Walden

hello,
which car will get more looks? CLK430 lowered with 18" rims) or E46 M3 (just lowered a bit with springs)?
also, i have an opportunity to get an M3.
as anyone driven one for a good amount of time?
is it more enjoyable? smoother motor?
the thing i like is that you can do some awesome mods and it won't break your bank. Superchargers for like $5-6K instead of $14K from kleeman. This could bring the M3 up to like 433HP!

thanks all...

Howard

Walden,
This is the MB board! What do you think the response will be here!
Here goes anyway! My best friend has a E46..
My car (lowered and Monoblocks) gets more looks, imo. The E46 is a different animal. The CLK although it is "sporty" it isn't a "sports" car like the E46. Both have great motors. The E46 is decievely fast, faster than the CLK. The brakes on the E46 are almost equal to Brembos! The CLK has **** brakes, imo.
My CLK feels, via seat of the pants, like it handles better but then again I think the BMW is decieving. Although for the most part I have been happy with my CLK, if I were in the market for a car today, my choice would be the E46. The pricing is about the same. Except for the rear end problems, I think the BMW will have a better service record. JMO.
Howard

Howard

----------MB ---- BMW ----- comments

Looks---- 9 ---- 7.5
Motor----- 10 ---- 10
brakes----- 4 --- 10
Handling ---- 8 ---- 9 MB
Quality ----- 6 ---- 8
Transmission--- 9 ---- 9 give us a 6 speed
Fun factor--- 8 ---- 9 give us a 6 speed
Horsepower --- 7 ---- 10 CLK 55 gets a 10
Interior ---- 8 ---- 8
Seat comfort ---- 8 --- 9

Samir

Supercharging the M3 is not a good idea. The motor currently sits at 11.5:1 compression, which any sane engineer will tell you is way too high for forced induction (at least on pump fuel). Secondly, HP means nothing without torque. I could build you a lawnmower making 1000HP, but that doesn't mean it's quick. A supercharged CLK430 will break your neck with raw torque, whereas a supercharged M3 will leave you wondering why you just spent $10K to have 0 boost before 3000 RPMs (the Kleemann kompressor is a screwtype supercharger which creates max boost by 2500 RPMs...the centrifugal setups for the M3 cannot even come close). The M3 is a great car, but highly over-rated. Acura's NSX was revving to 8000 RPMs long before BMW decided to even build a 6pot M3.

Samir

Supercharging the M3 is not a good idea. The motor currently sits at 11.5:1 compression, which any sane engineer will tell you is way too high for forced induction (at least on pump fuel). Secondly, HP means nothing without torque. I could build you a lawnmower making 1000HP, but that doesn't mean it's quick. A supercharged CLK430 will break your neck with raw torque, whereas a supercharged M3 will leave you wondering why you just spent $10K to have 0 boost before 3000 RPMs (the Kleemann kompressor is a screwtype supercharger which creates max boost by 2500 RPMs...the centrifugal setups for the M3 cannot even come close). The M3 is a great car, but highly over-rated. Acura's NSX was revving to 8000 RPMs long before BMW decided to even build a 6pot M3.

Walden

Hi samir...
are you saying that for all intensive purposes, the E46 3.2L motor is maxed out? do you think dinan or some other tuner will develop a turbo or something?

thanks....

JamE55

Here's my $0.02 cents.

My friend has a 01 E46 M3 LSB and i drove it real hard straight and thru corners and the suspension is just absolutely amazing. Grips very good on the asphalt and acceleration is awsome! I mean it's not the the E55 torque monster but still amazing. And shifting through the 8000rpm makes you feel like your in a formula race car.

vivianlove

Walden:

Would not recommend to super charging the M3, usaully those tuners increase the HP to 70 plus but no increase on torque. Without higher torgue output is useless. Waste of money!

CLK430 or M3?

I love to driver; M3 is definitely the right choice for me!
You??? Ask yourself (what kind of driver are you)

M3
1. not much a passenger car
2. ****ty interior (nice nag system but not nearly as good as Acura's)
3. VERY FAST! but easily got burned by many cars even for the CLK430 if you don't know how to shift
3a. then again, if you know how to shift you'll be running with or ahead of the V8 cars

CLK430

1. GRAND TOURING CAR
2. great interior (horrible nag system)


Civic: heehee teasing purpose

in Winter my M3 and CLK sit home and see my Civic fly in the snow!

Samir

Yes, at it's current compression ratio it is definitely limited in terms of performance modifications...perhaps with camshafts, ported head, larger airbox, better exhaust system, and remapped ECU, the M3 might be capable of 400-420 HP, but that's it for pump fuel. To really extract power, you would need to rebuild the engine (ideally for a turbo application), which would require lower compression pistons @ ~ 9:1 (rods/crank should be strong enough for a turbo and do not need to be replaced). Then you could properly boost the motor to about 1bar of pressure, which would be good for close to 500HP and about 475 ft.lbs of torque...I believe Active Autowerke is currently developing a turbo for the E46 M3, however, I don't know if it entails new pistons. AA usually chooses to lower compression through thicker head gaskets which is a shortcut to lowering compression, but by no means the right way because it upsets vital "squish" areas between the pistons and cylinder head, in addition to increased risks of detonation. My advice: if you want to purchase one of these cars to perform engine modifications, the CLK430 w/ a Kleemann kompressor will make you a very happy person

Mach430

I would have to agree that the Kleemann CLK43K is definitely an awesome car. We should be finished with my installation this Friday!

donbiz

I have a CLK 320 cab. Not a 430 and not an M3.

before the 320 cab i had a c280

I thought long and hard about getting a bmw 330 cab. I had a 1994 bmw 325 cab and I loved it.

Assuming the "looks" you want are from women the Mercedes is the only choice. Most people on the planet don't know the difference between an M3 or a bmw323. They don't know the difference between a 320 and a 430 either. (Of course anyone driving either will know the difference)

your question though was what would get more looks, and even though I am happily married, I enjoy the "looks" I get and they are in a whole different league then the "looks" that came with the BMW!

In summary, If money isn't an issue, get a Mercedes CLK 55 cab.

If money is an issue, get a Mercedes CLK 320 cab

Regards,
Don Biz

donbiz@yahoo.com

2002 CLK 320 cab blk/blk

Petey

I personally would take the e46 M3 SMG over the CLK430. I love M-B, but my brother's M3 is just so butters. It's a pure rush to drive, very well put together, not in term of finish, but in fun and driving experience. There are no SC or Turbo kits out yet, or that are finished, but Racing Dymaninics offers a 18,000+ usd kit that increases horses to 390+ without a turbo... So basically the M3 and kit I meantioned are still much less then a CLK55.

But truthfully it's up to you, unless you stealing from a bank and the money isn't yours, you should test drive both and get what you wish.

-Petey

KevinV

$18K for an increase of 57+ HP is insane.

Petey

My point is that it still would be less then a CLK55... yet much more powerfull. You are 100% correct, it is an expensive upgrade.

-Petey

kingman18

.

Samir

Totally incorrect...first, a fully loaded SMG M3 is about $62K sticker...a CLK55 is about $70K sticker. Add $18K to $62K and you get $80K and a car that still has about 100lbs less torque than the CLK55. HP isn't everything...sure, off the line the M3 will probably win if the driver is skilled, but on the freeway a CLK55 will absolutely demolish an M3. And besides, spending $18K for almost 60HP is absolutely ridiculous.

vivianlove

Absolutely agree with Samir, HP isn't everything!

Walden

MKB supplies a 3.27 rear?
i thought only 3.07 and 3.45 were available for the CLK430...

i have to admit, my CLK with the Carlsson mods i mades look menacing. definitely looks better than the M3 overall, but when i look at that M3 from certain front angles, it is impressive with that wide flared fender stance. i was parked side by side with one. the CLK's lines are nicer, but the M3 makes the CLK look kinda of skinny and not aggressive.

what does everyone think?

if my car were stock CLK430 or even stock CLK55, a stock M3 would look more aggressive....

Petey

A M3 with SMG as the only option is $50k correct? But regardless of bickering over price, everywhere I have read the M3 has beaten the CLK55 in numbers. IE newest motor trend, where they raced a M3 convertible, and an CLK55. I like my father am big MB fans, but my brother wanted an M3, and I must say we were wowed at the performance.

-Petey

Samir

Well, if you are going to compare two cars, then you might as well compare them with equal options, right? A comparably equipped M3 will sticker for $62K with SMG...nuff said.

The tests are completely unfair since the M3 can launch off the line. Pitting a manual vs. an auto isn't exactly a fair comparison. Notice how none of the magazines did rolling comparisons. The fact that the CLK55 is still able to pull sub 5 second 0-60 times with an auto is equally as impressive as the M3's "4.7" 0-60. Put a manual transmission in a CLK55 and the M3 doesn't stand a chance.

kingman18

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oresama99

Walden,

Have you seen lee2375's magam red clk? in terms of cosmetics it has to be one of the nicest modded cars that i have seen here in the US, so fresh and so clean. i'ts even got me thinking about trading my E in for a used clk if i can find the right one at the right price.

IMHO modded clk will get more looks than E46 m3

Samir

All I'm saying is to equip an M3 with the type of options that a CLK55 has as a base car, you would have to spend around $60K. Comparing a base M3 with cloth interior and virtually no options isn't correct.

kingman18

.

Walden

oresama99,

lee2375's magam red clk is probably the NICEST i have ever seen to be completely honest with you....

unfortunately, its cost prohibitive to get the lorinser bodykit.

i wish i could do it...

but, the M3 will run circles around his CLK320..