kostas86

Hey guys, hopefully you can help me out.
I've been looking at the C32 and the C55.
First, are there any mechanical/electrical issues with either model?
Also any advice from fellow owners?
Thanks, I appreciate any advice you guys have.

jgsx

If you want to mod the car, get a C32. If you will be satisfied with the stock power, get a C55.

kostas86

I am sure I will eventually get bitten by the mod bug.
Thanks for the advice.

derrick_lui

buy my C32 already moded with Evosport Stage I pumping 400 HP =)

kostas86

What's the mileage?
If I go with a C32 it's gonna be one with very low mileage (preferably under 5,000).

Also with the C32 is there any year that's more reliable than the other years?

jgsx

I doubt you're gonna find it. I searched the country for a couple months and the best C32 I found had 10k miles. I picked that one up but paid a lot for it. There were only like 250 2004 C32s sold in the US.

kostas86

There was one a few months ago over here with 7k miles
Now the best I can find is 13k miles.
I just don't want to pick up a badly abused one.

the101dragons

yeah good luck on picking one up with even 10k miles. The older the car the less of a deal on bank loans too, unless your going the old fashion way of cash.

cntlaw

I would go for the C55 if a newer interior , AMG pedal shift and direct control package are mattered. Either of them is great to own!

PC Valkyrie

Agree with the majority of members who say that the supercharged C32 is cheaper/easier to modify if you want more power.

However, if you value handling at all, get the C55. It's revised suspension/chassis offers grip/handling that approaches the M3. The C32 has softer suspension and correspondingly poorer handling with a more comfortable ride (stock, of course).

Fifth Ring

I've seen this reported, but I think it is exaggerated. When new, the C32 was compared with the M3 and S4 and was given high marks for handling. I'd never expect a car mag to rate a Benz higher than a BMW in handling, and I honestly prefer a car that is comfortable for day-to-day commuting. (I've taken my C32 on-track at several Audi Club events, and it's more than a match for an S4.) The W203 chassis is a very good platform to start with. I have un-staggered my wheels and tires (245/40/17 all around) and that takes away some of the understeer.

PC Valkyrie

I think we can all agree that at your local track clubs and track days, the DRIVER is the biggest variable in terms of laptimes. When comparing cars like the C32/C55/S4/M3, they ALL can put decent numbers. In my opinion, driver skill and courage is the biggest discriminating factor when trying to take the car to its handling limits and trying to get the fastest lap time.

Having said that, I usually look to Sport Auto's Supertest to compare the handling capabilities of cars. They use the same pro driver for all their Supertests and they have a set testing procedure they have been using for many years.

Nordschleife laptime
M3 (E46): 8.22 minutes
C55 (W203): 8.22 minutes
S4 Avant (B6): 8.29 minutes
C32 (W203): 8:37 minutes

Hockenheim laptime
M3: 1.17.6 minutes
C55: 1.18.6 minutes
S4 Avant: 1.19.1 minutes
C32: 1.20.6 minutes

36m slalom course
M3: 123km/h
C55: 122km/h
S4 Avant: 121km/h
C32: 118km/h

110m evasive course
M3: 136km/h
C55: 134km/h
S4 Avant: 130km/h
C32: 132km/h

And even if you look at N. American magazines (like Road & Track), the C55 has slightly higher skidpad grip and slalom speeds than the C32, making the data very consistent.

I don't know whether all of this is "exagerated" or not. What I do think is that these is a difference between these cars when you push them to their limits. On everyday roads, it is unlikely you will benefit from the "superior" handling capabilities unless you drive like a maniac around turns (or if you are lucky enough to live where there are deserted twisty roads which allow you drive fast).

Fifth Ring

Good info.

Of course, after the driver, the second most important factor is tires. I don't know what tires were OEM, or tested. And of course, there's HP, and the C55 has a tad more of that.

Also, I've seen first hand how much more power the C32 makes in cool weather (cool, dense air = HP), while the C55 is probably more consistent.

We may never know exactly how much the suspension contributed to the better test times, but I'll give you a few tenths.

jgsx

Tell me about it . . . It has been in the 20s around here, and the car feels like a BEAST! It just takes a long time to warm up. I have found that the car doesn't like being pushed when the coolant is below 80C. I wait for 85C. I thought that the car would be fully warmed up at 70C, but I pushed the car hard there twice, and both times it went into limp mode. Once I reset the car and got above 80, the issue disappeared

cntlaw

well said.

kostas86

Thanks for all the very useful information!
It has helped me consider things I never thought of.

I will still be on the prowl for a local low mileage one *keeps fingers crossed*

Carl Lassiter

A family member has a silver C32 and it's done only c.10k. Unfortunately it's neither for sale or LHD.

Good luck with your search. The C32/55 are both lovely cars.

RawAMGpower

You can mod the C55 too, but if your looking for low cost vs. high gain the C32 is a better value. However, if money is no issue the C55 has a lot more potential, so much so it can be made a god among cars or should I say a wicked devil that will slay all other AMG's that oppose it.

whoover

Nobody's mentioned reliability. The supercharger system (especially intercooler and its pump and cooling system) is a constant source of problems on the C32. As far as I'm concerned the biggest improvement from C32 to C55 was eliminating this headache. Power is there, regardless of ambient or engine temperature.

The facts that it handles better (significantly, I think) and can be modded to produce 600 HP if you get severely hooked make this easy, I think. The prices have dropped on both models to the point where a newer car with the advantages of lower mileage, longer warranty, reliability, handling and potential is not that much more expensive.

jgsx

I wouldn't mod a C55. There isn't much bang for the buck when you do the basic mods, especially since the C32 is available.

If your considering supercharging a C55, I would suggest just starting out with an E55 instead.

RawAMGpower

Headers, intake and ecu make a big improvement. Its not like they just add 10hp.

But a SC C55 will be faster then a E55.

jgsx

Right, but if you do headers, pulley and ECU to a C32, the C32 will blow away the modded NA C55


That's why you do basic mods to the E55, then there is room for even more power if you want it later

m444

I would expect the C55 powertrain, to be a little more reliable stock, than the C32, since no blower is involved. The C55, may have some interconnect gremlins, like the MOST optical link opening and randomly shutting down the radio.

There are some known issues with both cars. The only really big issue is some of the early C32 Valeo radiators, that can leak fluid into the transmission. Some of the early C32s, also feel funny, when the lockup torque converter clutch engages at low RPM. There are a couple of people that had drivetrain vibration problems.

Sometimes the C32 blower or blower clutch needs to be replaced, but seems to be fairly rare. Also a few people have had a leaking intercooler.

The suspension bushings tend to go bad after 30k-40k miles and may need replacement, just feels less cushioned, when it goes.

Other stuff is pretty minor, like the SC coolant pump and seat tracks.

rbaker

If you're into a car that handles, an E55 isn't very impressive. I test drove one before buying my C55, and though the power is nice, it flat out handles like a big fat pig! If you ever think you may drop by a race track (road course) then the E55 is not for you.

I am toying with the idea of selling my '05 C55 with 23k miles if you might be leaning that way. I just have too many cars right now.

kostas86

That was one of my major concerns with the C32.