bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:02:51 GMT
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I've resisted putting a thread up on the SLK because it's was a bit modern when I got it 5 years ago Probably still is a little modern and as a std car really doesn't deserve a place on here - but that's gonna change so I thought I'd introduce it to you nowSo back in 2011 I was encouraged by Mrs BC to find a car with an open top option - Of course MX5 and BMW Z3/Z4 and Honda S2000 all got considered until she stated a hard roof was mandatory That left me with Tigras, Focus 206cc and Megan type cars - none appealed so I became the owner of a 2001 SLK   Looked nice but there are a number of jobs to do on the car - When I view the car it wasn't perfect but for a near 100K miles and 1 owner from new it was the best I'd looked at, honest seller and an honest car that needed a few bits sorting to meet my requiremnts Aside from a little rust on the arches and boot lid I'd spotted a bit of peeling paint on the engine side of bash plate that protects the underside of the engine bay - the were also some big scrapes on the road side too so it obviously serves some usefull purpose so I planned to remove it, treat it, re-paint and re-fit it. First thing to mention is by god it's heavy This is what a little bit of peeling paint looked like when the bash plate was removed Road side  Engine side  It's pretty much 2-3mm plate and had rusted thro in 3 places - worst bit shown below  Ok so maybe a bit more than a wire brush and repaint - time to get busy with the miggy first 3 areas repaired    So dropped it of with my local shotblaster for blasting, hot zinc galvanising and then a powdercoat in gloss black Oil and filter change done - took me longer to find the oil filter than it did to change it :laugh: Collected undertray today and it's now fitted - should stay rust free longer than the car now - up on ramps I can see I'll need to do a few other parts soon - nothing as bad as the undertray but some bits definately need attention. Anyway pics as promised   OK surface finish isn't fantastic in the pictures but it was a crusty old lump The nice bit for me is now when looking into the engine bay from above it all looks nice and clean and whilst no-one will notice whats been done I'll know it..... |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:06:49 GMT
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Fuel economy has been very impressive for a 2.3 with a charger Average 35 mpg (UK Gal) 29.1 mpg (US Gal) 8.07 L/100 km Best 38 mpg (UK Gal) 31.6 mpg (US Gal) 7.43 L/100 km Worst 32mpg (UK Gal) 26.6 mpg (US Gal) 8.83 L/100 km Worst was on a PH hoon around east anglia  And it's been up the hill at Prescott and once I'd turned the nanny state off it did rather well (not as focused as my track car but still quite lively and fun)     Three years ago I had a stab at trying to slow down the rust (legacy of when the bean counters took control of Mercedes) 3 out of 4 arches are dreadfull and the front edges of the wings aren't great either Headlights and indicators out Chock the rear wheels Jack the front up to make the working height a bit easier wheels off (good time to clean the backs) Wheel arch liners out both sides Grill out and bumper nearly read to come off  My neighbours probably think i'm mad!! (actually there is no probably about it) Few pictures of the rust bubbles     The rear will be next   I know it the best weather for using a drop top but it's also the best weather for drying paint Today I've been mainly using an angle grinder with various discs (80 grit flap wheels)   Abrasive discs (great for stripping paint without thining metal)   And for fine work 120 grit paper discs  They don't last long but luckily I just use them last Once cleaned and stripped back I used a chemical rust treatment  After 1 hr all the rust pitting that I can't grind back turns black Drivers side    Passenger side   Bonnet scab  Windscreen Pillar  Just leaving the chemical on overnight The rust treatment stuff had gone off like paint - damn good colour match too Nearside wing   Bonnet scab  Offside wing   Windscreen Pilar  So a little filler for the pits       Then I had some time to kill So a pot of this  Brushable is fine but for what I wanted a finger was better Rubbish picture  Better ones   I wanted to stop the water laying in the inside edge of the wheel arch lip (and salt etc) so created a little chamfer with seam sealer Still waiting for filler to go nice and hard - time to underseal everything I could  A quick rub down of the filler and mask up time - Daily Telegraph of course - big pages   Filler primer   Then light flat back and some grey   Then get on with the other side but as it's all a repeat no pictures of that Once finished time to put the wheels back on turn it around and then get ready to start the back end Front chocked - jacked up and axle stands under and wheels removed   Jet wash the arches and called it a day(it's got time to dry out ready for tomorrow) Actually I was surprised how much muck had built up in the arches considering I cleaned them last year and try to rinse them off everytime I wash the car |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:08:24 GMT
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It's really grown on me this little SLK - the temporary rust remedy stopped the worst of it spreading except on the bonnet and my intentions to get it painted properly remained just that intentions..... With the Monza-dore in dry dock (becoming a long term project) I was short of a track car for a Marham track day so a few more stone chips aren't going to make much difference. My issue was wheels and tyres - for the Monza I had probably 3 or 4 sets of 17 inch wheels all with tyres ranging from treaded to slicks - I also tend to stockpile 17 inch slicks (buying them when they are cheap) and the SLK has 16 inch wheels and the current tyres are way too good to wreck on a trackday Cue some sillyness with some dirt cheap nasty aftermarket alloys sourced from a scrapyard in Merc Fitment  Got rid of the worst of the kerbing marks and scabby paint finish Hi build primer  And then a silly topcoat  Now some spacers were required to correct the offset but no nuns or kittens were harmed   The SLK is wonderfully versatile 4 wheels shod with slicks and a trolley jack and other bits and pieces fit in the boot with a bungy cord holding it down  Performed faultlessly all day about 120 track miles roof down for better weight distribution   Silly centre caps  Only downside was turning the Traction/Stability control off (what I call the nanny state) actually doesn't turn it off - just decreases the level of intervention - UtterPiffle has since told me the "hotwire" alternative to stop it being such a interfering nanny so if I ever put it on track again I'll be sure to do that first. It continues to return mid 30's mpg commuting with low 40's on a run and apart from regular oil and filter changes it's not needed much doing to it at all The only blot on it's book is the cup holder because a permanently out feature after a bit of plastic in the dash broke - so it's wedged shut - never used it anyway!!! So having caught up with the history - there will be some activity very soon as the paintwork needs resolution now - the 16 inch wheels are going to be converted to winters now the tyres are worn out and some 17's have been sourced and will be re-furbed, shod with new tyres and fitted once the paint has been renovated. |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:09:35 GMT
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So this is how I left it tonight  Bumpers off   bare!!!  Buggered if I can work out how the 3rd brake light in the boot lid comes out.... |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:15:36 GMT
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 5, 2016 21:33:53 GMT
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PS Mrs BC is happy it's being painted as in her words "it was getting a bit scruffy" - I did tell her I wasn't changing the colour (she likes black cars) so all is good in the world.......... till she sees it finished "possibly"
What could possibly go wrong!!!!
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,616
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Look forward to seeing it. Was going to suggest matching roof & wheels to offset the blackness, though Fluro roof might be a bit much. Silver-Grey, Navy or Burgundy?, or stay Gloss to offset the satin?
Have fun regardless.
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Sept 6, 2016 13:01:29 GMT
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That will be nice when you've finished with it mate.... Much underrated cars imo, way better than their reputation.... Interesting point tho, it isn't a 2.3..... The 180, 200 and 230 kompressors all used the 1.8 engine with the M62 charger, the difference in power was achieved by use of different mapping of the ecu..... That info comes straight from the mouth of a former AMG tech I know....😉
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,404
Club RR Member Number: 84
Member is Online
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Sept 6, 2016 13:30:45 GMT
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oooh, I have a soft spot for these. Think they look good and being supercharged is an instant win. Bookmarked p.s. retroandproud wiki disagrees with you. I know that doesn't exactly settle it... |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 6, 2016 13:45:27 GMT
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That will be nice when you've finished with it mate.... Much underrated cars imo, way better than their reputation.... Interesting point tho, it isn't a 2.3..... The 180, 200 and 230 kompressors all used the 1.8 engine with the M62 charger, the difference in power was achieved by use of different mapping of the ecu..... That info comes straight from the mouth of a former AMG tech I know....😉 t Later cars might be but this is a facelift car with 2.3 litres and the eaton 45 running full time. Early cars were also 2.3 but ran a bigger eaton 62 with clutched actuation. I drove an SLK 200 and it was way too slow for my tastes but bigperm tweaked his a little and reckoned it was much livelier. This is 197 out of the box and the 200 was 150 ish |
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Sept 6, 2016 15:25:35 GMT
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Sorry my bad..... Hadn't twigged it was a facelift 😉 The 200 is 165bhp, but has a poor torque spread. Your 230 should have much better mid range punch...... Any plans for a smaller charger pulley and remap?
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 6, 2016 16:07:55 GMT
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Sorry my bad..... Hadn't twigged it was a facelift 😉 The 200 is 165bhp, but has a poor torque spread. Your 230 should have much better mid range punch...... Any plans for a smaller charger pulley and remap? The SLK 200 I drove felt a lot less - probably why I discounted them from that point on in the search for one. Smaller charger pulley is not an option, next size down would be v-grooving the shaft. However I have now lined up another bottom pulley assembly and the guys at TTV are gonna work their magic and make a bigger bottom pulley. No remap is needed if my research is correct and should be good for 220 bhp, a little more can be had by removing the charger intake silencer and as I really need to change the supercharger oil I'll probably port the thing at the same time. Then she should be a bit more frisky. Might need to think about brakes and shocks then..... This was not supposed to be a project car - just a sensible daily with added top down function - it must be a disease! |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 6, 2016 16:13:49 GMT
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Look forward to seeing it. Was going to suggest matching roof & wheels to offset the blackness, though Fluro roof might be a bit much. Silver-Grey, Navy or Burgundy?, or stay Gloss to offset the satin? Have fun regardless. I have a plan for the roof - not flo mind that stuff sun bleachs like heck. It will tie in with tge wheels but it won't be done at the same time. Mrs BC needs to see it finished and then a a further change will happen to tie in the wheel colour when I've finalised what I do to them. |
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Sept 6, 2016 22:58:20 GMT
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Sorry my bad..... Hadn't twigged it was a facelift 😉 The 200 is 165bhp, but has a poor torque spread. Your 230 should have much better mid range punch...... Any plans for a smaller charger pulley and remap? The SLK 200 I drove felt a lot less - probably why I discounted them from that point on in the search for one. Smaller charger pulley is not an option, next size down would be v-grooving the shaft. However I have now lined up another bottom pulley assembly and the guys at TTV are gonna work their magic and make a bigger bottom pulley. No remap is needed if my research is correct and should be good for 220 bhp, a little more can be had by removing the charger intake silencer and as I really need to change the supercharger oil I'll probably port the thing at the same time. Then she should be a bit more frisky. Might need to think about brakes and shocks then..... This was not supposed to be a project car - just a sensible daily with added top down function - it must be a disease! The non charged slk200 is only 145bhp, that might be the one you drove..... As for the disease, we all have it, that's why we're on here!!!!  |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 6, 2016 23:07:57 GMT
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The non charged slk200 is only 145bhp, that might be the one you drove..... As for the disease, we all have it, that's why we're on here!!!! They did a SLK without a charger - Good Lord - glaciers would move faster!!! The one I drove was a supercharged SLK200 it wasn't very lively!!! I used to have a 1986 Carlton 1.8Li the i is important they did one with a carb that was 100 bhp the i had 115 bhp - and that felt fast compared to the SLK 200...... You did however have to make use of all of the gears and all of the rev range on the Carlton  |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Sept 6, 2016 23:16:39 GMT
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The non charged slk200 is only 145bhp, that might be the one you drove..... As for the disease, we all have it, that's why we're on here!!!! They did a SLK without a charger - Good Lord - glaciers would move faster!!! The one I drove was a supercharged SLK200 it wasn't very lively!!! I used to have a 1986 Carlton 1.8Li the i is important they did one with a carb that was 100 bhp the i had 115 bhp - and that felt fast compared to the SLK 200...... You did however have to make use of all of the gears and all of the rev range on the Carlton Oh and all this work on the SLK means I had to get another car back on the road as a daily...........  I reckon I have a few walks in my near future...... |
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They did a SLK without a charger - Good Lord - glaciers would move faster!!! The one I drove was a supercharged SLK200 it wasn't very lively!!! I used to have a 1986 Carlton 1.8Li the i is important they did one with a carb that was 100 bhp the i had 115 bhp - and that felt fast compared to the SLK 200...... You did however have to make use of all of the gears and all of the rev range on the Carlton Oh and all this work on the SLK means I had to get another car back on the road as a daily........... I reckon I have a few walks in my near future...... The Lotus Carlton is an incredible machine, although as you hinted, it can be somewhat fragile!!! Also, after some research, it appears the non charged SLK200 is actually only 136bhp!!! I've never driven one, nor its 4 door brother the C200, but I can't imagine either setting the Tarmac alight!! |
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,302
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Threads like these don't help me with resisting to make a thread about the M3. But when they have hit the floor on value and are now in the crosshairs for a few buyers it is good to see just what costs you can encounter and issues. It's good to see that you are having fun and also good to see quite a hands on approach with some of the issues, but with one of your threads I would expect nothing less  . |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Threads like these don't help me with resisting to make a thread about the M3. But when they have hit the floor on value and are now in the crosshairs for a few buyers it is good to see just what costs you can encounter and issues. I think it's easy to equate cheap cars at the bottom of the depreciation curve with "cheap maintenance" - unfortunately a £50 plus K car is always going to have £50 plus K maintenance requirements - Despite being worth buttons!!!! Trick is buying something that will be both fun and start to appreciate if looked after E36 M3's I think are already climbing and E46 M3's won't be far behind.... The rough ones will get broken and the good ones will be cherished It's good to see that you are having fun and also good to see quite a hands on approach with some of the issues, but with one of your threads I would expect nothing less . I'm always hands on - it's the only way that I can afford to run the cars - If I was handing cars over to specialists or main dealers I'd be buying some "white goods" mainstream marque on a personal lease but where is the fun in that? |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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The Lotus Carlton is an incredible machine, although as you hinted, it can be somewhat fragile!!! It's actually never failed to get me where I wanted to go or home from where I was - it has however been a little unreliable when parked up and then kick started into action..... Like most cars it doesn't like being parked up and not used and it eats batteries with alarm and immobiliser drains - I've just bought a solar panel charger that can live on the dash when parked - I'm hoping that will help the situation but I need to rewire the cigarette light socket to be "permanent live" rather than the current ignition switched live before I use it. Also, after some research, it appears the non charged SLK200 is actually only 136bhp!!! I've never driven one, nor its 4 door brother the C200, but I can't imagine either setting the Tarmac alight!! I wasn't sure if the SLK 200 non charged was even sold in the UK - if it was they probably didn't sell many!!! |
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