you are a far braver man than i keeping track of what you have spent…( my wife did suggest keeping track of it and i convinced her that it was a terrible idea with no good outcome) i go with the … forget what i have spent and enjoy what i have, approach … great looking car
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Yeah I know, it was a lockdown project that got out of control 
I love it so much, but equally I barely get to use it and the Mrs wants an SUV.
There’s also a part of me that wants an SLK 
Speaking from the experience of two V6 SLK’s, you really don’t want an SLK…
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Get something interesting.
Or keep the MX and get a cheap SUV
I do like this car, beautiful!
Barrie
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I’d be looking at a 2012 SLK250 CDI…
What went so wrong?
That’ll be the old 2.1 litre Diesel engine then. Google it. Not a great engine, especially in a small car. Tractor springs to mind - and I like Diesel engines and have run them (BMW) for 20 years before defecting to petrol a few years ago.
Imo SLK’s are not very good to drive, unless all you like doing is going along straight roads, - both of ours were plagued with electrical and minor mechanical faults, the gearbox was dreadful and the first one showed signs of corrosion at just over 3 years old. Thankfully all covered under Mercedes warranty. They’re built in the US, which says a lot.
They’re really not a sports car, they’re a wafting car, plus I think the styling is ok. If that’s what you want…
If I was buying another one I’d look at the small petrol engines, supercharged or not. They seem to suit the car better and there’s less weight at the front of the car which (imo) makes them (slightly) better to drive.
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My pal just chopped an SLK 250 diesel in for his f type jag and let me have a spin in the merc before it went. It felt like a VERY heavy car to me after the NC. Nice and solid, but not nimble or responsive. I found the NC so responsive in comparison. Chalk and cheese and for me the NC wins out.
Btw, I checked weights afterwards and I think the SLK is about 50% heavier than the five.
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Interesting feedback!
To be honest I found myself looking at a late generation NC last night, but then thought, why would I sell my NC to get another, even if it is slightly newer?
I think I need to drive an SLK!
Not sure how low now, but hits most bumps, so have to avoid everything just in case.
Shocks are meister r, they are a better firmer ride.
Adding a torsion bar in the engine bay helps keep the front tight in the curves.
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Thanks for all you photos. 30mm lower than mine as was would still be a bit high so may need a bit lower. Not easy to see in black but rear is ridiculous.
See what I mean in photo
Mine was similar, probably not so high but still the gap was there. It’s a sport model and was on Bilsteins. I first had it lowered, even before I got to drive it home after purchase. 30mm was suggested and it sat around how it looks in my pic above then. Now on MeisterR’s keeping the height the same, perfect look and doesn’t give me much trouble over speed humps, afraid carefully does still over those but I do in my daily driver anyway when I come across any type of ramp, potholes etc.
My partner is about to buy a 3rd SLK, well, this time the SLC250CDI, after 2 SLK200’s.
Loves them because of the big boot space (roof up) required for work.
Still, when we went on holiday to Cornwall, we took my 5, as it is more comfortable despite being noisier (we had the roof down most of the time anyway so didn’t care), and because the roof doesn’t intrude on the luggage space.
The SLK feels better built inside than the 5, and yet it rattles and squeaks where my 5 which is 2 years older doesn’t.
That is way out of spec - see my earlier post for the Mazda spec. You need to get the car looked at by someone who knows as you may have a case of twisted bush syndrome or incorrectly fitted springs.
It looks fine, it just needs a Massey Fergussen badge for the front and a plough attachment.
Fit the coil overs now so will post a photo later of the much improved stance i think.
The plough goes on my Landy. 
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