machwon04

Which is quicker out of the two: 04 C32 or 04CLK55? (0-60, 1/4 mile etc.) Any reason to get one over the other, besides whether or not you need 4 doors? Anything to look out for with either car?

M-bENZ

Check this out:

04 C32 AMG

Performance
Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.4 sec. Braking Distance (60-0 mph): 118 ft.
Base Number of Cylinders: 6 Base Engine Size: 3.2 liters
Base Engine Type: V6 Horsepower: 349 hp
Max Horsepower: 6100 rpm Torque: 332 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4400 rpm Drive Type: RWD

04 CLK55 AMG

- 5,439 cc 5.4 liters V 8 front engine with 97 mm bore, 92 mm stroke, 11 compression ratio, overhead cam and three valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel 91
- Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 22 and EPA city (mpg): 15
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 16.4 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank
- Power: 270 kW , 362 HP SAE @ 5,750 rpm; 376 ft lb , 510 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

Chappy

MBUSA's website gives the 0-60 nod to the C32 by a tenth:

http://www.mbusa.com/pre-owned/2004/...ry=performance

http://www.mbusa.com/pre-owned/2004/...ry=performance

Here are the production stats for the 2004 model year (U.S. stats only):

CLK55: 509
C32: 219

Which style do you prefer? One has much more torque, while the other can be modded fairly easily.

Supercharged V6 vs. N/A V8.

What to look out for? Do a search for common problems for each....

Have fun shopping!

Benzboy13

I am under the impression that the clk55 is quicker/faster than the c32.
However, the c32 is much more mod-friendly because of the supercharger.
Cheap mods(cheap by mercedes benz standards) can significantly boost the power output of the supercharged v6.

I would take the c32 if what you care most about is speed. The money you save getting the cheaper C32 will make it faster than the clk55.

However, If your not into modding and dont need four doors, def go for the clk55.

Here are some stats form MOtor Trend road tests.

2003 CLK55 amg

Base price $69,470
Vehicle layout Front engine, rwd, 2-door, 4-pass
Engine 5.5L/362-hp V-8, SOHC, 3 valves/cyl


0-60 mph, sec 4.9
1/4 mile, sec@mph 13.24 @ 107.41
Braking, 60-0, ft 116
600-ft slalom, mph 65.8
Skidpad, g 0.83



2003 C32 AMG

Acceleration, sec
0-30 mph 1.82
0-40 mph 2.60
0-50 mph 3.68
0-60 mph 4.77
0-70 mph 6.19
0-80 mph 8.01
0-90 mph 9.85
0-100 mph 11.80

1/4 mile, sec @ mph 13.24 @ 106.86

Braking, 60-0 mph, ft 117
600-ft slalom, mph 67.3
200-ft skidpad, lateral g 0.85
Top-gear rpm @ 60 mph 2100

transferred

seen c32 as low as 10.8 to 100mph, but think that was a particularly strong one.

machwon04

I'm doing research on the C32, C55, and CLK55 right now on this sight. What sort of mods can be done w/ the C32 to get some big power gains? With my Lightning, a $200 pulley swap and $500 tune nets 30-40 rwhp. Are there any reliability issues with any of the three?

///AMG4EVER

The C32 will be the one with most bugs simply because is SC'ed and you are expose to cooling issues. Nothing major, but it's a fact.

I've got 362 RWHP in mine with a couple of bolt-on mods and a tune. Ran a best of 12.6 @ 111.56.

For me however, the +03 CLK55s are in another league in terms of luxury and features.

If I was in the market, I will add the W211 E55 to that list. You will get double the car for a few more thousands.

machwon04

What bolt-ons? What sort of cooling issues? Do these cooling issues come about from just driving around, or more prevalent when racing?

The E55 is probably out of my price range. The C55 is probably out of my price range as it is, unless I find a really good deal on one.

machwon04

I also just realized you are in Houston as well. I'd like to meet up and take a look/go for a ride in your car some time if you don't mind. My mom just got her 08 c350 about 3 weeks ago, but that is the first Mercedes in our family, and I haven't even sat in it yet!

///AMG4EVER

The usual C32 bolt-ons are larger crank pulley, and ECU tune and a larger intake. After that, you will get into headers, exhaust and cams. As far as cooling issues, your power will be cut out by a malfunction on the IC pump. Easy fix, but most likely to happen. The heat soak issue is more prevalent when pushing the car for a while. You can keep your IAT downs by upgrading your IC heat exchanger and your pump, but this will not solve the problem at 95 F / 100% humidity weather.

There is actually a very nice crowd of us here in Houston. Erick from LET Motorsports (C32 owner w/ twin turbos) and Sunil from Motorwerks (C Class owner w/ a 55K engine) both sponsors and good friends are residing in Houston. There are a couple of C32s in the woodlands/spring area and a couple of C55s in the west side of town. All mbworld members.

You are more than welcome to PM me. There is a meeting at Sunil's shop on Saturday, May 10th. You can meet all the guys over there. I live by the Greenway plaza / Galleria area. I will let you test drive it if you have insurance.

Quant

iTrader: (1)

stock - they're about the same.

0-60 in high 4s and 1/4 in low 13s.

if ur looking to mod ur car, u should go with the c32. but the v8 sound so damn good.

Stiggs

Amen to that. I don't think I"ll ever get a 6 cylinder after having a V-8.

machwon04

I noticed the C55's have the quad exhaust tips. Will that rear bumper fit the c32's? The exhaust coming out on just one side makes the car not seem symetrical from the rear. I don't know why, but it bothers me.

Same for the 03/04 CLK55's, can the newer rear bumper be put on there to have quad exhaust?

As far as the V8's go, wouldn't those respond pretty well to things like exhaust and intake manifolds?

machwon04

Sounds awesome man. I'll definitely hit you up sometime. I live/work downtown, so I'm not too far from you. Maybe we can meet up Sunday some time.