W202 C43 AMG

[5ean-f]

Thank you for your comments and I will have to bow to your superior knowledge of the gearbox but I bid on 2 lost the year 2000 this one I won is a 1999, I agree with the interior I much prefer a solid colour than two tone, I'm not totally sold on the wood though but hopefully that will change once I see it in the flesh, counting down to it arriving

 

[5ean-f]

Car arrived in docks yesterday, paid vat, duty, shipping, and port fees today collect on Friday morning driving it straight to MOT center then get it booked in for a service then paperwork starts, hopefully it won't be long till its registered and on the road

 

[Abb]

Congrats thus far. I do agree with you on the wood trim, will be easy enough to source the 'carbon fibre' trim that adorns most f the 43s of this era.

Just noticed you are only up the road from me so hopefully may get to see it at some point at a meet. Mine is a 99 one too, albeit in black.

 

[5ean-f]

Picked the car up today (borrowed a trade plate from MOT center) really am pleased with it drove faultlessly plenty of go in the old girl didn't go mad but it was a great 45 mins to mot centre one tested and serviced I can have a proper drive.
As a BIG plus I found all the handbooks along with a filly documented service history albeit in Japanese but at lease I know the car has been very well cared for and the mileage is correct I really am a happy boy,

 

[C43AMG]

Picked the car up today (borrowed a trade plate from MOT center) really am pleased with it drove faultlessly plenty of go in the old girl didn't go mad but it was a great 45 mins to mot centre one tested and serviced I can have a proper drive.
As a BIG plus I found all the handbooks along with a filly documented service history albeit in Japanese but at lease I know the car has been very well cared for and the mileage is correct I really am a happy boy,

Congratulations from a past C43 owner and enjoy

 

[5ean-f]

Here are some photos the kind man at the MOT center took for me of the underneath of her when she was on the ramp, he can not believe the condition of it, I'm so pleased I have fine to all the bother and expense of getting one from Japan

 

[Abb]

Truely remarkable condition! Definitely a wise move for you, I would be pleased with myself too!

 

[5ean-f]

In my excitement of posting photos of underside I forgot to say she flew through MOT without any problems no advisory she is Mint, back home now (much to my wife's delight) just need to complete paperwork to get her registered then she will go for a service and then I can put a few miles on her might even leave Pork at home for our France trip in August,
I will get some photos up once she has plates, service and a good clean

 

[5ean-f]

Finally DVLA has issued V5 after they have had some kind of industrial action, so plates on full tank of V Power and fresh from detailer, I have a couple of days off so that I'm going to enjoy

 

[5ean-f]

A few photos now she is clean

 

[5ean-f]

Moew

 

[5ean-f]

And lastly

 

[suty455]

nice but that grill have had a few Jap imports and they are all the same underneath or at least mine have, word to the wise though get it properly treated before it gets on the road including all the cavities cars over there are not usually treated and can rot at a frightening pace once over here

 

[5ean-f]

The whole process was pretty easy really I used a company recommended from a friend who has imported most of his cars from Japan for many years so this is how it went,

1, resisted with Japanese company (Showa Trade) many many hours spent searching through the site they have access to lots of auctions 160K+ cars per week so finding the one I wanted took some time and the C43 isn't common anywhere so I was searching for about 4-6 weeks,

2, found one placed my maximum bid, won the car,

3, invoice emailed to me,

4, Paid for the car using Azimo app,

5, Received all the paperwork from Japan,

6, Sent paperwork to company at port of tyne spoke to a lovely lady who helped a lot,

7, payed port fees, 20% VAT, 10% duty plus shipping,

8, collected car (needed to borrow a trade plate from a friend of a friend without this I would have needed to have it transported,

9, most difficult I found filling paperwork out for DVLA, sent that off with a check to register the car waited a loooong time to get a V5 and letter allowing me to get the plates made, This took a long time due to the situation we are in and DVL have some industrial action,

10, All done car ready to enjoy but the whole process from winning the auction to having it in the garage took about 14 weeks plus time to find the car,

would I do it again?

I think I could have found a cheaper car in Europe but I don't think I could have found a better car

I would have done it again but my circumstances have changed so for the foreseeable future I am unable to add any more cars to the collection,

Most importantly did I get a bargain? I think I did as I was planning on keeping this car and using it whenever I could and I think it is better than any others I have seen for sale in Europe (going from online adverts) but overall it did cost me more than the ones for sale anywhere but you gets what you pay for.

if you would like any advice/help from a novice at importing something yourself I would say the company in Japan is the most important thing the one I used made it a simple process.

I hope that helps you or anyone else looking to import themselves.

Sean-f

 

[noogieman]

Sweet ride mate.

Are you keeping V8 pimp badges below both turn signals?

You should be happy you have the new tiptronic transmission.
Do you have switch buttons behind the steering wheel?
Please let me know how the new tranny performs compared to old transmission from 98-99?

What is the extra electronics in the engine room?
Next to the anti freeze container and the washer fluid container you have some electronics hooked up?
What they for?

A free advice.
Get your car waxoiled before winter!

Good luck with your ownership

 

[5ean-f]

Sweet ride mate.

Are you keeping V8 pimp badges below both turn signals?

You should be happy you have the new tiptronic transmission.
Do you have switch buttons behind the steering wheel?
Please let me know how the new tranny performs compared to old transmission from 98-99?

What is the extra electronics in the engine room?
Next to the anti freeze container and the washer fluid container you have some electronics hooked up?
What they for?

A free advice.
Get your car waxoiled before winter!

Good luck with your ownership

Thank you,
Im not sure about the badges,
transmission is super smooth,
I don't think there are any buttons but will check this afternoon,
I have not driven any other C43,
Extra electronics a Japanese thing front and rear camera connected to TV screen on rear view mirror and a few other bits that the japanese have toll road sensor but they will be all getting removed when she goes in for a healthcheack and service,
will do but she won't be outside during winter,

Thank you

 

[5ean-f]

Hi, Thanks for everyones input on my thread about w202 C43 AMG, you all seem to be very knowable about these cars to be honest I seen one a couple of years ago and wanted one and now have one wasn't too sure what they were exactly so your input has been a great help, I now have a problem though I am loosing the storage place I share with my friend in about 10 weeks I have tried to find an alternative and we have not has any success so I am planning on extending my garage at home from a 3 car to 6 car but it means I have to loose a couple of cars I have already sold my E60 V10 M5 and don't want to part with any other that I have owned a long time so am thinking the C43 may have to go but I have a lot of money in it probably more that its worth about £16,300 before I have her inspected and a few things removed could you give me a idea what she would be worth?
1999, 56k, full history, super clean,

I know if I let it go I'm going to take a hit but just how hard am I going to be hit??

 

[noogieman]

What are you doing man?
Already selling the C43?

Keep your winter beater and put the C43 in the garage as a weekend car, get rid of the rest!

 

[5ean-f]

I would love to keep it but just don't have the room I have had some of my other cars for over 25 years also turning a double garage into a 6 car garage isn't going to be cheap, I've already sold one and need to move 2-3 more to cover the costs of the build that's the deal I have with my wife who has been very understanding about loosing quite a chunk of garden

 

[suty455]

I know of a specialist storage place would charge £15.00 a week to store it, all they store are vehicles and they are inside a well ventilated building fully secured

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