This is my 1998 SLK230 Kompressor. I picked her up in February 2024 in a pretty sorry state, with the simple plan of tidying her up and enjoying the drive. But later that year disaster struck—the head gasket blew. At that point, she could easily have been destined for the scrapyard.

Instead, I decided not to give up on her. What followed was a near full engine bay restoration. I’m no mechanic, but patience, and determination, In just over 8 weeks on my drive in my free time, I managed to bring her back to life. One year on, she’s running like a Swiss watch.

It didn’t stop there—the badly damaged interior also got a full refresh, and now looks close to new. It’s been a journey full of challenges and learning, but this little SLK has proven she’s more than just a car—she’s got real soul.