neilbo75

I have learned that our 208 series CLK 55 AMGs were used by MB as the F1 Safety Car from late 1998 to early 2000. Does anyone have information on what kind of mods AMG did to the car?

For starters, how did they get SL style 8.5 x 18 and 10x18 series 1 multipliece wheels to fit, and with what size rubber? What about suspension, brakes, engine ?

Thanks in advance to the AMG scholars amongst us!

neilbo75

Here are some photos of the safety car shot at the Chicago Auto Show ....

http://varshney.netfirms.com/web/saf...indexpage1.htm

Holson

I think those are the nicest wheels one could put on the W208 CLK55 with the stock AMG bodykit.

They must've used the SL's hubs and subsequently bigger brakes from something, because the SL's wheels (if those are indeed the BBS wheels they put on the R129s) use the 14mm lug bolts, right?

The wheels have an offset of 25mm if I'm not mistaken. Really aggressive for a C-Class! Not to mention they are 10" in the back... wow..

In this picture:
http://varshney.netfirms.com/web/saf...imagepage8.htm

You can clearly see that the fenders (front ones especially) are flared.. like the 500Es... NICE!

neilbo75

Yup, the offset front and rear of the SL wheels is ET 25. That puts the extra width outboard. Something has to give and you're right -- it does look like at least the front fenders have been flared. I think the AMG style lower side body cladding has also been modified to meet the wider fenders.

Maybe the front bumper has been changed as well?

Holson

Yeah, I think the front bumper's definitely different. The "bulge" at the bottom of the bumper is larger too it seems. It's a great look IMO. Just like the current CLK safety car...

Holson

A glimpse of the 208 safety car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNihw...elated&search=

neilbo75

Very cool video. Even safety cars need to go out and play every now and then.

It looks recent -- the 209 safety car is there as well. So this means the 208 safety car is still alive in kicking?!

Chappy

Going out on a limb.....yikes!

I don't think there has been any bodywork done different from the production version CLK55.

Had the pleasure of meeting Bernd Maylander (F1 Safety Car driver) at the sneak-preview of the '07 CL500 in Barcelona earlier this year. We chatted at dinner about the safety cars and I mentioned that I owned a W208 AMG...he said "one of the best out there!"

Look closely at the photos of the CLK F1 Safety Car....you can see the B. Maylander decal on the rear window.

I stared at my CLK in the garage two nights ago and ran my hand over the front fenders. It appears (camera angle, shadow) that the front fenders are flared more than normal....but could just be some aggressive fender rolling. But you all know that W208 AMGs came from the factory with the fenders already rolled!

There was a discussion some years ago on the AMG Owners Club (Germany) that basically stated the AMG 2-piece wheels were custom made with the proper offset. Between that thread and my discussion with Bernd Maylander, IIRC the car was mostly stock except for cross-drilled brake discs (you can see in the photo), driver's seat, special radio equipment, lighting, and decals. I can't remember if it even had a roll cage....but I doubt it.

Same exhaust, same motor, same transmission. Different wheels and tires (obviously). If I remember more details (LOTS of Cava that evening with Bernd), I'll post it....perhaps there is more information available at the german site as well.

Long Live the 208!

Chappy

There are some very nice pictures (interior shots too) of the W208 F1 Safety Car over on the AMG Private Lounge...there is also an overview which provides good information as well....they mention larger brake discs - this would explain the necessity for 18" wheels - and brake cooling, but stock motor.

There is also mention of aerodynamic front and rear aprons, but I think that's normal stock CLK55 (remember, they were comparing this to a CLK320 back in 1997!)

Some of the interior shots show a passenger racing seat (Recaro) and restraints, what appears to be carbon fiber (silverish colored), radio and safety-light controls. The interior appears to be a fabric material rather than leather.

Holson

Chappy,

Thanks for the heads up. I checked out the pictures in the private lounge. I want the white-back gauges!

Don't really care for the carbon fibre trim tho...

But I'm starting to think that I was wrong.... the fenders and bumpers seem to be.. standard issue AMG stuff..

I just really really want those Composite wheels!

Chappy

Holson,

There are more excellent photos here of the wheels you crave!

http://www.amg-owners-club.de/

Click on "Galerie" and snoop around. There are some really nice W208s in there with some cool AMG Manufaktur stuff.

neilbo75

Thanks, Chappy, for turning us on to the German AMG Owners Club site.

From "Galerie" go to "Mitliederfarzughe" and click on the 208 thumbnail and you are there. Somebody took a dozen shots of those R129 SL style I 18 inch 2 piece rims on a silver 208 and they look great! That's the wheel for me, boys...

...But I have been checking with people on the R129SL bulletin boards and they say these rims are not only Godawful expensive (even though just cast) but also so vulnerable to potholes that you had better keep the tire pressure on high. Oh well, heaven on earth never comes easy -- just pick up a kidney belt when you go get the wheels.

I just wish I could read the German language -- that might clear up some of these mysteries about the 208 F1 safety car. I'm sticking to my theory that at least the lower bodyside cladding was modified for safety car purposes. Just look at the Chicago Autoshow photos again. The front fenders have been flared a lot versus stock, whether through hammering or a special press, I don't know. That would make for an awkward fit of the stock bodyside cladding. After doing all that flaring, no need to change the 25ET offset of the rims. Besides, wouldn't AMG want low offset anyway to push the centerline of the tires outboard and thus improve handling?

BTW, did you get a chance between gulps of Cava to find out what size rubber AMG puts on those rims? I have checked with Kleemann's technical department and they recommend that for a 208 installation to go with 235/40/18 front and 265/35/18 rear. They say the lugs are not a problem but warn that hammering the fenders may (or may not) trigger the need for paintwork.

Chappy

lol...no. I hope to have the opportunity some day again to meet him. I have 235/40/18 front and 265/35/18 rear on my car.

BTW, if you compare the F1 Safety Car photos on the AMG Private Lounge, the fenders appear stock/normal CLK55. I think the camera angle and shadow play a role in the appearance that the front fenders are flared.

You can always pose that question over on the AMG Owners Club site (they do have one english forum).

Last time I checked, the 2-piece wheels were about a grand a pop - and may no longer be available - will only fit the R129....some machining would be necessary to make them fit properly on the 208.

Bekkers carried a replica of this wheel, but I'm not certain they still carry it. I gave up and am happy with my Monoblock IIs in 18"

neilbo75

I took a look at the private lounge but could not find the photos you mentioned. All I found was some photos of the current CLK63 safety car which has some rather obviously modified fenders (and not badly done).

Which discussion group and post should I be looking at?

Sure, it's a little crazy to obsess about these wheels, which are obviously not the cheapest nor the easiest solution. You run the same tires and get good results albeit on narrower rims. It's just that the idea of emulating the safety car turns me on, this being a kind of purist's way to upgrade the 208 CLK's performance. By the same logic I would like to get a hold of the same cross-drilled brakes (also from an SL, I'm guessing) but craziness has to end sometime. Wouln't it be nice if you're right about no body mods -- at least we can put that one to bed.

Chappy

Here's the English language forum:

http://www.amg-owners-club.org/board...1d7b0d61f1230b

On the AMG Private Lounge, go to:

"Creations", then "Motorsport" and 9 F1 Safety Cars will appear. The W208 CLK55 window is on the bottom row.....make sure to click on "View Gallery" for additional photos.

Good luck in your quest!

Ahmed

Thank You!

Chappy

Ahmed,

Could you please tell us specifics about your wheels? Offsets, sizes, and work or spacers necessary to make them fit properly, etc.?

Holson

Here's a replica. Pretty pricey for a replica wheel tho. Not to mention this would force me to put 225s (235 max) in the back - would render the 55 useless off the line.

http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/mer...Category_Code=

Actually - here's a thought.

Get the replicas for the front axle (8x18 ET37 - perfect) and squeeze the front-originals (8.5x18 ET25) in the back. 225/40/18 up front and 255/40/18 in the back....or, try the 10" in the back

neilbo75

Heh nice rims Ahmed and what's that body color? One of the Designo tints?

Thanks again, Chappy, for getting me to over to the right place at the PL. Good photos and information. Now I agree with YOU -- the REAL 208 safety car had stock bumper and body side cladding. Whew! What one sees in the Chicago Auto Show is a pumped up, pimped-out bling version. Oh those gullible Americans!

I am a bit amazed that our CLK55 was on the track working as the safety car back in 1997 whereas Americans could not buy the civilian version of the same car until model year 2001. They do like to take their time over in Stuttgart. Mind you, there are posted at the same 1999 Chicago Auto Show site photos of a black CLK55 coupe with a two-tone designo interior.
http://varshney.netfirms.com/web/clk55/imagepage10.htm
So by then the pond had been crossed, albeit with a European spec show car.

And that show car plays a bit of bait and switch -- the sticker says the exclusive leather (hand-stitched dashboard, central console and tops of the doors) is standard equipment.
http://varshney.netfirms.com/web/clk55/imagepage13.htm.
This full-blown designo treatment was never standard equipment in Europe and SFAIK the exclusive leather was never even offered for US Coupe buyers! It did show up later on cabriolets.

Chappy

Actually, the sales brochure I had for the 2001 Model Year showed "Exclusive Leather" interior with leather dash and console as an option for that year.....not sure if anyone ever actually ordered it or had it delivered on a U.S. car.

Incidentally, the Ski Sack was also offered as a "Special Order" option on the '01's. This item came standard on the '02 CLK55, but they dropped the offering of the leather dash and console as a stand-alone option for the 2002 model year.

Not sure if the leather dash and console came standard or as an option with the designio package.

There were a few other very minor changes between the U.S-spec CLK55s between 2001 and 2002:

Illuminated trunk exit safety feature
Chrome-trimmed wheel center caps
Ski Sack

Ahmed

They were replicas. I dont remember the specifications, but they fit without any modifications. I didnt even roll the fenders!

Wheel width at the front was 8 inches, and rear 9.5 inches. Tire size i used was 235/40 18's front, and 265/35 18's in the rear!

Ahmed

Thanks

Exterior was designo purple.
Interior was designo magic eye purple 2-tone.

neilbo75

Ahmed, it sounds from the past tense that you let go your Purple Dream. Any regrets? BTW did it have the exclusive leather, as per my discussion with Chappy just above?

Chappy said : "Not sure if the leather dash and console came standard or as an option with the designo package."

The answer is NO exclusive leather, so far as I can tell from the fairly popular designo espresso package on cars in posts on the forums or for sale on Ebay. I stand corrected if you say that MB put exclusive leather on the list as an option when the 2001s were offered in the US. But were any cars ordered this way?

You say that there were a few other very minor changes between the U.S-spec CLK55s between 2001 and 2002, the "Illuminated trunk exit safety feature". What is that?

BTW I have the ski sack, still with its original factory fold. Once undone it looks hellishly hard to get back into its place behind the armrest so I will continue to rent skis!

Holson

Yeah I have that ski sack too. I agree with neilbo.. i don't wanna try undoing that thing. I've got the Jeep to go skiing.

CLK55 to climb up snowy roads..

Ahmed

I regret it everytime I see one on the road!

As for the leather dash, nope. Mine didnt have leather on the dash or console. It had leather and wood on the steering wheel.

My seats had the "designo" signature on the back rest of the seats. It had a leather and wood gear shift knob as well.

The 2 tone was almost un-noticeable cause it was purple and black!