New Z4 sDrive23i or 4-year-old SLK 55 AMG?

K

ksher

Veteran
 Bedfordshire
I did a search on approved used SLK and found that you can buy a 4-year-old SLK 55 AMG for under £29k. You can only buy a new Z4 sDrive23i with few options for that money. :(

Wondermike can probably give me some ideas about SLK. :) e.g. service/running costs, quality of service from main dealers (only bad things I have heard so far), reliability (many electronic problems?), etc.

Did anyone drive both SLK 55 AMG and Z4M Roadster/Coupe? Any thoughts?
 
One of the good things about the AMG is that you can make it sound like this for under £800 :sweetheart:

[youtube]vhdCP_CjAgs[/youtube]

I'll fill in some more info later need to go out for a bit.
 
I like the noise. What does £800 give you, just the noise or more bhp? SLR makes similar noise.
 
ksher said:
e.g. service/running costs...
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Servicing is pretty reasonable AFAIK, consumables like brake pads and discs are quite dear though, people go aftermarket for discs. The engine is a 3 valve unstressed lump so nothing special there other than capacity. Tyres are same size as Z4 18" wheels.

ksher said:
quality of service from main dealers (only bad things I have heard so far)
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Excellent, I've had a couple of warranty jobs and a service. Suppose that is down to the individual dealer more than anything else though.

ksher said:
reliability (many electronic problems?), etc.
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No problems with mine, new discs and pads under warranty plus a roof squeak, no electrical gremlins at all, not so much as a failed bulb.

ksher said:
I like the noise. What does £800 give you, just the noise or more bhp? SLR makes similar noise.
Click to expand...
X-pipe from Supersprint, the rear boxes are standard on that vid. Same with this one.

[youtube]dHBoY24YoB0[/youtube]
[youtube]I5WH5GvUiHs[/youtube]
 
Thanks, Mike. Insurance will be £850 with £200 excess from elephant. SLK 55 AMG looks more aggressive than Z4M and new Z4. I think the car should hold its value quite well.
 
Bit of a lumpy used car though when you try and offload it. Late twenties for a four year old car is quite a lot. I thought a lot about getting one at the turn of the year but in the end apart from *that* noise it didn't give me enough over my SLK350 to warrant changing.

What about a 350 with AMG kit instead, £20k for this? http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1213443.htm

1213443-1.jpg

1213443-6.jpg
 
I also saw an approved used SLK 200K with Sport Pack for £20k, but it is slower than my Z4 2,5. I could not find any approved SLK 350 with AMG kit and wheels. Do all SLK 350 come with drilled discs all round?
 
Yep all 350s have drilled discs, just on the front though. The Sport pack 200s and 280 also have them added. You'd notice a step up in performance with a 280 and a lot more with the 350 or 55.

There were quite a few 280s kicking around as demos last year or so with Sport pack, AMG kit, nav, etc.
 
My Dad has got a 55. And I drove a 200k just before he got it. I'm sure a 350 is much better than the 200k but I just think the SLK isn't as interesting as a Z4. The interior a bit plasitcy imo, and the steering is numb (more so than a Z4). It just didn't do anything for me. Except for the 55 that is, it looks amazing, sounds amazing, and goes like crazy. Not been in a Z4M so can't compare to that. I'd get a 55 if I was looking to spend 30k on a car.
 
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