Used car guide

1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLKs, from 577 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

577MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
3,000typical miles a year
3.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLKs than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Sub-frame3.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    10.9% All 1997 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Transmission oil leaks4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    9.5% All 1997 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Brake lights2.7× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    9.9% All 1997 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 2.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Coil springs2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    13.2% All 1997 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Headlights2.4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    10.2% All 1997 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2.4% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

The share of 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    33% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20161,248Tyres 31%
20154,852Tyres 30%
20144,786Tyres 31%
20134,481Tyres 31%
20125,482Tyres 30%
20112,481Brakes 30%
20102,039Brakes 31%
20092,444Suspension 33%
20083,124Suspension 35%
20073,390Suspension 37%
20063,487Suspension 36%
20054,447Suspension 36%
20042,774Suspension 38%
20031,531Lights and electrics 35%
20021,637Brakes 35%
20011,856Brakes 33%
20001,515Lights and electrics 35%
19991,189Brakes 34%
1998889Suspension 33%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLKs registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score