have a chance to get a very low mileage/clean cl600 amg sport with a renntech ecu/tcu. renntech claims 625hp/745tq, which would make the car obviousley as fast as the 65. i know the 65 has 6liters campared to the 600's 5.5 and a bigger cam. anything else? renntech claims 675hp/840tq with tune on the 65. are the turbos the same?intercoolers?transmission?

2003 cl600 blk/blk amg sport 30kmiles
renntech ecu/tcu/intake/exhaust/ic pump
extended 2yr warr.
$30K

2005 blk/blk cl65 35kmiles
no ecu tune
no warr
$50k

have the money for either just want to know if you think the 65 is worth an extra $20k
i think i should just drive both

 

I have a 2008 CL 600 with the Renntech ECT/TCU. It is faster that a stock CL65-

The CL600 is an amazing car. Very quiet and less showy than the CL65, but an amazing amount of torque and power. Blows the CL63 away.

You could not go wrong with either.

 

I would get the AMG CL65 all day over the CL600.. I feel the tuners gross hp numbers are exagerated and AMG may under state thier numbers.. The AMG car will hold better value, be factory fast and has a lot of other performance features over the Cl600. The tranny in the Cl600 may also not be rated or modified to handle the tuners extra HP , as well as the Cl65 car.

The last big fact, you are getting a very limited edition AMG 180K car for 20K more than a 120K car. Two years newer and for a 3K- ish, can get the exteneded warranty of your choice.. It is a no brainer to me.

 

Part of that $20K difference is because the CL600 is two years older than the CL65. I know the CL600 has an extended warranty, I just wonder if you will run into problems with the mods done.

The CL65 has other differences (assuming it is completely stock). It has the huge AMG big brakes which would cost $6K to fit to the CL600. This could be an advantage for the CL600 if you are looking to save weight/maintenance costs.

With the CL65 you get the AMG 19" split spoke wheels which I personally think look great. Realistically a set of these 4 wheels cost $3K+ for used.

The CL65 comes with AMG seats, door sills and gauges (not really worthwhile to replace).

I believe the RENNtech exhaust is just mufflers so you have the "standard" exhaust going to the mufflers and single tips on each side (which look like the ones on the CL500). In comparison the CL65 has about 1/4" bigger diameter exhaust piping all the way back to its quad tips. Also, I believe that the CL600 has an extra set of resonators. I haven't heard a stock CL600's exhaust next to my CL65...but since you have the RENNtech mufflers I assume it is louder than a CL65's.

The CL65 comes with a much bigger heat exchanger (50% larger) than a stock CL600. It sounds like you may have the RENNtech intercooler upgrade which consists of a smaller supplemental heat exchanger. The RENNtech supplemental heat exchanger + stock heat exchanger do not equal the CL65's stock heat exchanger in volume.

Overall the CL600 weighs about 200lbs lighter than the CL65. So if the RENNtech CL600 is making the same power, it will be faster than the CL65. A RENNtech modified CL65 should be faster than a similarly RENNtech modified CL600, at least in theory. Obviously, the additional costs to modify the CL65 should be factored into the analysis.

I personally take a certain satisfaction in knowing that I own what was ultimately AMG's flagship model, of which less than 200 were imported to the US between 2005 and 2006. But that wasn't a deciding factor for me. I wanted the 6.0L V12 engine. I wanted the huge cross drilled 15.4" front discs with 8 piston calipers. I wanted the 19" split spoke AMG wheels. I really didn't even consider the CL600 because I viewed it (at the time) as more luxury oriented. Had there been a RENNtech modified CL600 cross my path, I would have definitely looked at it. But ultimately I make car decisions based on emotion and not economic "common" sense. I would still go for the CL65.


Tom

 

Hang on a minute.... this post gets 10/10.

I have not a thing to add other than if you get a 65 you don't need to mod it (though some do)...with a 600 you'll always know there's something left on the table as regards engine/brakes/exhaust/cooling....600 is a great car but spend extra on the 65

-Rob

 

^^^^ What he said! Go for the 65. I had an RENNtech tuned 2005 SL600 and always wished it was the 65 even thought it was extremely fast. Good luck with your decision.

Larry

 

+2--- outstanding post

 

great posts!
trying to convince myself i will be happy with modded 600.
i will not be happy unless i get the real deal 65

 

A ECU tuned 65 AMG car is downright obnoxious in all areas of power, torque and luxury, there really isn't anything else out there that combines that complete package so well does it in amazing execution. If there is one thing I see from the CL65 AMG is that the owner never ever compromises for anything(this can be said about many AMG cars). IMHO it's what makes AMG...well AMG.

 

After years of seeing those words in my sleep at night, if you can get past the expense of this event, do yourself a favor and get what you want. Do no stop, do not pass go, do not get what you don't really want. Analytic thought may be great for the boardroom, but here is where all those "well thought" decisions should pay off.

The CL600 is an incredible car, made even more special by Renntech, etc., but it will never be a CL65. The CL65 is a ground up factory developed AMG at the top of the luxury/performance hill as TMC M5 so aptly describes and is really the only choice if price is no object.

 

Started with an 07cl600. Gorgeous car put a chip in it. Hella fast. Got an 08 cl65. Definitely a better car in every way. The steering, handling, not as wallowy, brakes are stronger, body kit is def. nicer, disc look better through different alloys (600's are too small and look funny if visible) and the AMG quirks on the inside. I got the powerchip ecu upgrade with same person same place. Honestly, the cl600 feels slightly faster in the lower speeds but the 65 is a bullet over 40-50 miles an hour. Not really sure why.

It did bother me some so I went back to powerchip. I'm convinced those guys are the best. They recallibrated the ecu and tried to gear up the turbos, but it was clearly maximized. They did three different tunes until it was clear the original was maximized. Its my third car I've taken to them. I definitely recommend them. Nice guys and really know what they're doing. Hell of a difference on the 600. For the 65, it seems like they're already maximized from AMG. It does make it a little more responsive. But if you want more power, need to modify the exhaust and put in a better intercooler. Probably not worth doing it.

Overall, 65 is a far superior car. The 600 is nice. It doesn't have the solidity, feel, suspension nor the power at higher speeds like 65. They're both gorgeous, can't go wrong with either. 63 vs 600 Haven't ever driven ...

Side note, don't get 22inch wheels with 25 profile tires. Doesn't work with this car unless you're on a super smooth track or orange county.

 

wow this thread is back from the dead! i went with the cl65 and am now cranking out 825hp and a 10 sec pass

 

Im soo jealous

 

bump this for info on the difference in transmission, half-shafts, rear end etc. between the 65 and 600. thanks.

 

Different transmission has upgraded clutch packs and internals "same trans as maybach" versus the dot6 in the 600's, halfshafts are a larger diameter, differential im not sure but could only suspect its different only due to the fact that it has smaller half shaft diameters then the 65, but can check and report back.

 

thanks for the info!

 

First post so I thought I'd revive an old thread. Tell me if you would about maintenance for each? It sounds like a brake job would be more for a 65 vs the 600. Any other differences? Does one seem to need less repair work than the other?


Thanks!

 

Brakes on the 65 are a lot more expensive, 19" tires are more expensive, posi for the rear differential is more expensive. The rest of the car is about the same for cost and maintainance except the 65 will burn more gas and have faster rear tire wear.

I've always gone by the philosophy that there is no such thing as a good buy on something you don't want. If you want a 65 you probably will not be happy with a 600 even though 99% of us probably will not push a 600 hard enough to make a difference in real daily use.

There are some great reasons to buy a 600 vs a 65 though, and most of them are green. I never considered a 600 because I wanted a 65. Nothing wrong with a 600, just wasn't what I wanted. After all, noone "needs" either of these cars so if you can afford it then buy what you really want.

 

block, cams, heads, turbos are different.
everything else in the running gear is pretty much the same.

 

Thread is back again! I'm very happy with my decision to go with the 65 over 600-one of the best car purchases I've ever made. I sold it a few years ago and bought an 2005 cl600 as a daily to replace my cl500. It's got a Eurocharged tune and is a blast to drive! it's not a 65 and your leaving a lot on the table when opting for the 600 and will still want a 65.

 

Does anybody know what happens, or what one does, to all the sensors that attach to the air pipe body between the two intercoolers when you upgrade the intercoolers? What do they do? I brought Speedriven intercoolers for my 2003 CL600 and we don't know what to do with the superfluous sensors. After test fitting, the starboard side intake pipe from the intercooler rubs against the small black reservoir. Any advice on removing these sensors would be much appreciated.
Roger down under

 

Hi, Roger. As I mentioned on the other threads you posted this on, I've re-sent you the directions and emailed you a few questions.

 

Daily driving a tuned 600 and have a tuned 65 in the garage. Anyone on the fence(especially since now both are "cheap") get the 65 hands down. Brakes are your only higher maintence item. I would like to make a video one of these days, of the 600 vs 65 with the same mods to give a once and for all end to how much faster one is from the other...fwiw, tuned cl600 runs door to door with tuned s65

 

Can the 600 handle the Eurochaged ECU tune which puts the engine torque ~700+lb/ft and 600+ cHP ? thanks

 

Are you still driving either of the two ? How has the reliability been for either? I am looking for a CL600 bi-turbo as these are readily available then the CL65 amg. Thanks