Proven Guilty

As the title suggests, my favorite color would be the non-metallic black on black, followed by white followed by silver. 2-tone interiors are fine as well, but again simple all black on black preferred. Please let me know if you're considering selling and located in California, Nevada or Arizona. Looking for clean examples, mileage or needing work not a concern as I am looking for something to restore as a daily driver and will likely engine swap it.

I live in Phoenix, AZ so rust-free is a requirement. Cars from these three states tend to be in better condition than elsewhere in the country.

On second thought, Texas is also a good place for used cars of this era.

Thank you!
-Chris

PJmak

A friend has a silver one with the clk55 motor swapped in and the trans was rebuilt recently. Also has koni adjustable shocks and kmac bushings.

Its clean title and has less than 120k miles.

The downside is it was sideswiped recently and he doesn't want to fix it. It will take a grand maybe slightly more to fix it. Its not that bad.

I drove this car. Mechanically it needs absolutely nothing

KJI3jflarryfe93

post some fotos of the car and the damages

PJmak

I dont have any man. Its his car but I have a pic or two of it before it was damaged.

Sorry this is all I got.

Proven Guilty

I am interested, the body work isn't so bad. Got a way for me to get ahold of him? Where is it located? I grew up in Detroit and vowed to never own rusty cars again, I hope it hasn't ever seen salt or I would spot it from a mile away

Thank you PJ! Also, long time no see! I posted the same thread over at club202 but didn't see a response yet.

PJmak

I haven't been on that site in a while

The car is located in Sacramento, CA and no rust

Proven Guilty

Had a chat with your buddy and responded to another PM here. Still on the look if anyone else is considering selling.

PJmak

Youll spend more on everything else this car has if you were to buy a stock c43. Body work to fix his car will be less thN 1500. Just my two cents

Suspension, adjustable bushings, and engine swap will be minimum 3k

Proven Guilty

That's actually a good point to consider. I'm still mulling it over about his car but just seeing what else may be out there. I really wanted black on black original color combo as my first pick

Proven Guilty

(PJ sell me your car) lol

Proven Guilty

This guy must be have invested a lot into what he thought was a collectible car to be asking this kind of money:
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/6021935444.html

Wants $30k for an all-original with 46,000 miles. Maybe in the year 2002, heh.

DRBC43AMG

Must be on LSD for asking that kind of cash. It looks to be a very clean example and with low mileage. Only drawback is the SUV type suspension, but if he wants to keep in US vehicle original, guess it has to remain

Proven Guilty

This is pretty much what I was thinking. We in particular love the classic W202 and the AMG package for that matter, but just because it was produced in limited quantity won't make it a high dollar collectible. The C-class was always viewed as a cheap, base model car in their fleet and we appreciated them for what they were.

I like to work on 1960s and 1970s American muscle cars too, but those had collectible value to them due to age, rarity and most importantly a market demand due to sentimental attachment associated with them.

I am really not sure what the hell this guy was thinking. Lol

Proven Guilty

Still looking as much of what is out there appears to need body work and/or has a salvage title. Any clean unmolested W202 AMGs out there destined for a new home?

mickey13

been thinking about this a lot and have to agree. 1998 to 2000 saw other much higher priced amg models and that is what i believe holds the price down on these.

KJI3jflarryfe93

i noticed your comment on w202 forum, pricetag was too high for you about that car Sulaco linked.
if you want to buy a clean unmolested car dirt cheap, you can keep dreaming!

come on dude, this car you are looking for will never show up!
or if you are really lucky finding a clean car, you might be able to low ball seller who desperately needs to get rid of his vehicle.

most cars are in bad condition or needs major work as they are old and maybe not well maintained?
these are the cars you will find easily and you won't like them at all coz they don't look they way you want!

a good sound c43 has a higher pricetag than the money pits
you can get a newer w203 AMG for the same money a sound c43 costs

BVC500

I have to agree with Kowalski. Clean, unmolested C43's aren't cheap. If you can snag one for cheap (under $5k), props to you, but just to give you some perspective: I've spent over $6k in the past 2 years maintaining my clean, unmolested 125k mile C43. Some cosmetic, some mechanical, some regular maintenance. And that doesn't include hourly rates because my father and I do the work on it.

I'd sell for the right reasonable offer in which the buyer takes into account all of the work I've done - work that he/she doesn't have to do.

Sulaco

The only true clean C43 in perfect condition I've ever seen for sale and I could inspect it myself to verify? It had 81k miles and sold for $14k.

They are 17+ years old now. Truly mint ones are above your range or not for sale. You'll have to look for one thats been driven but isn't a lost cause.

The good news is the cars are rock solid reliable, very well made, and age very well. 305k miles on my factory original interior and it still looks daily 9/10. And anything needing repaired is far easier and cheaper than idiot armchair car geeks think.

And the 55 swap is crazy cheap and easy. I spent 3500 total for the engine and swap with fresh water pump and valve cover gaskets. And I paid more than most for my engine at 1200 plus shipping

magicbigdaddy

I reached out to the OP about my 99 Black on black super clean unmolested C43. Always a PNW car, no sunburn, no paint issues and no rust. Always owned by enthusiasts. Over $3k in recent service and tires. Offered it to him for $6k and he never replied. Guess he's looking for a pristine C43 at a beater price.

Sulaco

How many miles?

magicbigdaddy

The car has 186k miles but honestly looks like a 80k mile car. I am not currently offering the car forsale, I responded to his post over a week ago at a weak moment. This car is worth more than $6k. Nice examples are becoming scarce. These cars like the w124 500E's will increase in value soon.

Sulaco

I agree. I'm biased, yes, but I agree. The secret is starting to get out. Even if they aren't becoming valuable they are a great value for the money because they make fantastic daily drivers.

magicbigdaddy

I specialize in restorations, repair and detailing of w126 and w124 cars. In the last 5 years I have been around some fine classic Mercedes. I owned this C43 about 5 years ago. One of the only cars I wished I had never let go. These cars are just plain "FUN" yet as you mentioned a great DD with astonishing power and handling capabilities. The size of the car is easy to park and extremely comfortable with ortho seats and simple but classy ergonomics. When I heard it was on the market I jumped to get it back. To my surprise it was basically in the same condition as when I let it go. Overall well loved but with many 18 yr old cars needs a couple items sorted like light bulbs, fan clutch and a buzzing door speaker. There are not many performance cars that get 28mpg on the hwy. A true joy to drive. Fortunately this car was a previous MB star mark car and had the transmission replaced by the dealer under warranty at that time. It would be interesting to know how many are actually still on the road today. I am sure many were crashed or thrashed since its release.

Sulaco

I have owned 2 high-miles C43's that were considered way too risky by their previous owners. One had zero issues when I bought it but had 238k miles. I thrashed it hard up until 300k miles when I just put in an E55 engine instead. I kept the original motor just in case it ever becomes valuable and needs the numbers-matching engine.

The other one I picked up for under $2k in barely-running condition. For about $500 I had it completely repaired and put another 30k miles on it before I sold it to fund the 55 swap in my other car.

I've kept up with that car and where it is, because I want it back someday. If not that one, then another. They are just too great of a car to let go! Even by today's standards they are quick, quiet, comfortable, reliable, safe, and FUN.

hookah

Ive had 3 w202's. Just the chassis in general is built to last, and these cars feel special. By todays standards they are relatively small cars with a classy design and big power. Its just such a unique combo. Add the fact that you almost never see another on the road, you feel special driving one. I know we arent seeing big dollars yet, but I really feel as time passes and they become scarce they will demand more money.