1st Post 1st Mercedes Benz C43 Estate

[vtwin]

Hi to all, after deciding not to spend any more cash on my 22 year old Volvo 240GLT and having found a good clean C43 estate on Ebay, I secured a loan for £7500, caught a train from Kings Cross to Nottingham and drove back to Surrey in my rare C43 estate with 52,000 miles, new tyres, FMBSH, 1 years MOT, 1999 V I felt amazing. 2 weeks later and a trip to Sheffield & back all I can say is this car is truly impressive. Its all been said before but as a 1st timer my experience of the AMG is mind-blowing. I almost welcome a bit of traffic in order to catch my breath before the next onslaught of incredible power. She's so controllable, I can position my toe on the tip of the accelerator and add 20-30 mph by pressing what seems like only 1/4 inch on the gas. Not forgetting the handling, i can barrel into roundabouts leaving braking obsenely late, pile on the lock, step on the gas and she just thunders out the exit like the devil himself was closing in. Awesome!

One or two discoveries I'd rather not have found but hey-ho, i've learnt to swing with the blows.

• Very light amount of oil under rear axel.
• Very light amount of oil at rear of left cam cover.
• Air con not working (have checked fuse)
• Exhaust corroding on the centre joint.
• Broken inner front mud guard NS (protecting small box with connecters)

Everything else is working perfectly. Service light says 8000 miles Have reset the gearbox. MPG is better than the Volvo was.

If anyone has any thoughts on the above, i'd love to hear them.

Looking forward to becoming an active member of the forum.

VTWIN

 

[mbpartsman]

oil on diff - probably lateral <drive shaft> seals, or maybe the pinion seal, parts i think less than £20 + vat....

oil on cam cover - breathers need resealing - mb sealant £12.20 + vat

air con - regassing needed?

exhaust - hmmm not sure

mudshield - £25 or less.... replace before you get water/mud in the control unit

 

[whitenemesis]

Welcome to the forum, advise is but a post away!

 

[television]

Welcome to the forum, just one thing on the oil under diff,, MB diffs can look oily due to foaming, but may as MBpartsman and nothing terrible, if it is not dripping, then leave it

 

[vijilants]

Hi to all, after deciding not to spend any more cash on my 22 year old Volvo 240GLT and having found a good clean C43 estate on Ebay, I secured a loan for £7500, caught a train from Kings Cross to Nottingham and drove back to Surrey in my rare C43 estate with 52,000 miles, new tyres, FMBSH, 1 years MOT, 1999 V I felt amazing. 2 weeks later and a trip to Sheffield & back all I can say is this car is truly impressive. Its all been said before but as a 1st timer my experience of the AMG is mind-blowing. I almost welcome a bit of traffic in order to catch my breath before the next onslaught of incredible power. She's so controllable, I can position my toe on the tip of the accelerator and add 20-30 mph by pressing what seems like only 1/4 inch on the gas. Not forgetting the handling, i can barrel into roundabouts leaving braking obsenely late, pile on the lock, step on the gas and she just thunders out the exit like the devil himself was closing in. Awesome!

One or two discoveries I'd rather not have found but hey-ho, i've learnt to swing with the blows.

• Very light amount of oil under rear axel.
• Very light amount of oil at rear of left cam cover.
• Air con not working (have checked fuse)
• Exhaust corroding on the centre joint.
• Broken inner front mud guard NS (protecting small box with connecters)

Everything else is working perfectly. Service light says 8000 miles Have reset the gearbox. MPG is better than the Volvo was.

If anyone has any thoughts on the above, i'd love to hear them.

Looking forward to becoming an active member of the forum.

VTWIN

Hi,

Re diff, as TV says. They all leak....unless its dripping, it will be fine. Just get the level checked.

Aircon - these are famous for condenser failure due to leaves etc building up at the front and rotting the bottom of the condenser. Any decent aircon specialist or even kwickfit will be able to tell you if you have a leak.

If it is the condenser, aftermarket ones are approx £140 plus fitting / regassing.

Have fun

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Congratulations on your purchase of a C43 AMG, they are one awesome car. Just a thought, has yours had the ATF and filter changed?
Before buying mine I did a lot of internet research on them and the only issue seemed to be the weak gearbox's this seemed quite common on American forums though not heavily reported on the British forums
As previous posts say regarding the diff, don,t worry unless dripping just get the level checked and topped up a necassary. They suffer from the breather blocking up which I believe is situated on the top of the diff and can be a pig to get at. Please use MB fluids in both gearbox and diff.
Your AC as previously mentioned no point using Kwik fit, C43's are not on their information lists they would,nt do mine because of it.
Hope you enjoy your new car as much as I have enjoyed mine.

 

[vtwin]

Thank you all so much your replies, to be honest i am touched. This is a big venture for me, my last g/f's mum gad a c43 so i learnt a bit about the car from her. I've cleaned off the light oil dampness and will monitor. I'm a pretty hands on guy and this car dont scare me any more than my old TVR300M did. I'll get her serviced at MB World in Weybridge (I work there) but anything small like that mudshiels ill do.

The fuel gauge did something odd yesterday. I went out having filled her up the day before, got up the road and noticed the fg was showing empty & the fuel light was on. I turned her off, checked for leaks and found none. On re-starting her she was fine showing full like she should. Weired huh?

I've noted yur points on the diff and theres no drips infact where ive wiped it its remained dry.


I'll keep you posted on how i get on and anything else quirky that comes up. I've read quite alot of posts from here & the US on the C43 and the general concensus is they are a good reliable car. I intend to keep mine for many years so will waxoyl all the vulnerable metal and keep her well serviced.

Best to you all, VTWIN

 

[Backlane41]

Hi VTWIN,

Congratulations on your purchase. I've had a C43 Estate for about a year now and it is truly an awesome vehicle - and delightfully understated too (mine is de-badged).

Mine has done 85,000 miles but FSH and still feels wonderfully tight.

Feeling a little bruised as I just spent £1100 on new brake discs all round plus a replacement steering drag link. That on top of about £500 for a 'B' service in March. Decided to go to a main dealer for peace of mind and they did offer a discount for an older vehicle.

No problems to report - touch wood - with oil, gearbox, fuel gauge or aircon.

Best wishes,

Backlane 41

 

[stumpy]

Welcome, I will look out for you - I'm in Cobham.

 

[noops]

Welcome to the forum, and I hope you keep enjoy you're C43 as much as I still do.

 

[vtwin]

Thank you. This week MB World Brooklands changed the ball joints and the gb oil and the result is amazing! Nice tight front end and Smoother engagment of shift from N to D (used to bu a bit stiff before)

Im thrilled with my C43 Estate each time I take her out. Havent yet got past the buzz of flooring her at like 60 and being amazed at how quick 130 comes up (on the test track of course) and with so much more to go. I need to plan a trip to Germany to really stretch her legs.....