Some may be familiar with this already and they might want to go on to a new thread...



Maybe I have got a hard head or something? Strangely or coincidentally I have been told this on several occassions by a couple of exes... anyway, I've only been on this forum for a short time but I have seen numerous references to the pedigree of our fine automobile and how it shares much with it';s big brother M-B, I must say that I take some of this kinda talk with a grain of salt and put it down to envy (they told ya I was hard headed). Well today the rubber really hit the road ( multiple puns, pardon me)for me... I was at the coin wash ( relax- high pressure wands, no brushes) and after washing and Meguiaring mine, I noticed a gentleman ( he even spoke with a German accent, yippee) in the lot not far from me towelling off a fine looking black SLK 320 - I couldn't resist and since I just finished detailing my coupe, I walked over a struck up a conversation. Turns out it is a 2003 and he doesn't drive it in the winter, etc ... I asked him if he knew that the Xfire was based on the SLK platform and he said he had heard something to that effect but didn't know the details. I told him I'd heard that the are essentially the same car and we both began to wonder how much they actually had in common. I pulled mine up beside his , opened the hood and...

This I can tell you, apart from the big MB engine cover and any electronic differences that aren't visually apparent, - IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE. Components and component placing are identical. His makes 218HP ours 215 ( Coupe).

The cars are pretty much the same size, the big difference being he has a truck, we have a hatchback thingy. He has a mini-spare, we don't. He runs 17" 225s on the back/205s on the front, stock Michelin Pilots. I never looked at the tire ratings, just that they aren't ZRs or Y -rated , nor are they low profile.
The interiors are pretty similar and are identical in a spatial sense. His dash was fitted with wood trim , the seats were leather cedar, the rest is black plastic/leather and is really exclusive looking, ours is, nice, but it is ours :-) Apart from a different layout for vents and a different radio ( it says Mercedes Benz on it:-) the console is the same. Emergency brake and that damn cupholder, where they should be.


I have a 2004 and fellow Xfire owners would be proud of how my car was fit, finished and detailed relative to his. As I said, I had just finished polishing the Meguiars and it shone like a new showroom sheet of glass - anyone who has seen the Graphite Metallic paint will attest to it's beauty, particularly in the sun. Anyway, this gentleman's beautiful black car was filled with swirls, and I mean filled- to the point that I felt compelled to tell him that they make products to help with that these days and all were available pretty much everywhere. I felt badly for him so I went back to my car got and gave him some microfibre polishing cloths and some Meguiars Quick Detailer ( excellent product!!!) He sprayed some on and polished it - it was like his first Christmas :-)


Modge

 

Great post. Thanks for sharing. Could not agree more about graphite metallic.

 

I guess this is the same train of thought as a Camry is basically a Lexus ES330 or a Tahoe is basically an Escalade, or a 4Runner is basically a Lexus GX470 , a Pacifica is bsically a R-Class Benz etc etc etc.

Platforms are shared across brands and models all the time, some with very little changes (think Toyota LandCruiser and Lexus LX)

It the little difference in details, materials and craftsmanship that sets the models apart. In this case, the folding hardtop of the SLK for one that sets it apart from out Corssfires. Well, even the properly designed cup holders in the SLK sets it apart from the Crossfire's cupholder..

 

Sometimes its hard to except things people say when it makes them seem better off.
I am glad a doughter saw it first hand. Do the build research and you will be even more impressed with your Crossfire.
Great Post!
Thanks,
Mike

 

Well Kinda.

 

Nice story. We have a friend with a black 320 in the same shape. It's her daily beater. I haven't had the nerve to ask her if we could park them side-by-side. She hasn't taken very good car of it.

 

Glad you finally got on the bus! Do some online research, the cars are nearly identical except for the obvious. I laugh every time I drive it knowing that I paid about 24 grand for a car that is nearly mechanically identical (if not better suspension tuned by SRT) to a SLK AMG car that cost about 65 grand when new.

 

. His dash was fitted with wood trim , the seats were leather cedar,

If you want the wood trim, kits are on Ebay anywhere from $49 to $95. I bought one and must say the stuff looks pretty good, better than the real wood I have in my S body Benzes.

I'm still debating whether or not to install. I have a slate gray and cedar interior and it has kinda grown on me. I like the simplicity of the brushed Aluminum. Might put a few pieces up on the doors and glove box. Give the car more of a "Benz" look.

I agree, nice post.

roadster with a stick.

 

LOL. I have a 2005 4Runner and my internal counsel has a 2005 or so GX. He was in mine and commented on how nice it was and that he liked it. I said, well you should like it, it is essentially the same thing as yours. He threw a little fit and kept saying 'MINE'S A LEXUS, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!' Funny.
One point though, I believe I read that although the R MB and Pacifica look similar, they actually share no components. I could be wrong, but I recall reading that.
Every SLK owner I come across is really snooty.

 

Ok. I'm confused. A friend of mine just got an older Merc SLK. On the back it says that it's the 230:



But, here on the side, it has the kompressor logo.


What gives? Did someone just slap this logo on there or what?

 

I'm sorry, is there a car in that picture?


roadster with a stick

 

The SLK 230 uses a supercharged 2.3 liter 4 cylinder. It was the base car, the V6 320 was the next step up.

 

the slk320's replaced the slk230's

 

yeah i'm sorry i don't see a car either...hmm wonder why

 

I thought the logo said "Levi Strauss"!

 

On the sticker it says US & Canadian parts = 0%.....German parts = 84%.

 

I looked at the back for 10 minutes and couldn't find the 230 LOGO. Then my wife told me to look down.
All I could say was, "Nice bumper!"

I guess we won't be needing the AC tonite!

roadster with a stick

 

Man, you were looking at that car for a loooooonng time!

roadster with a stick

 

AHAHAH Classic

Come to think of it, I've seen that very car buzzing around town... I recognized the plate frame/local tag.

Clean car

 

The Crossfire is more like the prior generation SLK than any other MB, but it has a number of important differences that IMHO make it even better. The wheels are larger which lead to major changes in the suspension. We have 18" fronts and 19" rears. While the front suspension is largely CLK/SLK, the multilink rear suspension - while it uses CLK arms - is based on a prior generation S-Class. If the Crossfire had a three-pointed star on the hood it would no doubt command a much higher price. Those of us who own Crossfires know what a bargain we have.