zibby43

My '18 C43 is going away (long story), and I'm trying to find a suitable replacement already built and awaiting shipment.

My dealer found one that was built in South Africa. My '18 was built in Alabama (had the worst build quality of any Benz I've ever owned, which was strange, as I've had several others from 'bama before that were fine).

If there is anyone here with a rare US-delivered, South-African built C43, how have you found the build quality and reliability?

All I've been able to find is the following:

"Industry source JD Power has awarded the East London plant numerous awards, with Mercedes-Benz vehicles coming out of South Africa even scoring higher than some of those from Germany, which Stamoulis says will mean Mercedes is “expecting similar quality [from South Africa] if not higher [than German built cars]” for C-Class."

Matthew Cohen

I doubt my car is one from S.A. that you're inquiring about, but how do you know which facility produced each car?

amgmacc43

My 2020 was built in Alabama (waiting for its release to the dealer), so more than curious for you to expand on the 'worst build quality of any Benz that you've owned....can you provide details?

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

i had a 16 and it was less than stellar. in the 19 though - it's rock solid

don't worry - manufacturing improves over time and so does tooling and expertise of staff.

noah phatt

There should be a sticker on the drivers side door jamb that says where the vehicle was manufactured along with some other info.

Matthew Cohen

Thanks

zibby43

1 year and 4 months of ownership, and the following have been replaced: 1) all four rotors and pads (rust, corrosion, pitting, and squealing); 2) steering wheel and column replaced; 3) a badge fell off (and had to be replaced); 4) windshield wiper mechanism (not the blades) replaced; 5) rear differential replaced 2x (still unresolved).

Outstanding issues I've left alone (just so I can keep my car in my possession for a little bit): 6) electronic trunk fails to open consistently; 7) front compartment reading light buttons don't work; 8) stains leach from leather door panels during drastic temperature changes. Car has been in the shop for a little over a month, total, since I've had it.

As I said in my OP, this is the first Alabama-born car I've had trouble with.

So nobody here has a car from the East London, S.A. plant? Seems like the S.A. cars are unicorns.

MrBane

Alabama is by far without question the worst build quality (compared to Germany). Every car I've received from them has had a rattling dash, to spotty finishes, to strange transmission issues... the list goes on.

Not trying to make a argument from authority, but most of my friends at MB agree.

superswiss

The vast majority of C-Class sedans destined for North America are built in Alabama. It's not clear why once in a blue moon the USA gets one from South Africa. They are indeed unicorns. However, we do have European members here that should chime in, because their cars are coming from South Africa, but in Europe, the wagon is more popular and as far as I know is built in Germany.

zibby43

Yeah I'll take feedback from any model configuration, and from any destination country, so long as the car car in question was born in East London, South Africa.

The car I've found can be here in roughly 6 weeks, and it has all the options I want (PE, Multimedia, Parking, Iridium, Black Leather w/ Red Stitching, etc.), but after owning a car that would've qualified for the Lemon Law here in the U.S. had I actually been forced to resort to it, I want to make sure I'm not in for another 1-year hair-pulling nightmare.

Alabama plant is starting to concern me. Had a family member with a brand new 2020 GLE 450 that went into limp mode multiple times within the first month, the rear bumper trim was installed incorrectly from the factory, and the max defroster would randomly turn on in hot weather. It was bought back by MBUSA, and then there was a recall on the 2020 GLE.

Dd1101

Any update on the car that was built in SA vs Bama? Love to hear your thoughts.

jhpmbusa

2020 C43 Sedan, only has 319 miles, but so far so good!

zhom96

my 2020 is SA and it’s been a total nightmare. Build quality out of a score 1-10 with 10 being the best I give it a 1.

HighSun_Murder

I have a 2020 SA sedan and its been solid, just hit 15k on the odo no issues. (And I'm a "spirited driver")

jhpmbusa

What are some of the nightmares and were you the first owner?

zibby43

Car has been at the dealer for a week because of a low voltage code that has caused a soft limp mode (no CELs, but car felt slow, and Engine Data revealed car was only making about 200 horsepower when stomping the throttle through the floor from both a dig and while rolling). Suspected it was low voltage related because no matter how much I drove the car, I kept getting "Starter Battery Partly Charged" or "Starter Battery Critical" notifications.

Battery has been replaced, ECU reset, etc., and code + soft limp mode is still there. PTSS case with Germany.

Everything else on the car - paint, body panel gaps, leather quality, switch/button quality, etc. has been flawless.

It just won't drive . . .

zhom96

first owner almost at 11k miles. Doors misaligned, trans problems, tires separating, head unit goes out, front collision warning keeps going off, front/rear headlamps tail lamps misaligned and bumpers, interior sweating, no power in either modes, sound system you have to turn the volume all the way up to hear anything. List goes on

jhpmbusa

wonder if eventually due to the stiff suspension everything starts falling apart lol

zibby43

Completely unacceptable. Your car sounds like a mashup of my ‘18 and my ‘20.

Had 3 BMWs before switching to my W204 C63, which was bulletproof for 5 years.

These last W205s may be my last Mercs for a while. No excuse for this lack of quality this late in the W205 life cycle.

eatmydust

Yes 2020 c43 from south Africa.

My 2016 c300 is Alabama.

Funny thing with the c43, it was shipped with a "EQ powered" emblem on one side. Lol.

zibby43

Confidence in my SA build is dropping by the second.

EdC43AMG

SA East London builds majority of Sedans for EU markets, included UK. Coupe and Station wagons are build in Germany for any market.

Also the 63 AMG are build in East London.

No quality issues. Just a small rattle in the engine bay now it's gone. explained here https://mbworld.org/forums/c450-c43-...-low-revs.html

The order issue/error due the dealer that we agreed a deal, they assume it's responsability and the big delay on the delivery, I suppose due all the WLPT headaches in 2018. It took 1 year for delivery.

The cars from SA to Spain, usually arrives within 2 weeks to Vigo Harbour in the norh west.

jhpmbusa

SA build, 2020 c43. Had it for a little over a month now with less than 500 miles. Forgot to mention that my driver's seat ventilated seat doesn't work and i get this high pitch noise from the ventilated seat button area.... decided not to drop it off at service until i hit 1k miles at least.