Hello friends,
I'm in the market for either a CL55 or CL600.

What exactly IS the difference other than the AMG badge and the v12 ?

Anything other than engine?

Appreciate any feedback. So far I can't spending the extra $ on the 600.

THANKS!

 

The CL55 has the following differences:

AMG-built intercooled supercharged 5,439-cc SOHC 24-valve 90° V-8. High-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block. Reinforced crankshaft and valvetrain. Alloy heads. Lightweight camshafts. (Although the CL600's V12 Twin Turbo rocks).
AMG 8 Piston front Brakes with 14.2" drilled rotors
AMG 4 Piston rear Brakes with 13.0" drilled rotors
AMG Dual Spoke Rims
AMG tuned suspension
AMG tuned ABC
AMG Sport Seats
AMG-design perforated leather in seating areas.
AMG tuned trasmission with SpeedShift
AMG-design leather-trimmed sport steering wheel with raised thumbgrips and fingertip shift controls.
AMG Stainless Steel Door Sills
AMG Quad 3.25" exhaust.
AMG-design sculpted front air dam with mesh air intakes, side skirts and rear apron. (Avail on the CL600 with the sport kit).
AMG Floor Mats
AMG design 200 Mph speedo
AMG vehicles have a 155mph limiter where as no AMG's have a 130mph limiter.


More Info:

Transmission AMG-enhanced driver-adaptive electronic 5-speed automatic. Touch Shift allows driver to manually downshift and allow upshifts by nudging the shift lever left or right from the Drive position. Shift into Optimum Gear programming allows one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration or engine braking by holding the shift lever to the left of Drive for one second. Driver-selectable comfort mode starts vehicle moving in 2nd gear or a second Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm, to help improve control on slippery surfaces. Display in instrument cluster indicates selected gear range and standard/comfort/manual mode.

AMG SpeedShift AMG SpeedShift™ programming provides up to 35% faster gear changes, automatically downshifts during braking, prevents unwanted upshifting while cornering, offers one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration (Shift into Optimum Gear), and features torque converter lock-up in all forward gears. Fingertip manual mode allows direct-access shifting through forward gears via buttons on back of upper steering wheel spokes or via Touch Shift feature of shift lever, and will automatically intervene only to induce an upshift at redline, to downshift as needed upon full throttle, and to select 1st gear when the vehicle stops. In standard and comfort modes, the steering wheel buttons operate the Touch Shift feature.

Brakes AMG-enhanced dual-circuit power-assisted 4-wheel disc. Perforated and internally ventilated front and rear discs. AMG 8-piston fixed-type front calipers, AMG 4-piston fixed-type rear calipers.

 

I can't see much reason why anyone would choose the 600 over the AMG55.

Am I missing something?

Why spend the extra $?

Thanks!

 

The 55's are a raw driving machine. They tickle you everytime you start up the car, they keep on forcing you to fantasize even AFTER you leave the car and turn it off.

The 600's are V12's. Cream of the crop, and they pull and pull to no end (not that the 55's don't) but it is smoother. More refined if you will. May, maybe not, faster in speed, but sure as hell, either one you chose, you can't go wrong.

 

Really the only reason someone may want to go for a 600 is:

#1 The huge twin turbo V12 is pure sexy.

#2 ECU modifications on the V12's yield more power at a more reasonable price range.



Other than that, I dunno.

I say go for the 55. You get a lot more for less. The AMG's also tend to hold their value better. However, if you have to have a V12, the 600's are very nice.

Keep in mind as well, the 600's come with a little more wood and an alcantara headliner.

 

The 600s are just plain faster than 55s, at least in terms of acceleration.

The 600s have 591 ft/lbs of torque and a demonstrably underrated horsepower rating so as not to detract from AMG sales.

Here's your first datapoint: 12.19 quarter mile in 100% stock trim (even original oil in the crankcase) for my CL600. That's uncorrected, by the way.

- Dave

 

I'm not sure how one would be able to really test drive both the 55 and 600 (at least around here) as there is no dealer around that has either one just sitting on a showroom floor.

I'm leaning toward the 55, as the small difference in torque and speed probably will be meaningless to me. (I'm not going to be racing it). I don't care if I hit 100mph a fraction of a second slower.

I also like the F1 style shift available on the 55.

Come to think of it. I've already made up my mind! LOL...
The 55 it is...

Just writing this out clarified it for me. Now just to choose colors and options.

 

I had one of the first CL600's in the US,felt it was too smooth and quiet,mods were not available yet so I got E55.
Modded with Renntech,not satisfying enough for the $$,traded for S600.
With the upgrades available for this car sky is the limit(still for quite reasonable $$)
Installed a Brabus quad pipes,sound is improved and the car looks better,can't wait to break it in and put the Renntech stage 3.(625 hp,700+ lb torque!!!)

 

What's all involved in the stage 3? Hardware or software?

I went to renntech.com but it gave me page not found...

 

I'll weigh in with a biased view towards the 55. The 600 has more wood and the alcantara headliner, is easier to modify given the turbo setup vs the SC setup in the 55, but does not have the shift, brakes, suspension or seats in the 55. The 600 may be straight line faster, but there is little on the road that will beat either from about 30 mph up to the limit.
I found a significant difference in the suspension of my 02 CL500 Sport and my 03 CL55. The 03 55 feels like it is at least 600 or 700 lbs. lighter, although it is actually a over 200 lbs. heavier than the 500 Sport. The 600 is a heavy car with a front biased weight distribution, according to some owners I have talked with. Yes the V12 is smooth, but unless you are prepared to go for the CL65, will not be the ultimate MB this year.
It may also be that the 55 has a firmer aftermarket value.
All I know is that when I take my 55 onto an exit ramp it goes where I point it at a brisk pace without drama and when I need acceleration it has not let me down in almost 11,000 of driving in the past year.

 

Benz has only just begun. There is much talk from insiders that the next generation AMG engines and Benz V-12's will be even much much more powerful and faster, while also being smarter and lighter, than the current ones !!


the 2006 model S & CL AMG V-8 cars will drop the 5.5 liter supercharged engine and get an all-new design 6.3 liter 4-Valve DOHC light-alloy variable valve timing engine with atleast 600 horsepower, and that is naturally aspirated !!!! The tuners will have a blast modifying this beast with forced induction !!

The next twin-turbo V-12's and AMG V-12's will even much more devastatingly fast indeed. The AMG V-12's will have ATLEAST 700+ horsepower with atleast 800+ torque levels and all new trans with much faster and smarter shifting too !!

 

this is the deference with the two. if you want a more sporty car then the 500 you go with the 55AMG. its sport tuned suspention nad bigger brakes for harder drivers. and soprt seats for a more sporty feel and side front rear skirt for a more sporty look, with the 4 exhuasts.
the 600 is more of a classy comfy car with lots of power, but more to the luxury side.

id go with the 55AMG b/c i like the sporty feel.