Forrest Gump 9

Hello Gents.

I've owned a couple E55 amg, and still own two of them. I'm loved the AMG, so I'm expanding the collection. I'm in the process of looking at a 1995 C36 black on black with 50k miles, mint condition. The other one is the 2000 C43 white on black, 180k miles. Which one should you buy? C36 right? But the rarity of the '00 C43? I wish I can buy both, but the garage space is done.

Anyway, thanks for reading and hope you gents can give me some insight.

Sulaco

Depends. C43 is rare for the model year and tiptronic transmission. C36 is like a unicorn as far as I'm concerned, and is the hybrid amg. Last amg built using the original amg method of rebuilding a finished car (a c280 in this case) into a true amg, and the first official car built after Mb bought amg. I have 2 C43s and adore them. They're never leaving. But id absolutely love a clean C36. They just ooze coolness. Tough call.

Sulaco

Also where do you find a mint c36 with only fifty thousand miles???

Forrest Gump 9

Here's one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-C-Class-Base-Sedan-4-Door-1995-mercedes-benz-c-36-amg-1-owner-service-records-/141295045465?forcerrptr=true&hash=item20e5d74b59&item=141295045465&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

PJmak

C36 with 50k

pun in the garage and drive the e55

cm60k

It depend if it yours or wife,

Since you have a monster E55K, i think "00 C43" is closer, much fun, and it's the final MY of W202 with best AMG magic touch...

ZAYED,,

nd4spd13

I'd agree with this, but recommend the opposite. Seeing as you already have an e55, the c43 has the same engine minus the supercharger and some displacement. Not sure what you're planning to do with the car, but I'd almost see it as being too similar to the 55 in terms of engine feel/trans etc. The 36 is guaranteed to be a completely different experience with the 4 speed (you posted a 95 model), totally different engine dynamics, and being a completely different era. The tech that makes the 2000 43 so special would still be very lacking compared to the W211, so it's special charm might be a little diminished.

Also the 180k on the 43 will just about kill any extra value the model year had. That's getting up there. Clean, low milage 202s are getting rarer and rarer. I scoop that one up while you can.

Unless you're planning to mod the car like your 55, in which case go for the m113

benzslo

depends what you're going to do with it, but c43 is a far superior car to the c36.

Super B

wanna see who can pull an exhaust manifold or replace motor mounts faster? like the others said it really depends on what you want to do with it. By today's standards it's not all that quick.. And not really anything more you can do to the 104 that amg didn't. It doesn't have that many bells or whistles... The seats aren't that comfy... and the coils are going to crack.. The self dimming mirrors are going to leak..

But you know what.

I wouldn't trade mine for most anything of that era. I freaking love my 36. I love the way it sounds when it comes into the power, love how much space there is to work under the hood, personal preference but i like the boxy body kit a bit more.. There is just a lot to love about the car.. And at 221k miles it still feels like it has soo much further to go.

nd4spd13

Hahaha

I wouldn't say superior, just newer. The 36 is more solidly built imo, 4 speed trans is absolutely bulletproof, along with the cast iron engine. Replace the engine harness and leaky valve gasket and you're good. Plus I like the fact that the engine "tries" to work, unlike the effortless highway-cruiser vibe on the 43. And even after all that they are equally fast.

benzslo

i've worked on them each hundreds of times, yes superior in every way.

I like the c36, the c43 is just better, for thousands of reasons. Mercedes doesn't facelift cars to go backwards, you'd be surprised at all the improvements the w202 got for 1998, when you work on them day in and day out, you know.

The pre 98 cars don't rust like the facelifted ones, I guess that is the one better thing about them.

Sulaco

I completely understand the love affair with the fire-spitting version of the m104 found in the C36. I also like the body kit and lines better on the C36. Still having that chrome stripe down the side makes an alarming difference to my eyes.

Bottom line is the cars are COMPLETELY different in many ways. I also agree the updated 202 is, technically, vastly updated over the pre-update cars. I drove a bone stock 1994 C280 for 13 years and 250k miles doing all the work myself. I still miss that car every day. The preupdate things are part of what I love about it. It was a simpler, more raw road going vehicle. When I sent the tail end out on that thing, the only thing stopping me from crashing was ME. I have to try really, REALLY hard to have that same fun in my C43's. But that sound and feeling of even-just-barely throttling the V8 and experiencing it's effortless thrust is my biggest addiction right now.

Bottom line is that both cars are really a clear cut case of apples vs oranges. If you can test drive both cars (preferably on the same day) you can make your mind up on your own.

I agree with the sentiment that the C43 will feel a bit like a stripped down (and considerably slower) version of your E55, but it's still a fantastic and surprisingly practical car to own/drive. There's reason I bought 2 of them. But the C36 will feel entirely different in more ways than you might imagine. Which one you'll prefer is up to you.

Practical issues to consider with the choice:

180k on the C43 is considerably higher than 50k on the C36, but still nothing to fear if the car has been properly maintained. 270k on my 99 C43 and it puts down better numbers than factory rated. My 98 has 200k but is a bit slower, and wasn't properly maintained (it needs a fair bit of minor repairs and TLC before it's an acceptable specimen), but the interior on both cars is miraculously good. They were extremely well engineered. No cracks or tears in any of the leather, carpet, or mats. Dash is 100% mint. It's shocking how new they look. Headliners are gone in both cars, and will be gone in literally any w202 with the original headliner right now. Fact of life. $650+ for a "proper" replacement with original material is going rate.

50k on the C36 is a fantastic and rare amount of miles, but creates a major caveat: has it had the original wiring harness and head gasket changed? Every single MB with the m104 straight six from 1994 and 1995 WILL need those 2 items replaced. Period. If you're remotely handy and can drop $700 on a new one, you can do the wiring harness yourself in 3 hours with almost no tools (or drop $1k+ at a shop). If you're an experienced DIY mechanic, you can spend $200-300 on a gasket set and head bolts and do the head gasket job yourself (or drop $2k+ at a shop). If you do the head gasket job but still have the original wiring harness that was totally still fine before the head gasket job = the head gasket job will ruin your factory harness and you'll have to do it immediately anyway. Chances are, that C36 has already had these jobs, but I'd make absolutely damn sure before I bought it. If the jobs hadn't been done, the price I'd be willing to pay drops dramatically. I've actually been seeking a higher miles C36 with these issues so I can snag it SUPER cheap and fix it myself.

And the final thing is price. A 00 C43 with 180k probably costs considerably less than any C36 with 50k miles. The one in the ad above was $16k? No freaking way. I'd buy a W211 E55 for that. A C43 with 180k usually goes for 4-8k depending on location. They're a STEAL at those prices.

Sorry for long winded post. Just had my last cup of extra strong coffee.

Forrest Gump 9

Thank you gents for the good info. I'm going to look at both on Monday and see what happen. I'm leaning toward the C36 right now.

cm60k

Good Luck Mate...

ZAYED,,

jmg1848

great reading here..