smoothbznf4n4tc

Would it be possible to get a July European Delivery for a 2009 Slk55 which will be facelifted? I know new models are released sometime in spring usually around march. So would it be possible to get the new car in Europe in Mid-July? All help will be greatly appreciated!

Ynot

Yes, they stopped production for previous models sometime in May, so if you pickup in July, it's most likely the next year model.

smoothbznf4n4tc

How long usually does it take for the factory to build a car?

KIRA

3-4 months include shipping

northbenz

Is the AMG SLK55 now even available on European Delivery? I suppose even if it is not officially listed on the MBUSA website as an availalble ED car, your dealer might be able to make an exception though I doubt there would be any ED discount appplicable beyond what the dealer was willing to negotiate without regard to ED savings. Historically U.S. spec AMG cars delivered in Europe were only to the dealer himself or a close relative or someone else with VIP status. Things may have changed so worth checking. As to when you can pick up a new model generally the ED pick up date is not allowed any earlier than the U.S. release date for the subject vehicle - even though as you correctly observe, production of a 2009 model may well start as early as spring. More often though the new model year SLK's will start coming off the line in June which would arguably allow for an ED pick up of the new model year in August at the earliest. Prior to that you are probably looking at a 2008 model year vehicle under European Delivery.

-1-

European delivery is definitely available for the SLK 55. I've read post from others that chose that option. Timing is important to ensure you get a 2009.

Ynot

I ordered mine on May 2nd, picked it up on July 21st, it was build sometime in early July, then shipped from Bremen to Stuttgart for delivery. So I say 3-4 weeks. But you have to add shipping to the time, I dropped it off in the end of July and got it August 31st, my SLK was the last car in, first out, I was fortunate, some of the forum took as long as 4 months to get it.

Northbenz, when you and I picked it up couple of years ago, the SLK55 didn't have the ED option but now they do and with the 7% discount, not sure if that's changed.

smoothbznf4n4tc

Okay so I heard recently that the 2009 model is going to be facelifted. I didn't know this before. Because I was getting 10% off with ED and dealer discount I though it would be a good idea to put an early deposit and therefore I had put down a deposit this september for a July Model. However, now that I know about the facelift I'm going to talk to my dealer about possibly changing my order for an 09 rather than an 08. But I have a few questions about this. Will my deposit be lost? Could it be possible that MB will stop ED for 09? Do you guys think prices will go up drastically with the facelift?

I also hear that the facelift is going to have very minor changes. No engine upgrades as I'd hoped so I might as well just stick with the current order if it means I'll lose ED and my deposit.

Thanks for all the help guys!

-1-

Go for the 2009. Your dealer should be agreeable to the model year change, it's a reasonable request. No reason why MB should drop the ED option for 2009. You can anticipate a small increase with the new model year.

Ynot

Your dealer should to be okay with it, they are still making money from you, MB increase a little bit every year, minor facelift, if you don't get your deposit back, it's going to be easy to mod it to look like the newer model.

smoothbznf4n4tc

How small do you guys think the increase will be? About 2-3k? Or more?

northbenz

Very good question. Historically it has been less than that and there has been some effort to include additional equipment or options as standard to partially justify the increases. Now though we are facing a major difference in the Euro-Dollar value so that could be a factor forcing higher increases. On the other hand Mercedes can't raise prices too much or they will lose market share to their competitors. Also the plant in the U.S. helps to equalize the dollar-euro picture somewhat. To answer your prior question about deposit, I would be shocked if your deposit was not refundable, especially if credited toward another purchase. Thanks YNOT for updating me on the expanded model availability under the current MB Euro Delivery program and nice to know the discount has finally spilled over to at least the AMG SLK model. Now if I could only convince myself (and probably more importantly my significant other) that I NEEDED an AMG SLK, the Euro delivery option at least makes it more tempting.

alroumi

Probably but I would get a 2009 model but if the dealer is agreeing for a discount ontop of the MSRP then that might be a good route to follow.

Ynot

IIRC, it's about a 2% increase, It was around $700 additional for me, all the options cost $10 to $50 more, but like Northbenz said, euro-dollar exchange might effect the price.

Northbenz, get another SLK, lol, you are due for another ED.

Germancar1

From my favorite automotive community:

DCUK (or rather MBUK as I should now call them) has supplied preliminary details of the facelift SLK to their dealers.

The facelift car will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January and go on sale in the Spring.

New exterior and interior colours and dashboard finishes.

New telematics similar in appearance to the new C-Class.

New universal connectivity interface which is effectively a factory fit ipod connection rather than a dealer fit one.

New alloy wheels.

SLK200 power up from 163hp to 184hp. (n/a U.S.)
SLK280 unchanged.
SLK350 power up from 272hp to 305hp. (subract about 4hp for U.S. figures)

M

smoothbznf4n4tc

Wow the slk350 having 300hp. I might just get a 350 instead.

Maybe this is wishful thinking but I seriously think AMG will up the power on the slk55. The easiest and most likely seems like increasing the power to 400hp like the Black series 55. However, I don't know if the Black series is available in the US. Maybe emission standards don't allow it to be sold in the US and therefore this might not be a good option, at least for us Americans.

Another option would be dropping a supercharger into the current 55. The HP would be around 450 but still considerably less than the sl55 with 510. This way there would be only 3 main engines the supercharged 55, the 63, and the 65 for AMG to produce which makes it easier for them. And this would be a great solution until the new model slk comes out. The c32 was changed to the c55 during the w203 facelift so I think there might be a chance that AMG drops a supercharger into the current 55 or at least increases the HP to 400 like the black series. Then again, it's Mercedes and it might not be worth it monetarily for them. I, for one, would be really happy if they did!

I wonder if the direct injection will also be introduced into the new C. That would really suck for new owners of the c350 just to find out that a newer, more efficient (assume its CGI? like CLS350 CGI?) and more powerful engine is released just a year away. I would be pissed if I were a C owner.

Germancar1

Superchargers are out, that won't happen at this point. If anything they'll upgraded to a SLK63 or just up the power on the current 5.5L V8. AMG is done with superchargers.

M