Hello all,

Im thinking of buying a C43, and i was wondering if you ppl could give me some assist, because i dont know much about the problems, and things to be carefull with, with a car like this.
I already read a lot on this forum, but i hope you can give some info, i wouldn't have thought off.

Im dutch, so im sorry for the bad writing

What i do know about the car:
Its a W202 C43 build in 7-1999, with 198.000 km on the counter.
The car itselfs looks great! Only some minor spots.... It has been repainted (i think like max. a year ago). The engine sound great. No crunches, no noises..... The engine itself also looks like new....
The have refreshed all liquids and filters, put on new brakes/disks, and even the interior look pretty good. (only the leatherseats have some usermarks on them, the rest is really like, it just rolled from of the factory.

But thats also the thing that concerns me....
Since 2004 the car should have driven 75.000 km (MB check). Ofcourse it is possible that someone had this car, as its second or third car..... but i almost cant believe the kilometrage.

And.... the service books arent there ....I know thats a bad thing, but it wouldnt be a problem for me if i would be certain the car is good/trustworthly. Also, i higher kilometerage wouldn't be a big problem, as long as the maintenance has been done right.....

The other thing is, why would you respray a car? Well, my best two guesses are: simple, car had to much paint damage, and you respray the pain.
Or, the car had a crash, and they rebuild it....... However, the car has been imported by the company that owns the car at the moment.... so i cant recall other history a.t.m.

I did made an appointment with de company that sells the car, and i tolled them that i wanted to let the car be checked by a autorisesed MB dealer, and that was really no problem.....

So this week im going back to the company to take the car for a spin, and to take it to a benz dealer....

But, before i go, i would like to have some advise from you guys...
Can you give me some advice on:
- common problems with C43's to check before buying....
- thing to check to see if the kilometrage is plausible. with that i mean like with normal `wearing´ (dont know if its the right word)...
- things to check, to see if the maintenance has been done regulairly...

I would also like your opinion about buying this car. Do you think al the bad things, "outnumber" the good things? The care is for sale for € 8.500 (euro's!)

I hope you can help me ,
Thank you very much!

Greetings Coen

 

Hey buddy!

First of all!
A car without service manual without any evidence of proof for service been done!
I WOULD NEVER BUY AN AMG!
That car has been fu---- on Autobahn!
Only driving and less service makes the car in long run be a bad purchase for you!
Why do you want to buy an imported car?
Buy an official Dutch version of the C43 instead!
There are many honest Nabil Jamil's in Germany with their legitimate office in their pockets, and not a real office in a building selling cheap and crap Benzes!
I know many of these shady sellers, and only thing they want is to screw you!
I once bought a car from a person named Ali something, NEVER AGAIN!
These sellers are as honest as junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They give you warranty, they say!
The warranty reaches just around the corner, not further!
You will only end up with problems!

Respraying the car is beacause the paint was to much chipped, rusty, vandalised or car was crashed?
Take your pick!

Problems:
Rust on upper door surroundings where the seal is attached!
Fold the seal to see if there is rust between metal and rubber seal!
This was a HUGE problem in Europe, especially in Sweden!

Rust on lower doors, around trunk lock cylinder, wheel arches, front bonnet.
Hidden rust trap on firewall ends where the rubber seal is mounted!

Bootlock cylinder goes bad if you only use remote key!
When your battery in the trunk dies on you and you'll be out of luck getting in the trunk!
Always leave one of the fold seats unlocked!

Klima head unit have pixel problems!
Tap the glas to have the digits back!

Instrument cluster on millenium cars with tiptronic have pixel problems!

Transmission problems if the oil is not changed on regular basis, KAPUT!
Electronic conductor plate on transmission can break!
Hidden oil leak that you will never notice!
Valve body can go bad!

Possible oil leaks from engine!

Early cars had weak motor mounts!

Suspension problems!
Weak bushings!

Airmass sensor gone bad!
Low power from engine

Oxygen sensors 2 stück goes bad before 160,000km
Mine, 1 stück broke at around 75,000km before the promised 160,000km

BOSE HIFI system, bad quality amplifiers!
If you have the MB AUDIO 30 tapedeck, not good!

Rattling inside the cabin if you have wide and low profile tires!

Folding backseats can squeek and make noise!

Other than that it's a great sexy midsized car!
It's fun to drive when you hear the V8 roar from the tubes!
A real hard on sound!

This C43 AMG Benz was the last real MB car!
But it is not the 100% perfect MB quality!

When the 203 C-klasse came then MB shot them self in the foot selling bad quality cars!
Worst car is the E-klasse 210 a rustbucket for european market!
MB had a 10 year chrisis with bad quality cars!
This occured between 1996 and about 2006!
I hope they are much better today!


There might be others who experianced other problems please fill in and help the guy!

You better look for a clean car, better pay a little more to get what you want!
2000 model is the rarest!
Good luck what ever you do!

 

Coen - look for a better C43, particularly one with complete service records. What you are being offered sounds too expensive and may not have been looked after.

 

I think if he was serious about this kind of a car he would have responded to our answers!

but we are here to help out each other!
so any info, positive or negative about our c43's are highly welcome to everybody!

many problems about c43 that I wrote in my reply, I haven't experianced them all yet!
knock on wood!
some I have experianced but they are the common problems!
I'm still waiting for the big dollar reciept about a transmission problem!
I hope it never comes!

 

Hey,

Sorry for the not-responding..... Had some busy weeks....

Well, what happend. I drove with the car to mercedes dealer. had it checked.
Mercedes found that the car was in good condition.
There were 2 problems: 1 with climatcontrol, and 1 with the gears (automatic).

But even with these problems, mercedes tolled me it was a good price.

Well, on the way back to the company (half hour drive), i just didnt know what to do. A fact was that i had to change the automatic gearbox within 1 year, so the total cost were a lot higher than i expected.

Well, at the company, an other guy of the company (not the guy who was with me to the dealer) came to me, and i tolled him i havent desided..... and he totally flipped

First he became a bit angry, and he just drove off! So we took our own car, and drove home. Om the way home the brother of this guy called (i think it was himself)....

He started to threaten me, telling me he was sending me a invoice, and that i will pay....blablabla.... and that he would come to my place and collect it....

He didnt even know where i lived :P

But, the funny thing about this all was.... when i looked up the ad the next day, i noticed that the car was suddently 1.500 euro's more, then the price i could have bought it for!

I think his partner, who was with me to the dealer, tolled him that mercedes said that the car was really worth the money....

Well, no tears for me....
I have bought a car.... still a mercedes, only no amg.
I have bought a w203 C320 (benzine), of 2001.... and im happy with it
Well, im missing 2 cillinders, and like 80 pk, but i get a lot of comfort and looks in return.

Thank you for your reactions!

 

What do we learn from this?

Dealers are not a charitable organization, they were good to detect a several thousand $ fix but rendered the 12 year old car as "good investment" (?)

trust = russian roulette

..and the seller breathing in his neck at the dealer, priceless LOL

 

Well I picked up my C43 AMG this afternoon. 1999 model, silver, black leather. Two previous owners and 200'000 km. Goes like a train and the sound when accelerating is like a symphony. A real wolf in sheeps clothing. Purchased from a MB dealer after full service. Has some small surface rust, but nothing important. Will give further details after having driven it some more and do some detailing. Probably will also do the ECU reset trick this weekend and see how it goes after that.
See you all.