C32 advice please
Discussion
First of all, the supercharged V6 is a beautiful piece of engineering and makes for seriously quick motoring! As far as problems are concerned, the most common issue seems to be the intercooler pump failing. It’s not all that expensive to fix but worth checking. Google “c32 intercooler pump” and you’ll get the details from folk far more knowledgeable than me on the subject.
Other than that, don’t worry about too much above-and-beyond the normal checks, but bear in mind that some parts are AMG specific and so costlier than you might otherwise expect (even from M-B).
Cracking car, though: you won’t regret it!
Other than that, don’t worry about too much above-and-beyond the normal checks, but bear in mind that some parts are AMG specific and so costlier than you might otherwise expect (even from M-B).
Cracking car, though: you won’t regret it!
I brought a C32 Saloon brand new in 2001, the only problem I had in 2 years / 58K miles was the stitching coming off the steering wheel! The C32 is a fantastic car, I changed it for a BMW then went back to Mercedes with a C55 Estate, another 2 years / 51K miles with no problems, now driving a C63 Estate, 3 months / 7K miles and already on my second set of rear tyres!
I also bought a C32 new back in 2002 and although it was a fun car to drive I had quite a number of problems with it:
- the ESP warning light kept coming on
- my local Mercedes dealer took it in and said it was fixed. No explanation given
- it started again and at the time I was working near Stuttgart (at the Porsche development and test center!) and took it to the main dealer there. They said that because the C32 has such large brakes at the front, there were problems with the cable which was too short and caused this problem. Replaced the cable
- started again. On the C32 BB other people were having the same problem and someone mentioned that a software upgrade would fix it but it wasn't serious. Took it back to the local dealer and told them but they knew better. Problem still occurring
- there was also a noticeable lag when going slow and then accelerating quickly where the supercharger wasn't kicking in at the right time
- the engine started making a ticking noise at low revs and got quicker the faster you went. Took it to the dealer who had it for a few days and said they fixed it. Took it round the block and I could still hear it. Straight back and this time got the chief mechanic on to it. They rang me back later stating the engine needed to be replaced. This was after 40,000km!
- the new engine fixed all the other problems as it had a different software level. It also had the mechanics name engraved on it which the early models don't
- went to pick the car up after having my winter wheels and tyres changed back to summer. Interestingly enough it had totally different ones on! What was more interesting they were not AMG wheels and you can only put certain wheels on the car due to the size of the brakes. Told them to order me a new set and they had to be exactly the same as the others (there are 2 different types, one with a blue centre and one with a silver. I have the blue which are harder to get)
- the drivers floormat has a hole worn all the way through, this actually happened after a couple of years
- the CD skips often enough
- the sunroof used to stick open
- the boot lock would not work keyless. Took it into the dealer where I was working who replaced it. They told me it would only take an hour so I waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually I got fed up and demanded to know what was happening. About 30 minutes later they told me it was in the car wash and would be there in 10 minutes. I went and paid and returned, and waited, and waited. I went back to the bloke and he told me that a number of warning lights came on in the carwash so they took it back for further repairs. I basically then flipped out and demanded my car back and my money. They gave me a new C class so that I could go to work at least (I knew what the problem was, just needed a bulb in the rear light but the emergency one was working.) When I went to pick it up I noticed that they had not returned the manual key as well so had to go back for that
- for a reasonably prestige car there are some tacky bits and it can be a bit noisy especially wind noise (oh and in cold weather the drivers door takes some opening and shutting as the rubber liner goes a bit funny)
- the ESP warning light kept coming on
- my local Mercedes dealer took it in and said it was fixed. No explanation given
- it started again and at the time I was working near Stuttgart (at the Porsche development and test center!) and took it to the main dealer there. They said that because the C32 has such large brakes at the front, there were problems with the cable which was too short and caused this problem. Replaced the cable
- started again. On the C32 BB other people were having the same problem and someone mentioned that a software upgrade would fix it but it wasn't serious. Took it back to the local dealer and told them but they knew better. Problem still occurring
- there was also a noticeable lag when going slow and then accelerating quickly where the supercharger wasn't kicking in at the right time
- the engine started making a ticking noise at low revs and got quicker the faster you went. Took it to the dealer who had it for a few days and said they fixed it. Took it round the block and I could still hear it. Straight back and this time got the chief mechanic on to it. They rang me back later stating the engine needed to be replaced. This was after 40,000km!
- the new engine fixed all the other problems as it had a different software level. It also had the mechanics name engraved on it which the early models don't
- went to pick the car up after having my winter wheels and tyres changed back to summer. Interestingly enough it had totally different ones on! What was more interesting they were not AMG wheels and you can only put certain wheels on the car due to the size of the brakes. Told them to order me a new set and they had to be exactly the same as the others (there are 2 different types, one with a blue centre and one with a silver. I have the blue which are harder to get)
- the drivers floormat has a hole worn all the way through, this actually happened after a couple of years
- the CD skips often enough
- the sunroof used to stick open
- the boot lock would not work keyless. Took it into the dealer where I was working who replaced it. They told me it would only take an hour so I waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually I got fed up and demanded to know what was happening. About 30 minutes later they told me it was in the car wash and would be there in 10 minutes. I went and paid and returned, and waited, and waited. I went back to the bloke and he told me that a number of warning lights came on in the carwash so they took it back for further repairs. I basically then flipped out and demanded my car back and my money. They gave me a new C class so that I could go to work at least (I knew what the problem was, just needed a bulb in the rear light but the emergency one was working.) When I went to pick it up I noticed that they had not returned the manual key as well so had to go back for that
- for a reasonably prestige car there are some tacky bits and it can be a bit noisy especially wind noise (oh and in cold weather the drivers door takes some opening and shutting as the rubber liner goes a bit funny)
darmstadt said:
I also bought a C32 new back in 2002 and although it was a fun car to drive I had quite a number of problems with it:
- the ESP warning light kept coming on
- my local Mercedes dealer took it in and said it was fixed. No explanation given
- it started again and at the time I was working near Stuttgart (at the Porsche development and test center!) and took it to the main dealer there. They said that because the C32 has such large brakes at the front, there were problems with the cable which was too short and caused this problem. Replaced the cable
- started again. On the C32 BB other people were having the same problem and someone mentioned that a software upgrade would fix it but it wasn't serious. Took it back to the local dealer and told them but they knew better. Problem still occurring
- there was also a noticeable lag when going slow and then accelerating quickly where the supercharger wasn't kicking in at the right time
- the engine started making a ticking noise at low revs and got quicker the faster you went. Took it to the dealer who had it for a few days and said they fixed it. Took it round the block and I could still hear it. Straight back and this time got the chief mechanic on to it. They rang me back later stating the engine needed to be replaced. This was after 40,000km!
- the new engine fixed all the other problems as it had a different software level. It also had the mechanics name engraved on it which the early models don't
- went to pick the car up after having my winter wheels and tyres changed back to summer. Interestingly enough it had totally different ones on! What was more interesting they were not AMG wheels and you can only put certain wheels on the car due to the size of the brakes. Told them to order me a new set and they had to be exactly the same as the others (there are 2 different types, one with a blue centre and one with a silver. I have the blue which are harder to get)
- the drivers floormat has a hole worn all the way through, this actually happened after a couple of years
- the CD skips often enough
- the sunroof used to stick open
- the boot lock would not work keyless. Took it into the dealer where I was working who replaced it. They told me it would only take an hour so I waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually I got fed up and demanded to know what was happening. About 30 minutes later they told me it was in the car wash and would be there in 10 minutes. I went and paid and returned, and waited, and waited. I went back to the bloke and he told me that a number of warning lights came on in the carwash so they took it back for further repairs. I basically then flipped out and demanded my car back and my money. They gave me a new C class so that I could go to work at least (I knew what the problem was, just needed a bulb in the rear light but the emergency one was working.) When I went to pick it up I noticed that they had not returned the manual key as well so had to go back for that
- for a reasonably prestige car there are some tacky bits and it can be a bit noisy especially wind noise (oh and in cold weather the drivers door takes some opening and shutting as the rubber liner goes a bit funny)
Apart from all that though, i bet it was ok - the ESP warning light kept coming on
- my local Mercedes dealer took it in and said it was fixed. No explanation given
- it started again and at the time I was working near Stuttgart (at the Porsche development and test center!) and took it to the main dealer there. They said that because the C32 has such large brakes at the front, there were problems with the cable which was too short and caused this problem. Replaced the cable
- started again. On the C32 BB other people were having the same problem and someone mentioned that a software upgrade would fix it but it wasn't serious. Took it back to the local dealer and told them but they knew better. Problem still occurring
- there was also a noticeable lag when going slow and then accelerating quickly where the supercharger wasn't kicking in at the right time
- the engine started making a ticking noise at low revs and got quicker the faster you went. Took it to the dealer who had it for a few days and said they fixed it. Took it round the block and I could still hear it. Straight back and this time got the chief mechanic on to it. They rang me back later stating the engine needed to be replaced. This was after 40,000km!
- the new engine fixed all the other problems as it had a different software level. It also had the mechanics name engraved on it which the early models don't
- went to pick the car up after having my winter wheels and tyres changed back to summer. Interestingly enough it had totally different ones on! What was more interesting they were not AMG wheels and you can only put certain wheels on the car due to the size of the brakes. Told them to order me a new set and they had to be exactly the same as the others (there are 2 different types, one with a blue centre and one with a silver. I have the blue which are harder to get)
- the drivers floormat has a hole worn all the way through, this actually happened after a couple of years
- the CD skips often enough
- the sunroof used to stick open
- the boot lock would not work keyless. Took it into the dealer where I was working who replaced it. They told me it would only take an hour so I waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually I got fed up and demanded to know what was happening. About 30 minutes later they told me it was in the car wash and would be there in 10 minutes. I went and paid and returned, and waited, and waited. I went back to the bloke and he told me that a number of warning lights came on in the carwash so they took it back for further repairs. I basically then flipped out and demanded my car back and my money. They gave me a new C class so that I could go to work at least (I knew what the problem was, just needed a bulb in the rear light but the emergency one was working.) When I went to pick it up I noticed that they had not returned the manual key as well so had to go back for that
- for a reasonably prestige car there are some tacky bits and it can be a bit noisy especially wind noise (oh and in cold weather the drivers door takes some opening and shutting as the rubber liner goes a bit funny)
Hi
I have one, and absolutely love it!!!
As with all mercs, it is prone to the occasional electronic issue, but nothing AMG specific here. I cannot speak for matey aboves issues, but it sounds like he had a bad dealer, rather than a bad car.
The intercooler pump is an issue, but as said - not that dear to fix.
On the servicing side, nothing too scary except perhaps the sparks - it has 12 not 6, so the sparks alone cost £300 to change, but on the bright side, it is done every 60,000 miles, so the car you are looking at wont need them until 120k!
I also took mine to those fine folks at DMS to help release a little power - not a massive difference, but does deffo help with those pesky M3s!
JJ
I have one, and absolutely love it!!!
As with all mercs, it is prone to the occasional electronic issue, but nothing AMG specific here. I cannot speak for matey aboves issues, but it sounds like he had a bad dealer, rather than a bad car.
The intercooler pump is an issue, but as said - not that dear to fix.
On the servicing side, nothing too scary except perhaps the sparks - it has 12 not 6, so the sparks alone cost £300 to change, but on the bright side, it is done every 60,000 miles, so the car you are looking at wont need them until 120k!
I also took mine to those fine folks at DMS to help release a little power - not a massive difference, but does deffo help with those pesky M3s!
JJ
Agreed that the dealer wasn't the best but it went to 3 different dealers including the main one in Stuttgart who deal with a lot of AMGs (as AMG are only up the road.) The engine problem though was the worst and having to replace an engine like that after 40,000km is not too impressive. Over on the C32 forum there were also numerous discussions about the ESP (which seems to be a common theme to Mercedes anyway) along with other problems.
Traded it in last year anyway for a BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo which so far seems to be better quality.
Traded it in last year anyway for a BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo which so far seems to be better quality.
HI bud
I must say the engine problem does sound like a nightmare, but hopefully not the norm.
As far as the ESP is concerned - no probs as yet (fingers crossed!), though I have had the intercooler pump done and a few other ancillary electrical gremlins fixed (normal merc stuff as opposed to AMG).
Hope you are enjoying the alpina - they are great cars - I had an E39 M5 which I sold about a year ago - it was the more competent track car when pitted against the C32, though not much in it in a straight line drag race! It was the fuel and oil consumption habit of the M5 that eventually made me go a different way. The C32 isnt much better on fuel mind!
JJ
I must say the engine problem does sound like a nightmare, but hopefully not the norm.
As far as the ESP is concerned - no probs as yet (fingers crossed!), though I have had the intercooler pump done and a few other ancillary electrical gremlins fixed (normal merc stuff as opposed to AMG).
Hope you are enjoying the alpina - they are great cars - I had an E39 M5 which I sold about a year ago - it was the more competent track car when pitted against the C32, though not much in it in a straight line drag race! It was the fuel and oil consumption habit of the M5 that eventually made me go a different way. The C32 isnt much better on fuel mind!
JJ
darmstadt said:
Agreed that the dealer wasn't the best but it went to 3 different dealers including the main one in Stuttgart who deal with a lot of AMGs (as AMG are only up the road.) The engine problem though was the worst and having to replace an engine like that after 40,000km is not too impressive. Over on the C32 forum there were also numerous discussions about the ESP (which seems to be a common theme to Mercedes anyway) along with other problems.
Traded it in last year anyway for a BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo which so far seems to be better quality.
Traded it in last year anyway for a BMW Alpina B3 Biturbo which so far seems to be better quality.
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