Quote:
Originally Posted by txfriend
I have a new C63s with only 6000. But I also have an E430 with about 70K.
|
What brakes do you have the C63s? With the Carbon Ceramics you'll go a long, long time without having to change the rotors, and decent while for the pads - those aren't available on the C43. With the regular brakes it will be a miracle if you get only 2 pad changes in before 70k
From the forums, the C63 seems to be a little easier on brakes than the C43. As a guess, it will be partly because the C63 has bigger brakes stopping the same weight, so it should use less pad thickness, and the other part because the C43 has AWD, and Mercedes uses the brakes to take the place of real side-to-side and front-to-back differentials, asking it to do a little more than the C63 brakes (the mechanical rear differential on the C63 is an option I believe).
The E430, while a good car, isn't in the same class braking wise so you can't compare. The E430 weighs 200 pounds less than the C43, and stops are 15% longer. Not to mention less electronic nanny intervention, to some degree. For example, the standard W205 (C300) doesn't have the same brake components as the C43 and seems to last twice as long.
You have 2 great cars, but its just that your experience doesn't relate to the op, or my post yet. Come back and tell us how the C63s brakes are doing in 25,000 miles (and enjoy that car!!)
Of course, you are right that driving matters some, and what matters a lot is the environment you live in....if you are only driving on the open highway and never touch the brakes they will go forever, and where I am where there are 4 stop signs and 2 traffic lights before I can get anywhere, you'll use them a lot quicker, but the C43 reports on all the forums are not getting anywhere close to 70,000 miles (or even 30,000) as asked. I suppose a pure highway cruiser could get 30,000 miles, but no one else seems to.