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So after months of waiting my car finally arrived and I got it last night. Some initial observations.
1. Ride quality is excellent on the 18 inch run flats. I do not agree the ride is harsh. This car soaks up bumps compared to my C300 which was crashy. Every mode is smooth, but firm. The standard black trim 18 wheels look incredible too. I suspect that a lot of ride quality concerns stem from the 19 inch wheels and less side wall. Tires are continentals. Having said that, the demo I drove with 19s perhaps handled a TOUCH crisper and felt a hair more planted but it is negligible. I also believe this car is faster than the demo which had 19 inch wheels (more weight) and pano roof (more weight).
2. The regular steering wheel is awesome. I was concerned I was going to be disappointed with the form factor of the standard flat bottom wheel (not AMG). The ergonomics are perfect and it looks just awesome. The wheel is smaller and sportier than the MB website leads you to believe. I suspect the AMG wheel is more comfortable, but the shape of the standard wheel definitely says sports car.
3. The car is FAST. Mash the gas and everyone else is eating your dust.
4. The sound of the PE exhaust is menacing, but not overdone. Sounds really good. With flaps open in Sport +, when give it the beans there is no doubt you are driving a beast of a car. I can't imagine needing a C63 for normal roads. This car has so much thrust you would need to take it to the track to fully exploit it.
5. The black leather with red stitching looks far better in person than in photos. It looks much richer and expensive in person, and less gaudy than in the photos.
6. This is the most solid feeling C I have ever driven. There is no doubt in my mind they tightened up W205 since the 2015 model year, which is what I had. This car feels like a real Benz, really nice a quiet and well put together.
7. The standard sunroof is probably enough if you are on the fence. I am glad I did not get the panoramic roof. It adds weight to the car and the standard sunroof they are offering is a very generous size. Being able to ventilate without drawing back the shade is great. The only downside is the shade is manual. I really don't feel like I am missing anything
8. The heads up display is nice but there is no way to merge traffic directions, gearing and tac, and speed at the same time. You sort of have to select which screen you want.
9. Stelenite Grey Metallic is not a "hey look at me" color. This car is stealthy. The exhaust note, not so much though. The coupe is a head turner, but the sedan is pretty stealthy.
10. I have none of the transmission issues people have been complaining about. Lock to lock steering is perfect. Sport plus in traffic is fine--a little eager but not jerky.
11. Led Headlight performance has improved since my 2015. The standard led headlights throw a much better, further beam than the 2015. I have a feeling they tweaked this or something was wrong with my 2015.
Blows a C300 out of the water. What else can I say.
Break it in first!!!! People are such savages these days!
I am! I keep pressing the break-in button at the foot of the gas pedal whenever the car sounds like it is not being sufficiently run in. Also, I am making sure to alleviate the traction control from its duties until break in is complete.
Also, to break in speakers I have Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone from Top Gun playing on a loop.
I am! I keep pressing the break-in button at the foot of the gas pedal whenever the car sounds like it is not being sufficiently run in. Also, I am making sure to alleviate the traction control from its duties until break in is complete.
Also, to break in speakers I have Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone from Top Gun playing on a loop.
Haha, I am kidding man. I dunno, I did not mind waiting 1500km, The ECU holds back power until 1.5k anyway.
5. The black leather with red stitching looks far better in person than in photos. It looks much richer and expensive in person, and less gaudy than in the photos.
when i look at the rear of my 2016 C450, it looks expensive (car).
Haha, I am kidding man. I dunno, I did not mind waiting 1500km, The ECU holds back power until 1.5k anyway.
Post some pictures of the bad boy.
I will go easy. I think that is common sense. I drive a lot so the period will go super quick. Dealer said the car gets a free check at like 1,800 miles to see if engine is breaking in properly. Not sure if that is actually the case for the C43 or if she was thinking C63 but supposedly I will get a service reminder around 1,800 or something for the check.
I will go easy. I think that is common sense. I drive a lot so the period will go super quick. Dealer said the car gets a free check at like 1,800 miles to see if engine is breaking in properly. Not sure if that is actually the case for the C43 or if she was thinking C63 but supposedly I will get a service reminder around 1,800 or something for the check.
Sounds like C63. We never got that. Or your dealer is top notch. Let us know what do they do!
Even the standard wheel on this car is scrumptious looking. On the MB build website, the wheel looks less compact and sporty than it actually is. It is much more U shaped than it appears on the site, in my opinion.
ALL AMG cars that I have owned require 2000 mile service to change diff fluid but they were all 63 series not 43 , so I am not sure about that
I like what Bmw do with their M cars , they have 1200 mile break-in service and change all fluids and it is free
OP, it's funny that you say the harshness must be due to the lack of sidewall on the 19s compared to the 18s. Because my (c450) had the 18" wheels with the Conti run-flats and it was GARBAGE. Every tiny crack I hit felt like I was hitting a curb at 60mph. Now on my 18" winters or 19" summers (both standard tires) the car rides very smooth... I bet they worked out a LOT of the kinks from my 450 to your 43, I have no doubt about that.
Originally Posted by munis
Break it in first!!!! People are such savages these days!
When is the 2018's first service (oil change) due?
If it's at 10,000miles, which I suspect it is, then the motor is already broken in 100% from the factory.
OP, it's funny that you say the harshness must be due to the lack of sidewall on the 19s compared to the 18s. Because my (c450) had the 18" wheels with the Conti run-flats and it was GARBAGE. Every tiny crack I hit felt like I was hitting a curb at 60mph. Now on my 18" winters or 19" summers (both standard tires) the car rides very smooth... I bet they worked out a LOT of the kinks from my 450 to your 43, I have no doubt about that.
When is the 2018's first service (oil change) due?
If it's at 10,000miles, which I suspect it is, then the motor is already broken in 100% from the factory.
[img]blob:https://mbworld.org/a93927e0-6e10-46f4-98cf-4df8f33ca635[/img]
The first change is at 10,000 miles, but there MIGHT be a free break-in checkup for break-in at 1,200. But that might have just been something that the C63 gets and there was confusion because I was told this by finance at the signing. I was told car might alert me it is due for checkup at 1,200 and not to freak. I am not overly concerned. I will know soon enough if that is the case.
I was also told when I asked about swapping tires during the lease that it is ok, but the suspension is adjusted for run flats. Sure enough the car rides great. This was a build, I never drove this car.
As far as the continentals go, my C300 had 18 inch Perelli Cinturado P7s and a sport steel suspension and it had great handling but it was brutal on the back and I got tossed around quite a bit. I mean I felt like a bowl of jellow im that thing, which could just the car telling me I need to loose a few pounds! That was an upsize from the stock 17inchers of course. I had a 2018 C300 loaner with Contis once, that had standard suspenson and a really comfy ride.
I have driven a C300 with 18 inch wheels for 3 years so I am familiar with W205 and I have a reference point. This C43 rides better, in all modes, than that car, but as for the tyres themselves, but the Perelli’s were really sticky and engaging.
I’ll evaluate the car as a whole package for the first 1,200 - 6,000 miles or so snd see how the contis perform.
Does five short honks from Mazda behind me followed by him passing me on the left and gunning it mean nice car or go screw yourself? He got a nice blast of exhaust note!
The sport exhaust absolutely terrifies the other drivers. When it is off it is like a normal car but when it is on at the same settings and speed people move to the right like "HOLY ****". Even a dude on a motorcycle was looking around like WTF is that beastly sound. Also the difference in sound with exhaust on or off is pretty significant. With it off the car is cloaked and with it on it is almost embarrassingly (not really) loud. If you do the right thing in a tunnel or overpass it is explosive at any speed. It is amazing to see how sound changes people's perception of your driving because there are people that are going much faster than me whereas I can be driving at the legal limit with exhaust and people scurry out of my way.
Also, you can provoke some really insane driving by boy racers. I just turned on exhaust (going 35 miles per hour) and some guy in a Camero or something like two cars in front of me on a one lane road (and a TOTAL speed trap at that) passed the car in front of him over the solid line like he was running from the police and took off just to show me up. I wasn't even driving aggressively, but that sound sets off mania in some people.
In other words, you need the exhaust.
Then of course you can turn all the sport functions off and you have an absolutely smooth, luxurious Mercedes daily driver. The suspension is perfect. I could not ask for a better car.
04-24-2018, 12:16 PM
On the MB build website, the wheel looks less compact and sporty than it actually is. It is much more U shaped than it appears on the site, in my opinion.
