Sean Jo

Hi guys...This is my first post obviously. There seems to be ALOT of CLK430 and CLK320 owners that have AMG bodykits, rims, exhaust, AMG everything and what they also do is stick "55 AMG" n the back of their rides even though it isnt a 55 AMG. If any of you have a car like this can you please tell me what the point is in trying to fool everyone?

Do you true CLK55 AMG owners get pissed of when you see wannabes that dont admit they have a 430 or 320?

Slick Mo

I am not a CLK owner ( i wish to be) but i have seen a lot of wannabes.. The most recent was a guy with an S320 and he had an ///AMG badge on the right , WHO IS HE FOOLING?! Only people who know nothing would not notice that..

Sean Jo

I actaully have seen a CLK with a CLK55 AMG badge on the back of the car and it has everything AMG even the dials put not the engine. Really is pointless and the dealership guys there even told me that it wasnt a CLK55 yet the owner still thinks he can confuse people.

Ferrari

I was at the dealership two weeks ago and saw a Black S55 and I asked the service guy if that was anyone famous persons car (lot of famous people in my area) he said no that actually is an S430 with AMG bodywork and badging, I also see plenty of 320's with the AMG badge?


It doesn't really bother me, but its funny when a real AMG pulls up next to one of these guys and gives them the "Lets Race" nod!

Sean Jo

They never race then....they just slow down because they dont want to embaress themselves. they usually look for hondas and BMW 330s to race

vinmanc32

Most of the time I see it on ML430 where the owner has the AMG badge on the right side. I look and smile as I go pass knowing that he knows that I know the real deal... Im sure they do it because they like the look and what it means to be an AMG vehicle. Perhaps they didnt have the money to get the real thing so they badge it up. this has been going on for years I just notice it more now since I have one.

linh

I would never do that to my car. I sometime feel a shame when i see those car. One of my friend has a Clk 320 with AMG badges, AMG wheel and AMG exhaust. HOW CAN YOU NOT TELL, THAT IS NOT AN AMG CAR? The damn body kit and chrome window ring give it all away !!!

Stiggs

I would never add a badge to my 430....but I actually had one guy fooled...wasn't even trying. He was looking at my tires....which have ////AMG on the rims (stock from factory) ....and he goes "oh nice AMG" I was like...thanks! What are you talking about? See you don't have to add badges to your 430.....just make sure they only look at your wheels!!!

Chappy

Nope.

To each his own, though I wouldn't add Kleemann badging either (unless I installed the supercharger)......DAMN.....now you got me thinking!

Do I really need 500hp?

2002 CLK55 AMG
Silver w/ Charcoal
900 miles

Brandon @ Kleemann

You are very near MB Autwerks, in Sugar Hill, GA. Stop by and see Donnie or Bill and have a test drive in their CLK55K.

SouthernGent

I guess there are two classes. I have a 2001 E430 that was just recently upgraded with a Kleemann Sports Suspension and a Kleemann Kompressor. I put the KLEEMANN badging in the glove box and left the outside of the car untouched. I much prefer a "sleeper" car that CAN when needed to rather than a badged up car that can't.

By the way if you have not experienced a Kleemann car and you want to add a little something to your car you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Richard

Chappy

I've met both Bill and Donnie and am thoroughly impressed with their enthusiasm and abilites!

Chappy
a/k/a El Presidente (on another unmentioned forum)

BANSASN

I put the //AMG badge on mine. I'm not out there to fool people, I think by putting the badge filled up the gap on the right side. Also it looks much sportier and it carries the theme AMG package on my 430 all around. However I will never put the badge CLK 55, Kleeman, etc. now that's pathetic!

jon

5439cc

I Live In Northern New Jersey - I Ran into two cases where both time the young fella's were fronting a CLK320 with AMG badges with a single exhaust - I walked up to one of them I and asked - "Hey nice car is it fast, AMG ah - WOW must be nice" the young man replies "Yea she's a monster all right, 0-60 in 4 sec" Wow I replied - Moments later I found myself next to him at the red light, he couldn't see my AMG badge or hear the exhaust note from my 5439 cc beast - At the green light he tried to slam the it - I paused a moment then floored it, I blow past him like a napkin in the wind. :-) At the next light with no other cars on the road he didn't try again, he stayed behind me with one of the dumbest looks I ever witnessed -

SouthernGent

Yes, it is funny to see those that want to make their cars "look" sportier by putting badges and emblems on them. If you want an AMG that bad you should just save your pennies and buy one. I could have bought an E55 but didn't like the black interior, the black wood (looks cheap to me even though it's not) the wait, and the insurance. I added a few goodies (NO BADGES) and have an E55 killer!

Maff

For what it's worth, the Managing Director of AMG has an E500 with an ///AMG badge on his car - and it's not a full AMG vehicle. So if he can do it, why can't we?!

(Mind, his E500 is VERY customised, with quad pipes, AMG suspension but no 5.5 kompressor engine - I was at AMG two weeks ago and asked about this car which I thought was the new E55 but it turned out to be the MD's E55 look-a-like)

Brian Yee

....Were you not aware of Management exemption of "badging rules"??

BANSASN

Okay Southerngent,
Why don't you explain to me why the hell Mercedes Benze put on AMG rims, Spoiler, and suspensions to all standard CLK430 production? A year later Mercedes come out with the CLK55. Oh yeah. I bought my CLK for luxury not power. If I want raw power I take my Z06 Vette for that enjoyment. That's where my other saving goes to.

jon

rroberts

I run sans badges and get a kick hosing BMWs and Mustangs.

Some dorf in an M3 will pull along side and smile across at me past his date, who usually has a "yea, he is a dorf and I am a dorfette" look going anyway. And then I just ruin their day.

M3's always seem to want to get it on at about 45 mph, where the CLK's torque just creams them. Old style M3, new style M3, it don't matter, it is over by the time we hit 80. The most fun I have had was a guy in a Dynan 540 on an empty interstate decide he had something to prove. He took it up to 120 and I just ran even with thim without really trying. Then I smiled acroos and took it up to 140 ASAP. At that point he knew the meaning of humble.

SouthernGent

I'm sorry Jon if you feel like I am badge-ring you but I am just having a little fun. I don't really have a preference one way or another. My personal feeling is that - To each his own - A car is personal to its owner and should reflect that in styling, cleanness, upkeep, badging, etc...

Chappy

Interesting thread......

rroberts, I have only had my CLK55 a few weeks, but I feel it is the BMW guys that are most attracted to racing me. I still have less than 1000 miles on my new gem and am reluctant to "let her out" often until more miles accumulate.

Till then, I smile and return their "thumbs up" gestures.

p.s. I got 20.1 mpg on my 17 mile trek to work this morning (city/stop-go traffic).....a super-coupe with great mpg!

5439cc

bugkiller,

5439cc

Bug killer,
I have the same problem in my area, there are many M3 that have something to prove - I perform roll ons with at least one every week - So far the AMG RULES - I haven't lost yet - My best experience against a M3 was last week when a two wise guys pulled up to me and started talking trash about the AMG - followed them to the cafe and ask them about the M3 - after a couple of minutes one of the wise guys ask me if I wanted to race a 1/4 mile strip against the M3 for $100.00 I looked at my son (justin) and he said SURE :-) We started at the light and I held down the brake, revved to 2K and released - tire burning and off we went - I ask my son what was he going to do with his share of the winnings - the M3 had nothing for US - REALLY nothing at the bottom end of the race the guys had nothing but questions about the AMG and forked over the cash

5439cc

Chappy - I have been driving my CLK 55 Hard since the day I drove home I have been driving it hard and fast - 1200 miles later not even a hiccup, I hit it nightly racing my brothers M5 all the way up to 155 mph - I spoke to my dealership and the official word is to break it in slowly, the service engineer then whispered to me "drive it like you stole it " that's horse crap, I have AMG in here all the time, they just don't break"
Apparently at the AMG school they use cars which are under 1k miles and their beat the **** with no worries - plus maintenance is free and included.

Chappy

5439cc,

Where do you have your V1 mounted? Is it hard-wired?