My new '98 C43
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Joined: Apr 2014
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
My new '98 C43
Hi,
I'm new to the MB crowd. My parents had a 190E growing up and it was just a nostalgic when I got back into one.
Sold my '98 Tacoma for a '98 C43 AMG. Can't tell everyone how excited I am to start working on it. I'm no mechanic but I'll do what I can do.
Hopefully I can attach some pictures properly here.
I've washed the car an will have to do some rust damage on the driver side, underneath the trunk seal and some random rust pit/bubbles. Hopefully none of it is too bad.
The front bumper needs a lot of work. Plenty of stone chips all around. Right fog lens cracked and will need to be replaced.
Driver side side mirror has a yellow tint? Don't know if this is normal or just a film but I looked into changing it out and it was over $100 just for the mirror!!
Getting oil change, coolant flush and plugs replaced on Monday. Will see if there is anything lurking underneath.
Thanks for looking
I'm new to the MB crowd. My parents had a 190E growing up and it was just a nostalgic when I got back into one.
Sold my '98 Tacoma for a '98 C43 AMG. Can't tell everyone how excited I am to start working on it. I'm no mechanic but I'll do what I can do.
Hopefully I can attach some pictures properly here.
I've washed the car an will have to do some rust damage on the driver side, underneath the trunk seal and some random rust pit/bubbles. Hopefully none of it is too bad.
The front bumper needs a lot of work. Plenty of stone chips all around. Right fog lens cracked and will need to be replaced.
Driver side side mirror has a yellow tint? Don't know if this is normal or just a film but I looked into changing it out and it was over $100 just for the mirror!!
Getting oil change, coolant flush and plugs replaced on Monday. Will see if there is anything lurking underneath.
Thanks for looking
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
The yellowing of the mirror is probably the auto darkening feature not working properly. Unfortunately, I have not had to deal with it, so I'm not sure if there is a fix or if it just has to be replaced. Looks like you have some work ahead of you, but good luck.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Oregon
'97 c36
The yellowing of the mirror is what happens when the seal leaks and the air causes the fluid inside to change color. Happened to my 36 too. Your going to want to swap that mirror out before it starts leaking out and onto the car. Another member said that happened to them and the fluid ate the paint. I got rid of my auto dimmer all together and went with euro convex'ed edge heated mirrors. Love um.
Last edited by Super B; Apr 10, 2014 at 01:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 36
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
Thanks for the warm welcome!
PJMak - I would take your offer but I had ordered the lens already the other day.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the yellowing of the mirror. I don't need to be fixing any more paint then I already am. But replacing the mirror is expensive!
ecstuning has them from $200+ to $400+ depending on if you want plain mirror, dimming mirror or heated mirror. Anyone know of somewhere else? I know autohauz has them but the price is similar.
And I think I gave myself more work then I needed. I couldn't stand looking at all the rust and scratches etc on the car so I started to sand, grind away. By the end of it I had all the trim off and my car looked like a cow with the spots everywhere.
I have never done anything like this before but we'll see where it goes.
PJMak - I would take your offer but I had ordered the lens already the other day.
Thanks for the heads up regarding the yellowing of the mirror. I don't need to be fixing any more paint then I already am. But replacing the mirror is expensive!
ecstuning has them from $200+ to $400+ depending on if you want plain mirror, dimming mirror or heated mirror. Anyone know of somewhere else? I know autohauz has them but the price is similar.
And I think I gave myself more work then I needed. I couldn't stand looking at all the rust and scratches etc on the car so I started to sand, grind away. By the end of it I had all the trim off and my car looked like a cow with the spots everywhere.
I have never done anything like this before but we'll see where it goes.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2014
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
Oh and as far as oil change goes, it looks like most people use mobil 1. I have some castrol synthetic leftover. Anyone hear of negative things for these w202's and Castrol synthetic?
TIA
TIA
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Thread Starter
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
So far:
Now need to get an alignment and fix the rust with the car.
Then I'll see if any real money will go into the car but so far I love driving it.
- fixed rear seat latch squeak
- changed airbox filters
- changed cabin filter
- oil change
- coolant flush
- changed spark plugs
- changed 2 front tires
Now need to get an alignment and fix the rust with the car.
Then I'll see if any real money will go into the car but so far I love driving it.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
Thanks Tony_AMG!
- alignment done. Drove up to Boston over the weekend and it drives pretty well. Seems to track a lot if there is a slight dip in the road though.
- started painting the old rusted spots that I removed and primed. Received paint from Paintscratch.com. I've used them before but this time the paint didn't match great. But I also think because the car is so old. In the end it doesn't matter that much. I just wanted to do a quick fix so the rust didn't get worse and my car didn't look like a cow since it's white with all they grey primer spots everywhere. The clear coat did not spray on very well. Not sure if the temperature was too cold (60?) or if I didn't shake the can enough (almost 2 mins) but the clear came out spotty. I'll leave it for now until 48hrs has passed. Then I'll use a mild compound to see if it helps.
- alignment done. Drove up to Boston over the weekend and it drives pretty well. Seems to track a lot if there is a slight dip in the road though.
- started painting the old rusted spots that I removed and primed. Received paint from Paintscratch.com. I've used them before but this time the paint didn't match great. But I also think because the car is so old. In the end it doesn't matter that much. I just wanted to do a quick fix so the rust didn't get worse and my car didn't look like a cow since it's white with all they grey primer spots everywhere. The clear coat did not spray on very well. Not sure if the temperature was too cold (60?) or if I didn't shake the can enough (almost 2 mins) but the clear came out spotty. I'll leave it for now until 48hrs has passed. Then I'll use a mild compound to see if it helps.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
- swapped out the cracked fog light lens on the passenger side.
During all this when the car was on the floor jack I noticed some rust underneath by the jack. I removed that rubber grommet and all this crap came falling out. Lots of soot and dirt, leaves etc. So I decided to clean it out and partially remove the wheel well liner and it was gross. I think at least a pounds worth of stuff came out. The driver side was fine for some reason only passenger side.
There was a lot more than in the pic but by then my hands were too dirty to touch the phone.
During all this when the car was on the floor jack I noticed some rust underneath by the jack. I removed that rubber grommet and all this crap came falling out. Lots of soot and dirt, leaves etc. So I decided to clean it out and partially remove the wheel well liner and it was gross. I think at least a pounds worth of stuff came out. The driver side was fine for some reason only passenger side.
There was a lot more than in the pic but by then my hands were too dirty to touch the phone.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2014
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
Thanks!
Actually as far as underneath the car goes, that's the only rust I saw.
I wouldn't mind getting it steam cleaned and coated since I live in the NorthEast but that will be after I sort out all the oil on the tranny pan. Looks like it's coming from the plug. I haven't had the drained yet (I'm not going to flush it) then replace the seals and filter and maybe filler/drain plugs.
Actually as far as underneath the car goes, that's the only rust I saw.
I wouldn't mind getting it steam cleaned and coated since I live in the NorthEast but that will be after I sort out all the oil on the tranny pan. Looks like it's coming from the plug. I haven't had the drained yet (I'm not going to flush it) then replace the seals and filter and maybe filler/drain plugs.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 36
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From: NNJ
'98 C43
Brakes
So I was hoping to hold off on the brakes but it looks like I need to replace the calipers. Not sure if you can see from the pic but the rotors (imo) need to be replaced.
So next job is the transmission oil drain/filter/plugs/seals and calipers. Hopefully I don't have or need or want to upgrade for $$$ sake.
So next job is the transmission oil drain/filter/plugs/seals and calipers. Hopefully I don't have or need or want to upgrade for $$$ sake.
