Hey everyone, I just bought my first Mercedes, a 2023 C43AMG and was really excited but I have had Check Engine light issues after the first week of driving. The car has been in service 2 times now in the first month, which is where it is currently and I'm not confident they know what the problem is, despite their resolution to replace the electric turbocharger. The turbo is on backorder and they told me there's no ETA.

Has anyone else had an experience like this with Mercedes?
I apologize if this isn't the appropriate forum. Just looking for some feedback and suggestions on steps forward.

 

Sadly, yes. In short, MB = junk.

Sorry you are experiencing this and best wishes for a quick and agreeable resolution.

 

lol - highly constructive! Thanks!

If you're in a '23 C43 and not aware, for all intents and purposes, you're in a brand new powerplant platform. Yes, it's technically a shared engine from the A45 AMG platform, but it's still unique to the W206. Once things trickle down to the dealer level, they're going to be relying almost entirely on corporate for any issues. It's new tech, and not realistic to expect absolute, unwavering perfection. I would be bummed, but also not all that surprised if I were in your shoes.

If it truly is the electric turbo that's gone kaput, your need is competing with all of the other brand new cars MB is trying to roll off the line. That predicament is not unique to MB. That said, I would hope you'd get some priority as you're out of a vehicle. Don't be shy to sidestep the dealer and reach out to corporate to elevate the situation.

 

I had the same problem when I received my car as it was the first model of the new upgraded V6 Twin Turbo engine. The engine had no problems but there were many other problems that took up to 5 months to resolve and since I'm in Canada I just had to deal with it. Others that had these same problems but lived in the USA, were able to have their cars bought back and given another one which was built at a later dates and resolve the common software errors.

You have a newly built machine and there will be some crying pains, it's new and no other manufacture makes such an engine. MB will fix it over time and unfortunately you and some others will suffer as real life people drive a new machine in the real world. So, it may effect your life but in the end, just like , my car works without any problems after 5 months of back and forth but I now have my own tech, my own consultant and a direct link to the Service Manager.

 

First of all, you are in the wrong forum. Your car is the all-new W206 generation. This is the outgoing W205 forum. Secondly, if you buy an all-new model this early in the production cycle you gonna have to be willing to deal with the inevitably early issues that arise and lack of parts in the supply chain. There are barely any of these out there yet. The production has just gotten off the ground, and the supply chain for replacement parts isn't filled yet. They just have enough parts to build the cars. Spare parts comes later. The rule of thumb when it comes to car buying has always been to stay away from the first year of an all-new model. That's when all the issues have to surface first. That electric turbocharger that has failed in yours is brand new. The W206 C43 is the first one to get it. It's no surprise that there are issues with it and that you will have to wait an unspecified amount of time to get a replacement. They have to take one out of the production cycle at this point, which means it's one less car they can build. This is not unique to Mercedes. Early Tesla buyers for example had to wait for months to get parts to fix their broken cars. Some waited over a year from what I remember. Strap in and be prepared for a rocky ride. You are one of the guinea pigs for the new C43. Good luck.

BTW, you may wanna start reading up on the lemon law in your state. Usually, once the car's been in the shop for 30 days for an issue covered by the warranty and w/o being repaired, you have a case against Mercedes to buy it back.

EDIT: May also be worth knowing that the W206 is entirely built in South Africa, although the AMG engine is built in Affalterbach at the AMG factory, but then has to be shipped to South Africa first. The W205 sedan for North America was built in Alabama and then South Africa towards the end, while the C205 (coupe) and the A205 (convertible) were built in Bremen, Germany. You be the judge of that, but the Alabama plant isn't known for their build quality and neither is South Africa. The 205 coupes and cabs generally were built better.

 

I appreciate your reply, and all the other responses. I didn't realize this was the very first model to receive certain components, and that makes sense why the timeline is what it is.

I've opened a case already requesting a buy-back or trade, but I doubt it'll go anywhere being this early in the process (11 days currently at MB)..

Thanks again for the reply and insight

 

Sorry you are having these issues! It definitely sucks to have a brand new car that you can’t enjoy!
I also have the W206 C43 now with about 1500 miles. No issues so far. Purchased in Tulsa. I hope you don’t have to deal with this for much longer.

 

I'm glad you're enjoying your car! Others have made the point that it's a new build and problems should be expected, but I don't believe these models are coming back to MB in excess.. I believe I was sold a faulty vehicle compared to the others, which is why I want them to just buy me out and let me re-purchase a brand new one. We'll see...

 

Where can I find MB Corporate contact information? I def want to put a little extra pressure on the dealer from the top, if possible. The last information I found online led me to general customer support.

 

Very nice! Good for you, including the service manager. no chance sharing that information with us (direct link to the service manager and dealership), right?

 

Funny. I too recently purchased the 2023 AMG C43 and had the SAME check engine light come on after just my 3rd day of driving. Took it in to the dealership, spent a couple of days to diagnose, then ordered a replacement thermo sensor, or something like that. Did they know that was the issue for sure? Not sure, because this is all new tech, it was likely a working theory. Since they couldn't do the work and chalked it up to a sensor malfunction, they said I could take the car back and they'll give me a call when the part comes in. Fair enough.

Later that weekend (probably 2 days later), after some routine driving in the AM running some typical errands, I went home for lunch and was getting ready to go out with some friends in the evening. When I started up the car (parked in the garage and out of the sun), a series of failures occurred: electronic stability & traction control, driver attention (the one with the coffee mug), rear axel steering malfunction alert, parking assist failure, and I think a couple more. It was drivable, but I got a warning recommending I don't drive over 50 mph! Additionally, and routinely, the PARKTRONIC system would go haywire 50% of the time after just starting the car up in my garage (loud beeping alert), disabled itself, then restarted at some point when I was driving. It also went crazy and disabled itself when pulling up to stop signs 50% of the time.

Overall, it sounds like this car is full of bugs and I would 100% avoid it. This feels like essentially a beta version. I was fortunate enough that my dealership took the car back and gave me the full MSRP as a trade for another car. Good luck!

 

Wow, had the dealer not taken care of you given all the issues you had that would've been unacceptable. Glad you were covered.

My car has now been in the shop for over 3 weeks and they still have no ETA on the part needed.

 

Would they let you trade it back in at MSRP? I mean, you'd lose any taxes & fees you paid to the government, but if you can find something else you're happy with...

It feels as if the engine is just too juiced up and doesn't pair well with the other normal tech.

 

but what did you get though?

 

I ended up going a different direction and getting a 2023 E450 Sedan. Have to say, really love it.

 

Congrats, not a bad car, different experience for sure. We had quite a thread trying to decide what to get here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c450-c43-amg/727838-2019-c43-e450.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...2019-e450.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w213/823166-c43-e450-2.html

 

Are they going to build any 2024 C43 Coupe's since the 2024 CLE Coupe is going into production?

 

Unlikely if you are talking about North America, 2023 seems to be the final model year for them. If CLE came earlier, 2021 model year would had been the final one just like the 2021 W205 I think. Since the all new C-Class W206 as you know came out as model year 2022, 2023 for the C205/A205 was already an additional year or two extended from a typical life cycle due to the delay of the CLE.

 

They have you in a MB, complimentary loaner, right? Just let them sort it out and be patient......in their other car

 

My C43 Coupe lease is up in October. MB is really pushing for me to get a new 2023 43. No chance. I will not buy a one off model year when I LOVE my loaded C43 Coupe that I custom ordered from the factory (Bremen). I have leased different cars for 20+ years. The current lease money factors suck.

I am buying out by lease and will look forward to year TWO of the CLE 53 AMG as a possibility for my next car.

 

I have a 2019 LCI C43 with AMG PE. Absolutely love it. However, its a company car that has to go back in October. Really wanted to like W206 C43 having loved my W205. But no way. So I went with ordering a 2024 M440i Gran Coupe X-Drive with B58 6 cylinder engine and ZF 8 speed auto. Just rock solid performance and history. Car company's launch their latest not sorted out. Its like they launch the beta tester.

 

Just wondering: what sort of work are you in? A company car that rents MB's for you seems pretty cool

 

I work for a European company and in Europe its customary to have a car program.. They just carried their program to North America. I think European companies provide cars because cars are so expensive in Europe they became a corporate fringe benefit. I was able to select a C43 back in 2019 because in the US a C43 was about the same cost as a C300 in Northern Europe. In the US our 6 cylinders were the same a 4 cylinders in Europe...so while my counterparts were driving A4s, 330is, and C300s we could get S4, 340i, and C43s in the US because they are much cheaper.

 

Well it appears I was premature in stating that I didn’t have any issues haha lol! CEL and sluggish off the line just occurred so I’m taking it to the dealership Friday.

I’ll get back to the forum with the outcome.

 

It's mainly Germany, not entire Europe. The company car is a big benefit in Germany and companies get huge tax breaks for it, so it's a win win for both sides.