Fresh

I'm in the market for a c class benz and i want to know if a modded c320 can get equal or better performance than the c32 amg at a cheaper price. I know the kleeman supercharger can get the hp close but can this be used with the 6 speed manual transmission and does the 6speed even offer better performance than the 5 speed auto? Aside from the cost factor i'm looking to mod a c320 over a c32 because I want to customize the aesthetic features such as body kits and interior which would be wasted money if I went with the amg kit.

FrankW

other than add on a Kleemann s/c, there is no way of getting near the performance of the C32 AMG at the cheaper price.

Fresh

But would the supercharger be enough? Even though they will have equal hp I think the amg has some weight reduction. Also i have heard that the 6speed manual tranny cannot handle the extra hp from the kleeman compressor, is this true? If not i would like to see some numbers a 320 6speed does with the kleeman s/c because in the auto it is about a second slower than the c32 amg.

BrabusCClass

I think a modded C320 will probably never be faster than a C32. But it sure would be fun. The Kleemann supercharged C320 with 6 speed would be a blast to drive. The 6 speed should be able to handle the blower with no problem. And the clutch should be ok too.

If you are looking for just speed a C32 is hard to beat. But if you want fun factor, the 6spd manual with blower should be a lot more fun to drive. The kleemann C32K might be able to take the C32 AMG on the freeways due to gearing. Only one way to find out.

CRB

The Kleemann supercharged C320K is about one second slower zero to sixty that the factory C32 acccording to Car and Driver. It makes sense because Kleemann is only running half as much boost.

Why mod one then?

1. You want a manual tranny and can't get one on the C32. Kleemann USA assured me that the tranny could handle it. The clutch might not though because an extra 100 lb-ft is a lot. Having an clutch upgrade would probably be prudent.

2. You want a coupe or wagon that is not offered in C32 guise. Design your ultimate stealth panzerwagon or blitzcoupe. Blown 4Matic wagon, hmm, would certainly warm up those ski trips.

3. You want void your factory warranty and figure you ought to do it with style. It is a Benz: You don't need no stinkin warranty!

Fresh

But is the 6 speed manual any faster than the auto? I know in most cars they are but i don't know anything about mercedes manual transmission. Also I did not know amg used different gearing, if so it would not be hard to change on the c320 and inexpensive. And would it be possible to couple the kleeman s/c with the mkb kit (i know it's meant for the c32 but the only thing that would be differnt is the amg s/c)?

vodc4

this is no brainer...get the c32 AMG!!!
why you want to trouble yourslef....
no matter what the c32 amg will be faster...and handles better
plus you get better interior....amg seats, brembo brakes.....aluminium trim am speedometer etc.....better suspension...prestige...

u will spend $$$ modding the 320 to be like c32....and u will void the warranty....
...besides i think MB auto is better than the manual

Fresh

Mainly because:
1. I think manual is more fun than auto but if the benz auto is not enjoyable and slower than auto than forget it.
2. I'd rather have the lorinser body kit than the amg. (most of the aesthetic mods i'd rather select myself)
3. I don't want to spend 51k plus on the car

eason

Base C320 Sport $35,920
Klemann Supercharge Kit $8400
H&R Cup Kit $710
Eisenman Exhaust $626
Brembo Big Brake Kit $3295
AMG Kit $2500
Total without wheels and tires $51451

Stock C32 $51120

JustinTRW

Eason,

You forgot to get all of those mods installed.

vodc4

i dont thik u can get brembo for just $3000?i thought its in the $5000 range?

and is klemann SC only $8400?

u also forget to put LABOR charge for the suspension install,bodykit,painting, brakes exhaust etc ....and i think it will be $$$$ guess in the 1500-2000 range

Fresh

Doesn't the sport come with the same body kit and suspension upgrades as the amg? I also mentioned I didn't want the amg body kit. Eason, why did you chose to add the H&R cup kit and eisenman exhaust?

Fresh

Doesn't the sport come with the same body kit and suspension upgrades as the amg? I also mentioned I didn't want the amg body kit. Eason, why did you chose to add the H&R cup kit and eisenman exhaust?

SiLvaC32

the brembo 14" big brake kit (bigger than our C32's brake) won't cost you more than $3000. but to get it installed... is another story.

Jerry

FrankW

yeah, the s/c for the V6 is around $8400. The s/c for the V8 is much more expensive though. Don't forget that unless you ordered the car there is no way you can get a C320 sport for base price without any options.

FrankW

the US sport pkg only has the Avantgarde bodykit. In Europe, there are the Avantgarde pkg, Avantgarde AMG pkg, and the AMG pkg for non-Avantgarde pkg.

he chose H&R probably because it cost less than other brand.

eason

According to EvoSport, the Kleemann Blower Kit for C320 is on sale for $8400 now. The reason I choose H&R Cup kit becasue it's cheaper than other brands and it could give equal or greater handling compare to the C32. Same reason for the Eisenman Exhaust, since C32 have AMG exhaust, a Supercharged C320 should have performance exhaust as well and the performace should be close to C32. For myself, I will choose C32 .

amgme

don't forget that he wants a lorinser kit. those kits cost about 4k-5k range depending on which one he gets. not a wise choice to mod. it cost too much

amgme

nope. only in europe.

Fresh

I guess it would be hard to justify doing this but if the mercedes 6speed tranny is any good I would probably still consider it.

Hank

C32 has a much more tuning potential.

Evosport recently did a C320 from Mexico, compare that dyno with the C32's... the result will definitely be a no-brainer...

vodc4

just go with your heart....

but i think most people will go with c32 ....
i heard that the c320 engine and the c32 engine is different....thats y u cant get as much power from the 320....

plus dont forget the gearing ratio etc...that also affect the 0-60mph

the most practical and easier way is to get a c32 amg....u will surely be happy wiith it....

why dont you consider bmw m3?
i think m3 owns c32...

it has trusted 6-speed ..it handles much better and u can mod the hell of it .....and it will be much faster...

if ur getting the c320 to save money then ur wrong
u will end up spending more
trust me

Tezta

The SL55, S55, CL55 all come with 493hp while Kleemann's V8 Kompressor produces over 500hp, why is it that Kleemann's V6 blower falls short of the C32's 349hp?

Matt230K

Why don't you get the C32 and talk to Renntech about a 6-speed conversion? I think they do that for any car you want, but they don't list the prices on their website. So give them a call and see what it costs to make your C32 a 6-spd. Then do whatever you want with a body kit.

Fresh

Actually kleeman produces amazing results for the boost it runs (which is half that of amg). This is why i'm really interested in putting this in a c320. Also I hear alot of c32 owners are changing their amg compressor for a kleeman. If it ran the same boost as amg it would probably get much higher hp than c32. But I think the engines are the same except for the blower and differnt compression ratios. The thing that gives the c32 its advantage is the lightweight mods amg did.