New Member here...98 C43 59k miles
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
1998 C43 AMG
New Member here...98 C43 59k miles
Just wanted to say hi to all! Just bought a 1998 C43 with 59k miles a week ago and I'm very excited! I worked for Benz for over 12 years in sales and this is one of my favorites. I started in the car business right as these came out and finally am able to get one for myself. I bought the car out of NC and my brother has picked it up for me (lucky). I'm flying up in two weeks to pick the car up and can't wait to drive it home here in FL. Any tips, pointers, recommendations, etc. that I should keep an eye out for? Car is completely stock except for H&R springs.
Good to be here and thanks for any advise!!!
Good to be here and thanks for any advise!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
98 Black C43 , 12’ ML 350 Blutec
Service the tranny,change the CPS- crank position sensor.Also have someone check the service history and see if the harmonic balancer was fixed ( MB recall - no charge )
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 323
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Welcome and nice to see a low mileage 43 around...
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
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From: Florida
1998 C43 AMG
So...picked up car in North Carolina and drove back to Florida doing 80 mph the whole way in the rain. Car ran like a champ and never had one problem. Had to replace the wiper cause it was worn badly and also upgraded front headlights...big difference.
Car is home and I have changed out the grill and also all interior lights to LEDs.
Going to add the old-school AMG bages - don't know how good the quality is but they look good. - http://www.ebay.com/itm/160722310560...ht_8250wt_1144
Also considering these wheels in 19" - http://www.tsw.com/alloy_wheels_jerez.php
Interior is 100% perfect and outside has some paintwork that needs to addressed. Going to eventually paint the entire car brilliant silver to match.
Had the techs at the dealership where I work put the car up on a rack and they checked it over and said it didn't have one single leak, tapping noise or anything...super clean. Front bumper is misaligned so I'm going to take it off and fix clips to realign it. Trying to figure out what I want to do with exhaust on the car...it is completely stock right now...everyone is saying delete secondary cats and resonator...may do that for now until I upgrade to something different. Best exhaust I've ever heard on a car period was Kreissieg, but have to see if they have anything that will work for the C43...we'll see...if not probably go with Eisenmann.
Just hit 61,500 miles today! Anything else you guys recommend???
THANKS!!!
Car is home and I have changed out the grill and also all interior lights to LEDs.
Going to add the old-school AMG bages - don't know how good the quality is but they look good. - http://www.ebay.com/itm/160722310560...ht_8250wt_1144
Also considering these wheels in 19" - http://www.tsw.com/alloy_wheels_jerez.php
Interior is 100% perfect and outside has some paintwork that needs to addressed. Going to eventually paint the entire car brilliant silver to match.
Had the techs at the dealership where I work put the car up on a rack and they checked it over and said it didn't have one single leak, tapping noise or anything...super clean. Front bumper is misaligned so I'm going to take it off and fix clips to realign it. Trying to figure out what I want to do with exhaust on the car...it is completely stock right now...everyone is saying delete secondary cats and resonator...may do that for now until I upgrade to something different. Best exhaust I've ever heard on a car period was Kreissieg, but have to see if they have anything that will work for the C43...we'll see...if not probably go with Eisenmann.
Just hit 61,500 miles today! Anything else you guys recommend???
THANKS!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Your C43 sits MUCH lower than the stock suspension, do you have aftermarket springs on it?
You will need 5mm spacers to fit those TSW rims in the rear
You will need 5mm spacers to fit those TSW rims in the rear
Last edited by 503C43 ////AMG; May 13, 2013 at 09:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
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From: Florida
1998 C43 AMG
Has H&R springs. Will keep the spacers in mind for the wheels. Just worried about the weight. Had a car I put some OZ Superturismo LM wheels on and the weight was higher than the stock wheel and it made a huge difference in performance...any idea what the stock 17" monoblocks weigh?
Thanks
Thanks
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
Likes: 43
From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Has H&R springs. Will keep the spacers in mind for the wheels. Just worried about the weight. Had a car I put some OZ Superturismo LM wheels on and the weight was higher than the stock wheel and it made a huge difference in performance...any idea what the stock 17" monoblocks weigh?
Thanks
Thanks
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
if your looking for performance i would definitely stick to 18" over 19", unless you go forged the 19s get heavy and you have no sidewall. i think 18" is he sweet spot for these cars.
I have TSW wheels, and yea there is only about 4-5 wheels TSW makes that have he correct offset for the car, i dont think those Jerez will work as already mentioned (at least without spacers etc, but you dont want to mess with that). might be some more wheel options if you dont go the staggered setup, but keeping staggered there is literally only like 10-12 sets of wheels that will fit with the 'proper' offsets.
also, just do the 2nd cat and res delete, it sounds amazing and will be cheaper than buying the crazy expensive aftermarket exhaust 'kits' for this car, plus no matter what its a negligible power gain so just go the easier and cheaper route and get the same results
just use good stainless and and shop that does good bends/welding.
welcome to the club! you are one of the guys with fewer miles than me! i got mine last august from Texas only had 61k miles on it, im up to 67k now, but i dont drive it much, mostly just to and from autocross events
I have TSW wheels, and yea there is only about 4-5 wheels TSW makes that have he correct offset for the car, i dont think those Jerez will work as already mentioned (at least without spacers etc, but you dont want to mess with that). might be some more wheel options if you dont go the staggered setup, but keeping staggered there is literally only like 10-12 sets of wheels that will fit with the 'proper' offsets.
also, just do the 2nd cat and res delete, it sounds amazing and will be cheaper than buying the crazy expensive aftermarket exhaust 'kits' for this car, plus no matter what its a negligible power gain so just go the easier and cheaper route and get the same results
just use good stainless and and shop that does good bends/welding.welcome to the club! you are one of the guys with fewer miles than me! i got mine last august from Texas only had 61k miles on it, im up to 67k now, but i dont drive it much, mostly just to and from autocross events
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 323
From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I agree with Dziner82, go for 18" not unless you drive around on perfectly maintained and totally smooth road surfaces.... By the way, do they still exist today??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Holy crap 59k miles! Did it sit in someone's collection for a while? That's awesome!
If you end up letting your original 17" AMG wheels go, let me know...
I'd like to put a set on my w124 or return my C43 to stock.
If you end up letting your original 17" AMG wheels go, let me know...
I'd like to put a set on my w124 or return my C43 to stock.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
1998 C43 AMG
Will definitely let you know once I get new rims. I'm a reasonable guy and sell them cheap...
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Florida
1998 C43 AMG
if your looking for performance i would definitely stick to 18" over 19", unless you go forged the 19s get heavy and you have no sidewall. i think 18" is he sweet spot for these cars.
I have TSW wheels, and yea there is only about 4-5 wheels TSW makes that have he correct offset for the car, i dont think those Jerez will work as already mentioned (at least without spacers etc, but you dont want to mess with that). might be some more wheel options if you dont go the staggered setup, but keeping staggered there is literally only like 10-12 sets of wheels that will fit with the 'proper' offsets.
also, just do the 2nd cat and res delete, it sounds amazing and will be cheaper than buying the crazy expensive aftermarket exhaust 'kits' for this car, plus no matter what its a negligible power gain so just go the easier and cheaper route and get the same results just use good stainless and and shop that does good bends/welding.
welcome to the club! you are one of the guys with fewer miles than me! i got mine last august from Texas only had 61k miles on it, im up to 67k now, but i dont drive it much, mostly just to and from autocross events
I have TSW wheels, and yea there is only about 4-5 wheels TSW makes that have he correct offset for the car, i dont think those Jerez will work as already mentioned (at least without spacers etc, but you dont want to mess with that). might be some more wheel options if you dont go the staggered setup, but keeping staggered there is literally only like 10-12 sets of wheels that will fit with the 'proper' offsets.
also, just do the 2nd cat and res delete, it sounds amazing and will be cheaper than buying the crazy expensive aftermarket exhaust 'kits' for this car, plus no matter what its a negligible power gain so just go the easier and cheaper route and get the same results
just use good stainless and and shop that does good bends/welding.welcome to the club! you are one of the guys with fewer miles than me! i got mine last august from Texas only had 61k miles on it, im up to 67k now, but i dont drive it much, mostly just to and from autocross events
). I may spend a little more time researching my wheel options before I do anything...just want to be happy. I'm real bad about babying my cars. I drive 50 miles a day for work, so I'm sure I'll catch up to you pretty quick on that. Thanks for the advise!
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Congrates on the purchase!
Im sort of in the same boat as you with low milage(94km's) however I've found theres still alot to replace at this millage!
Some of the most worn out parts I found were: Spark plugs,Crank pully(recall one),tensioner bearing,cabin filter,crank sensor AND cam sensor,all crankcase rubber hoses and the rubber seals around the maf - alot of these parts have been upgraded with ribs so there is less chance of leaks so smoother idle.
Someone had replaced my maf with the V6 one which is smaller so watch out for that one!.
Also...if you have auto tinting rear view mirror mainly the one on the drivers side be very careful with its condition...if it leaks it will do so down the door and destroy the paint as it goes ..no cut and polish will save you xD
Im sort of in the same boat as you with low milage(94km's) however I've found theres still alot to replace at this millage!
Some of the most worn out parts I found were: Spark plugs,Crank pully(recall one),tensioner bearing,cabin filter,crank sensor AND cam sensor,all crankcase rubber hoses and the rubber seals around the maf - alot of these parts have been upgraded with ribs so there is less chance of leaks so smoother idle.
Someone had replaced my maf with the V6 one which is smaller so watch out for that one!.
Also...if you have auto tinting rear view mirror mainly the one on the drivers side be very careful with its condition...if it leaks it will do so down the door and destroy the paint as it goes ..no cut and polish will save you xD
