RacerX0911

so guys i have been reading the forums here for awhile now and i noticed that the C32 is a really problematic car... that said i still cant believe the amount of power this car produces with the size of the engine.

Are the problems just as bad on the C55? other then no S/C on the 55...wat are other differance?
i noticed -paddle shifting
-Quad exhaust
and i guess that is it...
i really like the car w/o a supercharger because it would have less problems. but the C55 is definetly out of the price range and if i get a problematic C32 and dump a **** load of money in it i would be in the same boat...so would it be better to save money and get a 05 C55
What are the main problems you guys get with these cars?
BTW the 55 would be under warranty for a really long time!

SilverBulletAMG

I guess it depends on what you want to spend. C32s are selling for next to nothing now and you can get a loaded 32 with low miles (under 45K) for low $20'sK. 55s will run a bit more as they are newer.
If I had to do it all over again I would have went with the 55 over a 32 anyday. The car is fun and has a ton of power but as you stated, VERY problematic. Much more so than the NA V8 in the 55.
I am gettin real close to just dumping mine after I get everything fixed and get a CLS 55...

14cue

C55's interior is updated. Front end is off of a CLK. Performance is almost the same. They're both great cars! DO you plan on doing any engine mods? If so, the C32 would be the better car for modding.

BTW - The C55 doesnt have paddle shifters. They're more like buttons than paddles.

SACAMG

I purchaced my C32 ///AMG in December of 01, I now have 75k miles, and it has been flawless. I take it in for the regular A and B servce, and just drive the heck out of it. I still love my car after 5 years, and I plan on keeping it for 5 more years. I have read here about some of the C32's not being reliable, but I am one happy camper...........

ultraman206

Both are great automobiles. I think both probably has it's share of problems; just with the C55 being newer it probably has less. Whichever you decide... try to look for one with remaining warranty or has extended warranty. Good luck.

MercedesFTW

Find me one then? My friend has been looking to get a new car, and has fallen madly in love with my AMG. I told him to save up for a C32, but the ones in his price range are 50K miles+ and have no good options (usually).

FrankW

what he says other than few common C-class problems. mine's only 4months newer and 3k miles fewer than his. lol other than service A and B I've been changing the oil every 5k miles.

PC Valkyrie

The C55 is a better overall performance car than the C32 because it HANDLES much better. If straight line speed is what you're after, then the C55 is about the same as a C32 (maybe the C55 is marginally faster).

Things that the C55 has (which the C32 doesn't have), other than different engines:
1) facelifted interior (steering wheel, instrument cluster, centre console, better and more supportive seats with alcantara inserts)
2) elongated CLK front end with completely different grill design/size (to fit the 5.4L V8)
3) 18" rims, quad exhaust system, lip spoiler, round fog lights, and facelifted rear lights
4) wider front track
5) 20% stiffer suspension
6) quicker steering ratio (better steering response)
7) revised ESP system which mimics a mechanical LSD when you press the ESP Off button
8) revised 5 speed automatic transmission with a true manual (M) mode (in addition to the standard S/C modes in the C32) with steering wheel shift buttons (paddles for 2007 European models which are not available in N. America because both Canada and USA decided not to sell the C55 in 2007)

In my opinion, there are 3 advantages for the C32 over the C55:
1) a 2nd hand C32 is much cheaper than a 2nd hand C55
2) the supercharged C32 can more easily be modified to get higher HP/torque
3) the C32 has a more comfortable ride over rough pavement because of softer suspension

FrankW

once you mod the suspension handling's about the same. The 55 has slight advantage still due to no weight up top for the front. The supercharger on the C32 puts the front weight center higher.

for the new pedals I think you can just upgrade them with new parts. it's the same buttom with the extended pedal.

SilverBulletAMG

They are all over the place. Don't just look at your local dealer. A 10 second search on ebay came up with these, to list a few. Many other sources out there other than ebay as well. Just have to look...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-LU...QQcmdZViewItem

14cue

wow! 2003 C32 with only 5,879 Miles!
that car has hardly been driven.

c32used

no matter what get something with warranty and you won't have much to worry about on either car!

Carl Lassiter

C32 is the ultimate sleeper. There is still one in my family. It was one of the first rhd C32s made. It's only done 12,000miles but is the type of car that will never be sold.

gkstar

Nice summary!

If you go with a C32, just budget the extra $2k and buy the MB extended warranty. It will likely pay off, plus the piece of mind.

sales@eurocharged.com

+1

I now have 47K and 0 issues.

CynCarvin32

Some say the C32 is flawless and im happy their cars are great. I just have to give a different review on the cars quality and say that a C55 could be a cheaper car to own down the road.

The c32 kompressor, intercooler, and cooling pump all seem to be really weak points. All are not that cheap to fix and some tend to break over and over. The number of kompressors that have died in the last few months is really huge. Mine died in the first 2.5 years of ownership as did my intercooler. I know of several other c32's that have had these problems and more. If the car is under a full MB extended warranty fine its a great car but if its not, I would get a C55 just because it has none of these issues. NA cars are always easier to own but the C32 can have stacks and stacks of upgrades to make it simply fly.

Given the quality of the C55's interior, the shift buttons on the steering wheel, FAR better cluster design, better suspension for chassis control, better quality, larger wheels oem etc I would take the C55 any day over a C32.

The C32 is the better car for covering long distances with speed and comfort however due to its really nice and smooth susnpension. If you like on-ramps the C32 will likely leave you wanting more.

Fifth Ring

The cooling pump is $100 fix if you're mildly mechanically inclined.

As to a "really huge" number of kompressors failing, I'm not sure where you are getting your info. Are you including the kompressors on the other Benz models? Have you disregarded failures on engines that have been running underdrive pulleys? On this forum, we've had a few people with noisy compressor clutches.

I would never consider any German car to be as worry-free as a Japanese car, but it's dead wrong to consider a C32 to be a "problem-child." Go visit the Audi forums.

All that being said, I would not recommend one to someone if they did not have: (1) a warranty or (2) substantial means to spends on possible repairs. And I would apply that rule to any German car. When good cars get older, their values drop to the point that they seem incredibly cheap, but repair costs are extraordinary. You can't compare a $20,000 Benz to at $20,000 Accord. All things being equal, the Benz is going to cost a LOT more to own.

MercedesFTW

Good prices, for sure...but the 25K one is not loaded and the other is actually 30 some thou.

RacerX0911

what if i get a C32 with warranty...i def. want to mod the car so wouldnt that hold me back?
i want a fun car that is cheap ...i dont mind throwing 1k a year to maintain the car...i mean that is was benz is all about...btw huge time modding...

TopGun32

for me its a toss up


even with pullies and a bunch of small mods.. you can't duplicate torque like a v8 specially at under 3k rpms with the 3.2l


The C32 with pullies is nice once you get past 3k rpms and really pulls after 4k rpms.

If I had 35k+ to spend.. I would consider a 2005 C55 with warranty.

If my budget was 25k.. and then C32 with extended warranty.

If the budget is 40k+... 335 with the Vishnu chip.

FrankW

335 is more like $50k + lol...

CynCarvin32

Well true not everyone is having a supercharger issue but I know many cars that have. Its not really a shocking thing. MB says under normal conditions the blower should last until 150k. MB says their motors should last until 150k without a valve job and then they say all bets are off!

If a car is pullied I bet the blower will likely foul before 100k miles just because it is stressed more.

The pump is a cheap fix that is very true but I have seen 4 go in 1 year as well! It is just kind of funny how as these cars get to mid life (50k miles) they start having all these AMG part failures! Thats why I like the NA motors like the C55 and the new 63 motors. Thes kompressor cars are really great for modding but they also seem to cost more to run.

A C55 motor will be fine until likely 200k miles without anything really being needed.

yeuchau

you are just one of those lucky guys

Fifth Ring

You're correct that modifications may void a warranty. As to $1,000 in maintenance per year, that may be the long-term average if you are lucky. But would you be prepared to spend $3-4,000 on a supercharger? It is not likely to happen, but it might.

Zeppelin

I wonder how many of the Superchargers that where replaced by MB were really bad, or did they just have a clutch go bad. MB had no choice until recently to replace the whole SC when there was a clutch or front bearing noise issue. Now there are replacement parts that are much cheaper. The days of the whole SC needing replacement may be over.