And just like that, no more C43.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 316
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From: San Francisco, CA
1996 C36
Sulaco, since you will now be using a c36 front bumper there are a set of C36 foglights currently on eBay with a starting bid around $220. Just search for "c36 amg foglights" and filter to show auctions only.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
For $220 I'd rather order a Duraflex C43 bumper.
Well, I hit a snag in the repairs. Shop calls me saying they had it on the frame pulling machine to check for any frame damage. When they went to drive it off the machine, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. Had to have it towed to the dealer to replace the key before I could get the repairs finished.
I picked it up from the dealer myself. They warned me that all the suspension and steering parts had been replaced/repaired, but that it badly needed a complete setup and was probably way out of alignment, but that it was safe to drive back from the dealer.
Boy were they right.
All the way home I noticed the ESP stabbing rear right brakes randomly and flashing the ESP light at me. I disabled ESP for a bit. Out of curiosity I turned ESP back on, only to have the yellow warning lights for ABS and ESP. I'd pull over and my ESP switch would have no effect. Turn car off and restart, and it would go back to normal with the random ESP jolts until eventually the lights came back on and ESP was seemingly disabled. Research online indicates it was just the ESP and steering angle sensor detecting that the suspension geometry at the front was WAY out of whack and was tricking the system. Supposedly, it will all go away once the suspension and steering are adjusted and set up at a shop. Let's pray.
I snapped a quick pic of it in its sad, unfinished state.
Well, I hit a snag in the repairs. Shop calls me saying they had it on the frame pulling machine to check for any frame damage. When they went to drive it off the machine, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. Had to have it towed to the dealer to replace the key before I could get the repairs finished.
I picked it up from the dealer myself. They warned me that all the suspension and steering parts had been replaced/repaired, but that it badly needed a complete setup and was probably way out of alignment, but that it was safe to drive back from the dealer.
Boy were they right.
All the way home I noticed the ESP stabbing rear right brakes randomly and flashing the ESP light at me. I disabled ESP for a bit. Out of curiosity I turned ESP back on, only to have the yellow warning lights for ABS and ESP. I'd pull over and my ESP switch would have no effect. Turn car off and restart, and it would go back to normal with the random ESP jolts until eventually the lights came back on and ESP was seemingly disabled. Research online indicates it was just the ESP and steering angle sensor detecting that the suspension geometry at the front was WAY out of whack and was tricking the system. Supposedly, it will all go away once the suspension and steering are adjusted and set up at a shop. Let's pray.
I snapped a quick pic of it in its sad, unfinished state.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Daaaaamn. I really wish I had known that a month ago when we were sourcing parts. Cheapest C43 bumper we could find was $800 in Texas with $300 shipping. A new one at the dealer was gonna be $900 unpainted. Too late now, shop has spent my cash.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Finally got it back. Very long and dramatic story, but it needs some repairs done by ME. Shops just don't do things right. Going to be a long road to real restoration...
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 316
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From: San Francisco, CA
1996 C36
Glad to hear you have it back. It has been so long since the incident that I was afraid something had happened to where you ended up scrapping the car. Out of the whole ordeal did you come out even?
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 179
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From: Los Angeles
1999 Mercedes Benz C43
I missed this whole story, glad to hear you got the car back. Hope you can get it right asap.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
I think the rear left wheel bearing is failing (I hear a loud SQUEEK SQUEEK SQUEEK as I roll from back there)
Pretty sure they missed something rather important in the front suspension. It behaves normally unless I'm accelerating from a stop with heavy throttle. Took off from a red-light with about 75% throttle. As the front of the car picks up from the take off, I hear a CLUNK in the suspension up there, and as the front of the car comes back down I hear the same CLUNK again. Absolutely no idea what that could be.
Pretty sure they missed something rather important in the front suspension. It behaves normally unless I'm accelerating from a stop with heavy throttle. Took off from a red-light with about 75% throttle. As the front of the car picks up from the take off, I hear a CLUNK in the suspension up there, and as the front of the car comes back down I hear the same CLUNK again. Absolutely no idea what that could be.
