I've been shopping for a 2019-2022 C43 cabriolet for a few months now, I know what I want and I'm not in a rush so I'm being picky. Today I stumbled upon a 2019 E53 cabriolet at a local non Merc dealer and am second guessing my C43 direction. They picked the E53 up as a trade in, clean history, purchased locally and regularly serviced at both local and FL dealer. Classic old guy who drove down to Florida for the winters.

Asking price on this E53 is only slightly higher than the C43's I've been looking at and I'm sure there is some further room for negotiations based on my conversations with the sales guy. I hadn't originally been considering the E class so I had to spend some time educating myself. The E53 is nice step up from the C43 for a small premium but I have some serious reservations about the innovative yet highly complicated engine/hybrid system that comes in the E53.

Beltless accessories, electric super charger, 48V hybrid battery initial read as a long term headaches in my mind. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of technology (daily drive a Toyota hybrid) and understand the cost of regular maintenance and the odd expensive repair that come with owning a luxury convertible. Obviously I'm seeing lots of online bias as no one goes to the internet to post about how reliable their vehicle is but the C43 drivetrain is simple and seems to have proven itself for long term reliability but I'm feeling pretty skeptical about the E53.

At the end of the day I'm looking to treat myself with a summer cruiser that I'll use regularly to rack up lots of KM with GT style driving and ideally hang onto the vehicle for many years. Am I just asking for a long line of expensive headaches and reliability issues with this E53? Wondering if I should just go back to my original plan and focus on the C43...

 

Short answer... it is complicated, theoretically it should be more reliable with no traditional starter, no belts, etc.

More on it here:

 

By the way, forum member Cosworth2000 did exactly that change, C 450 to E 53, the main complaint from them so far is less performance modding option, If you have further questions you could ask them.

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...g-e53-amg.html

 

And from the sticky:

https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...mistake-2.html

 

No one can say for certain. Caveat emptor in extremis.

 

That was an interesting video, seems the consensus is in theory it should be lower risk for major repairs but it's still a bit of a gamble as the technology is young and hasn't been proven long term.

First things first, I think I'll need to get behind the wheel of this thing and see how much I like driving it, how it compares to driving the C43.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments posted so far!

 

For sure, keep us posted.

 

Annnnnnd....an LED light bulb will not only last 30,000 times longer than an incandescent. It will outlive you and I.....

 

Only one major issue on our ‘19 E53 at 108k miles and it was for the 3.0 I6 engine that was a one-off from what I’ve gathered from the forums. A new 12v battery a month ago is the only electric issue.

 

Exactly.

 

Have owned mine since new. Vehicle has been 100% reliable. Only routine, scheduled maintenance. Apart from tires, which were my fault.
I'd say - go for it - you'll love it!
YMMV of course.

 

Speaking of one off, not a common issue at all so that's good: https://mbworld.org/forums/cls-coupe...e-failure.html

 

I've had my E53 Convertible since May, done about 5k miles (car only has 25k miles). Only problem so far is a parking sensor and a rattling noise from the turbo wastegate. We had the EML light come on last week, but it went away again. I haven't had a chance to get the code read yet. Everything seems fine though.

 

The rattling on the turbo is common or even normal, forum member Cosworth2000 had a turbo replaced under warranty and the noise is still present.

 

Here is the thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ml#post9089544

In that case, I wouldn't worry too much about the rattle.

 

In our case it was a Check Engine light and a slight knocking noise on the top end of the engine. It took eleven weeks to sort the problem. That and new cams, lifters, HP fuel pump, ECU and wiring harness and some more bits. They were just basically throwing parts at it. Supposedly the best AMG dealer in town and the E53 isn’t really a true hardcore AMG.

 

Have 57,000 miles on my 2019 E53 Convertible. Other than wheels and tires, I just had to replace the 2 batteries in the car ($1,000) and pads and rotors, my selling dealer wanted stupid $, went to a different dealer, and had it done for $800 less. Than my top got stuck in between up and down. Car needed a new latch assembly, the dealer got it good willed for me, or would have been a $1,200 repair. I was thinking of getting a new car, but the new model is kind of a compromise between the C and E, and I don't want to go smaller. I was thinking of getting the M4 Competition Convertible, but I just can't get past the pig snout. I think I'll keep what I've got, it does everything well, and other than the mentioned "problems" it's been reliable and enjoyable!

 

I see.

 

I think it might be wise to keep the car indeed.

 

I haven't seen a CLE in person yet, but I like the idea of the C class AMG styling (wide arches etc) but with the E class tech. I like the C63 etc, but didnt really like the layout of the interior screens.

 

I'm a car nut.

I know many are nervous around the tech of the E53 AMG. For me, I was also but when I learned that BMW and McLaren both have engines with no drive belts. I knew that the tech has already been tested so I went out and purchasing a 2022 E53 AMG. For me, it means the engine and charge system has already been tested and therefore you can find Youtube videos already showing how to repair the car. I think the biggest experience I have taken away from owning the E53 is the maintenance cost at the dealer. If you owned a C-Class, the maintenance is high but not shocker however with the same work on the E53 AMG, the cost is 2-3x more costly. I will give you an example: B service for a C-Class is around $385 to $550 however this same B service on the E53 AMG is around $1000 to $1500.

I used to hear the C63 guys say that owning a C63 the maintenance was higher and costly.

Let me also add the replacement of my Turbo under warranty totaled $7500 and as of today, my car has the wire harness recall.

All in all the car has never had a problem driving.. It's lots of fun but really heavy. My biggest issue is the lack of mods but I have found a few but nothing is at the cost of the C-Class world of mods.

 

Could it be because our dollar is weak and prices just are higher now instead?

 

New member here, just outside Calgary Alberta, with comments on our personal experience with C43 and E53 cars.

We had twin 2021 C43 cars, a Sedan and a Cabrio. The Cabrio did a winter in Arizona and loved to run hard but wore out the inside of both rear tires in under 8,000 miles. Both were fun to drive, but they both chewed through tires like no car I have owned, including a 911 Cabrio). My take on this is the suspensions were set up so that running in Sport or Sport+ for extended periods was hard on the tires due to settings appropriate for a race track but not for highway driving at 90+mph. Also the suspensions were overly firm, as were the sidewalls of the run-flat tires.

All that said, we traded them both on a C300 and a CLE 300 after 2 years. Now both of those are also gone as I miss the power and handling I had become accustomed to.

In March I ordered the all-new 2025 Audi S5 (B10 platform) which gives me tons of space for hauling golf equipment etc to and from Arizona each winter. It's a great highway car and handling is excellent. So for the summer car I just picked up a E53. So far I am happy with it aside from the MMI system gremlins, most of which have been resolved by the major-ish KD2 MMI system update.

Just last week I found a 2022 E53 Cabrio with a full load of options - everything except Track Pack. We got it on Dec 22 and drove up and down the highway from Calgary to Leduc Alberta and back (170 miles each way) on new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 A/S all season tires in very cold (-25C) and snowy and windy conditions. The car was flawless. And it is a full class above the C43 in every way. It’s not even close to the C43. No comparison. The new price differential, equally equipped would have been about $20,000 Canadian, and worth every single penny...

Hope that helps.