Very tempted by 1999 C43 in the Hood

Ok, so I have been driving my W123 for ten years. I'm starting to take some heat for it at work, which is more funny than anything. They call me Columbo, and I have to remind them that Columbo in fact drove a Peugot, not a Mercedes.

Anyway, I leased a Jetta for 39 months, and it was a decent car. I returned it about a year ago. I bought my truck, but I do think about maybe getting a "modern" car again. There happens to be a 1999 C43 in my area for sale, 101K, silver and black, great shape cosmetically. The price was 9.9K, but was ust dropped to 8.9K, and now I'm really interested.

My research shows maintenance, minus obvious big ticket items, isn't too bad, and some of it is DIY-able. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this car? I've always liked them, and 300+ HP isn't bad either.

What's a C43?

Its a mercedes c-class. 4.3 v8. Its a softer m3

Sounds good to me then.

.........but I didn't know what it was, so take that opinion with a big grain of salt.

it looks like this:

I reckon those are very cool cars. I love the subtle, factory Merc hotrods, almost as much as I like M-series Bimmers, (but not quite.)

OR, continue driving W123. Never wash it again, and buy a thrift-store trench coat to match.

Be careful!

Around the time that car was built Merc was having a ton of electrical, and build quality issues. It seems they have got their act together again, but for a while Mercedes was the least reliable car on the market.

Since that is a C43 it may have had extra attention in the assembly process, but I'd be wary.

I stay away from Mercs built around the turn of the century.

Joe Gearin wrote: Be careful! Around the time that car was built Merc was having a ton of electrical, and build quality issues. It seems they have got their act together again, but for a while Mercedes was the least reliable car on the market. Since that is a C43 it may have had extra attention in the assembly process, but I'd be wary. I stay away from Mercs built around the turn of the century.

First thing I thought of, too. Sometime around there M-B started building planned obsolescence ( it seems) into the electrical systems. A good Pre Purchase Inspection might be a good idea.

someone said it was something a while back about biodegradeable wiring they tried using in them i think...

Luke wrote: continue driving W123. Never wash it again, and buy a thrift-store trench coat to match.

THIS!

Sorry, I mistyped-its a c32. I knew that, I must of just been dreaming.