C43

[adl]

How many C43 owners are on here and may I pick your brains over any warrenty claims, and general running costs? As I am looking to spend 15-20 k on a 98-00 year example.
Any hints ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[angus falconer]

Hi

I have been running an 00 W C43 for six months. It had done 41k when I got it, 43k now.

I am trying to keep mine immaculate so am spending a fair amount - put some new Contis on when I got it (£600) am about to replace all discs and pads (£800) and also am about to have a B+ service at a specialist (with some additionals like 4 wheel alignment and gearbox fluid change - the latter is essential at this sort of mileage if you believe the bulletin boards). I expect this service to cost up to £1000

Rear tyres seem to last 10k miles. Disks and pads won't last too long. Servicing is costly even at a specialist. So my budget (ex-fuel) for 10k miles a year is minimum £1k, max £2.5k. (MPG varies from 13 round town to 25 on a run)

Of course there are others on this BB with far more Merc experience than me but hopefully you get some pointers from that.

I don't mind spending a lot every year on what is an extremely fast hand-fettled specialist car with reletively low depreciation. And a stonking great V8.

 

[Tinyflier]

My C43 is "S" reg (!999) and has covered about 44K miles.

Find yourself a good non franchised MB specialist and have them service and treat your C43 properly using genuine parts and respect service intervals. These cars are fairly bullet proof and running costs are reasonable APART from disc/pads which as previous post says will cost £800-£1000 to replace and expect to do this every 35-40K miles.

David

 

[adl]

Pads and Disks

Are you all replacing with genuine MB parts for disks and pads as surley you can get aftermaket disks cheaper?
I will look into it. Regards ADL

 

[Tinyflier]

As far as I know there are no replacement discs/pads for the C43 other than genuine MB units, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

Actually - let me be clearer, there are no non MB brake units that are CHEAPER (!) than MB supplied e.g. I can go to Tarox (whose discs/calipers I use on one of my other cars) and buy their units but even I balk at around £2K for (albeit significantly improved) discs/calipers etc.

David

 

[grayb]

The costs we have incurred in 9 months / 6000 miles are:

defunct a/c compressor - £1100 (so make sure you use your a/c regularly!) and, ... that's it!

The front nearside tyre has scrubbed it's outer edge, so will need replacing soon - we had a 4 wheel laser alignment check early on, nothing out of line, so perhaps it's just the way it happens?

We do have a slightly concerning clonk from the nearside front suspension when turning right in wet weather - which has been investigated, with no play found. This is a puzzle which I have been meaning to post on the forum.

We are due a service next month though, so we'll see what happens then. We've taken out a WarrantyDirect cover on the driveline - in view of the rumours about gearbox failures at 50k miles - £200+ per annum.

Fuel economy (as if it matters on this sort of car) - have had 30mpg on a week long trip to Devon, and 22-25 seems quite usual for our mix of driving (not much city driving).

Oh yes, and I agree with David - the AMG brakes are one of the most specialist parts of the car, with two part discs held together with pins (motorcycle style?) and so I dont think pattern parts are an option. Besides they work brilliantly and the car would be less without them.

Enjoy!

 

[angus falconer]

With the regards to the discs and pads I searched all over to get non-MB parts but couldn't find any savings.

One thing thing that helps relieve the pain when you see them is that the discs are enormous - front and rear. And as one of the contributors pointed out above the fronts are pretty high tech.

Good for repeated emergency braking from 150 to 100 all day every day on the autobahn.....

 

[adl]

Performance Figures?

Does anybody have the official MB figures or any magazine road tests with more realistic figures?
I was looking on google and on an american website they have C43 disks at $58 even if this is each they are very cheap including import tax and freight! might have to check the chassis numbers but they must all be the same even in the USA.

 

[Tinyflier]

$58!!!!! Fifty Eight Dollars!!!!! Are you sure? If so then I'll buy a complete set if they are genuine AMG C43 parts.

I have a copy of the original roadtest of the C43 from Autocar (Aug 98), if you want me to fax you a copy give me your number and I'll be happy to send it.

David

 

[adl]

Disks-Website

http://catalog.overnightautoparts.com/?year=2000&make=MB&imageField.x=75&imageField.y=10

This is the web page for the company!
Fax Number is 02087572887. Or your could email me the a PDF file if you have a scanner??
Many Thanks.
That web page above has the model and chassis number so it should be easy to check!
Regards A Lawson.
If you can Pdf PM me.

 

[Tinyflier]

Thanks for that link, looks really useful!

Will get on the fax or pdf case tomorrow for you.

David

 

[LAMPSLIGHTS]

C43 spares

I purchased my C43 from a Main dealer over the internet last June 21,400mls like new.I use it every day get 20mpg local 28mpg on a run.
Eurocarparts have supplied me with service spares filters plugs front and rear pads.The pads are the same as used on a 7ser Bmw.Get hold of a parts book from your local motor factor, if you take the time you can find all the parts you want. I aslo run an old 944 and a quattro ur,you would be suprised how much price difference there is in the same part.
Speed-Autoteile in germany is good for parts but expensive on carraige.
I purchase parts for the 944 from pelican-parts in the states.There is also a couple of sites on ebay under mercedes spares for the odd part.Find someone who travels to Germany a lot to bring bits back.Local tyre dealer who sells used tyres is a good bet.
I have only changed the oil+filter todate ,and the car has up to 30,500mls.
Only this week I have purchased a set (4) of Michelin pilot sport on ebay for less than £500.My son who has a Bmw 330 gets his tyres from Spain,
from a member in the Bmw forum.
If you take time you can buy right and the genuine part.

 

[adl]

Micheldever Tyres

This company near winchester do amasing prices on tyres! Honda quoted me 300 pounds for 2 No 245/40 ZR 17 Bridgestone RE010's I got the same tyres for 208 fitted! They have got good prices on MP's as well.

 

[angus falconer]

ADL - forgot to mention one other cost. I am about to invest in a Morpheus Roadpilot - fixed camera locator. It's about £500 for basic unit plus another £250 for additional radar detector. Not strictly speaking maintenance or at least not for the car - but worth it. Air and Sound Installations in W London stock and fit them.

 

[mjtray]

Re: Micheldever Tyres

This company near winchester do amasing prices on tyres! Honda quoted me 300 pounds for 2 No 245/40 ZR 17 Bridgestone RE010's I got the same tyres for 208 fitted! They have got good prices on MP's as well.

The company you mean is Micheldever Tyres on 01962-774437.......tyres cost literally half of what you would pay at a major tyre chain.

Well worth a visit.

 

[LAMPSLIGHTS]

HAVE A LOOK AT www.mbnz.org www.mbworld.org/home.html
and www.forrums.mbworld.org/forums/ there are a few C43 owners on all sites.

 

[grayb]

Have ordered my new front tyres. Following their resounding win in the Autocar tyre test (Oct 14) we have chosen Pirelli PZero Rosso. They are costing about £112 each fully fitted, which compared quite well with Elite at Dagenham, who are often the cheapest in the South East.

I will report back on how the tyres feel!

 

[angus falconer]

OK - so the final bill for my B service at 43,000 miles was.........£1250. It was more that my estimated £1000 but then again you can knock off some optional work - £100 for 4 wheel alignment, £160 for new ball joints and wishbone bushes/c£250 for the associated labour (my guess as I can't remember the actual breakdown), £35 for gearbox oil - total of £565 - so the service was around £700. Also bear in mind this is a very comprehensive service and won't need to be done again for a long time.

So going back to ADL's orginal question I will have spent £2500 in my first year of ownership of the car on consumables but in the second year could be down to £500 ("A" Service and say two tyres) - average £1500 pa.

By the way the service carried out by George Fraser of West London - highly recomended. George himself called me twice, once before and once during the work and insisted on putting it up on a ramp afterwards to show me what had been done after. Also answered a load of questions. The kind of service you don't come across every day.

 

[angus falconer]

I have covered another 4000 miles/6 months since last post - no further costs.

The brakes are still in storage as still don't need to have them fitted.

Air pipe came dislodged under seat (orthapoedic seats) but George Fraser fixed it in two minutes.

Had some small strips of felt fitted between reat seat back and cushion to stop irritating chirping.

Still love the car - also have noticed two more silver C43's, a silver C36 and black C36 within half a mile of my home in NW London - there must be something in the water here

 

[grayb]

Interested to hear about the air pipe on the seat - this happened to mine as well! Fixed it ourselves when we eventually decided to get round to it - the seat back cover is held on by 2 screws and then the dangling rubber pipe was plain to see.

Still happy with the P-Zero Rosso tyres - very good steering feel and grip with good comfort thrown in.

The car has now gone 18 months since it's last service and the indicator still shows 2100 miles to go, having done about 9000 miles. Mind you, the car isn't used every day, so the actual hours of use probably aren't that great.

Recently fitted a Becker Monza stereo - so much better than the Kenwood that was in the car when we bought it. Now thinking about finding somewhere to hide a subwoofer - any ideas?