Just bought a new CLK - pics
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5
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From: NC
2003 CLK 55 AMG
JamE55 Congrats! So did you buy or lease? How much was everything out the door and any plans for mods?
I don't have any plans for mods right now, although in the future I would like to upgrade the suspension, wheels, and see if I can get some more hp out of the engine.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: Oxford, Pa
03 CLK55
What year was your M3?
I did the same thing. I traded in my 02 M3 on my CLK. My sticker came to $79,075 so I suspect that we got the exact same options. What year is your CLK? Anyway, congrats on your purchase, I have no doubt that you will be happy with it. In regards to the CLK's handling, don't judge how the CLK handles until you are done with your break-in. The car understeers quite a bit with neutral or light throttle applications. Initially, I was pretty disappointed with my CLK's handling, but once my break-in period was over and I was using the throttle through the corners more, the difference was night and day. It handles much better when you use a liberal amount of throttle. You don't even have to use so much throttle as to provoke throttle oversteer, just enough to tranfer as much weight as you can to the rear tires. As soon as this happens with you, the cars handling will make sense! Congratulations once again, and the best of luck to you!
Best regards,
Matt
Best regards,
Matt
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: Oxford, Pa
03 CLK55
Great minds think alike!
Ha-ha-ha... Small world huh? Next you'll tell me you had an S2000 before your M3 (As I did). What color was your M? I can't tell if it's carbon black or that super dark blue. What made you decide to trade out of it? I have both AP Racing 6-piston brakes and a set of Ground Control coil-overs (brand-new-still-in-box) for the E46 M3 if you know anyone who would be interested. Was your M on the bearing recall? Mine was, although that only had a little to do with my decision to trade. My M3 was something of a "stripper" with bi-xenons, moonroof, and SMG being my only options. I thought the cloth would be more durable than the leather, so I got cloth. I realized later that it was a big mistake, and the interior, the V8 (and it's potential for more power), and the b-pillarless design sold me on the CLK55. I just wish that I hadn't bought the M3 as I only had it a little over a year and I took a bit of a hit. I'll definitely say this much. The 209 CLK55 handles pretty well, and FAR better than what most M3 owners think. In my opinion, the performance of the two cars (in regard to handling) is so close that the driver would easily be the deciding factor. Power wise, I feel that it's a wash up to about 85-90 mph, but from 90 mph and up, I think the CLK55 would pull away. I say "think" because performace is subjective without having an accurate measuring devices. Anyway congrats on your 208! It looks tough!
Best regards,
Matt
Best regards,
Matt
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Hey AMG///Merc,
Thanks! haha. Nah, my previous car was a Toyota 4Runner. Yeah, my M3 was part of the recall. Mine was 10/01 production -- the worst! This was a big reason that I traded in. The process was to have the local BMW tech (the same one who doesn't even know how to change my oil properly) take apart my engine and examine the rod...fix it...and put my engine back together. No thanks! Also, I had a stripped down M3, w/ cloth. I much prefer the options that I have w/ the CLK. The M3 was in high demand here, so I got a nice trade in value. The dealer also dropped the price of the CLK considerably...so it was a no brainer...esp. after I test drove it! My M3 had Ground Control coilovers w/ 19'' OEM wheels.
I agree w/ you in that the performance from 0-80 is about equal. As for performance from 80-120mph, the CLK55 would kill the M3. I have a friend who has a C5 corvette, and he would always slowly pull from me w/ the M3. But w/ the CLK55, I would be doing the pulling! He's definately impressed w/ this "sleeper" as he calls it. He now wants a Benz, instead of the Z06! The V8 is just wonderful.
Thanks! haha. Nah, my previous car was a Toyota 4Runner. Yeah, my M3 was part of the recall. Mine was 10/01 production -- the worst! This was a big reason that I traded in. The process was to have the local BMW tech (the same one who doesn't even know how to change my oil properly) take apart my engine and examine the rod...fix it...and put my engine back together. No thanks! Also, I had a stripped down M3, w/ cloth. I much prefer the options that I have w/ the CLK. The M3 was in high demand here, so I got a nice trade in value. The dealer also dropped the price of the CLK considerably...so it was a no brainer...esp. after I test drove it! My M3 had Ground Control coilovers w/ 19'' OEM wheels.
I agree w/ you in that the performance from 0-80 is about equal. As for performance from 80-120mph, the CLK55 would kill the M3. I have a friend who has a C5 corvette, and he would always slowly pull from me w/ the M3. But w/ the CLK55, I would be doing the pulling! He's definately impressed w/ this "sleeper" as he calls it. He now wants a Benz, instead of the Z06! The V8 is just wonderful.
Almost a Member!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 47
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'02 BMW M3 convertible
another bye-bye to an M3
Originally posted by fr1end2u
Did the same! I traded in my '02 M3 for the CLK55...but an '01 CLK55.
Did the same! I traded in my '02 M3 for the CLK55...but an '01 CLK55.
That's 4 of us on just this board who have done that. Lets have an alumni club.
I did love my M3, but decided that comfort was more important to me than the handling edge the M3 might have, and I opted for the AMG.
I just saw a new silver/black Cab at a local dealer, and it looks great.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Best of luck with the new 55, the W209, CLK 55 had some very positive comments written about it in the latest Sports Car International magazine, if you haven't read the article yet you should.
Enjoy the car!
Enjoy the car!
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6
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2002 SC430
Just curious on why you guys traded in your E46 M3 for a CLK55? Were you tired of it, needed a change? I think a CLK55 is much more exclusive than an M3 but you have to pay 20K more and sacrifice performance. JMHO
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5
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From: NC
2003 CLK 55 AMG
My M3 was convertable, and I didn't feel safe hauling *** in a convertable. And I like changes, so I visited the Mercedes dealership and test drove a CLK and bought it the next day. And about the preformance issue...I am building a 450HP race car that should satisfy my g-force needs. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,987
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From: Tampa, Fl
CLK63 Black Series
Originally posted by D Ruck
My M3 was convertable, and I didn't feel safe hauling *** in a convertable. And I like changes, so I visited the Mercedes dealership and test drove a CLK and bought it the next day. And about the preformance issue...I am building a 450HP race car that should satisfy my g-force needs.
My M3 was convertable, and I didn't feel safe hauling *** in a convertable. And I like changes, so I visited the Mercedes dealership and test drove a CLK and bought it the next day. And about the preformance issue...I am building a 450HP race car that should satisfy my g-force needs.
another buyer converted over to MB
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,439
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What do all the ex-M3 (except "lucycat") users think of your car's engine sound? I found the sound pretty annoying when the car is rev'd up. I smoked a M3 at a light a coupe nights ago, I had my sunroof opened and that engine sound from the M3 beside me really made me laugh. 
The roaring sound of the AMGs are MUCH MUCH better.
The roaring sound of the AMGs are MUCH MUCH better.
