I'm still in aw! W209 CLK55
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Joined: Jun 2019
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2005 CLK 55
I'm still in aw! W209 CLK55
For what I paid for this car and how it performs. Its been almost 3 months and I still love hitting that start button.
It just has so much torque. I feel like I stole it!
It just has so much torque. I feel like I stole it!
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 226
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
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From: Austin, TX
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
Sprint booster is a waste of time. for $350 you can get a tune from OE tuning that will blow that thing out of the water and actually add some power.
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 226
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
A tune is only going to do so much for a normally aspirated engine. The CLK55 doesn't have an SC like the E55. You know this right?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Austin, TX
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
You are wrong. Have you even tried SB on the CLK55? I have both the OE tune, with which I barely felt any improvement and the Sprint Booster which made my car feel like a pro stock dragster in race setting.
A tune is only going to do so much for a normally aspirated engine. The CLK55 doesn't have an SC like the E55. You know this right?
A tune is only going to do so much for a normally aspirated engine. The CLK55 doesn't have an SC like the E55. You know this right?
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
I appreciate your experience with these cars, but I don’t get the feeling you’ve tried the SB on any of your NA 55’s. I don’t need to “wrench every day” nor be a software programmer to sense the difference; I know performance and I know my cars. I’ve owned dozens of vehicles of all years, types and engine configs since 1984, including numerous V8’s, turbo 6’s and various high performance motorcycles. I used to wrench on the older cars and have done some minor DIY on this CLK; definitely not interested in messing with my newer under warrantee stuff.
I’ve driven/compared the car extensively before the OE, then with the OE, and then with OE and SB. Yes I understand the SB’s simple (inexpensive) trickery throttle mapping, and I understand the car’s stock software inhibitors. Yes you can mash the pedal when stock and get a (somewhat) similar WOT effect, but the overall experience is still restrained or muted from a start and generally lazy unless in sport mode auto, which tends to hunt and hold gears all over the place; I prefer to select shift. I also like the SB’s 18 mapping fine tune capability. Simple throttle mapping or not, the car comes alive where it was tired in the lower rev range vs the OE, which seemed to help mainly around in the 3k-4K range. On its own the OE felt good, improved in the mid-range, but didn’t really address the soft pedal (feeling like soft engine) from initial tip in. Yep, aftermarket headers would help here.
Having to choose between the two for the best bang for the buck, I’d choose the SB. The OE absolutely does not blow the SB out of the water. I have both, so the car is that much better. It’s not SC or turbo V8 better mind you but it’s fun enough.
I’ve driven/compared the car extensively before the OE, then with the OE, and then with OE and SB. Yes I understand the SB’s simple (inexpensive) trickery throttle mapping, and I understand the car’s stock software inhibitors. Yes you can mash the pedal when stock and get a (somewhat) similar WOT effect, but the overall experience is still restrained or muted from a start and generally lazy unless in sport mode auto, which tends to hunt and hold gears all over the place; I prefer to select shift. I also like the SB’s 18 mapping fine tune capability. Simple throttle mapping or not, the car comes alive where it was tired in the lower rev range vs the OE, which seemed to help mainly around in the 3k-4K range. On its own the OE felt good, improved in the mid-range, but didn’t really address the soft pedal (feeling like soft engine) from initial tip in. Yep, aftermarket headers would help here.
Having to choose between the two for the best bang for the buck, I’d choose the SB. The OE absolutely does not blow the SB out of the water. I have both, so the car is that much better. It’s not SC or turbo V8 better mind you but it’s fun enough.
Last edited by Bmo Pete; Sep 1, 2021 at 01:30 AM.
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From: Bahrain
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
You can argue this all day but the fact still remains, would you pay the same amount for a device that tricks the pedal response as opposed to a tune that remaps your ignition timing, increases rev limit, and removes the speed limiter?
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
I'm not arguing. My car is much more fun now with the SB. Period. Don't really care about one relatively harmless software enhancement vs the next (though I've stated I have both). One's $280 and one's $350, go get them both would be my advise; I don't have any skin in the game, selling either one.
My car has 105K miles on it, so not interested in banging against even the stock rev limiter. I'm averaging about $3K a year to keep this thing on the road now, so don't need to hang-out at higher RPM's more than I have to. The SB gives me more enthusiasm, flexibility at lower RPM''s to play with, like having a cheat code to unleash true available performance that had been restricted by the factory for whatever reason.
It's an old convertible, so when I'm approaching about 120 mph I start thinking how bad this could end up if I blow a tire now. I'm not brave like I used to be, crouched down on my old FZR1000 flying at 150 mph+. I don't track the car but I do enjoy back road fun often, which is where I need the low speed low RPM pop at tip in where I can modulate, not down at 3/4 throttle searching, waiting for this thing to wake the hell up.
My car has 105K miles on it, so not interested in banging against even the stock rev limiter. I'm averaging about $3K a year to keep this thing on the road now, so don't need to hang-out at higher RPM's more than I have to. The SB gives me more enthusiasm, flexibility at lower RPM''s to play with, like having a cheat code to unleash true available performance that had been restricted by the factory for whatever reason.
It's an old convertible, so when I'm approaching about 120 mph I start thinking how bad this could end up if I blow a tire now. I'm not brave like I used to be, crouched down on my old FZR1000 flying at 150 mph+. I don't track the car but I do enjoy back road fun often, which is where I need the low speed low RPM pop at tip in where I can modulate, not down at 3/4 throttle searching, waiting for this thing to wake the hell up.
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1991 964 Turbo, 2002 Black E55, 2002 Black E55 " The Beast"- 2014 E63s
Have it in my '02 E55, loved it so installed it in my ///X5M, continued to love it and just after installing something similar, a Pedal Booster in my 2014 E63s... Love this darn thing. too much No, a tune will not fix the electric throttle delay, period.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Austin, TX
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
So you are a tuner right? It can absolutely be change in the software even though most tunes will not come with this unless it is requested. That being said it was not the point of my post. IMO the tune is worth more. It will give you actual gains instead of tricking the computer into thinking you pushed the gas pedal harder. If that is your thing fine but there is no dispute that these do nothing but that. I am done with this convo as it is going no where fast.
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From: EURO Style
Euro Cars Only
I actually had both back when I owned a CLK55. Unfortunately never got to install my SB because the tuner I went to damaged my ECU and I sold the car. Tune was fun though (lasted about 4 days before failing).
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
So you are a tuner right? It can absolutely be change in the software even though most tunes will not come with this unless it is requested. That being said it was not the point of my post. IMO the tune is worth more. It will give you actual gains instead of tricking the computer into thinking you pushed the gas pedal harder. If that is your thing fine but there is no dispute that these do nothing but that. I am done with this convo as it is going no where fast.
My point is, I have extensive seat time using both options in a W209 CLK55. The SB is worth every bit of $280. I drove it to work yesterday with the SB off (for the first time in awhile), the car was a friggin dog, and no, even mashing the pedal at 75%+, you can't replicate the response, feel, whatever the SB gives, especially in race settings (I use 8 & 9).
I'm not ragging on OE or other tunes, I'm supporting SB because it's the best ****ing bang for the buck I've dropped in any car in 38 years! The only drawback - more rear tire wear.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: chicago
Firemist O5 CLK55 Cab Silver 05 CLK55 Coupe Tanzanite 06 CLK500 Coupe
I have Eurocharged tunes and SB's on both my CLK55's and my CLK500. When it comes to the SB I think foot size may be an overlooked but important factor but all I can say is that my personal experience is that without the SB the cars simply do not perform as well across the power curve.
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
I have Eurocharged tunes and SB's on both my CLK55's and my CLK500. When it comes to the SB I think foot size may be an overlooked but important factor but all I can say is that my personal experience is that without the SB the cars simply do not perform as well across the power curve.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: San Diego
r230 sl63, 2002 clk55 Cabrio
My 208 55 has both CPU tune and SB. The ECU tune I have definitely added more power, combined with freer flowing intake that I had to dial back the SB, the car is just too jumpy with both. I do recall that the car was much slower get up and go without the add-ons though. When I drive her I keep thinking she is almost as fast as my non aspirated (but ECU tuned) SL63, then I drive the SL......
By the way is there a typical coolant system failure on 208's? mine is using lots of it, and worryingly I don't smell it. I recall that on my clk430 I had to replace the radiator, which blrew out and wondered if they have the same equipment (though the 55 is definitely better built)
By the way is there a typical coolant system failure on 208's? mine is using lots of it, and worryingly I don't smell it. I recall that on my clk430 I had to replace the radiator, which blrew out and wondered if they have the same equipment (though the 55 is definitely better built)
Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 226
Likes: 47
From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
My 208 55 has both CPU tune and SB. The ECU tune I have definitely added more power, combined with freer flowing intake that I had to dial back the SB, the car is just too jumpy with both. I do recall that the car was much slower get up and go without the add-ons though. When I drive her I keep thinking she is almost as fast as my non aspirated (but ECU tuned) SL63, then I drive the SL......
By the way is there a typical coolant system failure on 208's? mine is using lots of it, and worryingly I don't smell it. I recall that on my clk430 I had to replace the radiator, which blrew out and wondered if they have the same equipment (though the 55 is definitely better built)
By the way is there a typical coolant system failure on 208's? mine is using lots of it, and worryingly I don't smell it. I recall that on my clk430 I had to replace the radiator, which blrew out and wondered if they have the same equipment (though the 55 is definitely better built)
Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 226
Likes: 47
From: N. Maryland
2024 GLE 580
I recommend setting aside $2k-$3K per year for maintenance. There are some big one time hitters as the car ages, like the ABS control module (~$2K), suspension components ($1K+), radiator ($1K+), brakes ('05, '06 have 2 piece rotor$), convertible top (~$3K), spark plug & wires (dual plugs per cyl), valve, breather cover and oil fill gaskets, trans fluid flush and fill....
Edit: ABS control module, not ABC module
Edit: ABS control module, not ABC module
Last edited by Bmo Pete; Oct 15, 2021 at 01:41 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2019
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From: Wiesbaden, Germany
2004 CLK 55 AMG, 2012 Mazda 5
I recommend setting aside $2k-$3K per year for maintenance. There are some big one time hitters as the car ages, like the ABC module (~$2K), suspension components ($1K+), radiator ($1K+), brakes ('05, '06 have 2 piece rotor$), convertible top (~$3K), spark plug & wires (dual plugs per cyl), valve, breather cover and oil fill gaskets, trans fluid flush and fill....
Last edited by PapaChop83; Oct 10, 2021 at 05:33 PM.
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2005 CLK 55
