Cheap Mercedes-Benz SLK Bonnet Strut

The SLK does have gas-filled bonnet struts rather than a solid prop rod, so you are looking for the right part. The struts hold the bonnet open automatically when raised, and they do wear out and lose pressure over time, which is a common reason owners need replacements. You should find good used stock at breakers given how many SLKs have been dismantled in the UK.

The R170 (1996–2004) and R171 (2004–2011) are completely different generations with different bodyshells, so the bonnet struts are not interchangeable between them. You need to match the part to the correct generation, so make sure any listing or breaker quote specifies R170 or R171 to match your car. Never assume a strut from one generation will physically fit the other.

The R171 received a facelift in 2008, which brought changes to the front end including the bonnet, and it is not certain whether the bonnet strut mounting points changed across that boundary. Name the facelift year (2008) to your breaker and confirm against your registration plate, as they can check whether the strut from a pre- or post-facelift R171 matches yours. Do not assume interchangeability across the 2008 facelift without that confirmation.

Trim and engine level do not affect bonnet strut fitment on the SLK — the bonnet and its struts are shared across all engine variants within the same generation and facelift period. A strut from an SLK200 and one from an SLK55 AMG of the same generation should be the same part, so do not pay extra for AMG-sourced parts on the assumption they differ. The generation and facelift period are all that matter here.

The R172 (2011–2016) is a distinct third generation with its own bodyshell and bonnet, so its struts will not fit an R170 or R171. Match the strut to your specific generation — R170, R171, or R172 — and confirm this with the breaker using your registration. Mixing generations is the most common fitment mistake with SLK body parts.

The SLK bonnet is supported by two struts, one on each side (NS and OS), and they often wear at a similar rate, so many owners replace both at the same time. Buying a matched pair from the same breaker's donor car is sensible, as you know they are from the same generation and have had the same service life. Ask your breaker whether they can supply both struts from the same vehicle to ensure consistency.