CLK-Class (W208) 1998-2002: CLK 200, CLK 230K, CLK 320, CLK 430 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

To Brabus or not to Brabus....

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Old Jul 14, 2003 | 03:48 PM
  #1  
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From: City of Sin, MA
99' CLK 320 Coupe
Question To Brabus or not to Brabus....

I'm thinking of sending my 99 clk 320 to Brabus and have it tuned for this package: BRABUS 3.8 V6 272 hp / 200 kW, 381 Nm, 258 km/h

Has anybody have any experience with Brabus themselves. I'm sure they are good and all, just wondering if this is the best option or is there any other place that I could get my MB tuned. I live in MA. So obviously I would have to ship it but just wondering your opinions on this. I'm thinking of doing a surface Brabus lift too, for example buying the Illuminated door sills, shift knob, flat emblems, doorlock pins, seat belt pads n pedals, all Brabus. Should I just send it to Brabus to have all these done or should I just buy it myself? Your opinions count, thanks. Peace.
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Old Jul 14, 2003 | 04:04 PM
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If you have that kind of money, definitely send it to Brabus and have them do all the tuning for you. I guess you know how much it will cost you to do the 3.8 conversion?! Who else can do a better job then the manufacturer themselves??? Thats also the biggest reason why they have set up a facility in the States.

You may also want to shoot me an e-mail, perhaps I can work out a package price for you. Because you will be paying at full retail if you do everything by yourself.
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Old Jul 14, 2003 | 04:09 PM
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how about you just slap on a Kleeman on there... probably a lot cheaper... and if you find an installer close, you don't even have to ship the car
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Old Jul 14, 2003 | 04:57 PM
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From: City of Sin, MA
99' CLK 320 Coupe
Thanks for the input.

Harris: I checked your site. Looks great and there is a lot of options there. I'll probably contact you about all the face details like the door sills, emblems, pins n' such.

mmgrad: My thoughts exactly.
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Old Jul 14, 2003 | 06:37 PM
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CLK 430
I would go with kleeman as well because brabus probably costs the same or more (not positive) and with the kleeman you get like 330 hp brabus is giving you 272. Kleeman is 8,400 from evosport.com again not sure about brabus
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Old Jul 15, 2003 | 01:41 AM
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Kleemann-ize it, get some nice 19's, and a dope Brabus kit!
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Old Jul 15, 2003 | 01:27 PM
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From: City of Sin, MA
99' CLK 320 Coupe
Thanks again, this really helps. Kleeman it is!!!
BTW this is what the car looks like now. hmm I can see it now....all Brabus'd out. hehehe Peace.

PS oh does anybody know if I can get clear taillights and side markers for my car?
Attached Thumbnails To Brabus or not to Brabus....-e-ride4smll.jpg  
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Old Jul 15, 2003 | 02:53 PM
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CLK430, CLK320 Cabriolet, ML350
The 3.8L conversion costs a fortune, and you will never recoup it when you sell. Furthermore, you will still be "less than" a CLK430. Kleemann also costs a fortune, and as someone who had a Mosselman turbo on his C220, I will tell you, you will never get that money back either.

If I were you, and really wanted more out of a CLK, I would just sell it and spend the extra $$$ you would otherwise spend on performance parts on a CLK55.

Oh, and I think I remember reading some CLK owner who had a Mosselman supercharger on his CLK. SO to price shop, check them out... www.mosselmanturbo.com I dont think they have anything on their site about it though, you will have to contact a dealer
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Old Jul 15, 2003 | 04:27 PM
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Thumbs up Good Advice

Leandro makes a good point. The Brabus Kit by the way, costs $18,500 for the CLK320, plus an additional $1500 for labor. That is A LOT of money for only 270 hp. At that price you can use the cash to put a down payment on a Brand New CLK55 AMG.
Don't forget that all that cash invested in the car will lose its value quicker than shares in EToys.com!!!
I would keep with the basics, rims and tires, good suspension, sounds and interior appointments. For Power, go with the Kleemann or HPS (if you are on a budget) or even Nitrous!!
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Old Jul 16, 2003 | 04:59 PM
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Man lots of options, Thanks!!! Iappreciate the replies and this definitely helps. I never heard of HPS, anybody have a site? Also nitrous? whoah, hmmm, yet another option.
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Old Jul 16, 2003 | 05:54 PM
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As of right now, HPS does not make any 6 cylinder engine applications. Their site is www.myhps.com
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Old Jul 16, 2003 | 11:23 PM
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$20k for the engine upgrade and the value of your car you could buy an 01 clk 55 for about $50k, then add wheels and emblems door sills etc. Going this route you will come out ahead in horsepower and performance, and keep the same modify look of your old clk 320
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Old Jul 17, 2003 | 12:07 AM
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Just get Kleemann, Brabus is a rip off.

-Bruce
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 09:21 AM
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Thanks for the input, this is what I'm thinking of doing. Get the Kleeman supercharger, change all emblems to Brabus. What do you guys think? or should I change the emblems to Kleeman? I don't know but to me the Brabus emblems look better. And with what I've seen more accessible. A little feedback please
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 09:38 AM
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I would trty and stay with the same theme throughout the car, but thats just me. IF most of your visible modifications are from one tuner then badge it accordingly....

If you have a brabus body kit but a kleeman badge on the back, people are going to be like this guy is confused....
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 11:02 AM
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Originally posted by J Lucas
I would trty and stay with the same theme throughout the car, but thats just me. IF most of your visible modifications are from one tuner then badge it accordingly....

If you have a brabus body kit but a kleeman badge on the back, people are going to be like this guy is confused....
I see what you mean. Unfortunately I bought my car with the kit already installed plus the dealer had no idea(IMO) although they kept saying the bodykit was Brabus, I didn't believe that. The only thing I know for sure that is Brabus are the wheels. I guess you can say I'm confused. :o I'm banging my head up against the wall here
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 11:03 AM
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Originally posted by clarkspark
Thanks for the input, this is what I'm thinking of doing. Get the Kleeman supercharger, change all emblems to Brabus. What do you guys think? or should I change the emblems to Kleeman? I don't know but to me the Brabus emblems look better. And with what I've seen more accessible. A little feedback please
Well, I think most people will opt for Brabus badging simply because the name Brabus is more well known. Kleemann is something only an MB enthusiast would know..

Lucas: If anyone sees a CLK with brabus body-kit & Kleemann badging, IF they know what Kleemann is, then there will be NO CONFUSION. Or, if they do get confused, they obviously don't know what Kleemann is... thus, more so the reason to leave him in the dust...
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 11:26 AM
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From: The President must win the Peace
Yeah your right, the only thing is most people ,in fact, don't know who or what kleeman is unless they are car fanatics so yes, they will be confused. Again, you should mod your car however YOU want too, if you do it the way YOU want to, how could you be unhappy with the end result?

Originally posted by mmgrad
Well, I think most people will opt for Brabus badging simply because the name Brabus is more well known. Kleemann is something only an MB enthusiast would know..

Lucas: If anyone sees a CLK with brabus body-kit & Kleemann badging, IF they know what Kleemann is, then there will be NO CONFUSION. Or, if they do get confused, they obviously don't know what Kleemann is... thus, more so the reason to leave him in the dust...
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 11:38 AM
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Originally posted by J Lucas
Again, you should mod your car however YOU want too, if you do it the way YOU want to, how could you be unhappy with the end result?
Yeah but since I'm a newbie to the 'Mercedes world' I just didn't know if it would look silly. Personally I was thinking of going Brabus emblems(only cause I think it looks cool) Plus the Wheels are already Brabus so I wanted to keep that look from the wheels and maybe a Kleeman engine spec badge or something.
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 03:53 PM
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get the kleeman back badge and the brabus flat hood emblem may sound even more confusing but that is what I would do
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Old Jul 22, 2003 | 11:18 AM
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....still.
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Old Jul 22, 2003 | 12:55 PM
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Originally posted by clarkspark
....still.
chill'out... its only a badge...

put the brabus.. if it looks plain, add the kleemann, if you don't like it, take it off. its that easy... its ONLY a badge... it comes off pretty easy.
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Old Jul 23, 2003 | 01:25 PM
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From: City of Sin, MA
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=

Well as far as the badges thats fine but I can't do the same for the door sills. I want to get the illuminated ones. So its either Brabus or Mercedes Illuminated sills. I know I have issues.:o
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Old Jul 23, 2003 | 01:32 PM
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Originally posted by clarkspark
=

Well as far as the badges thats fine but I can't do the same for the door sills. I want to get the illuminated ones. So its either Brabus or Mercedes Illuminated sills. I know I have issues.:o
I like the Brabus door sills better than the Mercedes... less common...

BUT, lets not forget the Kleeman illuminated Door sills....


more head pounding decisions???
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Old Jul 23, 2003 | 01:36 PM
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From: City of Sin, MA
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Haahhaahaha

to mmgrad

mercy, mercy!

Man now its getting interesting, I didn't know about those
Thanks for the pic. Now excuse while I think about it and
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