brianw430

Thank you Chappy, looks like I had an incorrect digit there! After my first set os new tires I may see if I can pick up a set of 210 E55 rims.

The tranny still escapes me as to how they recommend no service...makes no sense, especially given the ease of service and how much better the shifting is after the service.

x-tian-230k

Nice snug fit man...looks great.... personally i don't like the slammed look.

Co 55 AMG

Looks great Chappy.Wonderful info,I love this site.

brianw430

Chappy, I received the AMG springs today. Great service from Gert and excellent comminucation on his part. Very professional. Thursday it goes in for springs/pads/pulleys. Should get it back Friday, after the alignment. The new PS2's have made a remarkable difference alone, so I'm looking forward to another step up!

Chappy

Excellent. Post pics if you have time

Chappy

Thanks

Chappy

H-MAN

Chappy, Did you change your pads yourself or bring it to a shop? I'm thinking it wouldn't be too difficult a project. I thought I saw a pic thread where someone did it himself but can't find it again.

Chappy

My MB Tech did the complete job: Install tires, springs, pads and alignment.

Learso

Do you need to change the pads if you get the euro-spec springs?
Thanks.
Learso.

Chappy

Not a requirement, but I think I had 4 bump and 5 bump pads that came on the car. At the AMG Photo Shoot in 2003, there were three silver CLK55s that were parked side-by-side. My ride height was, by far, the highest of the three.

Link....(scroll down for photos)

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...6&page=3&pp=10

Another link....

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg-clk63-amg-w208-w209/54215-how-get-smaller-stock-mb-spring-pads.html

One more....

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg-clk63-amg-w208-w209/51197-name-your-favorite-attribute-regarding-clk55.html

brianw430

No, no need to change the pads. It just brings it down a little. I really liked the looks of what Chappy did to his and tried following the lead.

Chappy

AMG Illuminated sills next?

Learso

All the cars in the pics look great and in fact I am suprised to say that I like the lower one in the middle. I just need to bring it down an inch. It may help the look with the fact that I changed the 17" rims to the 18" of the same. Went 255 in the back...I recommend it. The springs have been ordered and should be here next week. I will send you pics of the ride, if you have any more please send put them up.

Learso.

Chappy

The car in the middle is owned by wayfst (Frank). His car is featured in the MBWorld homepage, or at least is was....his CLK55 was probably the first one delivered here in Atlanta. Those are 18" monoblock IIs and his car was noticeably lower, as his springs were believed to be euro-spec.

My car was the CLK to the right of his.

LOH

Just a word of caution that every car sits different on the spring pads. I can't remember what pads came originally but when I installed the euro springs on my CLK55, I changed to #3 all around. The result was way to high in the rear and about right in the front. I changed to #4 in front because I was scraping driveways and put #1 in the rear. The tech that installed them called to confirm because of the big difference but the result is perfect to my eye. I'll try to post pics soon.

Learso

Chappy,
Do you know what pads he added/replaced to achieve this height? It would seem that with my 18s and the euro-spec springs I may be close if not the same to his car's look. Also, I did some research today regarding tires because I needed to get a new tire for the back anyway. Apparently its possible to put 235/35/18 in the front and 265/40/18 in the read with the Monoblock IIs. Do you know anyone who has done this? I will go with SP2s. Lots of changes coming to my car and I am excited about it. Just installed the built-in K40 redar, have also decided to put halogen in fogs as well, who needs the yellow lights anyway? Few fog days here and I won't race in fog anyway.

Look forward to your reply.

Learso

Chappy

I think he had one bump rear, two bump fronts. Do a search on his username (wayfst) and you may find the specifics on his tire sizing, etc.

Frank came to the AMG Photo Shoot in 2003 and I was able to chat with him about his car. If I remember correctly, Frank's CLK55 was the first W208AMG delivered in Georgia (sometime in August or Sept. 2000). Being his was one of the first cars, it's possible that his arrived with the euro-spec springs....the later cars (the other two pictured) were both noticeably taller. Frank advised that he had not changed the springs, thus, the suspicion that some euro-spec springs had been left on the car at the factory. To my recollection, he put on different spring pads and monoblock IIs. That’s all.

One thing I do remember. His car looked badass! The 18" mono IIs and that car just had a great stance to it. He was talking about selling it back then....don't know if he did or not.

Seeing his car in person made me realize I needed to change my springs as well.

Chappy

I found the link to the September 2000 article:

https://mbworld.org/news/2000/clk55usintro.shtml

Learso

Chappy,

Thanks agian. In that article, which I recall ready a while ago, it states "specially valved Bilstein sport shocks and progressive-rated springs". Where do the euro-spec springs come in? Anyway, I've already ordered them but if they don't work I will buy the set to make it sit just below the wheelwell. I am currently looking to see about the 265 in the back... I am getting mixed opinions: Brabus recommends 265s in the back, tirerack says they "may" touch the inside.

Learso.

Chappy

His quote was comparing the CLK430 suspension to the CLK55 setup. Post before/after pics if you can

Learso

Chappy,

I will take some pics pre/post the lowering and with the new set of tires. I have chosen to go with 235 in the front and 265 in the rear, even if that means rolling the wheelwells. The tech has said that there is a very good chance I will not have to do that. This is because I am also considering the Kleemann supercharger and if I go that way there will be even a great need for traction. I will buy PS2s to replace my pretty worn PS"1"s. Just waiting on the springs now. The links you sent me of the racing CLK looked like it had very wide tires on the front and rear. I think it looked great and will go for the same look. Don't need cross-drilled breakpads, they are not needed.

Learso

Chappy

Learso,

Sounds like you have some great plans for your 55 FWIW, all W208 CLK55s come from the factory with rolled fenders!

Learso

Wow, did not know about the factory rolled wheelwell for CLK55, its just begging to be modified! Well, even better. As for the modifications, I have left my car "as is" for some years now because I always felt it was perfect as is. Now, as it ages and the resale value drops to more than 50% of its original sale price, I see no reason to just let it sit there and get left out of the horseporwer race. I have two MLs that and my wife and I use for day to day so this CLK will be my toy to for the weekends. For the price of the modifications I could not even buy a decent used Porche or a new M3....thus I think its worth the risk.

Learso

H-MAN

How long did it take to have your sprinc pads replaced? I just got off the phone with the dealer and they said it would take 5 hours for just the pad replacement!