Jons95c36amg

The 2 different C43s I ran was about the same where they both edged me. I guess both of them were slow ones Want to know what a V8 should pull like? My CLK55 pulls like a ****. Leaving the C43 bus lengths behind

Dr. C36

ya CLK55 W208 is an ANIMAL. that sucker has real potential. My W210 E55 AMG modded was amazing but putting that same drivetrain into 300lb lighter car, I can only imagine what that sucker would pull like. I eventually plan to get CLK55 and make a W208 "black series" out of it stripping it of as much excess weight as possible. If I could get it form 3450 to 3200 + a good 40-50HP I think it would be an absolute monster.

The C43 & C36 both are great cars but at the end of the day they just have limitations, they can only be so good being from a certain era. The CLK55 weighs same as C43 but has so much more power so in reality they aren't in the same performance catagory.

Either way all AMGs are amazing in their own way and for their own era in history. I've had the W210 AMG, I've had the W202 AMG, the W208 AMG is next on my AMG list. I definitely want to get a CLK55, hopefully I will be able to get my hands on a cherry one real soon now that the 36 is gone.

FLYNAVY

Not to call you out, but I have run a CLK 55 (w208) and it wasn't even close to "buslengths".......just FYI. You do realize that the 208 is heavier than the 202, right? Not to mention the fact that it is pretty weird that you feel the need to bring a CLK55 (obviously higher on the AMG "food chain") into the argument to put the C43 down. I stand my ground that a C43 is a FAR better everyday driver than a C36, and I fail to see how anyone will prove me wrong.....(0bviously this is a good-hearted challenge to my C36 brethren FTW since we all have the most fun in our 202s)

RBYCC

My personal opinion is that the normally aspirated C36 even with the mods that "Dr.C36" prescribes will not perform overall with the C43.

The C43 has a flatter torque curve and delivers power much better then the M104 throughout the RPM range.
"Dr. C36" spoke of a "few tenths" difference in the quarter, but every "tenth" is a car length.

Twin turbo a M104 ( or in my case a M103 ) and all bets are off....
Properly set up with a programmed 12.5 / .87 Lambda AFR under .48 bar boost that begins at 1500 rpm and the Merc I6 variants will smoke most NA AMG V8 engines, excluding the new 6.3 in any straight line contest.

With zero traction in 38 degree F ambient, I ran a 14.39/99 mph....traction I go mid to high 13's and 100-102 !!!.

And that's with a twin turbo M103-12V that only dyno'd on a Mustang at 195HP against a baseline of 135HP
It's not the dyno number that counts as it is only a "tuning tool", it's the end result in real world perfomance numbers !!!

myc43amg

That's so true, we are comparing the c36/c43, why bring in anything else.
I can name a car/s that will make the clk 55 a puppy, but what's the purpose of that? I will say this, I took a test drive 3 months ago (for th fun of it) on a c36 that was for sale 5 miles from my home. I liked the way the trans shifted, so FAST. Everything else was not that impressing to ME. I was so happy to get back to the seat of my c43.

If the C36 had 380HP I would still not buy it now that I have driven a c43. And that's simply because of one main thing,V8 power and SOUND! The c32 is a nice car with more HP than the C43 and from what I have read drives better. But I still would buy the C43 because WHY? THE V8! I love that sound and feel of a "real" muscular car WITHOUT any help of superchargers or turbos. THAT to me is what made me choose the C43.

So if people are happy with what they have that's great! This thread is nice because it will no doubt help anyone who's looking to buy a MB amg. Not to mention the "my car is better than yours" and here's why...... Gotta love it!

Jons95c36amg

With me in the CLK55 its 3560lbs,1/2 tank of gas. I think the C43 is 35xx lbs. When I ran my bros 04 GTO w exhaust which ran 13.7@102+ by 65mph I was more then 2 cars ahead! The 1/4 well you get the pic. I don't think any stock C43 runs that fast. BTW I'm not putting the C43 down. You know I own a C36 which is my daily driver.

Jons95c36amg

These days you could get a low mileage W208 CLK55 for cheap $20k. But there is one bad thing about the CLK55 is rear tire wear!

FLYNAVY

Its cool.....didn't take offense, the CLK55 is a great car too. I actually weighed in at 33xx lbs when I did my last govt. move, so figures may vary some. Pretty sure most C43's are low 14's stock, so yeah mid-high 13's would be significantly faster

bagelsjustbagel

OK well Dr. C36 has basically converted me into now also looking for C36's. Ill keep you guys updated on anycars i find. thanks for the advice. Hopefuly if you guys find a deal ull lemme know


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/741783427.html

Anyone have any opinions? What i should check out (and the costs of that)
I also figure in the 600 for the new pully =]
ANd ill probably talk him down 400bucks because of the salvage title and mileage
(anyone have carfax?)

ProjectC55

C36 vs C43 = NO comparison. I'll take the C43 and it's V8 motor and 5 spd tranny over the C36 anyday! With me NOT in my C43 it weigh's minus the rear tire and jack, 3363lbs.

Now that I have the 5.5L motor in my car the C43 is just incredible to drive.

So right now my car is very comparable to a CLK55 ,so if any W208/209 CLK 55 wants to take on my C43(5.5L),BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!

and no one I guarantee will be able to prove you wrng.


The C36 is only impressive to me when turbocharged as I feel it's a nice car but a big dog in all aspects compared to the newer C43 and even an E36 M3. Any one is welcome to prove to me otherwise as I've already tken a TT C36 to task on the road.

ProjectC55

DONT DO IT!!!! TRUST ME!

ProjectC55

Sorrry Bro ,but that's ridiculous and where do you come off saying that the c36 has more modable hp gains to make over the C43 because of the I6 motor?

I don't agree with alot you have to say here especially the V8 vs I6 statements.


The Toyota Tundra V8 when turbocharged and put in a Solara vs the 3.0L 2jz with a big turbo has shown the V8 to put out superior hp when turbocharged vs the I6.

I bet you if turbocharged a 4.3L M113 V8 has the potential to blow away a turbocharged M104 I6.

My car N/A blows Ralstons TT C36 away out the hole and from 0 to just over 100mph ,then he starts to come back and pull after that.

Don't underestimate the potetial of tuning and making hp in the M113 motor N/A of F/I.

I deal more with reality than fantasy and have seen my share of turbocharged C36's and modified M113's and what they can do..

ProjectC55

If that's so tru then why did Jeffrey pull the 4spd out of his C36 turbo and put in the better geared 5spd from a M113 V8 car?

101,000 miles on my cars original tranny and still no issus at all even after adding the more torquier 5.5L motor.


Care for me to tell you how many times Ralston has blown the 4 spd tranny in his TT C36 E55pwr Alias Dr.C36?

Jons95c36amg

I was talking about stock form and the history on the tranny for the C43 and C36. So Carl when are you going to OBI or Captree?

FLYNAVY

And to pile it on further, there aren't that many w201 m104 swaps out there. There are a handful (4 come to mind) with 3.2's in N/a form, 2 3.6L's in N/a form, and then 2 different blown 3.6's in Europe (one turbo, one s/c). Beyond that, there may be more out there but they are un-documented and don't participate in the internet, which in this day and age is questionable

Dr. C36

Actually I just turned down offer to get mint low mileage black/two tone 02 for $17k (about 50k miles). Prices will continue to drop from here. they should be sub 15k soon.

Dr. C36

wow ProjectC55 is getting a bit insecure haha. Dude relax you don't need to defend the C43s honor, we get it you are biased to the C43 as I am to the C36.

Honestly the C43 just isn't unique, special, rare enough for my personal tastes.

Plus your car isn't a normal W202 you did a motor swap so to compare yours to CLK55 isn't exactly fair, even so though you are still the same weight as a CLK55 so really at best you should be dead even. Furthermore W208 CLK is lighter & faster so even bringing W209 into this is pointless.

Obviously NA will be quicker out of the hole, the M104 doesnt' really wake up till about 4000rpm if you don't have a crank pulley. It just sorta sluggishly accelerates until cams open up. I bet you my C36 would have destroyed his out of the hole with over 20+ ft lbs more throughout the low end to mid range. Before my CP my car was a 60-90mph car, afterwards it became a 0-120 car, after that though the torque of a V8 really does help although not by much.

This thread could go on for 10 years (which it honestly may), at the end of the day its personal preference. I've driven C43, I've had modded E55, I've driven alot of other AMGs, but there is something very SPECIAL about the C36, the way it drives and feels as well as its character is unlike any car I've ever driven, it really is like driving automotive history, the C43 is just another car imo, it lacks the nostalgia & exclusivity that only the C36 can bring.

Both are good cars, but I'd much rather take a C36 anyday, The M104 is a much livelier higher revving fun I6 vs. a normal torquey M113 V8 (not that its much torquey, hell my C36 has more torque than C43). I'd take the C36 anyday but again I already know your response "no comparison, C43 better, blah blah etc etc" no need to respond we know your position after the last 5 posts in arow .

Just relax, take a deep breathe

FLYNAVY

1) Your C36 is modded, so again I'm having trouble seeing the comparison (as is c55's)

2) You can look at peak HP, or peak TQ, and yes by those numbers your modded C36 is not far behind my stock C43. But when you look at the delivery of torque over the entire powerband, you will see and feel a different story. I can at least make this assessment from experience w/ both cars in stock/unmodded form. Then again, I6 motors are not weak in the TQ category.

This is my take though, if you want a hard handling 6-cyl sport sedan, get an e36 M3. That car and that motor (s52) is 10 times more fun than a C36, can be had w/ a manual trans, and pulls like a freight train at low rpms.

If you want the V8 experience, a C43 is a good cheap way to get it, in AMG trim nonetheless (even if they punched out 300 more units/yr than C36 ). You can take a look at the vehicles in my garage and quickly see where my bias lies in terms of engine choice No replacement for displacement (even if the displacement is equivalent ie turbo/sc)

Jons95c36amg

I meant low mileage like 30ks mile range with a warranty But yeah you could get them for a steal now a days. I saw a local 02 CLK55 with 99k miles for $14k

FLYNAVY

Crazy....let me know when you find a vert in that price range, cause I will buy it

ProjectC55

Not biased at all. Just stating the facts really. I also feel that the E36 M3 is a better all around performing car than the C36. Where is the C36 better than either one of these cars?

Omey,now where do you get your facts from. The CLK 55 has a bigger heavier diff than a C43. It also has bigger heavier axles than a C43. The C43 has a 3.06 final drive rear diff vs the 2.82 rear diff final drive ratio in the CLK55. The W209 CLK55 is even heavier but uses a 3.07 Final drive ratio in it's diff which is also heavier than my diff.
To appreciatate a C36 more than a C43 would be almost the equvalent to liking a C36 more than a CLK430 or even an W208 AMG CLK 55 which was the fastest AMG built in late 1999 early yr 2k.


You keep saying I'm biased. That's not so. The power curve from the 4.3L v8 is also better than the pwr curve in the M104 I6. You are doing nothing but alot of speculating as far as i'm concerned,in comparing the potential and power of the M113 4.3L motor. If the M104 motor was such a potential power house, why would MB use the M113 V8 4.3,5.0,5.5L motor to this day? How many yrs are we talking now,1998 to 2006(8 yrs)

If the I-6 was such a Godsend performance wise,wouldn't MB have used it in it's AMG's as long as BMW and BMW "M" have used it's M50,M52,S50,S52,N52,N54 not to mention the earlier Euro version I-6's used in the E36 M3. I-6 motors in it's 3 and 5 series cars?

Show us a dyno of your car where it has more tq than a C43. A Modded C43 will stomp your modded C36 and I could guarantee you that. F/I modded or modded N/A.

Show us the dyno's for crying out loud. Show us some 1/4 mile #'s. I bet you my 99 M3 and my 94 M332i(converted 325i OBD1 all the wrk dne by me) would have slammed your modded C36.

Show us #'s and facts and not pure bias and speculation. You sound alot like some of the "M" guys on the m5board.

C36 is old technology,C43 is newer and improved technology. FACT!

Dude you kill me! You are obviously talking about a modded C36 vs a Stck C43. Can we talk modded C36 vs modded C43 PLEASE!

By the way,where are your dyno's?

Dude are you dreaming again? You obviously can't be talking about Ralston's or Jeffrey's C36 TT. Whatever dude!

It's hard to relax dude when you like to post misinformation or non factual unsubstantiated points in many of your posts. However I really should have known better than to respond to your posts to tell you the truth.

Come out with some facts and not opinion next time.











.

ProjectC55

Dude I've been to Captree and I know you have seen me there. The question is,when are you gonna be there and let me know?

My tranny is the original tranny ,so not every C43 tranny when properly maintained especially(talking about mine and a few others specifically), has had the dreaded tranny problem. Now my tranny is dealing with the abuse of the 5.5L motor.

ProjectC55

All tru in this post and END of STORY!

PJmak

get both

close thread

ktnxby

bagelsjustbagel

1. please nevertell me to get a BMW
2. the C43 i am very interested too. 90% more interested in.
only about 10% for the c36
NOW KEEP IN MIND I WANT OPINIONS ON BOTH CARS STOCK!!!

yes the C36 doesnt have the torques. but is the gas mileage worth it to get the C43? debate also dont close the thread the point of this site is discussion. just keep it nice boys.

basically help me find the right car. your the experts on both stock cars.