SLK/R171: silver or black
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2004
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I have a black SLK. After two years you can see alot of swirl marks in the paint in the direct sunlight. The dirt, especially after a snowfall, shows up right away. Despite this, I think it looks great when it is clean. For me the only color for a Mercedes, any Mercedes is black.
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 228
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From: Valrico, FL
2009 SLK 55 AMG
i had a black slk 320 2002 and now have an iridium silver 2005 slk 350. silver is the way to go for previously stated reasons. appears to stay cleaner longer. less sightly swirl marks. silver is known as a luxury color. that is my 2 cents.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 435
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From: Virginia USA
SLK55///AMG The MONSTER on the block
I've had both black (one) and silver vehicles (several). I had to have black, but only kept it for one year. I'll never get another black car. I love silver. Primarily for the sleek look and equally for the ease of cleaning. No right or wrong answer here, get what YOU want.
Last edited by -1-; Feb 28, 2007 at 07:43 PM.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Texas, USA
I SAY....
get one of each!
ONE black and ONE silver.
Some days you prefer something high maintenance b/c you get more
out of it when you put more into it.
...then again some days you prefer not.
To cars and women
get one of each!
ONE black and ONE silver.
Some days you prefer something high maintenance b/c you get more
out of it when you put more into it.
...then again some days you prefer not.
To cars and women
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Long beach
Dont get a black SLK. You have to get a silver one. I have a Black Mb and a silver one and hands down the silver one looks way better then the black. Even when the Black is waxed and all. Anyways Silver youll stand out more.
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 141
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From: ivyland,pa
slk 350
Silver. Nothing wrong with black, but IMO (which really doesn't matter, it's your car, your choice, but you asked) the black makes a small car look even smaller, it hides the lines of the car a bit, stays clean for half a day and lastly swirls. I have a friend that will only buy black Mercedes as he thinks it's the most dramatic. Before he sold his E-class for an black SL (which he babied as much or more than I baby my car), I noticed his hood had noticeable swirls. Personally, that would drive me nuts. Especially if I worked that hard to keep it looking perfecto. My silver car may not be as dramatic as a black car when squeaky clean for that two hours after you clean it, but it looks much better the rest of the time. Elegant, traditional MB. Many say boring, but I say classy.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 463
Likes: 145
From: Toronto, Canada
2023 GLE63S - Edition 55
I debated black or silver for months before finally making up my mind. What finally pushed me to silver was my wife observing that black really hides the beautiful lines of the car. I thought about it for a while then realized that she was absolutely right. No regrets with silver !
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9,588
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From: Richmond, BC, Canada
2010 Prius & Miata MX5 PRHT, 2010 Toyota Venza AWD, 05 C55 AMG, Yamaha 1100 Custom, Honda 250 Reflex
Sorry to say, it's a no brainer; Iridium Silver would be my choice. 
Owned 2 SLKs and they were both silver. Silver is a lot easier to take care of compared to black and it shows the beautiful lines of the car better!
Owned 2 SLKs and they were both silver. Silver is a lot easier to take care of compared to black and it shows the beautiful lines of the car better!
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 62
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From: south wales uk
SLK230K & SLK350
There is not a black car made that would not look better in silver, black makes the car look bland, in fact the only thing that looks good in black is a good looking woman.
gary
gary
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,761
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From: North Carolina
98 Black C43 , 12’ ML 350 Blutec
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 761
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From: Lausanne, Switzerland
SLK 55 AMG
Black will hide the lines of the car. If you're not THAT fond of the look of the SLK, then this could be a good alternative.
Black is VERY difficult to keep clean.
I think a 350 would look fine in black, but the AMG with the extra air vents and stuff, would miss out a lot if the car wasn't silver.
Black is VERY difficult to keep clean.
I think a 350 would look fine in black, but the AMG with the extra air vents and stuff, would miss out a lot if the car wasn't silver.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 28
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From: Dallas, TX
'09 Audi A5
I had to make exactly the same choice (the Edition 10 only comes in silver or black), and went for black. I've got a siver CLK cab at the moment, and it is the lazy choice (bearing in mind I do 30k miles p/a, mostly on the M25 my car's don't stay clean for long!), but in the UK at least, silver is fast becoming the new white (nobody buy's white cars here any more).
If you're careful with the cleaning and use a good non-abbrasive polish (Swissol etc) then the swirls can mostly be avoided (but never completely). Without question, a freshly waxed black car looks amazing. Then it rains, and then it looks rubbish again, but it's still worth it
If you're careful with the cleaning and use a good non-abbrasive polish (Swissol etc) then the swirls can mostly be avoided (but never completely). Without question, a freshly waxed black car looks amazing. Then it rains, and then it looks rubbish again, but it's still worth it
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,174
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
Silver ftw, just cuz I'm lazy, I have not washed my car since Oct (yes, I know, I know, it's 12 degrees outside, I'm not going to wash it) and it looks clean, people think I wash it more than I drive it but it's not true. Silver really showoff the lines of the SLK.
Black is great and when cleaned and polished, just breathtaking but that usually last only a couple of hours, swirl marks will drive you crazy, keeping it clean is a full time job, I much prefer that extra time driving then cleaning it. Your choice.
Silver
Black is great and when cleaned and polished, just breathtaking but that usually last only a couple of hours, swirl marks will drive you crazy, keeping it clean is a full time job, I much prefer that extra time driving then cleaning it. Your choice.
Silver
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 306
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From: Skokie, Illinois
I agree with Ynot. Sometimes I get lazy and I don't wash my car (Iridium Silver) for 2 or 3 weeks. It always looks clean. My other car is black and it looks dusty several hours after I wash it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,174
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From: Colorado, USA
MBZ SLK
FYI, that was taken after two weeks w/o washing, the benefit of silver over black.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 73
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From: Surrey, Canada
CLK500 rebadge to 320, C300 4matic, X5 4.8is
Silver is def a good colour if you are lazy. I have own several silver colour cars and to be honest silver is a very boring colour. Black is way more mean and hot. It really depends if you want a mean looking car or a elegant daily driver. If your planning to get a amg body kit then go for silver because it shows the body kit if not then black is ur choice.
Last edited by MercedesCLK5; Mar 9, 2007 at 06:25 PM.
