TheDream21479

Hey everyone! I am new to the Mercedes world, or shall i say, will be as soon as I decide on a vehicle. I currently own a 2001 BMW 330Ci coupe 5spd that is pretty modded. I've had the car since brand new and I as much as I love BMW's, I want a change-plus i'm tired of driving a manual transmisson in Atlanta (I have 4 other project cars and all of them are manual).

I've narrowed down to two cars that I can afford for the moment, lol, since i'm in medical school and have lots of bills, and this my new found friends, is where I am stuck

Should I purchase a 2001 CLK 55 AMG (55,000 miles, $21,900) or a 2002 C32 AMG (19,995, 82,000 miles). The cars are so similar in power, yet so different.

The CLK55 is muscular and is aging well, it still looks modern, until you get inside the car. The interior is really nice, but it looks old already! It was nice and torquey and pretty fast, but the transmission was always confused (perhaps that adaptive logic needed a reset?). Plus, women love coupes :)

The C32AMG is WAY nicer on the inside- however , I have not driven one yet so I can't compare the powertrain on them both. The car doesn't seem to have as many toys as the CLK does. The C32 also doesn't seem to have the visual presence of the CLK.

Also- i love modding, which is better suited for it? I don't want to go crazy, but it would be nice to get it into 12s :) The CLK seems like it can take a deeper, wider rear wheel too.

Please take your time to give me some insight, and comments, they are very much appreciated- hopefully I will be the proud owner of an AMG vehicle soon!

Pics of your vehicles would be appreciated!
Thanks a lot!

Andras

old CLK55 vs C32? Get the C32
new CLK55 vs C32? Get the CLK55 (still pricey even pre-owned)
sorry for what I'm about to say but the front of the old CLK looks like a pig's face and that V8 is let down by lazy transmission
C32's a beast and with proper upgrades it hits 400hp mark quite easily. Toys like sprintbooster and similar help through the way as well.
New CLK55 is stunning, it has buttons for gearshifts on the steering wheel, transmission's upgraded, a nice beast
Talking pre-owned cars the bargain should be the C32
Just make sure the dreaded I/C pump was already replaced if you buy a 50.000+ miles model and you'll be just fine

TheDream21479

lol, i'm not sure i agree with the assement on the looks of the old CLK55 but.. lol

So the C32 has some gremlins huh?

And yeah, i do remember the CLK55 i drove to have a confused transmission. I won't drive a C32 till tommorrow. Is the transmission better in that car?

ellery

a boosted car is easier to mod if you don't wanna mod "too much". htting the 12s is a no brainner with the c32. I like the looks of the c32 because it's very simplistic... I feel that it's up to me to add exterior aesthetic enhancements to separate me from the bunch, and I like the task.

TheDream21479

What does it take to get the C32 in the 12s? and approx how much money, just out of curiosity. BMW's are relatively cheap to mod, heck, I noticed Renntech's stage 1 for the C32 its nuts expensive. I don't know whats out there for these vehicles other than the bigger, and much more expensive aftermarket stuff (Brabus, etc).

m444

$5.5k, plus installation, Evosport stage2, should put you in the 12s.

http://evosport.com/product/proddeta...VO.PER.M03.S02

evosport - evolution 2 Power Package
Price: $5,490.00, plus installation

evolution 2 Power Package
- Includes evolution 1 Power Package
- Ceramic Coated Performance Headers
- Denso Iridium Plugs (set of 12)
- evosport 8mm plug wires
- SL55 intake splitter and hose
- Powerchip/evosport custom-tuned evolution 2 software

Power Gains (CA 91 Octane)*:
- +3 lbs Boost (0.2 bar)
-Improved air flow
- 435 HP (75-85 RWHP)
- 420 FT-LB (70-80 RWTQ)


evosport - evolution 1 Power Package
Price: $2,890.00

http://evosport.com/product/proddeta...VO.PER.M03.S01
evolution 1 Power Package

- 7" Crankshaft overdrive pulley
- Aluminum water pump pulley
- Aluminum alternator pulley
- Aluminum power steering pulley
- Two (2) belt tensioners w/ belt
- Windshield washer reservoir w/ hose fitting
- Powerchip/evosport custom-tuned evolution 2 software

Power Gains (CA 91 Octane)*:
- +3 lbs Boost (0.2 bar)
- 400 HP (50-60 RWHP)
- 400 FT-LB (50-60 RWTQ)

m444

The CLK55 vs C55/C32 is really a four door versus two door question.

TheDream21479

That doesn't bother me as much. I am not partial to a two door or four door really. I love the E55 AMG- that will be my next AMG car in a couple years. The C32 i noticed can be made to look as muscular as that car with a little work.

ellery

Can't one run 12s (high 12s?) with an ASP Pulley, Powerchip, SL55 Intake.... that'd cost just little over $2k

Carl Lassiter

Go for the C32. It's has some of the most aggressive shift software AMG have ever used. There are no real gremlins apart from the I/C pump, so just make sure that's been changed out. I used to have one when I lived in England but it proved so popular that now my mother has it and refuses to let it go.

The old CLK chassis struggles with the power of the 347bhp V8. It is nowhere near as stiff as the C32s as it is based on the previous generation C-class. It's still a nice car but the C32 is superior.

Women may prefer coupes, but ask yourself this; Do you really want a chick to pick you because of the car you drive?

Good luck with your choice and your studies.

MercedeSC32

what also matters is what other project cars do you have? good lookin ones that babes would throw their panties at you while you drive down the street or somethin else? i had this dilemma too, but a used clk55 2003 or a new c32 2004 new...yes its easier to boost up ur car wit mods, but how often will you be drivin your c32 like a beast down on a 40 zone? c32 has enuff power i think, and since you have more than one project car already that you'd like to take to the tracks or watever, the c32 should be looked as a daily driver, since you said yur tired of manual, seems like the c32 option is a daily driver for ya then...with the clk55, you have a coupe, much sportier feel, more than enuff power on the streets, at the same time great lookin coupe that can get you impressed looks...so, my hands down is go wit the clk55...i'm sad to say, i regret my choice in my part...hope this helps and clarifies things...

Andras

I am concerned about the cost of evo 1 package
I mean: here in Italy I spent 250€ for ECU upgrade hitting 370hp mark
With another 500€ I get the pulley upgrade and hit 400hp mark
With 100€ for the two K&N filters I installed the total cost will be €850=$1.000

jgsx

If you're concerned about package cost, the best thing to do is build your own. Get a Kleeman custom ecu

APS Pulley $900
K&N or Green Filters $100
Delete rear resonator and rear cats $150
Dyno pull with AFR reading $100
Kleeman custom ECU tune $1000
stage 1+ total=2250+install

if you want stage 2
the above with
SL55 splitter/hoses $150
Evosport Headers $1450
Magnecore Wires and IR20/22 plugs $300
total stage 2 price=$4150+labor(about 850)

The above will be cheaper and produce more power than any packaged kits out there

Andras

I would say I am more concerned in not throwing money out of the window than on the cost itself, therefore thanks for the suggestion!

m444

If you are worried about cost, put on the stuff that will
make power.

APS Pulley $900
Kleeman custom ECU tune $1000
stage 1=1900+install

if you want stage 2
the above with
SL55 splitter/hoses $150
Evosport Headers $1450
total stage 2 price=$3500+labor

The air filters, plugs and wires are really a maintanence item, for maximum
performance need to be replaced more often than the factory suggests.

m444

One other nice feature of a C32, it can make an U-turn in the middle of a
residential block (has a tight turning radius). It is easy to park, takes a minimum of space. Getting in the back seat of a CLK55, takes patience.

ellery

to follow up on my previous reply about running 12s, I just went to the dragtimes thread and saw people running high 12s completely stock (12.9)... and 12.7 and 12.8 Stage 1

ellery

YES and YES. Two very good points. I love the wide turning ratio... it makes such a HUGE difference in parking and u-turns.

zoink

If you want to mod... go w/ C32 (I'd look for a lower mile C32, though). The F/I engine is a lot easier and cheaper to mod.

If you want to take the car as-is, just like me, get CLK55. C32, unless heavily modded, still doesn't have enough *oommpphh* in low RPM that V8 engine has.

Edit:
Oh one more thing... you could always have a choice to go w/ W210 E55.

m444

Or, if you want the oomph of a V8 but the four door small car, then get a C55, which are now getting much cheaper, than they were, before.

rlee02135

get the c32 or c55 or a W209 CLK

Addicted2Speed

Why has nobody mentioned renntech ECU/pulley upgrade? Is it not popular with C32 owners?

m444

""Why has nobody mentioned renntech ECU/pulley upgrade? Is it not popular with C32 owners?""

The renntech ECU/pulley upgrade is functionally similar to Evosport Stage1, but usually cost a little more and does not have the IC tank isolation.

FrankW

IC tank upgrade is not necessary. In the long terms on the track it helps cool the supercharger, but no one's going to run on the track for that long.

between his choice the CLK55 sounds like a better buy since it has less mileage.