Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › C 43 AMG (W 202) · Rare specification · 1997–2000 Rare

Mercedes-Benz
C 43 AMG (W 202)

V8 AMG version of the W 202 C-Class (saloon; estates separate).

Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: OSX · Public domain
3,085BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
3,085 Built
Years
1997–2000
Engine
8-cylinder 90° V; light-alloy block; front, longitudinal; vertical · 4,266 cc / 4.3 LFactory: 4,266 cc
Power
228 kW / 310 PSFactory: 306 hp · converted
Top speed
250 km/hFactory: 250 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The C 43 AMG put a 4.3-litre light-alloy V8 into the compact W 202 saloon, with a factory rating of 306 hp and an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. Bonhams described it as the junior super-saloon of the range, a small car with performance well beyond what its size suggested. The archive counts 3085 saloons built.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityRare 3,085 · Built1,2
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

  • Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)
    Photo: OSX · Public domain
  • Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG (W 202) (Wikimedia Commons search)
    Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionsaloons produced 3,0851,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The archive lists the model as design name W 202 E 43, type 202.033, produced from October 1997 to May 2000 and sold only with a five-speed automatic. The list price was DM 114,425 in September 1997 and DM 115,420 in April 1998; the factory 0-100 km/h time is 6.5 seconds.

Auction listings add some detail on individual cars. Gooding & Company offered a 1999 German-market car ordered new through the Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart branch, believed to be the only C 43 AMG finished in special-order Lapis Blue, with an AMG Classic conversion certificate. RM Sotheby's described a 1999 saloon as one of 546 US-market examples produced for that year.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard C 43 AMG (W 202).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 113 E 43 / 113.9441
Layout8-cylinder 90° V; light-alloy block; front, longitudinal; vertical1
Cylinders81
Displacement 4,266 cc / 4.3 LFactory: 4,266 cc1
Bore 89.9 mmFactory: 89.9 mm1
Stroke 84 mmFactory: 84 mm1
Compression ratio10.0:11
Valvetrain2 intake, 1 exhaust / V-shaped overhead; 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank; camshaft drive: double roller chain1
Fuel systemmicroprocessor controlled injection system with hot-film air mass sensor (Bosch ME engine management)1
Power 228 kW / 310 PSFactory: 306 hp · converted1Rating: manufacturerArchive states 225 kW / 306 hp. Gooding & Company and RM Sotheby's quote 302 bhp (hp) at 5,500 rpm for the same engine.
Power at 5,850 rpm1
Torque 410 NmFactory: 410 Nm1Maximum torque is held from 3250 to 5000 rpm.

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox5-speed automatic transmission; planetary gear system1
Gears51
Gear ratiosI. 3.59; II. 2.19; III. 1.41; IV. 1.0; V. 0.83; R. 3.161
Final drive3.071
Driven wheelsrear1

Chassis, body & dimensions

Chassissteel unit body1
Front suspensiondouble wishbone; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser1
Rear suspensionmultilink suspension; coil springs, torsion bar stabiliser1
Brakeshydraulic dual-circuit brake system with vacuum booster, antilock system and Brake Assist; disc brakes front (internally ventilated) and rear1
Steeringrecirculating-ball power steering1
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,690 mmFactory: 2,690 mm1
Length 4,516 mmFactory: 4,516 mm1
Width 1,723 mmFactory: 1,723 mm1
Height 1,387 mmFactory: 1,387 mm1
Front track 1,509 mmFactory: 1,509 mm1
Rear track 1,483 mmFactory: 1,483 mm1
Kerb weight 1,570 kgFactory: 1,570 kg1
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 250 km/hFactory: 250 km/h1Archive wording: "250 km/h (electronically governed)".
0–100 km/h 6.5 s1
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The archive gives type 202.033 with engine M 113 E 43 / 113.944, 4266 cc, bore and stroke 89.9 x 84.0 mm, an aluminium block and one camshaft per bank with two intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder. Wheels are 17-inch alloys, 7½ J front and 8½ J rear, with 225/45 ZR 17 and 245/40 ZR 17 tyres. Auction catalogues quote 302 hp at 5,500 rpm, a lower figure at a lower engine speed than the factory's 306 hp at 5850 rpm. Chassis numbers in the catalogues start WDB2020 for European cars (WDB2020331F827875, WDB2020332F798856) and WDBHA33 for a US-market car (WDBHA33G1XF851241).

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    C 43 AMG / W 202 E 43, 1997 - 2000 (Classic M@RS) Level A Mercedes-Benz Group AG (Classic M@RS, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive)
    • Units produced : 3085
    • Engine type : M 113 E 43 / 113.944 (Technical data)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 8 / 90° V; light-alloy block (Technical data)
    • Total displacement : 4266 cc (Technical data)
    • Bore x Stroke : 89.9 x 84.0 mm (Technical data)
    • Compression ratio : 10.0 (Technical data)
    • Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft per cylinder bank (Technical data)
    • Fuel system : microprocessor controlled injection system with hot-film air mass sensor (Bosch ME engine (Technical data)
    • Rated output : 225 kW / 306 hp at 5850 rpm (Technical data)
    • Rated torque : 410 Nm at 3250 - 5000 rpm (Technical data)
    • Gearing : 5-speed automatic transmission (Technical data)
    • Gear ratios : I. 3.59; II. 2.19; III. 1.41; IV. 1.0; V. 0.83; R. 3.16 (Technical data)
    • Final drive ratio : 3.07 (Technical data)
    • Driven wheels : rear wheels (Technical data)
    • Frame design : steel unit body (Technical data)
    • Front-wheel suspension : double wishbone (Technical data)
    • Rear-wheel suspension : multilink suspension (Technical data)
    • Brake system (foot brake) : hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with vacuum booster, antilock system and (Technical data)
    • Steering : recirculating-ball power steering (Technical data)
    • Wheelbase : 2690 mm (Technical data)
    • Length : 4516 mm (Technical data)
    • Width : 1723 mm (Technical data)
    • Height : 1387 mm (Technical data)
    • Front / rear track : 1509 / 1483 mm (Technical data)
    • Kerb weight : 1570 kg (Technical data)
    • Maximum speed : 250 km/h (electronically governed) (Technical data)
    • Acceleration 0-100 km/h : 6.5 s (Technical data)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Mercedes-Benz Classic M@RS archive – C 43 AMG Level A
    • 3085 saloons produced
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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