MERCEDES-BENZ CLASE SLKTiming chain or Belt?

The Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class is a sports roadster from the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz (Daimler). It was produced from 1996 to 2020. The model went through a total of 3 generations. Its predecessor was the Mercedes-Benz 190SL from the 1950s. After 2016, the Germans redesigned the model and renamed it the Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class to align with the brand's new nomenclature.

The first generation of the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, known as the R170, was produced from October 1995 to April 2004. This compact roadster with a retractable hardtop was designed by Michael Mauer and Murat Günak and introduced the innovative 'vario-roof' concept. It shared the platform of the Mercedes C-Class W202, and had an identical wheelbase to earlier models like the 190SL and 300SL.

The vehicle was equipped with a variety of engines ranging from a 2.0 to a 3.2 V6, some of them supercharged. In the year 2000, the first SLK received a facelift that updated its appearance and added new powerplants. The most prominent model was the SLK 32 AMG with a supercharged V6 engine, designed to compete with sports roadsters from BMW and Porsche.

The second generation of the Mercedes-Benz SLK, internally designated as the R171 model, was a longer and wider vehicle. Better materials were also used in its manufacture. In terms of engines, the R171 offered a range of gasoline engines going from a 1.8 up to the 5.4 V8 of the SLK 55 AMG. The available transmissions were a 6-speed manual and 5- and 7-speed automatics. It was placed in Car and Driver magazine's Top 10 Best Cars list for 2005 and was a true sales success.

The third generation of the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R172) was presented in Stuttgart in January 2011 and marked a turning point in the evolution of the SLK, offering a refined blend of performance, luxury, and technology. Based on the W212 platform, shared with the E-Class, the R172 inherited and improved the safety, comfort, and performance features of its predecessors, while introducing its own innovations.

Its engines started from a modest 1.6 turbo, but could be equipped with up to a powerful naturally aspirated 5.5 V8. A 2.1 diesel option was also available in the SLK 250 CDI. In fact, it was the first time a diesel engine was offered in the SLK line. This model also introduced the 9G-Tronic automatic transmission in certain variants, marking a significant advancement in efficiency and performance. Starting in 2016, Mercedes began selling it as the Mercedes-Benz SLC, following a facelift.

Among the main competitors of the Mercedes-Benz SLK are the BMW Z4, the Audi TT Roadster, and the Porsche Boxster.