Cheap Mercedes-Benz SLK Water Pump

The SLK ran across three generations: R170 (1996–2004), R171 (2004–2011), and R172 (2011–2015), and water pumps are not interchangeable across these generation boundaries as the engine families differ significantly between them. Within a generation, fitment depends primarily on your engine code rather than the model year alone — for example, the R171 carried both four-cylinder and V6 units that use different pumps. Always supply your engine code (found on your V5 or via a VIN check) to the breaker, and confirm across any generation boundary with them directly before purchasing.

No — the engine code is the single most important fitment factor here, and the SLK 200 Kompressor (four-cylinder supercharged) and SLK 350 (V6) use entirely different water pumps that will not interchange. Even within the four-cylinder family, variants like the 1.8 Kompressor and later turbocharged 2.0 units across generations used different pump designs. Check your engine code on your V5 or a VIN check and quote it directly to the breaker to ensure you get the right part.

Trim level and any special edition badging make no difference to water pump fitment — this is a mechanical part that follows the engine, not the specification level. What matters is your engine code, which the breaker will use to identify the correct pump regardless of whether your car is a standard, AMG Sport, or any other trim variant. If you are unsure of your engine code, a VIN check will confirm it.

Both a 2004 and a 2008 SLK fall within the R171 generation (2004–2011), so they share the same generation platform, but fitment still depends on whether both cars carry the same engine code — a 2004 SLK 200 Kompressor and a 2008 SLK 280, for instance, use different pumps. Confirm that the engine codes match exactly and check with the breaker whether any ancillary or mounting changes occurred mid-production on that specific engine, as these details can vary and are best verified against your registration.

The R172 generation launched in 2011, meaning a 2011 SLK could be either a late R171 or an early R172 depending on when in the year it was registered, and the two generations use different engines with different water pumps that will not interchange. The quickest way to be certain is to check your engine code on your V5 or run a VIN check, then quote that code to the breaker rather than relying on the year alone. Confirm the exact generation with the breaker against your registration before agreeing a purchase.

Yes, all petrol variants of the Mercedes-Benz SLK across the R170, R171, and R172 generations use a conventional water pump as part of the engine cooling system — this is a standard fitment on all engine variants the car was sold with in the UK. Whether yours is belt-driven or chain-driven (and therefore serviced differently) depends on your specific engine code, so it is worth confirming that detail with the breaker to ensure you also source any associated parts if needed. Supply your engine code to the breaker for an accurate match.