Lend me your Ear - Used C32 AMG Purchase
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 83
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario
2002 CLK 320
Lend me your Ear - Used C32 AMG Purchase
Hey Guys / Gals,
I've always wanted to own a MB AMG and I've always loved the styling of the W203. In my area (Ontario, Canada) there's currently a 2003 C32 AMG with around 174,000 kms / 110,000 Miles. The asking price is around $3500 CDN / $2500 USD. From what I can tell based on service records, the car had alot of maintenance done and parts replaced up until April of 2017 with no accidents. In terms of rust (I didn't get to see it on a lift), there's only a bit around the rear driver wheel well and a couple small spots on the passenger side.
Obviously without you guys seeing it you can't give me a true answer but I was wondering what would be your thoughts in purchasing this and using this strictly as a summer car (maybe 2 - 3 months of driving per year with a max of about 3,000 KMS added in this time period).
I'm sure right off the bat I'll need to maybe change brakes or at least do some maintenance on them (when I say "I'll need" I mean i will get a shop to do it) and probably oil and other fluids. Additionally, the hood struts are shot but that should be simple enough to do myself.
Let me know your thoughts
I've always wanted to own a MB AMG and I've always loved the styling of the W203. In my area (Ontario, Canada) there's currently a 2003 C32 AMG with around 174,000 kms / 110,000 Miles. The asking price is around $3500 CDN / $2500 USD. From what I can tell based on service records, the car had alot of maintenance done and parts replaced up until April of 2017 with no accidents. In terms of rust (I didn't get to see it on a lift), there's only a bit around the rear driver wheel well and a couple small spots on the passenger side.
Obviously without you guys seeing it you can't give me a true answer but I was wondering what would be your thoughts in purchasing this and using this strictly as a summer car (maybe 2 - 3 months of driving per year with a max of about 3,000 KMS added in this time period).
I'm sure right off the bat I'll need to maybe change brakes or at least do some maintenance on them (when I say "I'll need" I mean i will get a shop to do it) and probably oil and other fluids. Additionally, the hood struts are shot but that should be simple enough to do myself.
Let me know your thoughts
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 83
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario
2002 CLK 320
Thanks alot for your reply rilonprime. I'll definitely get the PPI going to see what I have to deal with. Hopefully the dealer the car is at now allows me to take it to get the PPI if not then that's the end of my interest
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 9
From: Birmingham, Michigan
04 C32 AMG (sadly sold), 05 CLK55 Cab, 08 R350 4Matic, 15 GLA250 (sadly bought), 75 VW Westfalia
How good are you at DIY? That's what's kept me in my '04 C32 to 218K miles (bought it with 70K), in Michigan. If you are dependent on a dealership you'll go broke. Also, has the transmission had the radiator replaced? Up to '03 had an issue with leaking coolant into the trans fluid, but with so many miles on that one it's probably been dealt with. I'm of the opinion that once these cars get to a certain age, the really scary stuff has already happened and been dealt with by MB with TSB's so all you really have to deal with are typical maintenance issues (brakes, serpentine belt/pulleys, etc) that are DIY stuff. If oil changes have been religiously done with Mobil 1, the engine stays strong almost forever.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 83
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario
2002 CLK 320
How good are you at DIY? That's what's kept me in my '04 C32 to 218K miles (bought it with 70K), in Michigan. If you are dependent on a dealership you'll go broke. Also, has the transmission had the radiator replaced? Up to '03 had an issue with leaking coolant into the trans fluid, but with so many miles on that one it's probably been dealt with. I'm of the opinion that once these cars get to a certain age, the really scary stuff has already happened and been dealt with by MB with TSB's so all you really have to deal with are typical maintenance issues (brakes, serpentine belt/pulleys, etc) that are DIY stuff. If oil changes have been religiously done with Mobil 1, the engine stays strong almost forever.
