acthomasiv

Hey, new to the forum, but I read stuff on here all the time. I have a job and I was planning on buying an old Benz while in college, my dad would help me maintain it as he would drive it too. I was looking into a c280 or c280 sport, but i would really like the exterior to look like a c43 AMG, because well.. the car looks amazing. So, I was wondering if it was possible to purchase the body kit and place it on the car to where it looks stock. also, if im not able to get the c280 sport, and it is a regular c280, is it possible to change out the trim? Ive looked up body kits and its under 500 for the AMG style one. id get the rims later down the line. another thing, is it possible to add the headlight wipers too? or would that just be some thing not worth it?

Thanks

Sulaco

You can get a C43 for the price of a C280 these days...

acthomasiv

I'd love to do that, but a c43 near me cost an average 8k! A c280 in my area is more in the ball park of 2.5k-4k, the body kit will be 600, paint, who knows, how much do you think it would cost? hopefully I can get a body kit in silver from my local PG auto salvage yard. check them out, they have a bunch of parts, check them out.. http://www.pgauto.com/

Sulaco

Are you in the US? Because 2 different C43's within a couple hours of me have sold for less than $4k in the last month. Do some digging, they pop up all the time!

mbsickness

Mounting an OEM C43 kit should be easy. I recently installed an OEM C36 kit on my C280 and all the mounting holes were already provisioned on the car. Even though I was able to get an OEM kit for under $800....after I aquired the mounting hardware (screws and nylon bits), foglights, and tow hook covers...I was into the kit for more than $2,500 after paint. That being said a C43 kit for $600 sounds like a replica Duraflex variety which from what I have seen on the forums is more of a job to mount as you will need to fabricate mounts. As you have big plans for the car, I have to agree with Sulaco that you are best to start out with a C43.

Sulaco

I can say this, absolutely STAY AWAY from duraflex.

Me and another member over at club202.com have bought bought Duraflex aftermarket bumpers for our cars and they are absolutely atrocious quality with ZERO mounting hardware/locations on board. It would take a half-decent body shop $400 more in labor just to get the damn thing sanded, filled, painted, and then mounted to look even remotely correct. Plus, the lines and proportions are all way off. My C43 looked relatively low due to the 18" rims with very low-profile tires. Same wheels/tires but with the Duraflex bumper it looks like it is 10 feet in the air but only in the front. Absolute worst money I've ever spent.

acthomasiv

WOW
Thanks guys, I just don't want the gas prices with a C43. Or the Fuel economy rather. But thanks, duraflex is no longer an option. I'm not trying to spend an arm and leg for this car. maybe ill get a silver c280 sport and just look for people parting out. or ill just get a c43 and enjoy and suffer or just swap the engine out with a prius engine. jk

Sulaco

I'm going to be completely 100% truthful here, and every C43 owner will back me up:

The MPG on a C43 when driven normally is almost exactly the same as a C280 under the same conditions.

I drove a 1994 C280 for 252,000 miles from 1999 to 2011 and the best mpg I ever got was about 26-27. With my C43 on the highway (and staying light on the throttle) I easily get 24-26 depending on the weather and traffic.

JohnnyRock

QFT. I drove 1600 miles averaging 80 mph and 26 mpg.

acthomasiv

Wow! Thanks guys, I would have been up ****s creek with that duraflex! I think I'll save more money and get a C43. I'm driving a 2000 E320, MPG is like 11.5 sometime when below 30 mph. I guess im going to get the C43 and just baby it. But its going to be a year or so now. If I get the c43, I'm not going to sell, I'll be broke fixing it but ill look damn good driving down the road.