C43 or C36 as a daily beater?
Discussion
Previously discussed on here , this one .
The C36 has a handbuilt engine and parts bin drivetrain and running gear , the C43 has a V8 and considerably more expensive brakes and drivetrin .
the C36 is a little more hardcore with a firmer ride and a more harsh edge to the engine and gearbox etc whilst the V8 is as smooth as you like and set up to cosset a little more .
The 36 will be an older car , so may have fallen quicker into the wrong hands , but the C43 has a reputation for eating gearboxes after 100,000 miles which are very expensive to fix .
Both will cost you if you run them as the manufacturer intends , but the 43 will use more fuel and , according to the Autocar test , isnt as quick .
I have run a 36 for about three years and found it engaging , good value and characterful .
Regards , Mickyveloce
The C36 has a handbuilt engine and parts bin drivetrain and running gear , the C43 has a V8 and considerably more expensive brakes and drivetrin .
the C36 is a little more hardcore with a firmer ride and a more harsh edge to the engine and gearbox etc whilst the V8 is as smooth as you like and set up to cosset a little more .
The 36 will be an older car , so may have fallen quicker into the wrong hands , but the C43 has a reputation for eating gearboxes after 100,000 miles which are very expensive to fix .
Both will cost you if you run them as the manufacturer intends , but the 43 will use more fuel and , according to the Autocar test , isnt as quick .
I have run a 36 for about three years and found it engaging , good value and characterful .
Regards , Mickyveloce
Same a mickey has mentioned I would go for a nice clean low mileage C36.
Parts are much cheeper and I have never heard of any engine problems.
The later 5 speed auto's are much better, I drove both before buying a late 97 model
I not sure but think the 0-60 time is improved on the 5 speed auto as well, down mainly to a faster gear change. ( could be rubbish but sure I read it somewhere)
Make sure the car has full service history as they hide the mileage very well and some have had a few mile knocked of the clock and part history stories!!
I have run mine for about 2 years now and love it,
I have travelled to germany with a group of friends to the Nurburgring in mine and managed a M.P.G. of 28 overall, this included 1 lap of the ring and some high speeds on the autoban so they can be very ecconmical.
Town driving on the other hand will result in low 20's as I generally find with mine.
Cost's I have had in two years.
4 new tyres £380 Avons all round
Water pump replaced (£130 for pump and £100 labour and misc)
Tensioner pulley (£40 and fitted buy a friend for £25)
2 services (£250 each all in from merc specialist)
Fuel filler breather pipe ( £40 fitted )
Replaced rear window mech (£14 for mech from ebay and fitted by a good friend for £25)
As you can see nothing so far has been to bad (touch wood)
two years motoring in a super saloon for only £1250 and no real depreciation.. sounds good to me
Parts are much cheeper and I have never heard of any engine problems.
The later 5 speed auto's are much better, I drove both before buying a late 97 model
I not sure but think the 0-60 time is improved on the 5 speed auto as well, down mainly to a faster gear change. ( could be rubbish but sure I read it somewhere)
Make sure the car has full service history as they hide the mileage very well and some have had a few mile knocked of the clock and part history stories!!
I have run mine for about 2 years now and love it,
I have travelled to germany with a group of friends to the Nurburgring in mine and managed a M.P.G. of 28 overall, this included 1 lap of the ring and some high speeds on the autoban so they can be very ecconmical.
Town driving on the other hand will result in low 20's as I generally find with mine.
Cost's I have had in two years.
4 new tyres £380 Avons all round
Water pump replaced (£130 for pump and £100 labour and misc)
Tensioner pulley (£40 and fitted buy a friend for £25)
2 services (£250 each all in from merc specialist)
Fuel filler breather pipe ( £40 fitted )
Replaced rear window mech (£14 for mech from ebay and fitted by a good friend for £25)
As you can see nothing so far has been to bad (touch wood)
two years motoring in a super saloon for only £1250 and no real depreciation.. sounds good to me
Hi Chaps.....many thanks for the replies.....very interesting ....am gonna take my time and look at a few cars .....no doubt I will be asking advice now and again ....
1st big question .....if a gearbox on a C43 were to go .....what sort of replacement cost would I be looking at ?
cheers
1st big question .....if a gearbox on a C43 were to go .....what sort of replacement cost would I be looking at ?
cheers
The 5 speed auto boxes could cost £2000 plus if brand new, however a reconditioned one would be better value. I bought my C36 5 years ago and made sure the gear box oil and filters were changed and did not have any problems. If you go to mercedes enthusiast website and back order Issue 13 November 2002 that gives loads of info on C36 and after i read that i went and bought one!
Oh yes, forgot to say, a very well looked after C36 M reg, silver, 4 spd auto will likely be coming up for sale very shortly, the owner has just spent a large amount of dosh on respray so it is immaculate and paintwork is guaranteed. Think the mileage is around 85k. Will keep anyone posted if interested. It is a beautiful car. Rear spoiler as well.
ok ....off to see a C43 over the weekend ....99', 100k miles, full (half MB half indy) history, just had new pads, new air mass sensor, new plugs and the wheels refurbed. There is a little tin worm ...but from the pics I have seen only a little - passenger side front wheel arch...small (50p size bubble) and a smaller bubble just above the front grill ...otherwise looks fairly straight .....The owner couldnt tell me if the gearbox oil had been changed (and as he has owned it for 3 years I doubt it ever has) ....is the rust gonna be v diff to sort out? .....and what should i be looking outfor on the test with regards to the gearbox?
cheers in advance
snaz
cheers in advance
snaz
The gearbox on these just go pop at or around the 100k mark with no warning and replacements expensive and scarce .Mercedes Enthusiast were running on which disintegrated and had to source one from the continent I think .Rust is never structural on the W202`s , just cosmetic . The new pads are expensive on the 43`s as they are unique to the car and AMG branded ; just make sure they are not substandard cheapie alternatives .
As with all such performance cars , they can slip into the hands of those who don`t prioritise maintenance , so look out for the telltale signs (!)
As with all such performance cars , they can slip into the hands of those who don`t prioritise maintenance , so look out for the telltale signs (!)
Been using a C43 estate as an everyday car for just over two years and not only has it been great to drive, it has also required little beyond routine maintainance and is even reasonably economical if driven with a little restraint. I would totally recomend the experiance provided you buy a good one.
Mine's well into the 90,000s now though so a bit worried about the reported gearbox problems. Are there any warning signs?
Mine's well into the 90,000s now though so a bit worried about the reported gearbox problems. Are there any warning signs?
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