I Have Turned to the Dark Side... Mercedes AMG C43

Love the C43, congrats!

If you can spring for them, I'd replace the new run-flats for true UHP tires when tracking. It will completely transform the car.

Or just get a separate wheel-tire package that you can swap.
 
andreigbs said:
Love the C43, congrats!

If you can spring for them, I'd replace the new run-flats for true UHP tires when tracking. It will completely transform the car.

Or just get a separate wheel-tire package that you can swap.
Click to expand...
I plan to, but since the dealer installed new Conti MOE tires immediately before delivery I figured I would wear them out before replacing them. I’ll probably get a set of winter wheels/tires as well.
 
Nice ride! The last Mercedes I rode in was a 2000 c230, and the only reason it was better than a Saturn ion was because it was rear wheel drive. The Saturn was well taken care of except for body damage, and the Mercedes was kinda nasty inside and worn out in every way possible.

I like the E90 BMWs, haven't driven anything newer. If only they could make a grill that looks decent
 
dumkid said:
Nice ride! The last Mercedes I rode in was a 2000 c230, and the only reason it was better than a Saturn ion was because it was rear wheel drive. The Saturn was well taken care of except for body damage, and the Mercedes was kinda nasty inside and worn out in every way possible.

I like the E90 BMWs, haven't driven anything newer. If only they could make a grill that looks decent
Click to expand...
The styling of most every new BMW really puts me off. I just don’t get the big grilles and awkward proportions.
 
BMW should have learned from the CarPlay debacle- charging for it and then hitting buyers with an annual subscription fee when CarPlay was standard on all but the most bare-bones econoboxes. It’s like Munich has an economic death wish.
 
RooflessVW said:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmws-in-car-subscriptions-have-arrived-in-the-us

From this year.
Click to expand...
Ahhh yes, that's sort of consistent with the block of text from BMW in the other article, that you can order the feature as an option up front, but if you want to add an option you didn't order with the car later, the hardware will be there and you can either pay the fee to enable it, or pay for it monthly.

Is it a slippery slope? Not sure. I understand having to pay for something like a data connection, as there is a recurring cost there, but for a piece of hardware/software that is already part of the vehicle, paying to enable that later seems kind of greasy, even if you didn't technically pay for the option when you ordered the car.
 
mikeduf said:
You said going to the dark side! Well be patient it will come!
Click to expand...
My C43 has been flawless over the two years I’ve owned it, and the CarFax indicates it was trouble free in the two years prior to my ownership. The car has been an absolute blast to drive; several of my friends in the BMW CCA community that it drives more like a classic M car than the newer M models.
 
MCompact said:
Some of you may recall that in August I test drove a 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43; I found it to be a nice car but not all that exciting. Well, I ended up buying a 2020 CPO C43 with 21K miles on it.
View attachment 132044View attachment 132045View attachment 132046
Why, you may ask, did I buy a C43 after driving one and finding it less than enticing? Well, a couple of friends told me that I needed to drive one and make sure everything was set to Sport+- of course I hadn't done that. Then I watched the Throttle House YouTube review of the A4, M340i, and C43; what struck me were their comments concerning the M340i- they thought that it was a nice car, but aside from the added hp it felt just like a 330i. That's not a knock on the 330i- it's a great car, but the consensus was that it wasn't sufficiently differentiated from the 330i. I'd had a 330i loaner for over a week while the X1 and Clubman were being serviced and while it was a nice car, but it never made me want to get in and drive it. And I felt the same way in retrospect after driving a G42 M240i. Nice, fast, but not very involving- I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the 2er and 3er are built on the same CLAR platform. And the TH guys really liked the C43- as did my lovely bride.

And so I decided to audition the C43 a second time. This car turned up at the dealer a few weeks ago. I couldn't go look at it last week due to work and other commitments, but on Saturday the price dropped by $2,500. Monday morning I called my salesperson and put a deposit on it. After an extended test drive the deal was done. They gave me $2,500 over the CarMax offer for my M235i and installed a new of Continental MOE(Mercedes-speak for runflats. Sorta.) tires on the C43. I hope to pay it off in a year or so.

Once I started looking I soon found out that virtually no two C43 sedans are ever optioned alike. That said, this car was as close to perfect as I could want- my only change would be to swap the panoramic sunroof for the HUD, but you can't win 'em all.
What does it have?
AMG Performance Exhaust- A true hoot. It's switchable- much like the Mustang GT active valve exhaust. It is loud on start-up and when put in "Powerful" mode. It pops, crackles and burbles. I absolutely love it.
LED Intelligent Light System- The best headlights I have experienced. To my 65 year-old eyes just as good as the BMW Laserlights.
Digital Instrument Cluster- Easy to read and configure- with real engine and transmission oil temperature readings available. I'm still less than impressed with BMW's digital IP cluster with it's "wrong-way" tachometer and limited configurability.
AMG Track Pace- You have to ask?
Top speed derestricted from 130 mph to 155 mph- Ditto.

On the road this car feels more stiffly sprung than the other C43 I drove; in comfort mode it feels stiffer than my M235i felt in Sport mode- which is just fine with me. It's just a tick faster than my M235i, but I won't complain about a 12.6 second 1/4 mile. The AWD front/rear torque split is 31/69 so the the C43 feels more rear biased than than the M240i xDrive. I could take or leave the Driver Assistance and Parking Assistance Packages, but they are fun to play with. The seats are very comfortable; a bit better than my old 2er and clearly better than the G42 M240i. The Burmester Surround Sound needs a bit of dialing-in, but I think it sounds a little better than the H-K in the M340i. And did I mention the C43 is only 13 pounds heavier than the M240i xDrive?
Not many nits to pick; I haven't managed to get the audio system to stream music from my iPhone via BT, and you have to disable stop/start after every startup- but that's about it.

I hope to take it to the strip and a road course next year just to see what it will do. I'm almost guaranteed to be the only M-B at either venue...
Click to expand...
Nice car. You should have Brabus get ahold of it. I'm sure there's more power and performance to get out of it. Is it the Turbo 4 hybrid. To me an AMG needs a V8. I'd look at getting it ceramic coated by a reputable shop if you plan on keeping it.
 
97prizm said:
Nice car. You should have Brabus get ahold of it. I'm sure there's more power and performance to get out of it. Is it the Turbo 4 hybrid. To me an AMG needs a V8. I'd look at getting it ceramic coated by a reputable shop if you plan on keeping it.
Click to expand...
It's the M276 DE30 LA V6; it makes 385 hp and 384 lb⋅ft of torque. The AMG fours make serious power, but I'm more comfortable with the V6. I'll eventually get a tune and bump the up to around 425.
 
Last edited:
MCompact said:
My C43 has been flawless over the two years I’ve owned it, and the CarFax indicates it was trouble free in the two years prior to my ownership. The car has been an absolute blast to drive; several of my friends in the BMW CCA community that it drives more like a classic M car than the newer M models.
Click to expand...
How many miles on the car? What do you do for service intervals? Thanks again for the post. Such a good looking car!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MCompact
2020 Mercedes AMG C43 Two Year Review
Replies
1
Views
486
fantastic
MCompact
Vacationing in the C43
Replies
19
Views
1K
drtyler
MCompact
Today's Loaner: 2023 430i xDrive Coupe
Replies
10
Views
904
02SE
MCompact
2020 Mercedes-AMG One Year Review
Replies
11
Views
2K
Jeffrey Seattle
MCompact
My 2020 C43- Six weeks In...
Replies
2
Views
2K
MCompact
Back
Top Bottom