ricky.s

Am thinking about getting a first gen SLK230. What are the things to look out for? Is the retractable top a problem? Is it a lemon?

There are those that say that maintaining one (1997-2000+) model will be expensive. Are there any feeback out there from existing or previous owners? Or someone who has gotten one used as well?

Your 2 cents and more will be tremendously appreciated.

Should I not even bother and simply go for a an older SL (like a 450SL from the 70s)? Am looking for a roadster with some attitude and fun factor. Yet wouldn't be problem prone.

E-Klasse

The older SLs from the 70s are not that fun to drive and as far as costs go, parts are harder to find as well. The SLK is a good fun car that doesn't have to cost a lot. Do a search on this forum to see what everyone is saying about them.

Buellwinkle

Like any german car, they will never be as reliable as an american or asian car. The biggest downfall to german cars seems to be bosch/siemens electronics. As far as expensive, it depends on you, your mechanic or your dealer. If you can fix a lot yourself then it's cheap to own, dealer makes it very expensive to own and a good honest independant is somewhere in between. Seems that people with the SLK320's have fewer problems than us with SLK230's if that helps.

ricky.s

What does it mean when people refer to the facelifted version for the 1998-2003 models?

Buellwinkle

Late in the turn of century, in the year 2000, aka Y2K, MB made significant changes to the SLK, different engine management, different bumpers/side skirts, light in the mirrors. Many have marked it as a turning point in MB history. They refer to is as "the facelift".

E-Klasse

Also with all models, the body styles are updated without going to a whole new model. Half way through the production life of each model, the look of the car is given a "facelift" to make it more attractive until it is replaced with a whole new body style.