C36 or 500E
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Discovery Bay, California
2002 CL 500
I thought about the C43 and looked at a couple. Does the C36 have a different amg body kit on it? How does the power of the C43 compare to the 500E?
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From: Portland, OR
99 c43 / 99 ml430
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2355961294.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2347262037.html
Couple of cheap Cali cars
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2347262037.html
Couple of cheap Cali cars
Senior Member
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From: Portland, OR
99 c43 / 99 ml430
well its a v8 and the car its really smooth. Speeds build quickly and the car very throwable.. There is no super charger to go bad nor all the mess with intercoolers and such.. I really didnt want to buy an old SC'd car personally. The v8 in c43 is pretty bullet proof.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 22
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From: Discovery Bay, California
2002 CL 500
I had my eye on the silver one. I am scared that if I buy an older 500E, in my budget, if I can find one, it will turn out to be a money pit for me.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2355961294.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2347262037.html
Couple of cheap Cali cars
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/2347262037.html
Couple of cheap Cali cars
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 22
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From: Discovery Bay, California
2002 CL 500
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Put in an easier way to understand:
As the rim get bigger the tire gets thinner (plus sizing) but the rolling diameter stays close to the same to maintain speedometer/odometer calibration therefore your overall ride height stays pretty close to stock as well.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Lebanon
1995 C 36 AMG; 1992 W124 300E (M103 Ex Mosselman TT KIT) was 320hp @10psi now stock :(
Guys this power diff between the 95 and later 97 seems to be just marketing BS, i have a 1995 36 and it came with the official AMG label stating 206KW and 385 Nm torque!!!
i do know that 93 -and early 94 ones came rated officially @ 200kw and 375 + nm. any lack of torque felt between 4 speed and 5 speed is usually felt due to the taller diff of the 4 speed 2.87 vs 3.06.
i did race a 95 36 once that had a custom fit 3.27 diff and thou he was on par up to 60mph with me i still pulled on him like 1 car by 125mph as he had to shift into 4th and i didnt since my third at red line 6800 is 125mph.
i do know that 93 -and early 94 ones came rated officially @ 200kw and 375 + nm. any lack of torque felt between 4 speed and 5 speed is usually felt due to the taller diff of the 4 speed 2.87 vs 3.06.
i did race a 95 36 once that had a custom fit 3.27 diff and thou he was on par up to 60mph with me i still pulled on him like 1 car by 125mph as he had to shift into 4th and i didnt since my third at red line 6800 is 125mph.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
The ride height is not really affected by the larger rims as the rolling diameter of after market rims and tires needs to be extremely close to the rolling diameter of the stock rims and tires otherwise you speedometer is way off.
Put in an easier way to understand:
As the rim get bigger the tire gets thinner (plus sizing) but the rolling diameter stays close to the same to maintain speedometer/odometer calibration therefore your overall ride height stays pretty close to stock as well.
Put in an easier way to understand:
As the rim get bigger the tire gets thinner (plus sizing) but the rolling diameter stays close to the same to maintain speedometer/odometer calibration therefore your overall ride height stays pretty close to stock as well.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
I think the combination of stock suspension and larger wheels, if the tires are sized correctly to keep the proper rolling diameter, typically leads to a PERCEPTION of increased ride height. It just generally looks weird, even if the car doesn't actually ride higher (unless the tire sizing is way off).
+1
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From: South Carolina, US
1992 300E, 1995 C36 AMG, 1969 VW Bug
Guys this power diff between the 95 and later 97 seems to be just marketing BS, i have a 1995 36 and it came with the official AMG label stating 206KW and 385 Nm torque!!!
i do know that 93 -and early 94 ones came rated officially @ 200kw and 375 + nm. any lack of torque felt between 4 speed and 5 speed is usually felt due to the taller diff of the 4 speed 2.87 vs 3.06.
i did race a 95 36 once that had a custom fit 3.27 diff and thou he was on par up to 60mph with me i still pulled on him like 1 car by 125mph as he had to shift into 4th and i didnt since my third at red line 6800 is 125mph.
i do know that 93 -and early 94 ones came rated officially @ 200kw and 375 + nm. any lack of torque felt between 4 speed and 5 speed is usually felt due to the taller diff of the 4 speed 2.87 vs 3.06.
i did race a 95 36 once that had a custom fit 3.27 diff and thou he was on par up to 60mph with me i still pulled on him like 1 car by 125mph as he had to shift into 4th and i didnt since my third at red line 6800 is 125mph.
I believe mercedes changed the published power rating of the C36 to compete (on paper) with the increased power of the new 3.2L M3.
-Paul
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PLAID
Its a Porsche in Mercedes clothing.................Recaro seats and all......
Plus, you can't beat its 322 BHP and 354 ft/lb of torque!! A true monster for its time.
Or you can go big and find you an E 60!!!!
Last edited by Newzchspy; May 2, 2011 at 06:41 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Discovery Bay, California
2002 CL 500
I totally agree. I got the oportunity to test drive a C43 and a 500E and they are night and day. The 500E has that heavy feel but if you get on it, it will move. Total sleeper.
To the OP, I'd spring for the 500, the qtr mile times are decent (14.5 at about 96 MPH) and the car is indeed a rarity as well. They do run very strong up top. Problem is, price -wise, you can't get much for what you have to spend. Only thing is, that 5.0 litre will suck the premium gas at an amazing rate. They're all over $12,000 and there's one for $6,900 but its very high mileage.
Its a Porsche in Mercedes clothing.................Recaro seats and all......
Plus, you can't beat its 322 BHP and 354 ft/lb of torque!! A true monster for its time.
Or you can go big and find you an E 60!!!!
Its a Porsche in Mercedes clothing.................Recaro seats and all......
Plus, you can't beat its 322 BHP and 354 ft/lb of torque!! A true monster for its time.
Or you can go big and find you an E 60!!!!
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 341
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From: Portland, OR
99 c43 / 99 ml430
funny i got my c43 over buying an e55,cl55, or c32 because i felt it was much more of a sleeper.. lol.
I have mad love for the 500e though.. I kept flirting with it but the fuel economy, age, and cost of entry steered me away. I ended up wanting a $15-20k specimen.
I have mad love for the 500e though.. I kept flirting with it but the fuel economy, age, and cost of entry steered me away. I ended up wanting a $15-20k specimen.
Last edited by hoontastic; May 2, 2011 at 11:20 PM.
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...
Last edited by RPB; May 3, 2011 at 09:16 AM.
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From: New York
Stg3 B5S4-C55 AMG
Ditto ! EZL's can be had for even cheaper than 500 used in good condition.
Both cars are very simple to work on w/ lots of room in the engine bay.
I'd venture to say that most repair costs are exaggerated for the 500e, or owners are just getting hosed a lot at the shops they go to.
In this market, the sorted 500e's that were once fetching 14-18K are coming down in price. My good friend just got an amazing well maintained hi mileage 92 for a lot less than the original 18K that it was on the market for.
Its a 1% market car. And with the rising gas prices....owners are going to have to realize that if they want to sell their pride and joy its going to have to be for a lot less money.
Motor mounts and electricals like the cap,plugs and rotors are all very simple DIY jobs on the M119 motor.
Just hold out for one thats had all this stuff done already....they're out there
Or take it to the grave with them.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 754
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...
Ditto ! EZL's can be had for even cheaper than 500 used in good condition.
Both cars are very simple to work on w/ lots of room in the engine bay.
I'd venture to say that most repair costs are exaggerated for the 500e, or owners are just getting hosed a lot at the shops they go to.
In this market, the sorted 500e's that were once fetching 14-18K are coming down in price. My good friend just got an amazing well maintained hi mileage 92 for a lot less than the original 18K that it was on the market for.
Its a 1% market car. And with the rising gas prices....owners are going to have to realize that if they want to sell their pride and joy its going to have to be for a lot less money.
Motor mounts and electricals like the cap,plugs and rotors are all very simple DIY jobs on the M119 motor.
Just hold out for one thats had all this stuff done already....they're out there
Or take it to the grave with them.
Both cars are very simple to work on w/ lots of room in the engine bay.
I'd venture to say that most repair costs are exaggerated for the 500e, or owners are just getting hosed a lot at the shops they go to.
In this market, the sorted 500e's that were once fetching 14-18K are coming down in price. My good friend just got an amazing well maintained hi mileage 92 for a lot less than the original 18K that it was on the market for.
Its a 1% market car. And with the rising gas prices....owners are going to have to realize that if they want to sell their pride and joy its going to have to be for a lot less money.
Motor mounts and electricals like the cap,plugs and rotors are all very simple DIY jobs on the M119 motor.
Just hold out for one thats had all this stuff done already....they're out there
Or take it to the grave with them.
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From: Connecticut, New Haven
95' AMG SeeThreeSix
. Moral of the story? Remember, the 1995-1996 C36 4 speed trannys are 500E trannys, aka bulletproof. If it were not a daily I'd say go for a 97' 36 or a 43.
I miss my W124, I came real close to nabbing a 500 and decided to go for something a bit newer with lower mileage whlist something that was financially feasible mantinance wise, so I ended up with the 36.
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Agreed. It's purley choice, however, I also will second the statement to stay away from the 97's. In my case the 36 is (and still is) a daily driver, I put almost 25K on it this past year and it has never left me anywhere in NY, NJ, RI, etc. The 43's and 97 C36's do have a much higher tranny failure rate, something that will leave you stranded and cost you tons of money. I replaced my whole wiring harness on a weekend for about $50 and a some profanity .
Moral of the story? Remember, the 1995-1996 C36 4 speed trannys are 500E trannys, aka bulletproof. If it were not a daily I'd say go for a 97' 36 or a 43.
I miss my W124, I came real close to nabbing a 500 and decided to go for something a bit newer with lower mileage whlist something that was financially feasible mantinance wise, so I ended up with the 36.
. Moral of the story? Remember, the 1995-1996 C36 4 speed trannys are 500E trannys, aka bulletproof. If it were not a daily I'd say go for a 97' 36 or a 43.
I miss my W124, I came real close to nabbing a 500 and decided to go for something a bit newer with lower mileage whlist something that was financially feasible mantinance wise, so I ended up with the 36.
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From: South Carolina, US
1992 300E, 1995 C36 AMG, 1969 VW Bug
