bloflin

Ok, it is here, finally, yea baby!

History:
Positional order/interest at multiple MB dealers in Oct '04
Call from one in Jan with an in process order I could claim, but not my options or color
Call from closest MB dealer in Feb, with a 2nd wk April build slot
Charge card deposit charged 2/21/05 ($500)
Started production 4/6 (a little early, yea!)
Car finished production moved to port 4/14
Due to Jacksonville Port 5/1
Arrived Port 5/2
On VPC hold, bumper scratch in transist, no repaint, must replace, boo!
Bumper replaced, moved from VPC to car carrier (trucking), 5/6
Scheduled to dealer (Austin, TX), 5/12
Arrived morning 5/13 (today!)
Should pick up this afternoon after PDI.

SLK55 AMG - Obsidean Black (metallic black), Black/Red interior, Entertainment, Nav, Lighting, Premium, Airscarf, basically everything avail in US except phone and Sirius.

My first MB.

List price (though dealer kept talking about how the AMG is demanding above MSRP due to supply vs allocation).

Good price on my trade-in: 2002 Lexus SC430

I should be able to post pics this w/e. I'll spend the w/e putting on miles (to clear break-in) and Zaino'ng.

Only changes considering are:
chrome front grill (the big part) to make the black grill area have more definition
clear bra
tinting, maybe
and of course the vaporware roof controller, if it ever arrives on earth

Thanks so far for all the info and excitement from y'all in following this forum.

And yes I did have to buy a second copy of C/D, as the print smeared on the first copy from the drool and tears and....nevermind

Shark

Bloflin, you have my car exactly, except I added Sirius after delivery. Sounds you will definitely be enjoying this weekend! Congrats.

Lady Wolf

Hi there,
I hope the weather is nice as you are going to be the happiest camper around once you take delivery! The only problem with the car will be staying within break in guidelines Congtratulations

jtc55

congrats on your new 1st MB baby!!! break her in nice and then RIP the ***** OUT of HER!!!!!! HAHA!!! enjoy

TEAShea

Thanks very much for the timeline. Interesting. Have fun and enjoy it.

TEAShea

SLK55NEWB

2K miles here and 0 problems. Hopefully we can organize a Texas gathering sooner or later.

Again congrats and best regards for the new ride.


Vincent

northbenz

First, congrats on a nice ride. What exactly is the "vaporware roof controller" you reference? I assume it is some kind of device that would allow one to open and close the roof from a greater distance than the miniscule distance the infrared key beam presently allows?

vantage78

You didn't happen to make a trip down to Houston to see the Astros play, did you? Saw a car very similar to yours last night at the ballgame; I rarely see any SLK55s in town.

bloflin

Nope that wasn't me. I only got 150 miles on it this weekend. Spent most of the time detailing it (Zaino) and then taking daughter and friends out on our boat, plus work work, that I didn't finish Fri, as I was too exciting in going to pick it up.

BTW, I live in a nice neighborhood, but not a gated community type $, and there is another SLK55 (silver) right down the street. I was suprised. But then we had the only BMW Z8 that I've ever seen (couple of years old now).

Austin has one MB dealership. But then there is another one in a town about 20 miles away (and then San Antonio, then Houston). My dealer only got 2 build slots and I got the second one (for 2005 model year).

bloflin

Correct. There is a "company" that has one for sale, starting last Oct/Nov. They took peoples orders and processed the credit card charge. No one has yet to see it. The company is a sponser on the "other" Benz forum.

bloflin

BTW, I truly was going to take and post pics, but it was almost evening when I rolled it out of the garage after Zaino'ng, and in the better light I could see spots I left streaks. So as I was touching up the neighbors came over... and I lost the light. And now today it rained on it!

Next weekend.....?

PS. I am having the HARDEST time trying to stay within the break-in suggestions

bloflin

Another FWIW, I checked my tire pressure after picking up from the dealer., but then sitting all night. They had all 4 tires at 8 to 10 psi high.

That is the front were at 41 and 42 and the rear at 44 and 45!

Lady Wolf

Thats OK you will just wear out the tires quicker and will have an excuse to get rid of the crappy Pirelli's and put on Michilin PS2's. Wolf cross posting as Lady Wolf yet again...do I have a problem?

bloflin

Lady Wolf, er.... Wolf, er... anyway drop an option on your next vehicle (or save your coffee change) and by a second computer :p

Seriously, what don't you like about the P's?

lisamcgu

Oh Wolf ... I was just looking at the pics of your cars and picturing the dark blue one with smoked taillights What IS that red DOING there?

BiTurboBenz

Do you miss your SC430?

bloflin

Miss it?....no. Though I really enjoyed it, 4 years and I was ready to move.

But there are parts of it and design decisions that I miss.

Don't get me wrong, I really love my SLK55, outstanding looks and performance.

But there are little things, like the Nav is not even comparable to the 4 year old on in the Lexus, and is lightyears behind the Gen 3 one in the 2005 Lexus (we have a 2005 GX470). You hit the button for seat/mirror memory and it goes there, no holding it down. The Radio change buttons on the steering wheel go to the next preset (what MB engineer thought we would want to step thru the frequencies from the steering wheel??). The cupholder....
Even the auto transmission "manual shift". In Lexi you actually have a pattern from 1 to 5 that you can move the stick thru, so you could always tell where you were w/o looking at the dash. Haven't got used to the bumping the stick back and forth like a video game joystick yet (and I can't drive with my hands in the 9 and 3 o'clock position, after 34 years of doing it "wrong").

Then I won't even start with the "quality" aspect (yes mine already been on the side of the road with a check engine), then in the shop for 1.5 days and $1300 worth of warranty work. For the Transmission Valve Body control (same as 3 other SLK350 people in the other forum). This was on day 5 of ownership (check hadn't even cleared the bank yet). This was more time than my Lexus spent in the Service bay for the total 4 years, INCLUDING scheduled maintenance!

But my Service dept was very understanding/helpful and concerned, so made it easier to handle.

So again, I was ready for the switch, and in love with driving again. As a design engineer, it pains me to see, what could have been (but the Lexus have their share of sub-optimal design decisions too). But I'm having a great time cruising the Hill Country!

bloflin

Some pics from this weekend.

bloflin

Showing the interior color scheme (black and red).

bloflin

Nope, that's not a mirror, it's the hood of an Ob Black SLK55!

bloflin

The only things I've added, is the MB plexi windscreen (my sales guy gave to me at the old price). Locking lug bolts. Chrome grill wings. AMG tire valve stem caps. And then 5 coats of Zaino (or 10 if you count the Z6 between each Z2Pro).