C43 Amg

[45375]

I'm considering a nice low mileage C43. Anybody own one, as I could do with a few buying tips!.

 

[stats007]

There are a number of C43 AMG owners on MBClub who have recently answered a similar thread.

 

[45375]

Thans for that, plenty of info there alright.

 

[45375]

I'm still on the market for a C43 AMG, and this one looks nice so I'm going to have look at it.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320334296613&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123


If anyone has a nice C43 AMG, preferably a 2000 model please let me know.

 

[bigasotonuk]

You,ll be very lucky to get the 2000 model, i,ve only seen 1 estate version.
Though that does look a very nice car but it has been for sale for a few months now he's dropped the price £500 too.
To be honest i think you could get a lower mileage higher specced vehicle for that money.
I,ll keep a look out for you.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Just had a quick look and found this one, Full history, Black, it has xenons (headlamp wash/wipe), rear electric blind, folding mirrors, and Partronic (parking sensors), less than 89,000miles, fully loaded, not a lot else it could have (but i have found some ).
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/896363.htm

 

[45375]

Hi,
Just had a quick look and found this one, Full history, Black, it has xenons (headlamp wash/wipe), rear electric blind, folding mirrors, and Partronic (parking sensors), less than 89,000miles, fully loaded, not a lot else it could have (but i have found some ).
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/896363.htm

Thanks Andy.
I noticed that one too, there's a nice Siver one with similar mileage on P/H, which can be bought for 4.5K but the black one on ebay is very attractive. I've contacted the seller to get a bit more info, so we'll see what he says.
If the car has been maintained properly,the mileage should'nt be a problem.

Michael

 

[Quickbrit]

Might be an idea to have it looked over for worn out consumables...

The front discs and pads are a small fortune.

MikeE

 

[bigasotonuk]

Like Quickbrit says, do pay attention to the condition of the front discs as genuine MB replacements are about £180 each, pads are,nt to bad as you do get change from £100 for them.
Though you can buy Black Diamond drilled and grooved front discs for it at £203 a pair, with £54 buying the recommended pads for the discs.
Do check the condition of the exhaust system as this is in the region of £2500-£2700, but do bear in mind this would include 4 CATs.
Though you don,t see many rusty C43's do check around the wheel arches, and where the side skirts meet the body including in the door shuts.
Suspension wise there the same as a normal 202, so check for lower ball joints for wear and steering joints, (inc. uneven tyre wear), these are no more expensive to replace than a normal 202.
The car when driven should pull evenly and smoothly throughout the rev range and the gear changes should be almost seamless.
Budget for a gearbox oil & filter change (unless it is documented as being done in the vehicles history) as soon as you get it as it was never a service requirement as MB in their infinite wisdom said they were sealed for life, but do use genuine MB fluid, and filter.

 

[45375]

Like Quickbrit says, do pay attention to the condition of the front discs as genuine MB replacements are about £180 each, pads are,nt to bad as you do get change from £100 for them.
Though you can buy Black Diamond drilled and grooved front discs for it at £203 a pair, with £54 buying the recommended pads for the discs.
Do check the condition of the exhaust system as this is in the region of £2500-£2700, but do bear in mind this would include 4 CATs.
Though you don,t see many rusty C43's do check around the wheel arches, and where the side skirts meet the body including in the door shuts.
Suspension wise there the same as a normal 202, so check for lower ball joints for wear and steering joints, (inc. uneven tyre wear), these are no more expensive to replace than a normal 202.
The car when driven should pull evenly and smoothly throughout the rev range and the gear changes should be almost seamless.
Budget for a gearbox oil & filter change (unless it is documented as being done in the vehicles history) as soon as you get it as it was never a service requirement as MB in their infinite wisdom said they were sealed for life, but do use genuine MB fluid, and filter.

I'll wan't to see the service records of the car, that way I can see what's been done to the car over it's life, whatever the mileage .

 

[Seeker_UK]

I seem to remember the C43s have a very nasty habit of munching gearboxes at about 100K.

 

[45375]

I seem to remember the C43s have a very nasty habit of munching gearboxes at about 100K.

I've heard that, but it seems it the electronic bit that goes wrong, not the actual box.:-?

 

[Seeker_UK]

I've heard that, but it seems it the electronic bit that goes wrong, not the actual box.:-?

No, it's mechanical failure.

 

[television]

No, it's mechanical failure.

Would that be the plate that fails, when the speed sensor fails to pick up the speed signal

 

[Seeker_UK]

Good question. AFAIK, the issue is down to the ECU causing some very 'sharp' changes and ultimately putting a strain on all the bits inside. Rebuilds at 60K are not unknown but MB do not recognise a problem.

Apparently, good preventative measures are to change ATF fluid (always a good piece of advice) and to get ECU reprogrammed to stop aggressive changes.

 

[television]

What I find interesting on this thread is I have always said,think about the gearbox before you chip a car, the chippers disagree with me and say that there is no problem

 

[bigasotonuk]

What you are saying Seeker seems to make sense, as i have always believed mechanically these gearboxes were no worse or better than any other 722.6 G/B, in fact there are C43's running around in the States with E55 motors fitted to them with high mileages and no reported problems, even one that is used on a drag strip with 500BHP and a standard 43 box, but just additional Auto fluid coolers, but one thing that was common with them all is they have all been chipped which included the gear change thresholds.
The 2000 model has updated G/B ECU and is also Tiptronic and is rare as hens teeth.

 

[Seeker_UK]

If you buy a C43, (or C36 or C55 for that matter), as I said on a previous thread, change the ATF fluid immediately. Although MB will say 'sealed for life', after 40/50k miles of transferring power from the engine to the diff, the ATF is going to be pretty manky and not functioning as well as it should.

 

[MarkCL]

Don't want to seem like a grouch, but this was a thread about the C43 - really speaking the queries about the audio etc should have been spun off in to their own thread as they were completely unrelated to the C43 as far as I can tell :?

Any chance a moderator could split the wheat from the chaff on this one? Might make it easier when someone is searching for stuff on either of these subjects in the future?

Whinge mode off

Cheers,
Mark

 

[45375]

Mark, I'll go along with that.

Michael