Used car guide

2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLKs, from 1,515 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,515MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
3,500typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLKs than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    9.7% All 2000 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.2% of all 2000 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 leaks2.7× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLK
    5.7% All 2000 cars
    2.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2000 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.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 3.2% here, against 8.2% of all 2000 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.5% here, against 6.4% of all 2000 cars.

By area

The share of 2000 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
    35% 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
    30% 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
    27% 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
    14% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SLK?

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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%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLKs registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score