Things that annoy you most about your C43?
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Things that annoy you most about your C43?
Just wanting to get an indication of weather or not im just fussy, or things listed below are common accross all C43 owners.
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbors place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbors place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
Last edited by Pagz; Sep 11, 2013 at 12:13 AM.
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I totally agree on number 4.
I am very annoyed by the way the rear bymper deforms on top(guess its from the exhaust heat)
Also being a metalic black car, I always have to tell people not to put their hands on it because it always leaves finger prints and a day after I washed it, its already dirty.....and I am very annoyed by that lol
Also I cant tell you how much I hate the adaptive tranny
btw for number 4, try cleaning your throttle body(if you haven't done that). It made a good difference for me
I am very annoyed by the way the rear bymper deforms on top(guess its from the exhaust heat)
Also being a metalic black car, I always have to tell people not to put their hands on it because it always leaves finger prints and a day after I washed it, its already dirty.....and I am very annoyed by that lol
Also I cant tell you how much I hate the adaptive tranny
btw for number 4, try cleaning your throttle body(if you haven't done that). It made a good difference for me
Last edited by PJmak; Sep 11, 2013 at 12:21 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
I've noticed the rear bumper deforms under the tail light on some but thought this was impact related, makes sense this could be exhaust heat!. Mine did not have this though prehaps hotter countries and more stand still traffic cause it?!.
+1 on the adaptive trans hating, I've been working towards a 6-speed conversion for some time, I want the 510nm rated box(for future upgrades
) but can only find the 420Nm at present,the 510Nm is alot longer however so might be more work to fit.
Now you mention it I will definitly remove and clean out the TB better than I did, I did notice some buildup and wiped away what I could see when I did the seals around the MAS, I wonder also if there is buildup around the Dual length manifold butterflys some might leak and cause differences in vaccum across the intake runners...food for thought!.
+1 on the adaptive trans hating, I've been working towards a 6-speed conversion for some time, I want the 510nm rated box(for future upgrades
) but can only find the 420Nm at present,the 510Nm is alot longer however so might be more work to fit. Now you mention it I will definitly remove and clean out the TB better than I did, I did notice some buildup and wiped away what I could see when I did the seals around the MAS, I wonder also if there is buildup around the Dual length manifold butterflys some might leak and cause differences in vaccum across the intake runners...food for thought!.
Last edited by Pagz; Sep 11, 2013 at 01:19 AM.
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From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Checked the TB tonight, the OE sealant(or melted O-ring??) used to seal to the manifold was really poor and the TB just dropped off as I loosened the bolts,the EPC shows the replacement is an O-ring so I'll be getting one of those, this could help along with cleaning the TB,I can see even a small amount of buildup at the TB would effect the idle.
Was surprised to see the inside of the manifold has very little buildup, I wonder if area's like where the dual length actuator mechanism penetrates the manifold seals well over time,I notice a small amount of oil residue on the actuator arm and the arm has some play in its bearing, will vaccum test on this when I get it back together.
ok back on topic...
Was surprised to see the inside of the manifold has very little buildup, I wonder if area's like where the dual length actuator mechanism penetrates the manifold seals well over time,I notice a small amount of oil residue on the actuator arm and the arm has some play in its bearing, will vaccum test on this when I get it back together.
ok back on topic...
Last edited by Pagz; Sep 11, 2013 at 05:19 AM.
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Just wanting to get an indication of weather or not im just fussy, or things listed below are common accross all C43 owners.
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbors place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbors place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
The stock suspension
The adaptive tranny
The wood trim on the dash that seems to be cracking
The rear taillight light bulb holder melting/light bulb out indicator problem
And now I have the sunroof material sagging problem
#3 isn't an issue for me
Oh, and it really bothers me that it came with a 4.2 instead of the 5.4
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
The god awful transmission.
The gearbox.
The tranny.
THE FREAKING TRANSMISSION IS AN ABSOLUTE FUN SPONGE BUZZ KILL PIECE OF CRAP.
Seriously, the old 722 vac-controlled mechanical 4speed in my 1994 C280 was far, FAR more controllable, predictable, and responsive to my driving. I drove that car like a bat out of hell for 13 years, from leaving the selecter in D to shifting gears up/down manually and I could play that thing like a fiddle. My C43 has caused me to just give up. It just does whatever it wants at all times. One time a standard Audi A6 3.2 was trying to pull on me on the interstate and I lost due to the fact that the freaking gearbox would not downshift no matter where the pedal was. By the time I gave up and just manually put the selector in 3rd (was going 70mph), the other guy was so far gone I would have just made it worse. Embarrassing.
The gearbox.
The tranny.
THE FREAKING TRANSMISSION IS AN ABSOLUTE FUN SPONGE BUZZ KILL PIECE OF CRAP.
Seriously, the old 722 vac-controlled mechanical 4speed in my 1994 C280 was far, FAR more controllable, predictable, and responsive to my driving. I drove that car like a bat out of hell for 13 years, from leaving the selecter in D to shifting gears up/down manually and I could play that thing like a fiddle. My C43 has caused me to just give up. It just does whatever it wants at all times. One time a standard Audi A6 3.2 was trying to pull on me on the interstate and I lost due to the fact that the freaking gearbox would not downshift no matter where the pedal was. By the time I gave up and just manually put the selector in 3rd (was going 70mph), the other guy was so far gone I would have just made it worse. Embarrassing.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
722.6 is good tranny, it needs constantly service, specially Electronics,,
i don’t have any issue with tranny ever, while been servicing it, will fall in love with it...
ZAYED,,
i don’t have any issue with tranny ever, while been servicing it, will fall in love with it...
ZAYED,,
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,846
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From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
I have to echo what others have said - wood trim (I feel wood has no place in a car, unless it's for weight savings, per Corvettes and some Porsches); stock North American suspension; relatively frail front bumper inner skeleton / plastic rebar. The latter seems to be able to fall apart so easily, with the slightest brush on a curb, and then you have the bumper alignment issues. Also, AMG should have just done the right thing and thrown the 55 motor in from the beginning. Seems to me, the C43 is the only car with the special camshafts to make it a 300hp motor as opposed to the 275hp 430 motor. Why bother?
To add to that list - steering feel and ratio (too slow); lack of dual zone climate control; relatively rust prone body; trunk latch that opens on its own in cold weather and is expensive to repair.
To add to that list - steering feel and ratio (too slow); lack of dual zone climate control; relatively rust prone body; trunk latch that opens on its own in cold weather and is expensive to repair.
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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)
J
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbours place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
1. The front seats are not that comfortable, the lower pad seems to support from the outside with nothing in the middle?
2. The auto box is ok, but seems to not change down when you want it,forcing you to push the pedal down which ends in more reaction than you really needed?...a TCU reset helps alot but doesnt last that long.
3.When in drive at a stop the force on the rear wheels seems too high, if I was to slip off the brake in the garage I would shoot through the wall into the neighbours place, this is worse when cold due to the rpm and oil vis.
4.The engine Idle is not silky smooth,it has a slight roughness to it despite replacing nearly every cause on engine.
5.You wish you could have the blower fan on but not the AC pump!(pretty sure ECO cycles the pump on and off)
6.The stock suspension is rough and you feel everything on 17" wheels.
Cheers
As I have a Euro version, the last comment does not apply as the factory supplied suspension is lower.
Transmission is not too much of a concern for me. True that if you drive Grandpa style, the shifts adapts (a pain in the butt), but use it more aggressively, the shifts adapts also. Regular ATF changes really help to make it silky smooth.
Idle is also a bit lumpy, but does that matter as you should not be idling but driving
Agree the M113 5,4 should have been installed from the beginning with special cams. That would have be a blast.
I agree with Saaboteur on the steering ratio and speed, but that's probably because it is not a rack and pinion. Larger sway bars should have been installed from the beginning. And the proverbial w202 rust...
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From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
My trans fluid was changed at 70000km's. Changed my original 02's recently at 94000km's because the 1st-2nd gear change was a bit harsh, seems to have fixed that issue!. It's the adaption that ruins it for me and I think that is the most common annoyance.
Interesting no one has problems with #3, I have a tight garage so have to be very careful I dont take the mirrors off at the door, this is made difficult by the moderate torque being transmitted at idle - I would prefer to have to push the accelerator to make it move rather than the brake to hold it back,I do wonder why they changed the fluids at 70000,previous owner must have known these were trouble!.
DRB,Do you think the euro suspension is rough?.
More Ammo for manual conversion thanks Dennis =D
After driving the 208 CLK55 I totally agree on the power, that extra ~100Nm/50hp really makes all the difference.
Interesting no one has problems with #3, I have a tight garage so have to be very careful I dont take the mirrors off at the door, this is made difficult by the moderate torque being transmitted at idle - I would prefer to have to push the accelerator to make it move rather than the brake to hold it back,I do wonder why they changed the fluids at 70000,previous owner must have known these were trouble!.
DRB,Do you think the euro suspension is rough?.
722.631 tranny will give you headache if your o2 sensors fail!
your pilotbushing or conductor plate will give ya more headache.
other than that it needs oil changes to work properly
your pilotbushing or conductor plate will give ya more headache.
other than that it needs oil changes to work properly
After driving the 208 CLK55 I totally agree on the power, that extra ~100Nm/50hp really makes all the difference.
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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)
@Pagz: the suspension is certainly not soft. With 17" it is OK
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My trans fluid was changed at 70000km's. Changed my original 02's recently at 94000km's because the 1st-2nd gear change was a bit harsh, seems to have fixed that issue!. It's the adaption that ruins it for me and I think that is the most common annoyance.
Interesting no one has problems with #3, I have a tight garage so have to be very careful I dont take the mirrors off at the door, this is made difficult by the moderate torque being transmitted at idle - I would prefer to have to push the accelerator to make it move rather than the brake to hold it back,I do wonder why they changed the fluids at 70000,previous owner must have known these were trouble!.
DRB,Do you think the euro suspension is rough?.
More Ammo for manual conversion thanks Dennis =D
After driving the 208 CLK55 I totally agree on the power, that extra ~100Nm/50hp really makes all the difference.
Interesting no one has problems with #3, I have a tight garage so have to be very careful I dont take the mirrors off at the door, this is made difficult by the moderate torque being transmitted at idle - I would prefer to have to push the accelerator to make it move rather than the brake to hold it back,I do wonder why they changed the fluids at 70000,previous owner must have known these were trouble!.
DRB,Do you think the euro suspension is rough?.
More Ammo for manual conversion thanks Dennis =D
After driving the 208 CLK55 I totally agree on the power, that extra ~100Nm/50hp really makes all the difference.
changed at 70-km by previous owner was normal I suppose?
do you have the folding mirror option?
that's a sweet gadget on narrow streets!
one of my o2 sensors was broken when I bought my car, didn't know about the o2 sensor being bad as we european dudes weren't blessed with the CEL option on our cars!
scenario was making a rocket launch from stand still and the gearchange from 1st gear to 2nd in D-mode gave a loud bang in the transmission!
I had to let off the accelarator and drop the speed then 2nd would engage.
the other upshifts worked smoothly.
problems only occurs between 1st and 2nd gearchange
Bosch claims these o2 sensors last to 160000km = 100 000 miles
thats BS, they can go bad earlier!
mine did this at approx 50000km, didn' even last half.
I guess it was a lemon sensor
Last edited by KJI3jflarryfe93; Sep 13, 2013 at 05:30 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
you are right with #3, i have a tiny garange and narrow driveway. when you let off the brake, even trying to ease off its like it jumps that first 2 feet via torque.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
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From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Dennis, I have searched the through MB WIS/ASRA and cannot find where mercedes says to change the trans fluid as a maintenance interval? maybe I missed something?.
I agree on the 02's, mine hadn't even covered 100km's, though time and moisture may effect them greatly also.
Dziner, I guess it's only an issue for the guys with small garages =( haha.
I agree on the 02's, mine hadn't even covered 100km's, though time and moisture may effect them greatly also.
Dziner, I guess it's only an issue for the guys with small garages =( haha.
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Dennis, I have searched the through MB WIS/ASRA and cannot find where mercedes says to change the trans fluid as a maintenance interval? maybe I missed something?.
I agree on the 02's, mine hadn't even covered 100km's, though time and moisture may effect them greatly also.
Dziner, I guess it's only an issue for the guys with small garages =( haha.
I agree on the 02's, mine hadn't even covered 100km's, though time and moisture may effect them greatly also.
Dziner, I guess it's only an issue for the guys with small garages =( haha.
they must have had an epiphany, there's no eternal tranny oil in a sealed transmission.
MB gurus had to revise their wisdom, so they came up with a 60000km oil change if I'm not mistaken?
my memory *** up sometimes
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 179
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From: Los Angeles
1999 Mercedes Benz C43
The god awful transmission.
The gearbox.
The tranny.
THE FREAKING TRANSMISSION IS AN ABSOLUTE FUN SPONGE BUZZ KILL PIECE OF CRAP.
Seriously, the old 722 vac-controlled mechanical 4speed in my 1994 C280 was far, FAR more controllable, predictable, and responsive to my driving. I drove that car like a bat out of hell for 13 years, from leaving the selecter in D to shifting gears up/down manually and I could play that thing like a fiddle. My C43 has caused me to just give up. It just does whatever it wants at all times. One time a standard Audi A6 3.2 was trying to pull on me on the interstate and I lost due to the fact that the freaking gearbox would not downshift no matter where the pedal was. By the time I gave up and just manually put the selector in 3rd (was going 70mph), the other guy was so far gone I would have just made it worse. Embarrassing.
The gearbox.
The tranny.
THE FREAKING TRANSMISSION IS AN ABSOLUTE FUN SPONGE BUZZ KILL PIECE OF CRAP.
Seriously, the old 722 vac-controlled mechanical 4speed in my 1994 C280 was far, FAR more controllable, predictable, and responsive to my driving. I drove that car like a bat out of hell for 13 years, from leaving the selecter in D to shifting gears up/down manually and I could play that thing like a fiddle. My C43 has caused me to just give up. It just does whatever it wants at all times. One time a standard Audi A6 3.2 was trying to pull on me on the interstate and I lost due to the fact that the freaking gearbox would not downshift no matter where the pedal was. By the time I gave up and just manually put the selector in 3rd (was going 70mph), the other guy was so far gone I would have just made it worse. Embarrassing.
I agree on the C280 driving. Back in 1998 I had a 1997 C280 w Coilovers and everything AMG, the car was insane and so awesome to drive. To be fair I'm compering my C280 driving from 1997 to an old 1999 C43 I'm driving now, but it makes sense what you're saying. Love the engine power, but the response is so slow. Now wait a minute though, I needed a cheap car that I could enjoy... so for few buck over $5k I'm really happy w the C43. Paid $32K for the one year old C280 back then.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 179
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From: Los Angeles
1999 Mercedes Benz C43
1) I love the seats shape, they fit me.
2) Agree.
3) Haven't really noticed this, I will pay more attention to it now.
4) Not a problem for me.
5) Agree
6) For my taste, I can't feel the road as much as I want to. Can't wait to re-do all suspensions and shocks.
2) Agree.
3) Haven't really noticed this, I will pay more attention to it now.
4) Not a problem for me.
5) Agree
6) For my taste, I can't feel the road as much as I want to. Can't wait to re-do all suspensions and shocks.
