Same Engine in C55 (W203) and SLK55 (R171)

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Jul 29, 2010 | 10:16 AM
  #1  
Sorry if this is a rookie question, but are the engines the same? Was driving back from VA Beach a few weeks ago and was cruising with an SLK55. After coming from a knock-off of the old R170 SLK320 (the Chrysler Crossfire) I was not envious of the lack of space and small size. That being said, I wondered if the engine was putting out the same HP as the C55 and thinking how fast that little car would be with that engine.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 10:33 AM
  #2  
Quote: That being said, I wondered if the engine was putting out the same HP as the C55 and thinking how fast that little car would be with that engine.
Bingo
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Jul 29, 2010 | 10:46 AM
  #3  
It has to be, because my wife's SLK32 has the same 349 HP motor as the C32, which by the way is stupid fast, She is looking for a SLK55 now because she doesn't like that I have a more powerful car than her now, even though she still blows me out of the water because her car is so much lighter

I think she is just tired of the R170 she has had it for 6 years and wants to move up to the R171, but they are hard to find and she specifically wants one with the same color scheme as hers. Iridium Silver/Black&Red Interior. They are not easy to come by.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:03 AM
  #4  
Yeah, an SLK55 AMG has the 5.4L V8 with 355hp and 376tq. The additional 030 performance package includes stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes, and delimited speedo from 155 to 176mph which makes it very fun to drive!

6264998879.jpg?t=1254032010

Same Engine in C55 (W203) and SLK55 (R171)-043-1.jpg


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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:07 AM
  #5  
thtguy sounds like the wife has a little bit of a superiority complex . But seriously I can see where she is coming from the R170 is beginning to look a bit dated next to the smooth lines of the R171 and the rest of the Benz line.

Just another example of generational recycling of Mercedes engines.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
Havoc, nice pics. Your car is awesome. Definitely looks even better up close. The AMG aero package really improves the looks.

However, the C55 is putting out 364hp not 355hp (someone correct me if I am mistaken). Interesting...
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:17 AM
  #7  
Note the the SLK 55 has the 7sp Auto as well as rear brembo calipers and rotors while the C55 makes do with the old 5sp auto and baseic rear brake setup
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:19 AM
  #8  
On another note there wasa guy here whose SLK 32 amde it inot the high 11's with some mods and DRs. SO the old SLK32 is nothing to sneeze at.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:33 AM
  #9  
Quote: Note the the SLK 55 has the 7sp Auto as well as rear brembo calipers and rotors while the C55 makes do with the old 5sp auto and baseic rear brake setup
I did not know that about the 7 speed. Wish the C55 had the 7 speed I might get better than 16MPG combined cycle.

I did find that if I drive 10 MPH over the speed limit everywhere I go I get better MPG than if I go the speed limit. averaged 23 MPG combined cycle.
I can already see the officer's face when I tell him I am speeding to help the environment!
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:52 AM
  #10  
In Canada and the US the C55 AMG has 362HP and 376 lb-ft of torque. The SLK55 version of the engine is supposedly rated at 355Hp and 376 lb-ft. I would suspect that this difference in HP is purely marketing and that the output is identical.....
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:53 AM
  #11  
Quote: Havoc, nice pics. Your car is awesome. Definitely looks even better up close. The AMG aero package really improves the looks.

However, the C55 is putting out 364hp not 355hp (someone correct me if I am mistaken). Interesting...
Thanks bro!

You're correct, the C55 is putting out 364hp, but perhaps it's for marketing like when comparing other AMG models with the same engine but with slightly different power??

I bought my SLK55 for my girl and its funny how she now likes to burn out!!

Same Engine in C55 (W203) and SLK55 (R171)-025-2.jpg

Same Engine in C55 (W203) and SLK55 (R171)-049-1.jpg


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Jul 29, 2010 | 01:22 PM
  #12  
Love that car. It's always a treat when I see one around because there are so few where I live.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 01:50 PM
  #13  
Same steering wheel as the C55 too. Its interesting to look at how MB modified the intakes to fit the big V8 in the small SLK engine bay (as compared to the C55).
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Jul 29, 2010 | 05:42 PM
  #14  
[QUOTE=Havoc;4180945]Yeah, an SLK55 AMG has the 5.4L V8 with 355hp and 376tq. The additional 030 performance package includes stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes, and delimited speedo from 155 to 176mph which makes it very fun to drive!

Which one is quicker?? Faster??

** Speaking of which, anyone know of a nice SLK 55 with the 030 package for sale??
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Jul 29, 2010 | 06:44 PM
  #15  
The SLK55 only weighs maybe 200 pounds less than a C55 and makes like 20 less horsepower so in theory they should be pretty much equally fast. The stock exhaust on the SLK55 sounds a little better than a stock C55 and it is pretty fun to drive but I'd still take my C55 since it is much more comfortable.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 07:11 PM
  #16  
I'd like to drive an SLK55 just to see what they feel like compared to the C-class. When I was at a Hyundai dealership looking at GC's, there was a silver SLK55 with the 030 and 19's and MAN did it look awesome. I remember drooling over it thinking that was such a nice car. That was before I even knew I would soon own an AMG.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 10:26 PM
  #17  
Quote: Note the the SLK 55 has the 7sp Auto as well as rear brembo calipers and rotors while the C55 makes do with the old 5sp auto and baseic rear brake setup
hmmm....as anyone ever thought about/tried a transmission swap?
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:06 PM
  #18  
I have raced a friend in slk55 before... SLK pulls slightly after 2nd gear.. then keeps on pulling.. Not by much though and they are slightly underpower compared to C55.
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:16 PM
  #19  
Didn't notice this until I was parked next to a nice black SLK55...but they're exhaust tips are BIGGER than ours! I don't think I ever noticed because of the SLK55's wider looks...but now I'm jealous.

I never use my rear seats anyways...should have gone with that black on red SLK55 4 years ago
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Jul 29, 2010 | 11:59 PM
  #20  
I thought I had read in the past that the reason the SLK55 has slightly lower HP numbers than the C55 is because of differences in the exhaust system (shorter?).

However, on a slightly different note, the SLK55 AMG Black Series (in Europe) had an uprated HP rating of 400HP at the crank. I've always wondered OEM AMG parts/modifications were needed to make that much power from our 5.4L V8.

And yes, the C55's stock exhaust tips were the smallest ones compared to other AMG cars at the time (SLK55, E55, SL55, etc). The C55 Performance Package (from AMG Manufaktur/Performance Studio in Europe) included the bigger exhaust tips (along with so many other goodies I would have loved to have).
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Jul 30, 2010 | 12:30 AM
  #21  
Quote: I thought I had read in the past that the reason the SLK55 has slightly lower HP numbers than the C55 is because of differences in the exhaust system (shorter?).

However, on a slightly different note, the SLK55 AMG Black Series (in Europe) had an uprated HP rating of 400HP at the crank. I've always wondered OEM AMG parts/modifications were needed to make that much power from our 5.4L V8.

And yes, the C55's stock exhaust tips were the smallest ones compared to other AMG cars at the time (SLK55, E55, SL55, etc). The C55 Performance Package (from AMG Manufaktur/Performance Studio in Europe) included the bigger exhaust tips (along with so many other goodies I would have loved to have).
According to the MB press kit, the SLK55 BS has new headers, different cams, and a higher flow air box.

The standard SLK55 is faster than a Z51 equipped C6 six-speed Corvette. That's Z51 as in the one with the lower gear ratios. You can read about the SLK55 BS here and the standard SLK55 here.
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Jul 30, 2010 | 02:12 AM
  #22  
I have a C55 and a SLK55 both black on black (it's a real pain in the butt to keep them clean). The SLK55 is a lot of fun to drive but it sucks if you have to travel more then 150 miles in it. The SLK55 is a lot faster then the C55 (my wife kicks my butt all the time when we get on the on ramp. The C55 is a good when you travel more then 150 miles, go to the store, take friends out, rainy days. But when it's sunny the SLK55 is by far the most fun.

a old post with a photo of the girls.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...-amg-back.html
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Jul 30, 2010 | 06:47 AM
  #23  
That's a nice picture you have there.
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Jul 30, 2010 | 09:58 AM
  #24  
Very nice photo. I love the rims of the SLK55. 16 spokes?

I for one won't go back to a two-seater for quite some time unless I can afford it as my "weekend" car. Two-seaters are so much fun, but as a daily driver, slogging through traffic, moves, trips, pets, et. al., it becomes tiresome. I love the space and versatility the C affords.

Now if only the C55 had the same size exhausts as the E55 or SLK55... anyone good with photoshop? Would love to see how it would look.
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Jul 30, 2010 | 06:39 PM
  #25  
No need to photoshop. Here is a picture of the C55 AMG Racing Taxi, which had all the C55 AMG Performance Package parts, including the bigger exhaust tips.

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