c43 general things to look out for

[miketokley]

Hi all my first post even though i signed up quite a while ago, i have has a w202 c180 esprit for quite a while now, but have finally saved up enough money to finally buy a car i have always wanted.... a c43.

i am quite up on my cars doing nearly everything that needs fixing/servicing on them,

i am planning to look at 2 c43's this weekend, it would be very helpful if you knowledgeable folk could point out a few common / know problems with these cars to look out for.

thankyou

mikey

 

[rubystone]

Which cars are you looking at?

Don't overpay - they don't sell very quickly.

Check everywhere for rust - wings, sunroof, wheelarches, where rear bumper joins wings, bootlock.

Check gearbox works fine. It shouldn't shuffle between gears for instance

Make sure it hasn't been clocked - not easy to do - check that history very well....is the interior wear consistent with mileage - have the numerals worn off switches for instance...

HPI it

Make sure there's meat in the tyres - not cheap to replace...are they waering evenly?...are they the same make all round or at least in each axle - are they a quality brand (shows the owner spends money on the car)

Do the wheels need reburbishing?

Is there life left in the brake disks?

Has the MAF sensor been replaced recently?

Is the VIN number in the window at the base of the front screen kosher and does it tally with the one in the logbook

Is everything pukka AMG? Wheels. bumpers....

Check all the toys work

 

[miketokley]

cheers for the info mate i am looking at one in kent that has done 89000 miles with fsh until summer last year that my mate found for me in a local paper, and also this one http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...NZ&model=C+CLASS&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=

But only really have about 7k to spend, i'm hoping i am not being to tight to find a decent one for this kinda money.

 

[Chris_J]

You might want to remove that link. Nice motor though

 

[Will]

You might want to remove that link. Nice motor though

Silly question - why?

It's not as though there's a rush of people all about to buy this exact car, and if you were looking for one it's not really very well hidden if it's on Autotrader

Will

 

[Chris_J]

No but it shows his post code.

 

[Will]

Fair enough, that's if it's his actual address though

Oh well - I guess it's better to be careful though

Will

 

[ibrar]

Well unless you are going to stalk the poor fella then it doesn't matter. Well we all do know that he is going to have a C43 parked in his driveway very soon

 

[rubystone]

Don't also discount the one on ebay at £5995 - higher mileage though.

I paid a chunk less than £7k for my car, so that sort of money should buy you a decent car with no rot, a good history and in mint condition.

Will's looked at several that are less than perfect - well worth comparing notes on this forum with those that are looking for cars.

Good luck - these cars are a lot of fun and excellent VFM - the other "benefit" of them is that if you use V Power as I do, you'll have your full collection of toy Ferraris in record time

 

[vijilants]

Hi all my first post even though i signed up quite a while ago, i have has a w202 c180 esprit for quite a while now, but have finally saved up enough money to finally buy a car i have always wanted.... a c43.

i am quite up on my cars doing nearly everything that needs fixing/servicing on them,

i am planning to look at 2 c43's this weekend, it would be very helpful if you knowledgeable folk could point out a few common / know problems with these cars to look out for.

thankyou

mikey

My advice to you would be don't rush it. If you are willing to wait a little and do some regular hunting, genuine good cars do come up with low mileage at a good price.

Try and find one that has had its disks and pads recently replaced and has had a recent B service if possible.

The disks and pads on this thing are seriously expensive.

 

[Will]

As above - I think Rubystone has covered most of the things to look out for, but be aware that by far, most of these cars are in pretty poor condition, especially at the lower end of the scale. I quite fancy one at some point and a friend of mine is also very keen, so I've been working through a few of them for him.

Most will have rust, most will have higher mileage and a lot will have patchy history.

I would insist on buying a good example as in the big picture it will cost you more long term if you buy a tatty one with outstanding faults and maintenance.

The £5995 one on eBay sounds pretty moody IMHO (Black one in North London), rust, tinted windows, patchy history, it doesn't even have an MOT.

There's one for sale in Chiswick that looks immaculate, but is very tatty if you look at it in person - rust, broken headlight, missing bonnet star, overspray on the door handles, patchy history etc.

It's a bit of a waiting game.

Will

 

[C43AMG]

As above - I think Rubystone has covered most of the things to look out for, but be aware that by far, most of these cars are in pretty poor condition, especially at the lower end of the scale. I quite fancy one at some point and a friend of mine is also very keen, so I've been working through a few of them for him.

Most will have rust, most will have higher mileage and a lot will have patchy history.

I would insist on buying a good example as in the big picture it will cost you more long term if you buy a tatty one with outstanding faults and maintenance.

The £5995 one on eBay sounds pretty moody IMHO (Black one in North London), rust, tinted windows, patchy history, it doesn't even have an MOT.

There's one for sale in Chiswick that looks immaculate, but is very tatty if you look at it in person - rust, broken headlight, missing bonnet star, overspray on the door handles, patchy history etc.

It's a bit of a waiting game.

Will

Absolutely Will, there's still mine of course

 

[rubystone]

Incidentally, I'd rather like a steering wheel like C43's - are they easy to come by? I recall a thread some while back where these were being sold on ebay for exceptionally reasonable money....

 

[C43AMG]

Incidentally, I'd rather like a steering wheel like C43's - are they easy to come by? I recall a thread some while back where these were being sold on ebay for exceptionally reasonable money....

Mines a one off

 

[ibrar]

One more thing to look out for.........petrol prices

 

[Will]

Incidentally, I'd rather like a steering wheel like C43's - are they easy to come by? I recall a thread some while back where these were being sold on ebay for exceptionally reasonable money....

I know the thread that you're thinking of, it wasn't the wheel that Peter has though.

Would be nice to get one in view of the amount of two-tone C43s which have tatty steering wheels.

Will

 

[rubystone]

I

Would be nice to get one in view of the amount of two-tone C43s which have tatty steering wheels.

Will

That's really why I want one - might try dyeing mine though....

 

[Will]

You should be able to get a steering wheel off something else if not - either SLK/W202 Sport/208 CLK/210 etc?

Even as a semi-temporary measure whilst you get your one dyed/re-connolised etc?

Will

 

[Will]

On that note - has anyone tried re-connolising steering wheels?

What's the outcome - good/worth it? One place that seems to do it is:

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/leather-upholstery-connollising.htm

Will

 

[miketokley]

looked at a two now still have not found one that is as clean as i like maybe im being too tight with the money! lol,

see my problem is i have looked at peters (c43amg) and now every other example looks a little tatty compared to it lol.

might have to find some more money.