Alternative to 2017 Mercedes C43

[bimmer528]

As per the title. I do have my heart set on that era C43 but I’m struggling to avoid being picky, in wanting it to be the facelift (2019>) with premium +

The budget for those 2 things is a little bit of a stretch whilst keeping mileage reasonable as I’m wanting to buy with cash.

Are there any similar or slightly older V6 petrol alternatives that I’ve probably overlooked?

I did flirt with the 640D and Jag XJ but diesel makes me a bit meh. I like a bit of sound whilst we still can..

Cheers in advance

[Deep Thought]

bimmer528 said:

As per the title. I do have my heart set on that era C43 but I m struggling to avoid being picky, in wanting it to be the facelift (2019>) with premium +

The budget for those 2 things is a little bit of a stretch whilst keeping mileage reasonable as I m wanting to buy with cash.

Are there any similar or slightly older V6 petrol alternatives that I ve probably overlooked?

I did flirt with the 640D and Jag XJ but diesel makes me a bit meh. I like a bit of sound whilst we still can..

Cheers in advance

Before i bought my C43 i looked at Audi S4, BMW M340i, BMW 340i.

[bimmer528]

Should probably add, budget circa £17-18k

[Deep Thought]

Is it the later look you prefer of the F/L car?

Mine was a 2019 car, but pre F/L. I was able to do some visual upgrades to get it close to the look overall.

Before....





After....





You can also upgrade the central screen quite cheaply

[Deep Thought]

bimmer528 said:

Should probably add, budget circa £17-18k

As per what i put above plus Jaguar XE, XF and XJ?

Also maybe 640i?

[bimmer528]

Deep Thought said:

Is it the later look you prefer of the F/L car?

Mine was a 2019 car, but pre F/L. I was able to do some visual upgrades to get it close to the look overall.

Before....





After....





You can also upgrade the central screen quite cheaply

Yeah the rear quad tips and front end. The larger dash screen I’m not overly bothered about. I’m handy enough to be able to change stuff myself cosmetically but getting the rear diffuser and front bumper (coloured) seems like it would add another £1000 or so (though could be done at a later date).

[bimmer528]

Deep Thought said:

As per what i put above plus Jaguar XE, XF and XJ?

Also maybe 640i?

I’d mentioned the XJ but I do love but I have had the 3.0d XF-S and I don’t trust the 3 litres in any of the JLR stuff with all the crankshaft issues.

I feel I’m probably trying to justify not getting the C43 for some unknown reason and will end up regretting.

It is good to see alternatives. Especially ones I’d not thought of, though

[SFTWend]

Alfa Giulia. Only 4 cylinders but a very nice car.

[heisthegaffer]

I love my S5 sportback and was looking at C43s before but cant fit a bike in the saloon easily, hence S5.

[Deep Thought]

bimmer528 said:

Yeah the rear quad tips and front end. The larger dash screen I m not overly bothered about. I m handy enough to be able to change stuff myself cosmetically but getting the rear diffuser and front bumper (coloured) seems like it would add another £1000 or so (though could be done at a later date).

You dont need to change the bumpers. You can get a facelift "style" front grille and a facelift "style" rear diffuser that fits the pre-facelift bumpers. The lower vents and slats too and for the pre facelift cars.

I think i gave maybe £400 ish for the grille, diffusers, lower vents and slats.

The 19 inch rims would definitely be the preference but my car didnt come with them. As you've probably spotted those are aftermarket wheels, however they are the correct offset so no spacers required. The other advantage in aftermarket wheels is that the OEM ones seem to be made of chocolate and crack very easily.

I got my 2019 car as an Approved Used car for the silly cheap price of £21995 including the full two years AMG warranty. I drove it nigh on 18 months and sold it for the same price, albeit having spent a bit on the wheels and trims.

[Deep Thought]

bimmer528 said:

Deep Thought said:

As per what i put above plus Jaguar XE, XF and XJ?

Also maybe 640i?

I d mentioned the XJ but I do love but I have had the 3.0d XF-S and I don t trust the 3 litres in any of the JLR stuff with all the crankshaft issues.

I feel I m probably trying to justify not getting the C43 for some unknown reason and will end up regretting.

It is good to see alternatives. Especially ones I d not thought of, though

Do the crankshaft issues affect the petrol variants? I've no idea but i'd definitely go petrol in any of those.

[Deep Thought]

M340i would be out of budget, but a 340i should be in budget.

That said, they hold their money crazy well as i think they can be tuned to near M4 performance.

S4 might be worth a look?

I'd S4 / 340i / M340i and C43 on my search list - my budget was probably £18K to £28K but i wanted to buy one at the right price. The C43 came up first so i bought it.

[bimmer528]

Deep Thought said:

Do the crankshaft issues affect the petrol variants? I've no idea but i'd definitely go petrol in any of those.

Wasn’t aware the XJ came in a 3.0 petrol. 640i seems sparse

[Quattr04.]

Jauguar XE are very cheap with the 3.0 v6 from the f type, roughly 350BHP

You can also get the same in the XF or even a f type if you don t need a saloon

Depending how brave, a original Porsche Panamera is in budget, as is a Mercedes CLS if you want a class bigger

Much older but Saab 9-3 turbo X or the Vauxhall insignia VXR

A bit more mundane but both the VW Passat and Skoda superb came with the 3.2 V6 in them for a while

Edited by Quattr04. on Tuesday 16th June 21:27

Edited by Quattr04. on Tuesday 16th June 21:30

[Deep Thought]

bimmer528 said:

Deep Thought said:

Do the crankshaft issues affect the petrol variants? I've no idea but i'd definitely go petrol in any of those.

Wasn t aware the XJ came in a 3.0 petrol. 640i seems sparse

Neither was i until i did a search this evening there, but it does.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...

Yeah, 640i Gran Coupe would be rare but maybe worth a journey for...

... this one piqued my interest.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605282...

or this if reds not your thing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605082...

[bimmer528]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606143...

Just 1 XJ petrol but a very nice example.

That and the BMW in petrol make compelling cases despite their rarity.

I keep coming back to the C43, though. If it is so easy to update cosmetic bits to bring it more inline with the facelift then it may be ideal to do that

I did see a nice E43 for just over budget too

I’m not huge on Audi so the S4/S5 wouldn’t be for me

[TheWokeBlob]

Slight hot take here, but in my mind it's hard to square spending £5k on a Diesel Saab in 2026. It's a Vauxhall Insignia in a Top Gun fancy dress costume.

[Andy665]

We bought a pre-facelift C43 convertible in Fen for a bargain price.

Low mileage(44k), Premium Plus, HUD, LKA,BSA and full history.

Specifically wanted a pre-facelift for the sound, especially with the Performance Exhaust fitted, no GPF on pre-facelift.

Not a fan of the digital dash on facelift cars and prefer the more subtle rear end.

Proving to be a brilliant car. Great sound, quick, comfortable, interior feels quite special

[bimmer528]

Might be the way I go then. I was t aware of the exhaust difference. I knew post 2019 usually come with the valve control I think?

Given they’re both euro 6 and it seems can be made to look similar externally for a few hundred £, might be worth it

I think tax is a lot more, though. Still. Over a few years it’s still worth it

[Andy665]

bimmer528 said:

Might be the way I go then. I was t aware of the exhaust difference. I knew post 2019 usually come with the valve control I think?

Given they re both euro 6 and it seems can be made to look similar externally for a few hundred £, might be worth it

I think tax is a lot more, though. Still. Over a few years it s still worth it

Post April 2017 its £200 per year RFL after the first additional 5 years "luxury tax".

The facelift cars with Performance Exhaust are definitely more muted than pre-facelift with the Performance Exhaust - that was important to me, more so than the different rear end which can easily be retrofitted.

Apparently the ride quality is better on the facelift cars but ours is absolutely fine and you have the adaptive dampers anyway.

C43 is definitely an underrated car - far more impressed with it than I was expecting