General SLK questions (Please read) - Benzworld.org

TK Doom · 03-18-2003, 09:22 PM

Ok, I have clocked about 300 miles in my 2001 SLK 320.
During the test drive obviously this wouldn't have come up. Here are my observations, please tell me if this is normal.

1) Creaking, with top up, (for lack of a better word) probably from the convertible mechanism, normal?

2) Proper use of power window controls. I push it once, whether a little or a lot and it activates the "down all the way feature", so to CRACK the window, you have to push the window button, then push it again when it gets where I want it. For me, about a second later. Is this normal?

3) CD Changer, skips like anything. Granted I am using CD-R's, but isn't it just an Alpine changer? Looks very similar. Anyone else have this problem? Should I invest in an aftermarket unit and changer?

4) How do you drive your car? I find myself shifting out of first when it hits the high 4's, I never do that in my Mustang (99 GT). The first gear is just really low. What does the AUTO do? I also find myself pushing this car more and more, is this wrong? I drive my Mustang for work (20k/year) so its mostly freeway driving.

5) Shimmy (for lack of a better word) on the freeway, is this normal? I have Contisport (?) 225/45/17s on it. Is this the tire hitting the grooves in the freeway? My Mustang with 245/45/17s doesn't do that at all, it tracks straight and doesn't weave at all. The SLK tracks straight it just goes back and forth.

Any info would be nice, as I would I am taking the car in next week for the radio and would like everything fixed at once.

Thanks!

Nektopoli · 03-18-2003, 09:36 PM

Quote:

1)Creaking (for lack of a better word) probably from the convertible mechanism, normal?

I get a slight creaking from the top of the windshild/headliner when the top is down.

Quote:

2)Proper use of power window controls. I push it once, whether a little or a lot and it activates the "down all the way feature", so to CRACK the window, you have to push the window button, then push it again when it gets where I want it. For me, about a second later. Is this normal?

My 99 has an endent you have to press it past for the one touch down.

Quote:

3)CD Changer, skips like anything. Granted I am using CD-R's, but isn't it just an Alpine changer? Looks very similar. Anyone else have this problem? Should I invest in an aftermarket unit and changer?

Try the CD-R's at home if they don't skip there then they should work in the car, I don't think anyone makes an aftermarket changer, the MB units are optical.

Quote:

4)How do you drive your car? I find myself shifting out of first when it hits the high 4's, I never do that in my Mustang (99 GT). The first gear is just really low. What does the AUTO do? I also find myself pushing this car more and more, is this wrong? I drive my Mustang for work (20k/year) so its mostly freeway driving.

First gear is good to about 30 mph with the 5800 rpm redline, a bit more with the 6200 rpm(it's very short, the car is not light)

Quote:

5)Shimmy (for lack of a better word) on the freeway, is this normal? I have Contisport (?) 225/45/17s on it. Is this the tire hitting the grooves in the freeway? My Mustang with 245/45/17s doesn't do that at all, it tracks straight and doesn't weave at all. The SLK tracks straight it just goes back and forth.

I get it following road groves at slow speeds but not at high speeds.

NP

TK Doom · 03-18-2003, 09:46 PM

Quote:

I get a slight creaking from the top of the windshild/headliner when the top is down.

I should have been more specific, I meant with the top up.

Quote:

My 99 has an endent you have to press it past for the one touch down.

That is either missing or broken in my 2001, can anyone confirm?

Quote:

Try the CD-R's at home if they don't skip there then they should work in the car, I don't think anyone makes an aftermarket changer, the MB units are optical.

Again, I should have been more specific, I mean what brands fit in the dash and does that changer come out easy to use up the space?

No, the CDs do not skip at home. My Alpine in my Mustang RARELY skips, and it is just as harsh a ride as the SLK.

Quote:

First gear is good to about 30 mph with the 5800 rpm redline, a bit more with the 6200 rpm(it's very short, the car is not light)

Is that bad for the car, per se?

Quote:

I get it following road groves at slow speeds but not at high speeds.

Define slow and high speeds so I can try. :)

Thanks!

Derek · 03-18-2003, 10:12 PM

At lower speeds, the singal burned on to the disc by the laser seems to be stronger, thus it will read it easier and less skips. Hope this helps.

Ernest · 03-18-2003, 10:13 PM

can lower the window as much as you hold the button for but if you push it all the way (you can feel an extra click from the button that means it will go all the way down without holding it. But up you have to hold it all the way.
If you mean just the roof creaking and not the mechanism meaning the hydraulics of it yes, going over uneven bumps or even even ones at times, more so when it's cold out, causes creaks.
It could be that the optic on your CD player is dirty and that will cause any CD to skip, they must have a cleaning CD you can put in and clean that.
I assume you are asking how owners with automatics drive their car compared to you shifting your stick shift? I have an automatic and almost always start out in second and shift up as the RPMs get towards their redline. Even with my 5-speed auto first is too short to even start with, I did by mistake one day and think I hit the rev-limiter, it just revved too fast!
If you do mean shimmy (where the wheels are wobbling) that is either an allignment or balancing problem but if you mean they are just following the wavy grooves cut into the freeway lanes, my car does the same on some but not on others and I'm just running the 16" tires & wheels.
As the other gentleman said, "The stereo in the SLK is fiber optic and you can't just plug in others, they won't work. If you don't use cassettes they do have a MB unit that is a single play CD and will still play the changer in the trunk.
Or you could just have a bad CD unit and they will replace it as I'm sure with a 2001 it's still under warranty.
Hope I could help some!

OldGit · 03-19-2003, 04:07 AM

1. I get some creaking from the roof on bad roads, especially in cold weather
2. With my UK car, if you push the button until it clicks it goes all the way down. If you don't push quite so fat that it clicks it stops going down when you release it.
3. Try a better quality CDR - they're too low reflectivity.
4. First gear is very low, but second gear is too high to start off in. Nothing much can be done about this.
5. The shimmy/tram-lining is more pronounced with bigger wheels. I've got 16" and there is no problem.

Robbie · 03-19-2003, 05:31 AM

Creaking roofs is a well known problem here in the UK on tin top convertables. I had it with my Peugeot 206cc and to a lesser extent with my slk.

I get creaking when I first raise the roof and it goes away when the rubbers settle, but re-appears on rough roads.

The creaking comes from the roof rubbers where the
windows meet the roof. You can test it by slightly lowering the windows and the roof noise usually disappears.

The Peugeot206cc.co.uk site highly recommend the fix "Rubber and Nylon Lubricant" it comes in a spray can.. the bar Code number is 015025724546 from Halfords. It basically makes the rubbers more supple so the creaks disappear.

Its best applied with a cloth to the roof rubbers where they meet the window and roof panel, not sprayed on to prevent mess and usually lasts some weeks but it will need re-applying.

Silicon based spray is regarded as safe but be cautious about other products with ingredients that may break down you rubber seals.

Bill (NJ) · 03-19-2003, 09:21 AM

The CD player in my 2001 230 also skipped like crazy. The dealer swapped it out for a new one under warranty, no questions asked. No problems since.

sg3000 · 03-19-2003, 10:14 AM

I've got a 2001 SLK320 Sport.

> 1) Creaking, with top up, (for lack of a better
> word) probably from the convertible mechanism,
> normal?

Depends on how much. I get a slight rattle every so often on bumpy roads, but it shouldn't be constant. I had the top adjusted after about a year to fix the excessive rattling.

> 2) Proper use of power window controls. I push it
> once, whether a little or a lot and it activates the
> "down all the way feature", so to CRACK the window,
> you have to push the window button, then push it
> again when it gets where I want it. For me, about a
> second later. Is this normal?

No, it's not normal. On mine, you have to push it down all the way to engage the auto-down function. Pushing it down slightly works the way you'd expect.

> 3) CD Changer, skips like anything. Granted I am
> using CD-R's, but isn't it just an Alpine changer?
> Looks very similar. Anyone else have this problem?
> Should I invest in an aftermarket unit and changer?

Could be the brand or the way you burned the disc. I have no problems with CD-Rs (although CD-RWs won't play in my changer at all). Before you hunt down another changer, check to see different discs or discs burned using a different burner to see if that's the problem.

> 4) How do you drive your car? I find myself
> shifting out of first when it hits the high 4's, I
> never do that in my Mustang (99 GT). The first gear
> is just really low. What does the AUTO do? I also
> find myself pushing this car more and more, is this
> wrong? I drive my Mustang for work (20k/year) so
> its mostly freeway driving.

You can rev an SLK a lot higher than you would a Mustang. How do I drive my car? With a big smile on my face :-)

> 5) Shimmy (for lack of a better word) on the
> freeway, is this normal? I have Contisport (?)
> 225/45/17s on it. Is this the tire hitting the
> grooves in the freeway? My Mustang with 245/45/17s
> doesn't do that at all, it tracks straight and
> doesn't weave at all. The SLK tracks straight it
> just goes back and forth.

Sounds like the car may have an alignment problem. My SLK is rock solid on the freeway, with no weaving. Maybe you're drunk ;-)

> Any info would be nice, as I would I am taking the
> car in next week for the radio and would like
> everything fixed at once.

> Thanks!

Good luck with it!

lukew · 03-20-2003, 05:05 AM

Creaking...Yes, moderate on cold days or bumpy roads.

CD Skips...None, not even on my unimproved private road (very bumpy). Try regular CDs and see if the problem is isolated to the CDRs.

Tires Wander...Yes, my new Michelin Pilot Sports will follow any parallel groves in the road and can be annoying on road surfaces that are scored by heavy truck traffic or have asphalt seams. My 16" winter tires do not do this at all. It may be the width as another member has suggested, or it could be the tire tread pattern. I'm not sure.

Shifting...Mine is a 5-speed manual and I liked that much better than the 6-speed for the type of driving I do and the area I drive in (mostly rural winding roads). I can't do 0-60 as fast as either the automatic or the 6-speed standard, but I can spend more time playing with all the other interior toys and less time shifting.

I hope this helps.