Debate: Brabus vs AMG
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: UK
Debate: Brabus vs AMG
I thought I would ask here since its one of the more active AMG forums. Basically ive been having a running debate with my father about why having a Brabus/Kleeman etc. tuned car is not a *bad* thing.
His standpoint is that they will never be as good as a proper inhouse FACTORY job like AMG who have spent millions in R&D and comply to strict Mercedes standards. He thinks having someone like Brabus mess around with base units from Mercedes/AMG will somehow make them less reliable and not "proper" because they are a 3rd party company using their own bits.
I'd just like to see what peoples views are here.
His standpoint is that they will never be as good as a proper inhouse FACTORY job like AMG who have spent millions in R&D and comply to strict Mercedes standards. He thinks having someone like Brabus mess around with base units from Mercedes/AMG will somehow make them less reliable and not "proper" because they are a 3rd party company using their own bits.
I'd just like to see what peoples views are here.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
It really depends what your father means. If all he is talking about is reliability, then he may be right. MB builds their cars (minus all the elctronic problems) like tanks with alot of redundnacy built into the critical components. It makes it great for tuners b/c there is significant room to tweak the performance well within the tolerances of those components. If you are bumping the power, of course it is going to put more stress on those components, however, not necessarily to a point where it materially affects the reliability.
Some tuning involves adding components that are of better quality than those used by MB (e.g. Brembo BBK, suspension, etc.) so in that sense your father is wrong. Sure, the car might not perform the way the factory intended, but that often isn't a bad thing. From the perspective of performace, I don't see why your father would argue that stock MBs perform better, given that the whol purpose of aftermarket tuning is to improve performance.
Some tuning involves adding components that are of better quality than those used by MB (e.g. Brembo BBK, suspension, etc.) so in that sense your father is wrong. Sure, the car might not perform the way the factory intended, but that often isn't a bad thing. From the perspective of performace, I don't see why your father would argue that stock MBs perform better, given that the whol purpose of aftermarket tuning is to improve performance.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: UK
Good points. I like the point about aftermarket tuners using better quality gear, perhaps because they are on a much smaller production scale.
What about at the top end with the 65 engines and the big Brabus V12's? They are both around 600bhp, which would you choose and why? Considering they are both alot of money.
What about at the top end with the 65 engines and the big Brabus V12's? They are both around 600bhp, which would you choose and why? Considering they are both alot of money.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
Originally posted by G Unit
What about at the top end with the 65 engines and the big Brabus V12's? They are both around 600bhp, which would you choose and why? Considering they are both alot of money.
What about at the top end with the 65 engines and the big Brabus V12's? They are both around 600bhp, which would you choose and why? Considering they are both alot of money.
1. Better warranty
2. Better resale
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Fl
CLK63 Black Series
Originally posted by Chappy
At $175,000 + I'd take the AMG 65 for two reasons:
1. Better warranty
2. Better resale
At $175,000 + I'd take the AMG 65 for two reasons:
1. Better warranty
2. Better resale
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
W221
I am in the same situation. My dad has an 02 CL500 jus sittin stock. I tell him to put some rims and at least an amg kit or something but he says anything not put on from the dealer will only "hurt" the car. I tell him it doesn't, but he says otherwise. Don't worry I think I'm beginning to break him down 
...Hopefully I can get at least a set of HRE's and a kit on it and then we would be rollin
...Hopefully I can get at least a set of HRE's and a kit on it and then we would be rollin
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Switzerland
C 32 AMG (203.065)
Brabus gives warranty on their products as well. I like both of em, but theres still room to improve.
Keep in mind, when DaimlerChrysler is developing a new model, AMG is part of the Team from the beginning to see where the stock model can already be improved, and also to have stuff built in a certain way (exhaust pipes etc.), so AMG can add their parts more easily later on.
On the other hand, some of you surely know the SMART-cars: As for SMART having a top model in each class, they have the Smart-Brabus GmbH, which is a joint venture from DC. I'm sure thats a sign of Brabus being (almost) equal to AMG-quality.
Keep in mind, when DaimlerChrysler is developing a new model, AMG is part of the Team from the beginning to see where the stock model can already be improved, and also to have stuff built in a certain way (exhaust pipes etc.), so AMG can add their parts more easily later on.
On the other hand, some of you surely know the SMART-cars: As for SMART having a top model in each class, they have the Smart-Brabus GmbH, which is a joint venture from DC. I'm sure thats a sign of Brabus being (almost) equal to AMG-quality.
