Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLK 200, 136 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | €471 | €3,750 | 134 | Petrol | Manual (5) | 1996–2000 | |
| SLK 230 Kompressor, 193 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive | €484 | €4,990 | 111 | Petrol | Automatic (5) | 1998–2000 | |
| SLK 230 Kompressor, 193 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | €479 | €7,750 | 75 | Petrol | Manual (5) | 1996–2000 | |
| SLK 200, 136 PS, 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive | €477 | €4,500 | 62 | Petrol | Automatic (5) | 1998–2000 |
At a glance
- Years: 1996 to 2004, with a facelift from February 2000. Two-seat roadster with a folding steel roof, built at Bremen. Four-cylinder M111 and V6 M112 petrol engines.
- Reliability: 3/5. The four-cylinder engines are called reliable, but the roof and rust need checks, and the cars are 20 to 30 years old.
- DIY: 2/5. Rust patches and underseal are home jobs. Roof faults need a scanner and a Mercedes workshop.
- Prefer: a full Mercedes service history, sound wheel arches and boot lock, and a roof that opens and closes in under 28 seconds.
- Avoid: bubbling paint on the arches, wing edges or boot lock, and a roof that is slow or stops halfway.
Engines and gearboxes
- M111 non-Kompressor (SLK 200, M111946, 1996-2000): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M111 Kompressor (M111943, M111973, M111958, M111983): the facelift engines M111958 and M111983 have the oil-in-loom fault, see Oil in the facelift wiring loom. Otherwise no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M112 SLK 320 (M112947, 2000-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- M112 SLK 32 AMG (M112960, 2001-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed manual (to 2000): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 6-speed manual (facelift): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed automatic (722.6, 5G-Tronic): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body rust | All cars, worst on cars used through winter | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Vario roof slows or stops | All cars | Not stated | Not stated |
| Oil in the facelift wiring loom | M111958, M111983 (facelift, 2000-2004) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Water in the boot | All cars, rear unit in the boot | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- On a lift, press the front wing edges, wheel arches, boot lock area and bonnet slam panel. Bad result: bubbling paint, soft metal or fresh filler. Ask whether the front wings were replaced or only treated.
- Open and close the roof twice from the switch and time it. A full cycle takes about 25 seconds and should finish within 28 seconds. Bad result: a slow cycle, a stop halfway, or a flashing switch. Look at the front cylinder for leaks and the headliner for dirt.
- Look at the camshaft adjuster and the wiring loom at the top of the engine for oil. Ask whether an oil-stop cable was fitted. Bad result: oil on the loom or the control unit, or no proof of the cable.
- Lift the boot trim behind the rear roof area. Pour water down the drains and watch where it comes out. Bad result: water in the boot well or a damp central-locking unit.
Running costs
| Operational | €282 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €114 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €82 |
| Total per month | €478 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €67 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 433
- 25th percentile
- €3,250
- Median price
- €4,999
- 75th percentile
- €7,600
- Median mileage
- 158,700 km
- Median first registration
- 1998
- Dealer share
- 34.9%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €7,133
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Body rust
Symptoms: bubbling paint and blisters on the front wing edges, wheel arches, boot lock, bonnet slam panel and boot lid. Rust also shows underneath.
Cause: heavy winter use makes it worse, according to AUTO BILD. Auto Motor und Sport calls the SLK less rusty than other 1990s Mercedes models, so rust is a real risk but not severe on most cars.
Which cars: cars used through the year. AUTO BILD names the area around the boot lock after winter use.
Fix: treat and repaint the rust. German Wikipedia says patch repairs are usually only temporary. One UK owner had the front wings treated and resprayed.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Wikipedia (German), AUTO BILD, MercedesBlog, PistonHeads owner thread, 2011
Vario roof slows or stops
Symptoms: the roof opens or closes slowly, stops halfway, or the roof switch flashes. A leaking front cylinder can soil the headliner.
Cause: sensors, control units and crushed cables cause most roof faults, according to Auto Motor und Sport (2019 and 2021). Cables at the bend between roof and rear window can be damaged over time, and then the roof fails (German Wikipedia). The hydraulic pump rarely fails, according to the same press reports.
Which cars: all cars. The roof is the same on every car in this range.
Fix: the sources name no repair procedure or price. One owner says a Mercedes workshop with a scanner can trace sensor and control-unit faults.
Check: a full cycle takes about 25 seconds. If the roof does not open within 28 seconds, the hydraulics may leak (MercedesBlog).
Cost: not stated.
Sources: Wikipedia (German), Auto Motor und Sport, 2019, Auto Motor und Sport, 2021, MercedesBlog
Oil in the facelift wiring loom
Symptoms: oil around the camshaft adjuster, and oil on the engine wiring loom or control unit.
Cause: the facelift EVO engine leaks oil at the camshaft adjuster, and the oil reaches the wiring harness and control unit (German Wikipedia). MercedesBlog links the leak to post-2000 facelift cars. One owner said the oil climbs the loom towards the ECU, and that a late check can mean the loom is already oily.
Which cars: M111958 and M111983, the facelift engines from 2000 to 2004. Pre-facelift engines are not named.
Fix: the named fix is a retrofitted oil-stop cable (Ölstoppkabel). No part number or price is given.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Wikipedia (German), MercedesBlog, PistonHeads owner thread, 2011
Water in the boot
Symptoms: water in the boot and in the electrics behind the rear trim. Owners check whether water drains away from the boot.
Cause: the central-locking control unit (PSE) in the boot suffers water ingress (German Wikipedia). Blocked drains behind the rear roof area let water in (PistonHeads).
Which cars: all cars. The unit sits in the boot.
Fix: clear the drains from the grille end with a wire, then dry the unit. The owner test is to pour water down the drains and check where it comes out.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Wikipedia (German), PistonHeads, Shed of the Week, 2022, PistonHeads owner thread, 2019-2020
Recalls
No recall was found in the sources read. Check open campaigns for the car's VIN with a Mercedes dealer.
Maintenance
- After winter driving, wash the underside and wheel arches. German Wikipedia says rust patches are usually only temporary.
- Keep the boot drains clear, and check the boot for water after rain.
Sources
English
- MercedesBlog: buying advice
- PistonHeads owner thread, 2011
- PistonHeads owner thread, 2011 rust
- PistonHeads owner thread, 2019-2020
- PistonHeads, Shed of the Week, 2022