C36 AMG, C43 AMG (W202) 1995 - 2000

Average Gas Mileage?

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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 01:50 PM
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bagelsjustbagel's Avatar
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Question Average Gas Mileage?

Hey i was trying to decide between a C36 for Economy, vs. C43 for more power, but the economy drops so much, and the 0-60 seems to only cange by .1 of a second. Anybody want to try and persuade me to a certain side, and back it up with info.

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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 01:58 PM
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I was logging a reliable 25-27 mpg on my 3000 mi cross country trip recently in the C43, to include hauling 900#'s of luggage and stuff......and a full bag of gas.

And don't let the 0-60 times decieve you, the C43 is a much stronger car all throughout the power range than the C36. I would prefer a C36 on a track, but for everyday driving, the '43 always has the ***** to pull where the C36 can feel anemic at times.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 04:31 PM
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190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
The C43 gets much better fuel consumpton than the C32 that I had before it. I have a c240 and that doesn't go too much further per tank either when they are both driven in the normal commute.

I've never had a C36 so i'm not sure about it's fuel economy but I've always been surprised how good the C43 is for it's power and engine size.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by FLYNAVY
I was logging a reliable 25-27 mpg on my 3000 mi cross country trip recently in the C43, to include hauling 900#'s of luggage and stuff......and a full bag of gas.

And don't let the 0-60 times decieve you, the C43 is a much stronger car all throughout the power range than the C36. I would prefer a C36 on a track, but for everyday driving, the '43 always has the ***** to pull where the C36 can feel anemic at times.
Yup, until you get the C36 to over 4k rpm its nothing amazing.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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1999 C43 AMG
with normal driving, i get 300-320miles per full tank, plus, i like to hear the some "music" when i stomp on the gas pedal
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by svt ricco
with normal driving, i get 300-320miles per full tank, plus, i like to hear the some "music" when i stomp on the gas pedal
This is with highway driving right? People should state they get whatever mpg but also say if its all city/highway or mixed.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by myc43amg
This is with highway driving right? People should state they get whatever mpg but also say if its all city/highway or mixed.
city and highway, i never drive on traffic that's why there's no stop and go for me.

i remember when i went to LA, most i got was 350 with needle in empty position, that was all highway miles
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 09:09 PM
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'98 C43 AMG. Obsidian Blk w/2 tone slvr/blk interior
i would go for a c36 and chip it, youll probably be brushing up on 29-30 mpg at a gentle highway cruise speed. of course get a 97 c36 they have the 5spd auto with the final drive being OD. the 4spd did not have OD on the final gear, this affects the highway gas mileage
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 09:16 PM
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sounds like airplane
the economy can't really be that different between the cars- the C43 gets very good gas mileage everything considered.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 09:27 PM
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Wow, I was banking on 400+ miles / tank every time on the road, regardless of A/c, hard use during passing, etc......I was VERY impressed w/ the car as a "GT", to say the least. Not a single problem in over 3000 miles through every different climate imaginable

I normally get about a week of use out of a tank during city use, which I suppose equated to around 300 miles generally speaking
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 10:16 PM
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Cool

so i understand the C43 is also alot more Rare, If i were to CHip a C36 how much would that be, and how would theat improve my performance. I would research this, but you guys are the pro's.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by FLYNAVY
Wow, I was banking on 400+ miles / tank every time on the road, regardless of A/c, hard use during passing, etc......I was VERY impressed w/ the car as a "GT", to say the least. Not a single problem in over 3000 miles through every different climate imaginable

I normally get about a week of use out of a tank during city use, which I suppose equated to around 300 miles generally speaking
Wow, you guys must have LONG streets with hardly any stop signs/lights??? Anyone here from chicago that get these 19-20 mpg with 14-15 gallons of gas on a C43? I can get 23 mpg on just highway, but city driving in chicago is crazy. I can only get 14mpg.
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Old Apr 8, 2008 | 11:33 PM
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Geez, I never get over 22, get about 18.5 around town/hwy mix.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 12:10 AM
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Well math would say that 300 miles / tank in the C43 is around 18 mpg, which is well within the manufacturer's claims. So no, no long streets with no lights or anything funny. I also don't drive like a 16 yr old, so that might make a difference, not knowing how all of you drive. For the record, the C43 holds just over 16 gallons. If you're getting much lower than 17-18 mpg around town (and you aren't just driving the hell out of your car), it might be time for a tune up.....you know, plugs, filters, maybe even a new MAS.

In fact, the C36 is "rarer" than the C43 if you look at production numbers. That said, I've seen very few of either so it is probably kind of a moot point. Chipping the m104 from a C36 will not give you the same feel as the V8 from a C43....it will always be a revvy motor, if not more-so with a chip. Maybe I'm just biased, but after driving both back to back I can honestly say I wasn't that impressed w/ the C36 (no offense to any '36 owners, just personal opinion) in everyday driving conditions.

Last edited by FLYNAVY; Apr 9, 2008 at 12:16 AM.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 04:05 AM
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Just checked my '99 C43 with now 101,100 miles:
The 6,872 miles I've driven it has earned 17.62 MPG.
The last 1789 miles earned 17.66 MPG.
(Mostly city (upstate New York) style go, stop, idle, go, etc.)

Between fill ups, I've gotten as high as about 21 MPG, and as low as about 16 MPG.


For reference, my '99 C280 Sport with 37,823 miles:
The 9,809 miles I've driven it has earned 22.57 MPG.
(This was somewhat more highway type miles than city.)
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 04:43 AM
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I also drive a A170 for work (the road service car). It has a few tools in the back, even with the tool box there wouldn't be more than 200lb in the back.

There is a set run I used to drive at 3am, so no traffic, for about 50km/30mi. It has an average speed of about 70kph/45mph, a few hills and always driven on cruise control.

The A170 averages 9.1l/100km when driven on this run, the C43 averages 8.2l/100km (sorry, don't know the mpg).

The difference in driving is that the c43 has alot more usable torque so it never shifts out of 5th for the trip, the A170 (CVT) will rev upto 4500rpm in auto on cruise control to try and maintain speed up the same hills......thats where the fuel is going!
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:11 AM
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I got as high as 26-27 MPG when doing all highway. I get as low as 18-19 MPG during my daily commute, which is no highway but also not that many lights. I usually get around 260 miles on 14 gallons.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:22 AM
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I have my fingers X'd trying to get over 290 miles on a tank. I also drive in NYC daily. No real highway miles. Did get about 330 miles on a tank on my way from from buying the car up the east coast.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:32 AM
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Well, I did not do the math 300/16 because who lets their tank go that low? The lowest I have let it go is a fill up of 15 but ususally 14 gallons thats it. 300/15 is 20mpg. My car is well tuned with 5 month old bosh plugs,green filters,mas, and once every other month sea foam to keep things clean. I have not changed the gas filter but in my life of owning all kind of cars I have never noticed any difference in mpg or power when changed.

I do ALOT of short distance drives and stop and go. no matter which cars ~ have owned mpg gave been really bad unless I go on the highway or the suburbs(long streets).

So I believe that one can get more or less mpg depending where they live and how long of a distance they drive. I have driven my car normal and sometimes a little heavy on the pedal and have not seen THAT much of a big difference in mpg to make me want to drive like a little old lady. So I enjoy the drive accordingly.......


Originally Posted by FLYNAVY
Well math would say that 300 miles / tank in the C43 is around 18 mpg, which is well within the manufacturer's claims. So no, no long streets with no lights or anything funny. I also don't drive like a 16 yr old, so that might make a difference, not knowing how all of you drive. For the record, the C43 holds just over 16 gallons. If you're getting much lower than 17-18 mpg around town (and you aren't just driving the hell out of your car), it might be time for a tune up.....you know, plugs, filters, maybe even a new MAS.

In fact, the C36 is "rarer" than the C43 if you look at production numbers. That said, I've seen very few of either so it is probably kind of a moot point. Chipping the m104 from a C36 will not give you the same feel as the V8 from a C43....it will always be a revvy motor, if not more-so with a chip. Maybe I'm just biased, but after driving both back to back I can honestly say I wasn't that impressed w/ the C36 (no offense to any '36 owners, just personal opinion) in everyday driving conditions.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by bagelsjustbagel
Hey i was trying to decide between a C36 for Economy, vs. C43 for more power, but the economy drops so much, and the 0-60 seems to only cange by .1 of a second. Anybody want to try and persuade me to a certain side, and back it up with info.

Thanks

I think you should get the C43 for other reasons then mentioned, mainly reliability. I've also read that it's easier to get parts for the C43 and that some C36s had to wait for parts to get shipped from Germany (took weeks to get the car fixed), of course you should treat this information as internet babel unless someone else can confirm it.

For all the C43 owners, don't feel bad about your MPG, I had a 1996 J30 (3.0l and slow as a dog) that gets 16 mpg city and at best 23 highway. MBs do alright when it comes to MPG.

Last edited by C280Sportster; Apr 9, 2008 at 09:42 AM.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:59 AM
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Alright, so you would agree w/ my statement that you should at least be getting 17-18 mpg in the city? Yes, you absolutely get differing gas mileage depening on driving style, type of driving (cruising in 5th vs bumping around town in 2nd and 3rd), ambient pressure, temp, etc. The difference should not be more than a couple mpg +/- though for either figure (city or highway).

Originally Posted by myc43amg
Well, I did not do the math 300/16 because who lets their tank go that low? The lowest I have let it go is a fill up of 15 but ususally 14 gallons thats it. 300/15 is 20mpg. My car is well tuned with 5 month old bosh plugs,green filters,mas, and once every other month sea foam to keep things clean. I have not changed the gas filter but in my life of owning all kind of cars I have never noticed any difference in mpg or power when changed.

I do ALOT of short distance drives and stop and go. no matter which cars ~ have owned mpg gave been really bad unless I go on the highway or the suburbs(long streets).

So I believe that one can get more or less mpg depending where they live and how long of a distance they drive. I have driven my car normal and sometimes a little heavy on the pedal and have not seen THAT much of a big difference in mpg to make me want to drive like a little old lady. So I enjoy the drive accordingly.......
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 07:48 PM
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"Alright, so you would agree w/ my statement that you should at least be getting 17-18 mpg in the city?"

Yes if you live in a city with long streets and do long drives.
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by myc43amg
"Alright, so you would agree w/ my statement that you should at least be getting 17-18 mpg in the city?"

Yes if you live in a city with long streets and do long drives.
Not sure what your definition of that is, but fair enough
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by FLYNAVY
Not sure what your definition of that is, but fair enough
Well, here in chicago the streets are shorth and lots of stop lights and stop signs. In the suburbs the streets are longer some twice as long depending where you at. Example, when I bought my c43 I got it from some kind of suburb (I forgot) but it was a LONG drive. From there to my home I used a half a tank and got 17 mpg on ROADS. Hardly no light or stop signs. Now I can drive by on my normal routes by my home and use the same half a tank I only get 14mpg.

Another example, when I had another car with a V8 I use to get 10-11mpg riding a LONG square route for a few hours and got 10-11mpg. Filled her up again and did the same route BUT at NIGHT with no traffic and catching many lights on green and got 17-18mpg.

So it really all depends when and where you drive to get 18mpg on the CITY. Trust me I love to expirement and these are the results I got testing time and time and time again!

If I lived in the burbs I would get 17-18mpf easy. But I dont and I do alot od small drives with stop lights and stop signs so my mpd suffers no matter what kind of car I own. Even with a 4 cylinder I owned I use to get 15-16mpg when everyone on the boards said they got 20-22mpg.

I asked them if their roads where LONG with few stop signs... and they said. YES!
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Old Apr 9, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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Good deal....the other thing I have noticed (which you all probably have too) is that the 1st qtr tank goes really slowly, and then from 3/4 down to 1/4 the gauge moves pretty quickly. Just a random observation, not really relevant to gas mileage but whatever....
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