E43 AMG Estate Ride & Comfort

[rockits]

Hi there,

I would be grateful if you could let me know some more about your car as I’m currently looking for an e43 and may be interested in yours . I’ve driven one in the last few days and was very happy with the way the car drives, and it’s just a matter of finding the right car in the right spec for me.

Regards

Mark

Like you I do really like the way the car drives, looks, is nicely understated and has all the spec that I was looking for. It is 95% the spot on car. Just not gelling with the sports biased ride and maybe should have looked for something with more comfort biased.

It is black with black leather and the Premium Plus spec too that I was ideally looking for. Not too many chrome bits and just the right amount of black bits to me. It came with the optional 20" diamond cut/night edition alloys which I still have but changed them to the stock OEM 19" E43 alloys.

Has all the spec I was looking with pano roof, head-up display, the grey ash interior trim and the upgraded Burmester audio. I'll pop all the pics into a Google Drive folder and add a link in a bit. It had a Warranty Wise warranty with the car when I bought it what has now expired but I can renew it and sell with the car as they keep badgering me to renew with increasing discounts! Upto 30% discount on renewal so far!

 

[rockits]

Anything with an AMG badge is clearly aimed at the sporting end of the range and I think most people would expect it to be more firmly suspended than say the Elegance models and the like. Otherwise the keen driver would be finding it a bit vague during enthusiastic driving (my dads phrase of "handing like a pig on stilts" comes to mind!!). That said I've never driven a E43....but the 63 I find firmly damped but not bone jarringly so.....and certainly not enough that I would call it uncomfortable. Maybe you bought the wrong car. Did you not notice during the test drive?

Yes, I do agree but my previous E55K Estate, SL55, SL60 all were still comfort biased I felt and still felt very comfortable too. I guess the E55K had 18" alloys and the same on the SL55 and SL60 I think so maybe AMG tuning it more for sports driving plus bigger 19" and 20" alloys with lower profile tyres just pushes it over the edge for me. I did consider getting back into an E55K Estate again but just wanted to get something a little bit newer.

I did find it fine on the test drive but maybe the roads were not as bad as the lanes round here. Maybe also a 20 min local test drive is not enough to get a real good feel of the car. I am getting older too so maybe 2 or 3 things combined is more of the issue than one thing. It does drive really well and was a great companion over 500 or so work miles last week. Just think I need to find something less sporty and more comfort orientated.

 

[rockits]

Are you comparing W213 E 43 and W213 E 63, or W212 E63? Each generation of E class AMG has become more firmly damped than the last, just as the standard modes have. The ride of a regular E class is a world away from it’s equivalent of 25 years ago.

Yes, I'd agree with that. Spent a great deal of time in a W124 years back and had various Mercs over the years through R129 SL's to 211 E55K's, 212 E220 to the 213 E43 I have now. All have got much more capable, much faster, much better handling but seemingly at the expense of ride comfort.

 

[rockits]

The W211 generation is likely to be a sweet spot for those of who are in our more senior years because the more compliant ride reminds us of how cars used to be, but also it’s also genuinely more comfortable and that becomes more important to us as we get older.

Firmer suspension can of course improve handling, but more importantly it feels like it should handle better regardless of whether it does or not, and regardless of whether the driver gets anywhere near the limits of it’s ability when driving.

Image and perception is important to buyers - especially younger buyers - and with speed cameras and congestion the opportunity to genuinely push a car is reducing: so feeing sporty when going to the supermarket or driving to work helps to sell what is otherwise a normal and un-sporting car.

Thy of course means that the 43 must be firmer; and the 63 needs to be firmer still, and the next generation needs to feel even former!

Yes, the 211 E55K to me had it spot on. Nice blend of comfort but still sport enough to enjoy. Big enough alloys and tyres without getting silly. Still plenty fast enough, plenty enough grip and decent handling but still plenty comfortable enough.

 

[rockits]

Like you I do really like the way the car drives, looks, is nicely understated and has all the spec that I was looking for. It is 95% the spot on car. Just not gelling with the sports biased ride and maybe should have looked for something with more comfort biased.

It is black with black leather and the Premium Plus spec too that I was ideally looking for. Not too many chrome bits and just the right amount of black bits to me. It came with the optional 20" diamond cut/night edition alloys which I still have but changed them to the stock OEM 19" E43 alloys.

Has all the spec I was looking with pano roof, head-up display, the grey ash interior trim and the upgraded Burmester audio. I'll pop all the pics into a Google Drive folder and add a link in a bit. It had a Warranty Wise warranty with the car when I bought it what has now expired but I can renew it and sell with the car as they keep badgering me to renew with increasing discounts! Upto 30% discount on renewal so far!

I've popped some pics in a Google Drive folder and shared it so hopefully that works OK. Link is:

E43 – Google Drive

drive.google.com

I attached the car check report I did before I bought it. Also a copy of the ad from the independent dealer I bought it from. Happy to answer any questions though. I know I am going to take a little hit on it but some you win and get right and sometimes you don't.

 

[rockits]

 

[ALFAitalia]

I am getting older too.....

Thanks!....you are 50....that's not old....I'm 56 and as young (in the head) as I ever was!!! I still enjoy a firmly sprung (often lowered and stiffened) car....like my ALFA. Different strokes for different folks I guess.....but in 2023, 50 IS NOT OLD or even getting old!!!

 

[rockits]

Thanks!....you are 50....that's not old....I'm 56 and as young (in the head) as I ever was!!! I still enjoy a firmly sprung (often lowered and stiffened) car....like my ALFA. Different strokes for different folks I guess.....but in 2023, 50 IS NOT OLD or even getting old!!!

LOL....you are right of course that 50 is not old these days. I jest. As you say different strokes for different folks and think I'm more biased towards comfort. I did have a 500bhp supercharged Chimaera until recently and that was a real work out every drive

 

[MMCC]

View attachment 136649

Hi there,

Thanks for providing all the information on the car, it looks nice in the pictures but I’m afraid the mileage is too high for me.

Good luck with the sale.

Regards

Mark

 

[rockits]

Hi there,

Thanks for providing all the information on the car, it looks nice in the pictures but I’m afraid the mileage is too high for me.

Good luck with the sale.

Regards

Mark

Sure, no worries. Understood. I was the same as yourself and would have preferred a lower mile car. I just couldn't find one at all anywhere that was the right car at the right price with the right spec. Either they were the wrong spec, silly priced or a combination of the two. This fitted all my requirements to a tee except for the mileage. As I felt at the price I paid it represented decent value I compromised on the mileage.

I have never been afraid of mileage as long as the car has been regularly maintained. In fact I am tending to prefer this more now as sometimes a lower mileage car doesn't always mean a better example. Especially one that has been used as a local shopping trolley with stop start journeys often barely up to temperature.

I'd rather pay less for a car with more miles that has been regularly maintained rather than pay a premium for a low miles car. At least I know I have money in the war chest sitting there if ever needed and if not then a bonus.
I can understand though if you wanted to pay more for a lower mileage car but you might need to compromise on something. They only made the E43 for 2 years and there are more saloons than estates so there isn't an abundance of E43 Estates around to choose from. I know because I looked for many months! Not really seen one since either that fitted my requirements.

 

[rockits]

I had an XC90 4.4 V8 Petrol for a few years that I bought from the 1st owner that bought it new. It had done pretty much 20k miles for 9 years when I bought it with full main dealer service history. Was one of the best cars I have had and barely anything went wrong and felt like it would have done another 200k miles on top no problem. Was a cheap car to buy and run also sold pretty easily too regardless of the mileage being at 200k miles at that point.

 

[Benz17]

High mileage can be a physiological thing for some.

Have you had it valued by wbac or such like.

 

[rockits]

High mileage can be a physiological thing for some.

Have you had it valued by wbac or such like.

Not yet but will do a check later. I'll check out the usual suspects so WBAC and Motorway.

I always used to get hung up on mileage years ago but that was when cars were not so reliable as many modern cars are now. I'm less fussed about it these days as have had so many cars and not always found a direct correlation between age, mileage or price. I've had older cars that were better and low milers that were worse.

I think it is more a case of how it has been looked after, treated and maintained. I've seen 2 and 3 year old lease cars that were shocking as clearly the people that rented them didn't give a hoot about their cars. Enthusiast private owners tend to look after their cars the best and treat them the best.

Like many on here I try to look after my cars as much as I can as it often pays you back longer term.

 

[rockits]

High mileage can be a physiological thing for some.

Have you had it valued by wbac or such like.

£21,544 on Motorway and I'd expected about £22k-£23k was about right trade price. Cheapest one on AT is £25,250 for a grey CAT N Premium that was up for sale I think Aug/Sept last year when I started looking. Then it jumps to £29k for a white Premium 80k mile example. I was hoping I could sell privately for £25k and not drop too much cash as have already spent money on it on a couple of things and the alloys/tyres. You live and learn I guess.

If it looks as though I'm going to drop a stack I might have to live with it for a bit and take my time to find a replacement then sell this one over time. Can't see the price is going to move that much for a while as a nicely spec'd Premium Plus with Burmester and all the toys people seem to want are pretty thin on the ground. It is hardly a terrible car and far from it. Just was looking for a car with a slightly softer ride.

A decent average miles E43 Premium Plus seems to be £32k+ from what I can see and lower milers about £35k+ so I am sure some will think mine will represent good value at this price level regardless of miles.

 

[Benz17]

Sometimes these things happen, you buy the car you want, but it just doesn’t feel right, unfortunately rather then keeping it, and not enjoying it would drive me nuts, so i would also take a hit, and move on, life is just too short.

Once you buy the one which will tick all the boxes, and the ride and comfort is to your liking, you will forget about the small loss, if you do take a loss.

 

[rockits]

Sometimes these things happen, you buy the car you want, but it just doesn’t feel right, unfortunately rather then keeping it, and not enjoying it would drive me nuts, so i would also take a hit, and move on, life is just too short.

Once you buy the one which will tick all the boxes, and the ride and comfort is to your liking, you will forget about the small loss, if you do take a loss.

Yup, agreed with that. I might have a look around and drive a few potential replacements then see what part ex deal they offer as if it is the same as WBAC/MW then I am no worse off and will have a much easier process.

I have never had a FFRR and have been close a few times but never been bold or brave enough to bite the bullet. I'm sure a nice L405 FFRR 5.0 V8 SC would fit the bill nicely. Just wanted to stay away from an SUV and have an Estate but I guess I'll keep my options open.

 

[MMCC]

Sure, no worries. Understood. I was the same as yourself and would have preferred a lower mile car. I just couldn't find one at all anywhere that was the right car at the right price with the right spec. Either they were the wrong spec, silly priced or a combination of the two. This fitted all my requirements to a tee except for the mileage. As I felt at the price I paid it represented decent value I compromised on the mileage.

I have never been afraid of mileage as long as the car has been regularly maintained. In fact I am tending to prefer this more now as sometimes a lower mileage car doesn't always mean a better example. Especially one that has been used as a local shopping trolley with stop start journeys often barely up to temperature.

I'd rather pay less for a car with more miles that has been regularly maintained rather than pay a premium for a low miles car. At least I know I have money in the war chest sitting there if ever needed and if not then a bonus.
I can understand though if you wanted to pay more for a lower mileage car but you might need to compromise on something. They only made the E43 for 2 years and there are more saloons than estates so there isn't an abundance of E43 Estates around to choose from. I know because I looked for many months! Not really seen one since either that fitted my requirements.

Hi again,

Neither you or I are wrong, we can and do have different ideas/opinions/approaches….but that’s ok and neither is more worthy than the other.

 

[rockits]

Hi again,

Neither you or I are wrong, we can and do have different ideas/opinions/approaches….but that’s ok and neither is more worthy than the other.

Yes, totally agreed. No right or wrong. As you say everybody is different and all opinions are valid also should be respected. We don't always get so much of that these days after the last few years.

What did you think of the E43 when you drove it and what was your summary?

Are you looking for an Estate only or is the Saloon an option too?

 

[MMCC]

Yes, totally agreed. No right or wrong. As you say everybody is different and all opinions are valid also should be respected. We don't always get so much of that these days after the last few years.

What did you think of the E43 when you drove it and what was your summary?

Are you looking for an Estate only or is the Saloon an option too?

I drove a 67 reg car with 30Kish miles, and started with it in comfort. It felt smooth and supple. I also changed it to “sport” and it felt more urgent but definitely not more harsh in terms of ride quality. I was pretty happy with the way the car drove. It had very good levels of grip, although I did notice it had Michelin pilot sport 4S tyres fitted and these may have helped traction on the greasy roads I was on during the test drive. I felt it was plenty quick enough for what I’m looking for.

For practically reasons I’m looking for the estate only. I have also considered the GLC43 & facelifted C43 Estate although these might not be large enough for me.

 

[rockits]

I drove a 67 reg car with 30Kish miles, and started with it in comfort. It felt smooth and supple. I also changed it to “sport” and it felt more urgent but definitely not more harsh in terms of ride quality. I was pretty happy with the way the car drove. It had very good levels of grip, although I did notice it had Michelin pilot sport 4S tyres fitted and these may have helped traction on the greasy roads I was on during the test drive. I felt it was plenty quick enough for what I’m looking for.

For practically reasons I’m looking for the estate only. I have also considered the GLC43 & facelifted C43 Estate although these might not be large enough for me.

Yes, I've found there is little different in ride comfort between all adaptive modes. As the comfort setting wasn't what I would suggest was comfortable I don't think the differences are great enough for each mode. It seems Porsche with the new Cayenne made these wider to differentiate between the modes more. The steering and throttle response/gearbox on the E43 seems noticeably different between each adaptive modes but not sure the suspension does.

Agreed it is plenty plenty quick enough for me and most. The traction and grip is quite immense and with a slick shifting gearbox it can be really hustled along and some pace if required.

How much was the price of the 67 plate 30k mile example you looked at please to give me some idea of prices?