is when coming off
for shipping? Seems funny to me that our cars are on the build line "confirmed " as to our purchase and final.
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From: Dallas
10 E63
All he told me was..
Originally Posted by AMG SLK55
Hey SLK55NewB....
Mine was confirmed on the line in at B4 status today.
Have you found out what status yours is when coming off
for shipping? Seems funny to me that our cars are on the build line "confirmed " as to our purchase and final.
Mine was confirmed on the line in at B4 status today.
Have you found out what status yours is when coming off
for shipping? Seems funny to me that our cars are on the build line "confirmed " as to our purchase and final.
Mine shows to be off the production line and that he would call me to let me know which boat it will be on by this weekend if not the next. I had to purchase out of state (live in TX) in NJ due to my impatience. I placed a deposit in December with an unknown build date at the local dealership and I gave up when they could not give me a build date last month. I had a car broker locate one for me in NJ with the same specs for slightly below sticker. I feel fortunate to have placed my deposit one month ago and to recieve my car early April.
I hope your car arrives quickly also. Cheers and good luck.
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From: TX
2005 SLK55
Originally Posted by SLK55NEWB
I had a car broker locate one for me in NJ with the same specs for slightly below sticker.
Iridium Silver
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Iridium Silver
Black Nappa Leather
Premium
Air scarf
Entertainment with Nav
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Ob black
Black Nappa Leather
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Entertainment with Nav
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Originally Posted by SLK55NEWB
... I had a car broker locate one for me in NJ with the same specs for slightly below sticker.
What's a car broker and how on earth did he get a car for less than MSRP. So far that is unheard of from what I recall in reading everyone's posts.
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From: Dallas
10 E63
Sorry thats my term for it....
maybe I am using the wrong term but this gentleman found the exact car I wanted. He does the work of finding the car and he puts me in touch with the dealership. I am sure he gets all or most of the commission a salesman would probably get. I was skeptical at first but sure enough, the dealership called me, faxed me the netstar purchase order, and allowed me to secure the car with a deposit.
I do have to pay to have the car shipped to me but it will be worth it in a few weeks.
I do have to pay to have the car shipped to me but it will be worth it in a few weeks.
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From: Potomac, Md
2006 E320 CDI, 2007 ML 320 CDI, 2008 C63, 2008 G55
6.3 V-8
Don't think we'll see the 6.3 until 2007. In fact the AMG version of the new ML will be an 5.5 Kompressor which will eventually be replace by the 6.3 in the 07 model year.
