Dely

OK Folks I need some expert advice. This is my first post, but I have been checking out this forum quite some time and already gained some valuable insight.

Brief background…I have been driving BMW’s for the past 10 years. I have always loved the look of most Mercedes (I love the CL), but I was never a fan of the fact that most of their models lack stick shift. I have never owned an automatic. My last car (sold in December to by a Beater for the winter) was a M3 (E36).

I was dead set on getting another M3 (E46) until a stumble on to the engine issues. I know that for the most part that this is resolved, but that forced me to expand my search and that is when I started looking into the CLK.

Current situation…I test-drove a CLK 430 and I loved it. The tiptronic could be fun once you get the hang of it. This car handled much better than I anticipated and the speed was on par with the E36 I owned previously.

This brings me to my questions:

Would you recommend the CLK 430 or CLK 55 considering my fondness for the M series? To be honest I always want to feel that every car I buy is an upgrade over my previous purchase. Is the CLK 55 that much better than the CLK430? Anyone drove the two of these back to back for comparison purposes? Also, can anyone comment on performance of the CLK 55 vs. the new M3 (E46).

I am trying to decide if I should buy a used CLK430 (00-01) or a used CLK 55 (01). I can afford the CLK430 now, but if I decide on the CLK 55 then I would have to wait a few months to have enough saved up to offset the differential in cost between the two. I would rather not spend the additional cash if I were not going to feel the difference.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Dely

LowRydeR

The CLK55 AMG handles better and is "a lot" faster, and most important of all it's an AMG car like the ///M of BMWs. If I were you I would get the CLK430, it's a great car after all and you can add some performance mods and suspension to make this car handle every corner and out perform the AMGs. One big issue is the insurance too, the insurance on the 55 is much higher than the 430. I'm sure you'll be happy with a 430, I say get it.

-Bruce

LAMAY123

I was thinking of switching to the new CLK55 and got a good test drive couple weeks ago......to me, the perfomance is somewhat disappointing and the difference is very minimal. Maybe it's because the car is brand new and have not been broken in yet. IMHO, my CLK430 is poweful enough and yet a very sexy machine

I highly recommend you to test drive both cars and see which one appeals to you more. AMG or not, I think you'll be happy either way

Dely

I was concerned about the speed issue (0-60) of the CLk 430 vs. the CLK 55 and even the new M3. Of course most of us would like to get the fastest car for the least amount of money. Then again if speed was my only concern I would buy a Subaru STI or something like that. Since I take a lot of other factors into consideration (looks, comfort, panache etc.) then Mercedes is an obvious contender. After all, I am not going to be drag racing with anyone.

The big problem for is me is where do I draw the line between speed and all the other important factors. With the CLK430 I am getting mostly everything I am getting in the CLK 55 except for the horsepower/speed. I am trying to digest how much extra 1 second gain in 0-60 is worth. Is it worth $10K-$12K difference (used models)?

I actually look at 60-120 as a better determinant of how good (fast) a car is and the CLK 430 performed splendidly in this range. You could get yourself into some trouble driving this car.

I just have to get over this issue that I was driving a M3 for a number of years. The CLK is has some of the personality of my old M3 with more refine manners that make it suited for daily driving. In the end this will all boil down to opportunity cost.

Dely

I forgot my manners. Thanks LowRydeR and LAMAY123 for your speedy responses.

LAMAY,,

I will also be getting a Valentine One if I bought this car.

I have been following this forum since I sold my car in December and I am actually starting to recognize some of the members and their prior issues.

LAMAY123

Yeah, you will need a Valentine One...sometimes I am going 90mph on freeways and not noticing it. Plus it's hard to slow down sometimes 'cause the car asks for more speed........

Some reviews and comparisons on the new CLK55, https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...k55+test+drove

Ahmed

get a new M3 with the SMG II gearbox. problem solved. I'm sure you would be saving money too.



actually.. i would never recommend what i just recommended to you to anyone. Just wanted to know how stupid it felt to be a beemer fan!!

and guess what? I FEEL STUPID!

LowRydeR

I'm a bimmer fan as well, but 3 series are like civics now, it's everywhere in SoCal and I'm sick of it. M3s are getting too common too, I'll say CLK all the way.

Valentine One work good but most of the times cops don't use their radar so it really don't work as good as everything think it would be. It's very usefull when pigs are hiding on the side waiting to write you a speeding ticket though. It saved me couple times on the freeway, but it really takes time to get used to it because you get false alarm a lot so if you know where exactly the false alarms are, you'll know if V1 is really picking up radar signals from cops.

P.S. Hardwire V1 if you get one

-Bruce

Dely

LowRydeR,

I agree with you about the commonality of the 3 series. Everybody and their grandma own one. I am so sick of seeing them on the road. To be honest, unless you are a car enthusiast, most people can’t distinguish between the M3 and regular 3 series on first sight. The problem is that BMW have about 9 variations (323CI/I, 325CI/I, 328CI/I, 330CI/I, M3) of the same body style to appeal to different price points. Most people that always wanted a BMW can buy the 323. It kinda sucks to pay $50K+ for a car and someone can’t tell you are not driving the 30K version. I am not into showing off, but come on. The car usually makes a statement about the driver and I feel there are too many people out there trying to make the same statement with the 3 series.


Ahmed,

I have seen the error in my past ways. Can I get a little forgiveness :-)?


On a serious note, both Benz and BMW offer the best of what they are geared towards. I happen to be a fan of both companies. I love the way BMWs handle. I love the luxury/style of the Benz. With the CLK430 I get both J

thuged_out

which one would've you wanted to own?? a 98 M3 or a 328 with the MTechnik package? clk430 is like a 328 with a Mpackage. if you have the means go for the 55. you hardly see them on the road. i have a 430 and drove a 55 and the diff is BIG especially midrange
d
ps. i used to have a 95 Dakkar M and loved it before it got totalled

SoCalCLK

Dely,

I couldn't agree with you more. With 9+ variations, the E46 3-Series has definitely lost it's rarity. Also, now that BMW is putting the 325is on SALE at a $299 a month Lease, you can be sure more will be on the road than ever!
The questions you are raising have been asked by most of us who were deciding on getting (and now have) a CLK 320/430!!
I for one Have Not regretted my decision in getting a 2002 CLK 430 vs. an E46 (anything), and most here will agree.
Good luck on your search and should you take the 430, You will not regret it!

99bmw740il

I think that saying a 323 is indistinguishable (wow big word) from an m3 is bs . The same goes for a clk 320 to a clk55, everyone is starting to buy the 3's and clk's because there good value's as well as being a very well made cars. I personally have driven a 55 and 430 before buying my 740 and can tell you the difference is quite noticable midrange, you start to feel more power at around 40mph. I dont believe the 430 is a marvelous handling car by any means. The e46 m3 is a handling machine, its a very nimble car and could definently out handle a 430.
In the most unbiased way possiable i would take an m3 over the merc's if your an enthusiast. The m3 is a much better value, which is a big contributing factor.

Dely

I AM an enthusiast and I do feel that overall BMW make better handling cars, but it depends on the model. I read an article that compared the M3 vs. CLK 55 and they had a hard time picking a winner. I drove the CLK 430 and with right tires and a slight lowering of the car I bet I can handle as good as the M 3 discounting the stick factor.

I am still somewhat leery of the E46 M3 because I love to drive and I put A LOT of miles on my cars. In most cases, I will keep a car forever if I like it. I sold my last M3 with 180K+ to one of my friends. I kept the car in great condition although I had a lot of miles on it. Therefore I am the kind of person that WILL keep a car over 100K easily. Which brings me to my point. If I was to buy an E46 M3 I would still be worried even though they extended the warranties on some of these to 100K. That would still be a huge expense if the car blows up after those miles. I guarantee I will keep the next car I buy past 100k easy. I didn't want to sell my prior M3 and I only gave in after constant pressure from my friend (3+ years of nagging).

My plan is to buy this car and keep it even after I buy my next car. If the M3 didn't have the engine issues I wouldn’t have been looking at a CLK to begin with. Now that I am, I have to admit that this is a VERY viable option. Hands down the W208 body style is one of the most beautiful cars on the road. It is a much better looking car than the 3 series. I have been seeing these cars for 6 years and I still turn my head every time I see one. I see so many 3 series now that I stopped looking when the go by.

I am a car fanatic and a performance junkie. I know that most BMW owners would think I am betraying the brand, but I see BMW styling heading in the opposite direction from Mercedes with the Chris Bangle factor.

At this point my choices in order are:

1) CLK 55
2) M5 (E39)
3) CLK 430
4) M3 (E46)
5) Audi S4 (B6)
6) 540I 6 speed.

The CLK 55 and M5 are cars that I want buy, but my head is saying that is too much to spend on a car. I only gave the CLK55 the edge over the M5 because the look is more my style. I have always owned 2 door cars.

I started out with a budget of 40K and I am doing everything to stay within those parameters, but reasoning often goes out the window when I start talking about cars. I am now trying to decide whether I should increase this to 47K. That seems to be the magic number to afford a used M5 or CLK55.

Sorry for the ranting.

HKE46Boy

I've driven both 430 & 55, I can barely tell the difference, like Lamay said, 430 is power enough!

Brad D.

I drove both when I bought my 430 and the 75 extra horsepower couldn't be justified for $13,000 more that the 55 would have cost me. I'd rather spend the 13k on an aftermarket supercharger and have 400 horsepower.

99bmw740il

FYI: Chris Bangle will be resigning as early as this fall.

Ahmed

I've got an Audi S4 on order due to be delivered end of the year. But i gotta admit, the performance doesnt impress me much for a 4.2 V8 Quattro. They could have done better... but who am i to complain, its good value at $45k. At least where we are concerned.

ima55r2

75 hp is a big difference if you are used to the M3. You will never be as satisfied with the 430 as you will with the 55 and these cars aren't cheap to mod for what gains you get. The 7 or 8k difference between the two in the market right now is a better value for the AMG work and upgraded interior.

On your next test drive, be aware of the MB adaptive transmission. In Drive mode it remembers the previous acceleration patterns and somehow repeats the shift changes....even the slow ones. To make sure I get quick downshifts, I need about 5 brief stabs on the petal to clear any previous memory of slow drives and feel a big difference.

face118

well if your a true performance fanatic you would get the 6 speed manual e46 m6 with no smg, no power seats and no moonroof. an auto can't really compete with a stick in aggressive driving situation. the powerseat will reduce the weight of the over all car, and the lack of moonroof will provide you with more body rigidity. they supposedly fixed the oil engine problem. i think i remember them adding to the warranty to cover it as well

BUT to put out the flames here....... for daily normal street driving. the clks are really luxuarous bang for your buck. if your into tuning, get the clk430 there are alot of toyzs out there. the clk55 is great if you want just about everything done already. plus performance upgrades will run you more $ on that car. you need to figure out what you need, what you want, and what you like

thats why i got my w208 clk 430




face118

Brad D.

I'm already satisfied.

dronellis

get CLK 430 and go buy and install Kleeman SC and you will smoke all the ///M dude...

Ahmed

what i would kill to have is the W209 CLK55 AMG with the F1 sport package and 19 inch AMG wheels installed. Then take it to kleeman for the suspension and supercharger.

Now thats what i would do... if i had the dough ofcourse!

ima55r2

You should check out Timster's 208 on ebay.....Its got all that and more and a bargain too!

RickB

After all he went thru, I thought he loved the new Kleeman package.

Any idea why he's moving it?

Is an E55 on the way?

ndabunka

If you buy the 430 you'll get "TOASTED" by the M's. Buy the CLK 55 and beat at least 50% of them (depends on your driving capabilites). Mine's for sale if your interested. It now has 23.5K on it and if you PM me I'll tell you what you can buy these things for.