W202 - C36 AMG & C43/55 AMG
Discussion
A tale of two W202 AMGs
I have posted pics of my C36 AMG and C43/55 AMG in various PH threads over time. I'm often in awe of the Engineering skills that go on with some of these build threads, probably why I have never got round to doing a Readers Cars thread before, mine only needing fettling, but here we go...
Part one, 1995 C36 AMG.
From 2013 I had a bit of an on/off search for a C36 AMG. Come 2015 prices seemed to be creeping a little and the already shallow pool of nice available examples, drying out.
I wanted a well optioned one, which meant when I saw a very clean, but low spec. ’95, priced a bit on the high side, I dismissed it. It did become my benchmark on condition target, (it was even posted by someone in the Best Smoker Barges IIRC).
Having kissed a lot of frogs up and down the country, I decided that I perhaps should shift my expectations on spec. and have a proper look at this C36 AMG, down in Melksham.
It was as good as it promised.
All original, down to its Blaukpunt stereo, no signs of corrosion and had led an easy life.
Originally supplied by Ciceley Continental in Preston to the Warburtons Bakery for the then Co-Chairman Tom Warburton , moving to its second owner in 2000, who then kept it until 2014, selling it to the Inde. who had maintained it for the previous few years.
The EU spec C36’s all had cloth seats of the Sport model as standard, most buyers opted for Leather. Except Mr Warburton, who opted to keep the cloth, spending the money on A/C (with sunroof delete), Elec. drivers seat, and adjustable column.
On the day of collection, my wife and I were up at sparrow fart and on a train to Melksham. Upon arrival, the glum faced seller informed me the steering lock was jammed. Turns out a common problem on MB's of this age, you generally get a warning of a sticky barrel, then next time; nope you are not coming in. Full of apologies, the seller sent us home in his Toureg, with a promise of a fixed car and a meet up in a few days to swop over.
A few days later, meeting up near Birmingham, we actually got to take it home.
Back home
While I was searching for a C36 AMG, I had stumbled upon an old Pistonheads thread, where someone, knew someone who had the VRM C36 AMG on retention. A few messages back and forth, resulting in a deal shortly after bringing the car home.
90’s Mercedes (apart from rust) can suffer wiring loom degradation. When I viewed the car, the ends of cables looked ok, though around 6 months after during a Service we cut back some of the insulation to the coil packs and the loom was degrading. Rather than wait for it to cause and issue, I had the loom overhauled by Si-Leck.
Having done a bit of circuit racing over the years, I turned to volunteering, mostly in race Control as a Clerk of the Course. My other volunteering role is as a Safety Car driver, usually in the circuit provided car, however the C36 has been pressed into service once or twice.
A trip to le Mans in 2017, saw 4 middle aged blokes, with all the gear squeezed in.
Living in Lancashire, it would have been rude not to have taken a drive to the old Ciceley Continental site in Preston, now a tile store.
During a moment of boredom, I decided to write to the 2nd owner. Just to fill a bit more of the history. They had traded in a Merc 190 against the AMG, kindly sending me a copy of the invoice and a picture of the day they did the hand over, hence both cars displaying the same registration mark.
While I don’t do many miles, less than 5000 in my ownership, apart from servicing and the time the viscous fan hub ejected a clip into the radiator a mile from home, it has needed nothing.
I do like to tinker and the C36 was too nice to mess with, which takes me to part 2…
I have posted pics of my C36 AMG and C43/55 AMG in various PH threads over time. I'm often in awe of the Engineering skills that go on with some of these build threads, probably why I have never got round to doing a Readers Cars thread before, mine only needing fettling, but here we go...
Part one, 1995 C36 AMG.
From 2013 I had a bit of an on/off search for a C36 AMG. Come 2015 prices seemed to be creeping a little and the already shallow pool of nice available examples, drying out.
I wanted a well optioned one, which meant when I saw a very clean, but low spec. ’95, priced a bit on the high side, I dismissed it. It did become my benchmark on condition target, (it was even posted by someone in the Best Smoker Barges IIRC).
Having kissed a lot of frogs up and down the country, I decided that I perhaps should shift my expectations on spec. and have a proper look at this C36 AMG, down in Melksham.
It was as good as it promised.
All original, down to its Blaukpunt stereo, no signs of corrosion and had led an easy life.
Originally supplied by Ciceley Continental in Preston to the Warburtons Bakery for the then Co-Chairman Tom Warburton , moving to its second owner in 2000, who then kept it until 2014, selling it to the Inde. who had maintained it for the previous few years.
The EU spec C36’s all had cloth seats of the Sport model as standard, most buyers opted for Leather. Except Mr Warburton, who opted to keep the cloth, spending the money on A/C (with sunroof delete), Elec. drivers seat, and adjustable column.
On the day of collection, my wife and I were up at sparrow fart and on a train to Melksham. Upon arrival, the glum faced seller informed me the steering lock was jammed. Turns out a common problem on MB's of this age, you generally get a warning of a sticky barrel, then next time; nope you are not coming in. Full of apologies, the seller sent us home in his Toureg, with a promise of a fixed car and a meet up in a few days to swop over.
A few days later, meeting up near Birmingham, we actually got to take it home.
Back home
While I was searching for a C36 AMG, I had stumbled upon an old Pistonheads thread, where someone, knew someone who had the VRM C36 AMG on retention. A few messages back and forth, resulting in a deal shortly after bringing the car home.
90’s Mercedes (apart from rust) can suffer wiring loom degradation. When I viewed the car, the ends of cables looked ok, though around 6 months after during a Service we cut back some of the insulation to the coil packs and the loom was degrading. Rather than wait for it to cause and issue, I had the loom overhauled by Si-Leck.
Having done a bit of circuit racing over the years, I turned to volunteering, mostly in race Control as a Clerk of the Course. My other volunteering role is as a Safety Car driver, usually in the circuit provided car, however the C36 has been pressed into service once or twice.
A trip to le Mans in 2017, saw 4 middle aged blokes, with all the gear squeezed in.
Living in Lancashire, it would have been rude not to have taken a drive to the old Ciceley Continental site in Preston, now a tile store.
During a moment of boredom, I decided to write to the 2nd owner. Just to fill a bit more of the history. They had traded in a Merc 190 against the AMG, kindly sending me a copy of the invoice and a picture of the day they did the hand over, hence both cars displaying the same registration mark.
While I don’t do many miles, less than 5000 in my ownership, apart from servicing and the time the viscous fan hub ejected a clip into the radiator a mile from home, it has needed nothing.
I do like to tinker and the C36 was too nice to mess with, which takes me to part 2…
Edited by Notwen on Wednesday 3rd June 16:38
Looking forward to part 2....
Big fan of the C32, proper Q car. Love those seats too - never seem them before despite a 15-year career with MB!
Prefer the look of the C32 to the C43 - I think it is a little more squared-off which suits the overall shape better in my eyes.
Have to assume the C43/55 is an engine swap job? Seen a few for sale over the years.
If any of these were available with a manual box I would have been seriously tempted when buying the E46 M3 I've had for 4 years now...
Big fan of the C32, proper Q car. Love those seats too - never seem them before despite a 15-year career with MB!
Prefer the look of the C32 to the C43 - I think it is a little more squared-off which suits the overall shape better in my eyes.
Have to assume the C43/55 is an engine swap job? Seen a few for sale over the years.
If any of these were available with a manual box I would have been seriously tempted when buying the E46 M3 I've had for 4 years now...
Zweiter Teil; 1998 C43/55 AMG
Wanting a car to tinker with, I bought a rare W210 E36 AMG, but it was more involved than I wanted, plus I hankered for a V8 rumble again.
C43 AMG’s had been on my radar before when I began to lose faith in finding a C36 AMG. Prices had been creeping and I thought, if I don’t get one now, I would struggle to justify it in the future.
Late 2018, early 2019, I had been trawling the various for sale sites, happy to settle for a rolling project, I could use and improve. I even resorted to a wanted advert on one of the Mercedes forums. A forum member responded he had a C43 that he was thinking of selling.
Some superficial damage down the O/S, bit of corrosion here and there, but the structure was sound, oh and it had an E55 AMG engine conversion in 2013.
I nearly fell out of my chair! It was a bit more than I had in my budget, but my long term plan had been to go 5.4, so the man maths were done.
Based down in Southampton and me up in East Lancashire, I needed to move swiftly, so I took a punt and bought it unseen (I do have a catalogue of drunk eBay purchases, but I was sober this time).
It was (and still is) a 5-footer, polishes up well, but the odd bit here and there if you want to be picky.
The factory Black and Silver (though looks white) “Tuxedo” seats were in good condition, a horrible double din stereo and a carbon wrap looking worse than the fake stuff that MB used.
The dinged in rear door pushed out but left a crease. A fortuitous eBay find of one in the correct Emerald black was bagged for £50.
A full service, including viscous fan hub (after what happened with the C36, a smart buy) and steering damper.
It came with 18” AMG Monobloc wheels from the E55, they were a bit scruffy and I initially wanted a stock look of the 17" rims. Drunk ebay came to the rescue again with a set of replica 18” split rims, the same style that were available as an option on the genuine C55 AMG. (car cheekily badged as a C55)
The brake discs were getting quite worn, though not excessively scored. I was looking at changing them in the next 12 months. The aforementioned MB forum where it had been through 2 or 3 members hands, one of the previous owners contacted me to say he had a full set of OE discs and pads, that when he sold the C43, they were not part of the deal. Nice price, thank you very much.
Like the C36, I use the C43 for runs down to Oulton Park when I am volunteering.
Next up, corrosion...
Wanting a car to tinker with, I bought a rare W210 E36 AMG, but it was more involved than I wanted, plus I hankered for a V8 rumble again.
C43 AMG’s had been on my radar before when I began to lose faith in finding a C36 AMG. Prices had been creeping and I thought, if I don’t get one now, I would struggle to justify it in the future.
Late 2018, early 2019, I had been trawling the various for sale sites, happy to settle for a rolling project, I could use and improve. I even resorted to a wanted advert on one of the Mercedes forums. A forum member responded he had a C43 that he was thinking of selling.
Some superficial damage down the O/S, bit of corrosion here and there, but the structure was sound, oh and it had an E55 AMG engine conversion in 2013.
I nearly fell out of my chair! It was a bit more than I had in my budget, but my long term plan had been to go 5.4, so the man maths were done.
Based down in Southampton and me up in East Lancashire, I needed to move swiftly, so I took a punt and bought it unseen (I do have a catalogue of drunk eBay purchases, but I was sober this time).
It was (and still is) a 5-footer, polishes up well, but the odd bit here and there if you want to be picky.
The factory Black and Silver (though looks white) “Tuxedo” seats were in good condition, a horrible double din stereo and a carbon wrap looking worse than the fake stuff that MB used.
The dinged in rear door pushed out but left a crease. A fortuitous eBay find of one in the correct Emerald black was bagged for £50.
A full service, including viscous fan hub (after what happened with the C36, a smart buy) and steering damper.
It came with 18” AMG Monobloc wheels from the E55, they were a bit scruffy and I initially wanted a stock look of the 17" rims. Drunk ebay came to the rescue again with a set of replica 18” split rims, the same style that were available as an option on the genuine C55 AMG. (car cheekily badged as a C55)
The brake discs were getting quite worn, though not excessively scored. I was looking at changing them in the next 12 months. The aforementioned MB forum where it had been through 2 or 3 members hands, one of the previous owners contacted me to say he had a full set of OE discs and pads, that when he sold the C43, they were not part of the deal. Nice price, thank you very much.
Like the C36, I use the C43 for runs down to Oulton Park when I am volunteering.
Next up, corrosion...
rainmasterb said:
If any of these were available with a manual box I would have been seriously tempted when buying the E46 M3 I've had for 4 years now...
The shift gate on the auto W202s (and presumably on other Mercs from the same era) is wonderful though, way better than modern push / pull to manually shift systems.D is 5th, knock it across from D to go to 4th, then flick it back from 4th to get to 3rd - makes approach a roundabout and using engine braking dead easy. I used to have great fun going through roundabouts in a lowly C200.
Jader1973 said:
The shift gate on the auto W202s (and presumably on other Mercs from the same era) is wonderful though, way better than modern push / pull to manually shift systems.
D is 5th, knock it across from D to go to 4th, then flick it back from 4th to get to 3rd - makes approach a roundabout and using engine braking dead easy. I used to have great fun going through roundabouts in a lowly C200.
I've always loved this model. I've had 6 of them from C180 Esprit up to C240 Elegance. The C240 Elegance is still near perfect after I gifted it to a good pal for his Mrs after her Golf worked and they were skint.D is 5th, knock it across from D to go to 4th, then flick it back from 4th to get to 3rd - makes approach a roundabout and using engine braking dead easy. I used to have great fun going through roundabouts in a lowly C200.
My favourite was the 1998 C240 Sport in blue/black metallic which is a lovely colour. Black leather and the white dials.
I put about 50k on her in about 2 years and plenty of fuel!
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
Trophy Husband said:
I've always loved this model. I've had 6 of them from C180 Esprit up to C240 Elegance. The C240 Elegance is still near perfect after I gifted it to a good pal for his Mrs after her Golf worked and they were skint.
My favourite was the 1998 C240 Sport in blue/black metallic which is a lovely colour. Black leather and the white dials.
I put about 50k on her in about 2 years and plenty of fuel!
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
I had my C200 “Sport” estate for 7 years and only sold it (to my Dad) when I emigrated. It is still the best car I’ve ever had.My favourite was the 1998 C240 Sport in blue/black metallic which is a lovely colour. Black leather and the white dials.
I put about 50k on her in about 2 years and plenty of fuel!
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
Jader1973 said:
Trophy Husband said:
I've always loved this model. I've had 6 of them from C180 Esprit up to C240 Elegance. The C240 Elegance is still near perfect after I gifted it to a good pal for his Mrs after her Golf worked and they were skint.
My favourite was the 1998 C240 Sport in blue/black metallic which is a lovely colour. Black leather and the white dials.
I put about 50k on her in about 2 years and plenty of fuel!
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
I had my C200 “Sport” estate for 7 years and only sold it (to my Dad) when I emigrated. It is still the best car I’ve ever had.My favourite was the 1998 C240 Sport in blue/black metallic which is a lovely colour. Black leather and the white dials.
I put about 50k on her in about 2 years and plenty of fuel!
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
Never got tired driving it. Ergonomically really good to drive with the slush box and the kick down, even in today's traffic, was more than ample.
I also loved the pop down rear headrests for their quirkiness!
Trophy Husband said:
I'd love a 36 but strong money for a good one. They were the pace car in F1 IIRC?
There is some optimistic pricing going on, has been for a while. They actually seem to be selling in the £5-£7k for a presentable one.They were the first Mercedes AMG Safety Car, late 1996 for Belgium. ('97 went over to the CLK55 AMG).
Though the W202 continued as the Medical Car as a C43 (some reports say it was a C55 ) Estate, certainly in 2000 when it got binned at Monaco.
https://youtu.be/OHX6bgyeS94
Notwen said:
There is some optimistic pricing going on, has been for a while. They actually seem to be selling in the £5-£7k for a presentable one.
They were the first Mercedes AMG Safety Car, late 1996 for Belgium. ('97 went over to the CLK55 AMG).
Though the W202 continued as the Medical Car as a C43 (some reports say it was a C55 ) Estate, certainly in 2000 when it got binned at Monaco.
https://youtu.be/OHX6bgyeS94
As soon as you mentioned the medical car I thought of the one that got binned at Monaco. Still made it back to the pits though!They were the first Mercedes AMG Safety Car, late 1996 for Belgium. ('97 went over to the CLK55 AMG).
Though the W202 continued as the Medical Car as a C43 (some reports say it was a C55 ) Estate, certainly in 2000 when it got binned at Monaco.
https://youtu.be/OHX6bgyeS94
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