Ten years with a C36

Author
Discussion

mickyveloce

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

235 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all


Anyone who has been around here for a while with a passing interest in old AMGs has probably seen this little red car before. It's a shameless self-publicist!

As it's a regular topic of discussion in these parts, I thought I would add some facts and figures into the mix for the true cost of running an ageing performance car.

I bought this C36 in 2006, when the advent of number 2 son meant that the 924 Carrera GT I had been enjoying for a couple of years had to go. Cash was required, as was additional seating. My first Mercedes was a lovely 300TE S124, so the idea of a small, quick additional three-pointed star was appealing.

The car cost me £5000, and it was around ten years old with 83,000 miles when I first drove it. The test drive was eventful, not least because the water pump started to leak, but my eldest son (Edward, then aged 2) professed it to be a "happy car", and I decided to take it on.

Mechanically (water pump aside), the car was fit and healthy. It had a stamped up history and made a great noise. From 20 paces, it looked the part too, but the bodywork, whilst solid, bore testament to the car having spent much of its life trundling around Glasgow. There were a least three shades of Imperial Red across its flanks, and a small rust bleb was discovered on the driver's door.




To be honest, after the Porsche, which was pretty much perfect, the C36 was usable and enjoyable. There were no worries about car-park dings, and it was soon pressed into daily duties. The early weeks passed into months, and the car began to become part of the family.

Early on, I transformed the feel of the car by changing the steering shock absorber (really cheap and easy to do) and got rid of the Avon ZZ rubber replacing them with Continental Conti Sport 3's. The car didn't tramline any more, and became altogether a much better driver's car.

The rest, as they say, is (service) history.

My initial joy at driving a car with external flaws wore off. As my appreciation of the car increased, I felt that it could do with bringing back to standard.

So, dear reader, this I will go through some of the costs. Please bear in mind that some of this outlay was technically avoidable, but I subscribe to a theory of preventative maintenance and improvement. I suppose it didn't technically need a re-paint, or alloy wheel refurbishment, but that's the road I decided to go down, so here we go.

Service Costs.

Over the last ten years and 33,000 miles, the total bill comes to £4245.89. This includes nine services at my Independent Mercedes dealer, with another due at the end of August.

Highlights included in this are

Engine wiring loom repair £249.90

Immobiliser repair / replacement from Mercedes £866.08

6x new tyres ( new Conti Sport 5 on the front last year) £600.00


Bodywork.

In rectifying the initial rust, I paid £223.25 for a smart repair to the door and other tiny blebs.

In addition, I have replaced the front wings and re-painted the car which cost around £2700, and included a replacement windscreen as the original de-laminanted.


The total cost, excluding fuel, tax and insurance, stands at £7383.78, so an average of £738 per year.

The result of the expenditure is a car vastly superior to the one I bought. It continues to delight and enjoy regular summer use.



Highlights for me include a trip to the 'Ring back in 2009 9where does the time go?) and a top speed test on the autobahn of a GPS recorded 157mph.
The car has featured in a PH feature with the A45, and is a regular at local MB events.




Trophy Husband

3,924 posts

106 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
I looked at another red one for sale approximately a year ago but recall it had two tone leather (IIRC) and was around £10k I think. My favourite Merc of all time. Yours is stunning and will be worth considerably more than the £5k you paid 10 years ago. In another ten years I bet you wouldn't get much change out of £20k for one, perhaps even more?

Lovely. Well done!


anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
And it's a damned sight better looking than that A45 it's parked next to!

JS1500

579 posts

176 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Excellent. Keep up the good work!

clarki

1,312 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Great write up, great car, lucky man.

Resto157

40 posts

93 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Love the shape of these, great write up

FRA53R

1,077 posts

167 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Beautiful car! But then I may be a little biased having access to a C43 at the moment. I don't have time just now but I'll send you a pm about a couple of things.

mickyveloce

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

235 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the positive comments.

Ten years with a car leads to a little expertise, so feel free to ask questions.

The value of the car is a little academic, as it's not for sale. However, for insurance purposes, ithe market value has risen from the purchase price. I suppose it has most attributed to make it collectable in the future. It is rare and has some historical significance, in that the C36 was the first officially sanctioned AMG Mercedes model. I keep an eye on prices, but believe that there are only a handful of these left which haven't been thrashed and trashed.

It has been easy to run, and turn-key reliable.

The next job is to source a period Blaupunkt cassette player and Fischer C-box.

It shares garage space with my 129, so I am indeed a lucky chap....


geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Thursday 30th June 2016
quotequote all
Mmmmm pretty car!

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Pretty car, lovely colour too - don't often see them in red|?!

I'm sort of debating about changing my car for a c55..

RS Grant

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Much prefer the older Mercs to almost all of the newer models. This looks lovely, no wonder you're hanging onto it. smile


Cheers,
Grant

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
PorkRind said:
Pretty car, lovely colour too - don't often see them in red|?!

I'm sort of debating about changing my car for a c55..
Agree with both parts, finally convinced myself NOT to swap my 996 for a C55 estate but the want is still strong!

PorkRind

3,053 posts

204 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
Agree with both parts, finally convinced myself NOT to swap my 996 for a C55 estate but the want is still strong!
I test drove the c55, they don't feel fast as the delivery is so smooth, yet look down at the speedo and boy, it is fast !! Theres a black one for sale in Iver and im tempted to go look at it this weekend, 13495 and only 40k miles.. So so tempted !

mickyveloce

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

235 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
PorkRind said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Agree with both parts, finally convinced myself NOT to swap my 996 for a C55 estate but the want is still strong!
I test drove the c55, they don't feel fast as the delivery is so smooth, yet look down at the speedo and boy, it is fast !! Theres a black one for sale in Iver and im tempted to go look at it this weekend, 13495 and only 40k miles.. So so tempted !
The C55 is a lovely machine. I've driven one on road and track, and it's super - far more refined and less pointy, darty and shouty than the C36.

The '55 has the tastefulness, discretion and style which seems to be eluding the C63 at the moment.

Escort3500

11,829 posts

144 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
swiveleyedgit said:
And it's a damned sight better looking than that A45 it's parked next to!
Just had the same thought. I'd take the C36 any day 😀

irish boy

3,523 posts

235 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
Ooo a 3.0 24v sl. I've always heard great things about that engine too....obviously not as powerful a the c36 but how would you compare them?

mickyveloce

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

235 months

Friday 1st July 2016
quotequote all
irish boy said:
Ooo a 3.0 24v sl. I've always heard great things about that engine too....obviously not as powerful a the c36 but how would you compare them?
The SL 300-24 and the C36 represent either end of the 104 straight 6 engine evolutionary scale.

The 300 is far happier to rev than the later 320, and sounds wonderfully raspy. The 36 is 50+ bhp up on the 300, and it shows in terms of performance, particularly above 4000 revs. The bigger engine, with the stainless exhaust is more "basso profundo" .

Overall, the SL is a proper comfy GT. It has a five-speed auto (C36 is a four speed) so it is relaxed and comfy. The AMG is jiggly and demands full attention. It has no traction control (which was an option) and reminds me a little of an early 90's 964 in the way it's front end darts around over a less than perfect surface.

The cars have really separate characters which fully justifies owning both!

Leins

9,418 posts

147 months

Saturday 2nd July 2016
quotequote all
That's fantastic, looks great OP

In terms of period stereo, I've usually found eBay.de a decent hunting ground for Blaupunkts and the like, prices are a little higher, some sellers won't ship abroad, but quality and range of the older stuff is generally pretty good I've found

I have a 90s Becker Grandprix if that would be of any interest. It's green backlit though (non-switchable AFAIK), and I can't remember if these C-classes are green or orange back-lit. PM me if of any use, my usual caveat of a few quid to the guide-dog charity if it would be smile

_Nathan_

505 posts

247 months

Saturday 2nd July 2016
quotequote all
The exhaust on these is a fantastic shape.


POORCARDEALER

8,523 posts

240 months

Saturday 2nd July 2016
quotequote all

I ran a blue/black one as a daily for a good few years, one of the best cars I have ever owned