04 CLK55 Cabriolet vs. 03 Ferrari F360 Spyder
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04 CLK55 Cabriolet vs. 03 Ferrari F360 Spyder
11/10 Saturday 10AM. I am cruising down Memorial (nicer part of Houston) and I see a blue F360 pull out of a neighborhood. He is behind me. We turn right onto the 610 feeder and we both pass lumbering SUV's to be the first at the traffic light. I am in the left lane and he is in the far right with a white full sized SUV in the middle lane. We can't see each other but as soon as the light turns green, all I hear is the roar of an Italian V8. We are pretty close until 60MPH; he starts pulling away but just barely. At around 100MPH he has enough room to get in front of me and pull onto the freeway entrance ramp. Unfortunately, I was not prepared to drag race so I had the traction control on. I believe the 360 was a 2003: 3.6 liter V8 396hp 4.6 seconds 0-60MPH and 11.7 seconds 0-100MPH. Any ways, it was fun to go against an exotic and almost keep up toe to toe. Now I want the CLK63!!
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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11/10 Saturday 10AM. I am cruising down Memorial (nicer part of Houston) and I see a blue F360 pull out of a neighborhood. He is behind me. We turn right onto the 610 feeder and we both pass lumbering SUV's to be the first at the traffic light. I am in the left lane and he is in the far right with a white full sized SUV in the middle lane. We can't see each other but as soon as the light turns green, all I hear is the roar of an Italian V8. We are pretty close until 60MPH; he starts pulling away but just barely. At around 100MPH he has enough room to get in front of me and pull onto the freeway entrance ramp. Unfortunately, I was not prepared to drag race so I had the traction control on. I believe the 360 was a 2003: 3.6 liter V8 396hp 4.6 seconds 0-60MPH and 11.7 seconds 0-100MPH. Any ways, it was fun to go against an exotic and almost keep up toe to toe. Now I want the CLK63!!
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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SL55, C63
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CLS55 AMG
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11/10 Saturday 10AM. I am cruising down Memorial (nicer part of Houston) and I see a blue F360 pull out of a neighborhood. He is behind me. We turn right onto the 610 feeder and we both pass lumbering SUV's to be the first at the traffic light. I am in the left lane and he is in the far right with a white full sized SUV in the middle lane. We can't see each other but as soon as the light turns green, all I hear is the roar of an Italian V8. We are pretty close until 60MPH; he starts pulling away but just barely. At around 100MPH he has enough room to get in front of me and pull onto the freeway entrance ramp. Unfortunately, I was not prepared to drag race so I had the traction control on. I believe the 360 was a 2003: 3.6 liter V8 396hp 4.6 seconds 0-60MPH and 11.7 seconds 0-100MPH. Any ways, it was fun to go against an exotic and almost keep up toe to toe. Now I want the CLK63!!
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
PS My CLK55 makes a horrible whining noise upon start up. I took it to 2 dealerships and they stated that nothing was wrong with it. It sounds like the starter but I am not sure. The noise subsides once the car is warmed up. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
The dealership says it's normal and fine.
Great racing story. Motor Trend got a 0-60 of 4.9 for our cars so it makes sense you were close.
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Thanks all for your insight
OK I feel a little bit better about the whining noise. My factory warranty is about to expire and I wanted to make sure that the noise is "normal."
I've had Mercedes in the past but none of them sounded that loud upon startup. Even my wife's horrible and wretched SLK230 (no longer with us thank God) didn't sound that bad upon startup (under acceleration, the SLK sounded like a tractor running on one good spark plug).
Any ways, I can sleep more soundly now.
I've had Mercedes in the past but none of them sounded that loud upon startup. Even my wife's horrible and wretched SLK230 (no longer with us thank God) didn't sound that bad upon startup (under acceleration, the SLK sounded like a tractor running on one good spark plug).
Any ways, I can sleep more soundly now.
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Torque vs HP
Per #10's comments, Ferrari might have the upper RPM HP but the 3.6L engine has only 275 lb/ft of torque. This was evident as I had the initial advantage up till 30 mph or so.
I totally agree about the lack of upper end HP on our 5.4L V8 topping out at 362HP (w209) or 67HP per liter; the new 6.3 makes 507 HP naturally aspirated or 80HP per liter. (even the new CLK550 V8 engine is making 382HP due to better breathing). I guess I have to save up for the CLK63!
I totally agree about the lack of upper end HP on our 5.4L V8 topping out at 362HP (w209) or 67HP per liter; the new 6.3 makes 507 HP naturally aspirated or 80HP per liter. (even the new CLK550 V8 engine is making 382HP due to better breathing). I guess I have to save up for the CLK63!
Last edited by hrothgar02; Nov 15, 2007 at 10:41 AM. Reason: wrong #
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My car also has the high pitch whine upon start up. As long as the car runs...it doesn't bother me one bit.
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03 CLK 55 AMG, IMCO muffler/Magnaflow tips, KW V1 coilovers, 19" Petrol Metrix Wheels
it is nice to hear that everyone has the whining noise. at first i thought it was a loose powersteering belt or something. i had some guy in an infiniti G35 take a run at me on the highway the other day. the aftermath was ugly. our cars have some serious ***** at highway speeds. i went from about 70 to 120 in a blink. scary how quick these cars are sometimes.
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it is nice to hear that everyone has the whining noise. at first i thought it was a loose powersteering belt or something. i had some guy in an infiniti G35 take a run at me on the highway the other day. the aftermath was ugly. our cars have some serious ***** at highway speeds. i went from about 70 to 120 in a blink. scary how quick these cars are sometimes.
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4.5 sec!! Whoa! I'd place our cars right around 5.0-5.1 depending on road conditions, tires, etc.
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2003 CLK55
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You're right. The factory places our W209 CLK55's at 5.0, and it's right on the money. 4.9 would be totally optimal, like several back to back runs with an experienced driver.
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2003 CLK55
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2002 CLK55 Cabriolet (DEAD: 1989 300E, 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible)
I knew you meant that (I assume you mean "cold" as in first start, not "cold"-cold as in "in cold weather" - though maybe you mean both 
), just saying I don't think (as a warm-weather owner) I've ever heard anything like that personally. I'm specifically thinking of the startup and post-startup until the RPMs drop ...
), just saying I don't think (as a warm-weather owner) I've ever heard anything like that personally. I'm specifically thinking of the startup and post-startup until the RPMs drop ...
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2002 C32 AMG
The whining noise is the AIR injection pump coming on when car is cold at startup. Its just a electric motor pumping air into cylinder head to exhaust to heat up oxygen sensors and catalyst, for emmissions, so fuel injection goes to closed loop running. Once oxygen sensors are up to temperature, AIR pump is shut off.
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