Mercedes-Benz SLK (2011 – 2016) Review

Mercedes-Benz SLK (2011 – 2016) At A Glance

4/5

+High quality interior. Three roof options. Offered with 250 CDI diesel engine. Also available with 5.5 litre V8.

-Not as good to drive as competition. Optional automatic isn't quick or decisive enough. High list prices. Avoid 18-inch wheels.

Insurance Groups are between 41–45
On average it achieves 71% of the official MPG figure

The Mercedes-Benz SLK has carved out a very clear niche within a niche for itself as the classy grand tourer among the more compact and affordable roadsters from premium manufacturers. Where the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 are more about driving thrills and the Audi TT Roadster is design-led, the SLK provides comfort and quality as its keynote benefits.

Much of this is down to the folding metal roof, which Mercedes pioneered with its first SLK back in the mid-1990s. This model, which is the third generation of SLK, continues this idea but improves on it with the options of a panoramic glass roof and even one with glass that can be dimmed to screen its occupants from the sun.

With the roof up, the SLK is very much a closed coupe and offers much greater refinement than its fabric-roofed rivals. At the touch of a button, the roof folds away, with some considerable theatre, under the rear boot deck to leave a classy convertible to enjoy.

The SLK may be more about cruising and enjoying the journey, but it can still offer keener drivers some fun when the road ahead clears. It’s not as honed as the BMW or Porsche, but the SLK is swift enough for most needs.

Power comes from a pair of 1.8-litre petrol engines with 184PS or 204PS in the SLK200 and SLK250 respectively. There’s also an SLK350 with 3.5-litre V6 petrol motor and a turbodiesel SLK250 CDI. The two smaller petrol engines can be ordered with a six-speed manual gearbox, but most SLK customers opt for the seven-speed auto that is standard with all of the other models.

For those who want more power, speed and noise from their small Merc roadster, the SLK55 AMG packs a 421PS 5.5-litre V8 engine. It’s sufficient to see the AMG model from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph.

Real MPG average for a Mercedes-Benz SLK (2011 – 2016)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

71%

Real MPG

22–57 mpg

MPGs submitted

263

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Can you suggest a sporty replacement for my Mercedes-Benz SLK?

"I currently own a Mercedes-Benz SLK 300. I love its acceleration, looks and quality. However, I feel I now need a larger car with more boot space and rear seats. I don't want a convertible anymore but would love a panoramic sunroof that slides back, and a powerful engine is a must! My budget would be up to £28,000 for a car up to three years of age, what do you recommend?"
If you wanted to keep to the Mercedes-Benz brand have you looked at the CLA or CLA Shooting Brake? It's effectively an A-Class underneath but has a longer, more sleek body. It's available with some powerful engines and a panoramic sunroof came on some versions. There's also the C-Class Coupe which does have four seats but isn't as practical as the CLA. It'll be nicer to drive, though, with a rear-wheel drive chassis and better interior quality.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Has a bad MoT and service destroyed my SLK?

"I own a nine-year-old Mercedes-Benz SLK with 60,000 miles on the clock. I recently took it for an MoT and service. Three weeks later the engine goes bang on the motorway. The con-rod punched a hole out the side and the recovery mechanic found the engine oil filter cap loose. The garage that serviced it was the last to touch it and they say that it isn’t the cause of the catastrophic engine failure. What do you think?"
It's certainly a strange coincidence. But you will need to prove the failure is directly linked to the service. An independent mechanical inspection by another garage (or the breakdown recovery company) may help you with this. But if the garage refuses to cooperate you'll need to seek legal advice and pursue it via the small claims court (which will incur further expense with no guarantee of a positive outcome).
Answered by Dan Powell

Will short journeys in a diesel car cause issues?

"I have a 2014 Mercedes SLK diesel roadster. Will making multiple short journeys of 5-10 miles cause a problem with the exhaust system? If so, would some longer or faster journeys prevent the problem? If so, how long or fast and how frequent would these journeys need to be?"
Yes, short journeys will inevitably cause issues as diesel cars aren't intended for this kind of use. Diesel engines produce a lot of soot - also called particulate matter (PM) - when they burn fuel. The job of the DPF is to filter and store this soot - which can cause harmful health issues - in order to reduce emissions from diesel cars. But because they have a limited capacity, this soot has to be regularly burned off to regenerate the DPF. If the soot blocks the filter, this can stop the engine from running and leave you with a hefty repair bill for either cleaning or replacing the DPF. Going for a 40-minute motorway drive should your DPF filter in good condition as it'll get hot enough to burn off this soot and prevent it getting blocked up, but I would also suggest reading this guide for a better overall understanding of how to keep your car and your DPF running well: https://heycar.co.uk/guides/what-is-a-diesel-particulate-filter--dpf--
Answered by Georgia Petrie

Could blocked drain vents be causing door lock problems on my SLK?

"My Mercedes SLK has a faulty driver's door lock. The door won't open straight away and takes many pulses of the key fob button. I had used WD40 on the locking solenoid, this worked better for a time, but is now just as difficult as before. I read recently of a similar problem on an SLK and they advised it could be blocked drains from the scuttle in front of the windscreen. If so, what's the remedy?"
Blocked vent well drains are a different problem entirely and would only affect the locking if the receiver for the remote was situated on the bulkhead where it gets flooded with rainwater that cannot escape. These blockages are common at this time of year because of the large numbers of dead leaves getting into the scuttle.
Answered by Honest John
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