Buy a C43m help me with pricing
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
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E55 AMG
Buy a C43m help me with pricing
Hi all!
i am headed to look at a Silver 98' C43 with white/black interior and 160k on tuesday.
i wanted to post some pics and see what you guys value the car at.
the headliner will have to be re-done and the driver seat is showing wear as well as the white leather on the steering wheel was removed, so that will have to be re-done as well.
it has a clear title and is claimed to have all services maintained by a MB dealership with no problems. the owner told me it was in a minor front end accident and has had the front bumper replaced by MB
the car currently has no rust or transmission issues.
I am looking forward to your guys' input!
Thanks
PS if anyone has access to free car fax reports and doesn't mind sharing. PM me, it would be greatly greatly appreciated!
i am headed to look at a Silver 98' C43 with white/black interior and 160k on tuesday.
i wanted to post some pics and see what you guys value the car at.
the headliner will have to be re-done and the driver seat is showing wear as well as the white leather on the steering wheel was removed, so that will have to be re-done as well.
it has a clear title and is claimed to have all services maintained by a MB dealership with no problems. the owner told me it was in a minor front end accident and has had the front bumper replaced by MB
the car currently has no rust or transmission issues.
I am looking forward to your guys' input!
Thanks
PS if anyone has access to free car fax reports and doesn't mind sharing. PM me, it would be greatly greatly appreciated!
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 620
Likes: 35
From: north jersey
99 c43,90 mustang gt supercharged convertible,07 acura tl type s, Hummer H3t pickup
I would look into the front end collision make sure it wasn't to extensive.The car looks clean,did you drive it yet?See how the trans feels. Check valve covers for leakage,look at brake rotor and tires they are pricey.With that mileage I would make an offer at 5k..if the above checks out and it drives well.It you have to come up some I wouldn't pay more than $ 5500.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Good luck "replacing" two tone interior pieces like that. I don't know what would be cheaper: replacing from another two tone C43 or hiring someone to recover/restitch the bad areas.
Otherwise the car appears in good shape. C43's easily handle far more miles than 160k. Mine is at 265k and still performs better than factory specifications. Every single thing on it works as it should.
Aftermarket radio... ewwww. (Personal opinion)
$5-5500 seems fair. Make sure the transmission is in good health, or you're walking into one expensive repair.
Otherwise the car appears in good shape. C43's easily handle far more miles than 160k. Mine is at 265k and still performs better than factory specifications. Every single thing on it works as it should.
Aftermarket radio... ewwww. (Personal opinion)
$5-5500 seems fair. Make sure the transmission is in good health, or you're walking into one expensive repair.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
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E55 AMG
I would look into the front end collision make sure it wasn't to extensive.The car looks clean,did you drive it yet?See how the trans feels. Check valve covers for leakage,look at brake rotor and tires they are pricey.With that mileage I would make an offer at 5k..if the above checks out and it drives well.It you have to come up some I wouldn't pay more than $ 5500.
Thanks for the advice on what to check
I haven't driven the car but will tomorrow.
The owner told me today it needs new brake pads and that they are not very expensive... Any insight into the price of brake pads for the 43?
Thanks again for your help!
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
E55 AMG
Good luck "replacing" two tone interior pieces like that. I don't know what would be cheaper: replacing from another two tone C43 or hiring someone to recover/restitch the bad areas.
Otherwise the car appears in good shape. C43's easily handle far more miles than 160k. Mine is at 265k and still performs better than factory specifications. Every single thing on it works as it should.
Aftermarket radio... ewwww. (Personal opinion)
$5-5500 seems fair. Make sure the transmission is in good health, or you're walking into one expensive repair.
Otherwise the car appears in good shape. C43's easily handle far more miles than 160k. Mine is at 265k and still performs better than factory specifications. Every single thing on it works as it should.
Aftermarket radio... ewwww. (Personal opinion)
$5-5500 seems fair. Make sure the transmission is in good health, or you're walking into one expensive repair.
That's amazing to hear the mileage on your 43!
Is there any tricks to testing the transmission other than driving it to get the feel of how the gears shift?
Thanks for the good wishes!
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 620
Likes: 35
From: north jersey
99 c43,90 mustang gt supercharged convertible,07 acura tl type s, Hummer H3t pickup
Last edited by 99CEEFOURTHREE; Jun 11, 2013 at 08:17 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 620
Likes: 35
From: north jersey
99 c43,90 mustang gt supercharged convertible,07 acura tl type s, Hummer H3t pickup
A good bargaining angle is since the owner knows it needs pads tell him to change them with receipt and you will buy the car for the negotiated price...tells him your serious and you have satisfaction knowing that issue is fixed! I do it all the time usually works!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 194
From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
Also, don't be too harsh on it before it's at 80C. A cold transmission behaves differently than a warm one. You want to make sure it operates "normally" in both situations, but you don't want to impose undue stress on it. The fluid expands as it warms up, so it could very well shift a little bit harder/softer at different temps.
My tranny test is the same on every car I look at: once the car is at normal operating temp, I test drive it. Get to a good spot (by myself, preferably) of open road, and give it a good wide-open-throttle rogering up through first and 2nd gear. Maybe do it 2 or 3 times just to be sure. I will never understand people who are "afraid they'll break it" if they floor it. If your car is in danger of "breaking" if you floor it, then you've got serious issues. I digress...
Awesome idea with the Comand 2.0 upgrade. I'm doing the same whenever I can source the parts. Only "custom" fitting you have to do is buying 2 new dash trim pieces and cutting/splicing them together. Other that that, you'll allegedly need: comand 2.0 unit, w210 E55 steering wheel with buttons on it, w208 CLK55 instrument cluster, GPS antenna, and ???
<-- that guy did it. Needs to be dragged into the street and shot for what he did to the trim.
My tranny test is the same on every car I look at: once the car is at normal operating temp, I test drive it. Get to a good spot (by myself, preferably) of open road, and give it a good wide-open-throttle rogering up through first and 2nd gear. Maybe do it 2 or 3 times just to be sure. I will never understand people who are "afraid they'll break it" if they floor it. If your car is in danger of "breaking" if you floor it, then you've got serious issues. I digress...
Awesome idea with the Comand 2.0 upgrade. I'm doing the same whenever I can source the parts. Only "custom" fitting you have to do is buying 2 new dash trim pieces and cutting/splicing them together. Other that that, you'll allegedly need: comand 2.0 unit, w210 E55 steering wheel with buttons on it, w208 CLK55 instrument cluster, GPS antenna, and ???
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,437
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
According to the Carfax the car was damaged in 2008 and recently sold at an auction. The auction could be from the car being traded in or possibly repo'd. Higher mileage and previous accident you should be able to pick it up for a song and a dance.
FWIW I bought mine 3 years ago with 107,000 on odometer for $6,500.
FWIW I bought mine 3 years ago with 107,000 on odometer for $6,500.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
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E55 AMG
Long story short. The car was in absolutely horrific condition...
The owner was very misleading and I feel I have wasted my time.
I negotiated well under his asking price of 5600 and I couldn't even bring myself to buy it on a good day
The owner was very misleading and I feel I have wasted my time.
I negotiated well under his asking price of 5600 and I couldn't even bring myself to buy it on a good day
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 940
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
Would you mind elaborating on the condition? If I'm not mistaken this car popped up on the forum here a couple weeks ago with a request for members to value it
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 620
Likes: 35
From: north jersey
99 c43,90 mustang gt supercharged convertible,07 acura tl type s, Hummer H3t pickup
Wow suprised to hear that...pics can be misleading..you did the right thing and walk.Keep looking there are more out there.Good luck!
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it's fairly cheap to export a car from USA to europe, so it should be the same the other way?
you buy mine you get one of the best c43's ever preserved.
i'll throw in a few euro options that NA C43's never had.
I bet you'll be the only one in USA with this car.
only thing to do is to swap the engine for a 5.4 litre
Last edited by KJI3jflarryfe93; Jun 13, 2013 at 03:39 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 620
Likes: 35
From: north jersey
99 c43,90 mustang gt supercharged convertible,07 acura tl type s, Hummer H3t pickup
why don't ya import one from europe?
it's fairly cheap to export a car from USA to europe, so it should be the same the other way?
you buy mine you get one of the best c43's ever preserved.
i'll throw in a few euro options that NA C43's never had.
I bet you'll be the only one in USA with this car.
only thing to do is to swap the engine for a 5.4 litre
it's fairly cheap to export a car from USA to europe, so it should be the same the other way?
you buy mine you get one of the best c43's ever preserved.
i'll throw in a few euro options that NA C43's never had.
I bet you'll be the only one in USA with this car.
only thing to do is to swap the engine for a 5.4 litre
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
E55 AMG
Hey guys, the cars interior was cracked and rip on every seat, but the real kicker was the leather was rock hard, showing the car had been exposed to the raw elements. The right indicator lights on the cluster where missing so I had no idea if any warning lights were on.
There was also a strong engine smell in the cabin of the car.
Every panel had what it looked to be spidering of the paint.
The list goes on and on and on!
I was glad it went down the way it did at this point.
I ended up finding a 9.5 out of 10 2001 black on black/grey E55 AMG with only 60,000 miles!
I am absolutely in love with the car and everything seemed to work out in the end.
Thanks guys for all the response
There was also a strong engine smell in the cabin of the car.
Every panel had what it looked to be spidering of the paint.
The list goes on and on and on!
I was glad it went down the way it did at this point.
I ended up finding a 9.5 out of 10 2001 black on black/grey E55 AMG with only 60,000 miles!
I am absolutely in love with the car and everything seemed to work out in the end.
Thanks guys for all the response
yes plz!
