C36 vs. C43
#151
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I wonder if those are 19's?
#152
if you read the specs from what they say the back lip is bigger then the front i will post pics when they arrive.
#154
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thanx
#155
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BMW and Mercedes
I had quoted all your counter points and continued to argue my case, but when I was done writing I deleted the whole thing and decided that there is really no point in writing so much.
The only thing I have to say is that consistently averaging 25 MPG in mixed driving on a car that was EPA tested 18/23 is pretty talented. Especially considering that the EPA highway testing for (pre 2008) is at 55mph with no A/C.
p.s
w203. w204 is the 2008+
The only thing I have to say is that consistently averaging 25 MPG in mixed driving on a car that was EPA tested 18/23 is pretty talented. Especially considering that the EPA highway testing for (pre 2008) is at 55mph with no A/C.
p.s
w203. w204 is the 2008+
Last edited by FLYNAVY; 07-11-2008 at 01:24 PM.
#159
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'98 C43 AMG. Obsidian Blk w/2 tone slvr/blk interior
Sorry, w204 was a typo on my part. Anyway, I still assert that you don't know what you are talking about. Come back when you have more than a google-derived understanding of this (hence your inference that 55 mph is an optimum speed for fuel efficiency), and we can talk. Also, I never said I was running A/C (although I was at a very low level). Not sure why you are convinced that I am lying....feeling a bit argumentative are we?
#160
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BMW and Mercedes
look here, thats the speed! when a car receives its highway rating, they take that rating at the crossroads of drag vs cruising speed to obtain optimal gas mileage. this mileage is acheived almost always at mid to high 50's. as a fellow engineer, you should know that drag increases exponentially with speed. in addition to learning this (just recently mind you, you seem like youre 50 and havent stepped foot in a college in years) academically, i can also attest to this fact from my experience as a road or mountain biker. you cant go too fast because wind drag starts accumulating at a very agressive rate, and you must find a sweet zone that matches your cadence or youre not going anywhere without a struggle.
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FWIW I am actually relatively fresh out of the classroom myself, though I vowed to never return to either engineering, or engineering school
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Last edited by FLYNAVY; 07-11-2008 at 01:18 PM.
#162
when i talked to the guy he said they weight somewhere in the 20lb's mark so thats good enough for me , as long as they dont weigh as much as the monoll i had im happy.
#163
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88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
You are correct in saying that parasite drag increases exponentially w/ speed as its own independent factor, but you have to look at the ratio at which this increase in drag (and resultant increase in fuel burn to overcome it) compares to the corresponding increase in distance covered per unit time over the speed range of concern (say 55 to 65 mph). This will tell you whether parasite drag is a limiting factor in this speed range. Just from first-hand experience (throwing all theory aside) I've tested my car specifically and have not found my optimum fuel efficiency to be anywhere near 55, or even in the 50's......not that 76 mph is the most efficient speed (it is prob in the low 60's), but it is kind of irrelevant anyways since that is the gas mileage I actually saw going 76 on the freeway
FWIW I am actually relatively fresh out of the classroom myself, though I vowed to never return to either engineering, or engineering school![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
FWIW I am actually relatively fresh out of the classroom myself, though I vowed to never return to either engineering, or engineering school
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![EEK!](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
I'll back what you are concluding by my recent experience.
Drove my C43 to Charleston SC in early May.
One way about 610 miles, 450 of those miles being I95.
Speed limit on I95 in the Carolins is 75 MPH.
Drove an average of about 60MPH on the way down and got about 20MPG.
Hot footed on the return and averaged over 70, with I95 more over 80 and realized 23 MPG...:y
#164
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1996 C36 (Gone but not forgotten), 2004 CLK55, 2008 911 C2S
Time to put my $0.02 in! ![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
We bought our '96 C36 in June, 2000. It had just over 47K miles on it (~950 miles, or 1 week left on the original warranty!). We have never had the wire harness replaced, nor are we aware that it was replaced before we bought the car. I'll pass 141,300 miles by the time I get home tonight. Oil changes every 4k miles (the car came with dinosaur oil, and we still use it). Other scheduled maintenance when required (brake fluid, coolant flush, tranny fluid, etc). The only real "major" problems have been:
- Timing chain was loose/rattling (they conveniently "discovered" this one month after our extended warranty expired...
)
- After some a/c repairs, they installed a new thermostat which required a software upgrade to the climate control, and they didn't do it/didn't know about it, so for about a month, the auxiliary cooling fans would come on every 20-30 seconds and stay on for minutes at a time. They replaced the thermostat two more times before they figured that one out.
- Fuel level sender went south, had that replaced. It's weird driving on an "Empty" fuel tank all the time, especially after a fill-up!
- Currently have a freon leak in the a/c compressor. They filled up the freon again, and if it gets us through the summer, fine. This we won't be fixing.
- EGR valve got clogged, just had that (and all related parts) replaced.
Other than that, the car has been very reliable, and an absolute joy to drive. We had the fuel injector cleaning service done maybe 4 years ago, but it didn't seem to make a noticeable difference at all to me. I installed Green filters in both cars about 2 years ago, and the C definitely seems peppier in the low RPM range.
The only other "problem" is the MB paint job. We have upwards of a dozen spots on the C where the paint has bubbled/chipped, and you can see rust underneath. The biggest one is about the size of a nickel. And this on a car I detail (wash/clay/wax) twice a year. And the finish is peeling in places on all four Monoblock IIs.
Did I mention we get 24-26mpg highway? I don't have any hard numbers since I haven't calculated in a while.
Would I trade it for a C43? Nope, got the W209 CLK55 for that!![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Edit: Just saw Wes's C43 for sale. Now that C43 I'd trade for!
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
We bought our '96 C36 in June, 2000. It had just over 47K miles on it (~950 miles, or 1 week left on the original warranty!). We have never had the wire harness replaced, nor are we aware that it was replaced before we bought the car. I'll pass 141,300 miles by the time I get home tonight. Oil changes every 4k miles (the car came with dinosaur oil, and we still use it). Other scheduled maintenance when required (brake fluid, coolant flush, tranny fluid, etc). The only real "major" problems have been:
- Timing chain was loose/rattling (they conveniently "discovered" this one month after our extended warranty expired...
![Mad](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
- After some a/c repairs, they installed a new thermostat which required a software upgrade to the climate control, and they didn't do it/didn't know about it, so for about a month, the auxiliary cooling fans would come on every 20-30 seconds and stay on for minutes at a time. They replaced the thermostat two more times before they figured that one out.
- Fuel level sender went south, had that replaced. It's weird driving on an "Empty" fuel tank all the time, especially after a fill-up!
- Currently have a freon leak in the a/c compressor. They filled up the freon again, and if it gets us through the summer, fine. This we won't be fixing.
- EGR valve got clogged, just had that (and all related parts) replaced.
Other than that, the car has been very reliable, and an absolute joy to drive. We had the fuel injector cleaning service done maybe 4 years ago, but it didn't seem to make a noticeable difference at all to me. I installed Green filters in both cars about 2 years ago, and the C definitely seems peppier in the low RPM range.
The only other "problem" is the MB paint job. We have upwards of a dozen spots on the C where the paint has bubbled/chipped, and you can see rust underneath. The biggest one is about the size of a nickel. And this on a car I detail (wash/clay/wax) twice a year. And the finish is peeling in places on all four Monoblock IIs.
Did I mention we get 24-26mpg highway? I don't have any hard numbers since I haven't calculated in a while.
Would I trade it for a C43? Nope, got the W209 CLK55 for that!
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Edit: Just saw Wes's C43 for sale. Now that C43 I'd trade for!
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Last edited by F14Tomcat; 07-11-2008 at 04:23 PM.
#166
Super Member
I would tend to agree!
But also, I feel obliged to say, he'd mentioned to me how atypically reluctant he was to part with this particular vehicle (unlike all the others he had parted with in the past)... and further had found another way to raise funds so would not be parting with it!
So I still have a chance to drive in it.
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#167
why would you trade for W209 CLK55? Personally I'd MUCH rather have the W208 CLK55, its lighter, has more potential, bulletproof reliability, more masculine design etc.
just my honest opinion, thats all
just my honest opinion, thats all
#168
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#169
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#170
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#171
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I drive almost exclusively highway and track my mileage and I get around 24 MPG driving 75-80 MPH. I got 26-27 MPG when I bought the car and was driving it home from Alabama because I was only doing about 65 since the tags were from my other car and the MAF was slowly failing at that point.
#173
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1996 C36 (Gone but not forgotten), 2004 CLK55, 2008 911 C2S
I would tend to agree!
But also, I feel obliged to say, he'd mentioned to me how atypically reluctant he was to part with this particular vehicle (unlike all the others he had parted with in the past)... and further had found another way to raise funds so would not be parting with it!
So I still have a chance to drive in it. ![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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#174
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1996 C36 (Gone but not forgotten), 2004 CLK55, 2008 911 C2S
#175
am also selling mine now since im 23 live on my own and still make payments on the c43, and gas is killing me, any sugestions , i guess since i owe on it id have to trade it in to a dealer wonder how much their gonna rape me.