CLK55 vs. E46 M3
...but real-world experience trumps magazine tests every time, and these tests are trumped by the number of M3 headlights I've seen in my rearview mirror, simple as that. Plus, as can be seen below, the mag tests are *not* all in agreement...and if you haven't noticed, the newer tests on *production* M3's (not massaged press cars as before) are settling into the mid-13's, which is more believable. The same thing happened with the E36: early test cars ran several tenths faster than later production cars...(wonder why?)

You might also want to look at what actual M3/M5 owners have said about their *own* experiences with CLK55s, the previous E55, which had same motor & drivetrain, and was 200 pounds heavier, and the C32 for grins:
E46 M3 owner vs. his Dad's CLK55: four races, four wins for CLK55
E46 M3 owner: two races, two wins for CLK55
E46 M3 owner: multiple races, CLK55 wins all
CLK55 owner vs M3: two races, one win for CLK55, one tie, both on video
CLK55 owner vs his brother's M5: multiple runs, dead even (M5s are faster than M3s)
M5 owner who switched to CLK55 reports CLK55 is just as quick
M3 owner reports runs with W210 E55: dead even race
(note that W210 E55 is about 200 pounds heavier than W208 CLK55, with same HP and gearing, so from a roll CLK should be quicker, i.e., based upon these results it would pull M3)
add another E46 M3 owner to the list:
add still another E46 M3 owner to the list:
And here are four more for you:
Motorweek's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.4@107
Motorweek's test of E46 M3: 13.5@107
Edmunds's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.48@106.3
Edmunds's test of M3: 13.5@105
Finally, a few C32 stories:
C32 vs M3: guess who won?
Another C32 vs Another M3: guess who won?
CLK: to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and through the quarter-mile in a healthy 13.6 seconds at 106 mph
M3: passing the 60-mph mark in 4.7 seconds and tripping the quarter-mile lights in 13.4 seconds at 106 mph
:o :o

http://www.bmwcca.org/Roundel/2001/1...ureStory.shtml
Acceleration figures for E46 M3 according to Auto Motor und Sport:
M3 6-speed tested in 2/2001
0-100 km/h 5.1 sec
0-160 11.7
0-200 18.8
Standing kilometer 24.7 sec
Vehicle weight 1560kg
M3 SMG II tested in 11/2001
0-100 km/h 5.5 sec
0-160 12.6
0-200 20.5
Standing kilometer 25 sec
Vehicle weight 1590kg
M3 6-speed tested in 18/2001
0-100 km/h 5.4 sec
0-160 12.2
0-200 19.5
Standing kilometer 24.6
Vehicle weight 1572kg
M3 “unknown transmission” in 01/2003 (Onur what was the trans. on tested car?)
0-100 km/h 4.8 sec
0-160 10.9
0-200 16.8
Vehicle weight 1570kg
This M3 is significantly faster than the rest, especially in the 0-100 and 0-200 acceleration times. Could it be that BMW did something to this particular car or all 2003 M3 cars had some technical changes? I read somewhere here that BMW changed the following items:
Crankshaft from 11/02
New Connecting Rod from 11/02
New Connecting Rod Bolt from 11/02
New Bearing Shell from 11/02
New Camshaft from 12/02
lLook this: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=43249
Last edited by Gabri343; Mar 2, 2004 at 07:19 PM.
John
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=3447
CLK: to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and through the quarter-mile in a healthy 13.6 seconds at 106 mph
M3: passing the 60-mph mark in 4.7 seconds and tripping the quarter-mile lights in 13.4 seconds at 106 mph
:o :o

http://www.bmwcca.org/Roundel/2001/1...ureStory.shtml
Acceleration figures for E46 M3 according to Auto Motor und Sport:
M3 6-speed tested in 2/2001
0-100 km/h 5.1 sec
0-160 11.7
0-200 18.8
Standing kilometer 24.7 sec
Vehicle weight 1560kg
M3 SMG II tested in 11/2001
0-100 km/h 5.5 sec
0-160 12.6
0-200 20.5
Standing kilometer 25 sec
Vehicle weight 1590kg
M3 6-speed tested in 18/2001
0-100 km/h 5.4 sec
0-160 12.2
0-200 19.5
Standing kilometer 24.6
Vehicle weight 1572kg
M3 “unknown transmission” in 01/2003 (Onur what was the trans. on tested car?)
0-100 km/h 4.8 sec
0-160 10.9
0-200 16.8
Vehicle weight 1570kg
This M3 is significantly faster than the rest, especially in the 0-100 and 0-200 acceleration times. Could it be that BMW did something to this particular car or all 2003 M3 cars had some technical changes? I read somewhere here that BMW changed the following items:
Crankshaft from 11/02
New Connecting Rod from 11/02
New Connecting Rod Bolt from 11/02
New Bearing Shell from 11/02
New Camshaft from 12/02
lLook this: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=43249
And again: I produced four tests, from Motorweek and Edmunds: two for the CLK55 and two for the M3. Both of these publications tested faster in the CLK55. Here they are again:
Motorweek's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.4@107
Motorweek's test of E46 M3: 13.5@107
Edmunds's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.48@106.3
Edmunds's test of M3: 13.5@105
Also, the Car & Driver test you are quoting is for the Euro stripper version of the M3 tested last year, which was imported from Europe for them by BMW "specifically for this test" as quoted in the magazine article. You will also note that in the rolling-start 5-60 race, both vehicles scored an *identical* 5.2 seconds, meaning that without a perfect launch, even with a pro driver piloting the lightweight stripper M3, the two were equal at best from a roll.
And this is with a pro driver launching and shifting the M3. Most drivers aren't in the same league...
Subsequent tests by this publication have NOT gotten the same results. The latest test they ran, which was on a production version, was as follows:
0-60: 4.8
5-60: 5.3
1/4: 13.6@105
So, with the latest *production* car they tested, the 1/4 was a tie for the CLK55, and the 5-60 rolling-start time was slower.
Also note that Car & Driver tested a new CLK55 in their November 2003 issue. They got:
0-60: 4.7
0-100: 11.3
1/4: 13.2@107
Which is faster not only than the production version, but even the lightweight stripper provided by BMW before!

It may just be that with a very good driver, the M3 is capable of doing much better than the ones I've encountered, but what impresses me is the consistency: in every encounter, the margin has been about the same: 3 carlengths to 60, and a gentle walk at speeds above that, then a pretty noticeable pull at triple digits.
I'll also admit that I was initially surprised, given the numbers I'd seen in the magazines, but the thing to remember is that while the M3 puts out 262 lb-ft of torque onto 255 mm rear tires, the CLK55 puts out 380+ lb-ft onto 245 mm rear tires, so the times you see are traction limited: if one tries to launch the CLK55 agressively, one's ET will go *down* because of excessive wheelspin. It is easier to get a good launch with the M3, with its wider rear tires and lesser torque.
With more traction, the CLK55 is capable of much better times than those gotten in the mags! I ran a 13.4@106.5 in mine with the stock tires by simply stepping on the gas; if I tried to get a better 60' time by power braking, I lost ET due to massive wheelspin. With the 265's I now have on the back, I've lowered my 60' by 0.2, which puts me at more like a 13.0 (not verified at a real strip, but it will be!!
) With wider tires or drag radials, I can promise you it would be in the 12's.http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=3447
CLK: to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and through the quarter-mile in a healthy 13.6 seconds at 106 mph
M3: passing the 60-mph mark in 4.7 seconds and tripping the quarter-mile lights in 13.4 seconds at 106 mph
:o :o

http://www.bmwcca.org/Roundel/2001/1...ureStory.shtml
Acceleration figures for E46 M3 according to Auto Motor und Sport:
M3 6-speed tested in 2/2001
0-100 km/h 5.1 sec
0-160 11.7
0-200 18.8
Standing kilometer 24.7 sec
Vehicle weight 1560kg
M3 SMG II tested in 11/2001
0-100 km/h 5.5 sec
0-160 12.6
0-200 20.5
Standing kilometer 25 sec
Vehicle weight 1590kg
M3 6-speed tested in 18/2001
0-100 km/h 5.4 sec
0-160 12.2
0-200 19.5
Standing kilometer 24.6
Vehicle weight 1572kg
M3 “unknown transmission” in 01/2003 (Onur what was the trans. on tested car?)
0-100 km/h 4.8 sec
0-160 10.9
0-200 16.8
Vehicle weight 1570kg
This M3 is significantly faster than the rest, especially in the 0-100 and 0-200 acceleration times. Could it be that BMW did something to this particular car or all 2003 M3 cars had some technical changes? I read somewhere here that BMW changed the following items:
Crankshaft from 11/02
New Connecting Rod from 11/02
New Connecting Rod Bolt from 11/02
New Bearing Shell from 11/02
New Camshaft from 12/02
lLook this: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=43249
Last edited by Improviz; Mar 2, 2004 at 11:53 PM.
1) pack your M3 on a crate;
2) ship it to the US;
3) join it;
4) we will race for $100/race.
You will lose. As I said: I've beaten well over 20 M3's, and I'd be delighted to beat another one.
And for every test you've posted which has the M3 faster, I've posted one which has the CLK55 faster, along with testimonials by numerous M3 and M5 owners about losing to CLK55s.
The fact is, BMW is notorious for providing tuned cars to the magazines, and if you're reading carefully (which you aren't), you'll see that both Car & Driver and Road & Track ran *mid* 13's, not low 13's, in their recent tests of M3s and M5s. This happened before with the previous series: the first E36 M3 tests were somehow miraculously faster than later E36 M3 tests...what a coincidence.
So, frankly, either put your money where your mouth is, or buzz off. Got more important things to do than waste time arguing with you. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the original poster's claim that the CLK55 will beat the M3. If you don't believe it, fine, but I'd wager that's because you haven't raced one yet.
In fact M3 won in circuit:
http://www.track-challenge.com/comp...1=2&Car2=30
http://www.track-challenge.com/tracktest2_e.asp?Car=223
http://www.track-challenge.com/tracktest2_e.asp?Car=236
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Do the following:
1) pack your M3 on a crate;
2) ship it to the US;
3) join it;
4) we will race for $100/race.
You will lose. As I said: I've beaten well over 20 M3's, and I'd be delighted to beat another one.
And for every test you've posted which has the M3 faster, I've posted one which has the CLK55 faster, along with testimonials by numerous M3 and M5 owners about losing to CLK55s.
The fact is, BMW is notorious for providing tuned cars to the magazines, and if you're reading carefully (which you aren't), you'll see that both Car & Driver and Road & Track ran *mid* 13's, not low 13's, in their recent tests of M3s and M5s. This happened before with the previous series: the first E36 M3 tests were somehow miraculously faster than later E36 M3 tests...what a coincidence.
So, frankly, either put your money where your mouth is, or buzz off. Got more important things to do than waste time arguing with you. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the original poster's claim that the CLK55 will beat the M3. If you don't believe it, fine, but I'd wager that's because you haven't raced one yet.
Quattroruote (italian papers):
CLK 0-100 km/h 5.6" C32 6.3"
M3 SMG 5.3
CLK 0-170 km/h 12.6" C32 13.9"
M3 12.5"
CLK 0-1000 meters 24.3" C32 25.2"
M3 24.1"
But we *chose* not to...what's wrong, are you sorry you had to settle for less?Motorweek's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.4@107
Motorweek's test of E46 M3: 13.5@107
Edmunds's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.48@106.3
Edmunds's test of M3: 13.5@105
As I said: let's go, $100/race. You can fly over to America and make some easy money...so, what are you waiting for?
Ciao, dude...I'll be thinking of you when I thrash my next M3!
I have raced this is sure and i won always, this the story. In Italy CLK 55 is more slow than M3
The funny thing is, for the price of the CLK55, any of us here could have gotten an M3 *and* a 325i, or for that matter a 996 which thrashes an M3 around any track...but for some reason when we looked at the M3, we chose not to buy an uglier, slower car with over 120 documented cases of blown engines.
But we *chose* not to...what's wrong, are you sorry you had to settle for less?Motorweek's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.4@107
Motorweek's test of E46 M3: 13.5@107
Edmunds's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.48@106.3
Edmunds's test of M3: 13.5@105
As I said: let's go, $100/race. You can fly over to America and make some easy money...so, what are you waiting for?
Ciao, dude...I'll be thinking of you when I thrash my next M3!
Come in Italy!!!! I'm waiting
Yes, sure, make it 100 Euro. Wouldn't want to stress your wallet...you did opt for the budget model, after all!

Arreviderci!! Come back when you have something to contribute.
Another valet posing as an owner. We get a lot of those here!
Yes, sure, make it 100 Euro. Wouldn't want to stress your wallet...you did opt for the budget model, after all!

Arreviderci!! Come back when you have something to contribute.
He is probably a pimpled face teenager who still lives with his parents and ********** to his dream M3 every night. Another dreamer with no substance. BTW, 100 Euro is too much!!! Don't take his monthyly allowance away.John
That is a good one
He is probably a pimpled face teenager who still lives with his parents and ********** to his dream M3 every night. Another dreamer with no substance. BTW, 100 Euro is too much!!! Don't take his monthyly allowance away.John
http://www.daftproductions.com/video...638_106-34.mpg
Bye bye CLK aemmegi
E46 M3 owner vs. his Dad's CLK55: four races, four wins for CLK55
E46 M3 owner: two races, two wins for CLK55
E46 M3 owner: multiple races, CLK55 wins all
CLK55 owner vs M3: two races, one win for CLK55, one tie, both on video
CLK55 owner vs his brother's M5: multiple runs, dead even (M5s are faster than M3s)
M5 owner who switched to CLK55 reports CLK55 is just as quick
M3 owner reports runs with W210 E55: dead even race
(note that W210 E55 is about 200 pounds heavier than W208 CLK55, with same HP and gearing, so from a roll CLK should be quicker, i.e., based upon these results it would pull M3)
add another E46 M3 owner to the list:
add still another E46 M3 owner to the list:
And here are four more for you:
Motorweek's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.4@107
Motorweek's test of E46 M3: 13.5@107
Edmunds's test of CLK55 AMG: 13.48@106.3
Edmunds's test of M3: 13.5@105
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=3447
CLK: to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and through the quarter-mile in a healthy 13.6 seconds at 106 mph
M3: passing the 60-mph mark in 4.7 seconds and tripping the quarter-mile lights in 13.4 seconds at 106 mph
:o :o

http://www.bmwcca.org/Roundel/2001/1...ureStory.shtml
Acceleration figures for E46 M3 according to Auto Motor und Sport:
M3 6-speed tested in 2/2001
0-100 km/h 5.1 sec
0-160 11.7
0-200 18.8
Standing kilometer 24.7 sec
Vehicle weight 1560kg
M3 SMG II tested in 11/2001
0-100 km/h 5.5 sec
0-160 12.6
0-200 20.5
Standing kilometer 25 sec
Vehicle weight 1590kg
M3 6-speed tested in 18/2001
0-100 km/h 5.4 sec
0-160 12.2
0-200 19.5
Standing kilometer 24.6
Vehicle weight 1572kg
M3 “unknown transmission” in 01/2003 (Onur what was the trans. on tested car?)
0-100 km/h 4.8 sec
0-160 10.9
0-200 16.8
Vehicle weight 1570kg
This M3 is significantly faster than the rest, especially in the 0-100 and 0-200 acceleration times. Could it be that BMW did something to this particular car or all 2003 M3 cars had some technical changes? I read somewhere here that BMW changed the following items:
Crankshaft from 11/02
New Connecting Rod from 11/02
New Connecting Rod Bolt from 11/02
New Bearing Shell from 11/02
New Camshaft from 12/02
lLook this: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=43249
Last edited by clkguy; Mar 4, 2004 at 09:17 PM.






