2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Mario Fortuna on August 21, 2022

The C230 Kompressor (2.4 liter) engine is SUPER dependable…IF the car has been maintained. If you don’t have a service record and are not good at detecting problems on a test drive then do yourself a favor and spend the +/- $300 to get it inspected at a competent Benz garage. Mine has 200,000 miles and have never had ANY big expense…most I ever had to put into it is about $400…which is what it cost to replace factory front brakes, or to service the auto trans with fluid and filter. change. Only mechanical problem I have ever had are worn cam sensors, which is common and costs about…$400 to repair. My experience after driving the car for ten years is that parts are affordable on eBay…used lower mileage engine: <$1000. Main thing is to replace supercharger oil if it starts to whine louder. YouTube has a video on how to do that w/o removing the supercharger. Lastly, while I maintain the car, I also drive the holy xxxx out of it! It’s only going to start leaking oil if you don’t get it changed often enough, or if you drive it like an old lady who is not from Pasadena…

Ferdy on July 26, 2020

Bought this car 4 weeks ago, and have spent over $1400 on parts...almost all of them used parts on eBay, to repair some relatively small problems. NOT a good car for people over 6 feet tall. VERY limited legroom. Even with the seat all the way back, I am 6 ft. 1 inch, and unless I sit straight up in the seat, my knees rub the bottom of the lower dash panel. The other thing is, even if you know how to work on cars, be prepared for VERY expensive parts, even used ones. Forget about buying parts from the dealer...example...rear view mirror is over $500. A complete brake job is $1200 - $1500 dollars...$200 if you do it yourself. You will also need a few special tools to do a LOT of work...even changing the spark plugs. If a major repair is needed (example...the power convertible hard top mechanism...which has 12 micro switches, 6 hydraulic cylinders, plus the main hydraulic pump/motor) is a $2000-$3000 repair unless you do it yourself, which is NOT an easy job...and its not IF it will eventually fail, it WILL eventually fail. Need a new engine or transmission? Try $6000-$8000 EACH. May as well throw the car the car away...mine has a book value of $3000-$4000. Love the car though, but it loves my credit card. Great styling, typical German handling and performance, the best. Good luck if you buy one. Get an extended warranty. They are kind of expensive, but worth it for a major repair job that you cant do yourself.

Sgt DD on May 13, 2019

My daily driver is a Mustang convertible, but when I saw the MB for sale at a local used car dealer last fall, I couldn’t resist.I drove it on nice days, and it was fast and fun. I stuck it in my garage for the winter, but stuff happens. My daughters Camaro came off lease in January, and she couldn’t decide on a replacement. She begged to “borrow the MB, just for a week”, while she pondered which new car to get. The week stretched to over three months as she was having too much fun with the car. Finally, she returned it, as she bought a car. Did she get a new Camaro, no. A new Mustang, like her first car, no. She bought a 2015 SLK. I guess she liked the Benz.

Navalvet on February 21, 2019

This ca drove like a true sports car. Hugged the road around curves, great execration, easy to maneuver in small places and most of all, it is fun to drive with the top down.

CLASSYNSLK 230 on May 29, 2018

This was the best SLK 230 I have seen. I test drove to the vehicle and fell in love with it. I am trying to figure out how I can afford to buy it since I will be getting married soon.

Toolman59 on November 29, 2017

I'm a smaller man so it fit me like a glove and the performance is great for a small sports car. I love this car!

Slava on July 15, 2017

Amazing vehicle with all you need to have fun and experience sport car! Fun to drive with roof opened in "sport" regime! Nice BOSE sound, very comfortable sport seats!

DavidSLK on August 11, 2015

Love roadsters? The Mercedes SLK is the best in all seasons. I've owned grown with my first '98 230 to '15 250. Get the looks. Best story was pulling up to the Detroit Zoo next to a caravan of kids. They watched, with dropped jaw, as I raised the top.

Kramer S on May 31, 2013

Previously owned a 230 1998 which we loved but this is a very quick and fast car that is fun to drive. My only wish is that it were an automatic. My only complaint is that the clutch pedal seems too small and I'm hoping that after a few months, it will seem just right. This will be my primary drive for long and short trips and the mileage seems to be about 26mgp (with less than a conservative foo)t. The cockpit is well proportioned and all gages easy to read. Dual climate control keeps my wife happy and me cool all at the same time. In and out is a bit tricky for my septuagenerian and extra large frame but my granddaughter decided it was big enough for me. Even with with top down, we have luggage space for a week but longer will take a laundromat. This is a real coup for ice, rain and snow but a great top down ride as well.

dmt007 on July 16, 2012

I purchased this car site unseen from a Florida dealer. Fortunately, there were no big suprises, other than only getting one key. A spare key will cost close to $200 (Ouch). Love the car. Get comments all the time. Great styling, good performance. I have a little buyer's remorse for not getting the V8. It goes away... I am having a bit of an issue with the top. There are a complicated series of motions that top and enclosure go through. The rear window does not want to close with a single press of the top button. Otherwise, absolutely love the car. Drives like a go-cart.