amg pros and cons

[s77ygg]

Hi guys and girls.... Im thinking of selling my bmw e39 530i msport and buy myself a C32, C36 or a C43 AMG. What should I be looking for when I go to view? anything to look out for or check?

 

[whitenemesis]

Rust..

 

[def90cars]

C36 or C43 have less engine trouble but age is against them. Personally a mint C36 would be my choice.

 

[Charles Morgan]

A C43. Lovely V8, classic MB styling and not an arm and a leg when it goes wrong. Look for rust, suspension wear and smooth transmission.

C32s are much more complicated, not as nicely set up and I can live without the styling - supercharged engine is like a rocket ship though. If you wanted a W203 I'd go for a C55 instead - not a lot more and a glorious V8.

If you want a straight six, a C36, but unlike the V8s I doubt that will be a car the market values long term.

 

[automaniaman]

Beware of the brown bubbly stuff...

 

[bolide]

Anything to look out for .. ?

An M5?

Nick Froome

 

[flango]

An M5?

Nick Froome

That would be my suggestion too, M cars much better than AMG and less costly to run and repair from my experience (waits to get flamed )

 

[Deleted member 37751]

less costly to run and repair from my experience

One word: Vanos...

 

[flango]

One word: Vanos...

Urban myth?, never had a problem with my two and easy to check and not really a showstopper. Vanos problems usually stem back to poor maintenance

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Hi guys and girls.... Im thinking of selling my bmw e39 530i msport and buy myself a C32, C36 or a C43 AMG. What should I be looking for when I go to view? anything to look out for or check?

I've owned all three of those; one C36, three C43's and a C32.

The C32 and the C36 have a similar feel, both like to be revved and out of the two I think the straight six VVT of the C36 is the engine most suited to the W202.

The C32 is probably the most hilariously rapid out of the three but reliability wasn't good, if you're set on one try and find a very well cared for example (Bobby Dazzler, a member on here has his for sale). The C43 V8 has a wondrous soundtrack but the engine isn't as urgent as the other two.

If your budget is circa £4-5k I'd look at a mint C36...

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Urban myth?

Speak to any BMW specialist about buying an E39 M5 and the first they'll tell you to check is the Vanos, it's very well known and very common. Then the rust...

That's not to say that the OP's choices of car are a virtue of reliability as well...

 

[Mrhanky]

My E55 has proven so far to be cheap to run compared to my E39 M5. Vanos issues are common and rust is a year on year cost.

 

[C43AMG]

If you go into the For Sale section there is one of the best C43's for sale. ( A little biased )

 

[John]

I thought VANOS issues mainly affected the 6 cylinder engines.

Didn't know it affected V8s badly as well.

E39 M5 would be a better choice though, as despite being manual-only, at least you won't have to sell your house to pay for SMGIII repairs in an E60 M5*!

*You might still have to sell your house to pay for VANOS repairs it seems!

 

[Charles Morgan]

Vanos is largely sorted - there are plenty of reasonable repair and recondition options if it goes wrong, just avoid main dealers and do your own research, it's often just the solenoid.

As for rust on an E39, pur-lease.. it's a cosmetic issue.

I'd have an M5 over a C36 or C32. but have a strange affection for the C43s. However, I'd have an Alpina B10 over the lot!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I'm going to hazard a guess that seeing as though the OP owns an E39 and he's asking a question on a forum, he'll be aware of E39 problems maybe learned from a BMW forum.

He's asked a Mercedes forum about three C-Class AMG's...

 

[andy27168]

Having the choice the O/P has stated C32 C36 or C43, even though I had one for 7 years and covered over 50k miles in it I would still have a 43 hands down. C36 to old really, C32 justified or not I would scared of reliability issues.
C43s have a good standard of equipment from factory, the uber reliable M113 V8 engine and cheap to maintain as they effectively just a 202 with a huge engine in it. Also if you get bored with the power fitting a 55 engine is relatively cheap and straight forward to do, and custom map that you have a car that is as fast as a C32.
Only weak point on buying a 43 is rust and I have to say gearbox, though I think this is more a perceived weakness and if you buy a later car such as Ollies or if you are lucky enough to find a Tiptronic one then you should be ok though I do not really think there ever was one. If you do buy one budget £150-200 for a gearbox oil and filter change and only use MB fluid, this is more of a general thing with 722.6, 5 Speed boxes as MB at this time stated they were sealed for life, though on later models/cars with the same box this sealed for life statement changed and they required a gearbox service at approx. 40k miles.

 

[Mrhanky]

As for rust on an E39, pur-lease.. it's a cosmetic issue./QUOTE]

Having owned mine for six years and wanting to keep it looking great. Meant every year I had to spend money at the body shop.

Rust never stops it's just moves somewhere else from experience.

 

[aquanaut]

I had a C36, a great car but I was defeated by rust! Have a look at AMG's for 2004 onwards. Mercedes started galvanising the bodywork. A C55 would be a good choice..if you can find one!

 

[frostbite]

Rust rust and rust. That isn't to suggest there will be huge amounts of it, more to suggest you should check, check and check again. Any advisories on the last MOT? Difficulty is that a lot can be hidden under the plastic skirts.
I bought a C43, didn't really see any evidence of rust, until I got it home and took the skirts off for a good clean - then Aaaaaagh!! If I'd spotted the rust, I wouldn't have bought it. Now that I have bought it, I love it and am happy to just deal with the rust anyway. Already have a 55 engine waiting for when I've sorted the bodywork.