C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

C32/55 AMG v. C230/320 Sport Sedan

Old Dec 19, 2004 | 10:19 AM
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C32/55 AMG v. C230/320 Sport Sedan

Aside from the AMG engine and brakes, etc. are these cars otherwise the same?
eg. hood, chassis, drive train, body panels?
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 10:22 AM
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all the cars listed are the same except the c55. Due to the larger engine, they made the front end a few inches longer and used the CLK front end to accomplish this.
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 01:30 PM
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The C55 has a wider track than the c32, it has a revised and more aggressive suspension, it has the front end from the CLK55 to meet crash safety specifications here in the states, it has gearshift paddles on the back of the steering wheel, it has nappa leather with suede inserts, it has the option of wood interior, it has 18" wheels instead of 17" wheels, it has lower profile tires, it has a quad exhaust, it has different paint color options, it has a more aggressive v8 sound, it is faster (some will argue with this), it has a spare tire (collapsible), other than that, they are close to each other.
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 01:31 PM
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I believe it also has a beefed up differential in the rear.
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 02:17 PM
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The C-class has a lot of inner structure in common with the CLK and so it was "straightforward" to use the CLK front end on the C55 AMG. AMG engineering had to uprate a lot of the internal components, such as the torque converter and the oil-cooling system. The AMG Speedshift system for faster and more responsive shifting also involves changes to both the mechanical parts as well as the ECU programming.

The AMG block is different from the production 5-litre version. It is stiffer, and its internals are built to a higher specification, with light-weight pistons and con-rods married to a billet steel crankshaft. The heads are also different, and the intake and exhaust suitably matched to the high-lift cams.



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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by rguy
The C55 has a wider track than the c32, it has a revised and more aggressive suspension, it has the front end from the CLK55 to meet crash safety specifications here in the states, it has gearshift paddles on the back of the steering wheel, it has nappa leather with suede inserts, it has the option of wood interior, it has 18" wheels instead of 17" wheels, it has lower profile tires, it has a quad exhaust, it has different paint color options, it has a more aggressive v8 sound, it is faster (some will argue with this), it has a spare tire (collapsible), other than that, they are close to each other.
I love your last sentence
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 06:59 PM
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Thanks cntlaw. I wasn't really trying to be sarcastic (although I can't help it sometimes because it can be funny if it isn't mean-spirited). I just think most people don't grasp the differences between these vehicles. The C55 is not just an engine swap and about 90% of the people out there really think it is.

To the original poster, I think this is an excellent question, and I tried to think of everything I could. I am extremely happy it was asked because I think it has been needed for quite some time. I just didn't have the you know whats to start this kind of thread for fear of banishment to the icy caves jutting from the tibetan plateau.

Have fun everyone, and for god's sake be careful out there. There are a lot of crazies out, especially this time of year.
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 07:04 PM
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I also think your point was well-raised that AMG doesn't start with a 500 block and bore it out, they start with the blueprint of a 500 block. This is very different indeed.
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Old Dec 19, 2004 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by rguy
The C55 has a wider track than the c32
Can you elaborate on this?
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 12:32 AM
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I don't have the details in front of me, but the front wheels and the rear wheels are farther apart on the C55 than they are on the c32. Essentially, the farther the wheels are apart, the more stable the car is because the more weight shift it takes to put the center of gravity outside of the body of an object. This is one of the main ideas behind lowering a car, making the wheels farther apart causes some of the same stuff allowing for sharper handling.
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 01:05 AM
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Thanks. I was under the impression that the C32 shares the same axle as the C55 and that they run a similar tire width stock.
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 01:05 AM
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Originally Posted by rguy
I believe it also has a beefed up differential in the rear.
What? Where? On another car maybe.
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 02:17 AM
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WHY do some of these other sport C's have a MUCH smaller wheel gap compared to the c32....i should get their pads?
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 03:19 AM
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Originally Posted by ro0zy
WHY do some of these other sport C's have a MUCH smaller wheel gap compared to the c32....i should get their pads?

Well, only the rear has pads. Its not the pads though, even if just say a sport sedan had a number 3 pad and a C32 had a number 3, the sport sedan will be lower. Finally mercedes made the C class a little lower the way they should be. Even the C55 is a decent height stock.
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 05:04 AM
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the wide front track was achieved by changing wheel offset from 37mm to 30.
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackC230Coupe
Well, only the rear has pads. Its not the pads though, even if just say a sport sedan had a number 3 pad and a C32 had a number 3, the sport sedan will be lower. Finally mercedes made the C class a little lower the way they should be. Even the C55 is a decent height stock.

the c32 should be at least as low as the sport
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Old Dec 20, 2004 | 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by rguy
Thanks cntlaw. I wasn't really trying to be sarcastic (although I can't help it sometimes because it can be funny if it isn't mean-spirited). I just think most people don't grasp the differences between these vehicles. The C55 is not just an engine swap and about 90% of the people out there really think it is.

To the original poster, I think this is an excellent question, and I tried to think of everything I could. I am extremely happy it was asked because I think it has been needed for quite some time. I just didn't have the you know whats to start this kind of thread for fear of banishment to the icy caves jutting from the tibetan plateau.

Have fun everyone, and for god's sake be careful out there. There are a lot of crazies out, especially this time of year.

rguy

Sometime we are down this forum here for lots of good sense of humour and that is what life is all about.

Two friends of mine had a go on my car the other day. One of them just bought a C200K which I alos tried on and I must say the C200K is an amazing machine with exhaust sound I never heard from most regualr MBs! They told me the C55 is feeling like a completely different car!

cnt
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