SLK/R170: soon to be SLK driver
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reno
'97 red miata (for sale)/ '03 red slk230
soon to be SLK driver
Hi there--I am a soon to be driver of a new '03 SLK230. I am used to a more basic road animal-'97 Miata (which will have to be sold
)---anyway, after reading several of the posts here, I am wondering if the '03 has improved on any of the wind noise, water leak, roof problems?
I am also wondering what other common problems I need to be on the lookout for, since the nearest MB dealer is 180 miles away over an 8,200 ft high pass.
I am lucky in that Reno averages over 300 days of sun, but while today is sunny, it's also in the high teens to low twenties for most of the day. How is this car in snow?
Thanks in advance for your kind advice. Larry
)---anyway, after reading several of the posts here, I am wondering if the '03 has improved on any of the wind noise, water leak, roof problems?I am also wondering what other common problems I need to be on the lookout for, since the nearest MB dealer is 180 miles away over an 8,200 ft high pass.
I am lucky in that Reno averages over 300 days of sun, but while today is sunny, it's also in the high teens to low twenties for most of the day. How is this car in snow?
Thanks in advance for your kind advice. Larry
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 0
From: New York
2011 E550 Sedan
hmm... I don't know of any changes for the 2003 SLK's.... I think MB is coming out with a new body style and engine in 2004 or 2005?.....
OH yeah.. a few of us have noticed leaking from the roof.. nothing to be too worried about....
OH yeah.. a few of us have noticed leaking from the roof.. nothing to be too worried about....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
I've had my 03 SLK230 for 3 months/5000 miles (yeah I drive alot, lol) and the only problem I've had is the coolant light coming on, which I hear is a somewhat commom problem among SLK's in general. And the am/fm didn't work, but it was like that since the day I bought it. I could have left it there to have it fixed, but I waited so long to get it, I didn't care, lol. I recently had both the coolant light and radio repaired though. Overall, I love it! Good luck!! 
Good luck!!
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
if you plan on driving this regularly in the snow, don't get an extended warranty... you won't need that, rather, start looking around for cheap funerals. If you see some of my pictures of my SLK you know what I mean
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reno
'97 red miata (for sale)/ '03 red slk230
So apricotscrub--are you sugesting that the SLK could be worse than my 2,000 lb. Miata in the snow? Since I haven't driven an SLK (in or out of the snow)-I really do not think it could be worse than a car so light that it can't get traction-on snow-without an extra 500 lbs. in the pasenger seat-with chains on-following a sanding truck.
Oh well, maybe I'll find out the hard way-thanks for the response.
Larry
Oh well, maybe I'll find out the hard way-thanks for the response.
Larry
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 569
Likes: 2
From: Chandler, Arizona - USA
'02 SLK32 AMG
SLKs are fine in the snow, but ONLY if you have the proper tires. We discussed this at length on the SLK forum over at benzworld.org.
If you have an SLK230 or SLK320, this is what you need
1. Four snow tires sized 205/55R16
2. Four 7x16 wheels (same size as the stock front rims).
- Do not get "all-season" tires.
- Do not get 225/50R16 winter tires for the rear.
- Do not mount the rear winter tires on the 8x16 rear rims.
If you have an SLK230 or SLK320, this is what you need
1. Four snow tires sized 205/55R16
2. Four 7x16 wheels (same size as the stock front rims).
- Do not get "all-season" tires.
- Do not get 225/50R16 winter tires for the rear.
- Do not mount the rear winter tires on the 8x16 rear rims.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reno
'97 red miata (for sale)/ '03 red slk230
Brian_R170---thanks for the info. Are there basic, ugly stock steel wheels available for an MB (I guess I'm a bit nervous about ending up with such a "high end" car).
We do not get as much snow here in Reno as up on the hills, usually a few inches that go away in a day or so--will the SLK handle that amount of snow? Or will I have to go to the "snow tires" as suggested for that little amount of snow (the Miata has trouble with 2 inches of snow with it's 195-50-15 all season Toyos).
Thanks again-Larry
P.S.--if push comes to shove-I can beg my wife to use her '01 Grand Cherokee (ya-right!)
We do not get as much snow here in Reno as up on the hills, usually a few inches that go away in a day or so--will the SLK handle that amount of snow? Or will I have to go to the "snow tires" as suggested for that little amount of snow (the Miata has trouble with 2 inches of snow with it's 195-50-15 all season Toyos).
Thanks again-Larry
P.S.--if push comes to shove-I can beg my wife to use her '01 Grand Cherokee (ya-right!)
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 569
Likes: 2
From: Chandler, Arizona - USA
'02 SLK32 AMG
Originally posted by kopy kat
Are there basic, ugly stock steel wheels available for an MB (I guess I'm a bit nervous about ending up with such a "high end" car).
Are there basic, ugly stock steel wheels available for an MB (I guess I'm a bit nervous about ending up with such a "high end" car).
We do not get as much snow here in Reno as up on the hills, usually a few inches that go away in a day or so--will the SLK handle that amount of snow? Or will I have to go to the "snow tires" as suggested for that little amount of snow (the Miata has trouble with 2 inches of snow with it's 195-50-15 all season Toyos).
Check out the following link on David's (aka Periokid) website:
http://www.slk32.com/pages/winterdri...erdriving.html
Last edited by Brian_R170; Feb 11, 2003 at 11:36 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Brian_R170 is completely right. If you go out in any amount of snow with the stock tires, you will regret it. I was stuck for an hour in only a couple inches and had to have someone come get me. If I knew it was going to be that bad, I wouldn't have taken it out and I would have taken another car. But when I left in the morning it wasn't snowing, then work closed early due to a storm and I had no choice but to drive in it. There's under an inch of snow on my driveway now and I can BARELY make it up with out spinning. Yesterday I got stuck in a parking spot. And just imagine, I was going to get a Corvette instead of the SLK!! 
lol
lol
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
2008 M6 Vert
We have a lot of snow here in Rochester. I dont have winter tires so I dont use the car when there is more than a couple of inches of snow on the ground.
The trick to driving in the snow if you have to is to be careful about getting snow compacted around the tires. Once this happens, your wheels will be coated and it will be useless. TO make sure this doenst happen, restrain from hard acceleration or quick stops.
Dont get me wrong, the car can slip and spin you all over the road so winter tires are the way to go if you are planning to drive a lot in winter. It makes a huge difference.
The trick to driving in the snow if you have to is to be careful about getting snow compacted around the tires. Once this happens, your wheels will be coated and it will be useless. TO make sure this doenst happen, restrain from hard acceleration or quick stops.
Dont get me wrong, the car can slip and spin you all over the road so winter tires are the way to go if you are planning to drive a lot in winter. It makes a huge difference.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Woodstock, NY
'03 slk32 AMG
I also agree with Brian. I have those nasty black steel rims with snows front and back. I live on a mountain with 1/2 mile private unimproved road before my driveway(snow and ice covered 3 months of the year). I tried it with the summer tires and was an instant believer in snow tires for this car. Mine are staggered sizes as suggested in the owner's manual and the traction/handling difference was dramatic. It's not as good as my del Sol, but it's not as bad as some would have you believe. My only regret is that I now have steel rims and wheelcovers on a car that has such great AMG rims in the summertime.
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
'99 SLK 230
Originally posted by luke
My only regret is that I now have steel rims and wheelcovers on a car that has such great AMG rims in the summertime.
My only regret is that I now have steel rims and wheelcovers on a car that has such great AMG rims in the summertime.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reno
'97 red miata (for sale)/ '03 red slk230
OK--now I'm getting worried about the drivability of the SLK. I can pretty much get around in a few inches of snow-very carefully-with my Miata rear wheel drive -5 speed -2000 lb car--I do carry s-class chains in the boot-but have yet had to resort to putting them on. I really thought that the heavier SLK with the auto trans in W mode would be quite a bit easier to drive in a little snow.
Am I missing something here?
Thanks for all the replys--I tried another MB forum site, but with no response. Nothing. Nada.
:p Larry
Am I missing something here?
Thanks for all the replys--I tried another MB forum site, but with no response. Nothing. Nada.
:p Larry
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
'99 SLK 230
It’s the tires.
I too have a Miata in addition to the SLK. I have driven the Miata through 4 Minnesota winters and the SLK for the past few months. The SLK, with its higher clearance (my Miata is lowered a bit), ABS, and traction control is a better driver in the snow than the Miata. This comparison is with snow tires on both vehicles.
The tires matter - a lot. The Miata had some all-season Bridgestone tires when I first got it. These were OK in snow. When I moved up to high-performance tires for summer, things changed dramatically in the snow. My current set of Miata summer tires are Toyo T1-S high-performance, unidirectional tires. They are excellent street tires on dry pavement and very good in the wet. They are absolutely horrid in snow and can make the rear end of the car have a mind of its own. I will not drive the car in any snow with those tires.
If you compare the SLK with its performance tires to other cars with all-season tires, the SLK will lose. If you compare with like, appropriate for the season tires, the SLK holds its own in snow.
I too have a Miata in addition to the SLK. I have driven the Miata through 4 Minnesota winters and the SLK for the past few months. The SLK, with its higher clearance (my Miata is lowered a bit), ABS, and traction control is a better driver in the snow than the Miata. This comparison is with snow tires on both vehicles.
The tires matter - a lot. The Miata had some all-season Bridgestone tires when I first got it. These were OK in snow. When I moved up to high-performance tires for summer, things changed dramatically in the snow. My current set of Miata summer tires are Toyo T1-S high-performance, unidirectional tires. They are excellent street tires on dry pavement and very good in the wet. They are absolutely horrid in snow and can make the rear end of the car have a mind of its own. I will not drive the car in any snow with those tires.
If you compare the SLK with its performance tires to other cars with all-season tires, the SLK will lose. If you compare with like, appropriate for the season tires, the SLK holds its own in snow.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Woodstock, NY
'03 slk32 AMG
It is indeed the tires that make a difference. Brian suggested the narrower tires on both front and rear instead of staggered sizes front to back as per the owner's manual. The reason this works better is that you actually want a skinny agressive tread contact point in the winter. Wide summer tires in the winter work on the same principle as snow shoes. They distribute the weight that you really need to cut into the snow, not ride on top of it. The only reason I stuck with the OEM suggested sizes is that I was afraid of confusing the onboard traction system.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 591
Likes: 3
From: Mid-Atlantic USA
W203 & W204 3.0L 4matics & MR2 Supercharger
Remember the stock SLK(non-sport) wears 205/55R-16s on the front, and 225/50R-16s on the rear if you want to keep the same size all around for snow tires on an SLK you could go with the 205/55s on all four corners and it wouldn't mess with the on board computers.
NP
NP
