New R171 AMG owner from Manchester, UK

1434 Views 30 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Pep, Dec 24, 2015

Pep

Discussion Starter · Dec 18, 2015

Hello everyone, new owner here with a 2005 SLK55 AMG.

Pics to follow when it stops raining and I get a chance to clean her!

I'm happy to be joining this community as I had a lot of fun being with the Zroadster guys in the north of England. Hoping to have as much fun here!

Moved to the SLK after owning a Z3 3.0 for a few years and wanting a bit more power. My Dad has an E320 and it's so well built I didn't have to do much thinking between the Z4m and the SLK55 when I came to upgrade.

It's silver with some dark grey bits - wheels, intakes/fins, spoiler, roof.
Black leather seats.

46k miles and serviced pretty much yearly since new.

I've had her a week now and I'm not entirely convinced I've made the right choice.

I love the engine and gear box, the flappy paddles are surprisingly engaging and the sound makes me grin like an idiot!

I do have two major concerns so far though and after a quick search of the forum here I don't think I'm alone but I've not found a satisfactory solution to either of them yet:

1. The air con is ****. I steam up whenever it's raining and although it makes a lot of noise on the higher settings it doesn't seem to pump much air out at all. This is at best a nuisance and at worst can be pretty dangerous. I know the air con light should be "off" for it to work so it's not that.

2. The seats have given me rather troubling back pain. I've never suffered from back pain before other than a rugby injury 15 years ago but I've been in agony after driving 200 miles.

I've got the electric adjustable "AMG" seats but the ones before the lumbar option.

I'm a small chap at 5'5" with particularly short legs. It doesn't feel like the seat length is a problem but the way the seat wraps around at the top means that the only point of contact between my back and the seat is on my shoulder blades. It's too narrow to sink into and other than pushing the seat right forward, granny-style, I end up almost hovering.

A rolled up coat provides some slight relief but not sufficient to make me want to get back in and drive!

Does anyone have any thoughts on what to do about the foggy windows and hover-seats?

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jbanks15

· #2 · Dec 18, 2015

Welcome to SLKWorld.com: The #1 Mercedes-Benz SLK Forum from Valrico, Florida!

owner's and maintenance manuals great R171 info:

later year owner's/maintenance/comand manuals, top right in the link below:
Bill's Den: Documents

Lube those seals:
http://www.slkworld.com/226839-post1.html

your brochure:
http://www.slkworld.com/general-discussion/167265-mercedes-brochure-archive.html#post1511249

mods you should do:
smarttop

http://www.slkworld.com/general-discussion/121481-what-smarttop-all-members-keep-talking-about.html

clear or tinted side markers
shorty antenna
led license plate bulbs
led parking lights
carbon fiber on the C pillars http://www.slkworld.com/general-modifications-r171/50849-ive-taken-cf-plunge.html
carbon fiber center caps
oem windscreen or lighted/etched windscreen
See my mod albums for more ideas

Post your vin in the Vehicle Datacard Request section to get a free datacard (options on your car). If looking for a car, get the options before you buy!

http://www.slkworld.com/vehicle-data-card/67706-free-how-get-free-datacard.html

Some tips to make your visit here more enjoyable:
If you haven’t, please use the 'search' feature at the top right of the page for your questions as they have probably been asked before. Remember, ‘Search’ is your friend.
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Also vote or enter our Ride of the Month competition: ROTM Submissions & Voting - Mercedes Benz SLK Forum

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jbanks15

· #3 · Dec 18, 2015

The 'defrost' button works on the foggy windows?

Pep

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 18, 2015

jbanks15 said:
The 'defrost' button works on the foggy windows?

Thanks for the welcome Jeff.

I have tried that and it partially cleared them but the condensation returned almost instantly when it finished. It's also pretty damn hot so it's not something I want to chain use over a journey

jbanks15

· #5 · Dec 18, 2015

do you have the automatic climate control or the manual?
get your free datacard gift also!

jbanks15

· #6 · Dec 18, 2015

also forgive me for asking. i know you know the light is off when it is on, but you do have your owner's manual to check operation of the defroster/heat, etc?

Pep

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 18, 2015

jbanks15 said:
do you have the automatic climate control or the manual?
get your free datacard gift also!

jbanks15 said:
also forgive me for asking. i know you know the light is off when it is on, but you do have your owner's manual to check operation of the defroster/heat, etc?

Thank you for the datacard. I didn't actually get a manual with the car, the previous owner lost it. I intend to buy one from ebay at some point but I've just seen the list of pdf manuals you linked.

I shall have a good read of them now and see how I fair!

Reactions: 1

jbanks15

· #8 · Dec 18, 2015

here you go

owner's and comand

Owners Manual: A Go-To Source for Information on your Vehicle | Mercedes-Benz

maintenance

Download Your Car Maintenance Manual | Mercedes-Benz

Reactions: 1

hasontour

· #9 · Dec 18, 2015

Hi from London,

Welcome aboard!

dbgrn

· #10 · Dec 18, 2015

Hi and welcome from the UK Midlands!

I'm afraid I can't offer any help for the seating... although I find it comfortable, I know that the seats we have don't have lumbar support.

For the misting up, perhaps a couple of things to check...

are there any leaves blocking up the intake of the blower
is there an issue with the blower itself (I'm sure I've read a few threads on here where people have replaced/repaired them, but can't remember whether that was for R170 or R171)?
has there been any ingress of water / moisture into the cabin at any point (either from blocked drainage pipes, or poorly fitting seals)?
if all the above is okay, have you tried a proper clean of the inside of the windscreen (while the condensation is there)?

Good luck, and I hope you can start to get comfortable somehow... the SLK 55 AMG really is a fabulous car... it puts a smile on my face every time I get in it!

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jbanks15

· #11 · Dec 18, 2015

In Floriduh we don't get a lot of rain but do have high humidity
I ensure that my inside temperature is never higher than the outside temperature when the humidity is high
I then sometimes have to hit the 'defrost' to clear the windshield, then hit the auto to put the air back on
use the air conditioner even for the heat and just put the temperature up.

Reactions: 1

Terminal

· #12 · Dec 18, 2015

@Pep

I don't have a persistently bad back, but I keep a couple of these on board. They fit in the space in the boot below the parcel shelf, so don't really impinge on load capability. On very long journeys they provide perfect lumbar support, because they mould to your individual contour. The rest of the time, sealed in their protective bags, they are great for sitting on stone benches or wet fields etc.

Traditional Travel Pillow | Travel Pillows | Tempur UK Travel Sets, Sleep Masks & Pillows

Re air-con, mine keeps the windows clear/dry etc, but takes a little longer to reach optimum than other cars I've had. As Jeff said, the 'defrost' is very quick - then change to temperature controlled (cooler) screen settings to maintain clarity.

What I don't like about mine is that on very cold days, whatever the heater is set to, a cold draught emanates from under the 'ashtray'. I've been meaning to ask others if they experience this too. Being lazy, I just put a rolled microfibre duster there during a cold snap.

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Pep

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 18, 2015

Thanks for the tips!

I'll have a look to see if anything's blocking the intakes this evening.

I have tried cleaning the inside of the screen with some anti-mist stuff with limited success but I'll have another go when the weather clears up and I do a proper clean.

I was a bit nervous about leaks so I took it to a hand carwash and asked them to blast it with water at every angle whilst I sat in the cab and looked for any water coming in. I couldn't see any then and I've not seen any water marks or signs of ingress so far so fingers crossed that's all okay!

Luckily, the weather in Manchester is **** at this time of year so I'll have plenty of opportunity to play around with the climate control settings over the next few weeks.

I'm going to head to halfords this afternoon and pick up a lumbar support cushion they have and see whether that helps with the seat problems.

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Pep

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 18, 2015

Terminal said:
@Pep

I don't have a persistently bad back, but I keep a couple of these on board. They fit in the space in the boot below the parcel shelf, so don't really impinge on load capability. On very long journeys they provide perfect lumbar support, because they mould to your individual contour. The rest of the time, sealed in their protective bags, they are great for sitting on stone benches or wet fields etc.

Traditional Travel Pillow | Travel Pillows | Tempur UK Travel Sets, Sleep Masks & Pillows

I'll have to look into that. One of my friends is a medical professional and gets quite a few freebies from memory foam product makers so I'll see if she can get her hands on one similar next time I see her!

I haven't noticed the ashtray draught yet but will test later

Dave54

· #15 · Dec 18, 2015

Welcome from Portland, Oregon. Enjoy the forum and the top down driving.

curro101

· #16 · Dec 18, 2015

Welcome from Madrid...

hugy

· #17 · Dec 18, 2015

Hi,
Well done on a great choice of car.
I have manual seats with lumbar support and they are great.
I often suffer from lower back pain and some car seats are a nightmare for me but not the AMG ones
You should look online for some kind of lumbar support cushion which should help.
Hope you have many years of driving pleasure:smile:

Avel Du

· #18 · Dec 18, 2015

Welcome from up the road, Wirral.

DAVIETHESCAFF

· #19 · Dec 18, 2015

Hi, welcome from further up the road .... Barrhead, Scotland. :smile:

Duckbay

· #20 · Dec 18, 2015

Welcome - newbie myself and the guys on here already been very helpful. Great place to be.

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