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Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )
Pension take or leave?
- Thread starter Stammo
- Start date
Hmmm, the Ferrari just about gets away with yellow, not sure about the Merc.....
However, this little Mercs are great value now (loads about so no need to overpay). If I may be so bold, make sure everything works as even a small electrical problem is likely to be expensive to fix and could even outweigh the value of the car. And check very carefully for rust around the bottom of the windscreen; if there is any at all or evidence of repair you must walk away.
Either way, still better than a bike.
Keeping up with the off topic theme, I've got a nice little black 320 sitting in the garage. Great fun to drive & there's a good SLK forum in tinterweb which saved me a packet when I had an electrical gremlin. (slkworld.com)
Bought mine trade, knowing there was some work to do to bring it up to scratch.
A few buying tips, (in addition to Andy's), if the engine warning light is on, walk away. It could be something simple like blocked fuel filter or a problem with the K40 circuit board. there are a multitude of other electrical problems besides.
Make sure the BAS/ESP light is not on (or in my case painted over). If it is, it could be as simple as resetting the throttle position sensor (costs nothing & takes around 2 minutes if you know how to do it) or hugely expensive issue with the ABS system (yes, it's all linked)
If the roof takes longer than around 30 seconds, suspect the hydraulic pump. Expensive to replace.
If it's a 230, check there's no unusual noise form the kompressor. A long screwdriver used as a stethoscope helps here. Kompressors are expensive if they go. The 320 doesn't have one unless you're looking at the AMG version)
I would also suggest getting friendly with your local Mercedes dealer. Not because they might knock a few quid off but because their diagnostic equipment will usually tell you which electrical component is on it's way out or is causing the engine management light to come on. If yu have a tame mechanic all the better. Having said that, aside from the issues I knew about (& one I didn't), mine's been very reliable through autumn & winter so far.
Cost me £22 to get mine tested after so called experts said I was looking at many hundreds of £'s to diagnose & repair the car. MB diagnosed an acceleration sensor had gone. £30 for the sensor & 20 minutes for me to replace.
They are also prone to rust around the wheel arches and the boot lid just above the number plate.
Bought mine trade, knowing there was some work to do to bring it up to scratch.
A few buying tips, (in addition to Andy's), if the engine warning light is on, walk away. It could be something simple like blocked fuel filter or a problem with the K40 circuit board. there are a multitude of other electrical problems besides.
Make sure the BAS/ESP light is not on (or in my case painted over). If it is, it could be as simple as resetting the throttle position sensor (costs nothing & takes around 2 minutes if you know how to do it) or hugely expensive issue with the ABS system (yes, it's all linked)
If the roof takes longer than around 30 seconds, suspect the hydraulic pump. Expensive to replace.
If it's a 230, check there's no unusual noise form the kompressor. A long screwdriver used as a stethoscope helps here. Kompressors are expensive if they go. The 320 doesn't have one unless you're looking at the AMG version)
I would also suggest getting friendly with your local Mercedes dealer. Not because they might knock a few quid off but because their diagnostic equipment will usually tell you which electrical component is on it's way out or is causing the engine management light to come on. If yu have a tame mechanic all the better. Having said that, aside from the issues I knew about (& one I didn't), mine's been very reliable through autumn & winter so far.
Cost me £22 to get mine tested after so called experts said I was looking at many hundreds of £'s to diagnose & repair the car. MB diagnosed an acceleration sensor had gone. £30 for the sensor & 20 minutes for me to replace.
They are also prone to rust around the wheel arches and the boot lid just above the number plate.
What's a buggie, Noobs?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-Mercedes-SLK-200-Roadster-6-speed-Manual-Convertible/122889976416?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
This appears to be the base model 2 litre, no blower. I am hoping that as it appears to have been recently resprayed the body underneath is sound but I have only ever once bought a pig in a poke and that was a Douglas Dragonfly. Piece of shit I couldn't get anyone to buy off me for anything near what I'd paid. Never once went anywhere that it did not break down. 1959 that was!
Now I look carefully. Anyone from Torquay?
This appears to be the base model 2 litre, no blower. I am hoping that as it appears to have been recently resprayed the body underneath is sound but I have only ever once bought a pig in a poke and that was a Douglas Dragonfly. Piece of shit I couldn't get anyone to buy off me for anything near what I'd paid. Never once went anywhere that it did not break down. 1959 that was!
Now I look carefully. Anyone from Torquay?
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My Ferrari was a goldie colour. From new! Was only 18 months old when I bought it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-Mercedes-SLK-200-Roadster-6-speed-Manual-Convertible/122889976416?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
This appears to be the base model 2 litre, no blower. I am hoping that as it appears to have been recently resprayed the body underneath is sound but I have only ever once bought a pig in a poke and that was a Douglas Dragonfly. Piece of shit I couldn't get anyone to buy off me for anything near what I'd paid. Never once went anywhere that it did not break down. 1959 that was!
Maybe not a big issue as this should be a cheap buy, but the colour, manual gearbox and (is it?) cloth interior would make this a tough sale if you want to move it on in the future.
If it has been resprayed I would be very careful about checking the work - it is not an expensive car so a quick blow over to cover rough bits is more likely than a quality job.
Looks pretty clean though.
I always wondered how they managed to make what is otherwise quite a pretty little car so ugly around the headlight area. The newer model looks good in an aggressive way but it never seemed so popular.
Going back to pensions, this will be a good investment, no question.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...ston-martin-db4-model-built-after-55-year-gap
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...ston-martin-db4-model-built-after-55-year-gap
Very nice car
You can always make me an offer......All 25 have already been sold.
I'm not that sort of boy......Don't tempt me, Andrew.
You are no longer any sort of "boy", Andrew. You now live in God's waiting room with all the other oldies. You surrendered your last claim to boyishness when you VOLUNTARILY gave up being a biker.
"God's waiting room' has seven schools, possibly suggesting that you know nothing about the town, which is located in some of the most beautiful countryside and stunning coastline you will see anywhere. As well as being in a National Park.You are no longer any sort of "boy", Andrew. You now live in God's waiting room with all the other oldies. You surrendered your last claim to boyishness when you VOLUNTARILY gave up being a biker.
As for biking....give me a break!!
