Sport Auto: C55 - M3
Suspension of no compromise on M3, gives taut reflexes and better grip.
Lower weight of the M3 vs C AMG
Lower weight of M3 engine, enhancing turn in chracteristics and improving steering feel.
50/50 weight distribution of the M3
M Developed trick differential that behaves like an LSD. Enhances powerslide factors and corner speeds?
Possibly...possibly, the rubber on M3 could make a difference also...
Thats it, If anyone wants to add then go ahead or even correct me. As far as I'm concerned the differences in the M3 don't make it a winner on road or in real life driving, wherer torque, flexibility and comfort is king and this where AMG shines.
BMW M, good cars, but keep them on the track.
I Love BMW ///M cars. I have an S54 M roadster myself and I love it to death. Nothing feels more rewarding to drive. It's powered by the same heart and soul as the E46 M3. I love MB's as well, I have a W202 C230K, W208 CLK55 AMG, W209 CLK 500, and we use to have a 98 S500. I have driven many different M's and AMG's, owned a couple as well. They are 2 totally different beasts. If MB or BMW owners would switch over to the dark side, they would actually see why these cars are selling like they are. The 2 different makes suit me for 2 entirely different needs. I usually drive one of the Merc's as my DD (LA traffic sucks). The BMW usually only sees weekend duty.
Anybody who says they dont like the other car either AMG or ///M, it's most prob because you've never driven one or the other or had enough seat time in it. Hell, I wouldnt complain given either, Id take anything with an AMG or M badge on the back trunklid.
I Love BMW ///M cars. I have an S54 M roadster myself and I love it to death. Nothing feels more rewarding to drive. It's powered by the same heart and soul as the E46 M3. I love MB's as well, I have a W202 C230K, W208 CLK55 AMG, W209 CLK 500, and we use to have a 98 S500. I have driven many different M's and AMG's, owned a couple as well. They are 2 totally different beasts. If MB or BMW owners would switch over to the dark side, they would actually see why these cars are selling like they are. The 2 different makes suit me for 2 entirely different needs. I usually drive one of the Merc's as my DD (LA traffic sucks). The BMW usually only sees weekend duty.
Anybody who says they dont like the other car either AMG or ///M, it's most prob because you've never driven one or the other or had enough seat time in it. Hell, I wouldnt complain given either, Id take anything with an AMG or M badge on the back trunklid. I couldn't agree more. I really dont think anyone here is against M or BMW's. Most people here have owned them in the past; myself included, & most people love both brands (How can you be a car enthusiast & not like all types of cars?), it's the trolls that come in here and start talking smack that most of us dont like.
Cheers
Suspension of no compromise on M3, gives taut reflexes and better grip.
Lower weight of the M3 vs C AMG
Lower weight of M3 engine, enhancing turn in chracteristics and improving steering feel.
50/50 weight distribution of the M3
M Developed trick differential that behaves like an LSD. Enhances powerslide factors and corner speeds?
Possibly...possibly, the rubber on M3 could make a difference also...
Thats it, If anyone wants to add then go ahead or even correct me. As far as I'm concerned the differences in the M3 don't make it a winner on road or in real life driving, wherer torque, flexibility and comfort is king and this where AMG shines.
BMW M, good cars, but keep them on the track.
why don't AMG do similar tweaks to their vehicles if they aim at M-cars
Thats just it, AMG's market is so different to BMW M's. I know thats no excuse considering when you buy an AMG car you expect involvement and "fun", otherwise you might as well buy an E320, but the two companies are so different. BMW have a mass market appeal with the M3, here in the UK at least, its also 10K GBP cheaper than the C AMG! Which is why the majority of people buy it I think, the UK has the highest motoring costs in Europe/world.
But with the C55, AMG have got as close to the "hardcoreness" of the M3 as possible I think, any harder and you'd get tramlining wheels, loss of comfort and ultimately loss of customers. You see for every M3 customer they attract, they'll lose 3 of their own. AMG customers demand power and comfort, and that line of separation should always be a handling compromise and not one of comfort. Simply because lap times are so irrelevant in the real world. My dad was once pusing our E240, and going around corners at ludicrous speeds, I was amazed at the grip and for me that was the limit of on road "pushing", of course opening 'her up on the motorway I'd always like to do, but there is a limit.
The C55 is a big improvement over the C32, and I think ChrisC55 will confirm this once he opens his up fully. AMG has long overwhelmed its rivals by sheer displacement and torque, and races have shown that from a rolling start the AMG's, even with their disabilities (high weight, and 5 speed auto) that they're very formidable cars.
True I would love more steering feel through a lighter turbocharged engine, but losing such a massive NA engine and its soundtrack is a high price to pay for that, for me at least. Suspension comfort is near on perfect for the balance. Finally one important characteristc is the LSD, a proper LSD with trick differential should quell our handling inadequacies, easily transmitting the 500Nm odd torque safely and effectively.
All in all, AMG have done a fantastic job, and get this, AMG plans special versions of all its cars, and they've reigistered C63 AMG and SLK63 AMG, probably with the 500hp and 600Nm NA 6.3 V8 they plan to release sometime next year. Coupled with 7G Tronic, I think we'll see the smiles on our faces broaden, and thats what AMG had hoped since the beginning.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
The better question is why a somewhat overweight, four door luxury sedan is keeping pace with BMW's brightest athlete?
Lastly Gabril, making the assumption that "any" M3 pilot can outdrive someone with an equally matched car is both arrogant and ignorant.
It's like women (speaking from my perspective). Can't we all love the fine works of art? Why do people have to just pick one? Anyway, my 2 cents and I'm here because of Chris Bangle
. Feel free to hate him.
and they've reigistered C63 AMG and SLK63 AMG, probably with the 500hp and 600Nm NA 6.3 V8 they plan to release sometime next year. Coupled with 7G Tronic, I think we'll see the smiles on our faces broaden, and thats what AMG had hoped since the beginning.

I've got a C55 on order for Sept delivery as well, sure would SUCK if a bigger engine comes out next year.

I thought 6.3 were slated for the next generation AMG-C cars, special editions like the SL65 are now.
Suspension of no compromise on M3, gives taut reflexes and better grip.
Lower weight of the M3 vs C AMG
Lower weight of M3 engine, enhancing turn in chracteristics and improving steering feel.
50/50 weight distribution of the M3
M Developed trick differential that behaves like an LSD. Enhances powerslide factors and corner speeds?
Possibly...possibly, the rubber on M3 could make a difference also...
Thats it, If anyone wants to add then go ahead or even correct me. As far as I'm concerned the differences in the M3 don't make it a winner on road or in real life driving, wherer torque, flexibility and comfort is king and this where AMG shines.
BMW M, good cars, but keep them on the track.
The right alignment would resolve the oversteer, turn-in, and wheel feel. Before any of these on track comparisions are done, equal spec springs and struts and regulated and fair sway bars as well as identical tires and track specific alignments should be had by both. Then run them and see what's up. The factory cars are always going to be bound to the marketing direction of the company.
The BMW video is too damn funny. Confidence in a name... bull*****...
The C55 is not going to get any more new engines or such until the new C-class debuts.
M Developed trick differential that behaves like an LSD. Enhances powerslide factors and corner speeds?
Last I could remember our CLK55 has an open diff.
I was driving along normally, going around 55 mph in the left lane just crossing the bridge before the turn, and I see these bright HID's come up quickly behind me. Lo and behold, an M3 convertible, white with grey interior. It was a young professional, still wearing his tie and shirt (I do not think it was a D&G tie though) He came up and was probably 4 inches from my rear bumper. I looked ahead of me first, no cars, and then into the mirror, nodded, and smiled ... GAME TIME!
I slow down to around 40 mph after just crossing the bridge, then I used the steptronic to downshift and hit the gas, *zoom zoom*, the M3 convertible was right behind me with the guy grinning. I smirked, why you ask? I was only at 3/4 throttle, I wanted him to keep up. I was more curious to see how he would do in the corner ... I decide to try it out around 7/10th's and see how the guy handles it.
I set the line for the corner and swing out a bit to the left and the guy is on the inside -- I grin even more ... we probably came into the turn around 65 mph ... I lightly tap the brakes and then get right back on the gas through the entire turn. He enters the turn to tight and his turning radius is clearly off and I hear his tires screech. Glance up, I see his back end wiggle but catches quickly, hmm ... DSC must be a lifesaver to some ///M owners ... I just keep applying power out of the corner leaving him buslengths behind.
When we hit the main straight, I slow down again and he comes charging up and I smile looking in the rear view mirror, he has this DETERMINED look on his face. Okay, round two, the next turn sweeping left hander is coming up and same thing occurs. I decide to go in a bit hotter and see how determined he really is at 8/10th's. We go into the corner probably around 70-75 mph this time, and now, he locks the tires and I can see smoke in the rearview mirror ... at least this time he mostly did all of his braking in a straight line instead of while turning!!! He can't follow me and gets left behind: AGAIN.
I am going around 80 mph and let off, whoa! Don't need tickets, so I slow down to around 70 mph and I am just cruising along (GW is a 50 mph highway, don't ask why). GW is very fun, nice and curvy sections. I never hit the brakes once in the turns; but, I see the M3 lose ground in the turns, and then make it up in the straights. I kept a steady 70 mph. I keep looking back to see where my friend is and he is content to stay about 5 carlengths behind me. All of a sudden, I see another set of HID's come up and I mean, they are MOVING VERY fast. I'm thinking, WTF ... can't be a cop. The car blows by me with the top down and hits the brakes. I can see it, silver SL55 AMG ... bastige with money.
I would say it is a 40-45 year old with 30 year old woman, yeah, she was hot to. She had some nice cleavage going on. He gets beside me and looks over and smirks. He had on one of these Versace looking shirts (e.g., UGLY as hell IMO). I smirk back and throw a to the woman. The guy snickers ... I glance up and now the M3 convertible is right behind me, I guess he wants to play as well.
Again, I look up and see a clear road ahead of me (both sides and the median (gotta look for the park police!) .... If you guys know GW, there is a turn where it narrows down to one lane again and it's a pretty cool left-hander that keeps you in the left hand turn for awhile. The right lane merges into the left lane. If you are smart, you can use both lanes and apex that corner very nicely.
I know I have no chance of outpowering the SL55 amg (or I thought at least), so, we are side by side, and I see the turn coming. I use the AWESOMELY powerful steptronic to downshift like an F1 racer and I hit the gas going into the turn hoping to catch him by surprise before he has time to put the power down. The AMG gods are with me, I start entering the turn and I goto the far right lane and then start squeezing the gas. I keep my eyes focused ahead not worrying where the guys were ... I keep constant throttle applied so that I exited the corner around 95 mph. After I get back to the straight portion, I glance back up.
The AMG guy is like 5 buslengths behind with the M3 guy right on his tail but losing ground in the straight. He comes charging fast on me, directly in my lane. He comes up behind me within 4 inches of my bumper. I mean, he was so close, you couldn't see his hood or ornament. Then he started to swerve back and forth in the lane like some retard. What the hell, he's trying to warm his tires up or something? The woman looks really worried.
He keeps slowing down then accelerating to within 3 inches of my bumper. This pisses me off and I do not recommend people do this; but, I was a bit aggravated at him. I try not to drive like a moron on the streets. I speed; but, always try to minimize the risks associated with it, e.g., innocent bystanders. I look ahead and the road is clear. I downshift, and downshift again, this time, now I am going around 45 mph (speed limit is 50 remember)... and the SL guy and M3 guy are right there, we are all in a line. He keeps watching my car. I know he is not looking ahead; but, staring at me. Thus, I am banking on this for the next manuever.
We come to some curves that I know ... and I decide to be evil ... I hit the gas about 100 yards away from a turn in the road, knowing full well he will be near 100% power and carrying a buttload of weight. The turn is coming and at the last possible moment, I use threshold braking and I slow down TREMENDOUSLY .... and immediately, hit the throttle into the corner. He sees the turn to late and he is way to hot -- BOTH M3 and AMG guy. The AMG locks his brakes and you can see smoke and squealing coming from it.... and the M3 guy swiftly turns the wheel and goes into the other lane and backs off ... the AMG guy is fighting the car ... the back end starts to wiggle and it wiggles left .... and then wiggles right, and wiggles again ...
Thank god for ESP he should be thinking, it saved his *** .... I throw a hand out the window waving -- dang, NO love from either driver. Both look kind of pissed.
After that, both cars stayed 10 car lengths behind me ... Sorry, it was an assinine move; but, I have no problems people following 4 inches from my bumper; but, when you keep revving the engine, accelerating, slamming the brakes consistently, that bugs me ... because I know you are watching my rear bumper and not what is coming ahead.
That was my drive home yesterday, how was yours?
bring it on!
Last I could remember our CLK55 has an open diff.Nevertheless, I am so glad to know our cars are being treated with great attentions on performance details.
cnt
p.s. and I am even glad that I don't have to spend so much time to prove anything to anyone! :p
Both are nice, both are fast... but at the end of the day... both take me from point A to point B in style...
So... what gives with this debate? Jeeezzzz.....
Last edited by Roadruner; Aug 12, 2005 at 08:07 AM.
I've got a C55 on order for Sept delivery as well, sure would SUCK if a bigger engine comes out next year.

I thought 6.3 were slated for the next generation AMG-C cars, special editions like the SL65 are now.
We should be very happy if a C63 gets 440hp because it will already beat M3/4 E90 which is another story that it will get 420hp. 
The best guess is C63 will get 10% more power which is ~400hp. If we get 420hp , we can all sleep well. :p
Last edited by cntlaw; Aug 12, 2005 at 09:04 AM.






