Hey all,

Like most of you (no doubt), I've always very much enjoyed AMG Mercedes, but despite all the awesomeness of the current cars, my favorite models are and have always been the early ones - the C36, C43 and first-gen E55.

I've been lucky enough to be able to recently pick up a brand new Porsche, but I still long for one of the early AMG Mercedes - something I've never had. I sold my daily driver SUV today, and after throwing around various car ideas, I'm considering replacing it with a C43 daily driver.

I must confess, I don't know much about the reliability of these cars, nor do I do my own maintenance. Thus, I'm asking those who know: would it be a bad idea to expect the C43 to be a good daily driver? Basically I'd like to use it to go to work each day and pick up the occasional mileage slack from the Porsche here and there - no more than 10k a year. Are parts getting hard to come by? Do you need to turn a wrench to run one?

Thoughts?

 

If you can afford to pay someone to work on it, then I think it would be fine. The services aren't the issue, but like any European car, if it does break, it is expensive to fix. Besides some climate control issues, I have had minimal problems with mine, but I also don't drive it daily, I have a Honda for that.

 

Interesting... that's what I was hoping. People seem to think if it's German, things will go wrong. I'm hoping that's not the case - I had an A4 two cars ago that was absolutely bulletproof. Anyone else who's got a C43 as a daily have any experience?

 

i actually bought my C43 as a daily driver and so far so good. mine is higher mileage too than a lot of other people on here (180k when purchased, 190k now)

i haven't run into any unusual issues. basically i bought the car roughly a year ago and i replaced the rotors/pads, upgraded to stainless steel braided lines and then got new intake filters, new spark plugs, new cabin filter, flushed all of the fluids (transmission, differential, radiator, etc.) and replaced the hoses.

car runs great. very strong. no issues. fun as a daily driver (although with my low profile tires on the 18" AMG Monoblocks, it isn't as comfortable as before - i'm lowered on H&R springs and Bilstein shocks)

i say go for it, these cars are pretty affordable now and provide a good balance between good looks, comfort, and power when commuting

 

I had my c43 for a daily driver over 3 years..N Slammed...
no probem at all. she's a bullet

 

Thanks guys. Good to hear. Now the trick will be finding one!!

 

i bought mine back in 2003 with 30,000 miles on it. it now has 95,000 miles. it has some minor issues that were all taken care of by MB certified extended warranty, which expired august of 2008. so far since that time, no problems whatsoever (*knock on wood). i do have other cars and a motorcycle, but my C43 gets the brunt of the mileage. i love the car. some people comment that it's old, which it is, but these are the same people that think it is a C230. ive always loved the car, and still do, which is why i have never gotten rid of it.

maintenance isnt that bad at all, as long as you find a good independent shop. my guy is really good, and he charges $65 an hour, so it's great.

so bottom line, in my experience, my C43 is very good as a daily driver, and not too expensive to maintain.

good luck in your search!

 

i m on the same page with you when it comes to the 1990's AMG's, but i have been using my C43 as a daily driver for almost 4 years and put on it 60k miles the first 2 years, they are not the best cars when it comes to reliability, i had to replace my gearbox after 2 months of owning it and alot of other parts, but the lust i have for the car i could care less how much it coasts to upkeep.

 

I'm with you - I love the early AMG's.

I have an S55 that I drive daily, and I put 40k to 50k miles a year, and the S55 has many more expensive stuff than the C43 to go wrong - so daily driving a C43 should not be a problem, just expect regular maintenance and a few items since that's normal for any car.

It's a beautiful, classic AMG. Keep those stock rims!

 

I have a 99 C43 and has been very reliable. Only problem was the Crank Angle Sensor (it runs right by the exhaust and gets cooked). Otherwise, very good car.

 

I drive my daily - range anywhere from 20 miles a day to 100 miles a day - runs beautifully and love the car. Stopped by Mercedes dealer to see about some tires last week and they tried to get me into a new c300 - drove it around and told the guy I just love the c43 amg - he said but a lot has changed in 10 years, I said I'm sure it has but my c43 will blow the doors off the c300 so I don't see why I need to spend more money for that! Don't get me wrong, it was tempting to trade the car, but I really do love this car!

 

^^It's cool to know that the C43 still has more power than any non-AMG C-Class, even those of the two newer generations...

 

My C43 is not a daily driver but just used on weekends and for runs up and down the mountains. Have managed to clock 13k kms since April this year. No problems at all except the CPS which decided to stop working two weeks after I got the car. I don't thrash the car even if I drive it hard, but try to be gentle with a firm hand though. I love the car and hope the winter weather doesn't start too quickly so as I can use it until weather forces me to winter the "beast"

 

I have a 98 with 100850 miles on it. I purchased last December with 92000 miles. I daily drive and put 36 miles daily for my short commute+ whatever on weekends. Have not had one issue with the car. I did buy it after the previous owner did quite a bit of maintenance to it. I also am **** about getting maintenance done. Just had coolant and brake fluid flushed. I do not see why this shouldn't/couldn't hold up to daily driving. Isn't that the purpose of these anyways? To drive and enjoy.

 

I drive mine daily - 23k miles since April 09. zoom zoom zoom..

 

Purchased mine in November 2009 with about 225,000km on the clock, now with nearly 240,000km. The car has been driven daily during this time, either by myself (in the winter) or by my wife (in the summer when I'm in the S2000).

Mechanically the car has been quite good. I had to do the fuel pump last winter after the car began cranking longer before firing. With some help from the forum (Ausmbtech!) the problem was isolated to the fuel pump. The only other 'gotta do' repairs were the oil cooler and oil pressure test port seals, as these were leaking slowly but surely, and the power seat relay. Sometimes the seat operation was intermittent, but the relay fixed that. I think I still have a grubby contact on the driver's side though, as everything works but the headrest adjustment is very intermittent.

The previous owner had the transmission replaced under warranty, but that was a long time ago in mileage. Still, it goes strong. The motor is tough, and very understressed IMO - 4.3L making only 300hp, so it's cake.

In my efforts to prevent problems, and also because I like to be safe, I have also replaced the duo valve (heater valve) though it didn't really need it, thermostat and all hoses, and also the crank position sensor. Next I'm going to flush the trans and diff fluid, and also lower it with all new suspension components everywhere.

Complaints - in ultra cold weather, -30*C, the car takes quite a long time to warm up, but at least the seat heaters work. My short commute and cold weather produces some horrendous fuel economy though. Brake parts are also quite expensive. $225 used to get me all four rotors on my old Saabs, but that just buys one front rotor now, and that's only if you shop (autohausaz.com). Everyone else wants in the $300 range for a front rotor.

Oh, and I did have the whole car painted in the spring, due to some rust issues mainly on the front fenders (easy to replace, C$100 each) and a bit on the front passenger door. But if find a car from a warmer place, maybe it's a bit better in that regard. I have done all of my own maintenance and work, save for the painting and alignment. I did purchase a nice spring compressor to do the suspension though.

 

Hi Saaboteur!
Did you purchase a spring compression tool like this one: http://mbspecialist.com/mercedes_web...-050/KA-7308K/
The more standard one doesn't work.
See the clip here which shows everything and how to do it: http://fr.tinypic.com/r/48pwb5s/1

 

Ayup, I got one similar to this type:

http://zdmak.com/wbstore/images/merc...ing-tool-2.jpg

Seems the Benz has the same 'trouble' with spring compressors as my old Saabs...they both require the same type of spring compressor to get the springs in and out.

 

Have you changed the thermostat when you did the fluid changes and hoses? It could be opening too fast when cold. True in -30°c temperatures, that's getting VERY cold. What about blocking the air intake up front? That was the old trick in older cars with a blocking cover with flaps which could be opened when needed. Didn't your old Saab have it? Volvo's did.

 

I daily drove mine for about 100k miles over 4 years of ownership, and never really had any major problems. A few electrical/climate control gremlins over the years, but nothing major or expensive.

 

daily driver for years, have replaced the crank sensor and front suspension, that is it. Just put all new Disc Italia brakes on it and getting ready to spruce up the paint.

I have a little noise from the timing chain. Anyone know if it is possible to replace the chain through the valve cover or do I have to pull the front of the engine apart?

 

I did the thermostat last year actually, not much difference unfortunately. I tried blocking the rad with a piece of plastic too, but that didn't seem to help much either. I have a really short commute - like 7 minutes, and about 7km, with about half of that at highway speeds - so I'm sure that is a factor.

 

Could be indeed. Weird though, my C43 heats up faster than the C240T

 

I have this same issue, try leaning forward when you adjust the headrest. This was suggested to me by another C43 owner and it works. If I am not sitting in the seat or if I lean forward when I am sitting in the seat the headrest will work