Frenchie

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.

AMGgirl

I can't help you on this rumor Frenchie but I will be very pissed if it is true! I have the 05' SLK55 and I would prefer the 6.3 if it became available...

Schiznick

I can not imagine that this is true......

AMGgirl is that you from TeckE?

Frenchie

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?

AMG SLK55

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.

Schiznick

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.

Stricks

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.

bloflin

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.

bloflin

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?

SLK55NEWB

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

stefant

In the UK orders are still being fulfilled without any issue. German car produces shut down product in September but this has always been the case. I think the USA dealers are talking crap

CP1

Talked to my dealer yesterday and she said that MB has suspended production for a time. She said the memo didn't give a reason.

05CL55

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."

sprins

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.

cjmegha

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?

sprins

I think the SLK55 is a very desirable car for many reasons (the SLK part and the AMG part have really great synergy). And 'affordable' where an SL55 or SL65 isn't. And the SLs depreciate so hard your ears hurt. So yes, I think it will be good for the value of the SLKs that demand is bigger than supply.

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

Beltfed

Asked my salesperson about this situation, has heard nothing of it.

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.

SLK55NEWB

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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05 SLK55AMG

Good for you. I had mine shipped to TX from NY last month. 1,500 miles within 30 days. Love it (paid sticker though). The C6 I had for 4.5 months was only 2,500miles when I sold it.

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lisamcgu

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.

SLK55NEWB

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.

lisamcgu

Where did you find this guy? Sounds like you scored

rake55

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.