pros vs cons clk55 vs c32 amg for a DD
Ive had a w202 c43 last year i loved how comfortable the benz is the M3 is horrid for long drives. All i do is drive for my job!!!
the M3

+ you can easily get into the 12's to low 12's with simple bolt-ons and a tune.
+ 4 doors if that matters to you
CLK55 -
+ looks/pillarless style if that matters to you
+ a long lost cousin to the CLK DTM if that matters to you (it does to me)
+ potential to run 10's with ALOT of bolt-ons
:O Weistec blower pkg coming soon.If it were for daily driver status.... with <$2K in mods... I'd go for the C32.... more bang for the buck than the clk55.
GL
LOL!I'd go CLK55 by a mile. More reliable,more power.
I know of one C32 that blew up the motor and just got rebuilt,two that had cylinder head problems,all of them you had to change the heat exchangers and or the waterpump for the heat exchanger. Another friend of mines owns one where he's put almost 200k miles on but he says for him its been a real money pit.
CLK55 with mods and N/A can run 12's also and reliably. CLK55 all the way! I could be wrong but I think the CLK55 holds its value better. Its M113 engine has been put in AMG's from 1998 till 2010 both N/A and S/C(12 years) because of it's power and reliabiity, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M113_engine
Even the SLR McClaren (one of the most powerful street prod MB's built has the M113 5.4L motor) nuff said!
By the way I too own a E36 M3 99 Estroil blue and I'm trying to sell it as well(Supersprint headers and full Euro exhaust,Dinan SW,Racing dynamic sways,full bilstein H&R suspension,stock rims) and keep my C43.

CLK55 man and also has a higher resale value and is newer. Can't go wrong with a W208 Clk55 either. If you loved your C43 you will be insane over a CLK55 ask Sabbeteur he'll tell ya since he got a C55 after giving his parents his C43.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Sep 6, 2012 at 08:47 AM.
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The problems with the C32 cylinder head problem is well noted especially if you read in the C32 C55 threads and I have 4 buddies with the C32 all of them modded!
The AMG M113 5.5L motor has more power and is more reliable(one of the reasons why they S/C'd it and its been in existance for 12 years the S/C M112 V6 motor only 2 years)
AMG also stopped the production of the S/C 112 V6 motor in the C Class and SLK and woke up and drop the M 113 5.5L motor back in the C class and SLK?
That V6 S/C motor was actually a compromise and economical substitute IMOP for the V8. CLK55 stayed in existence from 2k or 2k1 till 2k7 6 years. SLK55 carried the N/A 5.5L torch for more years.As documented since 2010 and early 2k11 they continued to use it in its S/C and N/A AMG's
These are all facts and I'm just painting a clear picture to the OP.
And there are a whole group of them with mods that have run 12's and lower.
Finally even when they came out with the new 6.2L 32valve AMG V8 AMG was still using the M113 V8 5.5L motor and transmissions in AMG's so I feel this really says alot in comparing a CLK55 vs a C32.
Many of the guys over in the C32,C55 will tell you that the C55(cousin of the CLK55) is a much superior car in so many ways from handling to all around performance.
Sorry about my long winded response only stating the facts.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Sep 6, 2012 at 10:34 AM.
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CLK55 is slow for the size of motor in stock form.
CLK55 does not respond to bolt-ons nearly as well as the C32.
There are many C32's running around my area in low 12's tune with little money in them and good reliability.
Good luck with your choice.
BTW - I drive a 2004 clk55 which has gone through a long evolution of mods from stock to n/a bolt-ons/exhaust/lsd..... to blown s/c cams/p/p heads now..... and still going.... so I can speak from experience on the clk55 platform.
Last edited by betrezra; Sep 6, 2012 at 11:19 AM.
But the interior is way better on the W209 CLK55.
With 4 doors, and the mod-ability, the C32 is a tough choice to beat.
Given 03 CLK55 or 03 C32. I would probably go with the C32. Given 05 CLK55 vs 03-04 C32. I think the choice is clear

I would also recommend looking at w210 E55. Those things are nearly bullet proof. That would be a better daily than either. Especially in wagon form...drool.

Curious what are you guys trying to get for your M3's? The e36 m3 will always be one of my faves.
Last edited by Nachtsturm; Sep 6, 2012 at 12:12 PM. Reason: Curiousity
I swear ive been looking at them to its hard to find one with clean paint they rust very easy and they only look good if they are in perfect condition if they are black And they need to be slammed to look good aswell i feel its just too old of a car i kinda want a 2003+ car so the c32 and the clk55 fit the bill I would love to get a c55 but they want as much as w211 e55s in some cases
But the interior is way better on the W209 CLK55.
With 4 doors, and the mod-ability, the C32 is a tough choice to beat.
Given 03 CLK55 or 03 C32. I would probably go with the C32. Given 05 CLK55 vs 03-04 C32. I think the choice is clear

I would also recommend looking at w210 E55. Those things are nearly bullet proof. That would be a better daily than either. Especially in wagon form...drool.

Curious what are you guys trying to get for your M3's? The e36 m3 will always be one of my faves.
I wish they had w210 e55 wagons state side
ill try to get $12k for mine it has 98k on it and is a restored 1995
CLK55 is slow for the size of motor in stock form.
CLK55 does not respond to bolt-ons nearly as well as the C32.
There are many C32's running around my area in low 12's tune with little money in them and good reliability.
Good luck with your choice.
BTW - I drive a 2004 clk55 which has gone through a long evolution of mods from stock to n/a bolt-ons/exhaust/lsd..... to blown s/c cams/p/p heads now..... and still going.... so I can speak from experience on the clk55 platform.
Since when does modability and speed make a car a reliable daily driver?
Your car yes is newer than mines its a really nice car and has a blower,not to mention ported heads and lsd. Other than that I have just about every single mod your car has . So these cars to me are really no mystery. And these cars certainly are not plagued with the problems that the C32 has concerning the motor. Not to mention that I work on my own car.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Sep 6, 2012 at 06:18 PM.
I work on my car too.... I enjoy it.
No need to argue.
I happen to believe the C32 would make a better daily driver / cheaper car to mod and bang for the buck based on my experience. If you disagree. Cool.
I come here for relaxation and peace

Peace Brother!
I work on my car too.... I enjoy it.
No need to argue.
I happen to believe the C32 would make a better daily driver / cheaper car to mod and bang for the buck based on my experience. If you disagree. Cool.
I come here for relaxation and peace

Peace Brother!
Sorry you see it as an argument bro. By the way here is some more factual info for you
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...2002-c32s.html
Last edited by ProjectC55; Sep 6, 2012 at 07:37 PM.
-Much better looking
-Much more exotic looking and not seen very often. The C32 is not exciting except for the engine. Take the engine out of a C32 and its just a W203... Needs to be more excitment in a car then just whats under the hood.
-Better built the C208's are vs the W203. Interior is more solid and better assembled. The W203 looks cheap.
-I personally do not trust any -01-04 W203 in terms of reliablility and that is a C32
-The W203 is just too damn small. If you are going to have a car that is smaller why not make it sporty and really good looking.
-Comfort of a CLK. The seats are more comfortable hands down and wider. More front space for driver and passanger.
-A C-Class is well... Just really awful at the end of it all and truly lacks the feel of a real MB.
However if your main goal is speed and power then the C32 is your car due to the performance products that are made available. Lots more C32's I see with upgrades then CLK55's.
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Last edited by C280 Sport; Sep 9, 2012 at 12:07 PM.
-Much better looking
-Much more exotic looking and not seen very often. The C32 is not exciting except for the engine. Take the engine out of a C32 and its just a W203... Needs to be more excitment in a car then just whats under the hood.
-Better built the C208's are vs the W203. Interior is more solid and better assembled. The W203 looks cheap.
-I personally do not trust any -01-04 W203 in terms of reliablility and that is a C32
-The W203 is just too damn small. If you are going to have a car that is smaller why not make it sporty and really good looking.
-Comfort of a CLK. The seats are more comfortable hands down and wider. More front space for driver and passanger.
However if your main goal is speed and power then the C32 is your car due to the performance products that are made available. Lots more C32's I see with upgrades then CLK55's.
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Just the response I was looking for!!!! So when the M3 is gone a clk55 will replace it!
Mine may be different as it is an all original AMG. But only thing I had to do it is replace some license plate rivets(had to do this on every benz i've owned.) and fix the moon roof wind screen. I bought it from the original owner, I believe the only issue he had was he had to replace the driver side window switch.
Not bad for 13 years of combined ownership, it's a very stout ride.






