Steve155

Just thought I'd show some love for my 43! making the move back to So Cal from Tri Cities Washington - cruised over to Portland on Saturday night for a nice dinner and to take a little bite out of the drive. Today left Portland and now in Sacramento - and the 43 just cruised through all the passes with ease, handles like a dream and just plain hauls when you need it to. Seems to get killer gas mileage and be very happy right around 85 - cops disagree with this though, so not much time up there with the radar detector going a bit crazy today - Oregon state patrol all over today. Anyhow - really enjoying the drive - thanks in large part to a great car.

Benzonline

Its a "what else more could you ask for" type car. My needs and wants in a car have now ended with the C43! Im very happy its reliable (knock on wood) unlike its predecessor which my 2 friends are constantly tooling of head gaskets and biodegradble wiring.

Did I mention the C43 sounds AMAZING!!

LawRens

well, it could always use more power. 300hp isn't enough these days

503C43 ////AMG

You should of said something when you were in portland, we could of met up and snapped a couple pics of the 43's together...

RANDY_P

BS.

How many times do your friends have to fix their cars? Those problems are overblown- and incidentally cost less than your tranny failure to fix even at the same time.

Tell them to find new mechanics.

rjp

Benzonline

This is true. Fortunately mine had a new E55 tranny put in still at warranty. I dont mean to put down any 202 however im very biased with the C43 model.

RANDY_P

....apparently to the point of misrepesentation.

Mine at 150K has had a HG. that's it.

rjp

StapleGun

I love my C43 - the transmission worries me to no end. These cars are far too fragile, it's the last MB I'll ever get.

LawRens

Just the transmission honestly. I think you knew what you were getting into when you picked up the c43 with the prone-to-failure 722.631

But yeah... Not even 15,000 miles into my rebuilt transmission and i just started feeling a hesitant hiccup between gear 3 to 4. Let's just hope it doesnt become a problem.

Jasssc

+1
Head gasket is the only problem for me for 155,000 miles now and luckily the PO took care of the problem before i even bought the car
runs like a champ

tasho3

Guys i have put near 80K miles on mine the past 42 months, and pretty much i have changed everything in it. Trans, water pump, belts, fogs, seat relay, drag link, tie rods twice, steering damper, shocks, ball joints, and other stuff i can't remember right now and i still dont have a complain about this car. I mean it was designed in the early to mid 90's and all these stuff is expected to happen, at least thats how I see it! And I do drive it very hard!

Steve155

well in So Cal now - 503C - I was on a pretty tight timeline - but I didn't even think to PM sorry man! Cruised I-5 today South of Sacramento and usually between 78 - 95 mph and just had a happy car. Jumped when I needed to pass and smooth as can be - tranny feels solid at 92,000 miles on it. I know it could have more HP but at 70 MPH + this thing is just a beast - not much it can't hang with up on the highway

ruzhkata

from st. pete, fl to miami, fl: average speed 110mph, top speed 135mph, speeding ticket: 1, illegal tint ticket: 1, left behind a 328i bimmer,
the car didn't overheat or anything and i have a 99' c280. mercedes builds ever lasting cars and a lot of people don't realize that. It's the best or nothing lol

Benzonline

I really think the transmission issue had alot to due with the original installed units not having their fluid changed due to the "lifetime" bologna + an issue with a planetary gear I believe, AND on top of that, the way you drive the car.

Its very interesting, search youtube "mercedes C43" and just about 95% of the videos consists of burnouts lol. Im sure they join MBworld shortly after to ***** and ask why they're tranny has failed

C43AMG

.....needle bearings.

tasho3

+1

RANDY_P

\
No fluid will fix that. Inherent flaw from the factory. The newer trannies are supposedlyless prone to the needle bearing collapse. I don't care what anyone claims here- you think a dead tranny is easier to deal with than a HG and harnesses? You're kidding yourself. The only real advantage to owning a c43 is you can slam a E55 motor in it.

Otherwise, whatever dude.

I'd like to see if there's anyone out there with a 2nd failure after the alleged "updated" tranny...

PS- my car is about to need rear lower control arm bushings at 150K- and my seat warmers just broke Such an unreliable beast my c36

Benzonline

Again, this is personal opinion, but just the SOUND alone of turning on a C43 vs a C36 alone is worth a ****ed tranny. What in the world is that rachet clanking diesel sound that plagues the C36 especially at idle? Im told its supposed to be like this.

DRBC43AMG

And why can't you drop a 55 engine in a 36 engine bay??

503C43 ////AMG

You could, if you wanted to you could drop a 63 engine in the 36... I'm sure he was referring to the "plug and play" aspect of the C43 with the 55 motor. Dropping the 55 motor into the C36 would be similar to dropping it in a C230, neither of the cars were made for the engine so there would be a significant amount of fabrication that would need to take place where as the 43 and the 55 motor share the same block and for the most part the 55 motor is a "plug and play" swap in the C43.

LawRens

I'm glad you took the higher road here. I'm so proud.

Jasssc

yet another 36 vs 43 debate
i'm embarrassed i took place earlier

their different cars, both have debilitating flaws, but both are incredibly amazing

I know I will get some negative comments on this, but whatever

this debate goes back to the beginning of the amg w202 thread, and will continue well into the future, lets just get back to finding some new stuff for and about these guys!

MarcusF

Steve155, now that you're in Pasadena, we've got to get you out to an MBCA event or two. This was taken in Pasadena -



Don't sweat the transmission. You live 30 minutes away from one of the best rebuilders there are. $2500 (+install) and they only do Benz transmissions.

tasho3

for starting another C43 vs. C280 thread!!!

RANDY_P

Very much a personal opinion, yes.

rjp