How much power did the SLK 230 Kompressor make?

In this blog, we will find out how much horsepower was produced by the SLK 230 Kompressor. This blog also answers the following questions: what are the specifications of the SLK 230Kompressor? Which engine is used in the SLK 230 Kompressor? Should you buy an SLK 230 Kompressor? What are the common problems in the SLK 230 Kompressor?

How much power did the SLK 230 Kompressor make?

The Mercedes Benz SLK 230 Kompressor produced 190 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 280 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm. The 2.3-liter supercharged engine in the SLK 230 Kompressor is capable of accelerating the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.6 sec. The top speed of the SLK 230 Kompressor is 144 MPH and power to weight ratio at 6.3 kg/hp.

Mercedes Benz launched the SLK 230 Kompressor in international markets in 1996. The SLK 200 Kompressor was exclusive to the European market and it was sold only with a manual gearbox. The SLK 230 Kompressor can be had with a manual as well as automatic transmission.

Equipment like power windows, heated seats, hydraulic power steering, and a dual-zone climate control system was standard in the base model. Mercedes Benz also offered the choice of an AMG body kit which included chromed exhaust mufflers, 17-inch AMG wheels, and wider side skirts.

What are the specifications of the SLK 230Kompressor?

The specifications of the SLK 230 Kompressor are given in the table below:

The SLK 230 Kompressor featured a fully mechanical independent suspension. On the front, there is a double wishbone setup with coil springs struts, and a multi-link suspension setup is present on the rear axle.

The SLK230 was a front engine rear wheel drive car, the boot capacity is 145 liters if the roof was folded in the trunk. Otherwise, the trunk has a maximum capacity of 348 liters. The front and the rear tire dimensions are 225/50 on 16-inch alloy rims.

The braking system on the SLK 230 Kompressor includes ventilated rotors on the front as well as the rear wheels. ESP and ABS came as standard equipment in the SLK 230 Kompressor.

Which engine is used in the SLK 230 Kompressor?

Mercedes Benz used a newly designed M111 engine in the SLK 230 Kompressor. It replaced the M101 and used a fuel injection system instead of mechanical fuel injection. Two ignition coils fired the two cylinders alternatively and a crankshaft position sensor is used to determine the ignition angle.

There is also a camshaft solenoid on the intake camshaft in order to help the engine produce more power and torque as early as possible. The supercharger used on the M111 is the Eaton M45, it is a roots blower type but the power losses are reduced at a higher speed compared to the Eaton M 62.

The compressed air is cooled by an air-cooled intercooler before it reaches the intake manifold. The engine control unit controls the boost pressure by actuating the magnetic clutch on the compressor pulley of the supercharger.

M111 is one of the few gasoline engines in Mercedes Benz that has a longer stroke compared to the bore. It is an oversquare engine and the engine block is made from cast iron material. 

The cylinder head has 16 valves with hydraulic valve lifters. There are no major concerns in the engine apart from a few oil leak issues from the cylinder head gasket.

Should you buy an SLK 230 Kompressor?

You should only buy the SLK 230 Kompressor if there is no accidental damage and the car has no rust issue. Otherwise, it is better to avoid this Mercedes Benz Model as the repair work will easily exceed the value of the car.

The engine known for its reliability is not refined and the spark plugs have a very short life. If a spark plug fails, the engine can misfire and the Eobd lamp will stay on in the instrument cluster. 

The prices of SLK 230 Kompressor are very low now, but there are models available from 4000 USD to 6000USD. Check the vehicle service history for proper maintenance and the transmission fluid must be replaced otherwise there can be problems like jerk or judder in the automatic transmission.

What are the common problems in the SLK 230 Kompressor?

The Mercedes Benz SLK 230 was a very reliable car, some cars even covered more than 100,000 miles without any major repair work on the engine. However, the following are some of the common problems found in the SLK 230 Kompressor.

• Engine malfunction light and RPM fluctuations

The SLK 230 Kompressor used a hot film air mass sensor to measure the density of the air entering the Kompressor. This sensor is known to fail and cause a loss in power and increased fuel consumption.

The only remedy is to replace the faulty air mass sensors and reset the adaptation data. The SLK 230 used Bosh as well as the Siemens engine control unit. The engine control unit determined the fuel injection quantity as per the air mass and the engine load.

The throttle body actuator of the SLK 230 Kompressor can also be defective, especially on models with high mileage. The symptoms are the same and the engine can also stall if the air conditioning compressor is turned on and the engine speed is not increased by opening the throttle valve.

• Rust on the body 

The SLK 230 Kompressor has a rust issue, the area under the wheel arches and the boot lid can get rusted. Rust is a very common issue on old Mercedes SLK 230, few models were fixed under the Mercedes Benz 30 years anti-corrosion warranty that was announced in the late 90s.

The warranty was only available in European countries and there were several conditions before the claim was approved. The SLK 230 is more than 20 years old so rust can be present on the models available in the used car market.

The repair work can be very expensive if the rust has completely destroyed the metal part. Minor surface rust can be treated with chemicals and by applying an anti-rust coating on the body.

Conclusion

This blog explains the common problems in the SLK 230 Kompressor and also answers how much power is produced by the engine. The SLK 230 Kompressor can be considered a vintage car. The pre-facelift, as well as the facelift versions, were very popular and the pre-facelift model with manual gearbox even found its way to the American market through gray market sales.