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Need your guys expert opinions please. Going to be selling my 81 year old fathers C43, he's had it for 11 years and 27k miles, bought it from my cousin who purchased it from original owner and owned it for 3 years. West coast car Calif & Nevada briefly, 65k miles, lowered on Eibach's, perfect interior, newly refinished Monoblock lips, Silver in color, some dents in drivers door and also some small paint imperfections I'm picky but I'd say the paint is 7of10, car is a 3 footer because of minor paint flaws. Car was just clay barred and polished. Transmission fluid and oil service in 1 week.
If I had the garage space or a wife who enjoyed fine cars I would be keeping it, still may!
Pricing estimate would be greatly appreciated, car is in Reno currently if anyone is interested.
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
What is the interior condition? Looks like the solid black interior, correct? Tough to tell, but it looks like some good dings in the driver's side front door. Can they be worked out with paintless dent removal or is it creased slightly? I'd put it on BringaTrailer as PJ mentioned and see what she brings. I'm not sure that it will be 15k with the body damage. It might be worth spending the couple hundred $ to have the door dents pushed out to have a truly clean car with that low of mileage.
Guy's, thank you for the responses. I did see the 98 sell on BAT, for $12.5. I've already put approximately $700 into it ( Battery, drivers mirror, wheel refresh, etc.) should be putting another $700 into it with lube maintenance, although I would like to have someone take care of the drivers door with PDR I can't put anymore money into it ( $450-500 quote).Solid Black interior, it's perfect. I wish I could keep this car, I love it.
Unfortunately, my father has been diagnosed with Dementia and all the remaining funds will go towards his care.
BAT is where it will be in a couple of weeks, trying to figure out the reserve.
22 X3, 21 330e, 97 M3, 97 C36 (sold), but on the hunt for a clean, low-mile C43!
PJmak has a bit of a biased view of the value of these cars today, but since you're soliciting objective feedback; depending on the interior condition and level of maintenance performed on your car (which you haven't detailed), and of course what you described of the exterior, I would say a realistic and fair price for your car would be around $7,500 - $8K, no more, no less. This estimate is based on at least 5 cars (4 C43s and 1 C36) I've personally come across in the past few years (all about the same miles as yours, give or take 10k) and their ultimate sale/transaction prices, which I believe is BY FAR the most realistic barometer of "market value".
But, if you want something more subjective, as many of my fellow forum members here are, you could go ahead and reach for the stars and ask for $15K. Hell, why stop there, might as well ask for $20K+ while you're at it. You might just get lucky and find an impassioned zealot willing to dish out the money, as has been evidenced recently on BaT.
I think the last post evidences some truth. If you want to immediately sell the car, ask 9k expect something a bit north of 8.
If this car were for sale at a Mercedes dealership, they would probably ask at least 15 but fix the issues you mentioned. It would also come with some type of limited warranty where you would get a MB loaner when you bring it in for repairs. IMO a Mercedes warranty is worthless.
Realistically, you could end up sitting in the car for a long time waiting for 15 but I'm positive you would get it if you continued to advertise for as long as it takes. Money is a funny thing, I bought a motorcycle, drove it a whole summer, put 10k miles on it and sold it for more than I paid. Anyway, I don't think you're looking to get rich off the sale of this car so just figure out what your goals are and do that.
Thank you for the input guys.Interior is mint including the headliner, everything works aside from the CD it's intermittent. Regarding maintenance, I'll know better after a in depth search through tons of files my father has, I kept on my father about maintenance and he says Mobil 1 was always used every 4k so I'll keep searching.
At this point I only have paperwork up to 32k. I'm going to have Blackstone labs do a oil/engine analysis when I have the oil changed this week too. I'll post those results and clean Carfax on BAT when I list it. I'll post a cold start,drive, walk around, exterior and interior video. Many pic's including the undercarriage. At this point I'll have to set a realistic reserve and see how it goes. Wish I could keep it, love the car, the power and ride is superb.
Do you guys think having lowered will help or hurt the sale? I'm assuming most guys interested in the car are in the 25-50 age bracket.
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
The buyers who are looking for a "slammed" car are going to be looking for the cheaper examples. These cars look like pick-up trucks on stock suspension, so having the car lowered slightly (as in Euro suspension) is a good thing. However, they can also be too low. You could always have the thickest spring pads put in and that might bring it up a bit.
1998 C43 AMG, 2000 Audi S4, 2001 Audi S4, 2007 Subaru Forester XT
If you have service records, amazing photos and an extremely well written ad it will fetch 12-15k. Spotty service records might fetch 9-12k. This is definitely a low mileage example which is totally in your favor. Also that the car has lived its life in dryer climate totally helps.
I know BAT sometimes makes a determination on if they want to host a sale (and with a C43 just being sold they might want to wait a bit to list another). I would use BAT, EbAY, or list it using Autotrader, Don't be afraid to make a Craigslist ad or CarGurus ad either. I use Autotempest (which searches many platforms) and I actually am starting to piece together a list of any C43's sold since I purchased mine 2 months ago. The BAT example is the highest selling one I've seen in my searches over the past 6 months.
I would keep it for 3-5 months and see if the prices climb.
Took me awhile to finally respond to this thread, but as Dolce71 stated, I was able to purchase the car from him. Such an awesome gentleman to work with to make the purchase process smooth. Even more so, just overall a classy guy to chat about cars and life in general. Thank you!
Today is a bit of a bittersweet for me as I took deposit payment to let go of my 1999 BMW E36 M3. With work slowing down and I am not dealing with selling a car, I will be more active here with some questions of things I would like to do the C43. Thanks everyone!
Took me awhile to finally respond to this thread, but as Dolce71 stated, I was able to purchase the car from him. Such an awesome gentleman to work with to make the purchase process smooth. Even more so, just overall a classy guy to chat about cars and life in general. Thank you!
Today is a bit of a bittersweet for me as I took deposit payment to let go of my 1999 BMW E36 M3. With work slowing down and I am not dealing with selling a car, I will be more active here with some questions of things I would like to do the C43. Thanks everyone!
Back at you buddy, great working with you too! Glad you've got a deposit on the M3, Make me more jealous of you having the C43 and add a 928 to your garage. Lol
22 X3, 21 330e, 97 M3, 97 C36 (sold), but on the hunt for a clean, low-mile C43!
Originally Posted by azndrgnkid
Today is a bit of a bittersweet for me as I took deposit payment to let go of my 1999 BMW E36 M3. With work slowing down and I am not dealing with selling a car, I will be more active here with some questions of things I would like to do the C43. Thanks everyone!
Wow, you sold your E36 M3 for the C43? Hmmm...I also have an E36 M3 and she's my immaculate baby which I would never sell. But, congrats either way!
Wow, you sold your E36 M3 for the C43? Hmmm...I also have an E36 M3 and she's my immaculate baby which I would never sell. But, congrats either way!
Thanks, I needed a car with more space, so it was a practicality decision. No point of having 2 coupes in the house, especially when the other one is this.
Wow, you sold your E36 M3 for the C43? Hmmm...I also have an E36 M3 and she's my immaculate baby which I would never sell. But, congrats either way!
I would trade a U.S. spec E36 M3 for a C43, but definitely not a euro E36 M3! The euros packed an extra 81hp under the hood from the factory. In addition to 6spd vs. 5.. The U.S. consumer got skimped big time on that car. I’d personally take the euro over an E46 M3 after my experience w/ it.
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Originally Posted by RPB
I would trade a U.S. spec E36 M3 for a C43, but definitely not a euro E36 M3! The euros packed an extra 81hp under the hood from the factory. In addition to 6spd vs. 5.. The U.S. consumer got skimped big time on that car. I’d personally take the euro over an E46 M3 after my experience w/ it.
I thought the Euro spec version had around 40 HP more than the US version (240 HP vs 282 HP)??
EDIT: Never mind, I see that the change was made in 1995 to the S50B32 motor with 321 HP
Last edited by 503C43 ////AMG; Jul 23, 2018 at 07:53 AM.
I thought the Euro spec version had around 40 HP more than the US version (240 HP vs 282 HP)??
EDIT: Never mind, I see that the change was made in 1995 to the S50B32 motor with 321 HP
A nice boost from a naturally aspirated engine in the identical body. I’m sure it had something to do w/ it not meeting emissions requirements in the states. The U.S. has definitely eased up in the past decade. The R35 GT-R is proof of this.
Still a few variations of MB and BMW we do not get over here, but I believe most of the AMG’s and M’s are the same spec as euro these days. Most likely not the case w/ Brabus.. I could be wrong though.
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Originally Posted by RPB
A nice boost from a naturally aspirated engine in the identical body. I’m sure it had something to do w/ it not meeting emissions requirements in the states. The U.S. has definitely eased up in the past decade. The R35 GT-R is proof of this.
Still a few variations of MB and BMW we do not get over here, but I believe most of the AMG’s and M’s are the same spec as euro these days. Most likely not the case w/ Brabus.. I could be wrong though.
I have always loved the E36 body style, and with 321 HP, YES PLEASE!
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
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I’m sure it had something to do w/ it not meeting emissions requirements in the states. The U.S. has definitely eased up in the past decade. The R35 GT-R is proof of this.
