Buyer help on UK C43's please!!

[Pagz]

Hello from New Zealand!

Im looking to buy a C43 from UK but am unsure as to just how corroded things get over there?,what i would like to know is how corroded does the engine get?,does anyone lift there engine cover off and fined the alloy and magnesium parts are heavily corroded like the heads,sump and block? also people here mostly talk about the body having rust,what about the rear subframe,shocks/springs,driveshafts,gearbox,exhaust system etc how well do all these parts hold up to the salt??

Cheers!,
Paul

 

[EDZ649]

I doubt you will have any issues with the engine components corroding, never heard of anything like that before. The gearbox's on the C43 are a weak spot and many have been changed/rebuilt.

As for rust, well just do a search on here, there are dozens of threads relating to this issue

 

[amg3.6]

Rust usually appears around the arches and sills under the side skirts and around the boot lock. But have seen a few with rust on doors and bonets

 

[MercFanUk]

Both of my 202's had rust starting to make an appearance on the bonnet - usually due to untreated stone chip marks. The first I had also had a little on the doors at the very bottom, plus the arches.

 

[BlackC55]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/102188-202-rust-beware.html

 

[Pagz]

Thanks for the replies guys,Im mostly concered with the exterior of the Engine,transmission and suspension,these are all the parts i would like to swap into my 202 back here (which has zero rust or corrosion anything)...i'd be happy if it arrived with the whole body rusted but the mechanical exterior looked good!...but for some reason i cant help but think it must be VERY corroded,its just noone looks under there!!?!

Whats are the average conditions of the exhaust,does the 304 stainless get eaten,any roblems with muffler bodies? has anyone checked there diff and propeller shafts for excessive corrosion?...does the exterior of the trans and engine block start to scale?

Cheers!,
Paul