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adeel_gt
Original Poster
147 posts
69 months
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Hi, chaps any one got any info on the merc C32 AMG? been looking at one of these as my next car but cant find much info or owners reviews.
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Welshbeef
13,049 posts
67 months
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It's a touring with a 3.2 ltr supercharged engine.
Main rival e46 M3
Done
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Mastodon2
5,745 posts
34 months
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Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, it still needed £2000 in rust repair and paintwork, for the average man that is going to be a much higher figure. It was immaculate when it was done though. I have loved the C43 since I first saw one, a car I would love to own for sure, but the rust is a real concern for me!
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timberman
176 posts
84 months
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Mastodon2 said: Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, it still needed £2000 in rust repair and paintwork, for the average man that is going to be a much higher figure. It was immaculate when it was done though. I have loved the C43 since I first saw one, a car I would love to own for sure, but the rust is a real concern for me! I owned one of these for 4 years and the only rust it had was a slight bit on the O/S/R arch which was dealt with under Mercedes 30 year anti perforation warranty, so not really an issue The biggest problem with these cars is the various electrical issues and component failures they suffer from, all of which are well documented on places like mbworld which has a section dedicated to the C32/C55 and also mb club uk has plenty of information on offer. I loved mine and wanted to keep it, but the cost of ownership ( it only averaged about 17 mpg, went thru a set of rear tyres every 6 months and had nearly all the Known problems + a few besides ) got too much so I finally sold it. With second hand values being what they are now you get a lot of car for the money, just be aware even a good one won't be cheap to run and could end up being ruinous.
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Welshbeef
13,049 posts
67 months
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timberman said: I owned one of these for 4 years and the only rust it had was a slight bit on the O/S/R arch which was dealt with under Mercedes 30 year anti perforation warranty, so not really an issue
The biggest problem with these cars is the various electrical issues and component failures they suffer from, all of which are well documented on places like mbworld which has a section dedicated to the C32/C55 and also mb club uk has plenty of information on offer.
I loved mine and wanted to keep it, but the cost of ownership ( it only averaged about 17 mpg, went thru a set of rear tyres every 6 months and had nearly all the Known problems + a few besides ) got too much so I finally sold it.
With second hand values being what they are now you get a lot of car for the money, just be aware even a good one won't be cheap to run and could end up being ruinous. Set of tyres every six months (Michelin ) you say then you also say 17mpg. Got it you love the loud pedal.
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sturobturbo
1,843 posts
15 months
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I have no first hand experience of pretty much an MB, bar the c63, but I do like the way the c32 looks.
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s m
8,110 posts
72 months
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Welshbeef said: It's a touring with a 3.2 ltr supercharged engine.
Main rival e46 M3
Done Also a saloon
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s m
8,110 posts
72 months
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Mastodon2 said: Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, I thought the C32 was a newer model than the C43?
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Phil Dicky
3,652 posts
132 months
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s m said: Mastodon2 said: Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, I thought the C32 was a newer model than the C43? It is....C43 to C32 to C55 the C55 being a V8
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Rabbo
490 posts
70 months
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Welshbeef said: It's a touring with a 3.2 ltr supercharged engine.
Main rival e46 M3
Done Available in saloon form too. More of an Alpina rival than BMW M.
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St John Smythe
3,808 posts
86 months
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s m said: Mastodon2 said: Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, I thought the C32 was a newer model than the C43? It is. They don't suffer from the same rust issues as earlier mercs.
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MercScot
396 posts
20 months
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Oh yes they do! Google it!
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St John Smythe
3,808 posts
86 months
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MercScot said: Oh yes they do! Google it! Compared to w208 CLKs, etc, they are much better!!
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ArmaghMan
763 posts
49 months
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Mastodon2 said: Iirc, these rust like mad. I remember one of the first threads I ever read on PH was a Mercedes employee buying an old C43 ("old", but still newer than a C32) for something like £4000 and even at mates rates at the Mercedes workshop, it still needed £2000 in rust repair and paintwork, for the average man that is going to be a much higher figure. It was immaculate when it was done though. I have loved the C43 since I first saw one, a car I would love to own for sure, but the rust is a real concern for me! Ignore the above."...the 36 came before the 43. The 32 is newer
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timberman
176 posts
84 months
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Welshbeef said: Set of tyres every six months (Michelin ) you say then you also say 17mpg. Got it you love the loud pedal. Guilty as charged 
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deltashad
2,743 posts
66 months
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My C209 is rust free Scottish climate (never sunny) 2003 car.
Not a hint of any rust.
Sometimes it wont start though, this is a recent problem, when you turn the key it just makes a clicking noise and doesn't engage the starter. The engine warning light came on the other day too. For no reason. I turned the car off, then back on and it was fine. Dodgy electrics.
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timberman
176 posts
84 months
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deltashad said: My C209 is rust free Scottish climate (never sunny) 2003 car.
Not a hint of any rust.
Sometimes it wont start though, this is a recent problem, when you turn the key it just makes a clicking noise and doesn't engage the starter. The engine warning light came on the other day too. For no reason. I turned the car off, then back on and it was fine. Dodgy electrics. Dodgy indeed Mine suffered something similar to this but only when the engine was up to normal running temperature. Turned out to be the crank position sensor breaking up and not working when the engine was hot then coming back to life after it had cooled down again. Maybe of no use to you but worth a try
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fozzymandeus
679 posts
15 months
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Those early noughties C Classes certainly do rust, arguably they are even worse than the car the C43 is based on, however I'm sure there are cars out there that have been properly maintained. If you keep on top of the bodywork you can prevent it. Frankly Mercedes don't rust as badly as everyone makes out - they aren't as bad as contemporary Fords. It's just that you see a few neglected ones these days. The worst offenders are the W210 E and the W208 CLK, but I know of a good few of each of those that are pristine.
The C32 Kompressor is a bit of a tough cookie to be honest. They aren't badly put together and they are very quick indeed, but they do have a fair few issues, as said above they are mostly electronic, however neglected cars will have potential gearbox and supercharger issues.
If you can afford a C55 they are probably a better bet. They look a little more aggressive and they are less complex. (A little, at least, due to being NA).
Also, both C55 and C32K are available as saloon and wagon variants.
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GroundEffect
7,210 posts
25 months
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deltashad said: My C209 is rust free Scottish climate (never sunny) 2003 car.
Not a hint of any rust.
Sometimes it wont start though, this is a recent problem, when you turn the key it just makes a clicking noise and doesn't engage the starter. The engine warning light came on the other day too. For no reason. I turned the car off, then back on and it was fine. Dodgy electrics. A dodgy starter motor. Easy fix.
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deltashad
2,743 posts
66 months
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timberman said: deltashad said: My C209 is rust free Scottish climate (never sunny) 2003 car.
Not a hint of any rust.
Sometimes it wont start though, this is a recent problem, when you turn the key it just makes a clicking noise and doesn't engage the starter. The engine warning light came on the other day too. For no reason. I turned the car off, then back on and it was fine. Dodgy electrics. Dodgy indeed Mine suffered something similar to this but only when the engine was up to normal running temperature. Turned out to be the crank position sensor breaking up and not working when the engine was hot then coming back to life after it had cooled down again. Maybe of no use to you but worth a try That's very useful info. It's not the starter motor. It's an electrical issue, the starter motor doesn't even make an attempt to turn over. Its only done this three times, over the past month. Until then it was fine. Its gonna be one of those problems impossible to fix until it breaks.
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