Looking at getting a C32 estate

[Dazzler]

Any ideas on price for these???
I have my eye on a 2002 with 51k, its a private sale and is £11k, is this about right?

Any special things to look out for?
Any pointed questions to ask?

TIA

 

[BlackC55]

Make sure all the suspension is ok. They snap springs, and the front thrust arm bushes are prone to wear quickly.

They also have issues with the intercooler pumps and secondry air injection pumps. The IC pump causes lack of power and the latter causes a engine warning light to appear.

 

[Matt32AMG]

Make sure all the suspension is ok. They snap springs, and the front thrust arm bushes are prone to wear quickly.

They also have issues with the intercooler pumps and secondry air injection pumps. The IC pump causes lack of power and the latter causes a engine warning light to appear.

The secondary air injection pump? I've not had that on my 32, as yet. I had the IC pump replaced at 21,000 and the front bushes at 18,000 miles. I'd like to think they beefed up on replacement parts....

 

[trando]

51k is a low mileage for that year - that's about 7k per annum... still running in for this motor. Just check the service history to make sure it's all in order.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

A snapshot of my thoughts on the C32 AMG:

The Intercooler pump is very common and very very very easy to diagnose. With this problem it is only a matter of time. Expect them to last 40,000 miles - any more is a bonus. Easy DIY job though (apparently), and the same part is used on the Ford Lightning at a much lower cost (about $70 IIRC) - there's even a how to guide on a US forum.

The supercharger bearing can fail making it noisey, although this is very rare. If you hear that a supercharger fails you can be fairly confident it's probably the bearing. Dealers replace the whole unit, but US owners have found the correct bearing for the job, and is apparently not difficult for an experienced mechanic or engineer (about $20 IIRC).

Heated seat base will fail on the drivers seat, as the integrated element gets damaged. Again only a matter of time on this one. Expensive fix is a new seat cover at about £300 or about £100 if you insert a separate pad from a different model.

Air injection relay (and air injection pump) were both recall and items and should have been replaced. Not strictly necessary as it's only required to pass stringent LA smog tests AFAIK.

Purge valve can audibley 'tick', if it irritates then the bracket can be adapted to isolate the noise from being transmitted. Nothing to worry about.

"Jerk" at 1500rpm, although it seems all cars suffer with this and seem to be a combination of the adaptive settings and the torque converter locking up. Not noticeable and no fix - it's just the way they are.

Lumpy idle in a 10 second burst after a cold start, but only when stationary at about 2 minutes. Bizarre set of circumstances! Just another quirk, no fix.

The Valeo radiators (cars built pre 09/03 IIRC) can leak and cause glycol contamination. At worst can require a new transmission, albeit uncommon. Can be replaced with a later Behr radiator to ease concerns. There's lots of info on this. Other models are affected too - not just C32 or W203.

Suspension bushes can be noisey, but there's a replacement part 'with boots' to prevent re-curring problems.

Near side tilting mirror can fail, albeit not exactly common!

Rust - not really heard much on the C32 but Andy (CYP) had a successful claim for his bonnet IIRC. Watch out for this though as the earliest examples will now be 8 years old.

On balance it's not that bad. The two dead certs can be fixed cheaply DIY. The other problems with be a PITA if you get them, but could affect any car.

I hope this is of some use...

 

[asad7860]

I had a C32 for two years, and recently bought an E55. Bobby Dazzler has written an excellent piece above. Sums up the issues perfectly. The C32 is a staggerinlgy good car. Good Luck.

Asad

 

[Dizwen]

I got my C32 saloon about 2 months ago with 68,000 on the clock for 10K. 11k is top, top money, is the car in show room condition?

 

[marty359]

Have a very good look for rust on all arches,inside of doors at the bottom and the tailgate.Ive had mine over a year now and was what i thought mint when i bought it.A few months ago i had a successfull rust claim without a full dealer history and had 2 new wings,rear arches done,bottoms of doors,whole new tailgate and i paid extra to have the bonnet resprayed.

Good luck

 

[Swozza]

Bobby,

You mentioned 2 things? Could you help clarify.

The Intercooler pump is very common and very very very easy to diagnose. With this problem it is only a matter of time. Expect them to last 40,000 miles - any more is a bonus. Easy DIY job though (apparently), and the same part is used on the Ford Lightning at a much lower cost (about $70 IIRC) - there's even a how to guide on a US forum.

What error code does this return?

Purge valve can audibley 'tick', if it irritates then the bracket can be adapted to isolate the noise from being transmitted. Nothing to worry about.

Is this a ticking sound heard for about 20 secs from the left of the dash speaker everytime you start the engine?

Dazzler, I've owned my C32 for 6 weeks and I'm in love with it. The way it goes from 30 to 70 blows my mind, and 11K for a C32 with 51K is about right.


Thanks


Swoz

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You mentioned 2 things? Could you help clarify.

The Intercooler pump is very common and very very very easy to diagnose

What error code does this return?

No idea on the specific error code - you probably don't need it though, as when I say there's no mistaking it, there quite literally is no mistaking it. It isn't like an iffy MAF sensor where you notice something - this hits you in the face - well the windscreen does when power just dissappears instantly when accelerating.

Purge valve can audibley 'tick', if it irritates then the bracket can be adapted to isolate the noise from being transmitted. Nothing to worry about.

Is this a ticking sound heard for about 20 secs from the left of the dash speaker everytime you start the engine?

If it's coming from the centre of the dash then that sounds like it may be the stepper motor. Hopefully it isn't because that's a big job.

 

[Swozza]

If it's coming from the centre of the dash then that sounds like it may be the stepper motor. Hopefully it isn't because that's a big job.

Yes it is. How big?

 

[Swozza]

And other than a clicking does it effect anything?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I don't know the detail, but I believe it's a dash out job. Worth having a search on this forum for "stepper motor" as it's been discussed before.

 

[H13BS M]

my c32 has the same clicky sound from the dash.Its only exspensive beacuse you gotta get the dash out to fix it, but wont effect anything, if you can deal with it clicking for 15 seconds.
God i would never sell mine for 10k either.It might of done 67,000 and be on a 51 reg, but the guy before me owned it from new and was garage its whole life.No rust at all underneath or on body work, the interior hasnt worn on either front sits,the bk ones have never been sat in.Plus with johnson cm30 ic pump, genuine clk63 rims, and full kw coilovers i think i would rather run it into the ground then sell it for peanuts.Suppose it helps i vehicle detail!In fact i belive ive put just under 500 miles on my car since i bought it from him!!

 

[H13BS M]

No idea on the specific error code - you probably don't need it though, as when I say there's no mistaking it, there quite literally is no mistaking it. It isn't like an iffy MAF sensor where you notice something - this hits you in the face - well the windscreen does when power just dissappears instantly when accelerating.



lol!!i remember when my one did before uprating to the cm30, you really do get thrown into the windscreen!!

 

[Swozza]

Thanks gents. Quite funny cos I'm actually hard of hearing and wear hearing aids. I'll just turn the aid off for 20 seconds, problem solved.

 

[d w124]

Have you seen this?02 MERCEDES C32 AMG 360BHP SUPERGHARGED ESTATE, SWAP PX on eBay (end time 05-Oct-09 20:55:13 BST)

 

[marty359]

^^

They just keep getting cheaper and cheaper

I hate seeing C32 estates advertised as it shows how much ive lost on mine since ive had it.

And why cant dealers ever shut the centre storage compartment cover properly?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

^^

You're not wrong Marty. I've had mine almost four years now. They dropped hardest last year, as fuel crisis and recession started to bit - and they've not recovered in the same way that newer metal has.

They were a performance bargain before, and now they're a performance ...errr ...giveaway!!

 

[trainer]

Be thankful you didn't buy a E55 from 2003 on they are real bargains now. I need to save some pennies for one. However by the time I can afford one my C32 will be worth a fiver!