andrewst

I have poured a lot of money into my 2002 C32 in the 4 months that I have owned it. Still under warranty the dealer had to change two idler pulleys, re-seal a gasket, replace motor for driver side-view-mirror, and heating element for the two front seats. Separately, I replaced the IC pump with Johnson and the radiator with Behr brands (cost of over $1,000). Two transmission liners were also changed. I am hoping this is the end of mechanical issues. I still have to fix cuts in bumper and give it a paint job. In all the C32 (now with 100K) has cost me close to 15K in total. I am wondering if it is worth doing the paint job. I am definitely enjoying the car. Every time i start it, it puts a smile on my face. Every time I press the gas pedal and briefly exceed 70 MPH on a 40 MPH road I appreciate the tremendous raw power of this car. I am not sure however if I should spend good money on a paint job. Will it ever become a collectible? I can enjoy a mechanically sound C32 for at least the next 4 years or so and then move on to another supercar. Any thoughts?
Andrew

c32AMG-DTM

Collectible? Not likely, no. Its value will plateau above normal w203's, of course, but it's unlikely it will ever start appreciating significantly in value. JMHO.

Dingleberry

over $1k? lol

1qikctr

I changed my to behr too and flush out fluids it cost 1700 at the MBZ dealer. I was too lazy to do it myself

As far as increase in value on c32, I doubt it I'm holding on to the car at the moment just b/c there are no buyers. On other note, I got offers of nice trades on some old Japanese exotics.

andrewst

book value of 2002 is only about $9500 on private trade.
andrew

LawRens

I highly doubt any of our AMG's will be collectible cars. If anything, the w124 500e is the last Mercedes-Benz collectible, if not the w201 Evo/II.

But of course, they're still our beloveds, and they'll be collectibles only to us...

TemjinX2

you would think it would...hand made engine, limited production, german origins. Sadly the demand just isn't there. There's more of a demand for m3's even though they made as many m3's in 8months as the full 3yrs with the c32.

If the cars paid off, i say just keep it until the wheels fall off.

skullbox15

Mine is a 2004 with 83k. I haven't put any money into other than general maintenance. However, I have just purchased ~1600 in stereo equipment. Still trying to get it installed.

Soposedly, I have one of the last C32s ever made. It's excpetionally rare being Capri blue. The original owner ordered it that color from the factory, but estimates actually value it less being that color?

I think the C32 is arguably, the beginning of the AMG line. It was the first model they had success selling, and the demand for all AMG cars increased after the C32. I was debating getting mine repainted as well. Everything else on mine looks good. My seats are still in good shape, no fading, rips or tears. However, my shift knob has worn down so you can't see the C32 emblem on it anymore, and hood has many chips and knicks from stuff hitting it. I recently switched jobs and my commute to the office is only 2.5 miles. Since the car is almost paid off I was thinking of keeping it and maybe getting the hood repainted.

I think my ultimate plan is to pay it off, save some money, and then get a pre-owned C63. Probably looking at around 2012 for that.

TemjinX2

well if your going to resell the car, you probably shouldn't paint it, especially if its a rare color. Usually it lowers the value of the car if you get it repainted from a rare color like that.

LawRens

Well, that sure hurts my c43's feelings

TemjinX2

lol lawrance, ok how about the first C-class AMG's after Mercedes fully purchased AMG.

W203Ramos

IMO the C43 AMG has that classic AMG look!!!

DrewZ9266

I don't think the AMG's will ever be big time collectibles.. but i think they'll hold their values to an extent. I can't see them ever being 5k lol. i think they'll be like any other AMG, c36/c43 and stay around 6,7-10k or more depending on the condition. A nice low mileage C32 will hold its value a little bit. AMG's are enthusiast cars, so their value will vary IMO.

It would also depend on where you live. A c32 around here is unheard of, much like most AMG's. IF somebody wants a c32 around here, and i have a nice one, it would bring a bit more.

I think i'll drive mine til its dead. It's a family car. I could always use it. Unless i have lots of $$$ down the road and can get me a cooler sedan lol.

waybomb

If it does or doesn't, for any modern collectible to be worth big bucks - it needs to be unused, with only factory parts on it.

Look at the prices, as an example, of an original, as-from-the-factory, exactly, Olds 68 w30 442 4 speed post coupe with a Canadian 4.33:1 posi rear, and one that's been driven, has non-factory parts on it, probably raced with a aftermarket parts, repainted, radial tires, etc. The latter is worth maybe 10% of the original condition car.

King320

Not a classic, or a supercar (in original post). MB cheapened the C32 and C55 by making SO many C230 sport sedans with the AMG styling package. No offense to the rest of the w203 crowd, but it did make the AMG models look less distinctive, just think if every 325i on the road had M wheel arches and body treatments.

hooleyboy

When I was looking for the SL, I seen a c32 for under 10k. At that price it dam well could be one of the best bang for the buck buys going. In fact I might just buy one.

If the C32 puts out 350hp and for 10K thats like $28 a horsepower. Total bargain IMO.

Classic? In our eyes yes. Collectible? yes.. That doesnt mean the price is going to go up though.

If I had a C32 I wouldn't sell it, but because it woudl be worth more to me to keep it than what I could get for it. I had every intention of doing this with my C55... We all know how that turned out.

moosejaw

Agree with ^, but MB had been doing this in Europe for years before.
I bet our cars would have better resale value if they didnt make the AMG package standard on C Class Sports

Look at this comparo, maybe i am wrong.
I bought my 2004 c32 in late 2005 (less than 2 years old) and which at that time probably retained 60% of its value (it had only 22K miles)
A 2008 C63 with 32K miles has retained 75% of its value

A shame since C32 productions numbers are so low compared to E55s.
Prob due to the fact no one wanted to spend +58K on a c-class.

unimoged

Waking up an old thread to see if opinions have changed on the collectability potential of the C32. I think in 2004 less than 400 were sold in the US. The C32 will catch up with the C43, hagerty shows a #1 classification for the C43 around 20 K and a #4 around 6500. Nothing published for the C32. I own both, a 1999 C43 and a 2004 C32, both in pristine condition with 80 K miles. The C32 runs and drives much tighter than the C43. Power and acceleration; The 32 is better off the line, but the interior fit and finish favor the C43. Also the headlights, what a variance. The C43 is a mini W140. The C32 competes with a Kia Amati for face looks..

kjb55

insame1

If any w203 becomes a collector car I would think it would be the 55 based on production numbers. It also has the CLK front end so it is an oddball.

porshapower

I have a funny feeling there are going to be many previous c32 owners wishing they had never sold their car. I returned from a trip from Germany a month ago and went to many car shows in Europe. Came across a few collectors hoarding C32's! He owns 12 already and said there is a collector in South America that has over 20 of them. He thinks they are going to be the next Evo 190. Lot of things he said made a lot of sense. I saw 2 '32's at a show in Romania as well. Guy in Romania said the 04 is the one to own if you can find one but the 03 and 02 are highly sought after already as well. Anyone have 04 they are looking to sell?

PJmak

Why the hell would a c32 be more desirable over any amg of that era?

C280 Sport

Ya no... If anything the C55 will be more valuable. Not that those will be worth a whole hell of a lot. However, I would not mind having a C32/C55. They are fun little cars.

porshapower

That is what I asked ....guess time will tell. I would think all the "small" benz amg's like the c36,c43,c32 and c55 will all climb.. Looking at the prices of Cosworth 190 16v and Evo cars and looking at Bmw M3's...seems like it is always the smaller sport models that get the cult following....vw gti..etc.

mars-red

Does anyone else here feel like a lot more of the C32s get totaled by catastrophic engine failure, than C55s? On one hand, I feel like C55s are a lot more robust (and I fully felt that way even before purchasing my C32), but on the other hand I have to wonder about the relative scarcity as the years roll by. Not that scarcity would be the only determining factor (there are plenty of rare cars that are almost worthless), but they are also both very good cars aside from that.

I certainly don't plan on getting rid of mine any time soon, but I'm curious to see what does happen to their value in the coming years. Prices are already all over the place - I've seen people asking anything from $1200 to $15k just over the past couple years, and it definitely does seem to be somewhat specific to the location.