09 SLK 350 - 06 SLK 280 Comparison

WhiteRabbit · 05-06-2008

I picked up my 2009 SLK 350 last night and have put about 50 miles on her so far. This is a quick comparison over my previous 2006 SLK 280.
The car looks much better in person than it does in pictures, more aggressive looking. As soon as I get a chance I'll post some pics. The Arctic White Gull Wing red is a great combo. Performance of the 350 is much smoother and stronger than the 280 (it ought to be as it has 72 more HP). There is a nice rumble to the exhaust note. The new direct steering is a very nice, too. What really surprised me is that the 350 has a noticeably smoother ride than the 280 did, even after I put the stock 16” wheels back on the 280. I think the interior looks better, a little more up-market. The stock radio 20 is a huge improvement over the one in the 280. Even the air scarf seems a little stronger. Supposedly the 350 will get 2 mph better gas mileage on the highway than the 280, we’ll see how that pans out. Overall I’m extremely happy having made the switch. I’m getting a lot more comments on the 350 than I did on the 280. When I got the car inspected today (I bought the car in Maryland but live in Virginia) the mechanic said it was a shame to have to put a sticker on such a beautiful car! He asked how much it cost and said he and the other guys in the garage though it was a $65K car.

However there are some things that were better in the 280. When raising the top, the windows no longer automatically raise after the top. You have to raise each window manually and separately. The old double-press of the top button no longer raises or lowers all the windows. Hopefully the SmartTop module will correct this (if the module works on 2009 models). The center console between the seats is now just one big opening, it no longer has two sections. Finally my biggest gripe: they dropped the right-hand mirror dropping when reversing!!!

dltslk · 05-06-2008

Congrats on the new ride. Now let's have some pics!

alroumi · 05-06-2008

Congratulations , break it in nicely and enjoy it in the best of health.

DansSlk · 05-06-2008

If you wanted mate you could fix most of those little issues.

jbanks15 · 05-06-2008

dan, would there be any issue with the smarttop NOT working on the 09slk series?

DansSlk · 05-06-2008

Yeah possibly

ir-ops · 05-06-2008

congrats, enjoy and play safe!

best
ir-ops

etyu · 05-06-2008

CONGRATULATIONS, WhiteRabbit

snowbyhui · 05-06-2008

congratulations, pictures!!

I thought you need to press the mirror select button, depends which one you want to drop before putting it in revese?

WhiteRabbit · 05-06-2008

Thanks guys.
Anyone know of anybody who has installed the SmartTop module on an 09?
I'm going to give it a try this weekend on mine.

WhiteRabbit · 05-06-2008

Couple of more things. I don't like the changes they made to the instrument displays, way too much chrome. But they did add the cruise control set speed under the temperature display which I do like. The steering wheel looks better but it's not as 'thick' as the one in my old 280. Plus the car sounds solid when you close the doors. The 280 sounded tinny.

etyu · 05-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Thanks guys.
Anyone know of anybody who has installed the SmartTop module on an 09?
I'm going to give it a try this weekend on mine.

Nope.

What version is your SmartTop? Let us know how it goes.
May have to update your profile (when you have the chance).

jbanks15 · 05-06-2008

let us know what version of the smarttop you r putting in and how it goes. did u take the smarttop out of your previous car? what version u got? i sent an email to mods4cars that makes/handles the smarttop. will post their answer when i get one. dan, what do you think might not work? change in canbus?

mtiede · 05-06-2008

It would be a shame if they dropped the tilt mirror. Did you actually activate the mirror button and try adjusting the mirror down? Or did you mean that it didn't do it automatically?

DansSlk · 05-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbanks15

dan, what do you think might not work? change in canbus?

Well all the innards are the same so the CAN is not really the issue but the sequences have changed so if the smart top expects the roof to be doing one thing (like raising the windows for example) but the roof is actually doing something else then things could get out of sync.

jbanks15 · 05-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Well all the innards are the same so the CAN is not really the issue but the sequences have changed so if the smart top expects the roof to be doing one thing (like raising the windows for example) but the roof is actually doing something else then things could get out of sync.

dan, what do you mean sequences have changed? like on open, the windows stay down instead of up? i hope mods4cars responds. thanks

WhiteRabbit · 05-06-2008

As far as I know I have the latest version of the smartTop, E13 10R-02 4133.
For the reversing mirror thing I tried everything, it's no longer there, the right hand mirror does not drop under any condition, bummer. I love the integrated blue-tooth, my Razr2 hooks right up (does not expose its contact list,though).

DansSlk · 05-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbanks15

dan, what do you mean sequences have changed? like on open, the windows stay down instead of up? i hope mods4cars responds. thanks

Yeah mate thats the sort of thing.

mtiede · 05-06-2008

I hate it when they TAKE AWAY features. I liked that reverse mirror to avoid wheel rash. I also liked the smart key auto seat adjustment (just missed that in my model)

jbanks15 · 05-07-2008

I received a reply back from 'Sven' at mods4cars and he says the smarttop will work with the new 09 slk facelifted series.

I replied back to him that we had concerns that any new sequences in the process might not work with the current version. awaiting a response back from that.

Now we just need a guinea pig to try it. anyone? anyone?