C450/C43 AMG
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Old May 7, 2018 | 12:30 PM
  #1  
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American vrs European assembly

hi one and all,

while I am patiently awaiting my 2019 c43 arrival I was wondering. C class cars for the US market are assembled in Alabama. Are there any differences in build quality between US assembled cars and German assembled cars ? Anyone own a European assembled c43 ?
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Old May 7, 2018 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by J**2
hi one and all,

while I am patiently awaiting my 2019 c43 arrival I was wondering. C class cars for the US market are assembled in Alabama. Are there any differences in build quality between US assembled cars and German assembled cars ? Anyone own a European assembled c43 ?
All C-Class sedans are assembled in the US. Only the coupe gets assembled in Germany. I had Alabama C450 (pure crap) and currently German C43 Coupe (way-way better)
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Old May 7, 2018 | 02:36 PM
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Is there really a difference? I heard the Alabama plant was quite impressive and is run by some German dudes.

I had convinced myself to get the coupe because "it's built in Germany" but I just wanted a coupe because screw practicality!
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Old May 7, 2018 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by NYCSoiL
All C-Class sedans are assembled in the US. Only the coupe gets assembled in Germany. I had Alabama C450 (pure crap) and currently German C43 Coupe (way-way better)

cool btw I ordered a coupe 😁
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Old May 7, 2018 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by J**2
hi one and all,

while I am patiently awaiting my 2019 c43 arrival I was wondering. C class cars for the US market are assembled in Alabama. Are there any differences in build quality between US assembled cars and German assembled cars ? Anyone own a European assembled c43 ?
Wondering the same thing. My C450 was my first US assembled Mercedes and it hasn't measured up to the expectation of the other seven I've had, I can't wait to get out of it for the rattles. I'm split between a C43 and E53 but the country of assembly/quality is a question that is giving me pause over the C43.

Last edited by jonosc; May 8, 2018 at 11:30 AM.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 11:21 AM
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I have been to the Alabama plant and did a full tour. There are over 1100 robotic arms that move everything automatically, people are not as involved as your might think. Yes, they check the paint and install the interior, but they are using a robotic arm to install the dash and other major components. The plant itself is pretty incredible. It is very clean and HUGE, probably the largest building I have ever been in.

On another note, a guy from my tour tried to film with his iphone, Mercedes plant employees took his phone, deleted the videos, and walked him out of the building. They are very serious about not filming in there.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by HTXgearhead
I have been to the Alabama plant and did a full tour. There are over 1100 robotic arms that move everything automatically, people are not as involved as your might think. Yes, they check the paint and install the interior, but they are using a robotic arm to install the dash and other major components. The plant itself is pretty incredible. It is very clean and HUGE, probably the largest building I have ever been in.

On another note, a guy from my tour tried to film with his iphone, Mercedes plant employees took his phone, deleted the videos, and walked him out of the building. They are very serious about not filming in there.
How did you get in there?
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Old May 8, 2018 | 12:05 PM
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I heard the BMW plant in Spartansberg, South Carolina is much more impressive? Just sayin

Would anyone really trust someone from Alabama to assemble a luxury car, lol.

We all know what happened to the Saturn Brand, they had a plant down south also
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Old May 8, 2018 | 01:08 PM
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Just wanted to add the cabriolet was assembled in Germany as well.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by jonosc
Wondering the same thing. My C450 was my first US assembled Mercedes and it hasn't measured up to the expectation of the other seven I've had, I can't wait to get out of it for the rattles. I'm split between a C43 and E53 but the country of assembly/quality is a question that is giving me pause over the C43.

fortunately i I ordered a coupe they are done in Germany
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Old May 8, 2018 | 02:31 PM
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Yeah, this C450 has so many rattles it totally kills the experience (I love the car for what it is though). Leave it in the sun and the roof rattles, there's another in the back too. Dealer identified the rattle in the headlining/pano roof, took the car in to to pull the roof down - they couldn't hear it so they didn't pull the headliner. The rattle in the back is likely the rear parcel shelf, but after three goes at fixing it, I gave up, the car is leased and goes back soon. I would love the C63 from Germany, but I need 4matic.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by NYCSoiL
How did you get in there?
I have spent several years working for an MB dealer in the Houston area and they sent me out to Mercedes/AMG training. I was in sales/AMG specialist. It was a pretty fun job, racing AMGs at Barber Motorsports Park and COTA was a blast.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by CFG

did you meet Cletus? The pig?
Unfortunately, no.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 04:19 PM
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Just in case anyone is wondering, my coupe has a rattle as well...
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Old May 8, 2018 | 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by CFG

you got screwed. My Bama c450, rattle free, has an engine signed by Cletus, and he inscribed it,”One man, one Pig.” He left the photo above in the glove box. Squeal!
You are killing me sir
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Old May 8, 2018 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Lazz83
I heard the BMW plant in Spartansberg, South Carolina is much more impressive? Just sayin

Would anyone really trust someone from Alabama to assemble a luxury car, lol.

We all know what happened to the Saturn Brand, they had a plant down south also
Tennessee, and Saturn was consistently ranked the best of GM brands by JD Power and Consumer Reports. It must be interesting to live in ignorance and prejudice. Having been a quality engineer for many years at least I know that Man is rarely the root cause of quality problems in any industry. It is Method (Process) about 70% of the time and Machine coming next. I would add that my company has plants all over the country and guess which ones are the cleanest, best kept, has the hardest most conscientious workers and have the highest quality rankings? A hint, it isn't the ones in the northeast.

Now I like to brag about having a real German made MB, but I'll never state that it's of higher quality just because it's made in Germany. Only 275 miles and I already have a couple of rattles.
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Old May 8, 2018 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Clint Westwood
Tennessee, and Saturn was consistently ranked the best of GM brands by JD Power and Consumer Reports. It must be interesting to live in ignorance and prejudice. Having been a quality engineer for many years at least I know that Man is rarely the root cause of quality problems in any industry. It is Method (Process) about 70% of the time and Machine coming next. I would add that my company has plants all over the country and guess which ones are the cleanest, best kept, has the hardest most conscientious workers and have the highest quality rankings? A hint, it isn't the ones in the northeast.

Now I like to brag about having a real German made MB, but I'll never state that it's of higher quality just because it's made in Germany. Only 275 miles and I already have a couple of rattles.
Well said.
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Old May 9, 2018 | 07:34 AM
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Enjoying our 2018 C43 no rattles...no squeaks...no issues...an amazing sedan!

Last edited by 2018C43; May 9, 2018 at 07:36 AM.
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Old May 9, 2018 | 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Clint Westwood
Tennessee, and Saturn was consistently ranked the best of GM brands by JD Power and Consumer Reports. It must be interesting to live in ignorance and prejudice. Having been a quality engineer for many years at least I know that Man is rarely the root cause of quality problems in any industry. It is Method (Process) about 70% of the time and Machine coming next. I would add that my company has plants all over the country and guess which ones are the cleanest, best kept, has the hardest most conscientious workers and have the highest quality rankings? A hint, it isn't the ones in the northeast.

Now I like to brag about having a real German made MB, but I'll never state that it's of higher quality just because it's made in Germany. Only 275 miles and I already have a couple of rattles.
Preach Papa Clint, preach!
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Old May 9, 2018 | 10:13 AM
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