I have an '01 CLK 430 and am looking for a good air intake. I heard you can get similar performance gains with putting a CLK55 intake on versus purchasing something like a renntech intake in all its carbon fiber glory. I guess i just want to know what the best bang for the buck is and if anyone has dyno data....

 

From my limited time on here, I have read testimonials from people who have put CLK55 intakes with great results. Dynoed at 10-20HP gains. Pretty impressive for just an intake.

As far as cone filters or cold air intakes, I have not read that much about it. Perhaps someone else would like to chime in?

str8

 

Renntech is nothing more than the AMG airbox with a carbon fiber cover and about 2 grand added to the price.

The renntech box isn't even as good as the AMG one cause they cut out the intake runners that guide the flow.

 

would a renntech fit the 320?

 

no

 

Does the CLK55 intake just drop in? or is there some modification work required with the available real estate?

the intake has 2 airfilters right? any reccomendation on good perforamnce filters?

 

From what I've read, just some minor dremeling and that's it. It's pretty much plug and play. As for the filters, I would use OEM or get K&N free flow filters. Did you already purchase the 55 intake?

 

I have not yet purchased the intake. I just got the car so i'm looking to mod it out, i am going to get the eisenmann exhaust and sending the ECU to Powerchip(any good?) and with it chipped and exhaust, i know i need to keep the mouth open for some air, so i am planning on purchasing everything around the same time, and i'm going to put each mod on one at a time and test it out after every thing i put on just to get an idea of whats going on... any idea on the order i should modify the car?

 

JoshK: How do you figure the renntech intake is worse than the CLK55 intake when renntech claims a hp improvement when the renntech intake is added to a CLK55? I had this intake on my 430 and it made a difference but i sold it and am now thinking of getting the CLK55 intake but haven't seen any dyno numbers to convince me of the hp gain.

 

Claims are just that - claims. How many people do you actually know that do a baseline and post mod dyno to verify the claims? They probably get their horsepower improvement numbers for the 55 not from the intake but from the filters in the intake (as free flowing filters will give a gain over stock ones). All you have to do is take a look at the two intakes and it's very obvious that they're the same part.

You've stumbled onto Renntech's secret - they don't really produce anything, they just take AMG parts, install them, maybe add a little c/f, and charge a lot more ;0)

 

I remember that the intake tubes (the ones running to the front of the car from the intake) were the AMG ones because they had and ///AMG stamp on them. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the intake itself is a replica of the AMG one though. You are correct in stating that the grooves are not there, but it seems like the renntech intake was smaller (volume of air inside) and more rounded. I dont know how to post pics, but i thik i still have a couple pics of the intake. The black plastic piece in front that says "CLK60" is just a plastic piece to cover the engine and has nothing to do with the intake. You're just paying for the name and the cf (the WHOLE intake is cf, even the underside).