Mercedes SLK R170 (1996–2004): 52 mm gauge pod for the air vent – no drilling

Description

For the Mercedes-Benz SLK R170 (1996–2004), including the SLK 230 Kompressor and SLK 32 AMG: the pod plugs into an air vent of the dashboard instead of the vent insert and holds one 52 mm gauge flush – e.g. boost on the Kompressor.

• A square foot with crush ribs clamps in the vent housing like the original insert. Nothing is drilled.
• The gauge sits flush in the pod, held by crush ribs without screws.
• The cable runs through the foot into the air duct.
• Variants for 45, 50 and 55 mm gauge depth.
• Prints face-down on the bed: smooth visible side, no supports.

The vent is only 45 mm across, so the pod sits in front of the dashboard and protrudes by the gauge depth. That vent is lost.

File the crush ribs if needed; too loose: thin felt tape on the foot. Bore +0.4 mm, check with the test ring.

Dimensions

Dimensions of the default variant in print orientation.

Material and temperature

Shaded location: PETG is sufficient, ASA is the more robust choice. PLA is unsuitable in a car – it starts to soften at about 55–60 °C.

Print orientation: Face (visible side) down on the bed, foot pointing up.

Guide: PETG or ASA in a car?

Safety notice

Fit it in a driver-side vent only, never near the passenger airbag flap. The pod must not cover the light switch, stalks or the view of the instrument cluster. Heater air: use ASA or ABS. Install at your own risk. Never mount in an airbag deployment zone, never cover controls, never restrict the view. Follow the material and temperature advice. Add-ons may affect the type approval of the vehicle (§ 19 StVZO in Germany); keep edges in the head and knee area rounded (UN Regulation No. 21).

Not an original part. No affiliation with the vehicle manufacturers named; make and model names only indicate fitment.

Vent size taken from a replacement vent insert for an SLK 230 (Printables 810613, CC BY-SA), our part not yet tested in a car. Which of the four vents it is, is not sourced – use driver-side vents only, never above the passenger airbag.

What's included

• toleranz-testring-52mm.stl – Tolerance test ring
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe45.stl – STL – print-ready mesh
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe45.3mf – 3MF – with print profile
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe45.step – STEP – editable in CAD
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe50.stl – STL – print-ready mesh
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe50.3mf – 3MF – with print profile
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe50.step – STEP – editable in CAD
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe55.stl – STL – print-ready mesh
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe55.3mf – 3MF – with print profile
• mercedes-slk-r170-luftduese-gauge-pod-52mm_tiefe55.step – STEP – editable in CAD

Printing

1. Print the tolerance test ring first and test-fit the gauge.
2. Print in ASA or ABS, 0.2 mm layers, 4 walls, 20 % infill, no supports. No PLA.

Installation

1. Carefully pull out the vent insert.
2. Feed the cable through the foot into the air duct and behind the dashboard, press the gauge in from the front.
3. Push the pod straight into the vent housing until it sits flush.

FAQ

Version 1.0.0, updated 1 November 2026 · SKU GP-MB-R170-VENT-1X52